Abstract: Medical devices and methods for determining the size of blood vessels are disclosed. In one implementation, a blood vessel sizing device is configured for placement on an area of skin of a patient. The device includes a plurality of radiopaque concentric-circle elements. In one implementation, a blood vessel sizing method includes placing a marker having a plurality of concentric-circle elements on the skin of a patient, imaging a blood vessel of the patient and the device, and comparing the imaged blood vessel to the imaged circles to determine the blood vessel size, the concentric-circle elements allowing a determination of size without errors of parallax.

Abstract: A method for delivering ultrasound can include positioning at least a focal zone of a transducer of an ultrasound probe proximate to targeted tissue of a patient. The method can include supplying power to the transducer to deliver ultrasound energy from the transducer to a first portion of the targeted tissue for a predetermined amount of time to create a first focal lesion in the targeted tissue. The method can include at least temporarily ceasing power to the transducer so as to at least temporarily cease delivery of ultrasound energy from the transducer to the targeted tissue. The method can include supplying power to the transducer to deliver ultrasound energy from the transducer to the targeted tissue at least substantially continuously and along a predefined treatment path.

Abstract: A relationship is established between points or regions in images of objects deformed in different ways, for example images of the human chest in a mammography and 3D ultrasound process. While a plurality of recording parameters which can be used for such an automatic image registration are often known in X-ray and other imaging methods, precise recording parameters, in particular for the position of the chest, are usually not available in ultrasound processes. The object is to additionally detect the position, in particular the tilt, of the chest and the ultrasound transducer in a chest ultrasound. A linking of multiple ultrasound recordings to one another or a comparably more precise automatic image registration using other modalities can then be carried out using the position of the ultrasound transducer relative to the chest. The position is detected in a manner that is specific to the case.

Abstract: A coil housing for a magnetic resonance (“MR”) imaging apparatus, comprises an anatomy receiving space defined by the coil housing, shaped and sized to receive at least a portion of a patient's anatomy to be imaged and a spacer shaped to maintain the anatomy receiving space a first distance from a bore wall of the MR imaging apparatus, the first distance defining an imaging area of the MR imaging apparatus.

Abstract: At an imaging site an imaging device (14) generates an image of a subject (4) and an imaging light markers generation device (6) generates light markers at locations on a surface of the subject before an interventional procedure is performed. At an interventional site an interventional light markers generation device (17) generates light markers at the locations on the surface of the subject (4) and a localization device (25, 27) determines the position of a catheter during the interventional procedure. A position determination unit (29) then determines the position of the catheter within the pre-interventional image based on the position of the catheter determined by the localization device and provided spatial relations between the devices used for generating the image and the light markers and for localizing the catheter. This allows showing the position of the catheter within the pre-interventional image without necessarily using x-rays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods for determining metabolic function in tissues of an animal. In particular, the invention relates to methods for determining the penumbra in ischaemic tissues using MRI techniques in association with hyperoxic conditions and an oxygen carrier. The invention also relates to systems adapted to perform the methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining and particularly imaging sound speed in an object by means of pulse-echo ultrasound, comprising the steps of: transmitting by means of an ultrasound probe (1) at least a first ultrasound pulse (10) in a first direction (?0) and a second ultrasound pulse (20) in a different second direction (?) into an object (O) to be imaged, so that said first ultrasound pulse (10) is backscattered in said object towards said ultrasound probe in the form of first ultrasound pulse echoes (11), and so that said second ultrasound pulse (20) is backscattered in said object towards said ultrasound probe in the form of second ultrasound pulse echoes (21), detecting said backscattered first ultrasound pulse echoes (11) and said backscattered second ultrasound pulse echoes (21) with said ultrasound probe (1), reconstructing from said detected backscattered first ultrasound pulse echoes (11) a first image of first local echoes (5) and from said detected backscattered second ultrasound

Abstract: A photoacoustic apparatus comprises a light source; an irradiation unit configured to radiate light from the light source to an object that contains a contrast agent; a receiving unit configured to receive acoustic waves generated when the contrast agent absorbs the light radiated by the irradiation unit and output an electrical signal; a correction processing unit configured to correct a signal strength of the electrical signal, based on a temporal change in a concentration of the contrast agent contained in the object; and an acquiring unit configured to acquire characteristics information on the object, based on the electrical signal that has been corrected by the correction processing unit.

