Abstract: A catheter-based imaging apparatus comprises a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end. An optical emitter is configured to emit optical excitation signals from a distal portion of the catheter. One or more ultrasound transducers are configured for: (a) transmission of acoustic excitation signals from the distal portion of the catheter; and (b) detection of ultrasound response signals from an object of interest at or near to the distal portion of the catheter at frequencies which include a lower receive frequency at least as low as 10 MHz and a higher receive frequency at least as high as 35 MHz. The one or more ultrasound transducers are thereby configured to detect response signals comprising photoacoustic response signals from the object of interest at the lower receive frequency and high resolution imaging signals from the object of interest at the higher receive frequency.

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical instrument (100, 300, 400, 500) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (102). The medical instrument further comprises a subject support (120) with a support surface (121) configured for supporting at least a portion of the subject within an imaging zone (108). The subject support comprises a radar array (125) embedded below the support surface. The medical instrument further comprises a radar system (124) for acquiring a radar signal (144) from the subject. The medical instrument further comprises a motion detection system (122) configured for acquiring a movement signal (146).

Abstract: A medical device (10) for insertion into a patient is disclosed. The medical device (10) comprising an elongate body (12), the medical device terminating in a distal portion and further comprising a carrier (20) carrying an annular sensor arrangement (50), wherein the annular sensor arrangement is attached on a forward facing surface of the elongate body (12). Also disclosed is a system (100) including such a medical device (10).

Abstract: An illustrative optical measurement system includes a light source configured to emit light directed at a target, an array of photodetectors configured to detect photons of the light after the light is scattered by the target, and a processing unit configured to measure a noise level of a photodetector included in the array of photodetectors, the noise level comprising a dark count rate that measures a dark count divided by a time period, determine that the noise level meets a predetermined threshold comprising a dark count rate threshold, and prevent, based on the determining that the noise level meets the predetermined threshold, an output of the photodetector from being used in generating a histogram based on a temporal distribution of photons detected by the array of photodetectors, the preventing comprising switching the output to a monitoring circuit that monitors a characteristic of the optical measurement system separate from the photodetector.

Abstract: The subject matter of the present disclosure generally relates to techniques for neuromodulation that include applying energy (e.g., ultrasound energy) into an internal tissue to cause tissue displacement and identifying that the tissue displacement has occurred. In one embodiment, the presence of tissue displacement is associated with a desired therapeutic or physiological outcome, such as a change in a molecule of interest.

Abstract: A system for generating and detecting transient vapor nanobubbles in a fluid from a patient can include a micro-fluidic device to receive a flow of the fluid from the patient, a laser pulse source to provide a laser pulse to the flow of the fluid from a first side of the micro-fluidic device, a probe light source to provide a probe light to the flow from the first side of the micro-fluidic device, and a photodetector located at a second side of the micro-fluidic device opposite the first side. The photodetector can detect scattered, reflected, and/or deflected probe light and output a nanobubble signal including characteristics of optical scattering, reflecting, and/or deflecting by the transient vapor nanobubble.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to systems and methods for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The method includes obtaining a plurality of target sets of k-space data by filling target MR signals acquired by a plurality of coils of an MRI device into k-space along a corkscrew trajectory. The method includes obtaining a coil sensitivity of each of the plurality of coils. The method includes obtaining a point spread function corresponding to the corkscrew trajectory. The method includes generating a target image based on an objective function.

Abstract: A medical system is provided with: a medical device that is inserted inside a living body; a distal end electrode that is disposed at a distal end of the medical device, and passes a high frequency to the living body from inside the living body; a magnetic sensor that is disposed outside the living body, and detects a magnetic field generated by the high frequency that has been passed from the distal end electrode to the living body; and an image generation portion that generates an internal image of the living body using magnetic field information output from the magnetic sensor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for determining blood volume in a subject. Blood volume is an important hemodynamic parameter for monitoring many disorders, such as stoke and cancer. Current MRI techniques for quantification of absolute blood volume for such clinical applications all require injecting exogenous contrast agents. To reduce associated safety risks and cost, the present invention is directed to a non-contrast-enhanced MRI method for blood volume mapping on MRI. The technique of the present invention employs velocity-selective (VS) pulse trains in paired control and label modules for separating vascular signal by subtraction. The Fourier-transform based VS saturation pulse train (FT-VSS) of the present invention has improved performance over conventional VS pulse trains for the blood volume measurement.

Abstract: A method may include obtaining a plurality of imaging signals collected by applying a wave encoding gradient to a region of interest (ROI) of a subject. The method may also include obtaining a plurality of auxiliary signals associated with the ROI. The method may also include obtaining a point spread function corresponding to the wave encoding gradient. The method may also include determining, based on the plurality of auxiliary signals, temporal information relating to at least one temporal dimension of the ROI. The method may also include determining, based on the plurality of auxiliary signals, the plurality of imaging signals, and the point spread function, spatial information relating to at least one spatial dimension of the ROI. The method may also include generating at least one target image of the ROI based on the temporal information and the spatial information.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for detecting changes in blood flow in a tissue portion and/or body portion of an individual. The method can be used to detect any sort of pathology, trauma or insult which results in blood flow change. Specifically, this method uses hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI to detect xenon perfusion changes in tissues such as brain tissue that corresponds to changes in blood flow, for example, changes caused by functional activities of the brain or regions of the body where blood flow may be compromised.

