Exemplary probes including longitudinal marker elements arranged parallel to the probe axis are provided for reducing or eliminating non-uniform rotational distortions (NURD) in imaging systems. Additional ring marker elements may also be provided to reduce or eliminate non-uniform linear distortion (NULD). These probes, as well as systems and methods of use provide for images having better image quality and reduced NURD.

A medical imaging system may include an imaging device; an optical head coupled to the imaging device, the optical head comprising a plurality of optical sensors; and a control unit in communication with the optical head. The control unit may be configured to: receive data from the plurality of optical sensors, determine a subset of optical sensors from the plurality of optical sensors for viewing one or more visible targets based on the received data from the plurality of optical sensors, and instruct the optical head to transmit images from the subset of optical sensors.

The technology relates to a methods and systems for improving medical imaging procedures. An example method includes receiving a first set of quality metrics for a plurality of medical images acquired at a first imaging facility; receiving a second set of quality metrics for a second plurality of medical images acquired at a second imaging facility; comparing the first set of quality metrics to the second set of quality metrics; based on the comparison of the first set of quality metrics to the second set of quality metrics, generating a benchmark for at least one metric in the first set of quality metrics and the second set of quality metrics; generating facility data based on the generated benchmark and the first set of quality metrics; and sending the facility data to the first imaging facility.

A method includes manipulating a catheter, which includes an ultrasound transducer array, inside an organ of a patient so as to acquire ultrasound images of at least part of the organ. One or more reference positions are identified of one or more respective reference anatomical structures in or near the organ. The ultrasound images are annotated with annotations indicating the identified reference anatomical structures.

A system includes (a) a catheter for insertion into an organ of a patient, a distal end of the catheter, the distal end including: (i) one or more ultrasound transducers (UT), which are configured to apply ultrasound (US) waves to the organ and to produce one or more US signals indicative of a surface topography of the organ, and (ii) a position sensor, which is configured to produce one or more position signals indicative of one or more respective positions of the distal end inside the organ, and (b) a processor, which is configured, based on the US signals and the position signals, to: (i) produce an anatomical map of the surface topography, and (ii) visualize a change in a slope of the surface topography.

Medical systems and methods are provided in which a processor receives the 3D ultrasound images and receives position signals from a position tracking device, indicating the position of a corresponding probe relative to the 3D ultrasound images. Based on the probe position, a region of interest is selected that contains the position the medical probe within the 3D ultrasound images, and the selected region of interest is rendered to a display together with a representation of the medical probe superimposed on the region of interest.

An ultrasonic image display apparatus is provided. The ultrasonic image display apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe configured to move while in contact with a test object and configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to and from the test object to obtain echo signals from a three-dimensional region of the test object, a parameter calculation section configured to calculate a parameter related to a moving velocity of the ultrasonic probe, a data generation section configured to generate data based on the echo signals of a plurality of frames, by selecting the frames in accordance with the parameter calculated by the parameter calculation section so that the echo signals of the frames used for generating the data are acquired within a required range, and a display section configured to display an ultrasonic image generated based on the data.

A shared-housing ultrasound transducer and machine-vision camera system is disclosed for registering the transducer's x, y, z position in space and pitch, yaw, and roll orientation with respect to an object, such as a patient's body. The position and orientation are correlated with transducer scan data, and scans of the same region of the object are compared in order to reduce ultrasound artifacts and speckles. The system can be extended to interoperative gamma probes or other non-contact sensor probes and medical instruments. Methods are disclosed for computer or remote guiding of a sensor probe or instrument with respect to saved positions and orientations of the sensor probe.

Systems, methods and devices are described including a medical device subassembly including a magnetic feature. Systems include such a catheter adapter subassembly or needle subassembly or guidewire introducer subassembly and a wire including a magnetic feature, and relative movement of the catheter adapter subassembly or needle subassembly or guidewire introducer subassembly and the wire can be determined using an magnetometer.

A method for assessing suture line integrity includes loading a navigation plan into a navigation system, the navigation plan including a planned pathway shown in a 3D model, inserting a probe into a patient's airways, the probe including a location sensor in operative communication with the navigation system, registering a sensed location of the probe with the planned pathway, and selecting a target in the navigation plan, the target including a proposed suture line. The method further includes presenting a view of the 3D model showing the planned pathway and indicating the sensed location of the probe, navigating the probe through the airways of the patient's lungs toward the target, and imaging the proposed suture line of the target, via the probe, to determine tissue integrity surrounding the proposed suture line.