Abstract: There is disclosed a method for imaging tumor tissue adjacent to nerve tissue to aid in selective resection of tumor tissue without destroying nerve tissue, comprising the steps of illuminating an area of interest with a source of electromagnetic radiation (emr) containing wavelengths absorbed by a dye, obtaining a video signal of the area of interest as a series of frames and processing the series of frames into an averaged control image, stimulating the nerve with an appropriate paradigm to activate the nerve, obtaining a nerve subsequent series of frames at the time of stimulation and processing the nerve subsequent series of frames into a nerve subsequent averaged image, obtaining a nerve difference image by subtracting the averaged control image from the nerve subsequent averaged image to image the active nerve, administering the dye into vasculature perfusing the area of interest, obtaining a subsequent series of frames and processing the tumor subsequent series of frames into a tumor subsequent average

Abstract: A method of treating brain tumors in a patient, comprising the steps of: identifying and locating a brain tumor in vivo by affixing a stereotactic frame to the head of the patient, performing a computer tomographic (CT) scan of the skull of the patient to determine the location, size, and shape of the tumor with respect to the stereotactic frame, performing a biopsy by inserting an extraction tool along a path measured with respect to the frame to the tumor location, extracting a tissue from the location, removing the needle and the extracted tissue and analyzing the tissue; implanting at least a portion of an adjustable x-ray radiation source in the patient proximate the tumor, the adjustable radiation source including an electron beam source outside the head of the patient, and directing an electron beam produced by the source outside the head of the patient along the path to the location; and controlling the source to generate an x-ray radiation pattern characterized by a spatial and temporal distribution,

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) active invasive device system employs a radio-frequency (RF) coil embedded in an invasive device for the purpose of generating MR angiograms of a selected blood vessels. A subject is first placed in a polarizing magnetic field. The invasive device is then placed into a selected blood vessel of the subject such that the RF coil of the invasive device is located at or near the root of a vessel tree desired to be imaged. The RF coil is then used to alter the nuclear spin magnetization of blood flowing within the vessel. This is done by employing an RF excitation signal to the coil at the Larmor frequency of the blood. The nutation of spin magnetization can change the amount of longitudinal spin magnetization or the Amount of magnetization in the transverse plane. Because the size of the radio-frequency coil in the invasive device is small, the change in spin magnetization is limited to blood flowing by the invasive device.

Abstract: An invasive imaging system employs a self-contained RF transmitter attached to an invasive device which allows tracking of the invasive device within a subject without physical connections to a tracking/display system and without the use of ionizing rays. An imaging system obtains a medical diagnostic image of the subject. The self-contained RF transmitter is comprised of a power generator, a power conversion means such as an oscillator which converts the generated power to a radiofrequency (RF) signal, and a broadcasting means such as a tuned transmit coil for radiating the RF signal. The radiated RF signal is received by receive coils of a tracking/display means which calculates the location of the RF transmitter. The tracking/display means displays the medical diagnostic image on a monitor and superimposes a symbol on the image at a position corresponding to the calculated location of the RF transmitter.

Abstract: An invasive imaging system employs a self-contained RF transmitter attached to an invasive device which allows tracking of the invasive device within a subject without physical connections to a tracking/display system and without the use of ionizing rays. An imaging system obtains a medical diagnostic image of the subject. The self-contained RF transmitter is comprised of a power generator means, a power conversion means such as an oscillator which converts the generated power to a radiofrequency (RF) signal, and a broadcasting means such as a tuned transmit coil for radiating the RF signal. The radiated RF signal is received by receive coils of a tracing/display means which calculates the location of the RF transmitter. The tracking/display means displays the medical diagnostic image on a monitor and superimposes a symbol on the image at a position corresponding to the calculated location of the RF transmitter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for imaging margins, grade and dimensions of solid tumor tissue located in an area of interest, comprising illuminating the area of interest with high intensity, emr (electromagnetic radiation) containing the wavelength of emr absorbed by a dye, obtaining a video signal of the area of interest as an averaged control image and processing the averaged control image into the averaged control frame, administering the dye by bolus injection into a vein circulating to the area of interest, obtaining a series of video images of the area of interest over time as subsequent images and processing each subsequent image as a subsequent frame, comparing each subsequent frame with the processed averaged control frame to obtain a series of difference images, and comparing each difference image for initial evidence of changed absorption within the area of interest which is the outline of solid tumor tissue, whereby tumor tissue is characterized by faster absorption of emr as a result o

