Abstract: A position sensing system includes a probe adapted to be introduced into a body cavity of a subject. The probe includes a magnetic field transducer and at least one probe electrodes. A control unit is configured to measure position coordinates of the probe using the magnetic field transducer. The control unit also measures an impedance between the at least one probe electrodes and one or more points on a body surface of the subject. Using the measured position coordinates, the control unit calibrates the measured impedance.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a proximity between a medical probe (such as, e.g., the tip of the medical probe) having an ultrasound transducer and a tissue surface, is provided. The ultrasound transducer is operated in a first resonant mode to transmit a first ultrasound signal that intersects the tissue surface to create a first reflected ultrasound signal, and operating in a second different resonant mode to transmit a second ultrasound signal that intersects the tissue surface to create a second reflected ultrasound signal. The first and second reflected ultrasound signals are received, e.g., by the ultrasound transducer, and a proximity between a portion of the medical probe and the tissue surface is determined based on the received first and second reflected ultrasound signals.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging a target in a patient's body includes the steps of providing a pre-acquired image of the target and placing a catheter having a position sensor, an ultrasonic imaging sensor and at least one electrode, in the patient's body. Positional information of a portion of the catheter in the patient's body is determined using the position sensor and electrical activity data-points of a surface of the target are acquired using the at least one electrode. An ultrasonic image of the target is obtained using the ultrasonic imaging sensor and positional information for the electrical activity data-points of the surface of the target is determined. An electrophysiological map of the target is generated based on the electrical activity data-points and the positional information for the electrical activity data-points.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for conveying blood flow parameters to a user, the apparatus comprising: a transducer device for providing for Doppler monitoring of flows within a patient; a processing unit interconnected to the transducer unit and adapted to extract a blood flow signal from the operation of the transducer and process the blood flow signal so as to produce a video blood flow signal and an audio blood flow signal; a display unit interconnect to the processing unit for visualising the video blood flow signal; and at least one audio emission devices interconnected to the processing unit for emission of the audio blood flow signal to the ears of the user.

Abstract: Ultrahigh speed magnetic resonance imaging equipment is capable of predicting temporal and spatial operation of an object to be imaged and significantly reducing the number of phase and frequency encodings, thereby significantly increasing the imaging speed. An object (4) to be imaged is placed in a static magnetic field (3) and a gradient magnetic field and a radiofrequency wave are applied to the object in an x, y and/or z direction in an orthogonal coordinates system. The equipment includes means for collecting only phase and frequency encodings optimized based on an estimate of motion of the object (4) to be imaged and means for complementing unacquired data. By increasing the imaging speed, as described above, the temporal resolution is improved and it is possible to display a two-dimensional cross section and three-dimensional internal structure of the object in motion as an image. As a result imaging is possible even when the object (4) to be imaged is temporally deformed or displaced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for visually supporting an electrophysiological catheter application in the heart, in which, during the execution of the catheter application, 2D fluoroscopy images (13) of the area of the heart being treated are recorded with an x-ray image recording system (5) and displayed together with 3D mapping data (14) of the area being treated, said 3D mapping data having been prepared simultaneously. A feature of this method is that the 2D fluoroscopy images (13) are registered with the 3D mapping data (14), and said 3D mapping data (14) is displayed, from the same perspective as the 2D fluoroscopy images (13), alongside said 2D fluoroscopy images (13) or image content derived from these (14), or is superimposed over them in the display.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus where cyclic image data acquisition is performed while the patient is continuously moved through the imaging volume provided by the magnetic field. The volume to be imaged is subdivided into sub-volumes. Image data acquisitions are sequentially performed for the sub-volumes. The data acquisition for a given sub-volume is performed by true three-dimensional imaging or by a multi slice imaging method where the sub-volume contains a stack of two-dimensional slices. The sub-volume for which image data acquisition is performed is moved through the magnetic field together with the patient. When the image data acquisition for the sub-volume has been completed, the next image data acquisition starts for the subsequent sub-volume.

Abstract: For an improved method for examining the skin of a proband, in particular as part of a skin cancer screening examination or a skin cancer therapy, it is provided that an epiluminescence microscopy image (B) is first taken of a distinctive skin site and by analysis of the image (B) the skin site is rated as suspect or inconsequential with regard to the presence of a disease. In a further method step it is provided that an image (B?) of a skin site rated as suspect is recorded by means of optical coherence tomography and the diagnosis of disease is verified or refuted on the basis of this image (B?). A device particularly suited to the performance of the method comprises an epiluminescence microscopy device (2) and an optical coherence tomography device (3) together with a common control unit (6).

Abstract: Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging system including a laser light source (2), an image detector (4), and signal detector (6); the laser light source (2), in use, being arranged for illuminating a selected area of interest (12) on a sample (10) for determining perfusion related data of the sample (10), the image detector, in use, being arranged for capturing an image of the sample (10), and the signal detector (6), in use, being arranged for detecting a laser Doppler signal from the selected area of interest (12) on the sample (10), wherein the laser light source (2) comprises optical means (3) for creating a laser beam comprising a plurality of beams.