Abstract: Arrangements described herein relate to a headset system and a method to manufacturing the headset system, the headset system including a headset configured to lay on top of a surface and to support a head of a subject when the subject is in a supine position or a reclined position, at least one probe adjustment mechanism, and a probe coupled to the at least one probe adjustment mechanism and configured to emit acoustic energy.

Abstract: Vision systems on catheters, cannulas, or similar devices with guiding lumens include receptors distributed in annular areas around respective lumens. Each of the receptors has a field of view covering only a portion of an object environment, and the field of view of each of the receptors overlaps with at least one of the fields of view of the other receptors. A processing system can receive image data from the receptors of the vision systems and combine the image data to construct a visual representation of the object environment.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for determining the size of blood vessels are disclosed. In an embodiment, a blood vessel sizing device includes a marker configured for placement on the skin of a patient. The marker defines a substantially circular shape and includes a plurality of radiopaque substantially concentric circles. In an embodiment, a blood vessel sizing method includes placing a marker having a plurality of substantially concentric circles on the skin of a patient, imaging a blood vessel of the patient and the marker, and comparing the imaged blood vessel to the imaged circles to determine the blood vessel size.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining changes in a body state of an individual including receiving a signal from a monitoring system, where the signal indicates a measurement of cardiac activity of the individual over a period of time and determining at least one signal feature, where the signal feature is a reoccurring event of the signal over the period of time. The method also includes determining a first interval between two successive signal features and determining a second interval between two successive first intervals. A derivative is calculated based on the second interval. Changes in the body state are identified based on the derivative.

Abstract: A dual-mode ultrasound system provides real-time imaging and therapy delivery using the same transducer elements of a transducer array. The system may use a multichannel driver to drive the elements of the array. The system uses a real-time monitoring and feedback image control of the therapy based on imaging data acquired using the dual-mode ultrasound array (DMUA) of transducer elements. Further, for example, multimodal coded excitation may be used in both imaging and therapy modes. Still further, for example, adaptive, real-time refocusing for improved imaging and therapy can be achieved using, for example, array directivity vectors obtained from DMUA pulse-echo data.

Abstract: An imaging probe manipulator for use during a medical procedure includes a first manipulator linkage having a connector configured to attach to an imaging probe, a second manipulator linkage coupled to the first manipulator linkage at a first joint a third manipulator linkage coupled to the first or second manipulator linkage at a second joint. The first joint or the second joint has a degree of freedom. The imaging probe manipulator includes a force control transmission linked to the degree of freedom. The force control transmission component is configured to maintain a pre-determined force on the imaging probe when the imaging probe is in contact with a patient.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a transmitter, a generator, and an output controller. The transmitter transmits, from an ultrasound probe, push pulses that cause displacement of body tissue according to an acoustic radiation force and transmits, from the ultrasound probe, tracking pulses for observing the displacement of body tissue, which is caused according to the push pulses, in a given scanning area. The generator generates transmission area image data displaying a position to which the push pulses are transmitted. The output controller outputs the generated transmission area image data such that the transmission area image data is superimposed onto medical image data that contains the transmission area.

Abstract: An acoustic wave detector that detects an acoustic wave from a subject, an optical fiber that guides light emitted from a light source to a probe body, and a light guide member that guides light from a light entrance end, which is optically coupled to the optical fiber, to a light exit end, which is located in the vicinity of the acoustic wave detector, are provided. The light guide member is secured in the probe body with a securing material provided at least partially around the light guide member. The conditional expression below is satisfied: sin?1(n2/n1)×(180°/?)<90°??i where n1 is a refractive index of the light guide member, n2 is a refractive index of the securing material, and ?i is a spread angle of incoming light from the optical fiber.

Abstract: A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle or other medical component into the body of a patient is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the detectable characteristic sensed by the sensors to determine a position and/or orientation of the needle in three spatial dimensions. The system includes a display for depicting the position and/or orientation of the needle together with the image of the target.

Abstract: The acoustic wave processing device includes a phasing addition unit which performs phasing addition on respective pieces of first element data with different elements as a reference to generate a plurality of pieces of first reception data, a reception data storage unit which stores first reception data, a reception data generation unit which superimposes two or more pieces of first reception data to generate second reception data, and a processing condition setting unit which sets the number of times of superimposition of first reception data. In a cine-reproduction mode, the reception data generation unit superimposes the set number of pieces of first reception data to generate second reception data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system that includes pressure sensors to assist in monitoring pressure at a selected location. Pressure sensors may be applied to or incorporated into catheters and/or shunts positioned within a patient. A monitoring system may then receive signals from the pressure sensors to monitor pressure at the location over time.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed.