Techniques are provided for the production of high-contrast, x-ray and/or gamma-ray radiographic images. The images have minimal contributions from object-dependent background radiation. The invention utilizes the low divergence, quasi-monoenergetic, x-ray or gamma-ray output from a laser-Compton source in combination with x-ray optical technologies to produce a converging x-ray or gamma-ray beam with which to produce a high-contrast, shadowgraph of a specific object. The object to be imaged is placed within the path of the converging beam between the x-ray optical assembly and the focus of the x-ray beam produced by that assembly. The beam is then passed through an optically thick pinhole located at the focus of the beam. Downstream of the pinhole, the inverted shadowgraph of the object is then recorded by an appropriate 2D detector array.

The present invention is disclosing several methods related to intra-body navigation of radiopaque instrument through natural body cavities. One of the methods is disclosing the pose estimation of the imaging device using multiple images of radiopaque instrument acquired in the different poses of imaging device and previously acquired imaging. The other method allows to resolve the radiopaque instrument localization ambiguity using several approaches, such as radiopaque markers and instrument trajectory tracking.

A system (IPS) for supporting image-based navigation, comprising: an input interface (IN) for reviving one or more input images acquired by an X-ray imager (IA) whilst two or more medical devices (GW1, GW2) are present in a field of view (FoV) of the X-ray imaging apparatus. An image identifier (ID) identifies the two or more medical devices based on image information in the one or more images. A tagger (TGG) associates a respective, unique, tag with each of at least two of the two or more medical devices (GW1, GW2) so identified. A graphics display generator (GDG) effects displaying on a display device (DD) the one or more input images in a video feed, with the tags included.

A radiotherapy treatment system and method used for conducting radiographic X-ray imaging on a target organ during radiographic treatment. The system comprises (a) an x-ray beam source configurable to deliver an X-ray beam to a target organ, (b) optical means for converging and shaping said beam to a cone-shaped X-ray beam of photons which hit the target organ simultaneously, (c) multiple high-Z nanoparticles attachable to the target organ, said high-Z nanoparticles absorbing said X-ray radiation and emitting X-ray fluorescence (XRF) photons, (d) at least one XRF detector for detecting said XRF photons ejecting out of a patient's body, and (e) control means for controlling the radiotherapy treatment procedure.

The x-ray beam is focusable on a section in the target organ where the concentration of said high-Z nanoparticles leading to a desirable emission of said XRF photons, and in case the emission of said XRF photons decreases, the x-ray beam is movable to refocus on the section in the target organ where the emission of said XRF photons is desirable.

Systems and methods for determining modified fractional flow reserve values of vascular lesions are provided. Patient physiologic data, including coronary vascular information, is measured. According to the physiologic data, a coronary vascular model is generated. Lesions of interest within the coronary vascular system of the patient are identified for modified fractional flow reserve value determination. The coronary vascular model is modified to generate modified blood flow information for determining the modified fractional flow reserve value.

Disclosed herein is an endoscope comprising: an insertion tube; a radiation detector configured to detect radiation particles in a first range of energy and radiation particles in a second range of energy.

Described herein are devices, methods and kits for assessing and/or enhancing the accessibility of a subvalvular space of a heart, accessing the subvalvular space of the heart (e.g., to provide access for one or more other devices), and/or positioning one or more devices in the subvalvular space of the heart. The devices described herein may, for example, comprise catheters that may be used to manipulate one or more chordae tendineae, diagnostic catheters having different sizes and/or shapes (e.g., different curvatures), guide catheters having different sizes and/or shapes (e.g., different curvatures), and visualization catheters. In some variations, the devices, methods, and/or kits may be used to visualize a target site, such as a subannular groove of a heart valve. In certain variations, the devices, methods, and/or kits may be used to manipulate chordae tendineae to provide additional space in a ventricle of a heart (e.g., enhancing the accessibility of the ventricle).

A method for fluoroscopy energizes a radiation source to form a scout image on a detector and processes the scout image to determine and report a radiation field position with respect to a predetermined zone of the detector. The radiation source is energized for fluoroscopic imaging of a subject when the reported radiation field position is fully within the predetermined zone.

A system for robotic surgery makes use of an end-effector which has been configured so that any selected one of a group of surgical tools may be selectively connected to such end-effector. The end-effector makes use of a tool-insert locking mechanism which secures a selected one of the surgical tools at not only a respective, predetermined height and angle of orientation, but also at a rotational position relative to an anatomical feature of the patient. The tool-insert locking mechanism may include interchangeable inserts to interconnect multiple tools to the same end-effector. In this way, different robotic operations may be accomplished with less reconfiguration of the end-effector. The end-effector may also include a tool stop which has a sensor associated with a moveable stop mechanism which may be positioned to selectively inhibit tool insertion or end-effector movement.

Disclosed herein is a method, comprising: introducing a tracer into a body region of an organism at an introduction site of the organism; causing emission of characteristic X-rays of the tracer in the body region; capturing images of the tracer in the body region with the characteristic X-rays; determining a first three-dimensional (3D) distribution of the tracer in the body region based on the images; and examining the first 3D distribution of the tracer in the body region to identify a sentinel lymph node for the introduction site. If the sentinel lymph node is not identified in the first 3D distribution, the method further comprises repeating said causing, said capturing, and said determining thereby resulting in a second 3D distribution of the tracer in the body region; and examining the second 3D distribution to identify the sentinel lymph node.