Abstract: An electromagnetic field quality assurance system employing an electromagnetic field generator (10) for emitting an electromagnetic field (12), and one or more quality assurance electromagnetic sensors (11, 21, 31, 41, 50) for sensing the emission of the electromagnetic field (12). The system further employs a quality assurance controller (74) for assessing a tracking quality of the electromagnetic field (12) derived from a monitoring of a sensed position of each quality assurance electromagnetic sensor (11, 21, 31, 41, 50) within a field-of-view of the electromagnetic field (12). The electromagnetic field generator (10), an ultrasound probe (20), an ultrasound stepper (30) and/or a patient table (40) may be equipped with the quality assurance electromagnetic sensor(s) (11, 21, 31, 41, 50).

Abstract: An electromagnetic (“EM”) tracking configuration system employs an EM quality assurance (“EMQA”) (30) and EM data coordination (“DC”) system (70). For the EMQA system (30), an EM sensor block (40) includes EM sensor(s) (22) positioned and oriented to represent a simulated electromagnetic tracking of interventional tool(s) inserted through electromagnetic sensor block (40) into an anatomical region. As an EM field generator (20) generates an EM field (21) encircling EM sensor(s) (22), an EMQA workstation (50) tests an EM tracking accuracy of an insertion of the interventional tool(s) through the EM sensor block (40) into the anatomical region.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assisting apparatus for assisting in performing brachytherapy. The position of an introduction element (17) like a catheter is tracked particularly by using electromagnetic tracking, while a group of seeds is introduced into a living object (2). This provides a rough knowledge about the position of the seeds within the object. An ultrasound image showing the group is generated depending on the tracked position of the introduction element and, thus, depending on the rough knowledge about the position of the seeds, in order to optimize the ultrasound visualization with respect to showing the introduced seeds. Based on this optimized ultrasound visualization the position of a seed of the group is determined, thereby allowing for an improved determination of seed positions and correspondingly for an improved brachytherapy performed based on the determined positions.

Abstract: A device, system and method for accessing internal tissue include a probe (108) disposed on a distal end portion of a medical device and configured to be inserted into a body along a trajectory path. A sensor (102) is mounted on a displacement tracker portion (104) of the medical device which is disposed on a proximal end portion of the device. The sensor is configured to measure a distance parallel to the probe between the displacement tracker portion and a tissue surface such that a position of the probe is determinable relative to the tissue surface upon advance or retraction of the probe along the trajectory path.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field quality assurance system employing an electromagnetic field generator (10) for emitting an electromagnetic field (12), and one or more quality assurance electromagnetic sensors (11, 21, 31, 41, 50) for sensing the emission of the electromagnetic field (12). The system further employs a quality assurance controller (74) for assessing a tracking quality of the electromagnetic field (12) derived from a monitoring of a sensed position of each quality assurance electromagnetic sensor (11, 21, 31, 41, 50) within a field-of-view of the electromagnetic field (12). The electromagnetic field generator (10), an ultrasound probe (20), an ultrasound stepper (30) and/or a patient table (40) may be equipped with the quality assurance electromagnetic sensor(s) (11, 21, 31, 41, 50).

Abstract: An electromagnetic (“EM”) tracking configuration system employs an EM quality assurance (“EMQA”) (30) and EM data coordination (“DC”) system (70). For the EMQA system (30), an EM sensor block (40) includes EM sensor(s) (22) positioned and oriented to represent a simulated electromagnetic tracking of interventional tool(s) inserted through electromagnetic sensor block (40) into an anatomical region. As an EM field generator (20) generates an EM field (21) encircling EM sensor(s) (22), an EMQA workstation (50) tests an EM tracking accuracy of an insertion of the interventional tool(s) through the EM sensor block (40) into the anatomical region.

Abstract: A method and system for treating a target area of a patient, for example an area of the brain which includes an occlusion: employ an ultrasound imaging apparatus to produce an ultrasound image of a region of a subject; register the ultrasound image to a computed tomography (CT) image dataset; identify in the ultrasound image a location of a target area via a marker of the target area produced from the CT image dataset; verify the location of the target area with the ultrasound imaging apparatus; and provide sonothrombolysis treatment to the target area while monitoring the target area with the ultrasound imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A method, system, and program product are provided for providing a medical tracking interface. The method comprises the steps of: receiving tracking data from at least one tracking tool in any one of a plurality of data formats; converting the tracking data to a uniform data format; and outputting the tracking data in the uniform data format to an IGI application.

Abstract: Systems and methods for image guidance include an imaging system (124) configured to generate images, the imaging system including a display (126) to permit user selection of areas of interest in the images. One or more objects (134, 138) are visible in the images. A computation engine (116) is configured to combine coordinate systems of the imaging system, the areas of interest, and the one or more objects to provide measurement and/or location information. A bidirectional communication channel (122) is configured to couple the imaging system and the computation engine to permit transmission of the images and the areas of interest to the computation engine and transmission of the measurement and/or location information to the imaging system.

