| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 600414000 | Using fiducial marker | 58 |
| 20080200798 | MEDICAL GUIDE FOR GUIDING A MEDICAL INSTRUMENT - A medical guide ( | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080221431 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFORMING THE COORDINATE SYSTEM OF MRI-GUIDED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO THE COORDINATE SYSTEM OF AN MRI SYSTEM - In a method and an apparatus for transforming the coordinate system of MRI-guided medical equipment to the coordinate system of an MRI system MRI imaging is used to determine the rotational and translational values of the coordinate system of MRI-guided medical equipment relative to the coordinate system of an MRI system, so as to achieve the transformation. A number of fiducial markers are arranged in the MRI-guided medical equipment, and a coil winding is arranged on each fiducial marker for generating signals to determine its position in the coordinate system of the MRI system. The coil windings are serially connected and the serially connected windings are connected to the magnetic resonance system via an interface circuit. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080228064 | Marker Tracking for Interventional Magnetic Resonance - A fiducial marker assembly ( | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080287774 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Means and Methods Thereof - The present invention discloses neurochemical agents and biochemical agents for human or mammalian neuro- and body-metabolic imaging, comprising chemicals involved in neuronal or glial function, neuromodulatory processes in the brain of said human or mammalian, vascular function, or organ specific metabolic processes; said neurochemical and biochemical agents are labeled with stable isotopes selected from a group including carbon-13, nitrogen-15, deuterium, fluorine-19 or a combination thereof in predetermined positions, so as to enhance the detectability of the agents and their metabolic successors. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080319307 | Method for medical imaging using fluorescent nanoparticles - A first method for medically imaging a patient includes obtaining a carrier medium containing fluorescent nanoparticles. The carrier medium containing the fluorescent nanoparticles is disposed inside the patient at a site where the carrier medium will migrate to specific tissue of known shape. The nanoparticles are activated to fluoresce. Image data of the patient is obtained including the specific tissue after the specific tissue has picked-up the fluorescing fluorescent nanoparticles. The known shape of the specific tissue is identified in the image data. An image representation of the image data is created using the identified known shape as a fiducial. An image of the image representation of the image data is displayed. In a second method, the carrier medium is injected inside tissue of the patient at a site where the carrier medium will be localized in the injected tissue, and the injecting deposits the medium in a predetermined shape in the tissue. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090177077 | MRI-COMPATIBLE PATCHES AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME - An MRI-compatible patch for identifying a location includes a flexible base layer, a flexible substrate and at least one of MRI-visible fiducial element. The flexible base layer is mountable on and substantially conformable to a patient's body surface. The base layer has opposed upper and lower primary surfaces. The flexible substrate is releasably attached to the upper primary surface of the base layer and substantially conformable to the patient's body surface. The at least one MRI-visible fiducial element is defined by or secured to the flexible substrate. The patch may include a plurality of the MRI-visible fiducial elements arranged in a defined pattern. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090253981 | Skin Marking Tool for Radiological Imaging Material - A marking tool for use in the context of radiological and other medical imaging is disclosed. The product is a marking tool for distributing an imaging material onto a patient's skin to mark that part of the patient's body for imaging. The imaging technician then knows the area of medical interest, such as an internal injury, and can image that area more accurately. The imaging material shows up on a resulting medical image such as an X-Ray, CT Scan, or MRI to direct a radiology professional to the most important area on the image for diagnostic purposes. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20100056900 | APPARATUS FOR INSERTION OF A MEDICAL DEVICE WITHIN A BODY DURING A MEDICAL IMAGING PROCESS AND DEVICES AND METHODS RELATED THERETO - A device, system, and method for entering a medical device such as a needle into the body inside a medical imager such as a MRI scanner, CT, X-ray fluoroscopy, and ultrasound imaging, from within a body cavity (such as the rectum, vagina, or laparoscopically accessed cavity). A three degree-of-freedom mechanical device translates and rotates inside the cavity and enters a needle into the body, and steers the needle to a target point selected by the user. The device is guided by real-time images from the medical imager. Networked computers process the medical images and enable the clinician to control the motion of the mechanical device that is operated within the imager, outside of the imager or remotely from outside the imager. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100056901 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SCANNING - An apparatus and method for magnetic resonance scanning is described. The apparatus comprises an RF coil ( | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100099977 | MECHANICAL AXIS ALIGNMENT USING MRI IMAGING - A method of imaging a body part includes locating a first, second and third anatomical reference area. The third anatomical reference area is disposed generally between the first and second anatomical reference areas. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a first member of a reference tool relative to the first anatomical reference area, positioning a second member of the reference tool relative to the second anatomical reference area, and a pivotal coupling member relative to the third anatomical reference area. The pivotal coupling member pivotally couples the first and second members of the reference tool. In addition, the method includes imaging a target area of the body part to produce an image. The image includes the target area of the body part and the first and second members. The first member indicates a first axis of the body part, and the second member indicates a second axis of the body part. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100113912 | SMALL DIAMETER MRI MARKER AND RELATED METHOD - A marker comprising a hollow body filled with a magnetic resonance imaging medium is used to mark specific surface areas of concern or sources of pain on a patient's skin prior to commencing MRI imaging procedures. The hollow body is sized such that the marker appears on less than five MRI slice images, and preferably not more than two MRI slice images, thereby enabling a physician or technician to precisely locate and assess a patient's condition based on the location of the marker in the MRI images. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20110092803 | NON-INVASIVE DENTAL BASED FIDUCIAL ARRAY - The invention relates generally to apparatus and devices for neuronavigation. A non-invasive dental based fiducial array is disclosed. The fiducial array has a base support member, one or more removable and repositionable marker bases supported by the base support member and a stopper spaced from and supported by the base support member that engages a part of the head of a patient or an animal and cooperates with the base support member to immobilize the fiducial array relative to a location of the head, such as maxillary teeth. An anchoring site is formed on the base support member to accept a custom made dental impression to precisely position the base support member relative to the location of the head. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110230755 | Single camera motion measurement and monitoring for magnetic resonance applications - An optically-based rigid-body 6-DOF motion tracking system optimized for prospective (real-time) motion correction in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) applications using a single camera with an on-board image processor, an IR illuminator and optical fiducial targets affixed to a patient. An angle extraction algorithm operated by the on-board image processor utilizes successive approximation to solve the 3-point pose problem for angles close to the origin to achieve convergence to sub-microradian levels. A motion alarm is enabled by a monitor and GUI application in communication with the motion tracking system. A motion correction is enabled for MR scan images taken while operating the motion tracking system wherein an MRI controller is in communication with the motion tracking system. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20120059244 | SKIN MARKER - A skin marker for providing a reference point for a plurality of different medical imaging procedures, said marker incorporating one or more substances having one or more of radiance and/or hydration and/or radiopaque and/or radio luminescent and/or radioactive properties for detection by X-ray and/or Computer Tomography (CT) and/or MRI and/or Ultrasonic scanning processes and/or Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and one or more markings recognisable by an optical imaging process such as 3D surface scanning. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120065496 | APPARATUS FOR IMAGING A BODY PART - Apparatus for imaging a body part of a subject, for example using MRI, is described. The apparatus includes a housing for at least partially surrounding a body part (e.g. a head) and a first fiducial marker assembly retained at least partially within the housing that includes one or more fiducial markers and a datum feature. The position of the datum feature is fixed relative to the one or more fiducial markers. The first fiducial marker assembly is moveable with respect to the housing and the datum feature is accessible from outside of the housing. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120179027 | FIDUCIARY MARKERS AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF - The invention provides devices and methods used to locate target areas within a patient for repeat therapeutic treatments. In the invention, fiduciary markers made of metal or metal alloys are placed within a patient near or at a target site as reference coordinates for particular body locations on the patient. Repeat treatments may then be given to the patient over a period of time based on the coordinates given by the fiduciary markers. The fiduciary markers are specially shaped or put into strand to improve marker attachment and prevent marker migration. | 07-12-2012 |
