Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to detecting damage to an optical fiber of a medical device. The optical fiber includes core fibers including a plurality of sensors configured to (i) reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and (ii) change a characteristic of the reflected light signal based on experienced strain. The system also includes a console having memory storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the broadband incident light by one or more of the plurality of sensors, processing the reflected light signals to detect fluctuations of a portion of the optical fiber, and determining a location of the portion of the optical fiber or a defect affecting a vessel in which the portion is disposed based on the detected fluctuations. The portion may be a distal tip of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method for locating a plurality of elements comprising a flexible ultrasound phased array. The method includes constructing a matrix of traveltimes by iteratively transmitting a signal from one element of the plurality and receiving the signal at each of the other elements of the plurality. Traveltimes are derived from each received signal and arrayed in a matrix. Relative positions of the first element of the plurality and the last element of the plurality are established and the locations of the remaining elements of the plurality are iteratively modeled to fit the matrix of traveltimes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to detecting malposition of a medical device within a vessel of a patient, such as an Azygos vein. The medical device can include a multi-core optical fiber including a plurality of core fibers, where each of the plurality of core fibers includes a plurality of sensors is configured to reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and change a characteristic of the reflected light signal for use in determining a physical state of the multi-core optical fiber. The system can include a console having non-transitory computer-readable medium storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing a broadband incident light signal to the multi-core optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals, processing the reflected light signals, and determining whether the medical device has entered the Azygos vein of the patient based on the reflected light signals.

Abstract: The navigation systems and methods facilitate aligning a tool in relation to a trajectory in real-time to receive input data from a pre-operative plan image, at least one multi-modal image, and at least one real-time multi-modal image; interactively track at least one neural fiber, whereby interactively tracked fiber data is obtainable; automatically generate output data by way of data transformation using the input data and the interactively tracked neural fiber data; and transmit the output data to at least one of: at least one display device for rendering at least one real-time interactive navigation display for facilitating neural navigation, and at least one drive device for positioning at least one tracking device in relation to the tool in real-time, whereby real-time alignment data is achievable, and whereby at least one neurological structure is preservable.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for modifying images of skin so as to reduce or enhance the appearance of component pigments, such as melanin and hemoglobin. A diffuse reflectance image of skin, such as a cross-polarized contact dermoscopy image, which conveys information regarding subsurface features of the skin, is processed so as to extract pigment distribution information, which is then used to correct the diffuse reflectance image, such as by reducing the appearance of melanin to allow better visualization of hemoglobin-related structures, such as vasculature. Alternatively, the diffuse reflectance image can be corrected so as to reduce the appearance of hemoglobin to allow better visualization of melanin-related structures.

Abstract: This invention provides an ultrasonic guidance method of subacromial bursa, which images subacromial bursa easily under ultrasound through specific positioning with patient's another hand appropriately pushing the elbow joint and allow needle insertion through near-end needle insertion from long axis of supraspinatus tendon. Moreover, the bursal fluid can be positional drained by the specific positioning and ultrasonic detector is moved to a sagittal plane around a greater tubercle of humerus for drawing bursal fluid through near-end needle insertion. As a result, in the invention, it is to medially rotate greater tubercle of humerus as possible to prevent lower margin of scapular bone from blocking the imaging of subacromial bursa and to allow SASD bursal fluid pooling near greater tubercle of humerus.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flow imaging processing method, which may include determining flow imaging parameters, where the flow imaging parameters include a sound speed for calculation, a center frequency of the transmitting pulse for exciting a probe and a imaging depth; obtaining a velocity measurement range; and determining the first target number of the different transmit angles according to the sound speed for calculation, the center frequency of the transmitting pulse, the imaging depth and the velocity measurement range. The embodiments of the present disclosure also provide an ultrasound imaging device.

Abstract: A method and system for determining an extent of matter removed from a targeted anatomical structure are disclosed. The method includes acquiring an initial representation of a targeted anatomical structure and then removing matter from the targeted anatomical structure. An instrument is then navigated within the targeted anatomical structure. The instrument includes a tracking array, and a relative position of the instrument within the targeted anatomical structure is determined by the tracking array. The method includes recording the relative position of the instrument within the targeted anatomical structure to determine a final representation of the targeted anatomical structure. Finally, the method includes determining an extent of matter removed from the targeted anatomical structure by comparing the initial representation of the targeted anatomical structure with the final representation of the targeted anatomical structure.

Abstract: A trackable guidewire apparatus and method for use are described. Longitudinally spaced proximal and distal guidewire ends are separated by a guidewire body. A plurality of longitudinally spaced position sensors are configured to provide signals corresponding to a three-dimensional position of at least one position sensor in a coordinate system of an associated tracking system in response to an electromagnetic field/stimulus. At least one retention mechanism is provided for maintaining the medical device in a predetermined retention position longitudinally along the guidewire body. At least one stop structure is provided in a predetermined stop position longitudinally along the guidewire body.

Abstract: A system and method for locating magnetic material. In one embodiment the system includes a magnetic probe; a power module in electrical communication with the magnetic probe to supply current to the magnetic probe; a sense module in electrical communication with the magnetic probe to receive signals from the magnetic probe; and a computer in electrical communication with the power module and the sense module. The computer generates a waveform that controls the supply of current from the power module and receives a signal from the sense module that indicates the presence of magnetic material. The magnetic probe is constructed from a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion of substantially 10?6/° C. or less and a Young's modulus of substantially 50 GPa or greater. In one embodiment magnetic nanoparticles are injected into a breast and the lymph nodes collecting the particles are detected with the probe and deemed sentinel nodes.

