Abstract: An EM device is provided that includes an antenna assembly for radiating at least one electromagnetic field for electromagnetic navigation. The EM device also includes a moving arrangement coupled to the antenna assembly and configured to either move the antenna assembly toward and away from a CT scan plane or move a patient toward and away from the antenna assembly. An operating system is provided that includes a CT scanner defining a CT scan plane, and a patient table housing an antenna assembly and a moving arrangement. A method is provided that includes engaging a moving arrangement to move a patient, activating the CT scanner, and activating the antenna of an electromagnetic navigation system.

Abstract: An instrument, a magnetic resonance tomography system and a method for detecting a relative position of the instrument in relation to the magnetic resonance tomography system. An encoded locator signal in a frequency range of the magnetic resonance tomography system is emitted by a transponder on the instrument, received by a plurality of sensors disposed on the magnetic resonance tomography system and a relative position of the transponder in relation to the sensors is determined by the locator signal detected by the sensors.

Abstract: An integrated computed tomography (CT) treatment couch system may include a base platform configured to couple to a rotatable floor component associated with a medical accelerator, a pedestal component mounted to the base platform, a treatment couchtop disposed on the pedestal component, and a CT scanner device. The CT scanner device may include a support structure and a CT gantry. The support structure may be mounted to the base platform or to the pedestal component. The CT gantry may have a bore and may be oriented such that the bore is in line with the treatment couchtop. The CT gantry may be configured to generate on-line helical CT scans to guide radiotherapy provided by the medical accelerator.

Abstract: An electronic fitness device comprises a first optical transmitter, a second optical transmitter, a first optical receiver, a second optical receiver, and a processing element. The first optical transmitter is configured to transmit a first optical signal having a first wavelength and the second optical transmitter is configured to transmit a second optical signal having the first wavelength. The first and second optical receivers are configured to receive the first and second optical signals, respectively, and to generate first and second photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals, respectively, resulting from the received optical signals. The processing element is configured to receive and compare the first and second PPG signals, identify a common component present in the first and the second PPG signals based on the comparison, and generate a cardiac component from the first and second PPG signals based on the identified common component.

Abstract: An endoscope system according to the present invention includes: an illumination light source that emits illumination light for illuminating an object; a therapeutic light source that emits therapeutic light for causing a photoreactive reagent accumulated in a treatment target site to react; a guide light source that emits guide light having a wavelength shorter than a wavelength band of the therapeutic light source; an imager that captures an optical image, the imager including an optical filter that cuts light in the wavelength band of the therapeutic light and transmits a part of white light, the guide light, and fluorescence emitted by the reagent; a controller that controls emission timings of the illumination light source, the therapeutic light source, and the guide light source; and an image processor that generates an image on the basis of an optical image obtained by light emitted from the illumination light source, the therapeutic light source, and the guide light source, in which the controller cau

Abstract: A medical robot system, including a robot coupled to an effectuator element with the robot configured for controlled movement and positioning. The system may include a transmitter configured to emit one or more signals, and the transmitter is coupled to an instrument coupled to the effectuator element. The system may further include a motor assembly coupled to the robot and a plurality of receivers configured to receive the one or more signals emitted by the transmitter. A control unit is coupled to the motor assembly and the plurality of receivers, and the control unit is configured to supply one or more instruction signals to the motor assembly. The instruction signals can be configured to cause the motor assembly to selectively move the effectuator element.

Abstract: An ultrasound controller unit (22) for controlling an ultrasound transducer unit (24) in acquiring ultrasound data for the purpose of deriving one or more physiological parameter measurements. The controller is adapted to control weighting coefficients applied to transmit and receive signals of each of a plurality of transducer elements (26) of the transducer unit. The controller is adapted to detect any artifact in received data affecting (e.g. obscuring) the output path of one or more of the transducers, and to identify the affected transducer elements. The weighting coefficients of the non-affected transducer elements are then adjusted so as to minimize an estimated noise component in the parameter measurement, if derived using only the non-affected transducer elements. Measurements of the one or more parameters are then derived by collecting data from the non-affected transducers only, these being configured with the optimized weighting coefficients.

