Abstract: A non-invasive imaging system, including an imaging scanner suitable to generate an imaging signal from a tissue region of a subject under observation, the tissue region having at least one anatomical substructure and more than one constituent tissue type; a signal processing system in communication with the imaging scanner to receive the imaging signal from the imaging scanner; and a data storage unit in communication with the signal processing system, wherein the data storage unit is configured to store a parcellation atlas comprising spatial information of the at least one substructure in the tissue region, wherein the signal processing system is adapted to: reconstruct an image of the tissue region based on the imaging signal; parcellate, based on the parcellation atlas, the at least one anatomical substructure in the image; segment the more than one constituent tissue types in the image; and automatically identify, in the image, a portion of the at least one anatomical substructure that correspond to one

Abstract: The present invention provides low profile intravascular ultrasound catheters adapted to access sites within the patient's body through narrow blood vessels, e.g., the radial artery. In an embodiment, a low profile catheter comprises an catheter sheath, a short guidewire receiver attached to the distal end of the catheter sheath, and a telescope assembly at the proximal end. The catheter sheath comprises a main portion and a tapered portion for increased flexibility toward the distal end of the catheter. In one embodiment, a rotatable and translatable imaging core is received within the catheter sheath for ultrasound imaging. A short guidewire receiver is used to allow the imaging core to be advanced farther distally with respect to the distal end of the catheter. In an embodiment, the catheter sheath extends through a portion of the telescope assembly to provide enhanced support of the imaging core within the telescope assembly.

Abstract: A method, consisting of generating, using a plurality of magnetic transmitters, a magnetic field in a region and introducing a field perturbing element into the region. The method includes characterizing multiple images of each magnetic transmitter in the field perturbing element, and calculating a reaction magnetic field in the region based on the characterized images. The method further includes positioning a probe in the region and measuring a perturbed magnetic field at the probe, and determining a location of the probe in response to the measured perturbed magnetic field and the calculated reaction magnetic field.

Abstract: A number of C-FRP molded material sections that are elongated and made from a carbon fiber reinforced plastic are placed parallel to each other. The C-FRP molded material sections are insulated from each other by honeycomb material sections that are made from an insulating and nonmagnetic material. The C-FRP molded material sections and the honeycomb material sections are maintained by a glass fiber layer into a sheet plate shape.

Abstract: An imaging probe for a biological sample includes an OCT probe and an ultrasound probe combined with the OCT probe in an integral probe package capable of providing by a single scanning operation images from the OCT probe and ultrasound probe to simultaneously provide integrated optical coherence tomography (OCT) and ultrasound imaging of the same biological sample. A method to provide high resolution imaging of biomedical tissue includes the steps of finding an area of interest using the guidance of ultrasound imaging, and obtaining an OCT image and once the area of interest is identified where the combination of the two imaging modalities yields high resolution OCT and deep penetration depth ultrasound imaging.

Abstract: Methods for determining the shear modulus of a tissue of an individual are disclosed. In one embodiment, an acoustic pulse is transmitted and a reference echo signal is received. A first push pulse is transmitted at a second location of the individual. A second push pulse is transmitted at a third location of the individual. A series of tracking pulses are transmitted at the first location and a tracking echo signal is received from each tracking pulse. The effect of the first and second push pulses on the tissue is determined through analysis of the tracking echo signals. The shear modulus of the tissue is calculated based on the effect of the push pulses on the tissue. A system for imaging a region of tissue is presented.

Abstract: A tissue marking system for use in marking a tissue sample comprises an ink-based applicator device and at least one tissue marking clip. The ink-based applicator device includes a container, a first number of ink reservoirs at least partially defined by the container, wherein each reservoir contains ink of a different color, a second number of applicators, wherein each applicator is configured to absorb a quantity of ink for application to the tissue sample, and a cover coupled to and cooperating with the container to fully enclose each of the first number of ink reservoirs. The at least one tissue marking clip includes an actuator portion movable between an actuated position and a non-actuated position, and a jaw portion coupled to the actuator portion and movable between an open position and a closed position in response to movement of the actuator portion between the actuated and non-actuated positions.

Abstract: A method for tracking at least one rigid object part of a rigid reference object, wherein the rigid object part can be detached or removed from the rigid reference object is provided. The method includes obtaining a patient data set of a region around the object part, attaching a first reference star in a fixed position relative to the object part situated on the reference object, detecting reference points on the reference object and ascertaining three-dimensional spatial positions of the reference points of the reference object, assigning the three-dimensional spatial positions of the reference points of the reference object to corresponding points in the patient data set, attaching a second reference star to the object part, ascertaining positional information of the second reference star; and ascertaining positional information of the object part or tracking the object part based on the positional information of the second reference star.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for monitoring changes in a medium is disclosed. The system includes a transmitter configured to generate and transmit a time-varying magnetic field into a medium responsive to a first signal. The system also includes a receiver positioned on an opposite side of the medium from the transmitter and configured to generate a second signal responsive to a received magnetic field at the receiver. The system also includes a processing unit configured to determine a phase shift between the transmitted magnetic field and the received magnetic field for a plurality of frequencies of the transmitted time-varying magnetic field.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ultrasound system capable of providing a plurality of M-mode images corresponding to M-mode lines without moving a probe. A volume data forming and reconstructing unit of the present invention forms volume data based on the ultrasound echo signals, the volume data forming and reconstructing unit being configured to determine a beat period of the moving object and reconstruct the volume data based on the beat period. A processor forms at least one reference image based on the reconstructed volume data and one or more M-mode images corresponding to one or more M-mode lines set on the reference image and a display unit displays the reference image, the M-mode lines and the M-mode images.

