Abstract: Featured are methods, apparatus and devices for detecting a hematoma in tissue of a patient. In one aspect, such a method includes emitting near infrared light continuously into the tissue from a non-stationary near infrared light emitter and continuously monitoring the tissue using a non-stationary probe so as to continuously detect reflected light. The near infrared light is emitted at two distances from a brain of the patient, so the emitted light penetrates to two different depths. Such a method also includes applying a ratiometric analysis to the reflected light to distinguish a border between normal tissue and tissue exhibiting blood accumulation.

Abstract: An ablation catheter includes a tubular catheter body having a lumen, a tip portion, a liquid inlet, at least one liquid outlet, a liquid flow path defined between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, and an ablation element mounted on the tip portion of the catheter body. A rotationally-scanning ultrasound assembly is disposed within the lumen of the catheter body adjacent the tip portion. The ultrasound assembly includes an ultrasound transducer having an active face, an acoustic mirror acoustically coupled to the active face of the ultrasound transducer, and an impeller positioned in the liquid flow path and operably coupled to at least one of the ultrasound transducer and the acoustic mirror to impart rotational motion thereto when a liquid flows through the impeller.

Abstract: In order to position and simultaneously operate both a magnetic resonance (MR) coil and an ultrasound transducer adjacent to a target volume while minimizing interference between the MR coil and the ultrasound transducer, hybrid ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices are provided. One of the hybrid ultrasound and MRI devices includes a transducer array, a communications interface connected with the transducer array, and a housing that electromagnetically shields and encloses the transducer array and the communications interface. An electrically conducting side of the housing receives a radio frequency (RF) signal from an MRI system and transmits the RF signal to an electrically conducting side of a housing of another of the hybrid ultrasound and MRI devices.

Abstract: A catheter that comprises a catheter configured for housing at least a portion of a catheter configured for insertion into a body lumen in proximity of a targeted anatomical site and having an imager at a distal end thereof and an adjustable chamber configured for covering the imager. The catheter is configured for introducing a wave conductive medium to the adjustable chamber to increase wave conductivity between said targeted anatomical site and the imager.

Abstract: Systems and methods for spectral analysis of a tissue mass using an instrument, an optical probe, and a Monte Carlo algorithm or a diffusion algorithm are provided. According to one method, an instrument is inserted into a tissue mass. A fiber optic probe is applied via the instrument into the tissue mass. Turbid spectral data of the tissue mass is measured using the fiber probe. The turbid spectral data is converted to absorption, scattering, and/or intrinsic fluorescence spectral data via a Monte Carlo algorithm or diffusion algorithm. Biomarker concentrations in the tissue mass are quantified using the absorption, scattering, and/or intrinsic fluorescence spectral data.

Abstract: A method for detecting when a tool contacts a wall of a region of interest includes the steps of: tracking the motion of the tool and creating a tool motion profile; calculating a correlation value representative of the correlation between the tool motion profile and a wall motion profile indicative of the motion of the wall; and determining when the correlation value exceeds a threshold indicative of contact of the tool with the wall of the region of interest.

Abstract: An intracavity ultrasound probe includes a pivotally mounted array transducer which is oscillated to scan a volumetric region from within the body. The transducer is oscillated by a motor located in the probe handle. The array transducer is immersed in a liquid which acoustically couples ultrasonic energy between the elements of the transducer and the body. The acoustic coupling liquid is located in the distal tip of the probe shaft, where only 6 cc of liquid is required. The small amount of liquid reduces the weight of the shaft of the probe so that the center of gravity of the probe is in the handle, making the probe comfortable and easy to manipulate. The majority of parts in the probe shaft are made of aluminum or other low density materials, keeping the overall weight of the probe to about 250 grams.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing depth sectioned fluorescence imaging of a turbid sample including a fluorescent turbid medium, uses an apparatus for quantitative modulated fluorescence imaging, the apparatus including projection optics with a first optical axis, to expose the turbid sample to a periodic pattern of excitation radiation to provide depth-resolved discrimination of fluorescent structures within the turbid medium; an image capture module, including a second optical axis and a detection beam path, to receive a data image from the sample; and a signal processor to transform the data image from the sample, spatially filter the transformed data image from the sample, and reconstruct the filtered, transformed data image from the sample.

Abstract: An patch and sensor assembly for use in an EP mapping system has two portions: a reusable portion and a disposable portion. The reusable portion houses the biosensors used in magnetic based location and mapping systems and the electrical lead necessary to communicate between the biosensor and the mapping system. The reusable portion may also contain a portion of the electrode necessary to receive electrical signals from the body of the patient. The disposable portion of the patch and sensor assembly contains an adhesive covered flexible patch having at least a portion of the electrode used to receive electrical signals form the body of the patient and may contain the electrical lead necessary to communicate such an electrical signal to the mapping system. The disposable portion contains a receptacle adapted to receive and mechanically secure the reusable portion to the disposable portion of the assembly.

