Differences of electromagnetic (EM) properties between healthy and cancerous tissues allow detection of abnormal conditions occurring in a tissue of an animal, for example, intra-operative cancer detection. By using a time-varying EM field, electrical eddy currents are generated in the tissue sample, and assessed using phase-sensitive detection. In some aspects, a change in phase shift between the voltage in a receiver coil and the voltage in a driver coil provide a direct and immediate indication of differences in EM properties of specimens.

Apparatus and methods for hyperspectral imaging analysis that assists in real and near-real time assessment of biological tissue condition, viability, and type, and monitoring the above overtime. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful in surgery, clinical procedures, tissue assessment, diagnostic procedures, health monitoring, and medical evaluations, especially in the detection and treatment of cancer.

A system and method for accounting for motion of a target in a medical procedure includes an endoscope (302) including a tracking mechanism (304) for tracking positions and orientations of the endoscope. Memory storage (310) is configured to record the positions of the endoscope when positioned at or near moving target tissue. A motion sensor (312) is configured to track cyclical motion of an organ such that the cyclical motion of the organ can be correlated to the recorded positions of the endoscope and the target tissue.

A device for the transcutaneous, in vivo measurement of the concentration of at least one analyte in a living organism includes a catheter which can be introduced into the organism, and a luminescence indicator, which is immobilized on the catheter and which reacts to a change in the concentration of the at least one analyte to be measured with a change in at least one optical property. The luminescence indicator is transcutaneously connected to a source for providing an excitation radiation and a detector for detecting the measuring radiation. The luminescence indicator is immobilized on the outer circumference of the catheter, which is used to dispense a fluid medium, for example a medication, into the organism or to drain a body fluid.

Radioimaging methods, devices and radiopharmaceuticals therefor.

A photoacoustic flow cytometry (PAFC) device for the in vivo detection of cells circulating in blood or lymphatic vessels is described. Ultrasound transducers attached to the skin of an organism detect the photoacoustic ultrasound waves emitted by target objects in response to their illumination by at least one pulse of laser energy delivered using at least one wavelength. The wavelengths of the laser light pulse may be varied to optimize the absorption of the laser energy by the target object. Target objects detected by the device may be unlabelled biological cells or cell products, contrast agents, or biological cells labeled with one or more contrast agents.

Systems and methods are disclosed for locating the parathyroid. In one aspect, temporal variation among a plurality of images is evaluated and at least one image is enhanced according to the temporal variation. The image may be enhanced to one or both of reduce conspicuity of the thyroid gland and enhance conspicuity of the parathyroid gland. Some of the plurality of images may be adjusted in order to align representations of a target portions. Adjustments may be based locations of one or more organs or one or more artificial markers affixed to a living body in the plurality of images. A local positioning system (LPS), GPS, or other locating system may be used to position a living body, align the plurality of images, or to guide the positioning of objects relative to the living body. An elastomeric gel marker for imaging applications is also disclosed.

A method for measuring at least one property of biological tissue, including: positioning an ultrasonic transducer opposite the biological tissue to be measured; generating an ultrasonic signal within the biological tissue; acquiring at least one ultrasonic signal reflected by the biological tissue; determining at least one parameter of the biological tissue using the acquisition of the ultrasonic signal reflected by the biological tissue, the at least one parameter being representative of the biological tissue; comparing the at least one parameter of the biological tissue with at least one reference parameter of a target biological tissue so as to confirm the hypothesis of the presence of the target biological tissue opposite the ultrasonic transducer; and determining at least one property of the biological tissue on the basis of the result of the comparison. The method can be directly used in the field of humans or animals.

Systems and methods are disclosed for locating the parathyroid. In one aspect, temporal variation among a plurality of images is evaluated and at least one image is enhanced according to the temporal variation. The image may be enhanced to one or both of reduce conspicuity of the thyroid gland and enhance conspicuity of the parathyroid gland. Some of the plurality of images may be adjusted in order to align representations of a target portions. Adjustments may be based locations of one or more organs or one or more artificial markers affixed to a living body in the plurality of images. A local positioning system (LPS), GPS, or other locating system may be used to position a living body, align the plurality of images, or to guide the positioning of objects relative to the living body. An elastomeric gel marker for imaging applications is also disclosed.

A system and method for accounting for motion of a target in a medical procedure includes an endoscope (302) including a tracking mechanism (304) for tracking positions and orientations of the endoscope. Memory storage (310) is configured to record the positions of the endoscope when positioned at or near moving target tissue. A motion sensor (312) is configured to track cyclical motion of an organ such that the cyclical motion of the organ can be correlated to the recorded positions of the endoscope and the target tissue.