A vibration detection apparatus is disclosed. The vibration detection apparatus comprises a body configured to have internal space, and a vibration sensor formed on the body and configured to sense vibration from a measuring object. Here, a space exists between the vibration sensor and a surface opposed to the vibration sensor of the body.

Systems and methods for ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) are described. According to examples, an ultrasound SWE system includes an ultrasound probe (120), an actuation assembly (130) coupled to the probe and configured to apply an external force against a subject for generating a shear wave within a target region, a controller (140) coupled to the actuation assembly to control the actuation assembly to apply the force responsive to a trigger signal, and ultrasound scanner (110) configured to generate the trigger signal, and further configured to generate an elastography image based at least in part on echo signals received from the target region.

A method for imaging an object by ultrasound elastography through continuous vibration of the ultrasound transducer is taught. An actuator directly in contact with the ultrasound transducer continuously vibrates the transducer in an axial direction, inducing shear waves in the tissue and allowing for real-time shear wave imaging. Axial motion of the transducer contaminates the shear wave images of the tissue, and must be suppressed. Therefore, several methods for correcting for shear wave artifact caused by the motion of the transducer are additionally taught.

Systems and methods are described for inducing tissue vibration for magnetic resonance elastography is described. The system includes a hydraulic drive component that is mechanically linked to a pneumatic drive component. The pneumatic drive component is pneumatically linked to a passive pneumatic actuator component that is positionable on a patient proximate to a target tissue. Alternating linear movement of an actuator piston within the passive actuator component induces vibration of the target tissue. The frequency of the alternating linear movement of the actuator piston within the passive pneumatic actuator component is controlled by adjusting how fluid is pumped in the hydraulic drive component.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to techniques for inducing physiological perturbations in a subject via neuromodulation, e.g., peripheral neuromodulation of a region of interest of an organ. The nature and degree of the perturbations may be related to the subject's clinical condition. Accordingly, an assessment of one or more characteristics of the perturbations may be used to determine a clinical condition of the subject.

A biological measurement apparatus of this invention includes (i) a micro piezoelectric element for vibrating a nerve cell of a subject without coming in contact with the nerve cell, (ii) an electromagnetic wave antenna for receiving an electromagnetic wave generated by the nerve cell vibrated by the micro piezoelectric element, and (iii) a computer for measuring an electric charge of the nerve cell based on the electromagnetic wave received by the electromagnetic wave antenna. Further, this biological measurement apparatus includes an electromagnetic wave antenna for emitting an electromagnetic wave to a nerve cell. This configuration provides an apparatus capable of measuring an electrical activity of a nerve cell in a living organism in real time and three-dimensionally at a spatial resolution of a nerve cell size. Moreover, this configuration provides an apparatus capable of individually giving electrical stimulations to any desired cells in the subject.

A vibrotactile stimulation device intended to be applied against a body environment (MC) to be stimulated and comprising a vibrating effector suitable for applying, to said environment, pulses of mechanical vibrational energy, and a controller controlling the effector according to stimulation rules. The device is remarkable in that it further comprises vibration detector suitable for being exposed to the body environment in order to receive a part of the vibrational energy transmitted to said means by said environment during the application of the pulses of vibrational energy, and determine a transmission characteristic of the vibrational energy between the effector and the environment to be stimulated, said vibration detector being linked to the controller. An application to improving the efficacy of body stimulation in combating sleep apnoea is also disclosed.

Techniques for co-imaging tissue stiffness and blood flow using a single MRI scan are disclosed. The methods use a combined gradient waveform that provides adequate sensitivity for concurrent encodings of flow and tissue stiffness. During a scan, the application of the combined gradient waveform, in the presence of an applied oscillatory motion, simultaneously encodes both flow and stiffness information into the phase of the resulting MRI image. To separate the flow information from the tissue displacement caused by the oscillatory motion, a Fourier transform applied along the direction of applied oscillatory motion. After the transformation, baseband information (flow velocity) may be separated from modulated information (tissue displacement). The separated data may be used to create a velocity map and a displacement map, which can then be converted to a stiffness map.

Insertable imaging devices and use methods thereof in minimally invasive medical procedures. Some insertable imaging devices are introduced and removed from an access port without disturbing or risking damage to internal tissue. Some insertable imaging devices are integrated with an access port, thereby allowing imaging of internal tissues within a vicinity of the access port, while enabling manipulation of surgical tools in the surgical field of interest. Some insertable imaging devices are integrated into an imaging sleeve that is insertable into an access port. Some insertable imaging devices perform imaging within an access port, wherein the imaging is based on one or more imaging modalities, including, but are not limited to, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, optical imaging, such as hyperspectral imaging and optical coherence tomography, and electrical conductive measurements.

A method for measuring vibration transmittance of a sternum noninvasively includes producing vibration, transmitting the vibration to a first side the sternum through skin and soft tissues, obtaining response data of the sternum from a second side of the sternum through skin and soft tissues, which first and second sides of the sternum are on different sides of the midline of the sternum, and processing said response data for determining transmittance of vibration of the sternum. The response data may be used for defining state of a patient such as sternal instability of the breastbone or abnormal healing in the sternum after open chest surgery by surgeons.