Abstract: The position of blood vessels can be more appropriately specified by means of appropriately selecting, on the basis of the conditions and components utilized, and angle between a light emitting unit optical axis of a near-infrared light emitting unit and a normal light of an irradiated surface, and angle between an optical axis of a light receiving side lens and the normal line of the irradiated surface, and an angle between a light receiving surface of a photo diode array and the light receiving unit optical axis. Thus, the subcutaneous blood vessel depth in the direction of the normal line from the irradiated surface can be specified based on changes in illumination intensity in a photodiode array. Consequently, the position of subcutaneous blood vessels can be easily specified.

Abstract: Preceding decoders each convolve a corresponding one of a plurality of transducer elements constituting a transducer element array of an ultrasound probe with an impulse response waveform, while varying a filter coefficient corresponding to time side lobes for each transmission event. A succeeding decoder stores, in a memory, a reception beam signal that is output from a reception beam former. When a new reception beam signal is output, the succeeding decoder performs delay-and-sum on the new reception beam signal and the reception beam signal, which has been output immediately before the new reception beam signal and is stored in the memory.

Abstract: A device for heating tissue, comprises a housing sized for insertion through a naturally occurring body orifice to a target location within a lumen and a heat generating element within the housing focusing thermal energy on a target area separated from an outside of the housing so that, when the housing is in the target location, the target area is within tissue surrounding the lumen at a predetermined depth from a lumenal wall in combination with a temperature sensing element sensing data corresponding to a temperature of tissue in the target area and a processor controlling the heat generating element in response to the data sensed by the sensing element.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking the three-dimensional position and orientation of a surgical instrument as the instrument is being utilized within the interior of a patient body. A stereoscopic camera system generates a stereoscopic image of the patient body which is subsequently rendered on a display device. A wireless signal transmitted by an electromagnetic field generator is received by a sensor on the surgical instrument. Utilizing this sensor data, a processor calculates the position and orientation of the surgical instrument and then superimposes upon the rendered stereoscopic image of the patient body a graphical representation indicative of the position and orientation of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: An obturator as part of a biopsy system enhances use with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) by indicating location of a side aperture in an encompassing cannula. The cannula (e.g., detached probe, sleeve sized to receive a core biopsy probe) includes a side aperture for taking a tissue sample. When the obturator is inserted in lieu of the biopsy device into the cannula, a notch formed in a shaft of the obturator corresponds to the side aperture. A dugout trough into the notch may further accept aqueous material to further accentuate the side aperture. In addition, a series of dimensionally varied apertures (e.g., wells, slats) that communicate through a lateral surface of the shaft and that are proximal to the side aperture receive an aqueous material to accentuate visibility in an MRI image, even in a skewed MRI slice through the cannula/obturator.

Abstract: A novel MRI contrast technique enables to observe tissue properties not observable by previously known MRI methods. A difference between two disclosed pulse sequences is used to measure magnetization exchange time between water molecules and macromolecules such as proteins, thereby producing a measure highly sensitive to tissue changes resulting from coagulation, yet relatively insensitive to temperature fluctuations. This result is applied to an imaging method and provides direct visualization of the effects of surgical thermal ablation procedures.

Abstract: A system for presenting multiple parallel slices comprises a display for displaying ultrasound data comprising 3D Doppler data over time. A user interface defines a proximal plane and a distal plane within the ultrasound data that are parallel to one another. The proximal and distal planes define a region of interest (ROI). A signal processor automatically extracts at least two slices based on the ultrasound data within the ROI. The at least two slices are parallel with respect to each other and are displayed on the display.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to acquire imaging and non-imaging datasets from like objects. A linkage is found using a partial least squares (PLS) technique between imaging and non-imaging datasets. The linkage is then reduced to an expression of a single numerical assessment. The single numerical assessment is then used as an objective, quantified assessment of the differences and similarities between the objects. The data each dataset can be aspects of performance, physical characteristics, or measurements of appearance.

Abstract: A method for contrast agent enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a target sample, comprising generating a magnetic field shift in a polarizing magnetic field during a relaxation portion of an MRI pulse sequence and thereafter acquiring an MR image.

Abstract: Ultrasonic scanners and methods of manufacturing ultrasonic scanners. One embodiment of a method includes integrating a flexible electronic device (e.g. an IC) and a flexible ultrasonic transducer (e.g. a portion of a circular CMUT array) with a flexible member. The IC, the transducer, and the flexible member can form a flexible subassembly which is rolled up to form an ultrasonic scanner. The integration of the IC and the transducer can occur at the same time. In the alternative, the integration of the electronic device can occur before the integration of the transducer. Moreover, the integration of the transducer can include using a semiconductor technique. Furthermore, the rolled up subassembly can form a lumen or can be attached to a lumen. The method can include folding a portion of the flexible subassembly to form a forward looking transducer. The flexible member of some subassemblies can include a pair of arms.

Abstract: A surgical trajectory guide to guide a medical device to a pivot point has a base that can be attached to a patient, an axial guide member connected with the base and aligned with a pivot point along a first axis in fixed relation to the base and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The guide member has a longitudinal axis, and is connected to the base such that the longitudinal axis always passes through the pivot point, and the axial guide member is prevented from rotating around the longitudinal axis. The guide further has at least one electronic angle sensor that can automatically sense a first angle of the axial guide member relative to the local gravity vector about the first axis and a second angle of the axial guide member relative to the local gravity vector about the second axis without having to level the base.