Abstract: A medical image registration method and apparatus are described. By performance of a medical image registration method, a highly accurate registered image, in which breathing deformation information is considered, may be obtained by generation of non-real-time medical images in which the breathing deformation information is reflected before a medical procedure is conducted and by rigid registration of a real-time medical image and the generated non-real-time medical images during the medical procedure.

Abstract: The wound assessing method and system provide a convenient, quantitative mechanism for diabetic foot ulcer assessment.

Abstract: The invention relates to x-ray imaging technology as well as image post-processing. Particularly, the present invention relates to post-processing of perfusion image data acquired by an x-ray imaging apparatus by absolutely or relatively normalizing perfusion image data to allow a preferred comparison of the image data, both with regard to different acquisitions as well as different patients. To allow normalization of perfusion image data, it may be desirable to know the amount of contrast agent injected, which remains in a coronary. Subsequently, image parameters may be adapted or normalized based on the known amount of contrast agent within the coronary for normalization of perfusion image data. To obtain a precise amount of injected contrast agent, the injected volume of contrast agent flowing through a defined region or section of a vessel may be estimated. Said injected volume of contrast agent may thus be deduced from the estimation of the total volume flow at this location.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging utilizing a continuous spoiled gradient echo sequence with 3D radial trajectory and 1D self-gating for respiratory motion detection can be used to characterize respirator motion in the abdomen. The resulting image data is acquired and is retrospectively sorted into different respiratory phases based on their temporal locations within a respiratory cycle, and each phase is reconstructed via a self-calibrating conjugate gradient sensitivity encoding (CG-SENSE) program.

Abstract: A bio-signal quality assessment apparatus, a bio-signal quality assessment method, a bio-signal measurement parameter optimization apparatus, and bio-signal measurement parameter optimization apparatus method are provided. The bio-signal quality assessment apparatus includes a processor configured to determine a moving average of a bio-signal, and assess a quality of the bio-signal, based on a comparison between the determined moving average and the bio-signal.

Abstract: A local magnetic resonance (MR) radio frequency (RF) coil includes a plurality of housing sections that are separable and configured with mating surfaces that meet and engage each other to form an opening which receives a portion of subject anatomy for magnetic resonance imaging, a detachable connector, and a cable. Each housing section includes coil elements enclosed within each housing section which receive MR signals from the received portion of the subject anatomy, and external connectors connected to the coil elements co-located on an outside surface of each housing section and adjacent to the mating surfaces. The detachable connector connects to the external connectors of the housing sections. The cable conveys at least the received MR signals received by the coil elements.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system is disclosed. The system comprises an ultrasound emitter and receiver movably disposed within an elongate member, an actuator coupled to the emitter, and a control system. The actuator moves the emitter through a path comprising at least a portion of an arc. The control system controls the emission of a sequence of pulses from the emitter and receives from the receiver ultrasound echo data associated with the sequence of pulses emitted along the path. The control system processes the ultrasound echo data to generate a cross-sectional image of an internal structure based on echo amplitude data and echo velocity data.

Abstract: A blood-vessel recognition blood-flow measurement method including: obtaining a real-time Doppler spectrum by performing a Fourier transform on a temporal waveform of the intensity of scattered light of laser light in a living body; calculating a normalized real-time Doppler spectrum and a normalized zero spectrum; calculating a region spectrum from a subtracted spectrum that is calculated through subtraction of these calculated spectra; calculating a PS reference spectrum by subtracting, from the region spectrum, the maximum value of the region spectrum in a predetermined PS reference region; calculating an average frequency on the basis of a computational spectrum that is obtained by replacing an element of which the PS reference spectrum is negative with zero; and determining a blood flow velocity by comparing the calculated average frequency with a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An exemplary system, method and computer-accessible medium for determining an arterial input function (AIF) of a mammal(s) can be provided, which can include, for example, receiving information related to a global circulatory system of the mammal(s), and determining the AIF based on the information by modeling a blood flow in the global circulatory system of the mammal(s) in terms of an input response function(s). The input response function(s) can include a delayed input response function(s). In certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the input response function(s) can include at least three input response functions, and each of the input response functions can be from a different part of a body of the mammal(s). The AIF can be determined by coupling the input response functions. The AIF can be further determined based on a total tracer amount in an organ(s) of the mammal(s).

Abstract: An ultrasonic measurement apparatus includes a transmission processing unit that performs processing for transmitting an ultrasonic wave with respect to a target object, a reception processing unit that performs reception processing of an ultrasonic echo with respect to the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and a processing unit that performs processing with respect to a reception signal from the reception processing unit. The processing unit performs coupling coefficient specification processing of a plurality of first basis waves which configure the reception signal, with respect to the reception signal corresponding to a transmission pulse signal which is transmitted by the transmission processing unit.

