Abstract: A tracking system for stone treatment by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy includes a data processing unit, a motion controller, a servo-moving platform, a stone image-processing module, a stone localization module, and a moving-mechanism control module. With the use of the stone-tracking system, the performance of an extracorporeal shock wave lithotriptor can be greatly improved, resulting in less side effect such as tissue damage.

Abstract: A method and system for imaging the dynamics of a scattering medium (116) is provided. The method and system generates contrast and resolution enhanced images of dynamic properties of a medium having a temporal signature by using time series analysis methods on a time series of collected data or time series of images to extract and isolate dynamic properties of the medium (116).

Abstract: A pre-operative device includes at least one elongated probe (1) integrating at least one element for detecting radioactive radiation (3) emitted by tissues (4) marked by radioactive isotopes or radioactive colloids, generating a first representative electrical signal (5), at least one element (6) for emitting luminous radiation toward the tissues (4) and at least one element (7) for receiving and transmitting reflected luminous radiation (8) reflected by the tissues (4) marked by vital colorants or magnetic markers, toward at least one element (9) for converting the reflected luminous radiation (8) into a second representative electrical signal (10), electrical connection elements for conveying the first and second electrical signals (5, 10) and, at least one electronic means (11) for processing electronic signals.

Abstract: A system and method for automatic quantitative assessment of myocardial image quality includes a liver-heart artifact quantification unit for providing a sequence of images, detecting the heart position in each image, segmenting non-heart activity relative to the detected heart positions, measuring the liver-heart effect in each image based on the segmentations, fusing the measurements obtained in each image, and determining a quality number for the plurality of images responsive to the fused measurements; and also includes a heart detection unit for receiving the image sequence, generating a region of interest comprising the heart by 1-D pseudo-motion analysis of the image sequence, localizing the heart center by a training-based algorithm, fitting a curve to the localized heart centers of each image in the sequence, refining the heart center positions of localized heart centers falling outside of a tolerance distance from the fitted curve, and determining a bounding circle comprising the heart in accordance

Abstract: MRA data is acquired from a large region of interest by translating the patient through the bore of the MRI system as a three-dimensional MRA data set are acquired. Patient table movement is controlled to track a bolus of contrast agent as it passes through the region of interest. Fluoroscopic images may be acquired during the scan to enable accurate bolus tracking. A seamless image of the entire region of interest is reconstructed.

Abstract: A method and system for constructing from volumetric CT or MRI scan data of a patient region, a virtual two-dimensional fluoroscopic image of the patient region as seen from a selected point in space are disclosed. In practicing the method, a plurality of rays are constructed between a selected view point and each of a plurality of points in an XY array, where at least some of the rays pass through the patient target region, the points in the XY array correspond to the XY array of pixels in a display screen, and each pixel in the display screen includes multiple N-bit registers for receiving digital-scale values for each of multiple colors. For each pixel element, a sum of all M-bit density values associated with voxels along a ray extending from the selected point to the associated pixel element is calculated.

Abstract: A method for converting a source intensity map into a target intensity map having a geometry compatible with a desired multi-leaf collimator configuration. The source intensity map and the target intensity map each have a geometry defining sampling points of cells within the maps. The method includes defining a field on an object for radiation delivery. The field includes a plurality of cells defining the source intensity map, each of the cells having a treatment intensity level. An intermediate intensity map geometry is created such that the intermediate map contains sampling points of the source intensity map and the target intensity map. The method further includes defining treatment intensity levels for cells of the intermediate map and calculating treatment intensity levels for cells of the target intensity map based on the intensity level of the intermediate map cells.

Abstract: Software, methods and user interfaces for viewing and generating a lung report. In exemplary methods, a first baseline image is analyzed to localize lung nodules. The lung nodule information can be stored and used to relocate the previously localized lung nodules in a second, follow-up imaging scan. The follow-up scan can be analyzed—either manually or automatically—to generate statistics for the lung nodules localized in the follow-up scan. Information derived from the baseline scan can be used to ease the localization of the lung nodules in the follow-up scan. In some exemplary methods, both the baseline scan and follow-up scan are displayed and the nodules are selected for comparison. Typically, the graphical user interface can display a third, composite image that displays the change of size of the nodules.

Abstract: Automated determination and setting of an ultrasound system transmit power level is provided for contrast agent imaging. Low mechanical index imaging of contrast agents allows substantially continuous imaging of contrast agents without destruction. By comparing data associated with different transmit power levels, different delays between acquisition or different acquisition sequences, a contrast agent imaging transmit power generally minimizing destruction of contrast agents and maximizing signal-to-noise ratio is automatically determined.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of magnetic resonance imaging of regional blood oxygenation which comprises administering into the vasculature of a vascularized human or non-human animal subject a T2 blood pool contrast agent, detecting a magnetic resonance signal from at least part of the vasculature of said subject into which said contrast agent distributes, and manipulating said signal to generate an indication of the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) in at least part of said vasculature.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining the filling of a lung, wherein the movement of an anatomical structure which moves with breathing, or one or more points on the moving anatomical structure whose movement trajectory is highly correlated with lung filling, is detected with respect to the location of at least one anatomical structure which is not spatially affected by breathing, and wherein each distance between the structures is assigned a particular lung filling value.

