Abstract: An apparatus for performing a medical procedure is disclosed. The apparatus includes a sensor adapted to convert an ultrasonic signal incident thereon into an electrical signal; and a wireless transceiver configured to receive the electrical signal from the sensor, and to transmit the electrical signal to a wireless receiver remotely located from the apparatus.

Abstract: A medical device includes an elongated body (14) and a plurality of sensors (10) conformally formed on the elongated body at a plurality of longitudinal positions along the elongated body. The plurality of sensors is configured to generate signals in accordance with detected energy for an imaging system. A single electrical trace (24) connects to each of the plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors being connected in parallel to form an array of sensors along the elongated body.

Abstract: Ultrasound image devices, systems, and methods are provided. An ultrasound imaging system comprising a processor circuit configured to receive, from an ultrasound imaging device, a sequence of input image frames of a moving object over a time period, wherein the moving object comprises at least one of an anatomy of a patient or a medical device traversing through the patient's anatomy, and wherein a portion of the moving object is at least partially invisible in a first input image frame of the sequence of input image frames; apply a recurrent predictive network to the sequence of input image frames to generate segmentation data; and output, to a display, a sequence of output image frames based on the segmentation data, wherein the portion of the moving object is fully visible in a first output image frame of the sequence of output image frames.

Abstract: An instrument for internal mapping includes a flexible elongated portion (702) and an expandable portion (710) coupled distally to the elongated portion, the expandable portion having one or more expandable loops. An array of sensors (706) and electrodes (708) is distributed on the expandable portion and is configured to concurrently register the instrument to real-time images of an anatomy using the sensors and measure electrical characteristics of the anatomy with the electrodes to generate an electro-physiology (EP) map having the anatomy and intensities of the electrical characteristics mapped together in the real-time images.

Abstract: System (10) for determining a position of an interventional device (11) respective an image plane (12) defined by an ultrasound imaging probe (13). The position is determined based on ultrasound signals transmitted between the ultrasound imaging probe (13) and an ultrasound transducer (15) attached to the interventional device (11). An image reconstruction unit (IRU) provides a reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI). A position determination unit (PDU) computes a lateral position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) of the ultrasound transducer (15) respective the image plane (12) based on a time of flight (TOFSmax) of a maximum detected intensity (ISmax) ultrasound signal. The position determination unit (PDU) also computes an out-of-plane distance (Dop) between the ultrasound transducer (15) and the image plane (12).

Abstract: A controller (120) for simultaneously tracking multiple sensors in a medical intervention includes a circuit (121-181) that causes the controller (120) to execute a process. The process executed by the circuit (121-181) includes receiving first and second signals respectively from a first and a second passive ultrasound sensor (S2) used in the medical intervention. The first and second signals respectively include first and second sensor information indicative of respective locations of the first and the second passive ultrasound sensor (S2). The process executed by the circuit (121-181) also includes combining (120) the first signal and the second signal for transmission over only one channel, and providing the first signal and the second signal over the only one channel to a system (190) that determines the location of the first passive ultrasound sensor (S1) and the location of the second passive ultrasound sensor (S2) and that has only the one channel to receive the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: A system performs a medical procedure in a region of interest of a patient. The system includes an interventional medical device insertable into the region of interest, and a sensor attached to a portion of the interventional device, the sensor being configured to convert an ultrasonic wave from an ultrasound imaging probe to a corresponding electrical radio frequency (RF) signal. The corresponding RF signal is received by a wireless receiver outside the region of interest, enabling determination of a location of the sensor within the region of interest.

Abstract: A controller for determining shape of an interventional device includes a memory that stores instructions, and a processor that executes the instructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the controller to execute a process that includes controlling an imaging probe to emit at least one tracking beam to an interventional medical device over a period of time comprising multiple different points of time. The process also includes determining a shape of the interventional medical device, based on a response to the tracking beams received over the period of time from a first sensor that moves along the interventional medical device during the period of time relative to a fixed location on the interventional medical device for the period of time.

Abstract: A tool navigation system employing an ultrasound probe, an ultrasound scanner, an interventional tool, a tool tracker and an image navigator. In operation, the ultrasound probe generates an acoustic image plane for scanning an anatomical region, and the ultrasound scanner generates an ultrasound image of the anatomical region from a scan of the anatomical region. During the scan, the interventional tool is navigated within the anatomical region relative to the acoustic image plane, and the tool tracker a tracks of a position of the interventional tool relative to the acoustic image plane. The image navigator displays a graphical icon within the ultrasound image for illustrating a tracking of the interventional tool relative to the acoustic image plane.

Abstract: System (10) for determining a position of an interventional device (11) respective an image plane (12) defined by an ultrasound imaging probe (13). The position is determined based on ultrasound signals transmitted between the ultrasound imaging probe (13) and an ultrasound transducer (15) attached to the interventional device (11). An image reconstruction unit (IRU) provides a reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI). A position determination unit (PDU) computes a position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) of the ultrasound transducer (15) respective the image plane (12). The position determination unit (PDU) indicates the computed position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) in the reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI). The position determination unit (PDU) suppresses the indication of the computed position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) under specified conditions relating to the computed position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) and the ultrasound signals.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a flexible planar strip with a plurality of layers is described. The flexible planar strip is configured to at least partially encapsulate a medical device. The flexible planar strip includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, and a patterned conductive layer including a sensor electrode disposed on the second dielectric layer. According to one aspect an ultrasound sensor including a piezoelectric polymer. The ultrasound sensor is disposed on the sensor electrode such that a first surface of the ultrasound sensor is in electrical contact with the sensor electrode and such that a second surface of the ultrasound sensor is exposed for making electrical contact with a medical device.

