Abstract: In a system and method for the registration of images of a subject using magnetic resonance, the positions of one or more markings arranged at the subject and movable together therewith are detected with an acquisition system operated independently of and in parallel with the diagnostic image generating and registration operation of the magnetic resonance system. These positions serve as a criterion for identifying the orientation of the subject relative to the diagnostic imaging system, and the tomogram plane of interest is re-adjusted dependent on the positions of the markings.

Abstract: A system and method for classifying tissue by application of discriminant analysis to spectral data. Spectra are recorded as amplitudes at a series of discrete wavelengths. Pluralities of reference spectra are recorded for specimens having known conditions. The reference spectra are subjected to discriminant analysis to determine wavelength regions of interest for the analysis. A plurality of amplitudes are selected for the analysis, and are plotted in an N-dimensional space. For each plurality of reference spectra corresponding to a specific known condition, a characteristic point is determined and plotted, the characteristic point representative of the known condition. A test spectrum is recorded from a test specimen, and the plurality of amplitudes corresponding in wavelength to the wavelength regions of interest are selected. A characteristic point in N-dimensional space is determined for the test spectrum.

Abstract: A method and assembly are provided which use cavitation induced by an ultrasound beam for creating a controlled surgical lesion in a selected treatment volume of a patient, such as an internal body cavity or organ. First, a plurality of microbubbles are provided in the treatment volume. Preferably, the threshold for cavitation of microbubbles in the treatment volume is lowered compared with the threshold for cavitation in surrounding tissues. The expected location of the surgical lesion within the treatment volume may be previewed, and then the microbubbles in the treatment volume are cavitated with the ultrasound beam to create the controlled surgical lesion. In addition, substances can be associated with the microbubbles such that cavitation of the microbubbles delivers the substances to the treatment volume. Preferably, the creation of the surgical lesion at the expected lesion location is then verified.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for examining a sample using a substantially monostatic, substantially confocal optical system comprising transmitting optics that focus an illuminating light upon the sample and receiving optics that collect light emitted from the sample following illumination thereof. In certain embodiments, the receiving optics may be arranged circumferentially around the light path traversed by the illuminating light. In certain embodiments, video apparatus may be included to produce images or to align the system in proximity to the target tissue. The systems and methods of the present invention may be directed towards the examination of a body tissue to provide a medical diagnosis.

Abstract: A blood vessel examination apparatus includes a presentation device for presenting a fixation reference mark to the eye to be examined, an irradiation device for irradiating a blood vessel on the fundus of an eye with measurement light in accordance with the position of the fixation reference mark, and a light-receiving device for receiving light of the measurement light reflected by the fundus The apparatus also includes a computation device for computing blood vessel information of a fundus blood vessel on the basis of a light-received output of the light-receiving device, a direction detector for detecting the longitudinal direction of the blood vessel, and a controller for controlling the position of the fixation reference mark in accordance with the direction detected by the direction detector, and obtaining accurate blood vessel information (e.g., blood flow velocity) by moving the measurement light along the blood vessel.

Abstract: An image handling system configured to provide configurable user preferences is disclosed herein. The image handling system includes an imaging device, an image manager, and an image workstation. The system is configured to permit a user of the image workstation to specify user preferences of a graphical user interface (GUI). The user preferences are stored in the image manager such that subsequent access to the image workstation using a user identifier causes the image workstation to automatically retrieve and configure the user preferences on that image workstation.

Abstract: A method of transesophageal magnetic resonance analysis of a patient, such as an animal or human, includes providing a loopless antenna formed from a flexible coaxial cable having an extended center conductor at the distal end thereof. A distal portion of the loopless antenna is secured within a Levin-type gastric tube. The gastric tube which receives the loopless antenna is inserted in the esophagus of the patient. A tuning, matching and decoupling circuit for the loopless antenna is employed external to the patient. The tuning, matching and decoupling circuit is electrically connected to a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The magnetic resonance imaging scanner is employed to display an image of the aorta of the patient.