Abstract: A steerable catheter comprises a transducer that is situated at a flexible distal end, and is coupled to the handle of the catheter via an insertion tube. The flexible distal end is controlled by a plurality of articulation pull-cables that extend from an articulation control device in the handle to the far end of the distal end, such that when one articulation pull-cable is pulled, and the opposing articulation pull-cable is slackened, the flexible distal end bends in the direction of the tensioned articulation pull-cable. To minimize pull-resistance over time, while still providing insertion-tube flexibility, inserts having pull-cable lumens are situated in the insertion tube to isolate each articulation pull-cable from each other, and from other cables that couple the transducer to the handle.

Abstract: A method for checking a position and/or an orientation of a catheter tip of a catheter, in particular a central venous catheter, in a patient's body, a medical system set up for carrying out such a method, and a use of such a method during a catheterization.

Abstract: A method of using non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography (NC-MRA) to generate pelvic veins images and measure rate of blood flow includes the ordered steps of: (a) performing a non-contrast magnetic resonance scan in cooperation with an electrocardiogram monitor and a respiration monitor; (b) obtaining two-dimensional images of kidney veins, lower cavity veins, common iliac veins, and external iliac veins using use balanced turbo field echo wave sequence; (c) obtaining three-dimensional images of common cardinal veins of the abdominal cavity using fast spin-echo short tau inversion recovery wave sequence and using sample signals from the electrocardiogram monitor during myocardial contractility; and (d) using quantification phase-contrast analysis to measure blood flowing through the transverse sections of the veins in a two-dimensional scan.

Abstract: An exemplary medical imaging system includes a visible light illumination system configured to selectively emit one of a first visible light biased to a first wavelength and a second visible light biased to a second wavelength, a fluorescence excitation illumination system configured to selectively emit one of a first fluorescence excitation illumination having a third wavelength and a second fluorescence excitation illumination having a fourth wavelength, and an illumination source control unit configured to selectively direct the visible light illumination system to emit the second visible light and the fluorescence excitation illumination system to emit the first fluorescence excitation illumination for use with a first fluorescence imaging agent, and selectively direct the visible light illumination system to emit the first visible light and the fluorescence excitation illumination system to emit the second fluorescence excitation illumination for use with a second fluorescence imaging agent.

Abstract: Methods, system, and media for identifying one or more ablation locations in an atrial tissue region in an atrial fibrillation (AF) patient with atrial fibrosis are disclosed. Three-dimensional imaging data representing the atria of the patient may be received. A patient-specific model of the atria may be generated from the three-dimensional imaging data. Simulation of the AF on the patient-specific model may be conducted to identify AF-perpetrating regions. One or more ablation locations in the atria may be identified from the AF-perpetrating regions.

Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasound imaging system, comprising an array of transducer elements grouped into element groups, wherein the element groups comprise a plurality of first element groups (having a first orientation) and a plurality of second element groups (having a second orientation different from the first orientation). A first conductor is connected to each of the elements in each first element grouping and a second conductor is connected to each of the elements in each second element grouping. Each element group is adapted to be activated for transmission or reception by the application of a bias voltage, by way of a plurality of bias voltage circuits, and controlled by a plurality of transmit and receive circuits. The system is adapted to acquire first ultrasound data, wherein the bias voltage is applied to the first conductors of the array (or a sub-array) and the transducers receive a signal from a transmit and receive circuit.

Abstract: In part, the disclosure relates to computer-based methods, devices, and systems suitable for detecting a delivery catheter using intravascular data. In one embodiment, the delivery catheter is used to position the intravascular data collection probe. The probe can collect data suitable for generating one or more representations of a blood vessel with respect to which the delivery catheter can be detected.

Abstract: Provided are a high-intensity focused ultrasound apparatus (10) and a control method. According to the high-intensity focused ultrasound apparatus (10), by providing a focusing transducer (120) having a freely transformable shape, after an entire transducer assembly (100) extends into an inner cavity of an object to be treated, the transducer assembly (100) can extend through a narrow part into the inner cavity of an object to be treated, and after extending into the inner cavity of the object to be treated, the shape of the focusing transducer (120) in the transducer assembly (100) changes, so that the effective area of the focusing transducer (120) increases, and the ultrasonic energy produced increases, thereby enhancing the irradiation intensity for a region to be treated, and satisfying normal operation requirements of the transducer assembly (100).

Abstract: The invention relates to an image-capturing device for the miniaturized near-field image capture of biological tissue, in particular for the imaging of genetic indicators. The image-capturing device comprises at least one digital image sensor and an objective lens in the form of a rod-shaped gradient index lens (GRIN), which objective lens is coupled to the digital image sensor for image capture. The objective lens is connected to the digital image sensor to from a monolithic, fixed assembly. There is no mechanical separating interface between the objective lens and the digital image sensor by means of which the digital image sensor can be separated from the objective lens by the user. The invention further relates to a system for the miniaturized near-field image capture of biological tissue, said system comprising an image-capturing device of this type and an evaluation device connected to the image-capturing device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to placing a medical instrument in a vasculature of a patient body, where the medical instrument includes an optical fiber having one or more core fibers. The system also includes a console having non-transitory computer-readable medium storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing an incident light signal to the optical fiber, receiving a reflected light signal of the incident light, processing the reflected light signals associated with the optical fiber and determining a location of a distal tip of the medical instrument within the patient body. The medical instrument may be steerable in one of various methods including having a predetermined curvature, a distal tip that is magnetic, magnetized, metallic or ferrous and is steerable by an external magnetic device or a having a variable stiffness at a distal tip.

Abstract: Provided are an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus capable of appropriately highlighting a blood vessel in an ultrasound image depending on an insertion situation of an insert, and a method of controlling the same. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 includes a transducer array 2, an image acquisition unit 11 that acquires an ultrasound image, a display device 8 that displays the ultrasound image, an image analysis unit 9 that analyzes the ultrasound image to detect a blood vessel and an insert in the ultrasound image, a highlighting unit 10 that highlights the blood vessel detected by the image analysis unit 9 in displaying the ultrasound image, and an apparatus controller 13 that controls the highlighting unit 10. The apparatus controller 13 performs control such that the highlighting unit 10 changes a form in highlighting the blood vessel depending on a relative positional relationship between the blood vessel and the insert.

Abstract: The necessary detector configuration and mathematical algorithms to implement a lateral (side-viewing) field of view in a gamma detection probe designed for laparoscopic use is disclosed. For this application, the diameter of the probe is limited to 12 mm. A hybrid collimation design, using a combination of both electronic collimation and metallic shielding, allows the probe to detect gamma emissions form 15 KeV-1.0 MeV. In the lower energy range, the 1.52 mm tungsten shielding is sufficient to collimate the primary detector. Two additional detectors are used to provide electronic collimation and depth detection. The upper energy limit of 1.0 MeV is imposed to exclude the possibility of electron-positron pair production which occurs at energies of 1.022 MeV and greater.

Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for improved ultrasound attenuation coefficient estimation (“ACE”) techniques. In one aspect, noise can be suppressed by using signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”) as a quality control metric for restricting depth ranges for ACE. In this way, the proper depth range for each frequency component can be adaptively changed with sufficient SNR for ACE. In another aspect, elevation focusing normalization is used to reduce errors associated with diffraction effects when estimating attenuation coefficient. In another aspect, methods for suppressing noise in ACE techniques is provided. Noise can be suppressed based on a noise field computed from measurements obtained without ultrasound transmission, based on a unique combination of consecutive image frames, based on singular value decomposition (“SVD”) clutter filtering cutoff values, or combinations thereof.