Abstract: Methods for representing multiple scales in an image using a variational algorithm are provided. An iterative decomposition of an image into a total variation (“TV”) part, which may be a weighted TV (“TV?”) part, and a residual part motivates the design and use of a partial differential equation that may be referred to as a multiscale total variation flow, or multiscale weighted total variation flow. This produces a multiscale representation of the image. The speed of this decomposition can be controlled with a user-defined function, and is fast enough to allow for real-time applications of denoising and image registration.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide devices, methods, and systems that support electrical connection, signal delivery, and/or communication between internal and external portions of a Faraday cage. In some embodiments, devices and methods are provided for transmitting electrical signals through a waveguide port of a Faraday cage. In some embodiments, aspects of the present disclosure are employed to adapt a magnetic resonance imaging system for communications between a scanner room and a control room.

Abstract: A catheter for magnetic resonance (MR) guided procedures comprising: a catheter body having a lumen for accommodating an intravascular device; a magnetic coupling component in the catheter body, the magnetic coupling component being designed to magnetically couple with a conductive length on the intravascular device, the magnetic coupling resulting in a signal; the catheter having a connection to deliver the signal to a processor.

Abstract: A method for automatically measuring currents induced on conducting structures positioned in the bore of a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) scanner using a single magnetic resonance image is provided. A conductive structure is positioned within the bore of the MRI scanner during imaging. When the MRI system is transmitting an RF field, a current is induced in the conductive structure. The current creates a magnetic field at the Larmor frequency, which couples to the RF magnetic field in the vicinity of the conductive structure. The modified magnetic field results in an artifact being generated in phase images. The artifact in the phase image is then analyzed to determine the current induced in the conductive structure.

Abstract: A method and system for determination of oxygen saturation in blood flowing in a vessel using magnetic resonance (MR). An MR image sequence is acquired with different echo time (TE) encoding, and different Fourier velocity encoding (FVE). A Fourier transformation is applied along the velocity dimension to determine a velocity distribution of tissue signals in each voxel of the image sequence. Tissue signals indicative of moving tissues are separated from tissue signals indicative of static tissue, based on the velocity distribution. Oxygen saturation in blood may then be determined using only the tissue signals indicative of flowing blood.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable instructions for controlling streaming audio in real time in a thin client terminal server environment that can be used, for example, to provide support for a digital dictation system. A server runs client software, and at least one terminal runs a driver which communicates with the client software to create a virtual channel over which at least one digital dictation file is transmitted in packetized format between the terminal and the server, such that the client software controls operations performed at the terminal pertaining to the digital dictation file.

Abstract: A method for automatic left ventricle segmentation of cine short-axis magnetic resonance (MR) images that does not require manually drawn initial contours, trained statistical shape models, or gray-level appearance models is provided. More specifically, the method employs a roundness metric to automatically locate the left ventricle. Epicardial contour segmentation is simplified by mapping the pixels from Cartesian to approximately polar coordinates. Furthermore, region growing is utilized by distributing seed points around the endocardial contour to find the LV myocardium and, thus, the epicardial contour. This is a robust technique for images where the epicardial edge has poor contrast. A fast Fourier transform (FFT) is utilized to smooth both the determined endocardial and epicardial contours. In addition to determining endocardial and epicardial contours, the method also determines the contours of papillary muscles and trabeculations.

Abstract: A catheter for magnetic resonance (MR) guided procedures comprising: a catheter body having a lumen for accommodating an intravascular device; a magnetic coupling component in the catheter body, the magnetic coupling component being designed to magnetically couple with a conductive length on the intravascular device, the magnetic coupling resulting in a signal; the catheter having a connection to deliver the signal to a processor.

Abstract: A series of MR image frames are acquired that depict a subject's heart at successive cardiac phases. Delayed enhancement of infarcted myocardium is depicted in some of the image frames by administering a contrast agent prior to data acquisition. Data acquisition is performed in a single breath hold by producing an RF inversion pulse followed by segments of SSFP pulse sequences during a succession of cardiac gated heart beats. The acquired MR image frames depict contrast between blood, viable myocardium and nonviable myocardium, and they depict left ventricle wall thickness and wall thickening throughout the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rendering for display forward-looking image data. The apparatus includes rendering for display image data from a forward-looking conical section of tissue collected by an image data collection device, comprising a data input unit configured to receive the image data; and an image data processing unit configured to rasterize the image data onto a projected three-dimensional geometric model to produce a rasterized image, thereby giving the appearance of three-dimensions when displayed. The method includes a method of rendering for display image data from a forward-looking conical section of tissue collected by an image data collecting device, comprising receiving the image data; and rasterizing the image data onto a projected three-dimensional geometric model to produce a rasterized image, thereby giving the appearance of three dimensions when displayed.

