Abstract: Ultrasound imaging methods and ultrasound imaging devices are provided, in which an inter-frame processing may be performed on elasticity echo data or the elasticity images to obtain new elasticity images, thereby improving the display frame rate of the elasticity images. The elasticity echo data comprises an ultrasound echo of an ultrasound wave returned from an object, and the elasticity images comprises at least two frames and obtained according to the elasticity echo data.

Abstract: A guiding system and a guiding method for ultrasound scanning operation are provided. The guiding system includes a handheld guiding device, a display device, an ultrasound scanning device, a prompting device, and a control host. When the handheld guiding device generates a first physical motion, the control host detects the first physical motion and generates navigation prompting information accordingly. The prompting device is suitable for presenting the navigation prompting information to guide the ultrasound scanning device to move to generate a second physical motion. The control host captures an ultrasound image via the ultrasound scanning device and sends the ultrasound image to the display device at a guiding end for display.

Abstract: At least one magnetic field actuator is configured for generating an actuated magnetic field that at least partially cancels an outside magnetic field, thereby yielding a total residual magnetic field. A plurality of magnetometers are configured for taking measurements of the total residual magnetic field. The magnetometers include a plurality of coarse magnetometers and a plurality of fine magnetometers. A processor is configured for acquiring the total residual magnetic field measurements from the coarse magnetometers, estimating the total residual magnetic field at the fine magnetometers based on total residual magnetic field measurements acquired from the plurality of coarse magnetometers, and controlling the actuated magnetic field at least partially based on the total residual magnetic field estimates at the fine magnetometers in a manner that suppresses the total residual magnetic field at the fine magnetometers to a baseline level, such that at least one of the fine magnetometers is in-range.

Abstract: When planning magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasonic (HIFU) therapy, HIFU transducer element parameters are optimized as a function of 3D MR data describing a size, shape, and position of a region of interest (ROI) (146) and any obstructions (144) between the HIFU transducer elements and the ROI (146). Transducer element phases and amplitudes are adjusted to maximize HIFU radiation delivery to the ROI (146) while minimizing delivery to the obstruction (144). Additionally or alternatively, transducer elements are selectively deactivated if the obstruction (144) is positioned between the ROI (146) and a given transducer element.

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: A method is disclosed for diagnosing and treating a patient having lesions in both arteries of left and right lower limbs. By determining that a lower stenosis rate lesion to be treated first, catheters and an operation time can be reduced is to be treated first on a priority basis based on diagnostic data, deciding that a higher stenosis rate lesion is to be treated next, then treating the lesions substantially continuously.

Abstract: Systems and methods for magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) are disclosed. In one embodiment, MRE data corresponding to mechanical waves in tissue of interest of a subject is acquired. The MRE data is associated with stiffness of the tissue. The method also includes generating, based on the MRE data, a stiffness map representing stiffness of the tissue. Generating the stiffness map includes performing an unconstrained optimization cost function that is configured to reduce noise in the acquired MRE data and achieve inversion of the reduced-noise data.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an ultrasonic catheter assembly. More specifically, the catheter assembly includes a catheter and one or more piezoelectric or echogenic components. The catheter has a side wall that extends from a proximal end and a distal end that defines a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. Thus, the lumen is configured to deliver a treatment fluid from the proximal end to the distal end. In addition, the piezoelectric component(s) are configured with the side wall of the catheter and/or embedded at least partially within the side wall of the catheter. As such, the piezoelectric component(s) are configured to enhance ultrasonic imaging of the catheter, e.g. when activated by a stimulator assembly.

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: Embodiments related to methods of use of an image analysis system for identifying residual cancer cells after surgery are disclosed. In some embodiments, the image analysis system collects a surgical site image and indicates on a display one or more locations of the identified cancer cells. In some embodiments, the method for identifying residual cancer cells comprises determining and selecting a portion of the surgical site image responsive to an intensity parameter; modifying the selected portion of the surgical site image to determine one or more groups of residual cancer cells based on size; and identifying at least one of the one or more groups of residual cancer cells from the modified portion of the surgical site image using a local-based threshold.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including tracking a tool portion and a patient marker from a first line of sight, using a first tracking device disposed upon a first head-mounted device that includes a display. The tool portion and the patient marker are tracked from a second line of sight, using a second tracking device. When a portion of the patient marker and the tool portion are both within the first line of sight, an augmented reality image is generated upon the first display based upon data received from the first tracking device and without using data from the second tracking device. When at least the patient marker portion and the tool portion are not both within the first line of sight, a virtual image of the tool and anatomy of the patient is generated using data received from the second tracking device. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for determining a property for a sample having a target region using ultrasound data from an ultrasound scanner include generating at least one spatial coherence curve based on ultrasound backscatter data in the target region, the spatial coherence curve comprising coherence values as a function of depth in the sample; and determining a property for a sample in response to the spatial coherence curve as a function of depth.

