Abstract: Methods for assessing spinal health and treatment effectiveness for spinal conditions in a patient via use of an ultrasonagraphic system are shown and described. The ultrasonagraphic system includes optical targets, a transducer probe, an optical tracker unit, an image processing system, a 3D ultrasound processor, and a display. The methods include attaching optical targets to the patient's body; detecting locations of the optical targets on the patient; detecting a location of the transducer probe; moving the transducer probe over at least a portion of the patient's body to collect spinal image data; generating 3D image data; sending 3D image data to the image processing system; processing 3D image data; displaying a real-time 3D image of the one or more vertebrae on the display to allow a healthcare provider to assess spinal health and treatment effectiveness based on the displayed real-time 3D image.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus configured in a manner connectable to an ultrasound probe and an indicator includes: a transmission unit; a reception unit; a B mode image generation unit; a C mode image generation unit; and a display processing unit, wherein the C mode image generation unit compares the first C mode image data and second C mode image data generated before the first C mode image data, determines whether there is a noise part in the first C mode image data based on the comparison result, eliminates the noise part when there is the noise part in the first C mode image data, and generates a first C mode image based on the first C mode image data from which the noise part is eliminated.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a stream of biometric imaging data of a patient; receiving medical data about the patient; receiving a video stream depicting a source of the biometric imaging data; receiving supplemental information selected from a group consisting of: a second video stream depicting a human, one or more use cases corresponding to the biometric imaging data, an image of anatomy comparable to the biometric imaging data; and preparing for simultaneous output to a graphical user interface on a single display screen: the biometric imaging data, the medical data, the video stream depicting a source of the biometric imaging data, and the supplemental information. Each of the biometric imaging data, the medical data about the patient, the video stream depicting a source of the biometric imaging data, and the supplemental information is simultaneously output in a unique region of the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A photoacoustic apparatus disclosed in the present specification includes: a light source configured to emit light; an acoustic wave transmission unit configured to transmit an acoustic wave to a specific area; a photoacoustic wave reception unit configured to receive a photoacoustic wave generated by a subject due to emission of the light, which is emitted from the light source, to the subject and configured to output a time-series photoacoustic signal; an echo reception unit configured to receive an echo generated due to reflection, in the subject, of the acoustic wave transmitted from the acoustic wave transmission unit and configured to output a time-series echo signal; and a processing unit configured to acquire, based on the time-series photoacoustic signal and the time-series echo signal, optical property information in which information a component corresponding to a reflected wave of the photoacoustic wave generated in the specific area is reduced.

Abstract: A system for screening breast tissue is disclosed. The system comprises an ultrasound probe and a carrier adapted to support the ultrasound probe and to progressively move the probe over the breast tissue. A pad is employed to cover the nipple of the breast tissue, and a fabric covering is adapted to hold the breast tissue and the pad in place as the probe is moved over the breast tissue.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a first imaging modality (1021), a second imaging modality (1022), wherein the first and second imaging modalities are in alignment with scanning zones for scanning an object or subject, and a third imaging modality (102N) which is selectively moveable between a first location (114) in which the third imaging modality is in alignment with the scanning zones for scanning the object or subject and a second location (122) in which the third imaging modality is outside of alignment with the scanning zones.

Abstract: An optimal value calculator calculates, based on angle information obtained from a first angle sensor provided in an ultrasound probe, the direction of transmission of an ultrasonic beam transmitted from the ultrasound probe, and the radiation source optimal angle of a radiation source at which the direction of radiation from the radiation source is substantially parallel to the calculated direction of transmission of the ultrasonic beam and the optimal detection angle of a radiographic image generator at which the normal of a detection surface of the radiographic image generator is substantially parallel to the calculated direction of transmission of the ultrasonic beam.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes an obtaining unit, an image generating unit, and a controlling unit. The obtaining unit obtains setting information in which a plurality of types of ultrasound image data are set as display-purpose image data and in which a percentage of a time period to display the display-purpose image data is set for each of the plurality of types. The image generating unit generates, along a time series, each of the plurality of types of ultrasound image data set in the setting information. The controlling unit exercises control so that the plurality of types of ultrasound image data generated by the image generating unit are stored into a storage unit and exercises control so that the display-purpose image data is displayed on a display unit according to the percentage set in the setting information for each of the types.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus configured to generate fly-through image data on the basis of various sub-volume data that are acquired by transmitting/receiving ultrasound to/from a three-dimensional region in a subject include: a misregistration corrector configured to correct misregistration between the sub-volume data on the basis of at least any one of information on a lumen wall of a hollow organ and information on a core line that indicates the center axis of the hollow organ in the sub-volume data; a fly-through image data generator configured to generate the fly-through image data on the basis of sub-volume data where the misregistration has been corrected; and a display unit configured to display the fly-through image data.

