Abstract: Ferritin or iron-based image enhancement agents identify target tissue for treatment or ablation and are heated by microwave absorption. Microwave heat substrates enhance microwave hyperthermal ablation treatment, and may be percutaneously delivered and imaged by x-ray CT during placement of the microwave treatment antenna, allowing more precise positioning and more complete ablation of a tumor site. One method of treating a target tissue uses image-guided delivery of a heat substrate with a reverse-phase change polymer, and may apply energy to fix a mass of the material in the tissue. The fixed polymer may increase hyperthermia, form a thermal boundary, or blockade a vessel or passage so as to reduce or prevent undesired conductive cooling by contiguous tissue, or may deliver a localized treatment drug at the site, upon heating or as it degrades over time.

Abstract: Ferritin or iron-based image enhancement agents identify target tissue for treatment or ablation and are heated by microwave absorption. Microwave heat substrates enhance microwave hyperthermal ablation treatment, and may be percutaneously delivered and imaged by x-ray CT during placement of the microwave treatment antenna, allowing more precise positioning and more complete ablation of a tumor site. One method of treating a target tissue uses image-guided delivery of a heat substrate with a reverse-phase change polymer, and may apply energy to fix a mass of the material in the tissue. The fixed polymer may increase hyperthermia, form a thermal boundary, or blockade a vessel or passage so as to reduce or prevent undesired conductive cooling by contiguous tissue, or may deliver a localized treatment drug at the site, upon heating or as it degrades over time.

Abstract: An endovascular coil includes a radiolucent permanent shape memory or shape-retaining polymer core that retains its coil shape with passage through a catheter, and a temporary degradable radiopaque coating surrounding the permanent shape memory or shape-retaining polymer core.

Abstract: A thermal accelerant is delivered to a tissue site and localized to modulate the shape, extent or other characteristic of RF or microwave-induced hyperthermic tissue ablation. The accelerant may be provided via an image-guided hand piece or via a lumen added to a microwave antenna, and promotes faster heating, more complete ablation and/or a more extensive treatment region to reduce recurrence of treated cancers, overcoming natural limitations, variations in tissue response and drop-off or thermal loss away from the antenna. The accelerant is delivered as a low-viscosity but heat sensitive fluid, and is fixed in place to provide regions of preferential absorption or heating. Shorter exposure times to heat the far field may allow survival of vulnerable tissue such as vessels, and multiple antennae may be used for effective treatment of irregular or large tumors.

Abstract: Ferritin or iron-based image enhancement agents identify target tissue for treatment or ablation and are heated by microwave absorption. Microwave heat substrates enhance microwave hyperthermal ablation treatment, and may be percutaneously delivered and imaged by x-ray CT during placement of the microwave treatment antenna, allowing more precise positioning and more complete ablation of a tumor site. One method of treating a target tissue uses image-guided delivery of a heat substrate with a reverse-phase change polymer, and may apply energy to fix a mass of the material in the tissue. The fixed polymer may increase hyperthermia, form a thermal boundary, or blockade a vessel or passage so as to reduce or prevent undesired conductive cooling by contiguous tissue, or may deliver a localized treatment drug at the site, upon heating or as it degrades over time.

Abstract: A thermal accelerant is delivered to a tissue site and localized to modulate the shape, extent or other characteristic of RF or microwave-induced hyperthermic tissue ablation. The accelerant may be provided via an image-guided hand piece or via a lumen added to a microwave antenna, and promotes faster heating, more complete ablation and/or a more extensive treatment region to reduce recurrence of treated cancers, overcoming natural limitations, variations in tissue response and drop-off or thermal loss away from the antenna. The accelerant is delivered as a low-viscosity but heat sensitive fluid, and is fixed in place to provide regions of preferential absorption or heating. Shorter exposure times to heat the far field may allow survival of vulnerable tissue such as vessels, and multiple antennae may be used for effective treatment of irregular or large tumors.

Abstract: An MRI contrast material includes tumor-targeting metal-loaded ferritin nanoparticles constructed with genetically modified ferritin coupled to a target-specific agent. Ferritin derived from Archaeoglobus flulgidus (AfFtn-AA) forms hollow nanocages surrounding paramagnetic or superparamagnetic metal core, storing a significantly greater quantity of iron (approximately 7,000 Fe ions per ferritin cage) or other paramagnetic or superparamagnetic metal than natural ferritins, and is conjugated via a short linker with a monoclonal antibody against a cell surface antigen overexpressed by a cancer, to selectively and efficiently attach to tumor cells to enhance MRI contrast. Significant T2 contrast with diminished T1 effect was observed owing to the heterogeneous nanoconjugate distribution when bound to cells. In a treatment method, after imaging, an external stimulus heats the cell-bound agent to release the metal and selectively destroy the targeted cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods of image reconstruction that can reduce the number of Fourier transform measurements required to obtain an exact or stable reconstruction of target images, using prior edge information obtained from a reference image. Full-sampled, 2 or 3-dimensional Fourier transform measurements are obtained for the reference image prior to performing a time series study. Based on the reference image sharing similar edge information with a time series of sparse-gradient images, the number of Fourier transform measurements required to reconstruct the target images can be reduced by using compressed sensing techniques to obtain the sparse-gradient images, and combining the edge information for the sparse-gradient images with the reduced number of Fourier transform measurements to obtain the exact or stable reconstruction of the target images, thereby permitting improved temporal resolution and/or extent of tissue coverage over the use of full sampling and conventional image reconstruction methods.

