Abstract: An information providing method which is implementable by using an ultrasound apparatus includes obtaining ultrasound image data which relates to an object; displaying, on a first area of a screen, a gain setup window for setting a gain of the obtained ultrasound image data; receiving a gain which is set by a user on the gain setup window; and displaying, on a second area of the screen, an ultrasound image of the object to which the set gain is applied.

Abstract: A method of medical image registration with respect to a volume of interest (VOI) and an apparatus for performing the method are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a first medical image of a selected section of the VOI, from a first medical apparatus, detecting a sectional image corresponding to the selected section from second medical images previously captured of the VOI, based on an anatomical feature appearing in the first medical image, mapping virtual coordinate schemes of the first and second medical images to produce a mapped virtual coordinate scheme, based on the detected sectional image and the first medical image, and tracking a movement of a section of the VOI captured by the first medical apparatus in the second medical images by using a mapped virtual coordinate scheme.

Abstract: An information providing method which is implementable by using an ultrasound apparatus includes obtaining ultrasound image data which relates to an object; displaying, on a first area of a screen, a gain setup window for setting a gain of the obtained ultrasound image data; receiving a gain which is set by a user on the gain setup window; and displaying, on a second area of the screen, an ultrasound image of the object to which the set gain is applied.

Abstract: Tissue localization devices and methods of localizing tissue using tissue localization devices are disclosed. The tissue localization device can comprise a handle comprising a delivery control, a delivery needle extending out from the handle, and a localization element within the delivery needle. The localization element can be deployed out of the delivery needle or retracted back into the delivery needle when the delivery control is translated in a first direction or a second direction, respectively. The localization element can be coupled to a flexible tracking wire.

Abstract: An exemplary device for detecting a heartbeat of a patient can be provided which can include a transmitter which can provide ultrasonic waves, a receiver that can receive Doppler-shifted ultrasonic waves, and a hardware analyzer coupled to the receiver and which can evaluate a particular moment of the heartbeat of the patient based on a time-dependent signal obtained from the receiver. The hardware analyzer device can comprise a spectrum analyzer configured to extract time-varying frequency component(s) from the time-dependent signal provided by the receiver, and a processing module which can evaluate the moment of the heartbeat based on a variation of at least one of the frequency components in time. The processing module can determine a window of interest (WOI) in time from the variation of the frequency component(s) in time, and the moment when the time-dependent signal provided by the receiver assumes a maximum within the WOI as the moment of the heartbeat.

Abstract: A method and system determines a utility of performing a re-planning on a patient during a radiation therapy planning. Quality improvements which may be made possible by re-planning the patient are automatically estimated, independent of clinician bias. This enables the clinician to make an informed decision regarding whether to re-plan the patient in a fast and efficient manner. This achieves more uniformity and predictability in the adaptive re-planning.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to intravascular imaging system and particularly to processing in multimodal systems. The invention provides an imaging system that splits incoming image data into two signals and performs the same processing step on each of the split signals. The system can then send the two signals down two processing pathways. Methods include receiving an analog image signal, transmitting the received signal to a processing system, splitting the signal to produce a first image signal and a second image signal, and performing a processing operation on the first image signal and the second image signal. The first and second signal include substantially the same information as one another.

Abstract: An information providing method which is implementable by using an ultrasound apparatus includes obtaining ultrasound image data which relates to an object; displaying, on a first area of a screen, a gain setup window for setting a gain of the obtained ultrasound image data; receiving a gain which is set by a user on the gain setup window; and displaying, on a second area of the screen, an ultrasound image of the object to which the set gain is applied.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which quantifies regurgitant flow through a mitral valve. Echo signals received by an ultrasound probe (10) are used to produce an image of a regurgitant flow region, and are processed by a wall filter having a response characteristic which peaks at an intermediate sampling rate between zero and the Nyquist limits. This response characteristic is thus highly sensitive to lower flow rates which may be anticipated in a flow velocity field proximal a regurgitant orifice. Echo signals passed by the wall filter are Doppler processed and used to quantify the flow through the regurgitant orifice.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a synthetic electron density map based on at least one MR image dataset and based on at least one soft tissue image structure and one bone image structure determined in the synthetic electron density map. The soft tissue image structure and the bone image structure may be compared with the corresponding structures in the MR image dataset. From a correction of the first soft tissue image structure and/or of the bone image structure is based on the comparison, a corrected synthetic electron density map is determined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for extracting physiological information from remotely detected electromagnetic radiation emitted or reflected by a subject. A data stream derivable from electromagnetic radiation emitted or reflected by a subject is received. The data stream comprises a sequence of signal samples indicative of desired subject motion and of disturbing motion. The signal samples represent at least one region of interest exhibiting an at least partially periodic indicative motion pattern attributable to at least one physiological parameter, and a non-indicative motion region.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, scanning unit, ultrasonic image data generation unit, layout setting unit, and display unit. The ultrasonic probe includes transducers. The scanning unit scans an object with an ultrasonic beam via the ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic image data generation unit generates data of ultrasonic images based on outputs from the scanning unit. The layout setting unit sets a specific display layout based on an aspect ratio of a display frame of the ultrasonic image or a size of the ultrasonic image and the number of ultrasonic images for simultaneous display. The display unit displays the ultrasonic images in accordance with the set display layout.

