Abstract: The invention relates to a method for visually assisting the alignment of a medical instrument, wherein the instrument is visually displayed on an image output in a positional relationship to a part of a patient's body by means of a medical navigation system, wherein an orientation aid is displayed as a virtual model shape at the instrument or in a particular positioning with respect to a characteristic part of the instrument. It also relates to a planning method for optimized instrument alignment with the aid of such an image assisting method.

Abstract: A system and related methods for performing nerve detection during surgical access using ultrasound testing during surgery.

Abstract: Extracting a tubular structure from volume data, determining a target region which should be reached by an endoscope through the tubular structure, extracting, among plurality on a route of the tubular structure, a point that satisfies a given condition as a target point that should be reached by a distal end portion of the endoscope, and identifying and determining a route of the tubular structure from a predetermined start point in the tubular structure to the extracted target point as a route through which the endoscope should be passed.

Abstract: A marker delivery device is configured for deploying a tissue marker. The marker delivery device includes a handle having a chamber, and a cannula. According to one aspect, the cannula has a flexible portion formed by a slot arrangement having of a plurality of spaced-apart substantially parallel peripheral slots extending through the side wall of the cannula to the lumen. A marker introducer rod is movably disposed in the lumen of the cannula for deploying the mark, and has a flexible region that corresponds to the flexible portion of the cannula. According to another aspect, a retraction mechanism is mounted to the handle and is configured to facilitate a complete retraction of both the cannula and the marker introducer rod into the chamber of the housing of the handle upon an actuation of the retraction mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to ultrasound imaging method and apparatus suitable for minimally invasive ultrasound diagnostic devices in cardiac ablation monitoring and in tumor ablation monitoring. The present invention proposes to manufacture a transducers assembly and system on a patterned flexible foil by embedding transducers patches in apertures on the foil surface. This provides great control of the acoustic properties of the transducer.

Abstract: An electronic device for enhancing accuracy of a contactless body temperature measurement is provided. The electronic device includes a camera module for determining whether an image of an object is in focus, a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the object, and a processor for determining, as a temperature of the object, a temperature output from the temperature sensor corresponding to a focus matching time as a result of determining whether the image of the object is in focus.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasound observation apparatus for generating an ultrasound image based on an ultrasound signal acquired by an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound transducer. The apparatus includes: an analysis unit that performs FFT on a sample data group having pieces of sample data in RF data generated based on the ultrasound signal, to calculate frequency spectra; a correction unit that generates, based on the frequency spectra, analysis data indicating a relationship between a distance from the ultrasound transducer and an intensity of each of the frequency spectra for each frequency component, and corrects the analysis data based on a correction amount set for each distance, the correction amount causing an intensity of reference data generated from a reference ultrasound signal to be constant regardless of the distance; and a calculation unit that calculates a frequency feature based on a frequency spectrum generated in accordance with the corrected analysis data.

Abstract: A system for measuring responses of magnetic nanoparticles has static magnetic bias field along first axis, and AC driving coils providing AC magnetic field along second axis perpendicular to the first axis, both fields passing through an imaging zone. Sensing coils are oriented to sense fields parallel to the first axis, but not parallel to the second axis. A processor determines responses of nanoparticles in the imaging zone to the AC field. Another system has DC bias on first axis and AC driving coils providing an AC magnetic field along a second axes, magnetic gradient oriented along the first and/or second axis, and the second axis is rotated mechanically or electronically. The signal processor provides a voxel-based model of magnetic nanoparticle distribution in imaging zone. In some embodiments, the static magnet is a main magnet of a magnetic resonance imaging system.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a transducer, a detecting device and a processor. The transducer includes an emitter and receiver configured to detect a property of an object being scanned at a scanning location. The detecting device is configured to detect a position of the transducer relative to the object being scanned. The processor is configured to obtain, from the transducer, scan information representative of the property when the transducer is positioned at a first position; obtain, form the detecting device, position information representative of the position of the transducer relative to the object being scanned when the transducer is disposed in the first position; determine a coordinate location from the position information; associate the coordinate location with the scan information; and cause the coordinate location associated with the scan information to be stored in a storage.

Abstract: An imaging system (10) analyzes airways of a patient. The system (10) includes a hardware phantom (50) including tubes (54) representative of airways. The tubes (54) include different lumen sizes and/or wall thicknesses. The system further includes an imaging scanner (12) for scanning a region of interest (ROI), including the airways, and the hardware phantom (50) to create raw image data. At least one processor (32) is programmed to at least one of: (1) correct measurements of walls of the airways based on measurements of lumen size and/or wall thickness of the tubes (54) and known lumen size and/or wall thickness of the tubes (54); and (2) generate an image of the ROI in which color and/or opacity of the airways are based on a comparison of images or maps of the tubes (54) and images or maps of the airways. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: A patient support for a nuclear medicine imaging system has a base a joint and a chair. The chair can pivot or rotate about the joint. This allows the patient chair to assume a patient loading and a patient imaging position with respect to the detectors of the imaging system. Furthermore, the chair is adjustable to improve the ability of a patient region to be covered by the filed of view of the detectors.

Abstract: A system for providing monitored radiation therapy has a high energy radiation source, apparatus for excluding uncontrolled ambient light, and apparatus for collecting light emitted from a subject. The system has apparatus for spectrally analyzing the collected light, and a processor for determining oxygenation or other metabolic function of tissue within the subject from spectral analysis of the collected light. The system monitors radiation therapy by providing a beam of high energy radiation; collecting Cherenkov and/or photoluminescent light from the subject, the light generated along the beam; spectrally analyzing the light; and determining oxygenation or metabolic function of tissue from the spectral analysis. Beam profile of the system is calibrated by imaging from multiple angles Cherenkov and/or photoluminescent light emitted by a phantom placed in the beam in lieu of a subject, captured images are analyzed to determine beam profile.

Abstract: A probe tip assembly for receiving at least a portion of an ultrasound probe therein includes a body having a proximal end and an opposing distal end. A first opening may be located at the proximal end of the body. The first opening may be sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the probe therein. A second opening may be proximate the distal end of the body. A membrane may cover the second opening.

Abstract: An optical system for the detection of skin disease, such as melanoma, acquires images of a lesion on a subject's skin at different wavelengths and utilizes a sweeping arm rotating about the lesion in a clock-like sweep to produce diagnostically relevant metrics and classifiers from the image data so as to enhance detection of the skin disease.

Abstract: A vibration generating unit includes an element unit, and the element unit includes a piezoelectric element generating an ultrasonic vibration by being supplied with electric power. A proximal-side fixing member abuts on the element unit from a proximal direction side and a distal-side fixing member abuts on the element unit from a distal direction side such that the element unit is sandwiched between the proximal-side fixing member and the distal-side fixing member in a longitudinal direction. The distal-side fixing member has a greater acoustic impedance than the proximal-side fixing member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lightweight, high resolution portable ultrasound system using components and methods to improve connectivity and ease of use. A preferred embodiment includes an integrated system in which the beamformer control circuitry can be inserted into the host computer as a peripheral or within the processor housing.