Abstract: An apparatus for use in diagnosing the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a patient includes a sensing module structured to measure a parameter indicative of a tremor in the patient's neck, tongue and/or throat muscles while the patient is awake, the parameter not being airflow through the patient's airway. The sensing module generates one or more electrical signals based on the measured parameter. The apparatus also includes a processor operatively coupled to the sensing module, the processor being structured to receive the one or more electrical signals, perform an analysis of the one or more electrical signals, and based on the analysis determine whether the tremor has a frequency in at least one predetermined frequency range that is indicative of OSA.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described which guide a surgeon in performing a reconstructive or cosmetic procedure. The apparatus and methods utilize three dimensional presentations of the target surgical site incorporating one or more virtual surgical guides which help attain proper alignment and orientation of the post surgical outcome.

Abstract: A radiological imaging apparatus (10) acquires a radiological brain image of a subject after administration of a radio tracer binding to a target substance indicative of a clinical pathology. In one embodiment, the clinical pathology is amyloid deposits in the brain at a level correlative with Alzheimer's disease and the target substance is amyloid deposits. A processor (C) tests for the clinical pathology by: performing non-rigid registration of the brain image with a positive template (32P) indicative of having the clinical pathology and with a negative template (32N) indicative of not having the clinical pathology; generating positive and negative result metrics (36P, 36N) quantifying closeness of the registration with the positive and negative template respectively; and generating a test result (54) based on the positive result metric and the negative result metric. An independent test result is generated by quantifying a second mode of an intensity histogram for the brain image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature distribution determining apparatus for determining a temperature distribution within an object caused by applying energy to the object. A temperature distribution measuring unit (6, 7) measures a spatially and temporally dependent first temperature distribution in the object (3), while the energy is applied to the object (3) such that the object (3) is heated to a temperature within a first temperature range, and a temperature distribution estimating unit (5) estimates a spatially and temporally dependent second temperature distribution in the object (3) within a second temperature range, which is different to the first temperature range, based on the spatial and temporal dependence of the measured first temperature distribution. Since temperature distributions can be obtained not only in the first temperature range, but also in the second temperature range, the overall temperature range, in which the temperature distribution can be determined, can be increased.

Abstract: A device for endoluminal therapeutic and diagnostic ultrasound procedures includes a motor which rotates a drive shaft and ultrasound transducer. In one example, conductors attach to the transducer and extend through a hollow drive shaft. In another example, a bias member conducts electric signals and stores energy. The device includes an operational state in which the motor rotates the drive shaft alternatingly between a first direction and an opposite second direction.

Abstract: Values for ultrasound acquisition parameters are altered in a manifold space. The number of parameters to be set is reduced using a manifold. Virtual parameters different than the acquisition parameters are used to alter the greater number of acquisition parameters. In a further use, optimum image settings may be obtained in an automated system by measuring image quality for feeding back to virtual parameter adjustment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for planar imaging with detectors having moving heads are provided. One system includes a gantry having an opening therethrough, a patient table movable through the opening of the gantry along an examination axis, and a plurality of detector units mounted to the gantry and aligned in a row transverse to the examination axis. The plurality of detector units are spaced apart from each other, wherein the spacing forms gaps between adjacent detector units. The plurality of detector units are configured to acquire Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) data. The system further includes a controller configured to control movement of the patient table and the plurality of detector units to acquire two-dimensional (2D) SPECT data, wherein the plurality of detector units remain in a fixed relative orientation with respect to each other when acquiring the 2D SPECT data and move together to acquire the 2D SPECT data.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to aligning a patient with a target position of a magnetic resonance imaging system. For example, a computer may receive an input identifying a set of coordinates to be aligned with a target position of the magnetic resonance imaging system. The coordinates may correspond to a position of an anatomical feature of a patient within the magnetic resonance imaging system. The computer may also calculate a first travel distance and a second travel distance. Each of the first and second travel distances may be a distance along first and second axes, respectively, along which a patient handling system of the magnetic resonance imaging system is capable of moving. The computer may further reposition the patient handling system according to both the first travel distance and the second travel distance such that the anatomical feature is aligned with the target position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for image processing based on ultrasound data. The system may include an IVUS catheter configured to collect data vectors including ultrasound data and an imaging engine configured to process the ultrasound data of the data vectors. The imaging engine may receive the data vectors and divide the data vectors into different sets. The ultrasound data of each respective set may be averaged and then an envelope of each set may be detected. The envelopes of each set may then be averaged to generate an enhanced data vector which may be used to generate an image.

