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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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.

Abstract: A system for performing robotic surgery on a patient disposed on a bed includes a gantry comprising a computed tomography (CT) diagnostic device, a platform supporting the gantry, and a robotic arm assembly attached to the platform. The gantry slides along the platform via a first carriage to allow entry of at least part of the patient into the bore of the CT device. The robotic arm assembly is attached to the platform via a pivot arm and a second carriage to allow the assembly to slide along the platform to enable surgery to be performed on the patient. The pivot arm is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the platform.

Abstract: Methods and devices for generating ultrasound images during a medical procedure are disclosed. The device may comprise a shaft that includes a working channel for receiving an instrument, the working channel extending from a proximal end of the shaft to a distal end of the shaft, and an ultrasound sensor disposed radially outward of a distal portion of the working channel such that the ultrasound sensor at least partially surrounds the working channel. The ultrasound sensor may be configured to image a single field of view greater than about 90 degrees about the shaft, e.g., simultaneously, while conducting a medical procedure with an instrument inserted through the working channel.

Abstract: An ultrasound patch may conform to a curved surface of a large, curvilinear part of a human body, and may capture ultrasound images of underlying tissue for detection of disease. The patch may comprise a flexible, elastomeric substrate, in which phased arrays of piezoelectric ultrasound transducers are embedded. The phased arrays may steer ultrasound beams through a wide angle to image a large volume of tissue. Mechanical deformation of the flexible substrate as it conforms to a curvilinear body part may change the relative 3D positions of the phase arrays. However, localization may be performed to detect these 3D positions. Data captured by the phased arrays may be processed, to create an ultrasound image of the underlying tissue. A semi-flexible, intermediate layer may partially encapsulate each phased array, to distribute stress at an interface between the rigid phased array and more flexible substrate.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for measuring anatomical dimensions from a single two-dimensional (2D) digital image. The digital image is taken from the front/anterior view using a mobile, handheld communication device. The linear measurements are used to estimate the body volume of the individual. Total body density is calculated from estimated body volume and body weight. Body composition (fat mass and fat-free mass) of the individual is derived from density using known mathematical conversion formulas. A method for estimating body composition analysis is provided. Systems and methods are provided that determine an individual's fitness by determining body composition of the individual using a picture of the individual, determining the individual's VO2 max based on the individual's movement (e.g., walking and/or running a measured distance over a measured amount of time), and determining the individual's fitness based on the body composition and the determined VO2 max.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for localization of a region within a patient's body using markers implanted within the region. In an exemplary embodiment, a probe includes a distal end for placement against a surface of the region; one or more antennas for transmitting electromagnetic signals into and receiving reflected signals from the region; a light source for delivering light pulses into the region whereupon the markers modulate reflected signals. A processor of the probe processes the modulated reflected signals at one or more of the surface locations to determine marker locations within the region to obtain a reference frame, determine distance values corresponding to distances from the respective markers to the distal end at each of the surface locations, and determine coordinates of the surface locations relative to the reference frame to generate a three dimensional model of the body region.

Abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can be diagnosed by affixing a plurality of light sources and a plurality of light detectors against the subject's body near a joint, and sequentially transmitting light from each of the plurality of light sources into the subject's body. Signals are acquired from each of the plurality of light detectors. The rise time of the acquired signals that occurs in response to an inflation of a pressure cuff is determined, and an indication of whether the joint is affected by SLE is made based on the determined rise time. In some embodiments, a plateau time of the acquired signals is also acquired, and the indication of whether the joint is affected by SLE is made based on the determined rise time and the determined plateau time.

Abstract: A pulse rate detection device includes: a moving image obtaining device configured to obtain a moving image captured by photographing a body surface of a subject, a pulse rate obtaining device configured to obtain a pulse rate of the subject on the basis of change of a pixel value of the body surface in the moving image, a reliability obtaining device configured to obtain reliability of the obtained pulse rate, and an output device configured to output the obtained pulse rate, if the obtained reliability is equal to or greater than predetermined reliable criteria and, if the obtained reliability is less than reliable criteria and change of the obtained pulse rate is within a predetermined appropriate range.

Abstract: The exemplified system and method facilitate an objective, non-invasive measurement of myelin quality and integrity in living brains based on isolation of myelin-specific magnetic relaxation constants in k-space. The system uses magnetic resonance (MR) signals to select signatures specific to, or associated with, myelin and its structure and to then encode the selected signatures into an image or model to which the quantitative myelin health information can be co-registered with 2D, 3D visualization, and tractography of the myelin-signal isolated MR information. The system also sets a model for digital hierarchical learning of biomedical signals in MR, and beyond, based on experimental data in which it executes the herein described signal isolation operations.