Abstract: A system for providing navigational guidance to a sonographer acquiring images is disclosed. The system may provide haptic feedback to the sonographer. The haptic feedback may be provided through an ultrasonic probe or a separate device. Haptic feedback may include vibrations or other sensations provided to the sonographer. The system may analyze acquired images and determine the location of acquisition and compare it to a desired image and a location for obtaining the desired image. The system may calculate the location for obtaining the desired image based, at least in part, on the acquired image. The system may then provide the haptic feedback to guide the sonographer to move the ultrasonic probe to the location to acquire the desired image.

Abstract: A system for providing navigational guidance to a sonographer acquiring images may provide haptic feedback to the sonographer. The haptic feedback may be provided through an ultrasonic probe or a separate device. Haptic feedback may include vibrations or other sensations provided to the sonographer. The system may analyze acquired images and determine the location of acquisition and compare it to a desired image based, at least in part, on the acquired image. The system may then provide the haptic feedback to guide the sonographer to move the ultrasonic probe to the location to acquire the desired image.

Abstract: An external beam radiation therapy method is described, wherein radiation therapy is performed on a subject by applying at least one ionizing radiation beam to the subject. While applying the at least one ionizing radiation beam to the subject, an ultrasound probe images the subject, where the ultrasound probe is not located in the ionizing radiation beam. While applying the ionizing radiation beam to the subject, a dosimeter that is integral with or attached to the ultrasound probe measures the radiation dose or radiation exposure received by the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: Described is a system and medical device for the electromagnetic tracking of a medical instrument transported through a medical device, the medical device having a central axis, a channel that receives and transports a medical instrument through the medical device, the channel extending to a distal portion of the medical device. According to some aspects, the system includes tracking circuitry and a plurality of coordinated electromagnetic sensors for generating a virtual axis of travel for the medical instrument. According to some aspects, the virtual axis passes through the opening of the device and is aligned with a tool insertion axis.

Abstract: A multi-transistor device includes first and second lateral double-diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect (LDMOS) transistors sharing a first p-type reduced surface field (RESURF) layer and a first drain n+ region. In certain embodiments, the first LDMOS transistor includes a first drift region, the second LDMOS transistor includes a second drift region, and the first and second drift regions are at least partially separated by the first p-type RESURF layer in a thickness direction.

Abstract: A system for indicating the quality of a medical report including a medical report system which generates a medical score based on a clinician's interpretation of medical data, a portion of the medical report including text in a natural language; and a medical report grading device which processes the portion of text in natural language and generates one or more scores of one or more categories relating to the quality of the medical report.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a medical imaging device (2) operative in conjunction with a contrast injector (11) to perform a contrast enhanced medical imaging procedure. The apparatus includes: an alert output device (32), and at least one electronic processor (10, 20) operatively connected with the alert output device and programmed to: extract image frames from video or screen sharing (17) of a display (13, 24?); screen-scrape injector settings of the contrast injector from the image frames; and output an alert (30) via the alert output device if the screen-scraped injector settings satisfy an alert criterion.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) provides remote assistance to a local operator of a medical imaging device (2) disposed in a medical imaging device bay (3) via a communication link (14) from a remote location (4) that is remote from the medical imaging device bay to the medical imaging device bay. The apparatus includes a workstation (12) disposed at the remote location including at least one workstation display (24).

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound probe housing and one or more ultrasound transducers disposed in the ultrasound probe housing. A dosimeter or ionizing radiation detector is disposed in or attached to the ultrasound probe housing. An alarm device receives radiation dose or radiation exposure data acquired by the dosimeter or ionizing radiation detector. The alarm device includes an electronic processor programmed to detect excessive radiation dose or radiation exposure received by the ultrasound probe based on the radiation dose or radiation exposure data acquired by the dosimeter or ionizing radiation detector, and output an alarm warning of the detection of excessive radiation dose or radiation exposure received by the ultrasound probe. In some embodiments, the dosimeter is a one-time use dosimeter that is not resettable.

Abstract: An ultrasound system includes a 3D imaging probe and a needle guide which attaches to the probe for guidance of needle insertion into a volumetric region which can be scanned by the 3D imaging probe. The needle guide responds to the insertion of a needle through the guide by identifying a plane for scanning by the probe which is the insertion plane through which the needle will pass during insertion. The orientation of the insertion plane is communicated to the probe to cause the probe to scan the identified plane and produce images of the needle as it travels through the insertion plane.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes at least one electronic processor (20) programmed to: receive scheduled imaging examination information (13) for a medical imaging examination which the patient is to undergo including at least a patient identifier, a scheduled date of the medical imaging examination, and an imaging modality of the medical imaging examination; extract patient information (29) from one or more medical records of the patient based on the scheduled imaging examination information; and generate one or more preparatory action items (15) to be performed in preparation for the medical imaging examination based on the patient information and the scheduled imaging examination information.

