Abstract: The present subject matter relates to techniques for treating a neurodegenerative disease. The disclosed system can include a transducer for stimulating a target tissue with focused ultrasound (FUS) and at least one nanocup. The transducer induces the FUS with a predetermined parameter to open the target tissue. The nanocup can include at least one gas pocket within a cavity of the nanocup and an effective amount of an active agent for neuroregeneration.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to techniques for electromechanical wave imaging. The disclosed system can include a processor that can be configured to perform an automated selection of at least one zero-crossing location using a heuristic-based baseline and/or a machine learning classifier and generate an electromechanical wave imaging isochrone based on the automated selection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an electromechanical map are disclosed herein. The methods includes obtaining ultrasound data comprising a series of consecutive image frames and radio frequency (RF) signals corresponding to the location in the heart; measuring displacements and strains based on the ultrasound data to determine an electromechanical activation in the location; converting the ultrasound data into a series of isochrone maps; and combining the series of isochrone maps to generate the electromechanical map. The electromechanical map illustrates the electromechanical activation and internal wall structures of the heart.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to techniques for simultaneous monitoring and modulating target tissue. The disclosed system can include a focused ultrasound (FUS) stimulation probe for stimulating the target tissue, an imaging probe for obtaining ultrasound images of displacement on target tissue, and a processor configured to provide an image of target tissue within about 2 seconds from the stimulating. The imaging probe and the FUS stimulation probe are coaligned and include different center frequencies.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an electromechanical map are disclosed herein. The methods includes obtaining ultrasound data comprising a series of consecutive image frames and radio frequency (RF) signals corresponding to the location in the heart; measuring displacements and strains based on the ultrasound data to determine an electromechanical activation in the location; converting the ultrasound data into a series of isochrone maps; and combining the series of isochrone maps to generate the electromechanical map. The electromechanical map illustrates the electromechanical activation and internal wall structures of the heart.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter provides methods and systems for ultrasound elastography, including the use of ultrasound to assess the mechanical properties of tissue in a three-dimensional volume. An exemplary method for ultrasound elastography includes emitting at least one non-focused wave on a target, obtaining Radio Frequency (RF) signals from the non-focused wave, beamforming 3D volumes from the RF, calculating at least two 3D displacements by comparing each volume to a reference volume, and integrating the 3D displacements to create a 3D cumulative axial strain volume.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for using an acoustic radiation force resulting from focused ultrasound energy in order to generate an internal force remotely and to measure quantitatively tissue elasticity in vivo and non-invasively.

Abstract: Systems and methods for matching a characteristic of multiple sectors of a moving tissue to verify an overlap thereof are disclosed herein. In an exemplary method, tissue data for at least a first sector and a second sector of a moving tissue is acquired. A characteristic of at least a portion of the first and second sectors is estimated from the acquired tissue data, and the estimated characteristics are matched to verify whether a portion of the first sector overlaps with a portion of the second sector. Estimating can include estimating a displacement such as an axial displacement and/or lateral displacements. Estimating can further include estimating a strain, a velocity, a strain rate and/or a stiffness or equivalent.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for using an acoustic radiation force resulting from focused ultrasound energy in order to generate an internal force remotely and to measure quantitatively tissue elasticity in vivo and non-invasively.

Abstract: Systems and methods for matching a characteristic of multiple sectors of a moving tissue to verify an overlap thereof are disclosed herein. In an exemplary method, tissue data for at least a first sector and a second sector of a moving tissue is acquired. A characteristic of at least a portion of the first and second sectors is estimated from the acquired tissue data, and the estimated characteristics are matched to verify whether a portion of the first sector overlaps with a portion of the second sector. Estimating can include estimating a displacement such as an axial displacement and/or lateral displacements. Estimating can further include estimating a strain, a velocity, a strain rate and/or a stiffness or equivalent.