Abstract: A method, system, and program product are provided for providing a medical tracking interface. The method comprises the steps of: receiving data from at least one tracking device in any one of a plurality of formats, converting the data to a uniform format, and outputting the data in the uniform format.

Abstract: An intervention instrument (60) employs a shaft (61) and a shaft tracker (62) partially or completely encircling the shaft (61) and movable to a primary tracking position along the shaft (61) between a distal tip and a proximal hub of the shaft (61). The primary tracking position is derived from a distance from an entry point of the distal tip into an anatomical region to a target location of the distal tip within the anatomical region. The shaft tracker (62) includes a primary position sensor (63) operable for tracking the shaft tracker (62) relative to the anatomical region at or offset from the primary tracking position.

Abstract: A device, system and method for accessing internal tissue include a probe (108) disposed on a distal end portion of a medical device and configured to be inserted into a body along a trajectory path. A sensor (102) is mounted on a displacement tracker portion (104) of the medical device which is disposed on a proximal end portion of the device. The sensor is configured to measure a distance parallel to the probe between the displacement tracker portion and a tissue surface such that a position of the probe is determinable relative to the tissue surface upon advance or retraction of the probe along the trajectory path.

Abstract: A system and method for generating high frame rate motion compensated color sequencing data for a color sequential display system. A high frame rate motion compensation color sequencing system (10) is provided, comprising: a system for receiving a first input frame and a second input frame, and for receiving motion vectors (18) associated with the input frames (16); and an interpolation system (12) that processes the motion vectors and input frames and generates high frame rate motion compensated color sequence data (20) with an output frame rate defined by an upconversion factor (26).

Abstract: The electrical scan which applies data for one of the red, green and blue colors of a liquid crystal display (LCD) to the pixels of each row of the display and the optical scan of the panel with the color stripe of that color are synchronized to ensure sufficient time for the switching of the pixel from one color value to another. Synchronizing the electrical and optical scans creates a better color rendition of the displayed image without any inter-color mixing artifacts. Arrays or groups of photosensors are positioned laterally adjacent the active portion of the panel and each array is covered by a filter which passes light of only one of the three colors (red, green and blue) used in the display.

Abstract: A display driver for implementing an inversion flicker compensation method is disclosed. The inversion flicker compensation method is applicable to a liquid crystal display device that is operable to emit a luminous output in response to a reception of a voltage drive signal and a voltage reference signal. The display driver is operated in accordance with the method to provide the voltage drive signal to the liquid crystal display device in response to a reception of a voltage data signal having a data voltage level indicative of a gray level of a color component. The display driver includes a gamma lookup table for the voltage drive signal that lists a pair of drive voltage levels for the voltage drive signal that correspond to the gray level as indicated by the data voltage level of the voltage data signal. The drive voltage levels have opposing polarities relative to a reference voltage level of the voltage reference signal.

Abstract: The electrical scan which applies data for one of the red, green and blue colors of a liquid crystal display (LCD) to the pixels of each row of the display and the optical scan of the panel with the color stripe of that color are synchronized to ensure sufficient time for the switching of the pixel from one color value to another. Synchronizing the electrical and optical scans creates a better color rendition of the displayed image without any inter-color mixing artifacts. Arrays or groups of photosensors are positioned laterally adjacent the active portion of the panel and each array is covered by a filter which passes light of only one of the three colors (red, green and blue) used in the display.

Abstract: A display driver for implementing an inversion flicker compensation method is disclosed. The inversion flicker compensation method is applicable to a liquid crystal display device that is operable to emit a luminous output in response to a reception of a voltage drive signal and a voltage reference signal. The display driver is operated in accordance with the method to provide the voltage drive signal to the liquid crystal display device in response to a reception of a voltage data signal having a data voltage level indicative of a gray level of a color component. The display driver includes a gamma lookup table for the voltage drive signal that lists a pair of drive voltage levels for the voltage drive signal that correspond to the gray level as indicated by the data voltage level of the voltage data signal. The drive voltage levels have opposing polarities relative to a reference voltage level of the voltage reference signal.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically improving the picture quality of television or other video based images, based upon picture content, using improved rule based picture analysis and compensation techniques. The distribution of facial and non-facial tones in a television picture are determined and used to control of picture color quality using neural network techniques. A preferred embodiment of the invention adjusts the brightness, contrast and color saturation of a displayed picture based upon selected portions of the received picture signal. These controls are adjusted every 1/60th of a second (i.e. at the end of each field) to provide an improved visual display. Analysis of the video signal in one field of a frame provides the information for adjusting the picture quality of the subsequent field of that frame.