Abstract: The present disclosure is associated with monitoring health of a patient. An example photoacoustic monitoring device includes a light-guiding component to guide light energy toward tissue to cause the light energy to be absorbed by the tissue; an ultrasound transmission component to transmit acoustic energy toward the tissue to cause a biological response from the tissue; and a sensing component to perform one or more of ultrasound or photoacoustic imaging to sense the biological response from the tissue and permit a status of the tissue to be determined. In some implementations, the biological response is sensed based on the light energy absorbed by the tissue during the biological response caused by the acoustic energy transmitted toward the tissue.

Abstract: An ultrasound system includes an ultrasound transducer, an ultrasound controller structured to communicate with the ultrasound transducer, and a signal processing system structured to communicate with the ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound controller is structured to provide control signals to the ultrasound transducer to transmit a plurality of at least three non-coplanar A-line signals and to receive corresponding at least three non-coplanar A-line signals, and the signal processing system is structured to receive the at least three non-coplanar A-line signals from the ultrasound transducer and to form a generalized B-mode image based on the at least three non-coplanar A-line signals.

Abstract: A device may include an image capturing component to obtain images of an environment of a user, and a light projection system. The light projection system may include a laser source and an optical imager. The device may process, in real-time, images captured by the image capturing component to derive signals for controlling the laser source, provide the signals to the laser source to enable the laser source to generate a laser beam pattern, cause the optical imager to raster scan the laser beam pattern to an absorptive element. The absorptive element may be disposed on or in the user, and positioned proximate to a region-of interest, of the user, that includes neuronal cells. The laser beam pattern may cause the absorptive element to produce acoustic energy that cause depolarization of the neuronal cells. The sensory stimulation may enable the user to visually and/or auditorily perceive the environment.

Abstract: A device may obtain imaging data. The imaging data that is obtained depicts one or more body parts of a patient. A voltage sensitive dye may be applied to stain nerve tissue associated with the one or more body parts of the patient. The voltage sensitive dye may be activated by neuromodulation applied to stimulate the nerve tissue. The imaging data may capture a fluorescence of the nerve tissue based on the voltage sensitive dye being activated by neuromodulation. The device may provide the imaging data for display.

Abstract: The present disclosure is associated with monitoring health of a patient. An example electromagnetic-evoked acoustic device includes an electromagnetic component to emit energy toward tissue of a patient to cause the energy to be absorbed by the tissue; an ultrasound transmission component to transmit acoustic energy toward the tissue to cause a biological response from the tissue; and an ultrasound sensing component to sense the biological response from the tissue to permit a status of the tissue to be determined, wherein the biological response is sensed based on the energy absorbed by the tissue during the biological response.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a device or needle placement system including a needle having a proximal end and a distal end, and an ultrasound transducer element attached to the distal end of the needle. The system also includes a needle constraining assembly configured to receive and constrain the needle to only rotational degrees of freedom within a range of angular motion. The system further includes a needle sensor system incorporated into the constraining assembly to sense an angular orientation of the needle with the range of angular motion. The system also includes an ultrasound data processor configured to communicate with the transducer element to receive ultrasound detection signals and communicate with the needle sensor system to receive needle angular orientation signals. Based on the ultrasound detection and the needle angular orientation signals, the ultrasound data processor can calculate synthetic aperture ultrasound images.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an ablation therapy may include an ultrasound transmitter to transmit ultrasound signals through a region of tissue during an ablation procedure, an ultrasound receiver to receive the ultrasound signals after the ultrasound signals have passed through the region of tissue, and a signal processor to communicate with the ultrasound transmitter and the ultrasound receiver to obtain a set of measurements related to the ultrasound signals transmitted through the region of tissue during the ablation procedure. The signal processor may determine one or more acoustic characteristics of the ultrasound signals transmitted through the region of tissue based on the set of measurements and generate an image representing a thermal map of the region of tissue during the ablation procedure based on a mapping between the one or more acoustic characteristics of the ultrasound signals and changes in temperature.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system having real-time tracking and image registration includes a fiducial-marker system comprising an ultrasound transmitter structured to provide a localized ultrasound pulse at an optically observable localized spot on a body of interest. The system further includes an optical imaging system, a two-dimensional ultrasound imaging system, an optical image processing system, and an ultrasound image processing system.

Abstract: An intraoperative registration and tracking system includes an optical source configured to illuminate tissue intraoperatively with electromagnetic radiation at a substantially localized spot so as to provide a photoacoustic source at the substantially localize spot, an optical imaging system configured to form an optical image of at least a portion of the tissue and to detect and determine a position of the substantially localized spot in the optical image, an ultrasound imaging system configured to form an ultrasound image of at least a portion of the tissue and to detect and determine a position of the substantially localized spot in the ultrasound image, and a registration system configured to determine a coordinate transformation that registers the optical image with the ultrasound image based at least partially on a correspondence of the spot in the optical image with the spot in the ultrasound image.