Abstract: A method for determining the position and/or orientation of a catheter or other interventional access device or surgical probe using phase patterns in a magnetic resonance (MR) signal. In the method of the invention, global two-dimensional correlations are used to identify the phase pattern around individual microcoils, which is unique for each microcoil's position and orientation. In one embodiment the position and orientation of a catheter tip can be reliably tracked using low resolution MR scans clinically useful for real-time interventional MRI applications.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable instructions for controlling streaming audio in real time in a thin client terminal server environment that can be used, for example, to provide support for a digital dictation system. A server runs client software, and at least one terminal runs a driver which communicates with the client software to create a virtual channel over which at least one digital dictation file is transmitted in packetized format between the terminal and the server, such that the client software controls operations performed at the terminal pertaining to the digital dictation file.

Abstract: A system and method for providing digital dictation capabilities over a wireless device. The system and method enables digital dictations to be recorded on a wireless device, such as a BlackBerry smartphone, and then uploaded wirelessly to a remote location, such a server, for transcription. Features of the wireless device, such as the display and trackball, can be used to control the dictation.

Abstract: A digital dictation workflow system and method employing a plurality of client devices and at least one server. Certain client devices are operable to record audio information dictated by a user for storing as a digital audio file in a file store, and others are operable to receive and reproduce the stored digital audio file as audio. The server is connected to the client devices via a network, and manages storage and retrieval of the digital audio file to and from the file store and the client devices. The system and method further employ at least one database for storing dictation data pertaining to the digital audio file stored in the file store, and can be configured in a three-tier arrangement with the client devices being present in a presentation layer, the server present in a business logic layer, and the file store and database present in a data access layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rendering for display forward-looking image data. The apparatus includes rendering for display image data from a forward-looking conical section of tissue collected by an image data collection device, comprising a data input unit configured to receive the image data; and an image data processing unit configured to rasterize the image data onto a projected three-dimensional geometric model to produce a rasterized image, thereby giving the appearance of three-dimensions when displayed. The method includes a method of rendering for display image data from a forward-looking conical section of tissue collected by an image data collecting device, comprising receiving the image data; and rasterizing the image data onto a projected three-dimensional geometric model to produce a rasterized image, thereby giving the appearance of three dimensions when displayed.

Abstract: An MRI system and method for acquiring motion-compensated MR image data of an object. The MRI system includes an MRI device for generating a uniform magnetic field through the object, magnetic field gradients for imaging a portion of the object and an RF excitation field for evoking NMR response signals from the object; a computer for controlling the operation of the MRI system; a motion compensation module for generating a plurality of navigator waveforms for evoking a corresponding plurality of navigator echoes from the portion of the object while the object is being imaged, and processing the plurality of navigator echoes by determining a subset of similar navigator echoes and removing rigid-body translation from the NMR response signals associated with the subset of similar navigator echoes; and, interface circuitry for generating the magnetic gradient, RF and navigator waveforms and sampling the NMR response signals and the plurality of navigator echoes.

Abstract: An MRI system and method for acquiring motion-compensated MR image data of an object. The MRI system includes an MRI device for generating a uniform magnetic field through the object, magnetic field gradients for imaging a portion of the object and an RF excitation field for evoking NMR response signals from the object; a computer for controlling the operation of the MRI system; a motion compensation module for generating a plurality of navigator waveforms for evoking a corresponding plurality of navigator echoes from the portion of the object while the object is being imaged, and processing the plurality of navigator echoes by determining a subset of similar navigator echoes and removing rigid-body translation from the NMR response signals associated with the subset of similar navigator echoes; and, interface circuitry for generating the magnetic gradient, RF and navigator waveforms and sampling the NMR response signals and the plurality of navigator echoes.

Abstract: A module, included in an electrophotographic printer, for making toner images by a method in which transfer current for electrostatic transfer of toner images to receiver members is adjusted to compensate for ambient variations of toner charge-to-mass ratio (q/m). A predetermined functional relationship between transfer current and a control voltage parameter is utilized. Magnitudes of the control voltage parameter are derived from voltage measurements relating to creation of toner control patches on a photoconductive image-recording member included in a modular electrophotographic printer. Control voltage magnitude is linearly dependent on q/m. The functional relationship, which is characterized by three experimentally determined parameters, is co-optimized for providing efficient transfer of toner images and for minimizing back-transfer of toner away from a receiver member in a transfer station included in the module.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for determining the position and/or orientation of a catheter or other interventional access device or surgical probe using phase patterns in a magnetic resonance (MR) signal. In the method of the invention, global two-dimensional correlations are used to identify the phase pattern and orientation of individual microcoils, which is unique for each microcoil's position and orientation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, tracking of interventional devices is performed by one integrated phase image projected onto the axial plane and a second image in an oblique plane through the center of the coil and normal to the coil plane. In another preferred embodiment, the position and orientation of a catheter tip can be reliably tracked using low resolution MR scans clinically useful for real-time interventional MRI applications.

Abstract: A device and software system with input and output capability for manipulating real and virtual objects in 3-dimensional space. The device consists of a six degree-of-freedom mechanical armature that has sensors to determine the location and orientation of a stylus and planar surface. In the input mode, manipulation of the physical armature will result in a corresponding two-dimensional, virtual image of the stylus and surface on a computer screen. The armature also has motors to automatically change the armature location and orientation in order to generate a physical representation in the real world of the location and orientation of a virtual object. The armature is built so that it maintains balance at any location and orientation to statically maintain the armature location and orientation without drifting to a null rest position.