38 results about "Echogenicity" patented technology

Radioactive sources, preferably radioactive seeds, for use in brachytherapy comprising a radioisotope within a sealed biocompatible container, wherein at least one part of the outer surface of the container is grooved, preferably with a curved groove. The grooved outer surface is preferably substantially free from angularities. Such grooves enhance the echogenicity of the source using medical ultrasound at a greater range of angles to the ultrasound probe, thus enhancing the ultrasound visibility of the source. Preferred radioisotopes are palladium-103 and iodine-125.

A notched tissue-collection needle configured similarly to a fine-needle-aspiration needle is provided with a cutting edge disposed in the notch and configured to excise tissue into the notch for collection. A stylet may be provided through a lumen of the needle during introduction into a patient body. The needle may be provided with echogenicity-enhancing features.

A method for determining the volume of an irregularly shaped body part or body such as a fetus using a 3D ultrasonic image composed of light and dark pixels. A caliper is placed on a portion whose volume is to be determined and a computer having the image, automatically counts every pixel with the same echogenicity in every direction as long as it is continuous with the spot the caliper is in, and wherein the computer means stops counting in any direction where the pixels become significantly more echogenic (dark). The volume of the portion, is determined, based on the counted number of pixels and the magnification of the image; and the calculated volume is used to determine physiological characteristics based on known values such as fetal gestation age.

Embodiments include a fiducial deployment system. A fiducial may include dimples to enhance echogenicity and / or to provide for engagement with a delivery cannula or stylet. The needle system may be configured to deliver a plurality of fiducials to a target location in serial fashion, one at a time, when the fiducials are coaxially disposed around a central deployment member that may be embodied as a delivery cannula or stylet. In certain embodiments, echogenic placement of fiducials may present certain advantages. An elongate structure may be included that is configured to distally advance fiducials along the deployment member.

Tissue ablation probes and methods of using tissue ablation probes are provided. Each tissue ablation probe comprises an electrically conductive probe shaft, at least one tissue ablation electrode carried by a distal end of the probe shaft, and one or both of an insulative element and an echogenic element. The insulative element and / or the echogenic element may, e.g., be affixed to, or selectively removable from, the probe shaft to increase the insulative capability and echogenicity of the probe. An echogenic sheath having the insulative element and / or the echogenic element may be slidably disposed over the probe shaft to impart insulative and echogenic properties to the probe shaft.

Tissue ablation probes are provided. Each tissue ablation probe comprises an electrically conductive probe shaft, at least one tissue ablation electrode carried by a distal end of the probe shaft, and an electrically insulative outer sheath disposed on the probe shaft. The sheath is at least partially composed of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and another material comprising condensed-phase particles interspersed throughout the PEEK to increase the echogenicity of the outer sheath. The durability of the PEEK allows the sheath to be formed as thinly as possible, thereby minimizing the diameter of the ablation probe, while the inclusion of condensed-phase particles within the PEEK does not significantly degrade the durability of the sheath.

Described are methods and apparatus for ultrasound guidance of a tool for a clinical procedure performed upon a subject, wherein the improvement includes a catheter having an echogenic structure disposed in a distal portion of the catheter, which increases the echogenicity of the catheter.

Systems and methods for imaging an object that are capable of capturing an image or images of the object using an imaging modality, automatically detecting and analyzing the image or images by way of converting the image or images to at least one binary image, and analyzing the at least one binary image to extract and / or segment regions-of-interest (ROIs) from the at least one binary image. The object can be or include an implantation, occlusion, medical device, body lumen, tissue, organ, duct, and / or vessel. The imaging modality can be or include X-ray, CT, MRI, PET, and / or ultrasound, or any combination thereof. Also included are compositions of soft, implantable materials with one or more carbon-based material, nanomaterial, and / or allotrope present in an amount sufficient as an ultrasound contrast agent effective for days, months, or years and which compositions are useful in the automated imaging methods of the invention.