Abstract: A synthetic aperture ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe, and an ultrasound signal processor configured to communicate with the ultrasound probe to receive phase and amplitude information from a plurality of ultrasonic echo signals from a corresponding plurality of ultrasound pulses. The synthetic aperture ultrasound system also includes a positioning system configured to communicate with the ultrasound signal processor to provide probe position information. The positioning system is configured to determine a first position and a second position of the ultrasound probe relative to a region of interest. The ultrasound signal processor is further configured to coherently sum, utilizing the probe position information, at least one of the plurality of ultrasonic echo signals from the first position with at least one of the plurality of ultrasonic echo signals from the second position to provide a synthetic aperture that is larger than a physical aperture of the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the invention, a robot-assisted ultrasound system includes a first ultrasound probe, a robot comprising a manipulator arm having a tool end, and a second ultrasound probe attached to the tool end of the manipulator arm. The robot-assisted ultrasound system further includes a robot control system configured to control at least one of a position or a pose of the second ultrasound probe based on a contemporaneous position and pose of the first ultrasound probe, and an ultrasound processing and display system configured to communicate with at least one of the first and second ultrasound probes to receive and display an ultrasound image based on the first and second ultrasound probes acting in conjunction with each other.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a device or needle placement system including a needle having a proximal end and a distal end, and an ultrasound transducer element attached to the distal end of the needle. The system also includes a needle constraining assembly configured to receive and constrain the needle to only rotational degrees of freedom within a range of angular motion. The system further includes a needle sensor system incorporated into the constraining assembly to sense an angular orientation of the needle with the range of angular motion. The system also includes an ultrasound data processor configured to communicate with the transducer element to receive ultrasound detection signals and communicate with the needle sensor system to receive needle angular orientation signals. Based on the ultrasound detection and the needle angular orientation signals, the ultrasound data processor can calculate synthetic aperture ultrasound images.

Abstract: An interventional system with real-time ablation thermal dose monitoring includes an interventional tool, an ultrasound transmitter at least one of attached to or integral with the interventional tool, an ultrasound receiver configured to receive ultrasound signals from the ultrasound transmitter after at least one of transmission through or reflection from a region of tissue while under an ablation procedure and to provide detection signals, and a signal processing system configured to communicate with the ultrasound receiver to receive the detection signals and to calculate, based on the detections signals, a thermal dose delivered to the region of tissue in real time during the ablation procedure.

Abstract: A virtual rigid body optical tracking system includes a virtual rigid body generator for projecting a virtual rigid body, wherein the virtual rigid body forms a pattern of light on a surface. The virtual rigid body optical tracking system includes an optical detection system for detecting the pattern of light, and a data processing system in communication with the optical detection system. The data processing system is configured to determine a position of the virtual rigid body generator based on the detected pattern of light.

Abstract: Systems and methods for image guidance, which may include an image processing unit, cameras, and handheld real-time imaging components or handheld displays, wherein the cameras observe visual features on patients, tools, or other components, and wherein said features allow camera or object positions to be determined relative to secondary image data or a reference position, and wherein the image processing unit is configured to dynamically register observations with secondary image data, and to compute enhanced images based on combinations of one or more of secondary image data, positioning data, and real-time imaging data.

Abstract: An ultrasound system includes an ultrasound transducer, an ultrasound controller structured to communicate with the ultrasound transducer, and a signal processing system structured to communicate with the ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound controller is structured to provide control signals to the ultrasound transducer to transmit a plurality of at least three non-coplanar A-line signals and to receive corresponding at least three non-coplanar A-line signals, and the signal processing system is structured to receive the at least three non-coplanar A-line signals from the ultrasound transducer and to form a generalized B-mode image based on the at least three non-coplanar A-line signals.

Abstract: A closed-loop ultrasound system includes an ultrasound receiver, an ultrasound transmitter at least one of integral with or at a predetermined position relative to the ultrasound receiver, and a trigger circuit configured to receive detection signals from the ultrasound receiver and to provide trigger signals to the ultrasound transmitter in response to received detection signals. The ultrasound transmitter is configured to transmit ultrasound energy in response to the trigger signals.

Abstract: A system for thermal treatment or ablation of tissue includes an ultrasonic thermal ablation probe, an ultrasonic three-dimensional imaging probe that captures an image from radio frequency image data obtained before the radio frequency image data is processed, a control system for multi-axis control of the imaging probe's position, and an ultrasonic feedback mechanism that measures ultrasound echo strain to estimate heat-induced structural changes of an area surrounding the ultrasonic thermal ablation probe, from the image. The ultrasonic thermal ablation probe is either an interstitial ablator inserted into tissue, a natural cavity or a vessel to emit high intensity ultrasound energy to deposit thermal dose, or an external applicator that emits a directional high intensity ultrasound energy to deposit thermal dose via surface contact with tissue. The control system adjusts power levels of the ultrasonic thermal ablation probe based on the estimated heat-induced structural changes.

Abstract: A closed-loop ultrasound system includes an ultrasound receiver, an ultrasound transmitter at least one of integral with or at a predetermined position relative to the ultrasound receiver, and a trigger circuit configured to receive detection signals from the ultrasound receiver and to provide trigger signals to the ultrasound transmitter in response to received detection signals. The ultrasound transmitter is configured to transmit ultrasound energy in response to the trigger signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for image guidance, which may include an image processing unit, cameras, and handheld real-time imaging components or handheld displays, wherein the cameras observe visual features on patients, tools, or other components, and wherein said features allow camera or object positions to be determined relative to secondary image data or a reference position, and wherein the image processing unit is configured to dynamically register observations with secondary image data, and to compute enhanced images based on combinations of one or more of secondary image data, positioning data, and real-time imaging data.