Abstract: RF tracking system employs a RF invasive device coupled to surgical tracking equipment for tracking the invasive device. An inductive coupling permits the device to be quickly coupled to, and decoupled from, the equipment. The coupling comprises an inducting coil which transmits a signal from the surgical tracking equipment to a communicating coil in the invasive device. The signal received by the communicating coil passes along leads to a tracked coil in a distal end of the invasive device. The tracked coil transmits the signal as RF energy which is received by the surgical tracking equipment which superimposes the position of the distal end of the invasive device on an X-ray image and displays it on a monitor A sterile shield is employed as a sterile barrier between the inducting coil and the equipment end of the invasive device to prevent contamination of the invasive device by the inducting coil.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic system comprises a monitoring device juxtaposable to a patient for collecting individualized medical data about the patient's condition, and a digitizer operatively connected to the monitoring device for digitizing the data. A computer is operatively connected to the digitizer and a memory which stores medical data for a multiplicity of previously diagnosed medical conditions. The computer is operated to compare digitized data about the patient's condition with the data stored in the memory and for deriving a diagnosis as to the patient's condition. The computer is connected to an ooutput device, e.g., a printer, for communicating the derived diagnosis to a user.

Abstract: A reusable, miniature, implantable electrochemical sensor, a method of making the same, and a powder therefor are provided. Enzyme material is immobilized on bulk particulate matter, and a reaction chamber of the sensor is then filled therewith. The sensor is implanted in an environment where it comes into contact with a specific component of a fluid with which the enzyme material chemically reacts to produce electrical signals for measuring the reaction.

Abstract: A laparoscopic instrument is provided having a hand-grippable base to which an elongate accessing tube is connected which extends to a tip. Extending inwardly from the tip is a detection support region within which is formed a radiation transmissive window. Immediately spaced from and behind the window there is positioned a detecting crystal such as cadmium telluride which is retained in a crystal mount structure having an architecture designed for minimizing noise generation occasioned from microphonic (piezoelectric) phenomena and the like.

Abstract: An active noise cancellation apparatus of an MRI apparatus, including a detector for detecting vibration of a bobbin or a driving signal of a magnetism generator as a noise source signal, error signal detectors for detecting actual noise near the ears of a patient, a circuit for generating a noise cancellation signal having an opposite phase to a phase of a noise signal generated by an MRI apparatus and having an amplitude proportional to the output of the error signal detectors, from the detected noise source signal and the output of the error signal detectors, and a sound generator for generating a sound wave by the noise cancellation signal.

Abstract: A method whereby motion can be detected in real time during the acquisition of MRI data. This enables the implementation of several algorithms to reduce or eliminate this motion from an image as it is being acquired. The method is an extension of the acceptance/rejection method algorithm called the diminishing variance algorithm (DVA). With this method, a complete set of preliminary data is acquired along with information about the relative motion position of each frame of data. After all the preliminary data is acquired, the position information is used to determine which lines are most corrupted by motion. Frames of data are then reacquired, starting with the most corrupted frame. The position information is continually updated in an iterative process, therefore each subsequent reacquisition is always done on the worst frame of data. The algorithm has been implemented on several different types of sequences, and preliminary in vivo studies indicate that motion artifacts are dramatically reduced.