Abstract: An information providing method which is implementable by using an ultrasound apparatus includes obtaining ultrasound image data which relates to an object; displaying, on a first area of a screen, a gain setup window for setting a gain of the obtained ultrasound image data; receiving a gain which is set by a user on the gain setup window; and displaying, on a second area of the screen, an ultrasound image of the object to which the set gain is applied.

Abstract: Bubbles (118-122) are utilized in some embodiments as part of a photoacoustic contrast agent (162) and, in some embodiments, to localize one or more locations (126-38) of a source of acoustic energy. The bubbles, such as microbubbles, can be used in proximity of nanoparticles of a first photoacoustic contrast agent, thereby affording a second photoacoustic contrast agent. The bubbles can intercept and re-radiate acoustic energy emitted by light-based activation of the first photoacoustic contrast agent in the immediate vicinity of the bubbles. As a further option, if the nanoparticles permeate further to tissue structures but remain in close enough proximity, their positions can be triangulated by the nearby bubbles, based on direction (144-148) and time delays (150-160) of ultrasound received by a transducer array.

Abstract: A guidewire insertion tool configured to measure a length of an anatomic region. The tool can include a housing, a light chamber, and a track at least partially extending through the light chamber. The track is adapted to guide a guidewire as it is advanced through the insertion tool. The tool can also include an optical sensor assembly in optical communication with the light chamber. The optical sensor assembly can include one or more light sources, an optical sensor, and a magnifier. The one or more light sources can be adapted to direct light toward a portion of the guidewire within the track, and the optical sensor can be adapted to receive reflected light from the portion of the guidewire within the tract. A processing unit can analyze data from the optical sensor assembly to determine the length of the anatomic region and output the measurement to a display.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting lesions in ultrasound images. The method includes acquiring ultrasound information, determining discriminative descriptors that describe the texture of a candidate lesion region, and classifying each of the discriminative descriptors as one of a top boundary pixel, a lesion interior pixel, a lower boundary pixel, or a normal tissue pixel. The method also includes determining a pattern of transitions between the classified discriminative descriptors, and classifying the candidate lesion region as a lesion or normal tissue based on the pattern of transitions between the classified discriminative descriptors.

Abstract: Described herein is a sensing wire for locating a blood vessel in a patient. The sensing wire comprises a hollow, rigid tube including a lumen extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion, an ultrasonic sensor coupled to the distal portion of the tube, and a communication assembly positioned at the distal portion and coupled to the ultrasound sensor. Also described is a system for accessing and evaluating a blood vessel in a patient. The system comprises an access sensor wire, an access needle sized to receive the access sensor wire, and a second sensing wire configured to be positioned within the access needle. A method is also disclosed for accessing a blood vessel with an introduction needle, where a short access sensing wire is replaced by a much longer second sensing wire after the needle is positioned in the vessel.

Abstract: Systems and methods are proposed for non-contact monitoring of spatio-temporal mechanics comprising motion patterns of respiratory muscles, lungs and diaphragm. The depth capable sensors system is comprised of modules, including a depth estimation module, a reference shape generation module, a region of interest shape estimation module, and a shape comparison module. A recommender module is optionally included. The acquisition of spatio-temporal respiratory mechanic data comprising a time varying sequence of spatially dependent representations of the respiratory mechanics of the subject are processed for identifying differences between the subject's actual respiratory mechanics and desired mechanics that can improve the health of the subject, or identify particular maladies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for vital sign measurement of a person (2), comprising presentation means (10) for presenting a person (2) with a visual theme (20), illumination means (11) for illuminating an illumination area (3), in which said person (2) is located, whose vital signs shall be measured, optical measurement means (12) for optically detecting optical detection signals (23) from said illumination area (3), evaluation means (13) for evaluating said optical detection signals (23) and deriving a vital sign information (24) from them, and control means (14) for controlling said illumination means (11) to illuminate said illumination area (3) allowing the detection of optical detection signals (23), from which a vital sign information (24) can be derived despite changes of the visual theme (20).

Abstract: A system for imaging an object is provided including a first imaging acquisition module, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition module, and a first reconstruction module. The first imaging acquisition module is configured to acquire imaging information using a first non-MRI modality. The MRI acquisition module is configured to acquire MR non-imaging, foreign structure (NFIS) information. The MR NFIS information is acquired via at least one tracking coil associated with an external non-therapeutic (ENT) structure. The MR NIFS information corresponds to at least one of a position or orientation of the ENT structure. The first reconstruction module is configured to obtain the MR NIFS information and use the MR NIFS information to correct an attenuation in the imaging information acquired by the first imaging acquisition module associated with the ENT structure.