Abstract: During an X-ray fluoroscopy procedure, the position and orientation of an invasive device, such as a catheter, are measured with radiofrequency fields. The invasive device has a transient coil attached near its end and is driven by a low power RF source to produce a dipole electromagnetic field that can be detected by an array of receive coils distributed around a region of interest of the subject. Multiple views of the instantaneous position of the invasive device are displayed by superposition of graphic symbols on multiple static X-ray images obtained at multiple view angles. Each view angle is displayed upon a different display means. The X-ray images are obtained only when deemed necessary by the operator to minimize X-ray dose. A single X-ray source and detector may be implemented since it is not necessary to obtain the X-ray images simultaneously.

Abstract: A phased array source identification receives signals from remote sources and determines direction of arrival angles and the respective powers of coherent electromagnetic signals for the purpose of spatial localization and identification of relatively low power coherent sources in the presence of other coherent sources of relatively large signal power. The system employs covariant analysis of the received signals followed by eigenanalysis to produce eigenvectors and eigenvalues. A superresolution algorithm creates array manifold vectors corresponding to source direction of arrival, that lie in the signal subspace of the eigenvectors. In radar applications low power sources correspond to targets, while the high power sources would correspond to jammers. The relative power of radar echoes contribute information relevant to the identification of real sources as opposed to false alarms. Other applications may include cellular telephone systems and sonar systems.

Abstract: A method for reducing distortion in magnetic resonance (MR) images of a subject employs distortion compensating MR pulses in a conventional MR imaging sequence. The distortion compensating pulses are determined by first creating a conventional MR image of a slice of a subject having inherent distortions; constructing a target slice which is distorted in a manner opposite the direction of distortions in the slice image; taking a multi-dimensional Fourier transformation of the target slice to obtain a k-space region; choosing a continuous trajectory which efficiently traverses the k-space region; applying principles of multidimensional selective-excitation design to create simultaneous RF pulses and magnetic field gradient waveforms from the trajectory; and simultaneously applying the RF pulses and gradient waveforms in place of a traditional slice-select pulse in conventional MR imaging sequences to obtain images having reduced distortion as compared with conventional images.

Abstract: An apparatus for microscopic imaging employing nuclear magnetic resonance is constructed from a cryogenic probe which is situated in a conventional magnetic resonance imaging system. The cryogenic probe employs a number of chambers and cryogenic liquids which cool a superconductor resonator to very low temperatures. A sample tube for containing a small specimen is heated to a temperature above its freezing point by flowing nitrogen gas over the specimen. A secondary resonant circuit is inductively coupled to the superconducting resonator. A transceiver passes RF signals to be transmitted into the specimen through the secondary resonant circuit causing the superconducting resonator to transmit the RF signal into the specimen. The resonator then acts as a receive coil and receives a signal from the specimen which is inductively passed to the secondary resonator circuit from which an image is generated.

Abstract: A tracking system which measures the position and orientation of invasive devices is used to automatically control the location of the X-ray imaging system gantry and/or patient table. The position and orientation of the invasive device, such as a catheter, are measured by detection of a radiofrequency field generated by the invasive device. The invasive device has at least one transmit coil attached near its end and is driven by a low power RF source to produce a dipole electromagnetic field that can be detected by an array of receive coils distributed around a region of interest. Automatic gantry placement facilitates medical diagnostic and therapeutic X-ray procedures and in some instances can reduce the number of personnel required to perform these procedures.

Abstract: During an X-ray procedure, the position and orientation of an invasive device, such as a catheter are measured with radio frequency fields and displayed stereoscopically. Instantaneous three-dimensional positions of the invasive device are displayed by superposition of a graphic symbol on static X-ray images obtained at two different view angles. The X-ray images are obtained only when deemed necessary by the operator to minimize X-ray dose. A single X-ray source and detector may be implemented since it is not necessary to obtain the X-ray images simultaneously.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance surgery system facilitates performance of surgery with a focussed ultrasound transducer that selectively destroys tissue in a region within a subject. The focussed ultrasound transducer dissipates ultrasonic energy at a focal point within the region of tissue to be destroyed. A number of hydraulic positioners position the focal point under the control of a surgeon. A magnetic resonance imaging system employing a temperature sensitive pulse sequence creates an image of the tissue and the region being heated to allow the surgeon to adjust the position of the ultrasonic transducer so as to direct ultrasonic energy to the appropriate location.