Abstract: Operation of a patient's lungs may be analyzed by transmitting ultrasound energy into the patient's lung, and obtain power and velocity Doppler data while a vibration is being induced in the lung. At least one portion of the power and velocity data that corresponds to a fundamental harmonic is then identified. In some embodiments, portions of the power and velocity data that corresponds to higher order harmonics are also identified. The power observed in the fundamental harmonic and optionally the higher order harmonics can then be used to determine the condition of the lungs.

Abstract: Embodiments related to medical imaging devices including rigid imaging tips and their methods of use for identifying abnormal tissue within a surgical bed are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are methods to measure and or monitor consciousness in a subject, including analyzing brain activity with weighted symbolic mutual information (wSMI) and/or Kolgomorov symbolic complexity (KSC). In addition, methods and apparatus to administer a stimulus and/or a medicament to a subject according to their consciousness level which has been determined using the method described herein are also provided.

Abstract: An ultrasound inspection apparatus includes a region setting section setting a plurality of regions within the inspection object; a sound velocity calculator calculating a sound velocity of each of the plurality of regions; a sound velocity obtainer obtaining a preliminary sound velocity of a region of interest; and an image quality determiner determining an image quality of the region of interest based on the preliminary sound velocity. The preliminary sound velocity obtained by the sound velocity obtainer is employed as a sound velocity of the region of interest when a determination result made by the image quality determiner is positive, and the sound velocity of the region of interest is calculated by the sound velocity calculator when the determination result is negative.

Abstract: In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, the method of determining the sound velocity, and the program recorded in a recording medium, a probe is made transmit an ultrasonic beam a plurality of times so as to form a predetermined transmission focus point, an analog element signal output by the probe is A/D converted into the first element data, the second element data corresponding to any one of a plurality of the first element data is generated, and the second element data is used to determine the sound velocity in an inspection object, whereby the sound velocity of the ultrasonic waves in the inspection object can be accurately determined without decreasing the frame rate.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is disclosed that includes an MRI system, either as a stand-alone system or hybrid PET-MRI system. The MRI system includes gradient coils positioned about a patient bore, an RF coil former comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, an RF shield positioned on the outer surface of the RF coil former so as to be formed about the RF coil former, and an RF coil positioned on the inner surface of the RF coil former and about the patient bore, with the RF coil coupled to a pulse generator to emit an RF pulse sequence and receive resulting MR signals from a subject of interest. The RF shield includes a plurality of slits formed therein configured to disrupt the formation of gradient field induced eddy currents on the RF shield, so as to prevent the generation of high temperature profiles on the surface of the shield.

Abstract: A phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI) system and method employing a Hybrid One- and Two-sided Flow Encoding Only (HOTFEO) acquisition scheme for accurate blood flow and velocity measurements of three-directional-velocity-encoding PC-MRI.

Abstract: An ultrasound inspection apparatus of the present invention includes: a probe provided with a plurality of elements; a transmitter configured to transmit the ultrasonic beam to an inspection object using the probe; a receiver configured to receive an ultrasonic echo signal from the inspection object; a sound velocity determiner configured to determine a sound velocity value inside the inspection object; and an element data processing section configured to generate a piece of second element data from at least two pieces of first element data using the sound velocity value, the piece of second element data corresponding to any of the at least two pieces of first element data, the sound velocity determiner being configured to obtain an optimum sound velocity value by optimizing the sound velocity value which is used when the piece of second element data is created in the element data processing section.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, kits and methods for forming a marker element including, in aspects, a tube having a longitudinal direction, a base element received in a first end of the tube, a wire receiving portion at a second end of the tube, a force applicator receivable within the second end of the tube, the force applicator being configured to apply force to a received wire in the longitudinal direction of the tube to deformably compress the received wire to a selected length relative to the longitudinal direction of the tube. Also disclosed is a marker delivery device having a tube, a marker element preformed within the tube, and an actuator element receivable in the tube to move the marker element from the tube into a tissue site.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system acquire data to create a 3D mesh representing a 3D object. The method, apparatus, and system acquire image data of the 3D object using an imaging probe that includes illumination and detection capability. A light source operates to illuminate the 3D object for reflection and/or trans-illumination imaging, and a detection assembly receives image reflection and/or trans-illumination image data. The reflectance and trans-illumination image data collected by the detection assembly are co-registered with a previously acquired 3D mesh using data from a tracking system monitoring the position of the probe, displayed in real-time, and optionally saved.