Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate the correct placement of an instrument internal to an object aided by an overlay superimposed on an image are disclosed. Exemplary embodiments facilitate placement of a needle tip within a patient's body using on overlay superimposed on a sonographic image. A superimposed overlay of embodiments is created by monitoring a fixed point of an external portion of the instrument in relation to an imaging transducer. Superimposed overlays provided according to embodiments provide one or more graphical target designator and one or more graphical instrument designator which, when controlled to be disposed in a predetermined position, indicate proper placement of the instrument.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscopic probe is provided with an articulating distal tip at which and ultrasonic transducer is located. The articulating section of the probe can be locked in an articulated position by a lock control located at a control section of the probe. The locking force is variably selectable by the user, so that the articulating section will be locked in position by a desired force. The articulating section is controlled by cables, which include cable tension adjustments that also serve to delimit the range of articulation. The articulating section is formed of alternating pivot rings with intervening polymeric pivot beads, which provide repetitively smooth articulation. The ultrasonic transducer is rotatable to steer the acoustic scan plane during use, and a sliding membrane between the transducer and its acoustic window allows the transducer to rotate smoothly without sticking.

Abstract: A scanning aid is provided for aiding the user in obtaining 3D image data of a patient for rendering in a quantified 3D ultrasonic image. The scanning aid of the present invention relates the location of each piece of image data in three dimensional space to the physiology of the patient by relating the scanhead and its image planes to the patient. The scanning aid of the present invention provides the user with the ability to manually control the movement of the scanhead; the ability to obtain uniformly angularly spaced image planes regardless of the speed or variance in the motion of the scanhead; and the ability to obtain a repeatably fixed relationship between the scanhead and the scanning aid to assure the spatial precision of the acquired image data and to aid the user in repeatedly obtaining the same three dimensional ultrasonic images.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscopic probe is provided with an articulating distal tip at which and ultrasonic transducer is located. The articulating section of the probe can be locked in an articulated position by a lock control located at a control section of the probe. The locking force is variably selectable by the user, so that the articulating section will be locked in position by a desired force. The articulating section is controlled by cables, which include cable tension adjustments that also serve to delimit the range of articulation. The articulating section is formed of alternating pivot rings with intervening polymeric pivot beads, which provide repetitively smooth articulation. The ultrasonic transducer is rotatable to steer the acoustic scan plane during use, and a sliding membrane between the transducer and its acoustic window allows the transducer to rotate smoothly without sticking.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus having foot beams (38'",40'") rotatably mounted to an upright post member (140'") of a frame (138'"). Mounting blocks (242) are rotatably mounted to the upright post member above the foot beams to rotate about a first axis (248), and are linked by tie rods (136'") to the foot beams. Hand levers (132'" and 134'") are mounted to the mounting blocks by elastomeric torsion springs (256). Downward rotation of a foot beam results in rotation of the corresponding linked mounting block and hand lever about the first axis. Differential force exerted on the hand lever relative to the foot beam results in rotation of the hand lever about a second axis (284) and storage of energy by the elastomeric torsion spring. The hand lever is urged back to its nominal position by release of the stored energy.

Abstract: An exercise treadmill (10) includes a deck assembly (12) having a rearward end portion pivotally mounted on an underlying frame (14). A powered endless belt (100) is mounted on the deck assembly (12) to present a moving surface which slides over the top of the deck assembly. The forward end of the deck assembly is supported by a suspension system (20) utilizing lever arms (160L and 160R) mounted on the frame (14) to pivot about an axis (169). The lever arms are pivotally interconnected with the deck at a location distal from the pivot axis of the lever arms. Dampeners in the form of shock absorbers (178) are connected between the lever arms and the frame to impart a progressively increasing damping force on the lever arms as the lever arms rotate about their pivot axis under the influence of the descending deck.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus having a frame (12,22,32), a pair of foot beams (38,40) pivotally mounted to the frame, and a pair of elastomeric torsion springs (100,102) for urging each of the foot beams toward an upper position. Each of the elastomeric torsion springs comprises an annular elastomeric member (110) having a central bore (112). An outer casing (104) surrounds and is attached to the exterior surface of the elastomeric member and an inner casing (114) is disposed within and attached to the side wall of the central bore. The inner casing of each spring surrounds and is attached to a support arm (42,44) extending out from the frame of the exercise apparatus, and the outer casing of each spring is received in and attached to the side wall of an aperture (120) in a foot beam. As the foot beam is caused to rotate relative to the frame, the elastomeric member is torqued.

Abstract: An exercise treadmill (10) includes a deck assemlby (12) having a rearward end portion pivotally mounted on an underlying frame (14). A powered endless belt (100) is mounted on the deck assembly (12) to present a moving surface which slides over the top of the deck assembly. The forward end of the deck assembly is supported by a suspension system (20) utilizing lever arms (160L and 160R) mounted on the frame (14) to pivot about an axis (169). The lever arms are pivotally interconnected with the deck at a location distal from the pivot axis of the lever arms. Dampeners in the form of shock absorbers (178) are connected between the lever arms and the frame to impart a progressively increasing damping force on the lever arms as the lever arms rotate about their pivot axis under the influence of the descending deck.