Abstract: An electromagnetic tomography system for gathering measurement data pertaining to a human head includes an image chamber unit, a control system, and a housing. The image chamber unit includes an antenna assembly defining a horizontally-oriented imaging chamber and including an array of antennas arranged around the imaging chamber. The antennas include at least some transmitting antennas and some receiving antennas. The control system causes the transmitting antennas to transmit a low power electromagnetic field that is received by the receiving antennas after passing through a patient's head in the imaging chamber. A data tensor is produced that may be inversed to reconstruct a 3D distribution of dielectric properties within the head and to create an image. The housing at least partially contains the antenna assembly and has a front entry opening into the imaging chamber. The head is inserted horizontally through the front entry opening and into the imaging chamber.

Abstract: An ultrasound observation apparatus includes: an ultrasound probe; a transmitting-receiving section; an image processing section; an input section; a reference image storage section; a first position correction section; a movie storage section; a TIC analysis section; a second position correction section; a sensor; and a positional information storage section, wherein the first position correction section automatically corrects, based on information of a position and direction of the ultrasound probe, a scanning plane to allow a reference image to be constantly displayed, the second position correction section automatically corrects a position of second region of interest, based on the information of the position and direction of the ultrasound probe, and the transmitting-receiving section controls an output of ultrasound beam to allow an output of ultrasound beam in acquisition of temporal variation data of contrast luminance to be larger than an output of ultrasound beam in acquisition of volume data.

Abstract: A pulse wave sensor includes: a light emitting unit configured to emit light onto a living body; a light receiving unit configured to receive light transmitted through or reflected from the living body based on the light from the light emitting unit; a pulse wave detecting unit configured to detect a pulse wave of the living body based on a result of light reception by the light receiving unit when the light is emitted from the light emitting unit with a normal light emission intensity; and a light emission intensity adjusting unit configured to cause the light emitting unit to emit light with a predetermined test light emission intensity in a test period prior to the detection of the pulse wave, and set the normal light emission intensity using detection light reception intensity in the light receiving unit by the light emission and a predetermined reference light reception intensity.

Abstract: Various aspects of the instant disclosure are directed to imaging tissue. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to apparatuses and methods involving the following. A light source includes an array of light emitters that illuminate a tissue region of a heart wall with light at different wavelength ranges. A light collector collects multispectral images including respective images collected at each of the different wavelength ranges at which the tissue region is illuminated. A catheter positions the light source and light collector proximate the tissue region of the heart wall for respectively illuminating the tissue region and collecting the multispectral images. A display circuit collects and displays one or more images depicting a condition of the health of heart wall tissue, based on the respective images collected at the different ones of the wavelength ranges.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for imaging a patient in an MRI system. This includes a frame, and at least one assembly that includes an earpiece positioner connected to a reference position on the frame, a first lockable joint on the positioner; and an earpiece connected to a patient-proximal end of the positioner by a second joint, wherein the first earpiece is moveably positioned to a selected pitch angle, a selected yaw angle, and a selected one of a plurality of distances relative to the reference position on the frame. The first lockable joint is configured to be tightened to yieldably hold the first earpiece at the selected pitch and yaw angles, and at the selected one of the plurality of distances, relative to the reference position. Optionally a second substantially similar earpiece and assembly are provided. The earpiece(s) optionally include audio transducer(s) and/or RF coil(s).

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a blood clot include a catheter to be inserted into a patient. The catheter is used to deliver low stability microbubbles toward the blood clot in the patient. A thrombolytic agent is delivered toward the blood clot, and ultrasonic energy is applied to the microbubbles to vibrate the microbubbles.

Abstract: Disclosed are an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasound image producing method capable of producing a spatial compound image with reduced artifacts. Reception data of frame images is repeatedly acquired in a data acquisition cycle of four frames such that, of three frame images for use in producing a spatial compound image, the angle difference in steering angle between two frames for which the acquisition of reception data is most temporally separated is smaller than a maximum value among the angle differences in steering angle between two frame images among three frame images having different steering angles, and each time reception data of two frame images or reception data of another two frame images is acquired, three frame images sequentially produced based on reception data for three frames sequentially acquired hitherto are synthesized to produce a spatial compound image.

Abstract: Disclosed are an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasound image producing method capable of producing a spatial compound image with reduced artifacts. Reception data of frame images is repeatedly acquired in a data acquisition cycle of four frames such that, of three frame images for use in producing a spatial compound image, the angle difference in steering angle between two frames for which the acquisition of reception data is most temporally separated is smaller than a maximum value among the angle differences in steering angle between two frame images among three frame images having different steering angles, and each time reception data of two frame images or reception data of another two frame images is acquired, three frame images sequentially produced based on reception data for three frames sequentially acquired hitherto are synthesized to produce a spatial compound image.

Abstract: An MRI safe robot for guiding transrectal prostate biopsy comprises a support arm, a robot body operatively connected to the support arm and a transrectal biopsy device operatively connected to the robot body. The transrectal biopsy device includes an endorectal extension and a biopsy needle device, the endorectal extension including an MRI coil for MRI imaging of the prostate. The robot body includes a first driver module for generating rotational motion of the endorectal extension and a second driver module for angulating the biopsy needle device toward a target area of the prostate for biopsy. The biopsy needle device is rotatable relative to the endorectal extension about a fixed axis and translatable through the endorectal extension. Each of the first and second driver modules include at least one pneumatic motor, wherein the MRI images are used by a physician to determine the target area for biopsy.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for ultrasound diagnostics using spread spectrum, coherent, frequency- and/or phase-coded waveforms.