Abstract: A method and system acquiring, processing and displaying breast ultrasound images in a way that makes breast ultrasound screening more practical and thus more widely used, and reduces the occurrence of missing cancers in screening and diagnosis, using automated scanning of chestwardly compressed breasts with ultrasound. Enhanced, whole-breast navigator overview images are produced from scanning breasts with ultrasound that emphasize abnormalities in the breast while excluding obscuring influences of non-breast structures, particularly those external to the breast such as ribs and chest wall, and differentiating between likely malignant and likely benign abnormalities and otherwise enhancing the navigator overview image and other images, thereby reducing the time to read, screen, and/or diagnose to practical time limits and also reduce screening or diagnostic errors.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for synthetic aperture ultrasound imaging using spread-spectrum, wide instantaneous band, coherent, coded waveforms.

Abstract: Ultrasound devices and methods are described, including a repeatable ultrasound transducer probe having ultrasonic transducers and corresponding circuitry. The repeatable ultrasound transducer probe may be used individually or coupled with other instances of the repeatable ultrasound transducer probe to create a desired ultrasound device. The ultrasound devices may optionally be connected to various types of external devices to provide additional processing and image rendering functionality.

Abstract: The analysis image generating unit generates section images from volume analysis data that is collected by sending an ultrasound wave down to a region under the ribs. The right/left identifying unit identifies the right or left breast from cyclic motion components in the section images. The extending direction detecting unit analyzes plane-A images or plane-B images generated from the same volume analysis data, or a plane-C thickness-added MIP image, and detects the rib extending direction. The extending direction detecting unit also determines the position of the ultrasound probe based on the relative displacement of the extending direction. The body mark generating unit generates a body mark from the analysis results obtained by the right/left identifying unit and the extending direction detecting unit. The image synthesizing unit integrates the display image generated by the display image generating unit and the body mark, and displays it on the monitor.

Abstract: A method for registering medical images of different types, includes: receiving a selection of at least one point in a first medical image that is acquired in non-real time; extracting, from the first medical image, a first anatomic object which includes the selected point and a second anatomic object which is adjacent to the selected point; extracting, from a second medical image that is acquired in real time, a third anatomic object which corresponds to the first anatomic object and a fourth anatomic object which corresponds to the second anatomic object; and registering the first medical image and the second medical image based on a geometric relation between the first, second, third, and fourth anatomic objects.

Abstract: A system and method for real-time quantitative analysis of heart wall motion is provided. A Doppler imaging system is used to monitor the movement of a heart, or other organ. A B-mode reference image of the target organ is made and then a region-of-interest is defined through the use of a gate. Then pulsed wave spectral tissue Doppler data of the region-of-interest is formed and used to determine the velocity of a region of the target organ. The system may be used for determining appropriate biventricular pacemaker settings for patients suffering from heart disease.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic system is disclosed. The ultrasound diagnostic system allows an examiner and an examinee to view a diagnosis result on different screens through a single display unit by adjusting viewing angles depending on positions of the examiner and the examinee, thereby providing a screen for the current diagnosis status to the examinee without a separate monitor for the examinee and providing an optimized screen for diagnosis to the examiner.

Abstract: An automated three dimensional mapping and display system for a diagnostic ultrasound system is presented. According to the invention, ultrasound probe position registration is automated, the position of each pixel in the ultrasound image in reference to selected anatomical references is calculated, and specified information is stored on command. The system, during real time ultrasound scanning, enables the ultrasound probe position and orientation to be continuously displayed over a body or body part diagram, thereby facilitating scanning and images interpretation of stored information. The system can then record single or multiple ultrasound free hand two-dimensional (also “2D”) frames in a video sequence (clip) or cine loop wherein multiple 2D frames of one or more video sequences corresponding to a scanned volume can be reconstructed in three-dimensional (also “3D”) volume images corresponding to the scanned region, using known 3D reconstruction algorithms.

