Brainlab Ag

Other

Image-guided Neurologics, Inc.

Therataxis, LLC

Medtronic, Inc.

Q-sensei Corp.

Johns Hopkins University

Bresagen, Inc.

Quasm Corporation

Image-guided Neurologies, Inc.

Raghu Raghavan

Timothy Poston

Martin Lee Brady

David Poston

Raju R Viswanathan

Michael Fenton

Andreas Hartlep

Christoph Pedain

Matthew S Solar

Thomas I Miller

John David

Gerald W Mills

Armen P Sarvazyan

Rainer Birkenbach

Stuart A Grossman

Maria Inmaculada Rodriguez-Ponce

Chris Ross

John Kucharczyk

Martin Brady

María Inmaculada Rodriguez-Ponce

Methods and systems for obtaining and reconstructing imaging data are disclosed. The methods and systems can comprise: receiving signals; storing pixel locations for the received signals; computing parameters from the received signals and pixel locations; optimizing the parameters; and performing optimized reconstruction of the images.

Systems and methods for acquiring ultrasonic data

Methods and systems for searching for objects. A plurality of Attributes can be assigned to each of a plurality of objects in a collection. Each of the Attributes can be assigned to a Kind. A search query can be received including at least one Attribute specified by a user. A list of Kinds can be displayed. The Attributes can be grouped into Kinds such that searching the objects to determine if the objects have a particular Attribute is not performed if the objects do not have Attributes of that Kind associated with an object to be searched. Grouped Attributes can be subdivided into smaller groupings and resulting subdivisions can be given a numerical score indicating how far a subdivision is from all or none.

Methods and systems for searching a database of objects

Methods for acquiring ultrasonic data are disclosed. An image-acquiring system is provided. A three-dimensional target region is selected. A plurality of fiducial positions corresponding to anatomical features in the target region are calculated. A model of the target region comprising a plurality of target locations representing a plurality of planned locations in the target region at which ultrasonic data is to be acquired is created, and a visual representation of the model comprising a plurality of graphical elements is displayed. Ultrasonic data at each of the planned locations is acquired. A transformation of the visual representation is executed, comprising: performing a data quality test at each target location; for any target location that fails the data quality test, altering a graphical element corresponding to the failed target location to indicate failure of the data quality test at that location; and displaying a transformed visual representation comprising updated graphical elements on the visual display.

Method for acquiring ultrasonic data

A method for identifying target regions in a tissue for local drug delivery, where functional and/or structural anatomical data such as edema and/or resection cavity is captured by an imaging system, and where the anatomical data is evaluated by segmentation techniques such as region-growing-based methods with computer assistance to determine a margin around a resection cavity and/or the volume of edema, the margin and/or the volume of edema being the target tissue for local drug delivery.

Margin determination

Surgery is performed on a patient with a novel device by: The device has a liquid inlet port, an exterior surface having length, width and depth, and multiple openings in the surface distributed throughout the length, width and depth to act as liquid delivery ports;

Delivery of materials into margins of tissue cavities

Methods and Systems for searching a database of Objects. Each Object is associated with a plurality of Attributes, each Attribute is associated with a Kind, and each Kind is associated with a plurality of Attributes. Search criteria comprising an Attribute is received. A Nonceattribute is created using the search criteria. A search utilizing the Nonceattribute is inputted. All Objects having the Nonceattribute are identified. All Attributes associated with the Objects are identified. All Kinds associated with the Attributes are identified. A ranking criterion is applied to identified Kinds and Attributes. The highest-ranked portion of the Kinds and the highest-ranked portion of the Attributes that can readably be shown in a search result display are displayed.

Methods and systems for providing planning and dispensation of research and/or treatment for brain disease. Radiological information is generated in a region of interest in an area of the a brain of an individual using a radiological imaging system. A physiological states model is constructed which assesses physiological states of the region of interest. Locations of sources of interstitial fluid flow, fluid conductivities of paths, and anatomical information in the region of interest are obtained using the radiological imaging information. Velocities of the interstitial fluid flow in the region of interest are computed using the physiological states model, the locations of sources of interstitial flow, the fluid conductivities, and the anatomic information. A model of the area of the brain is created, the model including the region of interest.

Methods and systems for providing planning and dispensation of research and/or treatment for brain disease

A medical imaging processing method includes: using an imaging method to acquire at least first and second data sets of a region of interest of a patient's body, with at least one image acquisition parameter being changed so that first and second data sets yield different contrast levels relating to different substance and/or tissue types, and wherein the at least one acquisition parameter used to obtain the first data set is selected to enhance the contrast between one of the substance and/or tissue types relative to other substance and/or tissue types, and the at least one acquisition parameter used to obtain the second data set is selected to enhance the contrast between a different one of the substance and/or tissue types relative other substance and/or tissue types, thereby to optimize the contrast between at least three different substance and/or tissue types; and processing the two data sets to identify the different tissue types and/or boundaries therebetween.