Abstract: A system for providing non-invasive ultrasound based treatment to a region of interest is provided. The system comprises an imaging unit for imaging one or more tissue types in the region of interest, an image processing unit that is configured to identify the one or more tissue types in the region of interest, an ultrasound transducer that is configured to focus an ultrasound beam to ablate at least a portion of the identified tissues, and a controller unit that controls a delivery of the ultrasound beam to the region of interest.

Abstract: Path visualization for medical procedures is provided. Different paths are presented to the user. The paths may be ranked, such as determining a cost associated with using each path. The cost may be determined from different sources of data, such as from elasticity and flow ultrasound data. The user may view the options and make an informed choice for the path to use for biopsy or other procedure.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic transmission/reception unit, a volume data generating unit, a projected image generating unit, a two dimensional region-of-interest setting unit, a specifying unit, a calculation unit and a three-dimensional region-of-interest determination unit. The specifying unit specifies cells on rays which pass through the respective pixels in the 2D-ROI and are used to acquire a VR image. The calculation unit calculates the contribution degree of each cell based on the voxel value and opacity of each cell specified and calculates the average value of the contribution degrees of cells equal in distance from the screen of the VR image along the line-of-sight direction.

Abstract: A navigation system for use during a surgical procedure is provided. The navigation system is configured to use electromagnetic tracking data produced by electromagnetic tracking devices and 2D image data produced by a fluoroscope to intra-operatively register 2D images of a patient to a pre-operative 3D image of the patient. In some implementations, a surgeon may be able to perform an interventional or surgical procedure guided by the navigation system.

Abstract: Provided is a fluorescent indication clip for surgery that has an improved function as a position indicator due to a photo-reactive fluorescent material included in the bio-clip, and allows people to rapidly and easily detect the accurate position of an internal operation region, and thus can improve operation accuracy and reduce side effects caused by excessive incision. The fluorescent indication clip includes a self-spreadable clip body, a fluorescent indicator prepared at the rear end of the clip body and including a photo-reactive fluorescent material, and a clamper configured to slide from a position at which the clamper is mounted on the fluorescent indicator to the clip body by an external force, and fasten the clip body to narrow front ends of the clip body.

Abstract: A method for displaying medical image data. The method includes digitally combining 3D volume visualizations to form a plurality of four-dimensional (4D) volume visualizations representing the 3D volume visualizations over a period of time. The plurality of 4D volume visualizations include first and second 4D volume visualizations. The first 4D volume visualization including the entirety of the common region during a first time period, and the second 4D volume visualization including the entirety of the common region during a different second time period. The method also includes digitally combining the first and second 4D volume visualizations by digitally processing the first and second 4D volume visualizations to generate a modified 4D volume visualization of the entirety of the common region.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ultrasound system capable of providing a plurality of M-mode images corresponding to M-mode lines without moving a probe. A volume data forming and reconstructing unit of the present invention forms volume data based on the ultrasound echo signals, the volume data forming and reconstructing unit being configured to determine a beat period of the moving object and reconstruct the volume data based on the beat period. A processor forms at least one reference image based on the reconstructed volume data and one or more M-mode images corresponding to one or more M-mode lines set on the reference image and a display unit displays the reference image, the M-mode lines and the M-mode images.

Abstract: A method for ultrasonic detection and imaging of hemodynamic information includes the steps of transmitting ultrasonic pulses into a body, which are generated by an array of electro-acoustic transducers arranged in a predetermined order and design; receiving reflected pulses with an array of receiving electro-acoustic transducers, which generate receive signals upon stimulation of the reflected pulses, the succession of pulses transmitted to or received from the body being focused along one or more scan lines; generating a Doppler frequency shift signal resulting from the reflection of pulses transmitted by a blood flow into a vessel intersected by the scan line, in a point and along the scan line, or along a direction of propagation of a pulse; determining the direction of blood flow velocity from the average frequency value of Doppler shift frequencies; and displaying the direction of blood flow velocity by graphical and/or chromatic representation differentiating opposite directions.

Abstract: An optical spectroscopic injection needle assembly may include an injection needle, a light source, a spectrometer, a computer and an indicator. The injection needle may include a hollow outer needle, a hollow inner needle, a pair of fiber optical fibers, an inner catheter, an outer catheter, an inner hub, and an outer hub. A proximal end of the outer needle may be fixedly mounted within a distal end of the inner catheter. A distal end of the inner hub may be fixedly mounted on a proximal end of the inner catheter. The inner needle and distal ends of the optical fibers may be positioned within the outer needle. The inner needle and the outer needle may be slidably mounted within the outer catheter to permit the outer needle to be selectively extended or retracted from a distal end of the outer catheter.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system and method include acquiring first ultrasound data, the first ultrasound data comprising data of a first plane through a structure of interest. The ultrasound imaging system and method include tracking the motion of a landmark based on the first ultrasound data. The ultrasound imaging system and method acquiring second ultrasound data, the second ultrasound data including data of a second plane through the structure of interest, the second plane being distinct from the first plane, where the position of the second plane is adjusted to track the motion of the landmark. The ultrasound imaging system and method also includes generating an image based on the second ultrasound data.