A system for an automatic multimodal real-time tracking of moving instruments for image plane alignment inside an MRI scanner includes: an MRI scanner, an MRI multi-plane pulse sequence generating unit allowing to interactively modify the position and orientation of one or several image planes in real-time, one or several external optical sensors with high frame rate, preferably a RGB-D sensor or other similar camera system like a stereovision systems, a multimodal marker including at least one MR visible feature and one visual feature able to be tracked by both the MRI scanner and the at least one external optical sensor, a computer for processing in real-time images from both MRI and optical sensor to fuse the detected marker position and orientation or pose from both modalities, and predict the next image plane position and orientation based on the estimated motion of the moving marker.

A magnetic marker for marking a site in tissue in the body. In one embodiment, the marker comprises a magnetic metallic glass. In another embodiment, the marker is in a non-spherical configuration having an anisotropy ratio less than 9. In yet another embodiment, the marker is in a non-spherical configuration having an anisotropy ratio less than 6. In yet another embodiment, the marker is in a non-spherical configuration having an anisotropy ratio less than 3.

An augmented reality system includes a head-mountable augmented reality platform (152) having a display to provide guidance to a user. A prediction module (115) is trained in a procedure and is configured to predict a next activity in the procedure based on a current condition. An image generation module (148) is responsive to the prediction module to provide a visual cue of a predicted next activity to the user through the head-mountable augmented reality platform.

A medical imaging system and method is described. The system comprises: a microwave antenna array comprising a transmitting antenna and a plurality of receiving antennae, wherein the transmitting antenna is configured to transmit microwave signals so as to illuminate a body part of a patient and the receiving antennae are configured to receive the microwave signals following scattering within the body part; a marker configured to be applied to the surface of the skin of the body part and to scatter the microwave signals; a processor configured to process the scattered microwave signals and generate an image of the internal structure of the body part and the marker so as to identify a region of interest within the body part relative to the position of the marker.

A system and a method are disclosed that allow for generation of a model or reconstruction of a model of a subject based upon acquired image data. The image data can be acquired in a substantially mobile system that can be moved relative to a subject to allow for image acquisition from a plurality of orientations relative to the subject. The plurality of orientations can include a first and final orientation and a predetermined path along which an image data collector or detector can move to acquire an appropriate image data set to allow for the model of construction.

A local positioning system (LPS) that includes at least three local position tracking devices is described. Each local position tracking (LPT) device includes a device clock synchronized to a device time set and shared by the other device clocks, a transmitter transmitting messages synchronized to the device time, each message including a transmission time and known initial positional information, and a receiver. A living body image visualization includes time-sequential frames corresponding with the other LPT device. An output component includes a user clock set to a user time. A processor includes a processor clock set to a processor time. The processor generates a temporally-changing coordinate map based on transmission time, receipt time and the known initial positional information. The processor combines the time-sequential frames at the same time as the temporally-changing coordinate map into enhanced frames continually output. The device time, the user time, and the processor time are synchronized.

Systems and methods for tracking a target volume, e.g., tumor, during radiation treatment are provided. Under one aspect, a system includes an ultrasound probe, an x-ray imager, a processor, and a computer-readable medium that stores a 3D image of the tumor in a first reference frame and instructions to cause the processor to: instruct the x-ray imager and ultrasound probe to substantially simultaneously obtain inherently registered x-ray and set-up ultrasound images of the tumor in a second reference frame; establish a transformation between the first and second reference frames by registering the 3D image and the x-ray image; instruct the ultrasound probe to obtain an intrafraction ultrasound image of the tumor; registering the intrafraction ultrasound image with the set-up ultrasound image; and track target volume motion based on the registered intrafraction ultrasound image.

A magnetic marker for marking a site in tissue in the body. In one embodiment, the marker comprises a magnetic metallic glass. In another embodiment, the marker is in a non-spherical configuration having an anisotropy ratio less than 9. In yet another embodiment, the marker is in a non-spherical configuration having an anisotropy ratio less than 6. In yet another embodiment, the marker is in a non-spherical configuration having an anisotropy ratio less than 3.

A biopsy site marker configured to expand upon deployment into a biopsy cavity, and visible under several different imaging modalities, comprises a superabsorbent hydrogel component and a radiopaque element. The hydrogel is in a compressed, dehydrated state prior to deployment to facilitate placement of the marker within the biopsy site, and thereafter expands upon deployment in the biopsy site. Such expansion limits migration of the site marker.

A biopsy marker may include three shaped portions arranged sequentially along an axis, each shaped portion having a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface. A first narrow portion connects a first of the three shaped portions to a second of the three shaped portions. A second narrow portion connects the second of the three shaped portions to a third of the three shaped portions. The first narrow portion is twisted about the axis such that the first surface of the first shaped portion is at a first angle to the first surface of the second shaped portion. The second narrow portion is twisted about the axis such that the first surface of the second shaped portion is at a second angle to the first surface of the third shaped portion.