Abstract: An ultrasound phased array transducer is disclosed that achieves suppression of grating lobes through the incorporation of a coupling layer, where the coupling layer is positioned adjacent to the phased array transducer such that an ultrasound beam propagates through the coupling layer prior to encountering a propagation medium. The phased-array elements may be provided such that one or both of the array pitch and a lateral extent of each ultrasound transducer element is larger than half of the ultrasound wavelength in the propagation medium. Grating lobes within the coupling layer and the propagation medium may be reduced or suppressed by selecting a coupling material having a speed of sound that exceeds that of the propagation medium. The coupling layer may have a thickness sufficient for the generation of a wavefront, and the coupling layer may be formed from a viscous or viscoelastic material.

Abstract: A method and system for medical imaging employs an excitation source configured to cause an object having a plurality of cells to at least one of emit, reflect, and fluoresce light. An optical receptor is employed that is configured to receive the light from the object. A filter assembly receives the light from the optical receptor and filters the light. An image processor having a field of view (FOV) substantially greater than a diameter of a cell of the object and an analysis resolution substantially matched to the diameter of a cell of the object that receives the filtered light from the filter and analyzes the filtered light corresponding to each cell in the FOV. A feedback system is provided that is configured to provide an indication of a state of each cell in the FOV and a location of a cell in the FOV meeting a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A multi-modality cancer screening and diagnosis system is provided that allows cancer screening and diagnosis of a patient using at least two different and sequential three-dimensional imaging techniques without patient repositioning. The system includes a first three-dimensional image acquisition device, a second three-dimensional image acquisition device having a probe with a transmitter mounted thereon, and a positioning paddle for positioning and immobilizing an object to be imaged during the cancer screening and diagnosis procedure. The positioning paddle is designed to facilitate visualization of the breast in both three-dimensional modalities without movement of the patient, and preferably is designed to position the patient with comfort during a diagnosis procedure which uses both imaging modalities.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a neuromodulation system comprising a transcranially mounted neuromodulation device and a stimulation control computing environment. The disclosed neuromodulation device comprising at least one ultrasound transducer and at least one EEG electrode and the disclosed stimulation control computing environment comprises a stimulation control unit and offline computing device, the disclosed stimulation control unit including associated systems and methods for controlling the neuromodulation device functionality using acoustic simulations performed on brain image data as well as methods and uses of such neuromodulation systems in modulating brain activity using focused ultrasound stimulation of the thalamus and thalamic sub regions during certain phases of slow wave brain oscillations in order to treat various neural-based disorders or conditions including sleep disorders.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a shape of a volume of a part of a subject based on intrabody measurements of a plurality of crossing electromagnetic fields established within the volume, the method including: receiving, by computer circuitry, measurements of the crossing electromagnetic fields carried out using at least one sensor carried on an intrabody probe, the measuring being carried out with the probe at multiple locations in the volume, to provide a set of measurement samples, each taken at a location; generating, by computer circuitry and based on said measurement samples, a transformation that transforms measurement samples to geometric positions; transforming, using said generated transformation fewer than half of the measurements in said set of measurement samples into a set of geometric positions; and reconstructing the shape of said volume from said set of geometric positions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for performing a single-scan rest-stress cardiac measurement. In one aspect, the system includes a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging system, a source of a first PET radiotracer for administration to a subject, a source of a second PET radiotracer for administration to a subject, and a processor. The processor has non-transient computer readable media programmed with instructions to obtain PET images of the subject administered with the radiotracer. Furthermore, the computer readable media is programmed with instructions to process the PET images with a non-steady-state, multi-compartment parametric model. An output of the non-steady-state, multi-compartment parametric model is a measure of myocardial blood flow for both a rest state and a stress state of the subject.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for diagnosing and treating a patient having lesions in both arteries of left and right lower limbs. By determining that a lesion distal to an aortailiac bifurcation is to be treated first, catheters and an operation time can be reduced is to be treated first on a priority basis based on diagnostic data, deciding that a lesion proximal to the bifurcation is to be treated next, then treating the lesions substantially continuously.

Abstract: Motion independent acoustic radiation force impulse imaging is provided. Rather than rely on the displacement over time for each location, the displacements over locations for each time are used. Parallel beamforming is used to simultaneously sample across a region of interest. Since it may be assumed that the different locations are subjected to the same motion at the same time, finding a peak displacement over locations for each given time provides peak or profile information independent of the motion. The velocity or other viscoelastic parameter may be estimated from the displacements over locations.