Abstract: To provide a small-size ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus manufactured at a low cost, which is capable of displaying an optimum image in both the B mode and the color-Doppler mode, without providing a plurality of drive amplifiers of different transmission voltages to each transmission channel. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has multiple display modes. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a probe for transmitting an ultrasonic beam and receiving a reflection wave of the ultrasonic beam reflected from a tissue of a biological body; a low-pass filter for filtering the reflection wave; and an image processing section for performing on the filtered reflection wave an image process corresponding to a selected display mode. The probe transmits an ultrasonic beam which has an amplitude determined according to the selected display mode. The low-pass filter has such a filter characteristic that at least the cutoff frequency varies according to the selected display mode.

Abstract: In a photoacoustic imaging apparatus, a detecting portion includes a light source portion having a plurality of LED elements, an ultrasonic detector arranged in the vicinity of the light source portion, configured to detect an acoustic wave as an ultrasonic wave generated by absorption of light emitted from the light source portion to a test object, and a light source drive circuit arranged in the vicinity of the light source portion, driving the light source portion.

Abstract: A portable ultrasound imaging system includes a mobile computing device; a detachable front end component configured for attachment to and communication with the mobile computing device, and configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals; and programming, when installed on the mobile computing device, being executable by the mobile computing device to cause the mobile computing device to send signals to the front end component causing the front end component to transmit the ultrasound signals, and to receive signals from the front end component resulting from the front end component receiving the receive ultrasound signals, and process the receive signal and display an ultrasound image resulting from the processing. The front end component is configured to be directly joined with the mobile computing device and directly connected, without the use of an external wire or cable.

Abstract: An intraoperative registration and tracking system includes an optical source configured to illuminate tissue intraoperatively with electromagnetic radiation at a substantially localized spot so as to provide a photoacoustic source at the substantially localize spot, an optical imaging system configured to form an optical image of at least a portion of the tissue and to detect and determine a position of the substantially localized spot in the optical image, an ultrasound imaging system configured to form an ultrasound image of at least a portion of the tissue and to detect and determine a position of the substantially localized spot in the ultrasound image, and a registration system configured to determine a coordinate transformation that registers the optical image with the ultrasound image based at least partially on a correspondence of the spot in the optical image with the spot in the ultrasound image.

Abstract: A method of generating an ultrasound image in an ultrasound apparatus connected with at least one wired probe and at least one wireless probe is provided. A wired response signal corresponding to a first ultrasound response signal reflected from an object is received from the at least one wired probe, and a wireless response signal corresponding to a second ultrasound response signal reflected from the object is received from the at least one wireless probe. An ultrasound image of the object is generated by using the wired and wireless response signals.

Abstract: Ultrasound devices and methods are described, including a repeatable ultrasound transducer probe having ultrasonic transducers and corresponding circuitry. The repeatable ultrasound transducer probe may be used individually or coupled with other instances of the repeatable ultrasound transducer probe to create a desired ultrasound device. The ultrasound devices may optionally be connected to various types of external devices to provide additional processing and image rendering functionality.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound image producer which produces an ultrasound image from reception data based on a predetermined set sound speed, a reception data image producer which produces a reception data image representing a luminance image of an ultrasonic echo wavefront from the reception data corresponding to a predetermined range on at least one scan line in the ultrasound image, a sound speed determination unit configured to determine an optimum sound speed based on ultrasound images respectively produced by the ultrasound image producer while changing the predetermined set sound speed, and a controller which makes an ultrasound image for diagnosis produced by the ultrasound image producer and the reception data image produced by the reception data image producer be displayed simultaneously on a display unit based on the optimum sound speed determined by the sound speed determination unit.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging method comprises: providing a probe that includes one or more transducer elements for transmitting and receiving ultrasound waves; generating a sequence of spatially distinct transmit beams which differ in one or more of origin and angle; determining a transmit beam spacing substantially based upon a combination of actual and desired transmit beam characteristics, thereby achieving a faster echo acquisition rate compared to a transmit beam spacing based upon round-trip transmit-receive beam sampling requirements; storing coherent receive echo data, from two or more transmit beams of the spatially distinct transmit beams; combining coherent receive echo data from at least two or more transmit beams to achieve a substantially spatially invariant synthesized transmit focus at each echo location; and combining coherent receive echo data from each transmit firing to achieve dynamic receive focusing at each echo location.

