Abstract: An elongate medical instrument that may comprise steering mechanisms, optical sensors, light emitters, and/or fluid flow paths is disclosed. A removable sheath may be utilized to isolate the instrument from contamination when the instrument is used within the human body. The sheath may be disposable or reusable. In some instances, the elongate device may be used to position other components, such as elongate tubes.

Abstract: A breast scanning system configured to scan a breast of a patient includes a table configured to receive the patient thereon. The table has an aperture formed therein configured to receive the breast of the patient pendant therethrough and positionable over and into a bath configured to contain a medium. An armature is movably disposable in the bath. The armature carries transducer arrays that are disposable in the bath, and configured to transmit and receive acoustic and/or ultrasound signals. A manual control is operatively coupled to the armature to manually move the armature and thus the transducer arrays within the bath.

Abstract: A breast scanning system scans a breast of a patient with transducer arrays that transmit and receive ultrasound signals in a bath containing a medium, such as a liquid. A table is disposable over the bath to receive the patient thereon, and has an aperture formed in the table and positionable over the bath to receive the breast of the patient pendent therethrough and into the bath. The table is linearly vertically displaceable with respect to the bath. The system includes a preconditioning tank to precondition the liquid prior to being introduced into the bath. The bath includes means for securing the breast within the bath.

Abstract: A method for imaging and treating a breast of a patient includes: disposing the breast into a bath of medium; physically securing the breast and maintaining the breast in a repeatable position and in a repeatable shape with respect to a chest wall of the patient; scanning the breast with ultrasound signals from transducer arrays to create a three-dimensional image of the breast and to locate a position of a tumor or a lesion in the breast with respect to the three-dimensional image; and further treating the tumor or the lesion of the breast while maintaining the position and the shape of the breast with respect to the chest wall of the patient as during scanning.

Abstract: A breast scanning system configured to scan a breast of a patient includes a table configured to receive the patient thereon. The table has an aperture formed therein configured to receive the breast of the patient pendant therethrough and positionable over and into a bath configured to contain a medium. An armature is movably disposable in the bath. The armature carries transducer arrays that are disposable in the bath, and configured to transmit and receive acoustic and/or ultrasound signals. A manual control is operatively coupled to the armature to manually move the armature and thus the transducer arrays within the bath.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing noise and motion artifacts in pixels of a processed or displayed video image by filtering pixel values of the video image based on a first frame having currently stored (filtered) pixel values and a second frame having recently captured but not yet filtered pixel values. The apparatus includes a spatial filter for computing a motion value of a pixel of interest by averaging difference values of selected pixels surrounding the pixel of interest. Also included is a filter function means for producing an output difference value of the pixel of interest based on the motion value and an adder for adding the output difference value to the first frame filtered pixel value of the pixel of interest. Thus, each pixel of the video image is filtered according to the amount of motion in the video image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing noise and motion artifacts in pixels of a processed or displayed video image by filtering pixel values of the video image based on a first frame having currently stored (filtered) pixel values and a second frame having recently captured but not yet filtered pixel values. The apparatus includes a spatial filter for computing a motion value of a pixel of interest by averaging difference values of selected pixels surrounding the pixel of interest. Also included is a filter function means for producing an output difference value of the pixel of interest based on the motion value and an adder for adding the output difference value to the first frame filtered pixel value of the pixel of interest. Thus, each pixel of the video image is filtered according to the amount of motion in the video image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing noise and motion artifacts in pixels of a processed or displayed video image by filtering pixel values of the video image based on a first frame having currently stored (filtered) pixel values and a second frame having recently captured but not yet filtered pixel values. The apparatus includes a spatial filter for computing a motion value of a pixel of interest by averaging difference values of selected pixels surrounding the pixel of interest. Also included is a filter function means for producing an output difference value of the pixel of interest based on the motion value and an adder for adding the output difference value to the first frame filtered pixel value of the pixel of interest. Thus, each pixel of the video image is filtered according to the amount of motion in the video image.

Abstract: A method for providing automatic brightness control in a closed loop x-ray imaging system which utilizes an automatic brightness system (ABS) sampling window. The location, size and shape of the ABS sampling window is adjusted in accordance with statistical information including spatial gray scale distribution data derived from the data related to the x-ray system and image being processed, thereby enabling the automatic brightness control to make brightness and power adjustments in accordance with statistical data from the modified ABS sampling window.

Abstract: A one-piece C-arm for use with X-ray diagnostic equipment included in cross-section two generally vertical sidewalls extending generally parallel to one another, an inner support wall connecting the sidewalls, and an outer support wall spaced-apart from the inner support wall and connecting the sidewalls. A pair of flanges extend outwardly from respective sidewalls, and toward one another to form at least one channel along an outer portion of the C-arm frame for receiving wheels or bearings to allow moveable mounting of the C-arm on diagnostic equipment.

Abstract: A C-arm apparatus. An X-ray imaging system is coupled to a C-arm, including an X-ray source and an image receptor mounted upon opposing locations, respectively on the C-arm. The C-arm is mass balanced about its axis of orbital rotation and is pivotally coupled to an articulating arm assembly supported upon a wheeled support base. The mass balance enables repositioning of the X-ray imaging system between an anterior-posterior view and an orthogonal lateral view with a single, orbital movement of the C-arm which also causes the views to define an imaging isocenter. The C-arm is preferably miniaturized to an approximate diameter of twenty-eight inches with a source-to-image distance of approximately fourteen inches.

