Isomerism or Heterotaxy syndromes are rare multifaceted congenital anomalies with multi-system involvement. Grouped under the broad category of Situs Ambiguous defects, these often pose diagnostic difficulties due to their varied and confusing anatomy. Since patients rarely survive into adulthood due to cardiovascular complications, the etiology and natural history of such conditions are not fu...

In this chapter, the established investigative techniques for aiding diagnosis in neurodegenerative disease are reviewed. Beginning with neuropsychological analysis, this review ranges though structural (anatomic), dynamic, and functional brain imaging using MRI and radio-nucleotide scanning to complex neurophysiological applications. In each section, the increasing likelihood of developing tru...

A real-time three dimensional (3D) fluorescence imaging system incorporating wavelength-coded and multiplexed holographic gratings is presented. Holographic gratings formed in thick Phenanthrenquinone(PQ-) Doped Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) have narrowband spectral-spatial transmittance filtering properties to generate wavelengthspectrum selective multi-focal planes within a biological obj...

This review is a sequel to our 8 previous reports summarizing the most important published research for singlephoton emission computed tomography (SPECT), cardiac positron emission tomography (PET), cardiac computed tomography (CT), and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This report generally covers the English-language published data between July 1, 2011, and September 30, 2012. We have...

The high mortality rate associated with cardiovascular disease is partially due to the lack of proliferative cells in the heart. Without adequate repair following myocardial infarction, progressive dilation can lead to heart failure. Stem cell therapies present one promising option for treating cardiovascular disease, though the specific mechanisms by which they benefit the heart remain unclear...

Recently introduced 3D radial MRI pulse sequence entitled Multi-Band SWeep Imaging with Fourier Transformation (MB-SWIFT) having virtually zero acquisition delay was used to obtain functional MRI (fMRI) contrast in rat's brain at 9.4 T during deep brain stimulation (DBS). The results demonstrate that MB-SWIFT allows functional images free of susceptibility artifacts, and provides an excellent f...

With optical cameras, many interventional navigation tasks previously relying on EM, optical, or mechanical guidance can be performed robustly, quickly, and conveniently. We developed a family of novel guidance systems based on widespectrum cameras and vision algorithms for real-time tracking of interventional instruments and multi-modality markers. These navigation systems support the localiza...

Prostheses for clinical use restore the lost motor function of the hand, but not the sensory function. Implementing sensory feedback (SF) in prostheses can increase the grasping capability, introduce a feeling of embodiment of the prosthesis, and reduce phantom limb pain [1], [2]. The current noninvasive SF systems normally only incorporate one-modality (electrotactile, mechanotactile, or vibro...

Behcet disease is a rare multi-system immune related vasculitis which may involve the central nervous system, usually during the course of the illness. Magnetic resonance imaging is currently the modality of choice for the detection of the parenchymal lesions in their different phases, as well as the dural sinus venous thrombosis.