Abstract: An ultrasound system has a control panel formed of a top glass plate with control area graphics screened onto the bottom surface of the glass plate. Capacitive foils are attached to the are of the screened graphics, enabling a user control to be capacitively selected by touching the top surface above the screened graphics. Each control area is selectively back-illuminated by a diffuser frame with light pipes fastened below the glass plate. LEDs for illumination are mounted on a printed circuit board fastened to the diffuser frame, which are controlled by the printed circuit board. Different groups of user controls are illuminated in accordance with the context of the operating mode or imaging procedure being performed so that only needed control are illuminated while unneeded controls are invisible to the user. All of the controls can be extinguished and de-activated so that the top surface of the control panel can be cleaned without randomly activating the controls of the control panel.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes an abdominal image generator, an ultrasonic image generation unit, a specifier, and a display controller. The abdominal image generator generates an abdominal image graphically representing the abdomen of a mother. The ultrasonic image generation unit generates an ultrasonic image based on a reflected wave signal received by an ultrasonic probe put on the abdomen of the mother. The specifier specifies the position of the ultrasonic probe on the abdominal image. The display controller causes superimposed display of the ultrasonic image on the position on the abdominal image thus specified in accordance with the echo direction of the ultrasonic probe.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system is provided that includes an image acquisition component, a transmitter operatively coupled to the image acquisition component to transmit a signal therefrom, and a beamformer operatively coupled to the image acquisition component to receive image data therefrom. Also included is a processor configured to assemble images from the acquired image data and a display configured to display the images. The image acquisition component includes a multi-headed probe that has a plurality of transducers configured to permit a change of active transducers during an imaging session without a change of the image acquisition component.

Abstract: A method of detecting an electrocardiogram signal is disclosed. The method includes measuring an electrocardiogram signal, determining a wave period based on an inclination of the measured electrocardiogram signal, and detecting an apex of the electrocardiogram signal with at least one of a maximum size and inclination in the wave period.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes at least one transducer element. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a console with a transducer controller that controls the at least one element, a transducer processor that processes information detected by the at least one element, and a display controller that controls display of the processed information. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a display monitor with a first image display region. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a touch screen keyboard with a second image display region, wherein the display monitor and the touch screen keyboard are separate devices.

Abstract: A mammography device is disclosed. The mammography device includes a container configured to surround the breast and a plurality of optical fibers attached to be directed inward in the container and configured to perform radiation and detection of light. The container has a base member having an opening, a plurality of annular members continuously disposed to come in communication with the opening, and a bottom member disposed inside the annular member spaced the farthest distance from the base member. The annular members and the bottom member are configured to relatively displace the adjacent annular member on the side of the base member or the base member in a communication direction. Some of the plurality of optical fibers is attached to the plurality of annular members.

Abstract: A photoacoustic imaging method is provided that can prevent the surface of the subject from appearing in an image when a part to be observed at a position deeper than the surface of the subject is imaged. The photoacoustic imaging device includes a unit for outputting pulsed light toward the subject, and generating photoacoustic data by detecting photoacoustic waves emitted from the subject exposed to the light. The photoacoustic imaging device also includes a region detection unit that detects a near-surface region of the subject based on the photoacoustic wave detection signals, and a correcting unit that attenuates (which encompasses removing) information of the near-surface region found by the region detection unit when the part to be observed is displayed.