Abstract: A C-arm apparatus. A C-shaped member is slidably supported in a suspended position by a support arm. The support arm is rotatable about an axis of lateral rotation and is slidably mounted to an outer circumference of the arc-shaped member at a point of attachment coinciding with the axis of lateral rotation. Since the support arm is attached to the C-shaped member in alignment with the axis of lateral rotation, the support arm does not introduce eccentric lateral moment-arm action during lateral rotation and thereby provides a more stabile, balanced support structure.

Abstract: A one-piece C-arm for use with X-ray diagnostic equipment included in cross-section two generally vertical sidewalls extending generally parallel to one another, an inner support wall connecting the sidewalls, and an outer support wall spaced-apart from the inner support wall and connecting the sidewalls. A pair of flanges extend outwardly from respective sidewalls, and toward one another to form at least one channel along an outer portion of the C-arm frame for receiving wheels or bearings to allow moveable mounting of the C-arm on diagnostic equipment.

Abstract: A one-piece C-arm for use with X-ray diagnostic equipment included in cross-section two generally vertical sidewalls extending generally parallel to one another, an inner support wall connecting the sidewalls, and an outer support wall spaced-apart from the inner support wall and connecting the sidewalls. A pair of flanges extend outwardly from respective sidewalls, and toward one another to form at least one channel along an outer portion of the C-arm frame for receiving wheels or bearings to allow moveable mounting of the C-arm on diagnostic equipment.

Abstract: An implantable drug delivery system includes a housing having a base end and a discharge end, for holding drug solution at the discharge end, a valve disposed at the discharge end to allow a drug solution to flow from inside the housing, through the valve and out of the housing when solution pressure is applied to the valve, a piston slidably disposed in the housing to slide between the base end and discharge end to force solution toward the discharge end and out the valve, and a spring disposed in the housing between the piston and the base end thereof for urging the piston toward the discharge end. A plurality of different length tethers are connected at one end to the piston and at the other end to a respective release node located at the base end of the housing. Each release node holds the other end of a respective one of the tethers until a release signal is received at which time it releases the tether.

Abstract: An implantable drug delivery system includes a housing having a plurality of compartments each of which includes an opening on one side thereof and a floor generally opposite the opening. Also included are a plurality of flexible drug containment sacks, each having a mouth circumscribing an opening in the sack, with the sack being disposed in a respective compartment with the mouth affixed to the opening of that compartment to seal the inside of the sack from the inside of the compartment and to enable holding a drug formulation in the sack. A plurality of covers are disposed over a respective compartment opening for preventing the release of drug formulation contained in the sacks in the compartment covered, until ruptured or removed.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system is disclosed for administering substantially sterile dialysate to the peritoneal cavity of a patient. The system includes a dialyzer for passing a primary solution and a secondary solution therethrough to enabale removal of waste products from the primary solution to the secondary solution, and a primary circuit for selectively circulating a primary solution through the dialyzer. Connecting conduits or tubing is provided for selectively carrying primary solution from the primary circuit to the peritoneal cavity of the patient and for selectively withdrawing at least some of the solution from the peritoneal cavity back into the primary circuit. A pump is disposed in the primary circuit for causing primary solution to circulate in the primary circuit independently of transfer of primary solution between the primary circuit and the peritoneal cavity of the patient.

Abstract: An implantable drug delivery system includes a housing having a base end and a discharge end, for holding drug solution at the discharge end, a valve disposed at the discharge end to allow a drug solution to flow from inside the housing, through the valve and out of the housing when solution pressure is applied to the valve, a piston slidably disposed in the housing to slide between the base end and discharge end to force solution toward the discharge end and out the valve, and a spring disposed in the housing between the piston and the base end thereof for urging the piston toward the discharge end. A plurality of different length tethers are connected at one end to the piston and at the other end to a respective release node located at the base end of the housing. Each release node holds the other end of a respective one of the tethers until a release signal is received at which time it releases the tether.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to subcutaneous peritoneal injection catheters and methods which minimize catheter obstruction during use. The apparatus includes a receiving chamber or reservoir having a relatively small internal volume while employing a penetrable membrane and relatively enlarged target surface area. The reservoir is interconnected with the peritoneal cavity by a hollow stem. The penetrable membrane accommodates a hollow needle being inserted into the receiving reservoir and is configurated with a dome-like profile so that the membrane may also be depressed to expel insulin from the receiving reservoir into the peritoneal cavity in a direction generally toward the mesenteric peritoneal membrane.The distal end of the hollow stem (which is situated inside the peritoneal cavity), is constructed so as to minimize the likelihood of catheter obstruction during use by a patient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a subcutaneous peritoneal injection catheter apparatus and methods which minimizes catheter obstruction during use. The apparatus includes a receiving chamber or reservoir having a relatively small internal volume while employing a penetrable membrane and relatively enlarged target surface area. The reservoir is interconnected with the peritoneal cavity by a hollow stem. The penetrable membrane accommodates a hollow needle being inserted into the receiving reservoir and is configurated with a dome-like profile so that the membrane may also be depressed to expel insulin from the receiving reservoir into the peritoneal cavity in a direction generally toward the mesenteric peritoneal membrane.The portion of the apparatus which is in the peritoneal cavity is preferably constructed of, or coated with, a material which is capable of minimizing the adhesion of cells and the growth of bacteria on that portion of the apparatus.