Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that integrate the injection of contrast agents with imaging catheters. In an embodiment, an imaging catheter comprises a catheter sheath and an imager, e.g., ultrasound transducer. The imaging catheter further comprises a contrast lumen having one or more exit ports for injecting contrast agent into the patient. The contrast lumen extends along the catheter sheath and may be external to or integrated into the catheter sheath. Preferably, the exit port of the contrast lumen is positioned along the catheter sheath at a relatively short known distance from the imager. The catheter may include multiple contrast lumens for injecting different types of contrast agents. In an embodiment, a synchronizing controller is provided to automatically synchronize the injection of contrast agent with imaging. In another embodiment, drug-filled microbubbles in combination with ultrasound imaging are used to deliver a controlled drug dose to a specific treatment site.

Abstract: An process of forming a chiral conducting polymer, e.g., polyaniline, is provided including reacting a monomer, e.g., an aniline monomer, in the presence of a chiral dopant acid to produce a first reaction mixture by addition of a solution including a first portion of an oxidizing agent, the first portion of oxidizing agent characterized as insufficient to allow complete reaction of the monomer, and further reacting the first reaction mixture in the presence of the chiral dopant acid by addition of a solution including a second portion of the oxidizing agent, the second portion of oxidizing agent characterized as insufficient to allow complete reaction of the monomer, and repeating the reaction by addition of further portions of the oxidizing agent until the monomer reaction is complete to produce a chiral conducting polymer, e.g., polyaniline.

Abstract: Metal-polyaniline (PANI) composites are provided together with a process of preparing such composites by an electrodeless process. The metal of the composite can have nanoscale structural features and the composites can be used in applications such as catalysis for hydrogenation reactions and for analytical detection methods employing SERS.

Abstract: A method of forming metal nanoparticles using a polymer colloid that includes at least one conductive polymer and at least one polyelectrolyte. Metal ions are reduced in water by the conductive polymer to produce the nanoparticles, which may be then incorporated in the colloidal structure to form a colloid composite. The method can also be used to separate selected metal ions from aqueous solutions.

Abstract: An process of forming a chiral conducting polymer, e.g., polyaniline, is provided including reacting a monomer, e.g., an aniline monomer, in the presence of a chiral dopant acid to produce a first reaction mixture by addition of a solution including a first portion of an oxidizing agent, the first portion of oxidizing agent characterized as insufficient to allow complete reaction of the monomer, and further reacting the first reaction mixture in the presence of the chiral dopant acid by addition of a solution including a second portion of the oxidizing agent, the second portion of oxidizing agent characterized as insufficient to allow complete reaction of the monomer, and repeating the reaction by addition of further portions of the oxidizing agent until the monomer reaction is complete to produce a chiral conducting polymer, e.g., polyaniline.

Abstract: The invention is directed to systems and methods for detecting and presenting textural information from medical images. In one example embodiment, a medical imaging system includes an imaging transducer assembly configured to emit one or more energy pulses and receive one or more echo signals, and a console, coupled to the imaging transducer assembly, configured to receive the one or more echo signals, detect one or more signals that correspond with an abnormality, and invoke an alert in response to the detection of the one or more signals that correspond with an abnormality.

Abstract: A system and method of analysis for a medical image are described. A medical image is received and analyzed, and an initial border of a region within the medical image is determined based on the analysis of the medical image. A user input is received indicating one or more control points, where each of the one or more control points is located inside or outside of the initial border. A modified border of the region is determined based on the analysis and the user input, the modified border passing through the one or more control points.

Abstract: A method of forming metal nanoparticles using a polymer colloid that includes at least one conductive polymer and at least one polyelectrolyte. Metal ions are reduced in water by the conductive polymer to produce the nanoparticles, which may be then incorporated in the colloidal structure to form a colloid composite. The method can also be used to separate selected metal ions from aqueous solutions.

