Biopeer

TONE technique to improve medical and scientific imaging

Researchers from the University of Virginia Engineering School have developed a new method of signal processing that can be used with a broad range of imaging and sensing systems including ultrasound, RADAR, SONAR, telecommunications, and even a few optical imaging systems. This technique, callled Time-domain Optimized Near-field Estimator (TONE), is said to provide improved image resolution and contrast in medical ultrasounds by reducing the contribution of unwanted reflections and signals. A study evaluated a series of simulations using sample ultrasound data to test the performance of the TONE algorithm and compared it to conventional beam-forming strategies (CBF) used by current ultrasound scanners. Results from the imaging trials showed significant improvement. "The potential applications for this algorithm are almost infinite," said James H. Aylor, dean of University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Science. "Not only can it be used in the medical community to benefit patients nationwide, but it will also have applications in the fields of radio astronomy, seismology and more."

Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, U.S., have found an innovative way to use MRI to create images of fluid flow inside the body. David Alsop, a professor at Harvard Medical School and researcher at Beth Israel, has found a way to track nuclei movement within a fluid. The technique aligns atoms' nuclei with a powerful magnetic field and then zaps nuclei with a focused sequence of radio pulses. This distinguishes that particular sample of nuclei from other nuclei nearby. It's then possible to see how the nulcei move when the pulses are re-emitted, which can reveal important data such as the chemical composition of the surrounding environment. The researchers claim that the technique could be particularly useful for tracking the detailed pattern of blood flow within the brain.

Powered by Qumana

Medipattern’s B-CAD to improve breast cancer diagnosis

Mammography and Ultrasound Specialists (MUS) of Texas announce the installation of Medipattern’s B-CAD. According to MUS, the B-CAD is capable of generating a more thorough record of the diagnostic breast ultrasound procedure, which would improve consistency from reader to reader. During a typical examination, the saved images are sent via DICOM to a CAD module located on a network, where they are analyzed. CAD uses standard imaging techniques to determine the shape, size, and orientation of each lesion at a deeper level than can be displayed on screen. The software analyzes images of lesions from the breast ultrasound, segments them, and generates BI-RADS scores. The software can compile all the information into a natural language report, including the physician’s findings.

Researchers at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) and the University of Washington Medical Center found that using breast scan software to enhance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reduces the number of false positive identifications of malignant tumors. The team examined 154 breast lesions that were deemed suspicious by radiologists and visible only on MRI. The findings were compared to the new findings using computer-aided enhancement (CAE) software. According to the study, false positives were reduced by 23% when CAE was used at its highest enhancement level. “In summary, our findings suggest that CAE has the potential to improve the discrimination of benign and malignant breast MRI lesions,” said Teresa Williams, M.D., of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. The software is already commercially available and has been shown useful in reducing the false positive rate of breast MRI.

A study conducted by Russell N. Low, medical director of the Sharp and Children’s MRI Center in San Diego, found that diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) could help radiologists significantly improve the accuracy of conventional MR imaging of peritoneal metastases (cancer in the membrane that lines the abdominal wall). The study was conducted on 24 oncology patients who underwent preoperative abdominal MRI to affirm Dr. Low's suspicions about the diagnostic benefit of adding DWI to the protocol. Based on 153 sites of confirmed peritoneal tumor, DWI/MRI identified 141 sites with 14 false positives. Its sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 92%, 92%, and 93%, respectively. MRI alone was 78% sensitive, 86% specific, and 82% accurate.

Powered by Qumana

Implanted device to detect seizures brings new hope to epilepsy patients

Neuropace, based in Mountain View, CA, has developed a new device, known as the responsive neurostimulation system, that could help epilepsy patients who fail to find relief from anticonvulsant medications. An electrical stimulator, smaller than a playing card and curved in shape, is inserted into a hollowed-out part of the skull. Two electrodes are then implanted into the region of the brain that triggers seizures, called the seizure focus. Surgeons locate this spot prior to surgery using a combination of brain imaging and electroencephalogram recordings (EEG), which measure brain activity from surface electrodes on the skull. The electrodes monitor nearby neurons for signs of abnormal electrical activity. When they detect signs of an impending seizure, they emit an electrical pulse, blocking the hyperactive wave from spreading throughout the brain. "The idea is to stop the seizure before it occurs," said Frank Fischer, CEO at Neuropace.

Siemens Medical Solutions showed a prototype for the world’s first fully-functioning imaging system capable of performing simultaneously Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The first in-vivo human brain simultaneous MR-PET images were acquired in the Siemens facilities in the USA. This could prove to be a turning point in diagnosis and therapy for millions of patients suffering from neurological diseases, stroke and cancer. The MR-PET will help understand the pathologies and progression of various neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, depression and schizophrenia. It also holds great promise for stem cell therapy. The first MR-PET images were acquired with support of Dr. David Townsend and Dr. Claude Nahmias, both from the University of Tennessee, USA, and Dr. Heinz-Peter Schlemmer, Dr. Claus Claussen and Dr. Bernd Pichler, all from the University Tübingen in Germany.

Interim study results from the Biomarkers for Rapid Identification of Treatment Effectiveness (BRITE) trial in major depression suggest that Aspect Medical System’s EEG-based research technology is a significant predictor of patient response to treatment of depression with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) after one week of treatment. Further, the results suggest that the technology may help expedite the process of identifying effective antidepressant drug therapy. “These interim BRITE trial results are encouraging and support our belief that we can develop a practical, easy-to-use brain assessment device to help clinicians optimize care for patients suffering from depression,” said Nassib Chamoun, president and CEO of Aspect Medical Systems, Inc., which is a global market leader in brain monitoring technology.

Powered by Qumana

A whole new meaning to "in a blink of an eye" ...

Ever notice that you don't notice it when you blink?  Conventional wisdom was that the retina and optic nerve essentially paused sending information to the brain in that moment of darkness, but it turns out it has nothing to do with light at all.  Research in the U.K. has shown that the brain itself pauses to allow you blink and miss it—Blink, and the brain misses it.  What was done was to put intense lights into the mouths of volunteers wearing light-proof goggles.  Because the light was intense enough it shone right through the face so the eyes received light even when closed.  Next MRIs were used to monitor brain activity.  Through this it was learned that it isn't the eye, retina, or optic nerve ensuring that we don't notice blinks (I've been trying as I've been writing this ... it is very hard to do), but the brain.

 

Tremendous.

 

Technorati Tags : Blinking, brain, MRI

Tristram Hussey, M.S.  is a professional blogger and blog consultant, the Chief Blogging Officer for Qumana Software, and Managing Director of Qumana Services.  He holds a B.A. in Anthropology and a M.S. in Quaternary Studies.  He can be reached at tris AT qumana DOT com or tris AT trishussey DOT com.

Powered By Qumana

Brain imaging helps reveal causes of depression

While treating depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, has been around since the late 1980s, new brain imaging technologies and genetic detective work are rapidly revealing what can cause depression and how best to treat it. NPR's Michelle Trudeau reports.