Abstract: A apparatus includes an acquisition unit to acquire magnetic resonance data in every data group, a unit to control the acquisition unit to collect the data for one or a plurality of data groups during a collection period which is set based on a starting time phase of a cardiac cycle of the subject, a unit to determine the data among the data acquired by the acquisition unit as ineffective data if at least a part of it is related to a data group acquired during an ineffective period, and as effective data if all of it is related to a data group acquired during a period other than the ineffective period, the ineffective period being set based on an ending time point of the cardiac cycle in which the data is acquired, and a unit to reconstruct an image regarding the subject by using the effective data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for non-invasive and continuous measurement of respiratory chamber volume and associated parameters including respiratory rate, respiratory rhythm, tidal volume, dielectric variability and respiratory congestion. In particular, a non-invasive apparatus and method for determining dynamic and structural physiologic data from a living subject including a change in the spatial configuration of a respiratory chamber, a lung or a lobe of a lung to determine overall respiratory health comprising an ultra wide-band radar system having at least one transmitting and receiving antenna for applying ultra wide-band radio signals to a target area of the subject's anatomy wherein the receiving antenna collects and transmits signal returns from the target area.

Abstract: A system and method of integrating electromagnetic microsensors into interventional endovascular devices such as guidewires for tracking guidewires within vessels of a body with the use of a surgical navigation system.

Abstract: An interface device enables an intracavity probe to be used with a magnetic resonance (MR) system for the purpose of obtaining images or spectra of a region of interest within a cavity of a patient. The probe includes a shaft, a balloon at one end thereof, and a coil loop within the balloon. The coil loop preferably includes two drive capacitors and a tuning capacitor, all of which in series. A junction node between the drive capacitors serves as a ground for electrically balancing the coil loop. Diametrically opposite the junction node, the tuning capacitor enables the coil loop to resonate at the operating frequency of the MR system. Across each drive capacitor is connected an output cable having an electrical length of SL+n(?/4). The output cables terminate in a plug that is used to connect the coil loop to the interface device.

Abstract: An electromagnetic receiver assembly is included in a navigation element for a therapy delivery system. If the system is modular, the navigation element may be an insertable module thereof and/or include a lumen to receive another insertable module.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for coupling a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer to a skin surface using water as a coupling agent.

Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer assembly and probe for emitting and receiving acoustic radiation beams. The transducer assembly comprising an array of electroacoustic transducers composed of a plurality of individual transducer elements each one being composed of an electroacoustic element. A means for defocusing a radiation pulse emitted from the transducer element is associated with each transducer element. The defocusing means is constructed and arranged to cause the radiation pulse to generate a substantially cylindrical or spherical acoustic field.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) representation of one or more light sources inside a sample, such as a mammal. Mammalian tissue is a turbid medium, meaning that photons are both absorbed and scattered as they propagate through tissue. In the case where scattering is large compared with absorption, such as red to near-infrared light passing through tissue, the transport of light within the sample is described by diffusion theory. Using imaging data and computer-implemented photon diffusion models, embodiments of the present invention produce a 3D representation of the light sources inside a sample, such as a 3D location, size, and brightness of such light sources.

Abstract: A blood rheology measurement device measures a blood rheology of blood flowing through an artery inside of a living body from outside of the living body. The blood rheology measurement device has a sensor that detects a flow rate of blood flowing through the artery and a pulsatile displacement that varies with an elapse of time. The pulsatile displacement corresponds to a displacement of the artery in a diameter direction thereof due to expansion and contraction of the artery resulting from a pulsatile motion of the heart. A calculating section calculates the blood rheology of blood flowing through the artery on the basis of the blood flow rate and the pulsatile displacement detected by the sensor.

Abstract: A system for producing an ultrasound image comprises a scan head having a transducer capable of generating ultrasound energy at a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz), and a processor for receiving ultrasound energy and for generating an ultrasound image at a frame rate of at least 15 frames per second (fps).

