A system and method utilizing thermoacoustic imaging to estimating tissue temperature within a region of interest that includes an object of interest and a reference which are separated by at least one boundary located at least at two boundary locations. The system and method use a thermoacoustic imaging system that includes an adjustable radio frequency (RF) applicator configured to emit RF energy pulses into the tissue region of interest and heat tissue therein and an acoustic receiver configured to receive bipolar acoustic signals generated in response to heating of tissue in the region of interest; and one or more processors that are able to: process received bipolar acoustic generated in the region of interest in response to the RF energy pulses to determine a peak-to-peak amplitude thereof; and calculate a temperature at the at least two boundary locations using the peak-to-peak amplitudes of the bipolar acoustic signals and a distance between the boundary locations.

The present invention relates to the field of acoustoelectric and acoustooptical imaging methods. It is known a specific example of an acoustoelectric imaging method, in which focused ultrasonic waves are emitted so as to form an image of the current, line by line. However, the acquisition process disclosed is slow, and all the more so because, as the resulting electrical signals are very weak, a high level of averaging is required. Low frame rates are therefore obtained. That is why the inventors worked on an imaging method with improved contrast and resolution. The present invention proposes a method for imaging a medium (10) wherein ultrasound contrast agents (12) are present.

The invention determines an efficiency value (E) denoting preferably the relative period of muscle fiber activity during a recorded period of exercise, and a strength value (S) representing the number of muscle fibers recruited during a movement as part of the exercise or of a muscle contraction, and a temporal value (T) representing the frequency with which muscle fibers are activated repeatedly during exercise, and finally combines the efficiency value (E), the strength value (S) and the temporal value (T) by a linear combination to obtain an index value (ESTi) indicative of the fitness level of the individual. The obtained ESTi Score is useful for assessing the training level of an animal or human individual and the individual's potential for different types of sports and other activity. Also the effect of past training or diet can be assessed, and the possible need for changes in training or diet can be assessed.

An excitation force (internal or external) and phase-sensitive optical coherence elastography (OCE) system, used in conjunction with a data analyzing algorithm, is capable of measuring and quantifying biomechanical parameters of tissues in situ and in vivo. The method was approbated and demonstrated on an example of the system that combines a pulsed ultrasound system capable of producing an acoustic radiation force on the crystalline lens surface and a phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for measuring the lens displacement caused by the acoustic radiation force. The method allows noninvasive and nondestructive quantification of tissue mechanical properties. The noninvasive measurement method also utilizes phase-stabilized swept source optical coherence elastography (PhS-SSOCE) to distinguish between tissue stiffness, such as that attributable to disease, and effects on measured stiffness that result from external factors, such as pressure applied to the tissue. Preferably, the method is used to detect tissue stiffness and to evaluate the presence of its stiffness even if it is affected by other factors such as intraocular pressure (TOP) in the case of cornea, sclera, or the lens. This noninvasive method can evaluate the biomechanical properties of the tissues in vivo for detecting the onset and progression of degenerative or other diseases (such as keratoconus).

An apparatus for determining a shape of a luminal sample including: a catheter including a lens, the catheter disposed within a strain-sensing sheath such that the lens rotates and translates; a structural imaging system optically coupled to the catheter; a strain-sensing system optically coupled to the catheter; and a controller coupled to the strain-sensing system and the structural imaging system. The controller determines: a first position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a first location within the strain-sensing sheath; a second position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a second location within the strain-sensing sheath; a first strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the first location; a second strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the second location; a local curvature of the luminal sample relative to the catheter; a local curvature of the catheter; and a local curvature of the luminal sample.

A magnetism characteristic detection method, a magnetism characteristic detection apparatus, an imaging apparatus and an imaging method are provided, where magnetism detection and imaging are based on an integrated excitation field of a direct current (DC) magnetic field and an oscillation wave. The magnetism detection method includes the following steps. A DC magnetic field is selectively applied to an object. Further, an oscillation wave is provided to the object, where the oscillation wave is a sound wave or an ultrasound wave. Then, a magnetism characteristic variation of the object is detected.

An apparatus for determining a shape of a luminal sample including: a catheter including a lens, the catheter disposed within a strain-sensing sheath such that the lens rotates and translates; a structural imaging system optically coupled to the catheter; a strain-sensing system optically coupled to the catheter; and a controller coupled to the strain-sensing system and the structural imaging system. The controller determines: a first position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a first location within the strain-sensing sheath; a second position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a second location within the strain-sensing sheath; a first strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the first location; a second strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the second location; a local curvature of the luminal sample relative to the catheter; a local curvature of the catheter; and a local curvature of the luminal sample.

An acoustic wave device includes: an insertion object having a photoacoustic wave generator; an insertion object image signal generator that generates an insertion object image signal from a reception signal of an acoustic wave from the photoacoustic wave generator; a first signal width detector that detects a first signal width of a portion of a predetermined signal strength in the insertion object image signal; and an insertion object display image signal generator that generates, in a case where the first signal width is larger than a second signal width, an insertion object display image signal of a width having a center at a peak position of the insertion object image signal and corresponding to the second signal width, and generates, in a case where the first signal width is smaller than the second signal width, an insertion object display image signal having a width smaller than the second signal width.

An aspect of some embodiments of the invention relate to a system for tissue characterization using an acousto-electric effect comprising: at least one ultrasonic waveform generator; at least one waveform generation controller; at least one set of electrodes; at least one electric signal amplification circuitry connectable to at least one of said at least one set of electrodes to generate an amplified signal; and at least one signal processing unit for analyzing said amplified signal and to generate information related to properties of multiple locations within a target tissue; wherein at least one of said multiple location has no direct contact with any electrode, and wherein said properties of said multiple locations are obtained within up to 10 milliseconds per location on average.

A medical delivery device includes a first compartment configured to hold a first substance. The first compartment includes a first wall that includes a first ferrous material, and the first wall is configured to disintegrate and release the first substance into a patient in response to first electromagnetic radiation received by the first ferrous material. The medical delivery device also includes a second compartment attached to the first compartment and configured to hold a second substance. The second compartment includes a second wall that includes a second ferrous material, and the second wall is configured to disintegrate and release the second substance into the patient in response to second electromagnetic radiation received by the second ferrous material.