Abstract: An electric nerve stimulation device and apparatus for suppressing organic pain and other functional disorders of the nervous system without noxious sensation and substantially free from the adaptation phenomenon which usually results from subjecting receptors and nerve cells to uniform stimulating signals. The device includes a pulse generator to produce bipolar rectangular waveforms at preselected repetition rate and of a preselected width during a given first time period. Electronic circuits are connected to the post generator to deliver rectangular waveforms at a repetition rate which is chosen by a pseudo-random function for a second time period which is also chosen by a pseudo-random function. Further circuitry is provided to inhibit delivery of pulse waves for a third period of time. This third period of time is chosen by a pseudo-random function, thereby substantially eliminating noxious sensations and adaptation of nerve cells to stimulation during suppression of the organic pain.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for receiving therethrough a puncturing cannula, the probe comprising a support member having at least one substantially planar surface and including a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in at least one row of the one planar surface, a pyramid-shaped space formed in the member, the space having a V-shaped cross section, the apex of the V comprising a first slot between converging walls of the space and lying substantially at the center of the row of transducer elements, the space opening through a wall of the support member substantially perpendicular to the one planar surface; and an auxiliary member substantially complementary in shape to the space and having a pair of tapering walls conforming to the converging walls, the inner edges of the tapering walls forming a second slot lying substantially in the plane of the planar surface and overlying the edges of the converging walls forming the first slot, the side edges of the tapering walls conforming on one side to the o