Brain tissue classification

Known time reversal methods consist of three steps which may be listed as (i) the recording of signals and (ii) the time reversing of the recorded signals, and (iii) the transmission of the time-reversed signals. The first and third steps of the above process are retained, but the second step is modified. The empirical signal is transformed to fit mathematical forms taught by the mathematics of singularity and catastrophe theory that ensure a structural stability to the waveforms that will be received, when the time reversed signals are transmitted again. This structural stability ensures robustness of the waveform and the predominant direction of the flux of energy of the waveform, and improves controllability of the location of the high magnitude regions of the energy flux despite limited knowledge of the exact properties of the medium. Applications to drug delivery in the brain, and geophysical applications are envisaged.

Creating, directing and steering regions of intensity of wave propagation in inhomogeneous media

Acoustic waves exhibit force that pushes objects along the direction of sound propagation. Precise motions require well-focused beams. The technique of time-reversal acoustics (TRA) overcomes beam distortions introduced by propagation along irregular paths to focus sound without knowledge of the medium properties. TRA requires a small receiver to be placed at a point of desired focus. The invention disclosed refines TRA by introducing data matching schemes to extend the points of focus beyond the location points of the receivers. With as few as two receivers, a large region can be manipulated with well-focused acoustic beams and with no receiver at a desired point of focus. Applications are described in drug delivery in medicine; environmental fluid contaminant control; and in oil exploration, for retrieving oil stuck in underground pockets.

Device, methods, and control for sonic guidance of molecules and other material utilizing time-reversal acoustics

A contents display and search system for navigating and searching and exploring a collection of objects includes a database of Attributes; each of the Attributes being associated with one or more objects, and a database of Kinds, each Kind being associated with one or more Attributes. When a user enters a search query including at least one Attribute, an object is tested to determine whether it has Attributes of the Kind corresponding to the Kind of the at least one specified Attribute before function testing is performed. Search and contents investigation results are presented in a hierarchical format in which Kinds and Attributes rather than objects, are displayed until the search or content type is further specified by selecting additional Kinds and/or Attributes such that the number of objects satisfying the specified search is below a threshold. User interaction modifies the hierarchical order of Kinds and Attributes in the display.

Search and presentation engine

A method for estimating the physiological parameters defining the edema induced upon infusion of fluid from an intraparenchymally placed catheter including; a) acquisition of patient-specific medical data; b) estimation of pertinent tissue microstructure based on the patient-specific medical data and/or generalized information derived or drawn from one or more of the following: experience, literature, modeling, studies, research, analysis; c) acquisition of information about delivery parameters, and/or delivery device geometry, and/or fluid properties; and d) computing a field of values of predicted extracellular volume fraction over the tissue region using the information obtained in (b) and (c). According to a further aspect, a method of infusing or planning and/or monitoring an infusion of a contrast agent such that the distribution of such agent can be detected and observing and/or measuring the backflow length along the catheter track.

Method for estimating the physiological parameters defining the edema induced upon infusion of fluid from an intraparenchymally placed catheter

A computer-implemented system and method for determining an optimal manner of introducing and moving an introduced entity from an introduction site to a target tissue region. The method comprises: calculating a modeling value at the introduction site, the pathway to the target tissue region, and the target tissue region; calculating a diffusion value representing a concentration gradient of the introduced entity as it moves through the introduction site, the pathway, and the target tissue region; calculating a flow value representing how the introduced entity is transported through the introduction site, the pathway, and the target tissue region; and determining a time, location, and method for introducing and moving the introduced entity based on the modeling value, the diffusion value, and the flow value.

System and process for metabolic guidance of introduced cellular material

A device, system and method deliver an agent to a soft mass, such as an area of the body, and more specifically the brain. One aspect includes creation of one or more channels, tunnels or grooves in tissue using a relatively small diameter, minimally-invasive stylet and then removing the stylet prior to infusion. The stylet-created channels become paths of increased hydraulic conductivity, through which the infusate will tend to flow and produce a predictable infusion pattern. Infusate will be carried into these channels with relatively low resistance, and then infuse outward from these channels into the surrounding tissue. By carefully positioning these channels, one can control and modify the preferred paths and duration of distribution.

Device and method for delivering therapeutic agents to an area of the body

A surgical alignment device is disclosed that is controlled remotely through the use of an actuator, where the actuator in turn controls at least one local adjustment device. The alignment device is suited for neurosurgery, although it is not exclusively limited to neurosurgery. The alignment device includes an insertion guide that is coupled to the local adjustment device, the insertion guide being used to guide a device such as a catheter into a patient. The alignment device may also be coupled to a control module such as a microcomputer that controls the orientation of the insertion guide in response to inputs from the surgeon as to a location of interest within the patient.

Growing community of inventors

Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Raghu Raghavan