Abstract: There is provided a physiological detection device including a light source, a light detector, a processing unit and a display device. The light source emits light to illuminate a skin surface. The light detector receives the light from the skin surface to output detected signals. The processing unit confirms an attached state according to the detected signals and controls the display device to show an indication signal or a warning message when the attached state is confirmed not good.

Abstract: A marker delivery device is described and claims. The marker delivery device is used to implant a detectable marker after a biopsy procedure is performed. The marker delivery device includes a cannula comprising a distal end and a marker exit positioned proximate the distal end; a rod extending within the cannula; and a flexible deployer operatively coupled with the rod and positioned proximate the marker exit.

Abstract: A number of improvements are provided relating to computer aided surgery. The improvement relates to both the methods used during computer aided surgery and the devices used during such procedures. Some of the improvement relate to controlling the selection of which data to display during a procedure and/or how the data is displayed to aid the surgeon. Other improvements relate to the structure of the tools used during a procedure and how the tools can be controlled automatically to improve the efficiency of the procedure. Still other improvements relate to methods of providing feedback during a procedure to improve either the efficiency or quality, or both, for a procedure.

Abstract: Laser light is emitted from a laser into a scattering layer. An ultrasound signal is emitted into a sample. A signal is generated with a light detector in response to a measurement beam of laser light exiting the light scattering layer into the light detector. At least a portion of the measurement beam formed between the laser and the light detector is wavelength-shifted by the ultrasound signal subsequent to the ultrasound signal propagating through the sample.

Abstract: A system (100) and device (300) for mounting and tracking a tracker array during a surgical procedure are described. For example, the system includes a surgical navigation system (700) including a position tracking system (702) configured to track one or more tracker arrays, and a device (300) for mounting a tracker array (306) onto a patient during the surgical procedure. The device includes an intramedullary (IM) canal component (304) configured to be inserted into an IM canal (310) within a bone (312). The device further includes a tracker pin (308) configured to penetrate at least a portion of the bone and engage an inserted end (411, 413) of the IM canal component, and a tracker array (306) affixed to the tracker pin. The IM canal component is configured to engage the IM canal of the bone to stabilize the tracker array during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing complex reality three-dimensional images and a system for same, the method comprising: (a) a step for determining first reality three-dimensional spatial coordinates for a three-dimensional image of a human body; (b) a step for determining second reality three-dimensional spacial coordinates for an image of an item of medical equipment; (c) a step for obtaining a three-dimensional image of the area surrounding the medical equipment, from an imaging means in the medical equipment, and determining third reality three-dimensional spatial coordinates for said image; (d) a step for examining an image that is at the same coordinates in the three kinds of three-dimensional spatial coordinates; and (e) a step for producing a complex reality three-dimensional image by selecting the one image that is at the same coordinates, if there is one image at the same coordinates, or selecting the necessary image or images from among a plurality of images, if there are mult

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes a housing. The housing includes a first end, which internally houses: a transducer array and a tracking sensor, and a second end. The housing further includes a second portion extending between the first and second ends. The second portion houses: a first electrically conductive path extending from the transducer array through the second portion to the second end, which is opposite the first end, and a second electrically conductive path extending from the tracking sensor through the second portion to the second end. The probe further includes a single electro-mechanical connector with a physical interface configured to transfer signals carried by the first and second electrically conductive members off the probe. The probe further includes a single cable that routes the first and second electrically conductive members from the second end to the electro-mechanical connector.

Abstract: A medical ultrasound device is disclosed. The device comprises an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end (10) and a distal end region (1). One or more ultrasound transducers (4) for generating acoustic radiation are positioned in the distal end region, inside the elongated body. A transmission element (5) which is substantially transparent to acoustic radiation is positioned in the radiation path of the acoustic radiation, and a controller unit is operatively connected to the ultrasound transducer. The controller unit detects the acoustic path length through the transmission element and determines the temperature at the distal end from the detected acoustic path length. In an embodiment, the medical device is an ultrasound RF ablation catheter.

Abstract: An ultrasound image processing apparatus (10) is disclosed comprising a processor arrangement (16) adapted to map a model (1) of an anatomical feature of interest onto an ultrasound image showing at least a section of said anatomical feature of interest and to segment said ultrasound image in accordance with the mapped model; and a touchscreen display (18, 19) adapted to display said ultrasound image including the mapped anatomical model. The processor arrangement is responsive to the touchscreen display and adapted to recognize a type of a user touch motion (3) provided through the touchscreen display (18, 19), each type of user touch motion being associated with a particular type of alteration of said mapping and alter said mapping in accordance with the recognized type of user touch motion. Also disclosed are an ultrasound imaging system, a computer-implemented method and a computer program product.

Abstract: A method includes computing a position of an intrabody probe, which includes one or more electrodes and an electromagnetic sensor, within a heart of a subject, based on an induced signal received from the electromagnetic sensor, ascertaining a set of properties of signals passed between the electrodes and multiple reference electrodes located at respective reference positions, based on the set of properties, deriving an estimated position of the probe from a position map that maps multiple sets of properties to respective estimated positions, in response to a distance between the computed position and the estimated position being greater than a predefined threshold, ascertaining whether an electrocardiographic signal from the subject is saturated, and in response to the electrocardiographic signal not being saturated, updating the position map so as to map the set of properties to the computed position. Other embodiments are also described.