Abstract: A handheld ultrasound instrument is disclosed having enhanced diagnostic modes including pulse/continuous wave Doppler, time-motion analysis, spectral analysis and tissue harmonic imaging. An external electrocardiograph (ECG) recording unit is also disclosed. The ECG unit is adaptable to be used with the handheld ultrasound instrument to provide for ECG monitoring while performing an ultrasound scan in B-mode, Doppler, color Doppler, M-mode, and CW/PW mode. The enhanced handheld ultrasound instrument further includes a security mechanism allowing any combination of the diagnostic modes to be enabled by the manufacturer, and later to enable or disable any one or group of the diagnostic modes. The invention also discloses a method for a manufacturer to maintain a database of handheld ultrasound instrument capabilities after the instruments enter the stream of commerce.

Abstract: A system and method of free-breathing MR imaging saturates an entire navigator profile at the end of an imaging segment of physiological motion cycle, e.g., heart cycle, thereby providing a uniform recovery of longitudinal magnetization for the next imaging cycle. Through use of at least one dephaser gradient following the image acquisition segment and a navigator RF saturation pulse, residual transverse magnetization is dephased and spins within a navigator tracker are saturated to ensure a uniform recovery of longitudinal magnetization for the next imaging period.

Abstract: A catheter, particularly an intra-vascular catheter, has at least one magnetic field-generating element arranged in the catheter envelope in the region of the catheter tip, characterized in that the magnetic field of which is variable while the catheter is inserted into a patient.

Abstract: In a medical image diagnosis apparatus which forms a scanogram image of a subject and forms tomographic images under imaging conditions set by using the scanogram image, an imaging condition setting frame 33 independent of the scanogram image 31 is provided on a monitor 14. Desired imaging for which imaging conditions are to be set is designated by inputting a numeric value presenting an ordinal number for imaging in a numeric value input box 40 in the imaging condition setting frame 33. A pointer is set to a frame 41, a mark 42 or a dotted line 43 and dragged, thus enabling imaging conditions indicating the number of instances of imaging and image reconstruction and image reconstruction positions for the designated imaging. Settings in the imaging condition setting frame 33 are reflected in a frame 32A and lines 32B on the scanogram image 31 indicating the number of instances of imaging and image reconstruction and image reconstruction positions.

Abstract: When performing imaging in synchronization with a biological movement of an examinee by using a pulse sequence applying a pre-saturation pulse, it is possible to reduce irregularities of echo signal intensity and artifact on the image generated by the irregularities. Especially, it is possible to prevent artifact attributed to blood in the ventricle when performing delay contrast imaging. For this, before measuring the echo signal, an IR pulse or the like for adjusting magnetization to a desired state is applied so as to suppress irregularities of the echo signal intensity and prevent artifact.

Abstract: An anatomic structure is detected based on a medical diagnostic imaging data set. The anatomic structure comprises at least two different types of tissue. At least one anatomic landmark is identified within the data set, the data set is overlaid with a contour template, and a search region of the data set surrounding the contour template is scanned to identify transition points associated with a predefined characteristic of the anatomic structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the determination of the position of a radiographic or radioscopic unit (16) with relation to a reference point (Rref) on producing a radiographic image of an object (10). The position of the unit (16) with relation to a reference point (Rref) is determined from the determination of the position of a test pattern (25), with relation to the unit (16), which is mechanically fixed to the object, by using the image of the test pattern with relation to the reference point (Rref). The invention further relates to a determining device for carrying out said method.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a transmitting section for driving a probe transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject; a receiving section for amplifying a reflected echo, produced by getting the ultrasonic wave reflected by a tissue and received at the probe, to generate a received signal; an image processing section for generating a tomographic image of the subject based on the signal; a region setting section for setting an arbitrary range of the tomographic image as a region of interest; a motion information gathering section for getting the motion information of the subject at measuring points on the subject based on the signal; a property value calculating section for calculating the property values of target tissues of the subject, specified by the measuring points, by reference to the motion information; and a distribution plotting section, which gets the property measured values and plots a frequency distribution of the property values based on the property values of the target tissues

Abstract: Ultrasound transducers are disclosed which focus acoustic energy at various focal locations while minimizing focal spot degradation and the generation of unwanted on-axis or off-axis energy concentrations through using a generally constant f-number at the various focal locations.

