The invention refers to an ultrasound marker that comprises an enclosure. The marker comprises an energy transducer for transducing impeding sound energy into electric energy. The marker also comprises an ultrasound emitter that is configured to generate an ultrasound signal when fed with electric energy. The marker further comprises a trigger that is operatively connected to the ultrasound emitter and that can be activated via a wireless signal. The trigger is configured to control the generation of ultrasound by the ultrasound emitter in dependence of the wireless signal.

A radial endobronchial ultrasound system providing localization of visualized lung lesions or nodules in the airways of a patient is provided herein. The system has three, main components: a guide sheath with a distal end, a flexible bronchoscope with a tip, and a radial endobronchial ultrasound probe. The guide sheath directs insertion of the bronchoscope into the patient, with the tip of the bronchoscope extending beyond the distal end of the guide sheath. The bronchoscope has an echogenic discrete marker formed inside and proximate its tip and a working channel configured to include and direct the probe. The probe is configured for insertion into the airways of the patient where the probe rotates to capture a 360-degree circumferential image perpendicular to the probe itself. The echogenic discrete marker on the bronchoscope provides a reference point for localization of the lung lesions or nodules visualized by the image.

A method of making an intracorporeal marker, including the method steps of providing a core having a first material with porous hydroxyapatite; and completely covering the core an outer region having a second material with less porous hydroxyapatite, wherein ultrasonic or radiative imaging reveals a difference between the marker and tissue.

A system and method is provided for providing an indication of viewable and non-viewable parts of an interventional device in an ultrasound image. The system includes a processing unit including a detection and recognition system configured to detect a pattern of echogenic features within ultrasound images, and a memory unit operably connected to the processing unit storing information regarding echogenic patterns on individual interventional devices. The detection and recognition system determines viewable and non-viewable parts of detected echogenic patterns in the ultrasound image by comparing the dimensions of the stored echogenic patterns with the representation of the detected echogenic patterns in the ultrasound images and positions an indicator within the ultrasound image on the display in alignment with the locations of the viewable and non-viewable parts of the detected echogenic patterns on the interventional device.

An endorectal cooling device (ECD) includes an elongated body, a cooling fluid circuit, and a gas bubble removal device. The elongated body includes an insertable portion for insertion into a patient's rectum and an external portion that remains external to the rectum. The cooling fluid circuit is defined in the elongated body from the external portion to the insertable portion and circulates cooling fluid to regulate a temperature of a cooling surface on the insertable portion. The gas bubble removal device can include a coil, a tube, a mesh, and/or a hole that is disposed on or defined in the insertable portion of the elongated body, such as the cooling surface. A low-pressure source, such as a vacuum pump or a Venturi structure, can be fluidly coupled to the gas bubble removal device to remove fluid and bubbles by a suction force after the ECD is inserted into the rectum.

Markers for use in bodily tissue take a variety of forms, and may include a plurality of ultrasound reflective elements, for example hollow shells filled with air, and a hydrogel that binds the ultrasound reflective elements. The hydrogel may be natural or artificial and may be cross-linked. An ultrasound system advantageously injects variance in a drive signal, that varies a frequency or phase of an ultrasound interrogation signal from a nominal frequency or nominal phase. The amount of variation is preferable one to six orders of magnitude less than the nominal frequency or phase. The ultrasound system can present or detect a twinkling artifact at least in a Doppler mode of operation, resulting from interaction of the varying interrogation signal with the ultrasound reflective elements.

A detection system and method uses an implantable magnetic marker comprising at least one piece of a large Barkhausen jump material (LBJ). The marker is deployed to mark a tissue site in the body for subsequent surgery, and the magnetic detection system includes a handheld probe to excite the marker below the switching field for bistable switching of the marker causing a harmonic response to be generated in a sub-bistable mode that allows the marker to be detected and localised. The marker implanted may also be shorter than the critical length required to initiate bistable switching of the LBJ material.

An imaging system, such as a DBT system, capable of providing an operator of the system with information concerning the location, magnitude and direction of motion detected by the system during performance of the scan to enhance image processing. The imaging system provides the motion information to the operator directly in conjunction with the images processed by the imaging system thereby providing the operator with sufficient information for decisions regarding the need for additional images for completing the scan with the imaging system before the patient is discharged, or even before the breast is decompressed.

A device for secluding a body vessel may include a distal balloon, a proximal balloon, an aspiration port positioned adjacent to the distal balloon, an injection port positioned adjacent to the proximal balloon, and a lumen assembly. The lumen assembly may comprise a central lumen, a distal balloon lumen operably coupled to the distal balloon, a proximal balloon lumen operably coupled to the proximal balloon, an aspiration port lumen operably coupled to the aspiration port, and an injection port lumen operably coupled to the injection port. The distal balloon and the proximal balloon may define a treatment chamber therebetween, and the aspiration port and the injection port may be positioned within the treatment chamber on the lumen assembly.

An access needle is provided. The access needle includes a needle housing and a needle shaft having a portion disposed within the needle housing. The access needle also includes a lumen within the needle shaft, an entry port at a proximal end of the needle shaft, and a needle tip at a distal end of the needle shaft. The access needle also includes an exit port on a sidewall of the needle shaft, wherein the exit port is disposed nearer the distal end of the needle shaft than the proximal end, and wherein the lumen extends from the entry port to the exit port. The exit port a reduced diameter from the needle shaft. Guide surfaces in the vicinity of the exit port help to reduce snagging or drag of the guide wire. The access needle tip can be formed from nitinol and the guide surfaces can be formed from UV or AB glue. A system and a method for using the access needle are also provided.