| 20120203099 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOCALIZATION OF INTRODUCED OBJECTS IN INTERVENTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE - In a method and a magnetic resonance system to show an object that is introduced into an examination region, the object having a known chemical shift relative to tissue that is predominant in the examination region, magnetic resonance signals are acquired from the examination region of the subject with the introduced object therein, and the different chemical shift of the introduced object and of the predominant tissue is computationally used in a processor to calculate, from the acquired magnetic resonance signals, a localization image in which substantially only the introduced object is shown. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120209106 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE THREE DIMENSIONAL OPERATION GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR SOFT ORGANS BASED ON ANATOMIC MAP - A system for providing visual three dimensional assistance to a user during a medical procedure involving a soft organ. The system and method provide visual assistance to a user during a medical procedure involving a soft organ. The system and method utilize a processor for generating an image of the soft organ, a surgical instrument tracker for tracking a surgical instrument during the medical procedure, and a display in communication with the processor and the surgical instrument tracker for visually displaying in three dimensions, the image of the soft organ and the surgical instrument in relation to the soft organ. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120215094 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR 3D STEREOSCOPIC ANGIOVISION, ANGIONAVIGATION AND ANGIOTHERAPEUTICS - Devices, systems, and methods for catheterization through angionavigation, cardionavigation, or brain navigation to diagnose or treat diseased areas through direct imaging using tracking, such as radiofrequency, infrared, or ultrasound tracking, of the catheter through the patient's vascular anatomy. A steerable catheter with six degrees of freedom having at least a camera and fiber optic bundle, and one or more active or passive electromagnetic tracking sensors located on the catheter is guided through the vascular system under direct imaging. The direct imaging can be assisted with at least one of MRA imaging, CT angiography imaging, or 3DRA imaging as the roadmap acquired prior to or during 3D stereoangiovision. The system comprises RF transceivers to provide positioning information from the sensors, a processor executing navigation software to fuse the tracking information from the tracking sensors with the imaging roadmap, and a display to display the location of the catheter on the roadmap. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120232379 | Method and System for Regression-Based 4D Mitral Valve Segmentation From 2D+t Magnetic Resonance Imaging Slices - A system and method for regression-based segmentation of the mitral valve in 2D+t cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) slices is disclosed. The 2D+t CMR slices are acquired according to a mitral valve-specific acquisition protocol introduced herein. A set of mitral valve landmarks is detected in each 2D CMR slice and mitral valve contours are estimated in each 2D CMR slice based on the detected landmarks. A full mitral valve model is reconstructed from the mitral valve contours estimated in the 2D CMR slices using a trained regression model. Each 2D CMR slice may be a cine image acquired over a full cardiac cycle. In this case, the segmentation method reconstructs a patient-specific 4D dynamic mitral valve model from the 2D+t CMR image data. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120238864 | METHODS FOR USING MRI-COMPATIBLE PATCHES - A method includes providing a patch including: a flexible base layer that is mountable on and substantially conformable to a patient's body surface, the base layer having opposed upper and lower primary surfaces; a flexible substrate that is releasably attached to the upper primary surface of the base layer and substantially conformable to the patient's body surface; and at least one MRI-visible fiducial element defined by or secured to the flexible substrate. The method further includes: securing the base layer to the body surface to mount the patch on the body surface such that the flexible substrate conforms to the body surface; MRI scanning the patient with the patch on the body surface to generate corresponding image data; identifying a physical location on the body surface using the image data; and removing the flexible substrate from the base layer. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120259203 | Sheath Retractable Flexible Injection Needle - Devices that provide an accurate needle injection depth by way of a sheath covered flexible injection needle that prevents accidental piercing, permits easy unsheathing and re-sheathing of the needle, and permits tactile feedback and direct or indirect visualization to confirm proper needle injection depth are illustrated. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120259204 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF AN INSTRUMENT IN RELATION TO MEDICAL IMAGES - The present invention relates to a device and a method for determining the position of an instrument with respect to medical images of a body. The device comprises (1) a calibration support comprising a set of fiducial markers visible on medical images and fixed to the skin of a body, (2) at least one micro-camera providing video images and mounted on the calibration support in a known position, and (3) a processing unit connected to the micro-cameras and configured to process the video images from said micro-cameras to determine the position of the instrument with respect to medical images. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120289818 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING AND SPECTROSCOPY OF LOW CONCENTRATION SOLUTES WITH EXCHANGEABLE PROTONS USING LABEL TRANSFER MODULES: FREQUENCY TRANSFER, INVERSION TRANSFER, AND DEPHASING TRANSFER - An embodiment of the current invention provides a method for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging or spectroscopy, comprising: (a) selectively exciting exchangeable solute protons or protons of exchangeable solute-based water molecules within a frequency range in a subject using at least one frequency-selective radio frequency (RF) pulse, wherein the frequency range encompasses characteristic resonance frequencies of the exchangeable solute protons or protons of exchangeable solute-based water molecules, wherein the frequency range is substantially non-overlapping with a characteristic resonance frequency of bulk water protons in the subject, wherein the at least one frequency selective RF pulse performs a substantially minimal excitation on the bulk water protons, and wherein the at least one frequency-selective RF pulse, sometimes in combination with a time period that separates the at least one frequency-selective RF pulse, magnetically labels the exchangeable solute protons or the exchangeable solute-based water molecules; (b) allowing a portion of the magnetically labeled exchangeable solute protons to exchange with the bulk water protons or allowing the magnetically labeled exchangeable solute-based water molecules to exchange with bulk water molecules; | 11-15-2012 |
| 20130006097 | Bladder and/or Rectum Extender with Exchangeable and/or Slideable Tungsten Shield - A method of using a shielding device with an applicator includes inserting the distal portion of the shielding device to a treatment site of a patient, the shield being made of plastic, imaging the treatment site, planning treatment of the treatment site based on the imaging, setting up the patient for treatment, imaging the treatment site, removing the distal portion of the shielding device from the treatment site, exchanging the shield made of plastic with a shield made of tungsten, inserting the distal portion of the shielding device to the treatment site, the shield being made of tungsten, imaging the treatment site, and performing the treatment. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130116546 | METHOD AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE TO ASSIST A PERSON CONDUCTING A MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURE - In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus to assist a person in the alignment of a medical instrument used by the person to conduct a minimally invasive procedure with the instrument introduced into a patient at an entrance point in a predetermined orientation, within the patient receptacle of a magnetic resonance device, measurement data are acquired with the magnetic resonance device to determine a current orientation of the instrument and/or an instrument guide, and the measurement data are evaluated to determine the current orientation. A deviation of the current orientation from the predetermined orientation is determined, and at least one acoustic signal is emitted depending on the deviation to assist the person in orienting the instrument. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130144157 | MARKER DELIVERY DEVICE WITH RELEASABLE PLUG - A marker delivery device includes an elongated delivery cannula which has a distal end section, an inner lumen and a discharge opening in the distal end section in communication with the inner lumen. At least one elongated fibrous marker body is slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery cannula. The at least one elongated fibrous marker body includes a plurality of bioabsorbable polymeric strands. The strands are compressed to a compressed configuration and bound together in the compressed configuration with a polymer binding agent prior to insertion into the elongated delivery cannula. | 06-06-2013 |