Abstract: A system and method for tinnitus masking. Ultrasound noise is provided to a head of a patient as a vibration by way of a transducer, to thereby stimulate the auditory cortex. Once stimulated, the auditory cortex will suppress tinnitus. The ultrasound noise may be provided as an ultrasound frequency tone or as a range of frequencies that have been multiplied with an audio frequency. Pulsed ultrasound is utilized for ultrasound noise in the MHz range.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance-electrical impedance tomography (MREIT) technique for determining the local conductivity of an object. The MREIT technique combines magnetic resonance current density imaging (MRCDI) with electrical impedance tomography (EIT) in order to obtain the benefits of both procedures. The MREIT technique includes the step of current density imaging by performing the steps of placing a series of electrodes around the patient or object to be imaged for the application of current, placing the patient or object in a strong magnetic field, and applying an MR imaging sequence which is synchronized with the application of current through the electrodes. Next, the electric potentials of the surface of the object or patient are measured simultaneously with the MR imaging sequence, as in EIT. Then, the MR imaging signal containing information about the current and the measured potential are processed to calculate the internal conductivity (impedance) of the object or patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining whether an individual has a central nervous system disease or injury comprising: obtaining a T2 measurement for at least one brain tissue sample from an individual; determining if the T2 measurement indicates the presence of a central nervous system disease or injury in the individual. The present invention also provides a method for determining whether an individual has a central nervous system disease or injury comprising: obtaining a first T2 measurement using an MRI technique for a brain tissue sample from an individual at a first time; obtaining a second T2 measurement using an MRI technique for the brain tissue sample from the individual at a second time; and comparing the second T2 measurement to the first T2 measurement.

Abstract: A system and method for classifying specimens using a plurality of spectral data types. Spectra are recorded as amplitudes at a series of discrete wavelengths. Pluralities of reference spectra are recorded for specimens having known conditions. A spectrum of a first type is observed for a test specimen. The specimen is characterized as to a first known condition. In the event that the specimen does not exhibit the first known condition, a spectrum of a second type is observed and analyzed to determine which of a plurality of conditions is to be ascribed to the test specimen. In some embodiments, the test specimen can comprise human cervical tissue, and the known conditions can include normal health, metaplasia, CIN I and CIN II/II.

Abstract: An ultrasound applicator for heating, via an internal path, an ultrasound absorbent medium, includes an application head having a longitudinal axis and including at least one ultrasonic transducer having a planar emission face and an opposite face, a leakproof membrane which overlays and is spaced from the emission face, and which is transparent to ultrasound, and means for preventing propagation of ultrasound from the opposite face; means for remotely connecting the transducer to an electricity generator; and means for providing ultrasound coupling with the membrane. The planar emission face emits ultrasound waves through the membrane and in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the emission face, such that the waves emitted are substantially planar and do not diverge in the vicinity of the transducer and the application head.

Abstract: A system and method for creating MR images using mask data that is copied forward for on-the-fly image subtraction for use within such techniques as MR angiography is disclosed. The invention includes acquiring an MR mask image comprised of a plurality of k-space lines, and then copying the k-space line data of the MR mask image into a number of different memory locations. The number of different memory locations corresponds to a preselected number of MR image acquisitions as set by an MR operator. The invention next includes acquiring the preselected number of MR images, each comprised of k-space line data. As the k-space line data is acquired, it is then immediately accumulated in one of the memory locations having the MR mask image k-space line data. By setting a polarity of the data stored, each acquired k-space line of an acquired MR image is subtracted from a corresponding k-space line of the MR mask image in real time. The image is then reconstructed using the subtracted k-space line data.