Abstract: Systems and methods of image reconstruction that can reduce the number of Fourier transform measurements required to obtain an exact or stable reconstruction of target images, using prior edge information obtained from a reference image. Full-sampled, 2 or 3-dimensional Fourier transform measurements are obtained for the reference image prior to performing a time series study. Based on the reference image sharing similar edge information with a time series of sparse-gradient images, the number of Fourier transform measurements required to reconstruct the target images can be reduced by using compressed sensing techniques to obtain the sparse-gradient images, and combining the edge information for the sparse-gradient images with the reduced number of Fourier transform measurements to obtain the exact or stable reconstruction of the target images, thereby permitting improved temporal resolution and/or extent of tissue coverage over the use of full sampling and conventional image reconstruction methods.

Abstract: A stent device is provided. The stent device includes a helical structure. The stent device also includes a ring structure connected to the helical structure. The ring structure includes an inner conducting ring, an outer conducting ring, and a dielectric material disposed between the inner and outer conducting rings. The stent device radiates an induced electromagnetic field when subjected to an applied electromagnetic field.

Abstract: Provided herein is a luminal force measurement device to assess pelvic floor muscle function in an individual for diagnosis or treatment thereof comprising a cylindrical probe having a section insertable into a body lumen, where the insertable section is disposable or is non-disposable, and a non-disposable section connected thereto; a plurality of force transducers; a plurality of stimulation electrode pairs; a plurality of differential instrumentation amplifiers; and a means of securing the probe into a holder. Also provided are methods for use of the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vaginal imaging device for quantifying morphological and biochemical changes in the pelvic floor muscles as well as monitoring muscular function. Specifically, the present invention provides a vaginal imaging probe comprising a single or dual tuned resonator for both nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy of the pelvic floor musculature.

Abstract: The present invention provides magnetic resonance imaging coils for pursuing large volume images at high magnetic field strengths of 3 Tesla or higher. Also provided are methods of obtaining images by utilizing such magnetic resonance imaging coils. Specifically, the present invention provides a high field large volume resonator comprising a conductive cavity with segments of coaxial cable with exposed center conductors passing through, thereby creating a voltage node corresponding to the center of the conductive cavity. The cavity dimensions of the high frequency large volume resonator are sufficiently large to accommodate a human subject or other appropriate subject of similar size.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new imaging method/system for skeletal muscle function assessment. A gating system triggers imaging device such as magnetic resonance scanner to provide reproducible image data at specific force levels and/or joint angular positions. The present invention further provides applications of such method/system in muscle studies and diagnostics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vaginal imaging device for quantifying morphological and biochemical changes in the pelvic floor muscles as well as monitoring muscular function. Specifically, the present invention provides a vaginal imaging probe comprising a single or dual tuned resonator for both nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy of the pelvic floor musculature.

Abstract: The present invention provides magnetic resonance imaging coils for pursuing large volume images at high magnetic field strengths of 3 Tesla or higher. Also provided are methods of obtaining images by utilizing such magnetic resonance imaging coils. Specifically, the present invention provides a high field large volume resonator comprising a conductive cavity with segments of coaxial cable with exposed center conductors passing through, thereby creating a voltage node corresponding to the center of the conductive cavity. The cavity dimensions of the high frequency large volume resonator are sufficiently large to accommodate a human subject or other appropriate subject of similar size.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new imaging method/system for skeletal muscle function assessment. A gating system triggers imaging device such as magnetic resonance scanner to provide reproducible image data at specific force levels and/or joint angular positions. The present invention further provides applications of such method/system in muscle studies and diagnostics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vaginal imaging device for quantifying morphological and biochemical changes in the pelvic floor muscles as well as monitoring muscular function. Specifically, the present invention provides a vaginal imaging probe comprising a single or dual tuned resonator for both nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy of the pelvic floor musculature.

Abstract: An electrical reel spring relay construction in which the winding bobbin serves as the enclosing envelope. The bobbin has a longitudinal cavity therein, the cavity opening at each end of the bobbin in a tapered, wedge-shaped socket. Each spring member of the reed spring member pair has fitted thereabout near its terminal end a wedge-shaped sleeve dimensioned and formed to fit precisely in one of the cavity sockets. As so fitted, the spring members are positioned within the cavity so that their contact ends overlap. A contact gap spacing is determined by slightly oppositely angling the axes of the sockets from the longitudinal axis of the bobbin.