Abstract: A method of performing diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) within a tissue of a patient using diffusion magnetic resonance data acquired from a portion of the tissue is disclosed. The diffusion magnetic resonance data includes a plurality of diffusion MR signals associated with one voxel and the one voxel represents an image of the portion of the tissue. The method includes computing an isotropic diffusion portion of the diffusion magnetic resonance data representing isotropic diffusion within the one voxel and dividing the isotropic diffusion portion, which includes a fraction of the diffusion magnetic resonance data representing isotropic diffusion, into a restricted isotropic diffusion portion and a non-restricted isotopic diffusion portion. The restricted isotropic diffusion portion includes a fraction of the isotropic diffusion portion with an apparent diffusion coefficient of less than 0.

Abstract: As part of a real-time three-dimensional (3D) cardiac imaging system and method, anatomical data of a cardiac structure may be acquired and a 3D model of the cardiac structure may be generated. Visual data relevant to a cardiac procedure may be generated, such as location and orientation of a catheter, tags, points, color-coded temperature information, and/or color-coded local activation times (LAT) for the cardiac structure. The visual data superimposed on the 3D model of the cardiac structure may be visually displayed on a visual display device. A glass state view may be generated by generating a modified set of the visual data that includes removing at least a portion of the visual data that obscures a view of an anatomical feature of interest and/or the catheter, and adding edge enhancement to the cardiac structure. The glass state view may be requested to be visually displayed on the visual display device.

Abstract: A monitor for pulsed high energy radiation therapy using a radiation beam passing through a treatment zone, the radiation of 0.2 MEV or greater; has a camera for imaging Cherenkov light from the treatment zone; apparatus for preventing interference by room lighting, the camera synchronized to pulses of the radiation beam; and an image processor adapted to determine extent of the beam area on the patient skin from the images. Additionally an image processor determines cumulative skin dose in the treatment zone from the images. In embodiments, the processor uses a three-dimensional model of a subject to determine mapping of image intensity in images of Cherenkov light to radiation intensity in skin, applies the mapping to images of Cherenkov light to verify skin dose delivered, and accumulates skin dose by summing the maps of skin dose.

Abstract: A rheology system (202) includes a rheology transducer device (204) for introducing mechanical waves into a subject of interest (120). The rheology transducer device (204) includes multiple transducers (212), a driving device (206) for driving the rheology transducer device (204), a sensor device (208) for sensing mechanical waves at the subject of interest (120), and a control device (210) for receiving input from the sensor device (208) and for controlling the driving device (206) based on the received input from the sensor device (208). An MR rheology system (200) includes the above rheology system (202) and an MR imaging system (110) adapted to control the rheology system (200). A rheology method includes with the rheology system (202), driving the rheology transducer device (204) to introduce mechanical waves into the subject of interest (120), sensing mechanical waves at the subject of interest (120), and performing feedback control.

Abstract: A surgical robotic system comprises a manipulator assembly including at least one manipulator arm having a distal portion that is movable with the manipulator arm. The robotic system further comprises a registration device mounted to a surgical table. The registration device includes a registration element shaped to contact with the distal portion of the manipulator arm by receiving the distal portion to define a spatial relationship between the manipulator assembly and the surgical table. The distal portion is movable in a plurality of degrees of freedom, and the plurality of degrees of freedom is reduced by the registration device when the registration device is in contact with the distal portion. The robotic system further comprises a control system that determines the spatial relationship between the manipulator assembly and the surgical table by receiving at least one sensor reading that indicates a position or an orientation of the manipulator arm.

Abstract: A system for detecting blood velocity within a blood vessel includes a transducer array including a plurality of transducers. Each of the transducers includes a carrier substrate, at least one spacer extending upwardly from the substrate, a transducer element attached to the spacer such that the piezoelectric transducer is spaced apart from the substrate, and setting electrodes positioned on the upper surface of the substrate under the piezoelectric transducer. The system also includes a tilt control system that is configured to apply a bias voltage to the setting electrodes which causes the transducer element to pivot about a pivot axis between a first tilted position and a second tilted position.

Abstract: An ultrasonic wave generating device includes a housing to seal an inside of a cartridge; a transducer to generate ultrasonic waves and disposed in the housing; a rotational force applying unit to receive a rotational force from an outside of the housing and perform a rotational motion; a conversion unit to convert the rotational motion of the rotational force applying unit into a rectilinear motion and provide the rectilinear motion to the transducer; and a controller to control an ultrasonic wave generating operation of the transducer.

Abstract: A method or system for imaging and quantifying placental blood perfusion using magnetic resonance image. The method or system provides a noninvasive means of assessing placental function and oxygenation from T2* images without the administration of an exogenous contrast agent. The method or system provides quantitative information regarding the number and spatial distribution of perfusion domains which subdivide the placenta into functional units where oxygen transport occurs, along with estimates of fetal oxyhemoglobin concentration, descriptors of placental oxygen reserve, and parameters representing the facility with which oxygen transport from the maternal to fetal vasculature occurs.

Abstract: An ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus includes the following. An ultrasound probe outputs transmission ultrasound into a subject in response to reception of a pulsed signal and outputs a reception signal in response to reception of ultrasound reflected from the subject. A transmitter generates the pulsed signal and outputs the generated pulsed signal to the ultrasound probe. A receiver receives the reception signal from the ultrasound probe and generates sound-ray data. An image generator generates ultrasound image data from the sound-ray data. An input receiver receives target position information on a target position. A highlighted-area determiner determines a first highlighted area among multiple areas in a body mark based on the target position information. A display combiner combines the body mark including the first highlighted area with the generated ultrasound image data and displays the resulting image on a display unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for real time laparoscopic navigation. Exemplary embodiments can comprise scanning a structure of interest internal to a patient to provide image data; generating a first three-dimensional reconstruction of the structure of interest based on the image data; annotating the first three-dimensional reconstruction of the structure of interest with a plurality of reference points; obtaining spatial coordinates of the plurality of reference points during a laparoscopic procedure; and generating a second three-dimensional reconstruction of the structure of interest based on the spatial coordinates.

