Abstract: An X-ray CT system (1000) includes a CT scanner (300) which obtains diagnostic images of a patient, a chemical liquid injector (100) which injects a chemical liquid into a patient whose images are obtained, an operation device (400), I/Fs (320, 421) for transmitting and receiving data between the CT scanner (300) and the operation device (400) and I/Fs (120, 420) for transmitting and receiving data between the chemical liquid injector (100) and the operation device (400). The operation device includes an input section used to set an injection condition for the chemical liquid by the chemical liquid injector (100) and an imaging condition by the CT scanner (300), a control section for controlling operation of the chemical liquid injector (100) and operation of the CT scanner (300) in accordance with the setting and a display section (450) for displaying information relating to the setting of the injection condition and the imaging condition and an obtained image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing, or providing a prognosis to, or for providing the likelihood of developing, malignant melanoma in a subject, the method comprising the steps of: (a) measuring two or more markers in blood perfusion dynamics at and/or around a skin lesion site; and (b) determining if the two or more markers is different to a normal value. The invention also relates to a device for diagnosing/providing a prognosis to/for malignant melanoma in a subject.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance and ultrasound parametric image is fused or combined. MRI and ultrasound imaging are used to acquire the same type of parametric images. Fused data is created by combining ultrasound and MRI parametric data at times for which both types of data are available. Rather than sacrificing rate, fused data is created for times for which MRI data is not acquired. A curve representing the values of the parameter over time is fit to the available MRI and ultrasound data of each location, resulting in fused data at times for which MRI data is not available.

Abstract: An ultrasound device including a main processing unit, a probe part, an array, and an apodization unit that receives an ultrasound signal from the array, the signal having multiple channels, that determines a weight for each channel based on an apodization profile being one of ring-centered and edge-centered, and that multiplies the received ultrasound signal by the determined weight for each channel. The array includes a first area including a first plurality of elements having a first functionality, a second area including a second plurality of elements having a second functionality, and a third area including a third plurality of elements having a third functionality different from the first functionality. The second area further includes a fourth area having a number of elements that are switchable between the second and third types of functionality. The array also includes a dynamic spot including the third and fourth areas.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for positioning medical devices onto (or close to) a desired portion of the interior wall of an internal channel, such as for scan imaging, for photodynamic therapy and/or for optical temperature measurement. In one embodiment, a catheter assembly has a distal portion that can be changed from a configuration suitable for traversing the internal channel to another configuration suitable for scan at least a spiral section of the interior wall of an internal channel, such as an artery. In one example, the distal portion spirals into gentle contact with (or close to) a spiral section of the artery wall for Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scanning. The spiral radius may be changed through the use of a guidewire, a tendon, a spiral balloon, a tube, or other ways.

Abstract: A method for displaying a position of a medical device, such as a catheter, during insertion thereof into a patient. In one example embodiment, the method includes obtaining a first set of detected position data relating to a location marker, such as a permanent magnet, then determining a possible first position thereof. A first confidence level relating to a match between the first set of detected position data and a first set of predicted position data is assigned. A determination is made whether the first confidence level meets or exceeds a first threshold. If the first confidence level meets or exceeds the first threshold, a determination is then made whether the first position of the location marker is within a first detection zone. If the first position of the location marker is within the first detection zone, the first position of the location marker is displayed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a combined radiation therapy and magnetic resonance unit. For this purpose, in accordance with the invention a combined radiation therapy and magnetic resonance unit is provided comprising a magnetic resonance diagnosis part with an interior, which is limited in radial direction by a main magnet, and a radiation therapy part for the irradiation of an irradiation area within the interior, wherein at least parts of the radiation therapy part, which comprise a beam deflection arrangement, are arranged within the interior.

Abstract: A tomographic fluorescent imaging device for imaging fluorophores in biological tissues has a scanned laser for scanning the tissue and a camera for receiving light from the biological tissue at an angle to the beam at a second wavelength ten or more nanometers greater in wavelength than the wavelength of the laser. Use of both intrinsic and extrinsic fluorophores is described. Images are obtained at each of several positions of the beam. An image processing system receives the series of images, models a path of the beam through the tissue, and determines depth of fluorophore in tissue from intersections of the modeled path of the beam and the path of the received light. The laser is of 600 nm or longer wavelength, to provide penetration of tissue. The imaging device is used during surgery to visualize lesions of various types to ensure complete removal of malignant tumors.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a plurality of elongated rails, a scanhead assembly, and a small animal mount assembly. The scanhead assembly is mounted to be moveable in a linear bidirectional manner along a longitudinal axis of the first rail. The small-animal mount assembly is mounted to be moveable in a linear bidirectional manner along a longitudinal axis of the second rail. The second rail is mounted relative to the first rail so the longitudinal axis of the second rail is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the first rail. The imaging system may also comprise a needle injection assembly that is mounted to be moveable in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the third rail. The third rail is mounted such that a longitudinal axis of the third rail is substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the first rail.

Abstract: An iteration method for computing a distribution of one or more properties within an object comprises defining a first mesh of the object, applying an excitation to the object, computing a response of the object to the applied excitation, obtaining a reference response of the object corresponding to the applied excitation, computing a distribution of one or more properties of the object, and updating at least a subset of the nodes of the first mesh to form an updated mesh of the object. The distribution of one or more properties of the object is computed using the computed response, the reference response, and the first mesh. The first mesh includes a plurality of nodes and elements. A connectivity relationship of the subset of the nodes in the updated mesh remains the same as in the first mesh.