Abstract: A water-degradable electrode, its method of preparation and a method or reclaiming valuable metal or metal alloy from such water-degradable electrode after use are provided. The water-degradable electrode contains a water-degradable, electrically nonconductive substrate and a nonphotosensitive, electrically conductive layer containing a metal or metal alloy. The metal- or metal-alloy-containing, nonphotosensitive, electrically conductive layer is disposed on the water-degradable nonconductive substrate. After the electrode has been used, the nonphotosensitive, electrically conductive material can be reclaimed by degrading in water the electrically nonconductive substrate on which the conductive material is disposed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for automatically determining the median line of a selected region of a human body so as to simplify complex imaging required hithero for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, and, in the method, an artifact of the imaged selected region of the human body is utilized to automatically determine the median line. For example, two artifacts 1010 and 1020 intersecting each other appear from the superior sagittal sinus as shown in FIG. 1 when the direction of phase encoding is changed. By subtracting one of these artifacts 1010 and 1020 from the other and calculating the absolute value of the result of subtraction, the point 1030 of intersection of the artifacts determines the location of the superior sagittal sinus which is the source of apperance of the artifacts, so that the median line can be automatically determined on the basis of the result of determination of location of the superior sagittal sinus.

Abstract: A method for measuring biopotentials at a lesion site on a human or animal subject and determining therefrom the magnitude of cell proliferation at such lesion site. A value indicative of the cell proliferation rate is compared with one or more reference values and treatment of the lesion is made in accordance with the results of this comparison. Treatment may be automatically controlled in response to the comparison, and the efficacy of treatment is monitored by comparing values obtained from biopotentials taken before treatment with those obtained during and/or after treatment.

Abstract: The apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer having a hand piece, an ultrasonic vibrating element secured to the hand piece and a probe coupled with the hand piece for propagating the ultrasonic oscillation produced by the ultrasonic vibrating element, a driving circuit for producing a driving signal for the ultrasonic vibrating element, a voltage controlled amplifier for amplifying the driving signal, an impedance matching transformer having a plurality of primary windings connected to the output of the voltage controlled amplifier via a switching circuit and a secondary winding connected to the ultrasonic vibrating element, a probe identification circuit for detecting the probe connected to the hand piece to produce a probe identification signal, a feedback control loop for generating a control voltage which is applied to the voltage controlled amplifier for controlling the amplification factor thereof in accordance with a driving current of the driving signal, an impedance detecting circuit for detectin

Abstract: An iontophoretic device having a two-layer active electrode element is disclosed. The active element is composed of overlapping skin contact hydrogel and carrier layers. The carrier layer contains dispersed or dissolved active agent. The active electrode element maintains the active agent in stable form and permits efficient transport of the active agent to the host. Also disclosed is an iontophoretic device having a single layer active electrode element. The single layer is a hydrogel as manufactured or substantially dry and capable of being hydrated before use. The skin contact hydrogel of the two-layer active electrode element preferably.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance gantry (A) includes a magnet (12) which generates a uniform magnetic field in a thin (under 15 cm thick) imaging volume (10). Gradient coils (30) and radio frequency coils (20) transmit radio frequency and gradient magnetic field pulses of conventional imaging sequences into the imaging volume. A patient support surface (42) moves a patient continuously through the imaging volume as the pulses of the magnetic resonance sequence are applied. A tachometer (52) monitors movement of the patient. A frequency scaler (54) scales the frequency of the RF excitation pulses applied by the transmitter (22) and the demodulation frequency of the receiver (26) in accordance with the patient movement such that the selected slice moves in synchrony with the patient through the imaging volume. The slice select gradient is indexed after magnetic resonance signals to generate a full set of views for reconstruction into a two-dimensional image representation of the slice are generated.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting with examining a body emitting wavebeams includes sensors to collect wavebeams along a plurality of respective axes termed "acquisition lines" and to transform the collected wavebeams into signals defining an image of projections of at least part of the body. The signals represent the intensity of the wavebeams. Differences between selected ones of the signals relative to the axis parameters are determined. Each jump in the intensity of the signals determines a critical point corresponding to an acquisition line tangential to a boundary of the body. The axis parameters of the critical points identify a position of at least one portion of the boundary.

Abstract: An X-ray tomography scanner and an optical tomography scanner are combined to obtain an optical image indicting metabolism in the body. Optical projection data indicating light pulse transmissions in the body are compensated by using a light scattering coefficient distribution determined by an X-ray tomogram image discriminated into individual internal organs or tissues. The compensated projection are back-projected.