Abstract: In-situ extraction of contaminants, such as PCBs, from soil is achieved by an electroosmosis technique. The soil is treated with a low concentration surfactant solution used as a purging liquid. The contaminant is dissolved in the ground water, aided by the purging liquid. An electric field is applied to a region of the soil causing the ground water, contaminant and surfactant to move by electroosmosis to a collection point where the purging liquid, dissolved contaminant and surfactant are collected and removed from the soil. This method may also be used to control the direction of seepage of the contaminants.

Abstract: An in-situ method of extracting oil from a hydrocarbon bearing layer such as oil-shale or tar sands lying beneath a surface layer comprises applying a radiofrequency excitation signal to the hydrocarbon bearing layer through a system of electrodes. The electrodes are inserted into a matrix of holes drilled through the surface layer and into the hydrocarbon bearing layer. A coaxial line extending through the surface layer is connected to the electrodes extending into the hydrocarbon bearing layer. The electrodes have a length that is an integral number of quarter wavelengths of the radiofrequency energy. A matching network connected between the coaxial cable and a respective one of the electrodes maximizes the power flow into each electrode. The electrodes are excited uniformly in rows and as a "balanced-line" RF array where adjacent rows of electrodes are 180.degree. out of phase.

Abstract: A method of imaging and quantitatively measuring blood velocity distribution within a selected vessel employs Nuclear Magnetic Resonance excitation of a number of regions of a subject to be imaged by an rf excitation pulse applied in a magnetic field gradient. The rf excitation pulse has several frequency bands with the frequencies between the bands having essentially no amplitude. A frequency band causes excitation of a region of the subject. Each frequency band is encoded with a unique phase angle offset so that the signals from each region may be separated. The excited regions are Fourier velocity encoded along a second axis based upon their flow velocities. A re-radiated signal is acquired in the presence of a readout gradient to provide resolution along a selected axis and reconstruct a velocity profile. This method can be combined with cardiac synchronization to measure flow dynamics or it can be applied without synchronization to measure steady flow.

Abstract: A method of collecting three-dimensional magnetic resonance (MR) fluid flow images from a volume of a subject and constructing a high contrast low noise two-dimensional image therefrom is accomplished by statistical calculation of voxel values along projection lines cast through a three-dimensional data volume obtained from three-dimensional MR angiography techniques, and converting the data to projection images by summing the weighted differences from the projection average of data for each voxel along a projection ray. The data are then normalized and repeated for all projection rays to obtain a set of projection values which are displayed on a two-dimensional display device.

Abstract: A method for providing a volumetrically-rendered projection image using reverse ray casting, uses the steps of: acquiring, from an object volume of interest, a set of data sampled from each volume element (voxel) therein responsive to a selected characteristic of that object volume; storing the data for each object voxel in a corresponding data volume element; scanning sequentially through each data voxel within the data volume corresponding to the object volume of interest; projecting each scanned data voxel to an image plane, at a solid angle determined from the solid angle at which the object volume is viewed; storing a value for each image plane pixel, responsive to a selected criteria, from the values of all projected data voxel values impingent upon that image plane pixel; and then scaling the dimensions of each image plane pixel responsive to the dimensions of the corresponding object volume shape, and the involved projection solid angle, to correct for anisotropy.

Abstract: NMR spectroscopy employing flow-encoding magnetic field gradient pulses provide velocity sensitivity. Spectroscopic analysis of constituents of a sample can be obtained and separated by velocity. Fluid samples to be analyzed are passed through a chromatography column in order to cause different constituents of the sample to pass at different velocities. The sample is then subjected to a velocity sensitive NMR encoding sequence. Data is acquired from the sample which allows a spectroscopic analysis of a constituent of the sample. Signals from molecules of a constituent travelling at a desired velocity can be selectively detected, thereby providing information concerning the molecular weight of the detected molecule. NMR spectra of a mixture of molecules having differing molecular weights and absorption properties can be resolved into their individual constituents.

