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

Abstract: A method for accessing the lumen of a vessel may utilize a reusable handheld device. The reusable handheld device includes an imaging device attachment utilized to secure an image capturing instrument, an arm coupled to the imaging device attachment, and a depth scale coupled to the arm, wherein the depth scale provides a scale indicating an insertion depth. A disposable cartridge attaches to the reusable handheld device. The disposable cartridge includes a sheath, needle or guidewire coupled to the disposable cartridge. The sheath or needle extends to the insertion depth when fully advanced, thereby allowing the sheath, needle, or guidewire to access the lumen of a vessel.

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: In order to acquire high resolution ultrasound images while maintaining an appropriate frame rate in ultrasound diagnostic devices, the disclosed method generates high resolution ultrasound images by performing image reconstruction on the basis of multiple ultrasound frame images captured along a time series and the magnitudes of positional shifts, or forms high resolution ultrasound images by performing image reconstruction on the basis of multiple ultrasound frame images acquired by controlling the ultrasound probe and varying scan orientation or scan focal length frame by frame.

Abstract: In a method for re-entry from extraluminal space into the central lumen of a vessel, a guidewire is advanced into the extraluminal space of the vessel, and then a directional catheter is advanced over the guidewire through the extraluminal space. Thereafter, the guidewire is removed from the directional catheter, an ultrasound device is placed through the directional catheter, and the ultrasound device is advanced through the extraluminal space into the central lumen and then activated.

Abstract: A combination material can be infused into a subject and a determination can be made of a VOD and/or a convection gradient of a liquid material portion in the VOD. The combination material can be infused in the subject using selected parameters. A correlation of data relating to the liquid material can be made to a selected material to determine parameters for infusion the selected material.

Abstract: To improve the overall navigation process for minimally invasive repair of heart valve leaflets, an augmented reality technique capable of providing a robust three-dimensional context for transesophogeal echocardiography data has been developed. In the context of various embodiment of the invention, augmented reality essentially refers to a system in which the primary environment is virtual but the environment is augmented by real elements. In this real-time environment, the surgeon can easily and intuitively identify the tool, surgical targets, and high risk areas, and view tool trajectories and orientations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ultrasound beamforming are provided. One method includes obtaining ultrasound data using receive line spacing that changes as a function of depth, determining a number of transmit events to combine at each of a plurality of points for use in combining the obtained ultrasound data, and aligning the ultrasound data with time delays computed from a probe geometry used to obtain the ultrasound data. The method also includes combining the aligned ultrasound data to generate an ultrasound image.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for performing optical measurements, including a light source configured to emit a light beam, a first pattern generator defining a first longitudinal axis and configured to project a first generated pattern, and a second pattern generator defining a second longitudinal axis and configured to project a second generated pattern. The first and second generated patterns have different angular divergency. The first pattern generator is a diffractive circle pattern generator, whereas the second pattern generator is a diffractive cross pattern generator. Adjustment of the first and second generated patterns with respect to each other cause the system to serve as an optical ruler for performing the optical measurements when the first and second generate patterns overlap or coincide with each other at certain points.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for aligning first and second light signals on an optical path directed to a target, where the first light signal provides a visualization of the target, and a portion of the second light signal reflects from at least one subsurface of the target. The method also includes aligning a first focal point of the first light signal and a second focal point of the second light signal, where the first focal point is at least in a first proximate location of the second focal point, and adjusting a first position of the first and second focal points to be in at least a second proximate location of the target without adjusting the at least first proximate location of the first focal point relative to the second focal point. Other embodiments are disclosed.