Abstract: Systems and methods for matching a characteristic of multiple sectors of a moving tissue to verify an overlap thereof are disclosed herein. In an exemplary method, tissue data for at least a first sector and a second sector of a moving tissue is acquired. A characteristic of at least a portion of the first and second sectors is estimated from the acquired tissue data, and the estimated characteristics are matched to verify whether a portion of the first sector overlaps with a portion of the second sector. Estimating can include estimating a displacement such as an axial displacement and/or lateral displacements. Estimating can further include estimating a strain, a velocity, a strain rate and/or a stiffness or equivalent.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging the localized viscoelastic properties of tissue is disclosed. An oscillatory radiation force is applied to tissue in order to induce a localized oscillatory motion of the tissue. The phase and amplitude of the induced localized oscillatory motion of the tissue is also detected while the oscillatory radiation force is being applied. The viscous properties of the tissue are determined by a calculation of a phase shift between the applied oscillatory radiation force and the induced localized oscillatory motion of the tissue. The oscillatory force force inducing local oscillatory motion may be a single amplitude modulated ultrasound beam.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging the localized viscoelastic properties of tissue is disclosed. An oscillatory radiation force is applied to tissue in order to induce a localized oscillatory motion of the tissue. The phase and amplitude of the induced localized oscillatory motion of the tissue is also detected while the oscillatory radiation force is being applied. The viscous properties of the tissue are determined by a calculation of a phase shift between the applied oscillatory radiation force and the induced localized oscillatory motion of the tissue. The oscillatory force force inducing local oscillatory motion may be a single amplitude modulated ultrasound beam.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting electromechanical wave propagation within a body structure of a patient in a series of image frames representing movement the body structure. Image data is acquired comprising a series of image frames corresponding to the movement of a body structure. A correlation calculation is performed on the image frames to generate a displacement map representing the relative displacement between the first and second image frames. A video is generated comprising a series of displacement maps. The parameters of movement of the body structure are detected by analysis of the displacement maps. The image acquisition may detect the movement of the body structure without inducing such movement.

Abstract: A method of determining a property of a desired region in an object includes transmitting first and second energy beams from first and second sources into the object such that the beams intersect at the desired region to induce vibration of the desired region, transmitting energy from a third source into the desired region, receiving signals from the desired region due to the energy from the third source, and analyzing at least one of amplitude, phase and frequency of the vibration of the desired region indicated by the received signals to determine the property of the desired region.

Abstract: A method of determining a property of a desired region in an object includes transmitting first and second energy beams from first and second sources into the object such that the beams intersect at the desired region to induce vibration of the desired region, transmitting energy from a third source into the desired region, receiving signals from the desired region due to the energy from the third source, and analyzing at least one of amplitude, phase and frequency of the vibration of the desired region indicated by the received signals to determine the property of the desired region.

Abstract: Elastography can produce quality strain images in vitro and in vivo. Standard elastography uses a coherent cross-correlation technique to estimate tissue displacement and tissue strain using a subsequent gradient operator. While coherent estimation methods generally have the advantage of being highly accurate and precise, even relatively small undesired motions are likely to cause enough signal decorrelation to produce significant degradation of the elastogram. For elastography to become more universally practical in such applications as hand-held, intravascular and abdominal imaging, the limitations associated with coherent strain estimation methods that require tissue and system stability, must be overcome. In this paper, we propose the use of a spectral shift method that uses a centroid shift estimate to measure local strain directly. Furthermore, we also show theoretically that a spectral bandwidth method can also provide a direct strain estimation.

Abstract: Elastography can produce quality strain images in vitro and in vivo. Standard elastography uses a coherent cross-correlation technique to estimate tissue displacement and tissue strain using a subsequent gradient operator. While coherent estimation methods generally have the advantage of being highly accurate and precise, even relatively small undesired motions are likely to cause enough signal decorrelation to produce significant degradation of the elastogram. For elastography to become more universally practical in such applications as hand-held, intravascular and abdominal imaging, the limitations associated with coherent strain estimation methods that require tissue and system stability, must be overcome. In this paper, we propose the use of a spectral shift method that uses a centroid shift estimate to measure local strain directly. Furthermore, we also show theoretically that a spectral bandwidth method can also provide a direct strain estimation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a new method that combines interpolation between neighboring A-lines with cross-correlation for high precision estimation of the transverse displacement. Due to this high precision lateral estimation, the method of the present invention can produce quality lateral-elastograms that display the lateral component of the strain tensor. These higher precision lateral displacement estimates also allow a finer correction for the lateral decorrelation that corrupts the axial estimation. The method of the present invention may be employed to divide the lateral-elastogram by the axial-elastogram on a pixel-by-pixel basis, in order to produce a new image that displays the distribution of Poisson's ratios in the tissue.