Abstract: A controller for maintaining alignment of X-Ray imagery and ultrasound imagery includes a memory that stores instructions, and a processor that executes the instructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the controller to execute a process that includes receiving data from an X-Ray system used to perform X-Ray imaging, and receiving data from an ultrasound imaging probe used to perform ultrasound imaging. The process executed by the controller also includes registering imagery based on X-Rays to imagery from the ultrasound imaging probe based on an X-Ray image of the ultrasound imaging probe among the imagery based on X-Rays, and detecting, from the data from the ultrasound imaging probe, movement of the ultrasound imaging probe.

Abstract: An interventional device includes an elongate shaft (101) with a longitudinal axis (A-A?), and an ultrasound detector (102). The ultrasound detector (102) comprises a PVDF homopolymer foil strip (103). The foil strip (103) is wrapped around the longitudinal axis (A-A?) of the elongate shaft (101) to provide a band having an axial length (L) along the longitudinal axis (A-A?). The axial length (L) is in the range 80-120 microns.

Abstract: A system (200) performs a medical procedure in a region of interest of a patient. The system includes an interventional medical device (214) insertable into the region of interest, and a sensor (215) attached to a portion of the interventional device, the sensor being configured to convert an ultrasonic wave from an ultrasound imaging probe (211) to a corresponding electrical radio frequency (RF) signal. The corresponding RF signal is received by a wireless receiver (209) outside the region of interest, enabling determination of a location of the sensor within the region of interest.

Abstract: A system for determining location of an interventional medical device within a patient includes a controller that controls an ultrasound probe to emit imaging beams at different times and angles relative to the ultrasound probe. The system also includes an interventional medical device with an attached sensor that receives the imaging beams together with repetitive noise. The controller further identifies the repetitive noise received at the sensor, including identifying the rate at which the repetitive noise is repeated and identifying the times at which the repetitive noise is received at the sensor. The controller further offsets the repetitive noise in signals received at the sensor by interpolating the signals based on the imaging beams. The controller determines the location of the interventional medical device based on the offset signals.

Abstract: A system for tracking an instrument includes two or more sensors (22) disposed along a length of an instrument and being spaced apart from adjacent sensors. An interpretation module (45) is configured to select and update an image slice from a three-dimensional image volume in accordance with positions of the two or more sensors. The three-dimensional image volume includes the positions two or more sensors with respect to a target in the volume. An image processing module (48) is configured to generate an overlay (80) indicating reference positions in the image slice. The reference positions include the positions of the two or more sensors and relative offsets from the image slice in a display to provide feedback for positioning and orienting the instrument.

Abstract: A controller for maintaining alignment of X-Ray imagery and ultrasound imagery includes a memory that stores instructions, and a processor that executes the instructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the controller to execute a process that includes receiving data from an X-Ray system used to perform X-Ray imaging, and receiving data from an ultrasound imaging probe used to perform ultrasound imaging. The process executed by the controller also includes registering imagery based on X-Rays to imagery from the ultrasound imaging probe based on an X-Ray image of the ultrasound imaging probe among the imagery based on X-Rays, and detecting, from the data from the ultrasound imaging probe, movement of the ultrasound imaging probe.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining a relative position of an ultrasound transceiver with respect to an opening of an interventional device where the opening is within a lumen of the interventional device. Ultrasound transmissions from an ultrasound transceiver, capable of moving through at last part of the lumen and the opening are reflected off the wall or boundary of the lumen. The ultrasound transceiver may receive one or more 5 echoes of the ultrasound transmissions and generate a receive signal comprising the one or more echoes and transmit receive data comprising one or more characteristics of the echo to a data processor. The data processor is configured to identify from the receive data the one or more characteristics and determine a relative position of the ultrasound transceiver with respect to the opening based on the one or more characteristics. A transceiver may be part of 10 a retrofit device with which the interventional device may be equipped during an interventional procedure.

Abstract: A controller (310) for identifying positioning of an intravascular ultrasound probe (952) includes a memory (362) that stores instructions (884) and a processor (361) that executes the instructions (884). When executed by the processor (361), the instructions (884) cause the controller (310) to execute a process that includes receiving first signals from at least one element of the intravascular ultrasound probe (952). The process also includes receiving second signals from an external ultrasound probe. Based on the first signals and the second signals, the controller (310) determines a position of the intravascular ultrasound probe (952) in a tracking space that includes the intravascular ultrasound probe (952) and the external ultrasound probe.

Abstract: An interventional instrument (30) having ultrasound sensors (S1, S2, S3, S4, . . . ) is tracked using an ultrasound imaging device (10) that acquires and displays a 2D ultrasound image of a visualization plane (18), and performs 2D ultrasound sweeps for a range of plane angles (?) obtained by rotating the ultrasound probe (12) and encompassing the visualization plane angle. For each ultrasound sensor, an optimal plane is found based on its emitted signal strength over the range of plane angles, and the ultrasound sensor is located in its optimal plane by analyzing the sensor signal as a function of the timing of the beams fired by the ultrasound probe. These locations in their respective optimal planes are transformed to a 3D reference space using a transform (42) parameterized by plane angle, and a visual indicator is displayed of spatial information (T, L) for the interventional instrument generated from the locations of the one or more ultrasound sensors in the 3D reference space.