Abstract: An process of forming a chiral conducting polymer, e.g., polyaniline, is provided including reacting a monomer, e.g., an aniline monomer, in the presence of a chiral dopant acid to produce a first reaction mixture by addition of a solution including a first portion of an oxidizing agent, the first portion of oxidizing agent characterized as insufficient to allow complete reaction of the monomer, and further reacting the first reaction mixture in the presence of the chiral dopant acid by addition of a solution including a second portion of the oxidizing agent, the second portion of oxidizing agent characterized as insufficient to allow complete reaction of the monomer, and repeating the reaction by addition of further portions of the oxidizing agent until the monomer reaction is complete to produce a chiral conducting polymer, e.g., polyaniline.

Abstract: An process of forming a chiral conducting polymer, e.g., polyaniline, is provided including reacting a monomer, e.g., an aniline monomer, in the presence of a chiral dopant acid to produce a first reaction mixture by addition of a solution including a first portion of an oxidizing agent, the first portion of oxidizing agent characterized as insufficient to allow complete reaction of the monomer, and further reacting the first reaction mixture in the presence of the chiral dopant acid by addition of a solution including a second portion of the oxidizing agent, the second portion of oxidizing agent characterized as insufficient to allow complete reaction of the monomer, and repeating the reaction by addition of further portions of the oxidizing agent until the monomer reaction is complete to produce a chiral conducting polymer, e.g., polyaniline.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for registering a representation of a probe with an image. One embodiment of a method comprises acquiring an image pertaining to an organ or structure inside a body and registering a representation of a probe which is inside the body with the image, the representation of the probe and the image being registered to substantially the same point in a bodily cycle.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for registering a representation of a probe with an image. One embodiment of a method comprises locating a feature of or relating to a heart with a probe which is inside the body and registering a representation of the probe with an image of the heart using the feature.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for registering a representation of a probe with an image. One embodiment of a method comprises acquiring an image of or pertaining to a heart and registering a representation of a probe which is in or adjacent to the heart with the image using a heart vector of the heart.

Abstract: A electrically conductive polymeric composition comprising a plurality of polymeric complexes. Each polymeric complex comprises a strand of a &pgr;-conjugated polymer and strand of a polyelectrolyte. The polyelectrolyte is non-covalently bond to the &pgr;-conjugated polymer and has at least one reactive functional group that facilitates cross-linkage between the polymeric complexes when the polymeric complexes are heated.

Abstract: A method to measure spatial fluid flow components and their velocity profiles in a number of locations in a cross-sectional area of a lumen or other body cavity by using ultrasound in which the cross-sectional area is interrogated by a plurality of ultrasonic beams; the estimation of the spatial flow components is obtained from a combination of estimations of axial, lateral and total flow; the estimation of one or more flow components is obtained through any combination of time-shift and decorrelation analysis of two or more beam-signals of the interrogating ultrasound transducer; and the estimation accuracy is further improved by the use of a reference decorrelation curve obtained from experiments or beam-theory or both.

Abstract: A method to measure spatial fluid flow components and their velocity profiles in a number of locations in a cross-sectional area of a lumen or other body cavity by using ultrasound in which the cross-sectional area is interrogated by a plurality of ultrasonic beams; the estimation of the spatial flow components is obtained from a combination of estimations of axial, lateral and total flow; the estimation of one or more flow components is obtained through any combination of time-shift and decorrelation analysis of two or more beam-signals of the interrogating ultrasound transducer; and the estimation accuracy is further improved by the use of a reference decorrelation curve obtained from experiments or beam-theory or both.

Abstract: A method to measure spatial fluid flow components and their velocity profiles in a number of locations in a cross-sectional area of a lumen or other body cavity by using ultrasound in which the cross-sectional area is interrogated by a plurality of ultrasonic beams; the estimation of the spatial flow components is obtained from a combination of estimations of axial, lateral and total flow; the estimation of one or more flow components is obtained through any combination of time-shift and decorrelation analysis of two or more beam-signals of the interrogating ultrasound transducer, and the estimation accuracy is further improved by the use of a reference decorrelation curve.