Abstract: The present subject matter provides a trocar and sheath assembly for placement of implantable devices adjacent a body lumen, and a method of using the trocar and sheath assembly for implanting an implantable device at a target site for controllable coaptation of a patient's urethra.

Abstract: A method and a system for producing images of a subject, such as the heart of a human being. The method may comprise acquiring ultrasound images of the subject with a catheter comprising a position sensor. The method may also comprise capturing a plurality of 4D surface registration points in the acquired ultrasound images corresponding to points on the subject. The method may also comprise registering, in space and time, a high-resolution 4D model of the subject with the plurality of 4D surface registration points. The method may also comprise displaying high resolution, real-time images of the subject during a medical procedure based on the registration of the high resolution 4D model to the 4D surface registration points. Embodiments of the present invention are especially useful in left atrium ablation procedures.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes a scan controller, an image generator, a detector, an image generation controller, an image combiner and a display controller. The scan controller causes to execute a first scan for performing ultrasound transmission in a first direction and a second scan for performing ultrasound transmission in each of a plurality of directions. The image generator generates first ultrasonic image data through the first scan and generates a second ultrasonic image data group through the second scan. The detector detects a line segment based on the second ultrasonic image data group. The image generation controller controls to generate needle image data based on information about the line segment. The image combiner generates composite image data of the first ultrasonic image data and the needle image data. The display controller controls the composite image data to be displayed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for imaging a patient in an MRI system. This includes a frame, and at least one assembly that includes a patient-interface positioner connected to a reference position on the frame, a first lockable joint on the positioner; and a patient interface connected to a patient-proximal end of the positioner by a second joint, wherein the first patient-interface is moveably positioned to a selected pitch angle, a selected yaw angle, and a selected one of a plurality of distances relative to the reference position on the frame. The first lockable joint is configured to be tightened to yieldably hold the first patient-interface at the selected pitch and yaw angles, and at the selected one of the plurality of distances, relative to the reference position. Optionally a second substantially similar patient-interface and assembly are provided. The earpiece(s) optionally include audio transducer(s) and/or RF coil(s).

Abstract: A two-photon imaging system capable of imaging of an image region in real time is presented. The imaging system comprises a source of excitation light that provides the excitation light as a plurality of laser beamlets. The plurality of laser beamlets is collectively scanned by a single-axis scanner along a first direction in the focal plane of the image region and oriented such that neither the rows nor columns are aligned with the first direction. As a result, each laser beamlet scans a different sub-region of the image region and the plurality of sub-regions are simultaneously scanned. As a result, the entirety of the image region is scanned in the same amount of time required to scan one image sub-region.

Abstract: A system, method, and storage device storing computer executable instructions for use in tissue analysis and therapy. An optical probe array has at least two or more optical probes for illuminating tissue and generates light fluorescence and/or diffuse reflectance signals corresponding to the illuminated tissue. One or more ultrasound, CT and MRI imaging guidance systems identify the position of the optical probes relative to the tissue. The imaging guidance system can also be a fusion of an MRI or CT image provided by the MRI or CT imaging guidance system and an ultrasound image provided by the ultrasound imaging guidance system. An imaging system generates a three-dimensional image of the tissue based on the generated light signals and the identified position of the optical probes.

Abstract: A system, method, and storage device storing computer executable instructions for use in tissue analysis and therapy. A motorized optical probe for illuminating tissue generates light fluorescence and/or diffuse reflectance signals corresponding to the illuminated tissue. One or more ultrasound, CT and MRI imaging guidance systems identify the position of the optical probes relative to the tissue. An imaging system generates a three-dimensional image of the tissue based on the generated light signals and the identified position of the optical probe.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for obtaining fractional flow reserve in the presence of a catheter. In a method of determining a fractional flow reserve in the presence of a catheter, the method comprises the steps of obtaining measurements of an inner luminal organ diameter proximal to, at, and distal to a stenosis and a length of the stenosis, obtaining a pressure drop measurement at the stenosis, calculating a volumetric flow of fluid through the inner luminal organ at the stenosis, and determining a stenotic pressure drop at the stenosis corresponding to dimensions of the guidewire as a function of the calculated volumetric flow of fluid through the inner luminal organ at the stenosis, wherein the stenotic pressure drop is indicative of a fractional flow reserve at or near the stenosis.

Abstract: Method and system form a correlated view of human or other animal anatomy using at least one transparent display screen associated with an electronic mobile device. The view relates an optical view with other electromagnetic spectrum images with a non-optical electromagnetic image of selected portions of human or other animal anatomy. At least three visible position markers associate with selected positions of a predetermined portion of human or other animal anatomy. The disclosure forms a correlated view of the predetermined portion of human or other animal anatomy by relating said at least one non-optical electromagnetic image of the at least three visible position markers with a visual image of said at least three visible position markers. The view correlates the size and dimensions of the optical view and non-optical electromagnetic image of the predetermined portion of human or other animal anatomy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating prospective treatments for progressive brain disorders like Alzheimer's disease and the progressive effects of aging involve the use of an imaging device communicatively coupled to a computing device. The imaging device may takes a plurality of brain imaging measurements from each of a plurality of human subjects who are divided into a treated group and an untreated group based on various subject data including whether the subjects carry certain alleles of genes known to increase the risk of developing the brain disorder at issue. The computing device receives the brain imaging measurements from the imaging device and applies an advanced processing method that permits enhanced computational efficiency when calculating rates of change for the two groups and determining whether any calculated difference between the rates is statistically significant.