Abstract: A system and medical device for the electromagnetic tracking of a medical instrument transported through the medical device. The medical device has a central axis and a channel that receives and transports a medical instrument through the medical device. The channel extends to a distal portion of the medical device and connects with an opening in the medical device that is not aligned with the central axis. The medical device includes a tracking component that is a plurality of coordinated electromagnetic sensors for generating a virtual axis of travel for the medical instrument, with the virtual axis passing through the opening of the device and being aligned with tool insertion axis.

Abstract: A multi-transistor device includes first and second lateral double-diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect (LDMOS) transistors sharing a first p-type reduced surface field (RESURF) layer and a first drain n+ region. In certain embodiments, the first LDMOS transistor includes a first drift region, the second LDMOS transistor includes a second drift region, and the first and second drift regions are at least partially separated by the first p-type RESURF layer in a thickness direction.

Abstract: A method includes generating a hyperthermia heat plan for tissue of interest, generating a hyperthermia adapted radiation therapy plan for the tissue of interest, controlling a heat source (126) to deliver heat to the tissue of interest according to the hyperthermia heat plan, and controlling a radiation source of a radiation therapy system (100) to deliver radiation to the tissue of interest according to the hyperthermia adapted radiation therapy plan. A system includes a radiation treatment planner (124) configured to generate a hyperthermia adapted radiation therapy plan for the tissue of interest, a radiation therapy system (100) configured to deliver radiation in accordance with the hyperthermia adapted radiation therapy plan, and a hyperthermia heat delivery system (126) configured to deliver heat in accordance with a hyperthermia plan.

Abstract: A lateral double-diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect (LDMOS) transistor includes a silicon semiconductor structure, a dielectric layer at least partially disposed in a trench of the silicon semiconductor structure in a thickness direction, and a gate conductor embedded in the dielectric layer and extending into the trench in the thickness direction. The dielectric layer and the gate conductor are at least substantially symmetric with respect to a center axis of the trench extending in the thickness direction, as seen when the LDMOS transistor is viewed cross-sectionally in a direction orthogonal to the lateral and thickness directions.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and associated methods including: emitting ultrasound to the subject and receiving, in response, a current ultrasound view; matching the received image to a pre-existing image, such as a three-dimensional reference image; and, for user assistance, generating, based on the matching, feedback for the guidance. The reference image may be a statistical atlas or it may be derived from patient-specific CT or MR scans. The pre-existing image may instead be a database image corresponding to a state in a state space. The feedback can be an image derived from the reference image; a graphic indication of a plane of the target view; the received view fused to an image derived from the reference image; or the received view and an image derived from the reference image, the derived image appearing concurrently and enhanced to spatially indicated where the received view registers to the reference image.

Abstract: An instrument driving mechanism includes an instrument drive assembly (140) including a first set of wheels (136) coupled to a first end portion and a second set (138) of wheels coupled to a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The first set of wheels is configured to engage an elongated instrument (104) therein such that a rotation plane of the first set of wheels is coplanar with a longitudinal axis of the instrument. The second set of wheels is configured to engage the elongated instrument therein such that a rotation plane of the second set of wheels is obliquely oriented with the longitudinal axis of the instrument wherein motion of the instrument is controlled by controlling rotations of the wheels. The instrument drive assembly mounts to a mounting position (149) of a medical device that permits the instrument to pass therethrough and is configured to fix a position of the instrument drive assembly to enable positioning of the instrument.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging apparatus (24) for imaging an introduction element (17) like a needle or a catheter for performing a brachytherapy or a biopsy. A tracking unit (3, 4) tracks the location of the introduction element within a living being (2), an imaging unit (6) like an ultrasound imaging unit generates an image showing an inner part of the living being, which includes the tracked location of the introduction element, based on the tracked location, and a display (7) displays the image. During the brachytherapy or biopsy the display can always show the introduction element, without requiring a manual control. For instance, it is not necessary that a physician manually controls the position and image plane of the imaging unit. This allows for an accurate and fast insertion of the introduction element into the living being such that a target region is reliably reached.

Abstract: A pre-curved steerable catheter includes a catheter body (102) having a distal end portion. The distal end portion includes a permanently curved flexible end portion (110). A pull wire (108) is disposed in a pull wire lumen within the catheter body. The pull wire extends from the distal end portion to a proximal end portion of the catheter body wherein the pull wire, when tensioned, provides a change in an angle of the curved flexible end portion of the catheter body.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system according to the present disclosure may include an ultrasound transducer assembly comprising a plurality of apertures that are configured to transmit signals toward and receive signals from a region of interest (ROI) of a subject, a tracking sensor disposed within the subject and configured to move within the ROI, the sensor being responsive to signals transmitted by the apertures, and at least one processor in communication with the ultrasound transducer assembly and the tracking sensor.