| 20130165767 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATIC LANDMARKING - Embodiments of systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for automatic landmarking are presented. A coil including at least one marker is placed on a desired region on interest (ROI) of a subject. Further, a detector detects a position of the marker while translating the subject from a home position in an imaging system into a bore of a magnet in the imaging system. A positioning unit coupled to at least one of the coil, the marker and the detector is configured to initiate automatic translation of the subject from the home position into the magnet bore. Further, the positioning unit determines a distance between the detected marker position and a homogenous position of the magnet based at least on the detected marker position. The positioning unit then controls movement of the subject over the determined distance to the homogenous magnet position for automatically landmarking the desired ROI. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130184562 | BIOPSY MARKER WITH IN SITU-GENERATED IMAGING PROPERTIES - An intracorporeal marker, for marking a site within living tissue of a host, includes an outer body portion of biodegradable material. An inner body portion is located in the outer body portion. The inner body portion includes biological material that becomes calcified in the living tissue of the host over time. An agent interacts with the biological material to promote calcification of the biological material of the inner body portion in the living tissue of the host. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130218003 | RAPID ENTRY POINT LOCALIZATION FOR PERCUTANEOUS INTERVENTIONS - A method for localizing a skin entry point on a patient for a percutaneous intervention includes planning a needle trajectory for the percutaneous intervention using a 3D planning image dataset and a planning application, performing a superior-inferior localization of an imaging scanner table containing an imaging scanner using the needle trajectory, and performing a lateral localization of the skin entry point using the needle trajectory. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130296690 | METHOD, APPARATUSES, AND SYSTEMS USEFUL IN CONDUCTING IMAGE GUIDED INTERVENTIONS - Methods, apparatuses, and systems relating to image guided interventions on dynamic tissue. One embodiment is a method that includes creating a dataset that includes images, one of the images depicting a non-tissue internal reference marker, being linked to non-tissue internal reference marker positional information, and being at least 2-dimensional. Another embodiment is a method that includes receiving a position of an instrument reference marker coupled to an instrument; transforming the position into image space using a position of a non-tissue internal reference marker implanted in a patient; and superimposing a representation of the instrument on an image in which the non-tissue internal reference marker appears. Computer readable media that include machine readable instructions for carrying out the steps of the disclosed methods. Apparatuses, such as integrated circuits, configured to carry out the steps of the disclosed methods. Systems that include devices configured to carry out steps of the disclosed methods. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20140018664 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE GUIDANCE OF A SHAFT TO A TARGET ZONE - A medical apparatus ( | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140039298 | APPARATUS FOR INSERTION OF A MEDICAL DEVICE WITHIN A BODY DURING A MEDICAL IMAGING PROCESS AND DEVICES AND METHODS RELATED THERETO - A device, system, and method for entering a medical device such as a needle into the body inside a medical imager such as a MRI scanner, CT, X-ray fluoroscopy, and ultrasound imaging, from within a body cavity (such as the rectum, vagina, or laparoscopically accessed cavity). A three degree-of-freedom mechanical device translates and rotates inside the cavity and enters a needle into the body, and steers the needle to a target point selected by the user. The device is guided by real-time images from the medical imager. Networked computers process the medical images and enable the clinician to control the motion of the mechanical device that is operated within the imager, outside of the imager or remotely from outside the imager. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140051980 | Simulated Bone or Tissue Manipulation - A tissue manipulation system includes Programmable Markers configured to be implanted on opposite sides of one or more portions of tissue within a patient's body, Markers communicating with one another to enable a determination of their relative positions and External Device receiving and transmitting signals to Markers containing information as to Marker's positions. Device is configured to: capture an image of the tissue portions with Markers; manipulate the image of the tissue portions in a virtual environment or a simulated environment to a desired restored orientation; determine desired positions Markers will have when the tissue portions are in the desired restored orientation; program implanted Markers with the desired orientations. Device generates an indicator signal upon Markers being manipulated into the desired orientations; and manipulate the tissue portions after Markers have been programmed, until an indicator signal