A hyperspectral imaging apparatus and methods for performing hyperspectral imaging of a surgical field, involving: an external optical imaging device for externally imaging internal tissue through a surgical access port, the access port having a port wall having a light-diffusing surface texture, whereby reflectance of the port wall is decreasable, and the external optical imaging device having an illuminated exoscope, the illuminated exoscope having: a longitudinal housing; an optical imaging assembly provided within the longitudinal housing; an imaging camera interfaced with the optical imaging assembly for detecting images collected by the optical imaging assembly; and one or more illumination sources supported by the longitudinal housing, wherein an illumination axis associated with each illumination source is offset from an imaging axis of the optical imaging assembly; a remote light source; a spectral filtering device in optical communication with the remote light source; and a light guide having a proximal end in optical communication with an output of the spectral filtering device and one or more distal ends, wherein each distal end is in optical communication with an illumination source.

A new non-invasive tool for cartilage assessment, exercise and sports management, and prevention of osteoarthritis is provided. In various embodiments, cartilage condition is assessed using audible signals from joints. Assessment test results are used to provide feedback regarding joint stress and friction that is related to physiological or pathological loads. Data obtained from audible signals are processed to provide an index that can be interpreted by a user or third parties. The index is useful as a baseline for exercise practices, training routines, wellness programs, or rehabilitation protocols.

Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to ultrashort-echo-time (UTE) imaging. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring UTE imaging data associated with an area of interest of a subject. The acquiring comprises applying an imaging pulse sequence with a three-dimensional (3D) spiral acquisition and a nonselective excitation pulse. The method also includes reconstructing at least one image of the area of interest from the acquired UTE imaging data.

Disclosed are piston actuator devices and their uses for magnetic resonance elastography (MRE).

Knee pain caused by osteoarthritis is relieved by modifying the shape change of bone(s) underlying articular cartilage, by a method comprising evaluating the bone shape of the patient's joint, injecting the patient with a peptide of SEQ ID No. 1 or applying other therapeutic interventions that can reduce the shape change of the bone(s) underlying articular cartilage, and thereafter evaluating the bone shape of the patient's joint.

An MR Spectroscopy (MRS) system and approach is provided for diagnosing painful and non-painful discs in chronic, severe low back pain patients (DDD-MRS). A DDD-MRS pulse sequence generates and acquires DDD-MRS spectra within intervertebral disc nuclei for later signal processing and diagnostic analysis. An interfacing DDD-MRS signal processor receives output signals of the DDD-MRS spectra acquired and is configured to optimize signal-to-noise ratio by an automated system that selectively conducts optimal channel selection, phase and frequency correction, and frame editing as appropriate for a given acquisition series. A diagnostic processor calculates a diagnostic value for the disc based upon a weighted factor set of criteria that uses MRS data extracted from the acquired and processed MRS spectra for multiple chemicals that have been correlated to painful vs. non-painful discs. A display provides an indication of results for analyzed discs as an overlay onto a MRI image of the lumbar spine.

A method of treating connective tissue by applying a DC current to the tissue in the absence of intentionally heating the tissue.

An area extraction unit extracts a cartilage area from a morphological image. An alignment unit performs alignment between a morphological image and a functional image. A mapping unit generates a mapping image obtained by mapping the functional image to the morphological image. A display control unit displays the mapping image on a display.

A hyperspectral imaging apparatus and methods for performing hyperspectral imaging of a surgical field, involving: an external optical imaging device for externally imaging internal tissue through a surgical access port, the access port having a port wall having a light-diffusing surface texture, whereby reflectance of the port wall is decreasable, and the external optical imaging device having an illuminated exoscope, the illuminated exoscope having: a longitudinal housing; an optical imaging assembly provided within the longitudinal housing; an imaging camera interfaced with the optical imaging assembly for detecting images collected by the optical imaging assembly; and one or more illumination sources supported by the longitudinal housing, wherein an illumination axis associated with each illumination source is offset from an imaging axis of the optical imaging assembly; a remote light source; a spectral filtering device in optical communication with the remote light source; and a light guide having a proximal end in optical communication with an output of the spectral filtering device and one or more distal ends, wherein each distal end is in optical communication with an illumination source.

Systems, methods, and devices for intraoperatively confirming location of tissue structures during medical procedures. Preoperative image data of a patient's skeletal structure in a vicinity of an anatomical part undergoing a medical procedure is acquired. During the procedure, after exposing tissue intraoperative image data is acquired by scanning a selected region of tissue, in a vicinity of the skeletal structure using Polarization Sensitive-Optical Coherence Tomography (PS-OCT). Regions of tissue exhibiting structural organization in the vicinity of the skeletal structure are identified from the intraoperative (PS-OCT) image data. Geometrically correlating and registering the intraoperative (PS-OCT) image data with the preoperative image data of the skeletal structure in the vicinity of the anatomical part is then performed using a priori known anatomical information about the regions of tissue exhibiting structural information.