Abstract: In an imaging procedure, sound pressure is generated by applying ultrasound to the region to be imaged in order to cause a deformation of tissue therein from at least one acquired ultrasound image data set, first data are determined that represent, with spatial resolution, the deformation of the tissue as a reaction to the sound pressure. At least one magnetic resonance image data set is acquired, from which second data are determined that represent, with spatial resolution, the deformation of the tissue as a reaction to the sound pressure. The at least one ultrasound image data set and the at least one magnetic resonance image data set are brought into registration with each other by a comparison of the first data and the second data.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging apparatus including: an imaging section imaging a site of an examinee to generate image data; a biological signal acquisition section acquiring signal data which is periodical movement of the site of the examinee; a storage section storing the generated image and acquired biological signal data; a biological signal analysis section analyzing the signal data to detect signal waveforms; and a control section calculating evaluation values indicating steadiness of the periodical movement among the respective periods, causing the biological signal analysis section to perform extraction from among the plurality of successive periods on the basis of the calculated evaluation values and a time difference or time ratio threshold range, reading out image data generated during an extracted adaptive period, among the image data stored in the storage section, from the storage section, and causing a display section to display the read-out image data.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes a parameter setting unit, a Fly Thru image generating unit, and a controlling unit. The parameter setting unit sets a value of an image quality adjusting parameter used for generating a PVR image obtained by projecting the inside of a lumen from a predetermined viewpoint, on the basis of information about the lumen rendered in an MPR image generated by using volume data. The Fly Thru image generating unit generates the PVR image by using the value of the image quality adjusting parameter that was set. The controlling unit then causes a monitor to display the PVR image.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided in which the orientation of an ultrasonic image display is configured to match the ultrasound probe orientation for ease of interpretation. The position and the orientation of an ultrasound probe are tracked using a tracking device having one or more position and orientation sensors. The orientation of a displayed ultrasound image is automatically adjusted to reflect the position and orientation of the ultrasound probe relative to the body structure being imaged. In some embodiments, a background image (with possible landmarks) is provided based on the location and orientation of the tracked ultrasound probe.

Abstract: To sum up, the present invention relates to an examination system 1301 for examining an associated tissue sample 1302, where the examination system comprises an interventional device 1320 which comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducers 306a-c and wherein the different ultrasound transducers are arranged to obtain images of different regions of an associated tissue sample, and wherein the examination system furthermore comprises a display device 1351 arranged for showing the images so that each of their positions corresponds to the corresponding positions of the different adjacent tissue sample regions in the adjacent associated tissue sample. A possible advantage of the system may be that relevant information regarding the associated tissue sample is conveyed to an observer in a fast an intuitive manner.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an ultrasonic imaging apparatus and an image display method thereof. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit ultrasonic signals toward an object and to receive ultrasonic signals reflected by the object, a beamformer configured to perform beamforming based on the ultrasonic signals received by the ultrasonic probe, and an image processor configured to generate an ultrasonic image of an examined region within the object based on the beamforming, to extract characteristic information which relates to the examined region from the generated ultrasonic image, and to judge whether or not the examined region coincides with a target region based on the extracted characteristic information, thus facilitating a determination as to with which region within the object the examined region corresponds based on various pieces of the characteristic information of the examined region extracted via analysis of the ultrasonic image.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic device includes: a contour extraction unit extracting a first contour image from ultrasound images obtained from spatially-successive examination positions and each including an image of an organ, a contour image indicating a contour of the organ and extracted from the organ image; a specification unit receiving, from a user, specification information specifying a manual correction target ultrasound image and correction information indicating details of a manual correction performed with respect to a first contour image extracted from the manual correction target ultrasound image; and a contour correction unit correcting the first contour image extracted from the manual correction target ultrasound image according to the correction information. The contour extraction unit further extracts a second contour image from a target ultrasound image by using information indicating the corrected first contour image. The target ultrasound image differs from the manual correction target image.

Abstract: Provided are an ultrasound system and method for providing change information of a target object by performing image registration on a reference image acquired before radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and an ultrasound image acquired during the RFA and comparing the reference image and the ultrasound image that have undergone the image registration with each other.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes a frame data generation device configured to generate a frame data of a blood flow image based on echo signals obtained by transmissions and receptions of ultrasonic waves on a same acoustic ray, a processed frame data generation device configured to generate a processed frame data using current data excluding an error data having a higher brightness, a faster blood speed, or a higher blood flow power than a brightness, a blood speed, or a blood flow power of standard data within pixel data corresponding to each other in a plurality of frame data at different time phases, and an image display control device configured to display a blood flow image based on the processed framed data.