is generated indicating that the desired restored orientation has been substantially achieved. | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140073907 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMAGE GUIDED MEDICAL PROCEDURES - A system and method combines information from a plurality of medical imaging modalities, such as PET, CT, MRI, MRSI, Ultrasound, Echo Cardiograms, Photoacoustic Imaging and Elastography for a medical image guided procedure, such that a pre-procedure image using one of these imaging modalities, is fused with an intra-procedure imaging modality used for real time image guidance for a medical procedure for any soft tissue organ or gland such as prostate, skin, heart, lung, kidney, liver, bladder, ovaries, and thyroid, wherein the soft tissue deformation and changes between the two imaging instances are modeled and accounted for automatically. | 03-13-2014 |
| 20140155735 | Methods, Devices, And Systems Useful In Registration - Methods, devices, and systems for use in accomplishing registration of a patient to a robot to facilitate image guided surgical procedures, such as stereotactic procedures. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140171784 | Method for 3D motion tracking in an MRI scanner using inductively coupled microcoils - Wireless markers having predetermined relative positions with respect to each other are employed for motion tracking and/or correction in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The markers are inductively coupled to the MR receive coil(s). The correspondence between marker signals and markers can be determined by using knowledge of the marker relative positions in various ways. The marker relative positions can be known a priori, or can be obtained from a preliminary scan. This approach is applicable for imaging (both prospective and retrospective motion correction), spectroscopy, and/or intervention. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140213887 | CEST MRI METHODS FOR IMAGING GLUTAMINOLYSIS IN CANCER - CEST imaging technique and MR scanning are used as an MRI method for measuring glutaminase mediated tumors. The method takes advantage of the fact that glutamine does not exhibit a significant Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) effect while glutamate does. In accordance with this method, one first obtains a glutamate CEST MRI map of the area of a tumor. L-glutamine (nontoxic up to several millimolar level) or glutaminase blocker is then injected and a post injection Glutamate CEST map is obtained. The difference in the spatial maps indicates the level of expression of glutaminase in the tumor. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140243655 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING MARKER - An imaging marker including a body portion having a cavity in the shape of a letter is described. The cavity can be filled with a liquid containing a substance that illuminates during an imaging process. The imaging marker can also include a first end cap and a second end cap. The first end cap can be configured to be placed on a first end of the body portion, and the second end cap can be configured to be placed on a second end of the body portion. | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140275971 | Automatic Needle Insertion Location Identification - A system for automatically identifying a needle insertion location from a medical diagnostic image, such as an MRI image, and providing a visual indication of the needle insertion location is disclosed. A grid plate is located proximate to an anatomical region and is preferably incorporated in an MRI support structure utilized to immobilize the anatomical region. An MRI scanner obtains an MRI image of the anatomical region, and an MRI technician places a marker on the MRI image, identifying the needle insertion location. The MRI image and the marker are transferred from the MRI scanner to another device, such as a tablet computer, which is configured to convert the MRI image and the marker to coordinates and an insertion depth. A visual indicator is located proximate to or integrated with the grid plate that provides the needle insertion coordinates and insertion depth to the MRI technician. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140275972 | HIGH TEMPORAL RESOLUTION MONITORING OF CONTACT BETWEEN CATHETER TIP AND TARGET TISSUE DURING A REAL-TIME-MRI-GUIDED ABLATION - A method of monitoring a position of a catheter tip relative to a target tissue. The method includes steps of identifying a wall structure in the target tissue; guiding a catheter towards the wall structure; monitoring a location of the catheter; directing a navigator beam towards the wall structure; aligning the navigator beam with the location of the catheter; monitoring a position of the wall structure using the navigator beam; and determining the position of the wall structure relative to the location of the catheter. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140296700 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Based Quantitative Liver Perfusion Analysis - Example apparatus and methods provide improved spatial and temporal resolution over conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver. Example apparatus and methods reconstruct under-sampled three-dimensional (3D) data associated with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals acquired from a liver. The data is reconstructed using a 3D through-time non-Cartesian generalized auto-calibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA) approach. Example apparatus and methods produce a quantized value for a contrast agent concentration in the liver from a signal intensity in the data based, at least in part, on a compartment model of the liver. The quantized value describes a perfusion parameter for the liver. Greater precision is achieved for estimates of the perfusion parameter as a result of the quantization performed on data acquired with greater spatial resolution and temporal resolution. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140303486 | Surgical Navigation Planning System and Associated Methods - The present disclosure provides a surgical planning and navigation system imports multiple medical imaging sources of the same body part for integrated display in the same coordinate. Images are converted into 3D volumes, spatially co-registering each image volume to a base anatomical image. | 10-09-2014 |
| 20140343401 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONSIDERING TARGET MOTION IN MEDICAL FIELD - A medical method includes: obtaining marker positions at a plurality of time points; determining a first subset of the marker positions that belongs to a first phase bin; using the marker positions in the first subset to determine a first variance information, wherein the first variance information is determined using a processor; and storing the first variance information in a non-transitory medium. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140343402 | Composition Comprising Acetic Anhydride And A Gadolinium Complex, And Method For The Use In Hyperpolarisation In MRI Analysis - The present invention generally relates to a composition comprising acetic anhydride, a DNP agent and a gadolinium complex and its use for the preparation of hyperpolarised imaging agent for MR diagnostic analysis. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140371575 | Persistent Luminescence Nanoparticles Excitable in situ for in vivo Optical Imaging, in vivo Multimodal Optical-MRI Imaging, and Theranostics - Multimodal optical and magnetic resonance imaging methods based on the use of persistent luminescence nanoparticles. Use of mesoporous persistent luminescence <> complexes for theranostic applications. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20150011868 | MRI-Compatible Fiducial Markers and Methods for Using the Same - The present disclosure relates generally to an MRI-compatible fiducial marker assembly and methods of use in planning and conducting brain surgery. This invention relates to the field of anatomic orientation and positioning, particularly in relation to an implement for effectively and efficiently defining an anatomic orientation and position for conducting surgical resection of a patient's brain. | 01-08-2015 |
| 20150031983 | MRI DISPLAY OUTPUT REFLECTING CONTRAST AGENT CONCENTRATION AS A FUNCTION OF TIME - A magnetic resonant imaging (MRI) review workstation includes a control processor, and a display integrated or otherwise operatively coupled with the control processor, wherein the control processor is configured to receive and analyze magnetic resonant imaging information pertaining to an imaged volume of tissue, and to cause to be displayed on the display output information that reflects or is otherwise indicative of an absorption rate of a contrast agent in the volume of tissue. | 01-29-2015 |
| 20150045655 | MR Marker for Magnetic Resonance Imaging - An MR marker for magnetic resonance imaging includes: (1) a closed volume containing a marker medium, (2) a first marker coil surrounding the volume for detecting an MR signal from the marker medium, (3) an RF shield which surrounds at least the volume and the first marker coil and screens against external RF fields, (4) a second marker coil, arranged outside the RF shield, for inductive and/or capacitive coupling to a magnetic field, and/or for emitting the MR signal detected by the first marker coil, (5) a first electrical interface for controllable electrical connection of the first marker coil to the magnetic resonance imaging scanner, (6) a second electrical interface for controllable coupling of the second marker coil and first marker coil, and (7) an electrical controller with which the first interface and/or the second interface may be controlled. | 02-12-2015 |
