Abstract: A system and method of imaging tissue includes administering a contrast agent having charged gold nanoparticles in suspension into a vessel of the subject, such that the nanoparticles are carried into the tissue; and performing microwave imaging of the tissue after administering the contrast agent. In embodiments, the nanoparticles have a tissue-selective protein tag. In embodiments, images are taken prior to administering the contrast agent, and further images may be taken during an agent-washout period after imaging with contrast agent. The contrast agent is injectable, with the nanoparticles suspended as a colloid in a biocompatible, isotonic, carrier. In particular embodiments, the nanoparticles have median diameter of less than fifty nanometers, or less than five nanometers, and may have a tissue-selective protein tag. A microwave imaging system has injection apparatus with the gold-nanoparticle agent, and is configured to take, and difference, pre and post contrast images as well as washout images.

Abstract: A method for providing patient registration without fiducials comprises the steps of: spatially placing an ultrasound image of a patient randomly at different starting positions relative to a preoperative image; creating an independent registration corresponding to each different starting positions, by optimizing a spatial transformation between the preoperative image and the ultrasound image to provide a first batch of registrations; executing a second registration to fine-tune the alignment between the preoperative image and the ultrasound image; and concatenating the spatial transformation to obtain spatial transformation between the patient in an operating room and a corresponding preoperative image.

Abstract: A system and methods are presented for emulating the appearance of prominent features captured in ultrasound through directional dilation of a magnetic resonance gradient image along a direction determined by the relative ultrasound scan-head location with respect to the magnetic resonance gradient image in order to improve the robustness and reliability of registration.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a transformation of ultrasound data in an imaging system from a first coordinate system into a second coordinate system, the method including applying a transformation having parameters. The parameters are calibrated by imaging a planar object, extracting points corresponding to ultrasound rays intersecting the planar object, and fitting the parameters such that the points when transformed by the transformation describe a planar surface in the second coordinate system.

Abstract: An optical spectroscopy probe for providing optical spectroscopy guidance of a mechanical biopsy procedure, and a tissue biopsy device including an optical spectroscopy probe. The optical spectroscopy probe is positionable in a lumen of a mechanical biopsy device. The probe may enable optical spectroscopy guidance in biopsy procedures, include brain biopsy procedures.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting permittivity and conductivity boundaries within a high resolution spatial image of a material is presented. Electrical properties of a material, such as permittivity and conductivity, may assist in identification of physical properties of the material. Structural boundaries within tissue may be identified in spatial images, such as MR images. Image reconstruction algorithms may combine these structural boundaries with microwave images of the tissue to determine the permittivity and conductivity parameters within the structural boundaries. In the case of soft tissue, the microwave images may be captured simultaneously with the spatial images. The microwave images may be taken at a different time from the spatial image for rigid tissue. The method may be employed for two dimensional or three dimensional image reconstruction.

Abstract: A tomographic fluorescent imaging device for imaging fluorophores in biological tissues has a scanned laser for scanning the tissue and a camera for receiving light from the biological tissue at an angle to the beam at a second wavelength ten or more nanometers greater in wavelength than the wavelength of the laser. Use of both intrinsic and extrinsic fluorophores is described. Images are obtained at each of several positions of the beam. An image processing system receives the series of images, models a path of the beam through the tissue, and determines depth of fluorophore in tissue from intersections of the modeled path of the beam and the path of the received light. The laser is of 600 nm or longer wavelength, to provide penetration of tissue. The imaging device is used during surgery to visualize lesions of various types to ensure complete removal of malignant tumors.

Abstract: A probe sensor has a printed circuit comprising a coplanar transmission line, a ground plane, a plated-through contact via, and a part-circular ring of ground vias surrounding the contact via. The coplanar transmission line and ground plane are formed on a first layer of the printed circuit, and the contact via and part-circular ring of ground vias are plated with a conductive biocompatible material on a second layer of the printed circuit. A system uses a network analyzer with the probe to measure electrical properties of biological tissue. Also described is a method of using the system to determine qualities of stored blood.

Abstract: A system and method for determining intraoperative locations of a lesion in tissue from lesion locations determined in preoperative imaging includes determining three dimensional locations of surface features of the organ in the preoperative images. A preoperative surface map is extracted from stereo images annotated with surface features from preoperative images. An intraoperative surface map of the organ is extracted from stereo images, and surface features are identified in the stereo images corresponding to surface features annotated into the preoperative surface map. Three dimensional displacements of the surface features are determined and used to constrain a computer model of deformation of the organ. In embodiments, the model of deformation is adapted or constrained to model locations and dimensions of surgical cavities using an optical flow method and/or locations of surgical instruments in the organ. The model of deformation is used to determine intraoperative locations for the lesion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring mechanical properties of tissue has a stereo optical surgical microscope with at least one objective lens and at least two digital cameras such that paired images obtained from the digital cameras form stereo pairs, and a digital image processing system adapted to determine surface topography of tissue from the stereo pairs of images and a resulting surface displacement map as a result from indentation. The apparatus has an one indenter; and mechanical modeling routines stored in memory of the image processing system, the mechanical modeling routines capable of constructing computer models of mechanical properties of tissue, and fitting parameters of the computer model to observed surface displacement maps generated by coregistering surface topography of tissue with and without the indenter positioned on the tissue. In an embodiment, fitted parameters of the computer model are displayed and used to adjust a surgical plan.