Abstract: A device for controlling equipment includes at least one light projector adapted to project light onto a head of a living body. A light collecting section for collecting the light having passed through the head, a light measuring section for measuring an intensity of the light collected by the light collecting section, a memory section for storing a previous history of changes of the intensity of the light measured, a signal judging section for judging if both the intensity of the light measured by said light measuring section and the previous history of changes of the intensity of the light satisfy a predetermined condition, a displaying section for displaying the intensity of the light measured and a result obtained by the signal judging section, and a control signal generating section for generating a control signal for external equipment.

Abstract: Sub-systems and components of a MRI system have enhanced electrical efficiency, faster operation, reduced physical metrics, by operating at cryogenic temperatures and/or incorporating superconducting elements. A plurality of sub-systems and a super-conducting magnet are enclosed in a common Temperature-controlled chamber. Resistive or permanent magnets may be used in place of the superconductive magnet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a scanning system that uses uniform rotary motion of an optical reflector to create reciprocal linear scanning. The system converts uniform rotation into uniform longitudinal scanning. The system thereby creates mechanical reciprocal linear scanning free of reciprocally moving mechanical parts common in conventional scanning systems. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the scanning system is incorporated within an imaging catheter for medical scanning. The optical reflector is rotatable and includes a spiral reflecting portion. The spiral reflecting portion may be a single uniform reflecting surface or may include several reflection surfaces arranged in a spiral configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the in vivo location and tracking of a radioactive seed source during and after brachytherapy treatment. The method comprises obtaining multiple views of the seed source in a living organism using: 1) a single PSPMT detector that is exposed through a multiplicity of pinholes thereby obtaining a plurality of images from a single angle; 2) a single PSPMT detector that may obtain an image through a single pinhole or a plurality of pinholes from a plurality of angles through movement of the detector; or 3) a plurality of PSPMT detectors that obtain a plurality of views from different angles simultaneously or virtually simultaneously. The plurality of images obtained from these various techniques, through angular displacement of the various acquired images, provide the information required to generate the three dimensional images needed to define the location of the radioactive seed source within the body of the living organism.

Abstract: A magnetic field measurement apparatus includes a plurality of magnetometers each having SQUID's and three detection coils, one of which detects each of three orthogonal directional magnetic field components (Bx, By, Bz) of a magnetic field generated from a subject to be inspected, a display which displays time variation of waveforms of the magnitude (?(Bx2+By2+Bz2)) of magnetic field synthesized by square sum of each of the three orthogonal directional magnetic field components of the magnetic field generated from the subject to be inspected, a holder for holding a Dewar's vessel for arranging magnetometers therein, and a controller for controlling a positional relationship between the subject to be inspected and the Dewar's vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of imaging a vascular tree that yields additional information concerning the vascular tree. To this end, a sequence of clusters is determined from spatially coherent voxels in the three-dimensional image of the vascular tree, the sequence of said clusters corresponding to the flow direction of the blood or the contrast medium in said vascular tree.

Abstract: An ECG-prep scan is used to set an optimum time phase in both systole and diastole of the heart. At each of the different time phases, an imaging scan is started to acquire a plurality of sets of echo data. An artery/vein visually separated blood flow image is produced from the echo data. The imaging scan uses a half-Fourier technique, for example. This provides high-quality blood flow images with shorter scan time, without injecting a contrast medium. Additionally, with a readout gradient pulse applied substantially parallel with a direction of slowly flowing blood, a scan is performed in synchronism with an optimally determined cardiac time phase. The readout gradient pulse has a dephasing pulse for enhancing differences in a flow void effect depending on blood flow velocities. This enables slow-speed flows, such as blood flows in the inferior limb, to be depicted without fail.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of positioning an interventional device in a body using a guide pivoting about a pivot point, performed by locating the spatial coordinates of a target and the pivot point, determining a third point outside of the body lying along or proximate a line extending through the target and pivot point, and aligning the axis of the guide with the third point using an imaging system. There is also disclosed a medical imaging system including a processing unit and computer software operative on the processing unit to permit an operator of the system to locate the spatial coordinates of a target point and a pivot point of a guide, and determine a third point outside of the body lying along or proximate a line extending through the target and pivot point. This medical imaging system may further include computer software operative on the processing unit to assist an operator in obtaining an image by which the axis of the guide can be aligned with the third point using an imaging system.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer array (408) includes at least one transducer element (412) having a first (604) and second (606) portions separated by an acoustical discontinuity (520). The first portion (604) has the desired length to form a half-wave k31 resonance, while the second portion (606) has a resonant length for an undesired very low frequency out-of-band k31 resonance. The thickness of the transducer element (412) is designed for k33 half-resonance. Given the design, the transducer element (412) can operate and provide for both forward-looking (514) and side looking (512) elevation apertures. A method is also disclosed for using the disclosed ultrasound transducer (412) in ultrasound imaging.