Abstract: A display and navigation system for use in guiding a medical device to a target in a patient includes a tracking sensor, a tracking device and display. The tracking sensor is associated with the medical device and is used to track the medical device. The tracking device tracks the medical device with the tracking sensor. The display includes indicia illustrating at least five degree of freedom information and indicia of the medical device in relation to the five degree of freedom information.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving an in vivo signal, using for example a receiver, a recorder and an antenna array. The receiver may include for example a switching unit and an amplifier, and may be in proximity to the antenna array.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for calculating, presenting, and combining probabilistic functional maps (PFMs) of the human brain representing the probability of structures existing. The method comprises three major steps: reading of data containing the coordinates of contacts, calculating the PFMs, and presenting the PFMs. The data can be read from a file in text or binary format or from a database as local or remote client. The PFM calculation comprises the following steps: forming 3D models of contacts, normalizing the contact models, voxelizing the contact models, calculating an atlas function, and calculating the PFM. The PFM can be presented alone or along with anatomical atlases. Both 3D and 2D interfaces can be used for presentation. The proposed method also includes different ways of combining the contact data and/or existing PFMs from multiple sources. This mechanism is the basis of an internet portal for stereotactic and functional neurosurgery.

Abstract: Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with automatically adapting MRI controlling parameters are described. One exemplary method embodiment includes configuring an MRI apparatus to acquire MR signal data using a non-rectilinear trajectory. The example method may also include acquiring MR signals, transforming the MR signals into image data, and selectively adapting the MRI controlling parameters based, at least in part, on information associated with the MR signals.

Abstract: A method for improved detection and imaging of ultrasound contrast agents using dual-band transmitted pulses, is described. The method is based on transmitting a pulse consisting of two frequency bands, a low frequency band which purpose is to manipulate the high frequency scattering properties of the contrast agent, and a high frequency band from which the image reconstruction is based. In addition, a general form of pulse subtraction is used to significantly suppress the received tissue signal.

Abstract: A spinal midline indicator (10) has a body (14) of radiolucent material for insertion between adjacent vertebrae (18, 20) and a radiographic marker (12) located centrally with the body to indicate the position of the spinal midline (22) in anterior-posterior images when the body is centrally located between the vertebrae. The radiographic marker is typically an elongate metal handle. The body may carry secondary radiographic markers (16) on opposite sides of and equidistant from the handle so that the handle indicates the position of the spinal midline when the body is placed centrally between the vertebrae.

Abstract: A plurality of diagnostic images of a region of interest of a subject are generated and stored in a patient database (10). In one of the images, a region of interest, such as a tumor, is identified. The database is searched for the other images of the same region of interest. Parameter values indicative of characteristics of the tumor are extracted from each image and displayed in tabular or graphic format by time. The images are reformatted, scaled, and displayed in a cinè format to illustrate a temporal evolution of the tumor in the region of interest.

Abstract: An intra-subject device is introduced into a subject to acquire information of the interior of the subject and has a lighting member to output an illuminating light for illuminating the interior of the subject and an imaging member to acquire an image of the interior of the subject. The intra-subject device also has a parameter memory to store a parameter for canceling a noise contained in color information of the image. The intra-subject device also has a radio-transmitting section that radio-transmits the image information, to which the parameter stored in the parameter memory is added.

Abstract: A method of interpreting cognitive response to a stimulus is disclosed. The method includes collecting baseline neural activity data from a subject absent a stimulus. Neural activity data is collected while the subject is being stimulated through exposure to a stimulus. A unique three-dimensional cognitive engram is then plotted representative of cerebral regions of stimulated neural activity caused by the stimulus. A novel graphical representation is plotted in three dimensions to indicate the brain region response unique to that stimulus.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for examining a specimen. The ultrasonic probe includes a holding portion, an insertion member, and an ultrasonic generator. The holding portion includes a first housing portion. The insertion member is configured to move along the first housing portion. The insertion member has at least one end for insertion into an endocavity of the specimen. The ultrasonic generator is provided at the one end of the insertion member and configured to transmit an ultrasound pulse to the specimen and collect an echo signal resulting from the transmitted ultrasound pulse.

Abstract: The shape and orientation of rigid or nearly rigid moveable bodies are determined using a shape characterization. Sensors capture a plurality of representations of different perspectives of the body that are analyzed to determine a bounding volume of the body. The shape of the body is determined from the bounding volume. The position of the body is determined using tracking devices that sense the position of the body. The bounding volume and position information are combined to define the shape and orientation in space of the body, and in particular the position of a point of interest on the body.