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical imaging system (100, 300, 500) comprising a processor (104). Machine executable instructions cause the processor to: receive (200) magnetic resonance data (120) comprising discrete data portions (612) that are rotated in k-space; bin (202) the discrete data portions into predetermined motion bins (122) using a motion signal value; reconstruct (204) a reference image (124) for each of the predetermined motion bins; construct (206) a motion transform (126) between the reference images; bin (208) a chosen group (610) of the discrete data portions into a chosen time bin (128). Generate an enhanced image (130) for the chosen time bin using the chosen group fo the discrete data portions and the motion transform of each of the chosen group to correct the discrete data portions.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a method for determining an augmented vital sign, such as heart rate or heart rate variability, includes obtaining signals from a patient when the patient is both active and inactive. An activity signal is generated from the first signal, and a physiological signal is generated from the second signal. An activity weight factor is calculated from the activity signal, and a vital sign signal is calculated from the physiological signal. A mapping from the activity signal to the vital sign aids the determination of the vital sign through a motion period. The augmented vital sign is a result of the combination of first and second values, including the product of the activity weight factor and an activity derived vital sign, and the product of the vital sign signal and the activity weight factor less than one.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical microscope with a field of view and comprising an optical imaging system which images an inspection area which is at least partially located in the field of view, and to a method for a gesture control of a surgical microscope having an optical imaging system. The surgical microscope further comprises a gesture detection unit for detection of a movement of a surgical instrument, the gesture detection unit having a detection zone which is located between the inspection area and the optical imaging system and is spaced apart from the inspection area, and the gesture detection unit being configured to output a control signal to the optical imaging system depending on the movement of the surgical instrument in the detection zone, the optical imaging system being configured to alter its state depending on the control signal.

Abstract: A dynamic magnetic resonance angiography, MRA, method, comprising: acquiring, by an MR scanning device, a multi-contrast magnetic resonance, MR, sequence of a portion of a body; identifying, by a processing circuit, blood vessels of the portion by identifying blood of the portion based on predetermined characteristic of blood and the multi-contrast MR sequence; generating, by the processing circuit, a first MRA image frame and a second MRA image frame, based on the multi-contrast MR sequence, respectively visualising a first part and a second part of the identified blood vessels; generating, by the processing circuit, a dynamic MRA image for visualising a dynamic blood flow through a part of the portion, based on the first and second MRA image frame.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for producing at least one of an image or a map of a subject includes controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to perform a pulse sequence that includes a phase increment of an RF pulse selected to induce a phase difference between two echoes at different echo times (TE). The method also includes controlling the MRI system to acquire MR data corresponding to at least the two echoes at different TEs, deriving a static magnetic field (B0) map of the MRI system using the MR data corresponding to the two echoes, and using the B0 map and MR data from at least one of the two echoes, generate a map of T2 of the subject.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a balloon adapted to be placed adjacent a calcified region of a body. The balloon is inflatable with a liquid. The apparatus further includes a shock wave generator within the balloon that produces shock waves that propagate through the liquid for impinging upon the calcified region adjacent the balloon. The shock wave generator includes a plurality of shock wave sources distributed within the balloon.

Abstract: An MRI system and method for generating MR images is provided. An MR signals acquisition unit is configured to generate a main magnetic field, orienting the magnetization of blood within a subject, and first inversion/non-inversion RF pulses such that predetermined sequences of blood boli with inverted/non-inverted magnetization are generated. First inversion/non-inversion MR signals can be acquired, which are caused by the influence on the magnetization by the first inversion/non-inversion RF pulses. MR images may be generated by an image generation unit based on imaging MR signals, acquired after the sequences of inverted and non-inverted blood boli have been flowed from the first region to the part to be imaged, and the predetermined sequences. An evaluation unit is configured to evaluate the inverting of the magnetization in the first region based on the first inversion and/or non-inversion MR signals.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are described including a medical device subassembly including a magnetic feature. Systems include such a catheter adapter subassembly or needle subassembly or guidewire introducer subassembly and a wire including a magnetic feature, and relative movement of the catheter adapter subassembly or needle subassembly or guidewire introducer subassembly and the wire can be determined using a magnetometer.

Abstract: A depth sensing dilator system for dilating a penetration in a tissue plane includes an elongate flexible body, having a proximal end and a distal end. The body has a tapered dilator segment, and at least a first electrode on a distal end of the body. The system includes a processor and a user interface output device. The processor is configured to send a first signal to the output device when a change in impedance at the first electrode indicates that the first electrode has reached a predetermined relationship with the tissue plane.