An apparatus having an echogenic coating of a polymer with hollow spaces present in the polymer. In order to achieve an echogenicity that supplies largely isotropic ultrasonic echo images, the hollow spaces should be microhollow spheres embedded in the polymer.

A notched tissue-collection needle configured similarly to a fine-needle-aspiration needle is provided with a cutting edge disposed in the notch and configured to excise tissue into the notch for collection. A stylet may be provided through a lumen of the needle during introduction into a patient body. The needle may be provided with echogenicity-enhancing features. A coated-wire sheath through which the needle is slidably disposed includes an overcoating that is thicker along a distal length and thinner along a proximal length.

A stabilized nanobubble can include a membrane that defines at least one internal void, which includes at least one gas. The membrane can include at least one lipid and at least one nonionic triblock copolymer that is effective to control the size of the nanobubble without compromising in vitro and in vivo echogenicity of the nanobubble.

Methods and apparatuses for utilizing an integrated, automated aerating device for echogenicity are described. The aeration device can have a pressurized vessel to provide echogenic air bubbles independently of fluid delivered for sonohsyterosalpingography. The aeration device can selectively supply a gas in liquid during ultrasound and radiographic procedures for enhanced visualization of the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes.

Ultrasound-based acoustic streaming for deciding whether material is fluid is dependent upon any one or more of a variety of criteria. Examples are displacement, speed (230), temporal or spatial flow variance, progressive decorrelation, slope or straightness of accumulated signal to background comparisons over time, and relative displacement to adjacent soft tissue. Echogenicity-based area identification is combinable with the above movement characteristic detection in the deciding. Fluid pool identification is performable from the area-limited acoustic streaming testing and ultrasound attenuation readings. Candidates from among the areas (210) are screenable based on specific shapes or bodily organs detected. Natural flow can be excluded from streaming detection by identification of blood vessels (206). Processing for each FAST ultrasound view (202), or for the entire procedure, is performable automatically, without need for user intervention or with user intervention to identify suspected areas.

A rotary tissue-collection needle configured is provided with a closed distal tip and a distal aperture including a generally longitudinal cutting edge configured to excise tissue into the aperture for collection by rotation of the needle. The needle may be provided as part of a system including an outer sheath within which the needle may be rotated. The needle may be provided with echogenicity-enhancing features.

Tissue ablation probes are provided. Each tissue ablation probe comprises an electrically conductive probe shaft, at least one tissue ablation electrode carried by a distal end of the probe shaft, and an electrically insulative outer sheath disposed on the probe shaft. The sheath is at least partially composed of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and another material comprising condensed-phase particles interspersed throughout the PEEK to increase the echogenicity of the outer sheath. The durability of the PEEK allows the sheath to be formed as thinly as possible, thereby minimizing the diameter of the ablation probe, while the inclusion of condensed-phase particles within the PEEK does not significantly degrade the durability of the sheath.

A notched tissue-collection needle configured similarly to a fine-needle-aspiration needle is provided with a cutting edge disposed in the notch and configured to excise tissue into the notch for collection. A stylet may be provided through a lumen of the needle during introduction into a patient body. The needle may be provided with echogenicity-enhancing features.

The invention provides medical devices comprising improved non-uniform coatings for ultrasound detection, which provide optimal ultrasound images. Methods for preparing such devices are also provided.

A notched tissue-collection needle configured similarly to a fine- needle-aspiration needle is provided with a cutting edge disposed in the notch and configured to excise tissue into the notch for collection. A stylet may be provided through a lumen of the needle during introduction into a patient body. The needle may be provided with echogenicity-enhancing features.

An echogenicity quantification method and a calibration method for ultrasonic device using echogenicity index are disclosed. The method includes: receiving an ultrasound image which comprises a plurality of grayscale pixels; choosing a region of interest (ROI); calculating the values of the grayscale pixels in ROI to obtain average value and standard deviation; excluding pixels in ROI with the grayscale value smaller than the sum of the minimum value in the grayscale image and the product of a first scaling factor and the standard deviation, and larger than the sum of the average value and the product of a second scaling factor and the standard deviation; averaging the values of the remaining grayscale pixels in ROI to obtain an average value of interest; choosing a reference region; averaging the values of the remaining grayscale pixels in the reference region to obtain an average value of reference; and calculating the difference between the average value of interest and the average value of reference to obtain an echogenicity index.