Abstract: A bone marker device for use in surgery. The device has attachment means which is/are attachable to bone that will ultimately be resected during the surgery. A guiding device that is removably securable to the bone of a patient adjacent to the joint and on which the bone marker device may be mounted. A guide member of the guiding device has a slot for receiving a bone resector and enabling accurate resection of bone around the joint.

Abstract: The present invention is a guide wire imaging device for vascular or non-vascular imaging utilizing optic acoustical methods, which device has a profile of less than 1 mm in diameter. The ultrasound imaging device of the invention comprises a single mode optical fiber with at least one Bragg grating, and a piezoelectric or piezo-ceramic jacket, which device may achieve omnidirectional (360°) imaging. The imaging guide wire of the invention can function as a guide wire for vascular interventions, can enable real time imaging during balloon inflation, and stent deployment, thus will provide clinical information that is not available when catheter-based imaging systems are used. The device of the invention may enable shortened total procedure times, including the fluoroscopy time, will also reduce radiation exposure to the patient and to the operator.

Abstract: Methods for non-invasive fat reduction can include targeting a region of interest below a surface of skin, which contains fat and delivering ultrasound energy to the region of interest. The ultrasound energy generates a thermal lesion with said ultrasound energy on a fat cell. The lesion can create an opening in the surface of the fat cell, which allows the draining of a fluid out of the fat cell and through the opening. In addition, by applying ultrasound energy to fat cells to increase the temperature to between 43 degrees and 49 degrees, cell apoptosis can be realized, thereby resulting in reduction of fat.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and to a method for adaptive three-dimensional derivation of a proximal isokinetic shell of a proximal flow convergence zone that forms in an observation area in a moving fluid, wherein the magnitude of the velocity of the fluid at each point of the proximal isokinetic shell is identical and equal to a velocity reference value, the method including: a) preparing locally distributed velocity measurements in a surrounding area of the observation area, the measurements representing at least one directional component of the local velocity of the fluid in a respective measurement direction, b) preparing an approximation surface as an initial proximal isokinetic shell) in such a way that the entire flow, at least substantially, in the flow convergence zone penetrates the approximation surface, c) establishing a plurality of approximation points on the approximation surface, d) determining the respective velocity measurements at the respective approximation points, e) calculating a

Abstract: Object is that an output sound pressure at transmission or an output voltage at reception of a predetermined higher resonance component becomes higher than those of the primary resonance component. The piezoelectric material layer 24 has an electrode on the surface of the piezoelectric material of between the layer and both ends, and outputs and inputs an electrical signal with this electrode. The piezoelectric material 24 has a remanent polarization in a thickness direction, the relationship of the (4P+1)th layer piezoelectric material from fixed end side is used as the basic relationship, piezoelectric materials are periodically arranged so that piezoelectric materials of (4p+2)th and (4p+3)th layer each has an opposite relationship, and (4p+4)th layer has the same relationship as the basic relationship.

Abstract: A method of producing a patient image indicating proton stopping power of the tissue may employ photon attenuation information converted to proton stopping power. The conversion uses different conversion functions for particular tissue types to account for a strong atomic number dependency in the conversion process. Megavoltage x-rays may be used for improved accuracy.

Abstract: In time phases except a first time phase, a contour tracking part tracks the position of a region of interest based on image data acquired in each of the time phases. A re-tracking part receives correction of the position of the region of interest in a second time phase, and obtains the position of the corrected region of interest in and after the second time phase based on the image data acquired in and after the second time phase. From position information of the region of interest in and before the second time phase and position information of the corrected region of interest in and after the second time phase, a position calculator obtains position information of the region of interest in all the time phases. A computing part obtains motion information of a tissue within the region of interest based on the position information of the region of interest.

Abstract: An imaging method for identifying abnormal tissue in the lung is provided, comprising the recording of slice images of the lung by means of X-ray radiation, recording of blood vessels, differentiation of blood vessels and abnormal tissue, segmentation of the abnormal tissue and display of the segmented abnormal tissue on an output device. In addition, a computer tomograph for identifying abnormal tissue in the lung is provided, having a radiation source for recording slice images of the lung and blood vessels by means of X-ray radiation, a computer unit for differentiating the blood vessels from the abnormal tissue and for segmenting the abnormal tissue, as well as an output device for displaying the segmented abnormal tissue.

Abstract: A method for planning a combined examination of an examination object using two imaging modalities is disclosed, with measurements being taken in at least two regions of the examination object. In at least one embodiment, the method includes planning of at least one measuring protocol of the first modality, which includes at least one measurement in a first of the regions and at least one measurement in a second of the regions; planning of at least one measuring protocol of the second modality, which comprises at least one measurement in the first region; and automatic production of a combined measuring sequence by arranging the measurements in such a manner that carrying out the measuring sequence taking into account modality preparations to be carried out between measurements takes as little time as possible.

Abstract: Magnetic susceptibility is the physical property for T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T2*MRI). The invention relates to methods for reconstructing an internal distribution (3D map) of magnetic susceptibility values, ? (x,y,z), of an object, from 3D T2*MRI phase images, by using Computed Inverse Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CIMRI) tomography. The CIMRI technique solves the inverse problem of the 3D convolution by executing a 3D Total Variation (TV) regularized iterative convolution scheme, using a split Bregman iteration algorithm. The reconstruction of ? (x,y,z) can be designed for low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass features by using a convolution kernel that is modified from the standard dipole kernel. Multiple reconstructions can be implemented in parallel, and averaging the reconstructions can suppress noise.