Abstract: A system for, and method of, extracting a surface profile from a stereo pair of images obtained at an arbitrary setting S of an optical system, includes determining surface profile reconstruction parameters for images obtained with the optical system at a reference setting So of the optical system; determining warping parameters for a digital image processor for warping images obtained with the optical system at the arbitrary setting S into images corresponding to the reference setting So; obtaining the stereo pair of images from at least one camera of the optical system; warping the stereo pair of images into images corresponding to the reference setting So, and using the surface profile reconstruction parameters to determine the surface profile. In a particular embodiment, the surface profile is passed to a computer model of tissue deformation and used to determine an intra-surgery location of a tumor or other anatomic feature of tissue.

Abstract: A dual imaging probe 300 for obtaining both ultrasound and electrical impedance data is disclosed along with methods of using the dual imaging probe 300 to interrogate tissue. An electrical impedance imaging overlay 330 is adapted to be positioned on a transducer window 304 of an ultrasound probe 320, and may be integrally formed as part of the ultrasound probe 320 or as a modular adapter for coupling with, and optionally uncoupling from, an ultrasound probe 320 to form the dual imaging probe 300. A method (FIG. 6) of reconstructing composite images using both ultrasound and electrical impedance data is described. Applications for medical diagnosis are described. A particular use for prostate imaging is described.

Abstract: A system for determining parameters of porous media or material, which in an embodiment is biological tissue, includes an actuator and a displacement monitor. The actuator is adapted to apply a displacement to tissue at a particular frequency selected from a range of frequencies, and the force monitor adapted to monitor a mechanical response of tissue. The system also has a processor coupled to drive the actuator and to read the mechanical response, the processor coupled to execute from memory a poroelastic model of mechanical properties of the material, and a convergence procedure for determining parameters for the poroelastic model such that the model predicts mechanical response of the tissue to within limits.

Abstract: A system and methods are presented for emulating the appearance of prominent features captured in ultrasound through directional dilation of a magnetic resonance gradient image along a direction determined by the relative ultrasound scan-head location with respect to the magnetic resonance gradient image in order to improve the robustness and reliability of registration.

Abstract: A registration framework is presented that registers volumetric breast images captured before surgery with intraoperative surface images. The framework may be implemented using either image-based or model-based registration techniques. The method contains the steps of: identifying an air/tissue boundary from a volumetric image created at a first time; processing the volumetric image with an image filter to emphasize the air/tissue boundary; and registering a surface optically scanned image, with the filtered volumetric image, where the surface optically scanned image is created at a second time.

Abstract: A diffuse optical tomography system incorporating a mode-locked, tunable laser produces pulsed light that may be used to interrogate tissue with high spatial and spectral resolution. The detection signal may be heterodyne shifted to lower frequencies to allow easy and accurate measurement of phase and amplitude. Embodiments incorporating wavelength-swept, tunable, lasers and embodiments using broadband photonic fiber lasers with spectrally-sensitive detectors are described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for optically scanning a field of view, the field of view including at least part of an organ as exposed during surgery, and for identifying and classifying areas of tumor within the field of view. The apparatus obtains a spectrum at each pixel of the field of view, and classifies pixels with a kNN-type or neural network classifier previously trained on samples of tumor and organ classified by a pathologist. Embodiments use statistical parameters extracted from each pixel and neighboring pixels. Results are displayed as a color-encoded map of tissue types to the surgeon. In variations, the apparatus provides light at one or more fluorescence stimulus wavelengths and measures the fluorescence light spectrum emitted from tissue corresponding to each stimulus wavelength. The measured emitted fluorescence light spectra are further used by the classifier to identify tissue types in the field of view.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting permittivity and conductivity boundaries within a high resolution spatial image of a material is presented. Electrical properties of a material, such as permittivity and conductivity, may assist in identification of physical properties of the material. Structural boundaries within tissue may be identified in spatial images, such as MR images. Image reconstruction algorithms may combine these structural boundaries with microwave images of the tissue to determine the permittivity and conductivity parameters within the structural boundaries. In the case of soft tissue, the microwave images may be captured simultaneously with the spatial images. The microwave images may be taken at a different time from the spatial image for rigid tissue. The method may be employed for two dimensional or three dimensional image reconstruction.

Abstract: A microwave imaging system provides superior breast imaging resolution by combining MR microwave absorption and MR-compatible microwave tomography calculations. These techniques may also be supplemented with magnetic resonance elastography calculations, for example, to facilitate quick multispectral imaging.

Abstract: A method for providing patient registration without fiducials comprises the steps of: spatially placing an ultrasound image of a patient randomly at different starting positions relative to a preoperative image; creating an independent registration corresponding to each different starting positions, by optimizing a spatial transformation between the preoperative image and the ultrasound image to provide a first batch of registrations; executing a second registration to fine-tune the alignment between the preoperative image and the ultrasound image; and concatenating the spatial transformation to obtain spatial transformation between the patient in an operating room and a corresponding preoperative image.