| 20150051478 | SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF A KNEE PROSTHESIS - The present application provides an apparatus and method for determining a position of a joint prosthesis using a computer assisted orthopedic surgery system in support of an arthroplasty surgery. The apparatus and method includes attaching a first locatable element to a first bone on one side of a joint, providing a sensor having a second locatable element and moving the sensor in proximity of the joint to locate a plurality of positions of the sensor relative to the first locatable element using a tracking device. The apparatus and method further includes selecting a generic model of a joint, determining the generic model in response to the plurality of positions located using the tracking device to generate a deformed model, determining a position for a joint prosthesis on the deformed model, and outputting on a display the determined position upon the deformed model. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150087965 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC DETECTION AND REGISTRATION OF MEDICAL IMAGES - A system and method for automatic registration of medical images includes accessing image data of a subject and plurality of elongated fiducial markers arranged in an asymmetrical orientation and analyzing the image data to detect the elongated fiducial markers by applying a line filter to treat the elongated fiducial markers as lines within the image data. The system and method also includes matching the elongated fiducial markers within the image data to a model of the elongated fiducial markers, registering the image data with a coordinate system based on the matching, and generating a report indicating at least the registered image data. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150297314 | TWO-PART TRACKING REFERENCE STRUCTURE - The present invention relates to a tracking reference structure for localizing and tracking an object by means of a medical tracking system, said structure comprising:—a first part ( | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150297316 | TISSUE MARKERS AND USES THEREOF - The inventions provided herein relate to tissue markers and uses thereof, e.g., to mark a target tissue site (e.g., a biopsy site in a breast tissue) or to produce a cell scaffold. The tissue markers described herein are designed to be resistant to fast migration (e.g., immediate migration after implantation through a needle track) and slow migration (e.g., over an extended period of time) upon implantation at a target tissue site (e.g., a biopsy site in a breast tissue), without using an adhesive. Additionally or alternatively, the tissue markers described herein can be readily detectable by at least one imaging modality, e.g., but not limited to magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray imaging, ultrasound imaging, or a combination thereof. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150313473 | REUSABLE MR SAFE TEMPERATURE PROBE FOR SURFACE AND BODY TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT - A magnetic resonance probe ( | 11-05-2015 |
| 20160081593 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMAGE GUIDED ACCURACY VERIFICATION - A method includes receiving during a first time interval image data associated with an image of a dynamic body. The image data includes an indication of the positions of a first marker and a second marker on a garment coupled to the dynamic body. The first marker and second marker are each coupled to the garment at a first and second locations, respectively. A distance is determined between the position of the first marker and the second marker. During a second time interval after the first time interval, data associated with a position of a first and second localization element that are each coupled to the garment is received. A distance between the first and second localization elements is determined. A difference is calculated between the distance between the first marker and the second marker and the distance between the first localization element and the second localization element. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160100760 | MEDICAL IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - There are provided a medical imaging apparatus and a method for controlling a medical imaging apparatus. The medical imaging apparatus includes an image registering unit configured to register a pre-imaged medical image with respect to an object based on a first reference point included in the pre-imaged medical image and a second reference point of the object; a location detecting unit configured to detect a user's movement based on the second reference point; and a user interface configured to display a pre-imaged medical image corresponding to the detected movement of the user. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160113600 | METHOD, APPARATUSES, AND SYSTEMS USEFUL IN CONDUCTING IMAGE GUIDED INTERVENTIONS - Methods, apparatuses, and systems relating to image guided interventions on dynamic tissue. One embodiment is a method that includes creating a dataset that includes images, one of the images depicting a non-tissue internal reference marker, being linked to non-tissue internal reference marker positional information, and being at least 2-dimensional. Another embodiment is a method that includes receiving a position of an instrument reference marker coupled to an instrument; transforming the position into image space using a position of a non-tissue internal reference marker implanted in a patient; and superimposing a representation of the instrument on an image in which the non-tissue internal reference marker appears. Computer readable media that include machine readable instructions for carrying out the steps of the disclosed methods. Apparatuses, such as integrated circuits, configured to carry out the steps of the disclosed methods. Systems that include devices configured to carry out steps of the disclosed methods. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160151124 | IMPLANTABLE MARKERS | 06-02-2016 |