Abstract: An ultrasound endoscope system includes: an ultrasound endoscope that wirelessly transmits and receives endoscope state information; a video processor including a first read-out section that reads out the endoscope state information of the ultrasound endoscope; an ultrasound observation apparatus including a second read-out section that reads out endoscope state information obtained by a communication section for observation apparatus; and a control section that compares the endoscope state information obtained by the first read-out section in the video processor and the endoscope state information obtained by the second read-out section in the ultrasound observation apparatus, and causes sharing of information related to a subject to be started between the video processor and the ultrasound observation apparatus only when the endoscope state information obtained by the first read-out section and the endoscope state information obtained by the second read-out section match with each other.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to method of determining a treatment plan with Botulinum Toxin (BT) and other procedures able to modify facial expressions, the method includes using a series of facial images of a patient eliciting various expressions to select individual expressive features as candidates for modification, the selected expressive features mapping to muscles that are used to create such expressive features, the muscles mapping into related expressive features of facial images of the patient eliciting different expressions, the related expressive features being weighted so as to provide further information used in determining an optimum treatment dosing for each treatment location. In an illustrative example, the method may include mapping the facial image of the patient to a model image using facial markers. In an exemplary embodiment, the method may advantageously provide a treatment that results in optimum expressive features as revealed in many different expressions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integration of a PET detector with a CT gantry are provided. One system includes an x-ray computed tomography (CT) gantry having a rotating portion and a stationary portion within a housing, and including a bore volume therethrough. The system also includes an x-ray source and an x-ray detector coupled to the rotating portion. The system further includes a positron emission tomography (PET) detector, wherein the PET detector is coupled to the stationary portion of the CT gantry, such that the PET detector extends at least partially into the CT gantry with at least a portion of the PET detector within the housing of the CT gantry.

Abstract: A needle guide includes an attachment means for attachment to an imaging probe that forms an image of an area, a fixed part, and a movable part movable at an angle. The movable part includes one or more needle guide elements that receive a needle in a guiding manner, and at least one rotation sensor to measure the angular rotation of the movable part. A method for determining the position of a needle attached to the needle guide relative to the imaging probe is also disclosed.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for compensating for motion induced artifacts in physiological signals extracted from a video of a subject being monitored for a physiological function in a non-contact, remote sensing environment. The present method identifies a center frequency from a physiological signal obtained from processing a prior video segment. Since a moment to moment change in pulse frequency from one video segment to a next is not very large, signals obtained from sequential video segments can be repeatedly processed and an adaptive band-pass filter repeatedly re-configured and used to filter a next video segment, and so on. Using the teachings disclosed herein, a motion-compensated continuous cardiac signal can be obtained for the subject for continuous monitoring of the subject's cardiac function via video imaging. The teachings hereof provide an effective means for compensating for movement by the subject during video acquisition. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer element unit includes a substrate, a first ultrasonic transducer element, and a projecting portion. The substrate includes openings being arranged in an array pattern and a main surface. The first ultrasonic transducer element is configured at a first opening of the openings on the main surface of the substrate and has a first height in a vertical direction from the main surface. The projecting portion is configured not to overlap with the first ultrasonic transducer element in a planar view in a thickness direction of the substrate on the main surface and having a second height which is greater than the first height in the vertical direction.

Abstract: First and second white light is generated by excitations of phosphors with first and second laser beams having center wavelengths of 473 nm and 445 nm, respectively. The first and second white light is applied, in respective frames, sequentially to a region of interest in a subject. A color image sensor images the region of interest in the each frame. Based on a shift amount, calculated from green signals of first and second frames, between images, an image of a blue signal of the first frame is moved to be aligned with an image of a green signal and an image of a red signal of the second frame. After the alignment, an oxygen saturation image representing an oxygen saturation level of hemoglobin in blood is produced from the blue signal of the first frame and green and red signals of the second frame.