Devices and processes for maintaining a narrow body lumen are described. One embodiment of the inventive device includes: (i) a hydraulic propulsion mechanism for propelling an imaging portion or a therapeutic portion through the narrow body lumen; and (ii) a retrieval mechanism for retrieving the imaging portion or the therapeutic portion from the narrow body lumen.

The present disclosure relates to compounds that are useful as near-infrared fluorescence probes, wherein the compounds include i) a pteroyl ligand that binds to a target receptor protein, ii) a dye molecule, and iii) a linker molecule that comprises an amino acid or derivative thereof. The disclosure further describes methods and compositions for incorporating the compounds as used for the targeted imaging of tumors. Conjugation of the amino acid linking groups increase specificity and detection of the compound. Methods and compositions for use thereof in diagnostic imaging are contemplated.

A method of assessing uterine parameters via a apparatus including a processor includes determining, by the processor, at least one uterine parameter based on one or more ultrasound images of a uterus of a subject, the one or more ultrasound images being obtained on predefined days within an IVF cycle of the subject, tracking, by the processor, a change in the at least one uterine parameter, and predicting, by the processor, success of embryo implantation based on the change in the at least one uterine parameter.

The present invention relates to the use of a NIR fluorescent probe comprising an aza-bicycloalkane based cyclic peptide labelled with a Cy5.5 dye moiety in the fluorescence-guided surgery of pathologic regions and to an optical imaging method that comprises using this fluorescent probe for the identification and demarcation of tumor margins during the surgical resection.

The invention concerns a device for the atraumatic transfer of a material or substance with a reproductive, therapeutic or diagnostic purpose into a female mammal, comprising a body assembly, an outer sheath suitable for being inserted as far as the start of one of the uterine horns, an inner sheath inside the outer sheath and capable of being extended into the uterine horn, and a piston inserted into the inner sheath order to push the material or substance up to the distal end of the inner sheath. The body assembly comprises a rod extending away from the outer sheath, and on which a shuttle assembly is slidingly mounted, comprising a primary shuttle, mounted sliding on said rod and to which the piston is attached, and a secondary shuttle, mounted sliding on said primary shuttle and to which the inner sheath is attached.

A non-invasive and accurate vagina evaluation device and uterine evaluation devices are provided that measure the receptivity (uterine implantation capacity) of the mother's body to a fertilized egg implanting itself into the uterus. A first vagina evaluation device includes: a main body stretchable and expandable after insertion into a vagina, followed by air injection thereinto; four electrodes brought into contact with the vagina wall as the main body expands and stretches; and fixation means configured to fix the interval of arrangement of the electrodes. Second and third uterine evaluation device include: a flexible and rod-shaped main body for insertion into a uterine cavity; and four or two impedance electrodes arranged with a predetermined interval therebetween in an insertion direction of the main body and brought into contact with an endometrium of the uterine cavity to measure a uterine endometrial impedance generated between the endometrium and each of the electrodes.

Adaptive image processing, image analysis, pattern recognition, and time-to-event prediction in various imaging modalities associated with assisted reproductive technology. The reference image may be processed according to one or more adaptive processing frameworks for de-speckling or noise processing of ultrasound images. The subject image is processed according to various computer vision techniques for object detection, recognition, annotation, segmentation, and classification of reproductive anatomy, such as follicles, ovaries and the uterus. An image processing framework may also analyze secondary data along with subject image data to analyze time-to-event progression of the subject image.

Devices and processes for maintaining a narrow body lumen are described. One embodiment of the inventive device includes: (i) a hydraulic propulsion mechanism for propelling an imaging portion or a therapeutic portion through the narrow body lumen; and (ii) a retrieval mechanism for retrieving the imaging portion or the therapeutic portion from the narrow body lumen.

[Problem] To provide a method for acquisition of data able to serve as an index for determining the likelihood that an ovarian endometriosis cyst is cancerous. Solution This data acquisition method for determining the likelihood that an ovarian endometriosis cyst is cancerous includes an iron concentration measurement step for measuring the iron concentration in the cystic fluid of the ovarian endometriosis cyst. This diagnostic device for diagnosing the likelihood that an ovarian endometriosis cyst is cancerous is provided, at a minimum, with an iron concentration measurement unit for measuring the iron concentration in the cystic fluid of the ovarian endometriosis cyst.

The present invention provides, among other things, methods of identifying cancerous or pre-cancerous tissue including providing a first region of tissue from a subject, calculating a roughness exponent for the first region of tissue, and comparing the roughness exponent of the first region of tissue to 0.5, wherein a difference of less than 0.2 between the roughness exponent of the first region of tissue and 0.5 indicates that the tissue is cancerous or pre-cancerous. Additionally, the present invention provides methods including providing a first view of a region of tissue, providing a second view of a region of tissue, calculating a first fractal dimension for the first view of the region of tissue, and calculating a second fractal dimension for the second view of the region of tissue, wherein if the fractal dimension of at least one of the first fractal dimension and the second fractal dimension is in the fractal zone, the region of tissue is considered cancerous. Also provided are systems for performing these assessments.