Abstract: A controller makes a scan part scan a three-dimensional first scanning region so as to acquire volume data in the first scanning region and makes the scan part to consecutively scan a second scanning region that is smaller than the first scanning region and is included in the first scanning region more than once so as to consecutively acquire the volume data in the second scanning region. An image generator generates ultrasound image data in the first scanning region including the second scanning region based on the volume data in the first scanning region. Further, the image generator generates new ultrasound image data by updating the volume data in the second scanning region every time volume data in the second scanning region is acquired. The display controller causes a display to update and causes to display an ultrasound image every time new ultrasound image data is generated.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is provided that improves ultrasonogram visibility without requiring an operator's effort in simultaneous display of multiple ultrasonograms. Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (100) includes: display range selection section (62) that sets a first display range on a first ultrasonogram and sets a second display range on a second ultrasonogram on the basis of the first display range set on the first ultrasonogram; and screen layout setting section (63) that sets a screen layout such that an ultrasonogram display area on a display screen is vertically or horizontally divided into a first display area and a second display area. Screen layout setting section (63) sets a screen layout such that the ultrasonogram display area is divided in a direction that allows the first ultrasonogram in the first display range to be displayed larger in the first display area.

Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for sharing medical data are described. In one aspect, one or more data streams are received from one or more medical imaging/sensing or other types of devices. Frames are obtained from the streams. In some embodiments, particular frames and/or parts of frames are selectively encrypted. The frames are transmitted to a remote device, where they are rendered and/or displayed at the remote device. In various embodiments, the frames of different streams are synchronized.

Abstract: A method of providing a copy image of a portion of an ultrasound includes displaying an ultrasound image on a first area of a touch screen; receiving a touch input with respect to the ultrasound image; extracting a partial image corresponding to the touch input from the ultrasound image; and displaying a copy image of the partial image on a second area of the touch screen that is different from the first area on which the ultrasound image is displayed.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for providing real-time guidance to an interventional device coupled to an ultrasound imaging system operating in a first mode and a second mode. The method includes, in the first mode, stopping transmission of ultrasound signals from a transducer of the ultrasound imaging apparatus, and transmitting, via an acoustic sensor mounted on a head portion of an interventional device, an ultrasound signal that is then received by the transducer to generate a first image of a location of the head portion; in a second mode, stopping transmitting ultrasound signals from the acoustic sensor, transmitting ultrasound signals via the transducer, and receiving echoes of the transmitted ultrasound signals to generate a second image of an object structure; and combining the first image with the second image to derive a third image displaying and highlighting a relative location of the head portion in the object structure.

Abstract: In a portable apparatus of a medical system, in a case where an operation unit receives an operation from a physician on the basis of the display contents of a display unit, the medical apparatus controlled as a result of the operation of the operation unit by an operator is defined by an operation control unit, and a signal in response to the operation contents received by the operation unit is transmitted from a transmission unit to the defined medical apparatus.

Abstract: A transcoronary sinus pacing system comprising a sheath having a lumen, a pacing catheter having a pacing needle, wherein the catheter can be advanced within the lumen and placed in the LV summit, and a right ventricular pacing device. A LV summit pacing device. An early mitral valve closure pacing device configured to operate with a right ventricular apex pacing device. A method for implanting a pacing device at a target coronary sinus tissue location, wherein the target can be the posterior LV summit. A method for achieving early closure of a mitral valve. A method for using visualization devices such as fluoroscopy or ultrasound and/or catheter features such as a radiopaque marker to locate a target location for LV pacing and to avoid piercing an artery or the pericardium when anchoring the LV pacing electrode.

Abstract: A system for imaging a vessel of a patient comprises an elongated sheath with proximal and distal ends. The elongated sheath includes a flexible body with a first lumen in communication with a distal opening at the distal end. The system further includes an imaging core disposed within the first lumen and rotatable about an axis of rotation. The imaging core includes a first transducer subassembly adapted to transmit a first beam, distally of the flexible body, through the distal opening. The imaging core also includes a second transducer subassembly adapted to transmit a second beam through the flexible body in a transverse direction to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for relaying electrical signals representing acoustic response of a volume of tissue to light and ultrasound stimulation. In an embodiment, a plurality of ultrasound transducers receive acoustic energy from the volume and generate electrical energy, which is transmitted via an electrical path to a relay system. The ultrasound transducers are operated at a wide band frequency of at least 1 MHz to 5 MHz to receive acoustic energy from the volume of tissue responsive to light stimulation and at a narrower band frequency to receive acoustic energy from the volume of tissue responsive to acoustic stimulation. The relay system relays the electrical signals to an optoacoustic system or an ultrasound instrument for further processing depending on whether the electrical signals resulted from ultrasound or light stimulation. In an embodiment, optoacoustic, ultrasound, or other images are generated from the electrical signals and may be coregistered, overlayed, or displayed.