Abstract: An ultrasound therapy probe includes a therapy transducer movably mounted on a probe body, a partially deformable flexible casing disposed around the therapy transducer, and a guard ring that limits deformations of the flexible casing when the transducer moves with respect to the probe body. The therapy transducer can be moved between a therapy position and a retracted position, and the guard ring provides an end-of-travel stop against which the therapy transducer bears when in a therapy position. A first opening is provided for injecting liquid into the flexible casing, and a second opening is provided for withdrawing liquid from the flexible casing. The second opening is located on the guard ring so that bubbles are withdrawn from the flexible casing as soon as they form.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a high-quality representation of a volume having a real-time 3-D reconstruction therein of movement of a catheter, wherein its real-time movement is determined using a lower-quality representation of only a portion of the volume. Movement of the catheter is detected in a 2-D X-ray fluoroscopy image and is reconstructed in a 3-D angiography (X-ray) reconstruction. Described is a catheter design for easier detection, and a technique for 3-D reconstruction of a catheter from real-time 2-D fluoroscopic images and stored 3-D angiography data, so as to present the 3-D reconstructed catheter in the common coordinate frame.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for obtaining feedback to drive a servo system for aligning and maintaining alignment in optical systems that bring light to an in vivo skin sample, for adjusting the focus of the optical system, and for adjusting the net depth of focus of the optical system within the in vivo system under characterization. The invention additionally provides a method for obtaining feedback to drive a servo system for aligning and maintaining alignment in optical systems that collect light from an in vivo skin sample, and for adjusting the focus of the optical system. These methods comprise adjusting the angle of incidence of electromagnetic radiation and/or providing a shielding lens to block scattered incident light, or otherwise limiting the field of view of the Raman scattered radiation collection system to exclude optical surfaces of the excitation delivery portion of the optical system. Also provided is a method for identifying spectroscopic depth markers in tissues.

Abstract: A method and system to facilitate image guided surgery by projecting onto the patient an image corresponding to markings made on pre-acquired images of the patient is disclosed. The image is projected by an imaging projecting device such as a laser which emits coherent visible light. The position of the patient and the image are determined in the same frame of reference. The markings made on the pre-acquired images are then mapped onto the corresponding locations of the patient. The image projecting device then projects images onto the patient corresponding to the markings made on the pre-acquired images. The images projected by the image projecting device can be temporarily or permanently marked onto the patient so that they are visible after the image projecting device stops emitting radiation. Use of a photodynamic substance can also be used in conjunction with the light emitted from the laser to treat tumors and other abnormalities in the patient.

Abstract: In a navigation system and method, sensors at location-invariant points are used to define a coordinate system serves for identifying the motion of an organ. An image of the organ can be registered in parallel therewith, by selection of a point whose path in the coordinate system is identified and displayed, for which purpose the image plane attitude is also identified and displayed by acquisition of a further sensor. Alternatively, a sensor can be attached to the organ, this position thereof being identified and the motion path being determined therefrom. A sensor located at an instrument is acquired in parallel therewith. The position of the instrument in the coordinate system is identified and displayed. The instrument can be manually or automatically moved.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for locating an examination size for diaphanoscopic examination of a living subject, a region of the living subject wherein the optimum examination location is suspected is sequentially transilluminated with radiation, preferably in a wavelength range of the optical tissue window, for registration of scattered light distributions in the form of location-related spread functions, particularly point spread functions, and at least one function-specific, location-related feature of each spread function is determined, based on which a position value defining the examination location is determined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining characteristics of tissue is disclosed. The method comprises supplying optical energy to a tissue and detecting at a plurality of locations consequent energy scattered by the tissue. Analysis of the scattered energy as taught herein provides information concerning the properties of the tissue, specifically information related to the fat and lean content and thickness of the tissue. The apparatus comprises a light source adapted to deliver optical energy to a tissue. A plurality of detectors can be mounted at different positions relative to the source to detect energy scattered by the tissue. A signal processor as taught herein can determine characteristics of the tissue from the signals from the detectors and locations of the detectors, specifically information related to the fat and lean content and thickness of the tissue.