Abstract: A tracking system in which radiofrequency signals emitted by an invasive device such as a catheter are detected and used to measure the position and orientation of the invasive device within a subject. Detection of the radiofrequency signals is accomplished with coils having sensitivity profiles which vary approximately linearly with position. The invasive device has a transmit coil attached near its end and is driven by a low power RF source to produce a dipole electromagnetic field that can be detected by an array of receive coils distributed around a region of interest of the subject. The position and orientation of the device as determined by the tracking system are superimposed upon independently acquired Medical Diagnostic images, thereby minimizing the diagnostic exposure times. One or more invasive devices can be simultaneously tracked.

Abstract: A three dimensional image of a human brain or other body structure is constructed using a single flow sensitive data array and a flow insensitive data array to generate the contrasts necessary to differentiate among stationary tissues and also between stationary tissues and flowing blood. A plurality of data points from this combined image data are identified to tissue types and used to segregate the remaining data by using a nearest neighbor process in which each data value takes the tissue type of its nearest neighbor data point.

Abstract: A digital radio receiver for synchronization of radiowave transmissions for digital and analog FM signals in TDMA systems such as cellular telephones uses a tangent type discriminator that minimizes the bit error rate. The digital discriminator employs A/D converter circuit that samples a received intermediate frequency (IF) signal, a sorter circuit that produces a predetermined number of samples to be used in the decoding, a sample and phase adjustment circuit that allows for a carrier phase adjustment and sample timing adjustment, a divider circuit that eliminates the need for a conventional limiter by causing a ratio of amplitudes to be processed instead of absolute signal amplitudes, an inverse tangent circuit that creates a decoded phase angle from the ratio, a delay circuit and a summer circuit that create a differential signal, a modulo-2.pi.

Abstract: An antenna for NMR imaging of the eye of a patient includes a small circular or oval surface coil which is locatable immediately adjacent to the eye of the patient and supported by a member having a shape contoured to fit in the region between the zygomatic and supra-orbital arches of the face. The supporting member may be a disc supporting a whole-eye surface coil anterior of the eye, or may be a contact-lens-like member supporting a fine wire surface coil substantially in contact with the anterior orbital aspect.

Abstract: A method for providing information about the rate of a selected chemical reaction in each of at least one selected volume elements (voxels) in a sample includes the steps of: exciting a reaction-rate-dependent chemical-shift spectrum, by a selected stimulus (such as one of saturation-transfer and inversion-transfer RF signal pulses) to label the NMR signal of a first reaction constituent; spatially localizing the NMR response signal, provided by the excited resonance, to a selected voxel within the sample; and acquiring and processing the NMR response data from the localized voxel. The excitation, localization and data acquisition subsequences are repeated to generate data substantially proportional, or equal, to the reaction rate constants in the selected voxels, and in planes and/or volumes thereof.

Abstract: An NMR system performs in vivo localized NMR spectroscopy. A two-dimensional selective RF excitation pulse is used to localize to a cylindrical region of interest, and either phase encoding or slice selective inversion is used to localize to a disk in the cylindrical region of interest. The two-dimensional selective RF excitation is performed in a series of pulse sequences rather than a single pulse sequence, and the resulting series of acquired NMR signals are summed together to substantially cancel signal conributions from outside the cylindrical region of interest.

Abstract: In order to display the surfaces of internal structures within a solid body from non-intrusively acquired data sets, it is useful to segment the data sets into the internal structures of interest before searching for the surfaces of such structures. To accomplish this, a data segmentation system uses a plurality of sample data points to construct a statistical probability distribution for a plurality of internal structures. Using these probability distributions, each data point is labeled with the most likely structure identification. Searching the thus-segmented data points for surfaces is considerably faster than is possible with the entire data set and produces surface renditions with fewer anomalies and errors. If the solid body is a human head, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is used to obtain two data sets corresponding to the two NMR echoes, then the probability distribution is bivariate and the two echoes can be plotted against each other to assist in identifying tissue clusters.