Tissue ablation probes and methods of using tissue ablation probes are provided. Each tissue ablation probe comprises an electrically conductive probe shaft, at least one tissue ablation electrode carried by a distal end of the probe shaft, and one or both of an insulative element and an echogenic element. The insulative element and / or the echogenic element may, e.g., be affixed to, or selectively removable from, the probe shaft to increase the insulative capability and echogenicity of the probe. An echogenic sheath having the insulative element and / or the echogenic element may be slidably disposed over the probe shaft to impart insulative and echogenic properties to the probe shaft.

Embodiments include a fiducial deployment system. A fiducial may include dimples to enhance echogenicity and / or to provide for engagement with a delivery cannula or stylet. The needle system may be configured to deliver a plurality of fiducials to a target location in serial fashion, one at a time, when the fiducials are coaxially disposed around a central deployment member that may be embodied as a delivery cannula or stylet. In certain embodiments, echogenic placement of fiducials may present certain advantages. An elongate structure may be included that is configured to distally advance fiducials along the deployment member.

It has been discovered that microparticles formed from natural or synthetic polymer with thicker walls have significantly enhanced echogenicity as compared with microparticles having thinner walls. The effect of wall thickness has been determined experimentally as well as inserted into a formula for use in predicting the optimum conditions. In the preferred embodiment, the polymers are synthetic biodegradable polymers and the wall thickness is between about 100 and 660 nm, although wall thicknesses from about 20 nm to in excess to 500 nm can be used. The microparticles are manufactured with a diameter suitable for the targeted tissue to be imaged, for example, with a diameter for between 0.5 and 8 microns for intravascular administration, and a diameter of between 0.5 and 5 mm for oral administration for imaging of the gastrointestinal tract or other lumens. Preferred polymers are polyhydroxy acids such as polylactic acid-co-glycolic acid, polylactide or polyglycolide, most preferably conjugated to polyethylene glycol or other materials inhibiting uptake by the reticuloendothelial system (RES). The microspheres may be used in a variety of ultrasound imaging applications including cardiology applications, blood perfusion applications as well as for organ and peripheral vein imaging.

The disclosure provides medical devices comprising improved coatings for ultrasound detection, which provide optimal ultrasound images. Methods for preparing such devices are also provided.

A notched tissue-collection needle configured similarly to a fine-needle-aspiration needle is provided with a cutting edge disposed in the notch and configured to excise tissue into the notch for collection. A stylet may be provided through a lumen of the needle during introduction into a patient body. The needle may be provided with echogenicity-enhancing features. A coated-wire sheath through which the needle is slidably disposed includes an overcoating that is thicker along a distal length and thinner along a proximal length.

An echogenicity quantification method and a calibration method for ultrasonic device using echogenicity index are disclosed. The method includes: receiving an ultrasound image which comprises a plurality of grayscale pixels; choosing a region of interest (ROI); calculating the values of the grayscale pixels in ROI to obtain average value and standard deviation; excluding pixels in ROI with the grayscale value smaller than the sum of the minimum value in the grayscale image and the product of a first scaling factor and the standard deviation, and larger than the sum of the average value and the product of a second scaling factor and the standard deviation; averaging the values of the remaining grayscale pixels in ROI to obtain an average value of interest; choosing a reference region; averaging the values of the remaining grayscale pixels in the reference region to obtain an average value of reference; and calculating the difference between the average value of interest and the average value of reference to obtain an echogenicity index.

A notched tissue-collection needle configured similarly to a fine- needle-aspiration needle is provided with a cutting edge disposed in the notch and configured to excise tissue into the notch for collection. A stylet may be provided through a lumen of the needle during introduction into a patient body. The needle may be provided with echogenicity-enhancing features.