Methods and systems for image-based guidance in deep-brain stimulation. An endoscope system includes a waveguide tube, a right-angle prism, a light source, and a photoacoustic transducer. Light from the light source propagates along the length of the waveguide tube via internal reflection within the wall. The right-angle prism is positioned to redirect light emitted at a distal end of the waveguide tube in a direction perpendicular to the length of the waveguide tube. Light emitted in the perpendicular direction causes soundwaves to be generated by the surrounding tissue via photoacoustic effect. Those soundwaves are then conducted through the interior channel of the waveguide tube from the distal end of the waveguide tube to a proximal end of the waveguide tube where the soundwaves are detected by the photoacoustic transducer, which is acoustically coupled to the interior channel of the waveguide tube at the proximal end of the waveguide tube.

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 (IOP) 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 engineered particle for detecting analytes in an environment includes an electromagnetic receiver that is configured to preferentially receive electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization relative to the orientation of the electromagnetic receiver. The engineered particle additionally includes an energy emitter coupled to the electromagnetic receiver such that a portion of electromagnetic energy received by the electromagnetic receiver is transferred to and emitted by the energy emitter. The engineered particles are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte. The engineered particle can additionally be configured to align with a directed energy field in the environment. The selective reception of electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization and/or alignment with a directed energy field can enable orientation tracking of individual engineered particles, imaging in high-noise environments, or other applications. A method for detecting properties of the analyte of interest by interacting with the engineered particle is also provided.

Non-invasive apparatus and method for determining and monitoring glucose concentrations in human subjects. Glucose level is estimated through the effect of glucose on biological cells with glucose dependencies, e.g., red blood cells. The invention is based on the interaction of such cells with oscillating electric field gradients. The response of biological cells depends on factors including shape, size, and electrical charge distribution. The field gradient causes the cells to undergo characteristic motion which is detected by light beam scattering. The autocorrelation of the scattered light is computed, and the Fourier transform (FT) is performed to produce a characteristic velocity spectrum in which the peaks are characteristic of the cell bio-electrical states. The glucose level is estimated through measurements of changes of FT with changes in glucose levels after calibration with standard glucose methods.

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 (IOP) 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 engineered particle for detecting analytes in an environment includes an electromagnetic receiver that is configured to preferentially receive electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization relative to the orientation of the electromagnetic receiver. The engineered particle additionally includes an energy emitter coupled to the electromagnetic receiver such that a portion of electromagnetic energy received by the electromagnetic receiver is transferred to and emitted by the energy emitter. The engineered particles are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte. The engineered particle can additionally be configured to align with a directed energy field in the environment. The selective reception of electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization and/or alignment with a directed energy field can enable orientation tracking of individual engineered particles, imaging in high-noise environments, or other applications. A method for detecting properties of the analyte of interest by interacting with the engineered particle is also provided.

A neural monitoring system includes an elongate medical instrument, a non-invasive mechanical sensor, and a processor. The elongate medical instrument has a distal end portion configured to extend within an intracorporeal treatment area of a subject, and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end portion. Each electrode is respectively configured to provide an electrical stimulus. The non-invasive mechanical sensor is configured to be placed in mechanical communication with a muscle of the subject and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle. The processor is provided in communication with the elongate medical instrument and the mechanical sensor, and is configured to receive the mechanomyography output signal, and determine a relative direction between a nerve and the distal end portion of the elongate medical instrument using the received mechanomyography output signal.

A sensor device is described herein. The sensor device includes a multi-dimensional optical sensor and processing circuitry, wherein the multi-dimensional optical sensor generates images and the processing circuitry is configured to output data that is indicative of hemodynamics of a user based upon the images. The sensor device is non-invasive, and is able to be incorporated into wearable devices, thereby allowing for continuous output of the data that is indicative of the hemodynamics of the user.

A brain measurement apparatus configured to generate an MR image and a brain's magnetic field distribution of a subject includes: an MRI module having a transmission coil configured to transmit a transmission pulse toward the subject and a detection coil configured to detect a nuclear magnetic resonance signal generated in the subject by the transmission pulse; an optically pumped magnetometer configured to detect a brain's magnetic field of the subject; a generator configured to generate the MR image based on the nuclear magnetic resonance signal detected by the detection coil and generating the brain's magnetic field distribution based on the brain's magnetic field detected by the optically pumped magnetometer; a marker displayed on the MR image generated by the generator; and a helmet-type frame to which the detection coil, the optically pumped magnetometer, and the marker are attached and which is attached to a head of the subject.

Systems, methods, and devices include a multi-sensor scanning device for characterizing a health parameter. A scanning portion formed at an end of the multi-sensor scanning device includes a first sensor assembly. The first sensor assembly has a glass section forming a contact surface and/or one or more LEDs operable to provide electromagnetic waves to an interior of the glass section. The first sensor assembly also includes a light sensor directed at a transmission surface of the glass section. Additionally, the system includes a second sensor assembly involving one or more sensors directed at a same target area as the contact surface. Also, the one or more sensors of the second sensor assembly include an electrically conductive coating formed onto the contact surface and/or one or more electrical transducers deposed at least partly around the contact surface. The device can be a platform with a standing portion.