Abstract: A method and apparatus for the integration of an ultrasound transducer with a SPECT imaging system is disclosed. The ultrasound transducer allows the delivery of particle-born drug therapies or thermally active therapies at the same site detected with SPECT imaging. The system includes a SPECT imaging subsystem; an ultrasound transducer for producing a signal representative of applied ultrasound and signally coupled to the SPECT imaging subsystem; and co-registering means for co-registering the signal representative of applied ultrasound in a coordinate system of SPECT imaging subsystem. The SPECT subsystem may be replaced with a SPECT/CT combined system to provide morphology that allows for treatment planning. In another embodiment, the ultrasound transducer can be used intermittently with the sequential gathering of SPECT images for tracking time-varying properties of the binding of specific SPECT contrast agents to biomarkers of disease.

Abstract: This invention discloses an improved method for the calibration and tracking of an electromagnetic or acoustic based catheter within a catheter tracking space for use in cardiac intervention for a specific patient, utilizing prior-acquired medical imaging data for the patient.

Abstract: System and method for enabling intra-operative selection of an image registration transformation for use in displaying a first image dataset and a second image dataset in correspondence with one another. Image dataset acquisition devices (12, 14) obtain the first and second image datasets. A similarity function indicative of a likelihood that the first and second image datasets are in correspondence with one another is computed by a processor (16) and then a ranking of each of a plurality of local maxima of the similarity function is determined. Registration transformations derived from a plurality of the local maxima are displayed on a display (18), and using a user-interface (22), a physician can select each registration transformation to ascertain visually whether it is the clinically-optimal registration transformation for subsequent use.

Abstract: Method and system for ultrasound imaging of body tissue in which a focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer (20) is oriented relative to the body such that ultrasonic waves generated by the FUS transducer (20) are directed toward the tissue being imaged. The FUS transducer (20) is operated to cause the formation of microbubbles (28) in the tissue and an ultrasound image of the tissue with the microbubbles (28) is acquired. Phase aberration in the acquired ultrasound image may be corrected, if necessary, using each microbubble (28) as a point source or point-like scatterer. Microbubble (28) formation can therefore be obtained in a non-invasive manner since FUS-induced microbubble (28) formation does not require the insertion of interventional tools into the body.

Abstract: An ultrasound treatment comprises applying ultrasound at a first energy level (32) to a region of interest (20) in a subject for activating a cavitation nucleation agent during a first portion of a treatment cycle (t1-t2). Ultrasound at a second energy level (34) is applied to the region of interest (20) during a second portion of the treatment cycle (t2-t3) for implementing a desired thermal therapy in the presence of the cavitation nucleation agent activated during the first portion of the treatment cycle. The second energy level is at an energy level different from the first energy level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to monitoring the focus of a therapeutic transducer in an interactive real-time manner by turning off the ultrasound transmits of the imaging transducer but continuing to receive in all directions with an imaging probe in order to identify the therapeutic beam focus. The therapeutic focused beam acts as the only transmit and as long as there is a scatterer at the focus, a strong receive signal will be generated to identify the focus.