Abstract: A controller (120) for simultaneously tracking multiple sensors in a medical intervention includes a circuit (121-181) that causes the controller (120) to execute a process. The process executed by the circuit (121-181) includes receiving first and second signals respectively from a first and a second passive ultrasound sensor (S2) used in the medical intervention. The first and second signals respectively include first and second sensor information indicative of respective locations of the first and the second passive ultrasound sensor (S2). The process executed by the circuit (121-181) also includes combining (120) the first signal and the second signal for transmission over only one channel, and providing the first signal and the second signal over the only one channel to a system (190) that determines the location of the first passive ultrasound sensor (S1) and the location of the second passive ultrasound sensor (S2) and that has only the one channel to receive the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: A system for determining location of an interventional medical device within a patient includes a controller that controls an ultrasound probe to emit imaging beams at different times and angles relative to the ultrasound probe. The system also includes an interventional medical device with an attached sensor that receives the imaging beams together with repetitive noise. The controller further identifies the repetitive noise received at the sensor, including identifying the rate at which the repetitive noise is repeated and identifying the times at which the repetitive noise is received at the sensor. The controller further offsets the repetitive noise in signals received at the sensor by interpolating the signals based on the imaging beams. The controller determines the location of the interventional medical device based on the offset signals.

Abstract: A controller (120) for simultaneously tracking multiple sensors in a medical intervention includes a circuit (121-181) that causes the controller (120) to execute a process. The process executed by the circuit (121-181) includes receiving first and second signals respectively from a first and a second passive ultrasound sensor (S2) used in the medical intervention. The first and second signals respectively include first and second sensor information indicative of respective locations of the first and the second passive ultrasound sensor (S2). The process executed by the circuit (121-181) also includes combining (120) the first signal and the second signal for transmission over only one channel, and providing the first signal and the second signal over the only one channel to a system (190) that determines the location of the first passive ultrasound sensor (51) and the location of the second passive ultrasound sensor (S2) and that has only the one channel to receive the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: A controller for reducing noise in an ultrasound environment includes memory that stores instructions; and a processor that executes the instructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the controller to execute a process that includes controlling emission, by an ultrasound probe, of multiple beams each at a different combination of time of emission and angle of emission relative to the ultrasound probe. The process also includes identifying repetitive noise from a first source received with the imaging beams at a sensor on an interventional medical device, including a rate at which the repetitive noise from the first source repeats and times at which the repetitive noise from the first source is received. The process also includes interpolating signals based on the imaging beams received at the sensor to offset the repetitive noise from the first source at the times at which the repetitive noise from the first source is received.

Abstract: Functional imaging for localization in biological tissue entails measuring a response in the tissue (240) to electromagnetic radiation. A catheter (200) for real-time monitoring of cardiac ablation is employed to distinguish a hemorrhage zone (232) from the sandwiching necrotic and healthy tissue, or to distinguish exogenous photoacoustic contrast agent from bordering native tissue. A pair of wavelengths is selected for differential absorption (244) of the radiation in, correspondingly, the hemorrhage zone or where the contrast agent exists, and relatively similar absorption elsewhere. Near infrared laser or LED light may be used photoacoustically to serially acquire (S310, S320) the two datasets to be compared, each representative of a time waveform. Alternatively, acquisition is for a pair of wavelength bands of microwave-induced thermoacoustic data.

Abstract: Functional imaging for localization in biological tissue entails measuring a response in the tissue (240) to electromagnetic radiation. A catheter (200) for real-time monitoring of cardiac ablation is employed to distinguish a hemorrhage zone (232) from the sandwiching necrotic and healthy tissue, or to distinguish exogenous photoacoustic contrast agent from bordering native tissue. A pair of wavelengths is selected for differential absorption (244) of the radiation in, correspondingly, the hemorrhage zone or where the contrast agent exists, and relatively similar absorption elsewhere. Near infrared laser or LED light may be used photoacoustically to serially acquire (S310, S320) the two datasets to be compared, each representative of a time waveform. Alternatively, acquisition is for a pair of wavelength bands of microwave-induced thermoacoustic data.

Abstract: An ultrasonic blood flow sensor includes a plurality of adjacent triangular shaped transducer elements which transmit ultrasound waves into a blood vessel and receive reflected ultrasound waves from the blood flow in the vessel. Preferably the transducer elements are paired in pairs of transmit and receive elements. The elements are fixed in a matrix which may be attached in acoustic coupling contact with the skin The matrix retains adjacent transducer elements slightly spaced apart so that the matrix of transducer elements may bend and conform to the shape of the skin surface. The spacing between the triangular elements is neither parallel nor orthogonal to the length dimension of the matrix so that a blood vessel will not be aligned with a space between transducer elements when the matrix is affixed across the location of a blood vessel.