Abstract: A mechanical tracking system comprises a first set of linkage arms, a second set of linkage arms, a pair of shafts connected at a first end to one arm of the first set of linkage arms and at a second end to one arm of said second set of the linkage arms, wherein each arm of the second set of linkage arms is oriented out of phase with a respective arm of the first set of linkage arms, an attachment shaft positioned adjacent to the first set of linkage arms to accommodate a tool, and a sensor arrangement configured to sense the orientation and position of the attachment shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modular base link for use in a counterbalancing arm. The base link includes two base plates and four connection points. Two stabilizing members are connected to and extend between the base plates. Two resilient members, one of which is hingeably connected to and in communication with the two connection points, the other resilient member is hingeably connected to and in communication with the other connection points. The connection points are eccentrically and orthogonally disposed relative to each other. The resilient members are sufficiently resilient to permit movement of the base plates relative to each other so as to counterbalance the arm when a load is applied to either base plate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for generating a motion-corrected 2D image of a target. The method comprises acquiring a 3D static image of the target before an interventional procedure. During the procedure, a number of 2D real time images of the target are acquired and displayed. A slice of the 3D static image is acquired and registered with one 2D real time image and then the location of the 3D static image is corrected to be in synchrony with body motion. The motion corrected 2D image of the target is then displayed.

Abstract: A method of registering the position of an object moving in a target volume in an ultrasound imaging system includes capturing a first ultrasound image of a target volume. A second ultrasound image of the target volume is then captured after the capturing of the first ultrasound image. The position of the object in the target volume is identified using differences detected between the first and second ultrasound images. In another aspect, a region of interest in the target volume is determined. A segment of an operational scan range of a transducer of the ultrasound imaging system encompassing the region of interest is determined. The transducer is focused on the segment of the operational scan range during image capture.

Abstract: A mechanical tracking system comprises a first set of linkage arms, a second set of linkage arms, a pair of shafts connected at a first end to one arm of the first set of linkage antis and at a second end to one arm of said second set of the linkage arms, wherein each arm of the second set of linkage arms is oriented out of phase with a respective arm of the first set of linkage arms, an attachment shaft positioned adjacent to the first set of linkage arms to accommodate a tool, and a sensor arrangement configured to sense the orientation and position of the attachment shaft.

Abstract: An actuator for an ultrasound probe comprises a housing assembly configured to accommodate an ultrasound probe and to be positioned adjacent to a target region of interest to be examined, and a motor assembly coupled to the housing assembly, the motor assembly configured to move the housing assembly in a manner to allow an ultrasound probe when accommodated by the housing assembly to perform a compound scan of the target region of interest.

Abstract: A mechanical arm assembly comprises an arm rotatable about a pivot, a first force generating device for maintaining the arm at a datum, and a second force generating device for compensating for the first generating device to maintain the arm in positions other than the datum.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a biopsy of a target volume and a computing device for planning the same are provided. A three-dimensional ultrasound transducer captures ultrasound volume data from the target volume. A three-dimensional registration module registers the ultrasound volume data with supplementary volume data related to the target volume. A biopsy planning module processes the ultrasound volume data and the supplementary volume data in combination in order to develop a biopsy plan for the target volume. A biopsy needle biopsies the target volume in accordance with the biopsy plan.

Abstract: A device guiding apparatus comprises support framework, a counterbalance supported by the support framework at a position above a surface on which the support framework rests, and a manipulation assembly supported by the counterbalance. The manipulation assembly comprises at least one support assembly for supporting a medical device at a position intermediate the counterbalance and the surface such that a user has a direct line-of-site of the at least one support assembly.

Abstract: There is provided a guide apparatus for orienting a medical tool relative to and through a remote fulcrum or remote center of motion. The guide apparatus may comprise: at least one crank arm comprising at least a portion of a first hinged coupling for hinged coupling to a stabilizer; at least one link arm comprising at least a portion of a second hinged coupling for hinged coupling to the crank arm at a location spaced from the first hinged coupling; a tool holder for supporting a medical tool on the link arm at a location spaced from the first hinged coupling; wherein the rotational axes of the first and second hinged couplings intersect to define a remote fulcrum. The guide apparatus may be configured to be an open-loop spherical chain or a closed-loop spherical chain.

Abstract: Segmenting the prostate boundary is essential in determining the dose plan needed for a successful bracytherapy procedure—an effective and commonly used treatment for prostate cancer. However, manual segmentation is time consuming and can introduce inter and intra-operator variability. This present invention describes an algorithm for segmenting the prostate from two dimensional ultrasound (2D US) images, which can be full-automatic, with some assumptions of image acquisition. Segmentation begins with the user assuming the center of the prostate to be at the center of the image for the fully-automatic version. The image is then filtered to identify prostate edge candidates. The next step removes most of the false edges and keeps as many true edges as possible. Then, domain knowledge is used to remove any prostate boundary candidates that are probably false edge pixels.