Abstract: A method and system for ultrasound treatment of acne and sebaceous glands are provided. An exemplary method and system are configured for targeted treatment of sebaceous glands in various manners, such as through use of therapy only, therapy and monitoring, imaging and therapy, or therapy, imaging, and monitoring, and/or through use of focused, unfocused, or defocused ultrasound at various spatial and temporal energy settings. An exemplary method and system can be configured to produce regions of heating and damage by destroying the function of sebaceous glands within a user-specified treatment layer depth associated with the glands to be treated. In addition, an exemplary method and system can be configured to produce regions of heating and damage within the treatment layer in spatially defined patterns, rather than heating and destroying the entire volume of the target layer of tissue.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an ultrasonic endoscope, an ultrasonic observing portion, a position detecting unit, a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse. Cross-sectional planes in parallel therewith are set to radial tomographic images, an intersecting line segment is obtained between a radial tomographic image and the cross-sectional plane, the intersecting line segments are combined, and a route tomographic image is generated. It is easily recognized how the lesion is spreading along the luminal portion during the examination by advancing and returning a radial scanning ultrasonic probe. Further, which part in the luminal portion is scanning during the examination can easily be recognized during the examination.

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, a radiosensitizer or other agent is relatively uniformly accumulated in the cells of a tumor. An external monochromatic x-ray beam, which is tuned to a predetermined energy level associated with k-edge effects in the agent, is then directed to the tumor. The monochromatic x-ray beam activates the release of additional localized radiation from the agent. The additional radiation destroys the DNA of at least some tumor cells, making those tumor cells incapable of reproduction and repair. In embodiments of the invention, a single monochromatic x-ray beam source is used for both imaging and radiotherapy.

Abstract: In a method for mapping a large examination volume with an MR spectrometer, at least one examination segment in the examination volume is defined a positioning device is activated such that the examination segment is situated in an optimal measurement volume of the MR spectrometer. In order to improve the image quality, physiological events in the body of the patient are detected by a detection device, in which physiological events an acquisition state, in which an MR acquisition is possible, and a wait state in which no MR acquisition is possible, occur cyclically. In at least one wait state, the positioning device is moved such that the examination segment is situated in the optimal measurement volume of the MR spectrometer.

Abstract: A radiation emission control method, apparatus and the program capable of detecting respiratory phases of a test subject with constant accuracy and emitting radiation rays to the test subject in synchronization with an intended respiratory phase, while minimizing the radiation exposure to the subject. A test subject having a contour that varies with the respiration is optically imaged continuously by the optical image obtaining section to sequentially obtain optical images of the subject, and respiratory phases of the subject are detected simultaneously with the optical imaging by the respiratory phase detecting section based on the contour of the subject on the optical images. During the optical imaging, a radiation source is controlled by the control section such that radiation rays are emitted to the test subject when the detected respiratory phase corresponds to an intended respiratory phase of the subject.

Abstract: A sound output portion 7, a power supply switch 4, and a power supply portion 3, which are provided at a detachable portion A of a manipulation grip 1 are configured to be detachable from a main body portion B of the manipulation grip 1. Accordingly, upon sterilization using a sterilizing gas such as an EOG, the sound output portion 7, the power supply switch 4, and the power supply portion 3 can be removed on a detachable portion A basis. This in turn allows for using a sterilizing gas such as EOG to sterilize the radiation detector except the sound output portion 7, the power supply switch 4, and the power supply portion 3, thereby preventing damage caused by a negative pressure in the sound output portion 7.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for: collecting radiation emitted from an object embedded in a biological sample from multiple sides of the sample; and estimating the size of the object based on the collected radiation.

Abstract: A method for medical imaging is provided, wherein a current position of a medical instrument inserted into a moving examination area of a patient is displayed. The medical instrument is displayed within a reconstructed three-dimensional image of the moving examination area based on position data of the instrument registered with a coordinate system of the reconstructed three-dimensional image. The reconstructed three-dimensional image is a simulation of the moving examination area using a pre-insertion 3D image of the examination area correlated with pre-insertion ECG data of the patient. A display of the reconstructed three-dimensional image is triggered by current ECG data of the patient.

Abstract: A system and method of integrating a nuclear medicine imaging device such as a gamma camera with a patient handling system where the nuclear medicine imaging system does not prevent full access to the patient and does not interfere with the field of view of accompanying modalities accommodated by use of the patient handling system.

Abstract: Cardiac information of a patient is displayed by obtaining a plurality of MRI cine loops of the heart of the patient at a plurality of heart rates, the plurality of cine loops including both wall motion cine loops and at least one perfusion cine loops and simultaneously displaying both the wall motion cine loops and the at least one perfusion cine loop.

Abstract: In an IVUS system, units are located outside or remote from the patient except for the display monitor (12), the catheter interface module (4) and the catheter (3) which are located adjacent the patient together with a control arrangement (13) to enable the said units to be remotely controlled from a position adjacent the patient.