Methods for measuring lymphatic performance are provided herein. Lymphatic pressure is measured by introducing a near infrared flourophore into the limb of a mammal, detecting the lymph flow with near infrared lights and sensors, occluding lymph flow with a pressure cuff, and then noting the pressure at which lymph flow returns. Lymphatic performance is derived by comparing lymphatic pressure measurements taken at multiple points along a mammal's limb, and by measuring the rate at which lymph is emptied upstream from occluded vessels.

One aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus for assessment of parathyroid gland viability comprising a diffuser configured to diffuse a beam of light onto a tissue surface of a parathyroid gland of a patient to illuminate the tissue surface; and means for obtaining speckle contrast images for the assessment of parathyroid gland viability.

This disclosure provides a method for imaging lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels without a contrast agent. The method includes providing, using an optical source, an infrared illumination to a region of a subject having at least one lymphatic component, detecting a reflected portion of the infrared illumination directly reflected from the region using a sensor positioned thereabout, and generating at least one image indicative of the at least one lymphatic component in the subject using the reflected portion of the infrared illumination.

An image capturing and processing device to measure a fluorescence signal in tissue and image a surface of a body part. The device includes a fluorescence image sensor to capture a fluorescence image. The fluorescence image sensor captures time sequence of fluorescence images A peak frequency map unit determines a peak frequency map for an area of interest in the fluorescence images by analyzing the time sequence of fluorescence images. The analyzing includes: determining a time-dependent intensity curve, identifying peaks in the time-dependent intensity curve and determining one or more of a frequency of the identified peaks and a maximum high of the identified peaks, generating a graphic representation of one or more of the determined frequency and maximum high and including the same in the peak frequency map. The peak frequency map together with one or more of the visible light image and the fluorescence image are outputted.

Provided herein is a method for determining cancer treatment using an immune-modulating therapy in a subject in need thereof. The method comprises assessing whether a lymphatic system in a subject is dysregulated. When the lymphatic system is dysregulated, a treatment for the lymphatic system is determined before a therapeutic amount of an immune-modulating therapy is administered to treat cancer in the subject. Alternatively, when the lymphatic system is dysregulated, an immune-modulating therapy is selected to treat cancer in the subject. The immune-modulating therapy is independent of immune-cell priming, antigen trafficking, antigen presentation, and any combination thereof. The subject may also be treated for cancer accordingly.

Various systems and methods are provided for reducing pressure at an outflow of a duct, such as the thoracic duct or the lymphatic duct, for example, the right lymphatic duct. A catheter system can be configured to be at least partially implanted within a vein of a patient in the vicinity of an outflow port of a duct of the lymphatic system. The catheter system includes first and second selectively deployable restriction members each configured to be activated to at least partially occlude the vein within which the catheter is implanted and to thus restrict fluid within a portion of the vein. The catheter system includes an impeller configured to be driven by a motor to induce a low pressure zone between the restriction members by causing blood to be pumped through the catheter when the restriction members occlude the vein.

A combined auto-fluorescence imaging and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) system to enable intra-operative parathyroid identification and viability assessment with the same tool. The system includes a light source for emitting a beam of light to illuminate a target of interest, and an imaging head positioned over the target of interest for individually acquiring auto-fluorescence images and LSCI images of light from the illuminated target of interest responsive to the illumination. Auto-fluorescence imaging helps identify the parathyroid, while LSCI helps assess its viability.

The subject matter of the present disclosure generally relates to techniques for neuromodulation of a tissue that include applying energy (e.g., ultrasound energy) into the tissue to cause altered activity at a synapse between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell.

This disclosure relates to a catheter system that for precisely positioning fluid flow restrictors within a blood vessel. In particular, this disclosure provides a catheter system that includes a sheath with a first fluid flow restrictor mounted thereto, and a catheter that is slidably disposed within the sheath and has a second fluid flow restrictor mounted thereto. Inside a blood vessel, the sheath and the catheter are separately slidable, thereby allowing the first and second fluid flow restrictors to be positioned at precise locations within the blood vessel.

An imaging system for viewing a surgical site, the imaging system including a system controller configured to: receive and process video images of the surgical site captured by an endoscopic camera coupled to an endoscope to detect at least one video signature corresponding to at least one condition that interferes with a quality of the video images; and in response to detecting the at least one video signature corresponding to the at least one condition that interferes with the quality of the video images, control a fluid system to clean a tip of the endoscope based on at least one learned preference that was learned by the system controller from user action over time.