Abstract: Biopsy of the prostate using 2D transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guidance is the current gold standard for diagnosis of prostate cancer; however, the current procedure is limited by using 2D biopsy tools to target 3D biopsy locations. We have discovered a technique for patient-specific 3D prostate model reconstruction from a sparse collection of non-parallel 2D TRUS biopsy images. Our method can be easily integrated with current TRUS biopsy equipment and could be incorporated into current clinical biopsy procedures for needle guidance without the need for expensive hardware additions. We have demonstrated the model reconstruction technique using simulated biopsy images from 3D TRUS prostate images of 10 biopsy patients. This technique of model reconstruction is not limited to the prostate, but can be applied to the reconstruction of any tissue acquired with non-parallel 2-dimensional ultrasound images.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a distribution of a selected therapy in a target volume is provided. A three-dimensional ultrasound transducer captures volume data from the target volume. A computing device is in communication with the three-dimensional ultrasound transducer for receiving the volume data and determining the distribution of the selected therapy in the target volume along a set of planned needle trajectories using the volume data. At least one of the needle trajectories is oblique to at least one other of the planned needle trajectories.

Abstract: A method and system provide automated claim chart generation. The method and system import claims and related information regarding at least one patent The method and system create an initial claim chart for the patent, receive user edits to the claim elements of the claims, and process the user edits to the claim elements. After detecting a user edit to an element a first claim that is repetitive of a second claim, the method and system automatically update the corresponding element of the second claim. The method and system create a product template that includes product identifiers, product characteristics, and evidence showing that the products have the product characteristics. The method and system perform a case analysis, receive an input mapping the product characteristics to the claim elements in the initial claim chart, and generate a claim infringement analysis chart combining the mapped claim elements and the product characteristics.

Abstract: A method of registering the position of an object moving in a target volume in an ultrasound imaging system includes capturing a first ultrasound image of a target volume. A second ultrasound image of the target volume is then captured after the capturing of the first ultrasound image. The position of the object in the target volume is identified using differences detected between the first and second ultrasound images. In another aspect, a region of interest in the target volume is determined. A segment of an operational scan range of a transducer of the ultrasound imaging system encompassing the region of interest is determined. The transducer is focused on the segment of the operational scan range during image capture.

Abstract: Biopsy of the prostate using 2D transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guidance is the current gold standard for diagnosis of prostate cancer; however, the current procedure is limited by using 2D biopsy tools to target 3D biopsy locations. We have discovered a technique for patient-specific 3D prostate model reconstruction from a sparse collection of non-parallel 2D TRUS biopsy images. Our method can be easily integrated with current TRUS biopsy equipment and could be incorporated into current clinical biopsy procedures for needle guidance without the need for expensive hardware additions. We have demonstrated the model reconstruction technique using simulated biopsy images from 3D TRUS prostate images of 10 biopsy patients. This technique of model reconstruction is not limited to the prostate, but can be applied to the reconstruction of any tissue acquired with non-parallel 2-dimensional ultrasound images.

Abstract: There is provided a mechanical arm assembly comprising: an arm rotatable about a pivot, a first force generating device for maintaining the arm at a datum, a second force generating device for compensating for the first generating device to maintain the arm in positions other than the datum.

Abstract: A method of registering the position of an object moving in a target volume in an ultrasound imaging system includes capturing a first ultrasound image of a target volume. A second ultrasound image of the target volume is then captured after the capturing of the first ultrasound image. The position of the object in the target volume is identified using differences detected between the first and second ultrasound images. In another aspect, a region of interest in the target volume is determined. A segment of an operational scan range of a transducer of the ultrasound imaging system encompassing the region of interest is determined. The transducer is focused on the segment of the operational scan range during image capture.

Abstract: Segmenting the prostate boundary is essential in determining the dose plan needed for a successful bracytherapy procedure—an effective and commonly used treatment for prostate cancer. However, manual segmentation is time consuming and can introduce inter and intra-operator variability. This present invention describes an algorithm for segmenting the prostate from two dimensional ultrasound (2D US) images, which can be full-automatic, with some assumptions of image acquisition. Segmentation begins with the user assuming the center of the prostate to be at the center of the image for the fully-automatic version. The image is then filtered to identify prostate edge candidates. The next step removes most of the false edges and keeps as many true edges as possible. Then, domain knowledge is used to remove any prostate boundary candidates that are probably false edge pixels.

Abstract: There is provided a guide apparatus for orienting a medical tool relative to and through a remote fulcrum or remote center of motion. The guide apparatus may comprise: at least one crank arm comprising at least a portion of a first hinged coupling for hinged coupling to a stabilizer; at least one link arm comprising at least a portion of a second hinged coupling for hinged coupling to the crank arm at a location spaced from the first hinged coupling; a tool holder for supporting a medical tool on the link arm at a location spaced from the first hinged coupling; wherein the rotational axes of the first and second hinged couplings intersect to define a remote fulcrum. The guide apparatus may be configured to be an open-loop spherical chain or a closed-loop spherical chain.