Abstract: The invention relates to a wave-propagation-based sounding method, in which: an incident wave is emitted through a medium including diffusers capable of reflecting the wave; and, subsequently, signals representing a reflected wave reverberated by the medium from the incident wave are captured, said captured signals being the sum of a single scattering component and a multiple scattering component. The captured signals are processed by separating the multiple scattering component from the single scattering component by filtering at least one frequency transfer matrix representing responses between transducers from the transducer assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for determining the position of a part of a medical instrument with an x-ray sensitive sensor in a plane of an x-ray image using an x-ray facility having an x-ray beam source and a device, which is assigned to the beam source and influences the x-ray radiation emitted by the x-ray beam source, wherein a spatial region, in which the medical instrument is located, is scanned with x-ray radiation and at the same time x-ray radiation is detected with the x-ray-sensitive sensor with the device for influencing the x-ray radiation rotating at constant speed, the rotation being synchronized to the receipt of signals based on x-ray radiation with the x-ray-sensitive sensor and with the position of the part of the medical instrument in the plane of an x-ray image being determined based on the x-ray radiation detected with the x-ray-sensitive sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to various aspects of imaging systems, including permeable and impermeable barriers separating liquid compartments, one of which contains the object to be imaged and the other an ultrasonic transducer, a fluidic bearing between a transducer carriage and guide supporting the carriage, a linear motor for the carriage, and a location sensing device for the carriage.

Abstract: A mechanical manipulator (10) for controlling the movement of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducers, especially for medical use, such as in the treatment of cancers. A base harness having two or three legs (12) is mounted on the treatment table. A central shaft mounted on the base harness carries a diagnostic probe as well as a plurality of treatment probes. The treatment probes may be moved through three degrees of freedom using computer controlled motors. The treatment probes may be moved linearly, in jaw motion and in a pitch motion.

Abstract: A heart rate of a subject is determined using a probabilistic segmental model. Reflections of ultrasound signals from the subject, for instance, are down modulated to an audio band and velocity samples are obtained. For a signal analysis window of the samples, e.g., 25 msec. of samples, features of the samples are obtained. Based on the features, a first set of probabilities is obtained for different candidate current heartbeat periods. A second set of probabilities is determined based on combinations of different previous heartbeat periods. One of the candidate current heartbeat periods is determined to be most probable, based on the first and second sets of probabilities.

Abstract: Magnetocardiogram (MCG) provides temporal and spatial measurements of cardiac electric activities, which permits current localization. An MCG device usually consists of a small number of magnetic sensors in a planar array. Each sensor provides a highly low-resolution 2D MCG map. Such a low-res map is insufficient for cardiac electric current localization. To create a high resolution MCG image from the sparse measurements, an algorithm based on model learning is used. The model is constructed using a large number of randomly generated high resolution MCG images based on the Biot-Savart Law. By fitting the model with the sparse measurements, high resolution MCG image are created. Next, the 2D position of the electric current is localized by finding the peak in the tangential components of the high resolution MCG images.

Abstract: A torsional support apparatus is disclosed for craniocaudal rotation of test animals to enable multiple-view imaging. The animal is supported in a U-shaped loop of optically transparent material and the loop is moved to apply torsion to the animal to rotate it about its craniocaudal axis. Methods of imaging also are disclosed that use the torsional support technique.

Abstract: An imaging device is disclosed for generating successive tomograms of an object. In at least one embodiment, the imaging device includes a radiation source, a detector, a positioning unit and a control unit for controlling the positioning unit and for evaluating the recorded data of the detector. In at least one embodiment, it is provided that the control unit is set up for matching a contrast medium protocol, in which parameters for contrast medium administration are stored, provided for examinations in a contrast medium device, to a scan protocol provided for the examination, in which operating parameters for generating successive tomograms are stored, for preventing unnecessary administration phases. This provides for a contrast medium examination with the least possible contrast medium administration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for examination and use of an electrical field in a magnetic gradient field, containing magnetic particles in an examination area of an object under examination. The invention also relates to a method of determining the, especially three-dimensional, conductivity distribution in an examination area of an object under examination using a device according to the invention, a method for drug or active ingredient release, especially in locally targeted manner, in an examination area of an object under examination likewise using a device according to the invention, as well as use of a device according to the invention for electro-stimulation.

Abstract: A system and method of both tracking a medical device and generating an image in real time from the same set of radial data. A multi-mode medical device system having tracking, imaging, and visualizing capabilities is coupled to an MR scanner and multiple-echo VIPR acquisition sequence is applied to simultaneously provide conventional real-time imaging of the target region using an external coil, 3D tip-tracking information, and a localized higher-quality image showing the region surrounding the medical device using an internal multi-mode coil.