Abstract: An optical circuit detects PPG signals reflected from skin tissue at one or more different wavelengths. A processing circuit integrated in the biosensor or in communication with the biosensor processes the PPG signals to obtain a level of vasodilation or a period of vasodilation. The processing circuit may determine a circulation level using a phase offset between the PPG signals and/or a correlation value between the PPG signals.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with an endoluminal data-acquisition device configured to be moved through a lumen of a subject's body, and a two-dimensional angiographic image of the lumen. A value of a luminal-flow-related index of the subject is determined non-invasively at a plurality of locations along the lumen, at least partially by performing image processing on the angiographic image. While the endoluminal data-acquisition device is being moved through the lumen, a set of endoluminal data points of the lumen at a plurality of locations within the lumen is acquired, using the endoluminal data-acquisition device. It is determined that respective endoluminal data points correspond to respective locations along the lumen, and, in response thereto, it is determined that respective endoluminal data points correspond to respective values of the luminal flow-related index. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: An optical sensor module includes a support unit, a light-receiving unit and a light-emitting unit. The support unit includes a main plate, and a side plate inclined relative to the main plate. The light-receiving unit includes a photodetector disposed on the main plate and having a light-receiving surface located away from the main plate, and a light-blocking member covering part of the photodetector. The light-emitting unit emits light toward an imaginary line perpendicular to the light-receiving surface, and is disposed on the side plate. A wearable device including the optical sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: Changes in tissue stiffness have long been associated with disease. Systems and methods for determining the stiffness of tissues using ultrasonography may include a device for inducing a propagating shear wave in tissue and tracking the speed of propagation, which is directly related to tissue stiffness and density. The speed of a propagating shear wave may be detected by imaging a tissue at a high frame rate and detecting the propagating wave as a perturbance in successive image frames relative to a baseline image of the tissue in an undisturbed state. In some embodiments, sufficiently high frame rates may be achieved by using a ping-based ultrasound imaging technique in which unfocused omni-directional pings are transmitted (in an imaging plane or in a hemisphere) into a region of interest. Receiving echoes of the omnidirectional pings with multiple receive apertures allows for substantially improved lateral resolution.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate generally to an elastography method and system for obtaining ultrasound images of an excited tissue over a certain time period, then computationally determining one or more mechanical properties of the tissue within a real time refresh rate. This method can perform elastography in real time as only a thin volume of the excited tissue is imaged and processed. The thin volume includes a desired cross-sectional plane of the tissue and at least two adjacent planes that are adjacent to the desired cross-sectional plane. A maximum number of adjacent planes is selected so that a computer system is capable of computationally determining mechanical properties within a real time refresh rate.

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement apparatus, a portable pressure measurement apparatus, and a calibration method for the blood pressure measurement apparatus are provided. The blood pressure measurement apparatus includes a pulse wave measurer configured to measure pulse wave data of a subject while a user pressurizes and depressurizes the blood pressure measurement apparatus, using a portable pressure measurement apparatus, and a communicator configured to receive pressure data that is applied to the blood pressure measurement apparatus during the pressurizing and the depressurizing of the blood pressure measurement apparatus, from the portable pressure measurement apparatus, the pressure data being measured by the portable pressure measurement apparatus. The blood pressure measurement apparatus further includes a processor configured to update a blood pressure estimation formula, based on the received pressure data and the measured pulse wave data.

Abstract: A biological information detection device includes: a light emitting unit which irradiates a subject with light; a first light receiving unit which receives light from the subject; a second light receiving unit which receives light from the subject; and a beam which is provided between the first light receiving unit and the second light receiving unit, in a plan view in a vertical direction of a light receiving surface of the first light receiving unit.

Abstract: A method for generating one or more images includes collecting data samples representative of a motion of an object, acquiring image data of at least a part of the object over a time interval, synchronizing the data samples and the image data to a common time base, and generating one or more images based on the synchronized image data. A method for generating one or more images includes acquiring image data of at least a part of an object over a time interval, associating the image data with one or more phases of a motion cycle, and constructing one or more images using the image data that are associated with the respective one or more phases.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a quadrature detection section configured to perform quadrature detection on reception radio-frequency data generated by a reception circuit to generate complex data, a frequency analyzer configured to perform a first frequency analysis using the complex data of a set number of sample points starting from a first start point and a second frequency analysis using at least one group of the complex data of the set number of sample points starting from a second start point that is different from the first start point, and to acquire a spectral signal corresponding to each pixel of a Doppler waveform image based on results of the first frequency analysis and the second frequency analysis, and a Doppler waveform image generator configured to generate the Doppler waveform image using the spectral signal.

Abstract: A system for performing an ultrasound scan of cellular tissue includes an ultrasound scanning device having an ultrasound probe, to generate cross-sectional images of the cellular tissue. A probe enclosure houses the ultrasound probe, has a bottom formed by a flexible membrane, is configured to hold an ultrasonic coupling material, and forms a pressurizable cavity adjacent the flexible membrane. An armature supports the probe enclosure and is configured to move the probe enclosure into a position where the flexible membrane is placed adjacent to and displaced by the cellular tissue. A probe positioning assembly supports the ultrasound probe within the probe enclosure and moves the ultrasound probe over the flexible membrane with a head of the ultrasound probe submerged in the ultrasonic coupling material, the ultrasound scanning device generating the cross-sectional images of the cellular tissue as the probe positioning assembly progressively moves the ultrasound probe over the flexible membrane.