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: An occlusion device for vascular surgery, suitable for clogging treatments of vascular entry sites and for endovascular interventions such as embolizations of blood vessels, treatment of arteriovenous malformations or small aneurysms, arterial dissections and the like, by releasing in an operation region a quick setting surgical glue or haemostatic fluid, through an outlet mouth of a duct. The device prevents the surgical glue from contacting within the duct a patient's biological fluids, in particular blood, which would close the duct. In the case of clogging treatments of vascular entry sites, a backflow preventing device may be provided, preferably provided by a coupling device between the duct and an introducer sheath by which an outlet mouth is kept in contact to keep in a one-way fluid tight contact against the outer surface of the introducer sheath until an injection pressure P2 is applied to cause release of the surgical glue.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasound probe configured to transmit toward and receive from a three-dimensional region of a subject, a transmitting and receiving unit configured to acquire ultrasound data by a plurality of executions of multibeam forming, comprising forming a plurality of sets of ultrasound data along a plurality of directions by a one-time transmitting and receiving operation of the ultrasound probe, a data synthesizing unit configured to synthesize a plurality of sets of data relating to the ultrasound data acquired during each of said executions, the sets being acquired along a respective plurality of different receiving directions with respect to a transmitting direction, to generate synthesized ultrasound data, and an image data generation unit configured to generate image data on the basis of the synthesized ultrasound data.

Abstract: A flexure display is a display graph in which positions of a plurality of surface points and amounts of displacement are correlated. A slider provides a user interface for setting time. A time which is set through the slider is reflected on the flexure display or the like. The flexure display provides a graph showing an amount of displacement of each surface point at the time which is set through the slider. A load display shows a temporal change of an amount of load applied to the bone. A strain display shows a temporal change of an amount of strain of the bone. Time markers showing a predetermined time are displayed on the load display and strain display. The time markers are displayed according to the time which is set through the slider.

Abstract: An sound probe includes an array of transducer elements with a plurality of transducer elements arranged in a first direction and which makes an interconversion between an electric pulse and an ultrasonic wave; an acoustic lens with a convex surface in a transmission direction of the ultrasonic wave on a cross section that is parallel to the first direction and the transmission direction and which converges the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the plurality of transducer elements; and at least two acoustic adjustment layers made of a material that has a different sound velocity from the acoustic lens and arranged between at least two of the transducer elements. At least one of the material and a thickness of each of the at least two acoustic adjustment layers in the transmission direction are different from each other.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system (50) includes analog and/or digital components which are configurable by firmware data. An ultrasound probe (10) contains firmware data for configuring the programmable devices of an ultrasound system for operation with the probe. The firmware data is uploaded from the probe and used to configure the analog and/or digital components for operation with the probe at runtime.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for targeting diseased tissue with a radiation beam. One system includes an imaging element configured to generate a first observation of an object, the first observation generated at a first time, the object associated with a volume of interest (VOI), the VOI comprising a volume within a body of a patient. The system further includes one or more processors configured to determine a first positioning of the VOI based at least in part on the first observation of the object determine a second time for the imaging element based at least in part on a positioning parameter associated with the first positioning of the VOI, and generate a second observation of the object at the second time.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the prediction of a likely contrast medium behavior for a contrast medium-assisted examination of an object under investigation. In an embodiment, the method includes detecting patient-specific blood flow behavior data in a pre-measurement making use of a defined examination protocol and determining an individual impulse response function from the blood flow behavior data; detecting a pre-measured heart rate signal associated with the pre-measurement; and predicting the likely contrast medium behavior based on the individual impulse response function, the pre-measured heart rate signal and a current examination protocol, and a currently detected heart rate signal. A method for activation of a medical imaging system is also disclosed. Also disclosed are a device for predicting a likely contrast medium behavior, a control device with a device of this type for an imaging system, and an imaging system with a control device.

Abstract: An ultrasonic treatment system includes a probe which transmits ultrasonic vibration. In the system, a first energy generator generates treatment energy suitable for treating a living tissue in accordance with an instruction from a first instruction part. The probe is made ultrasonically vibrate with the first amplitude. A second energy generator generates destruction energy suitable for destroying the probe in accordance with an instruction from a second instruction part. The probe is made ultrasonically vibrate with the second amplitude.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described that include ultrasound imaging devices, which may operate in a transmissive ultrasound imaging modality, and which may be used to detect properties of interest of a subject such as index of refraction, density and/or speed of sound. Devices suitable for performing high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), as well as HIFU and ultrasound imaging, are also described.