Abstract: A machine for diagnostic and/or therapeutic treatment, particularly a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine, includes, in combination therewith, a table (2) for supporting the patient, with at least one peripheral recess (302) in the surface of the table (2) or of a part thereof (102) which recess is complemented by a side (201) of the operating surface forming part of the structure of the machine, particularly of the delimitation walls of the cavity or chamber for accommodating the patient.

Abstract: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatus, comprising a unit (1) for exciting and receiving nuclear spin signals, an electronic driver unit (3) for driving the devices of the signal exciting and receiving unit, an electronic unit for controlling the electronic driver units, a unit (6) for processing the received signals, a unit (5) for displaying the image data processed, a unit (6) for filing and storing the image data, a unit (4) for entering commands, the said units being formed partially by specific hardware and partially by a commercial available personal computer running specific programs, a bidirectional communication bus (7′) being further provided for the communication between the different units, which bus encodes data consistently with the communication buses normally used to interface computer peripheral devices, and/or in communication networks, or the like, characterized in that at least one part of the personal computer hardware is formed by a client computer (30) and part by a server

Abstract: A circuit for active decoupling of transmit coils in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatuses, particularly of the low field type, includes at least one PIN diode (D1), which is connected in series with the conductors of at least one transmit coil (1) and has at least one input (4) for an incoming bias current. The circuit has at least one additional diode (D2) which is a silicon diode connected in antiparallel with the PIN diode (D1).

Abstract: A combination Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatus and patient table, which apparatus has a magnet structure, defining a cavity for accommodating a part of the body under examination, which is supported by a base block, the patient table and the apparatus having a base block and a supporting structure respectively, that are slidable in at least one, or more directions. The patient table and the Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatus have a mechanism for removable connection therebetween and guide thereof along predetermined relative displacement paths.

Abstract: A method for ultrasound imaging of tissues located in a tissue image region includes the steps of projecting at least one ultrasound beam into the tissue image region and receiving ultrasound reflections in order to transduce the ultrasound reflections into corresponding electric echo signals. The echo signals are processed according to at least two different modes including, an imaging mode for furnishing a panoramic image of the region under examination and a second processing mode that is a different echo processing mode for imaging particular tissues or tissue structures. The images obtained by processing are displayed on the same screen wherein the image obtained by the first mode is displayed with a gray scale and the image obtained by the second mode is displayed in a colored manner.

Abstract: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatus, comprising a unit (1) for exciting and receiving nuclear spin signals, an electronic driver unit (3) for driving the devices of the signal exciting and receiving unit, an electronic unit for controlling the electronic driver units, a unit (6) for processing the received signals, a unit (5) for displaying the image data processed, a unit (6) for filing and storing the image data, a unit (4) for entering commands, the said units being formed partially by specific hardware and partially by a commercial available personal computer running specific programs, a bidirectional communication bus (7′) being further provided for the communication between the different units, which bus encodes data consistently with the communication buses normally used to interface computer peripheral devices, and/or in communication networks, or the like, characterized in that at least one part of the personal computer hardware is formed by a client computer (30) and part by a server

Abstract: A method for ultrasonic imaging, particularly of moving bodies, such as surgical utensils, tissues, flows, or the like, which includes the following steps:—Periodically emitting ultrasonic pulses along a predetermined view line and with a predetermined repetition rate through one or more transducers;—Receiving the echoes produced by the body and/or the tissues or flows and transforming them into echo signals;—Processing the echo signals for extracting information therefrom and for generating an image based on such information. According the invention, the following steps are additionally provided:—determining a real time vector difference between the echo signals of two pulses successively emitted at predetermined time intervals;—using said difference signal as an information signal for ultrasonic imaging.

Abstract: A method of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging includes the formation of a panoramic image or an image of a wide region of the body under examination, by obtaining a certain number of images (I, I′, I″, I′″) from several limited regions of the body under examination (C) and by combining said images in a panoramic image (P). The individual images (I, I′, I″, I′″) are obtained by moving the body under examination (C) in a certain direction and to a predetermined extent relative to the magnetic structure (1) and/or to the imaging volume (1) generated thereby. The invention also relates to an apparatus for implementing said method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing magnetic field generating devices in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatuses and to an image generating device according to said method. According to the invention, at least one layer of each pole piece is composed a plurality of adjacent or overlapping sheets, electrically insulated from each other. These sheets or foils may have slots, notches or apertures which cause bridges of a material having a lower electric conductivity to be formed between the areas separated by the notches and/or apertures. The bridges of material may be removed after sheet assembly by a cutting operation, particularly by laser cutting.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variable gain and low noise amplifier for received signals in ultrasound or nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparata. This variable gain and low noise amplifier comprises at least one amplifier unit having at least one input and at least one output and at least one feedback circuit which connects one of the output signals with a feedback input. The variable gain and low noise amplifier is characterized in that at least one feedback circuit comprises at least one capacitive divider.

Abstract: A method of ultrasound imaging, including the following steps, transmitting ultrasonic beams generated by transducers (20) into an object volume (v) such as an object body or a part thereof, receiving (20) and storing (3) signals reflected from said object volume, processing and receiving signals into image data associated to image dots or lines of a video display (8), and displaying at least a few image data on the display (8) in accordance with parameters set by a user and related to a predetermined section or projection plane of the image of said object volume. According to the invention, scanning is only performed in the region of the object body which coincides with the section plane or the image projection plane (P) of the object volume along which imaging is to be performed.

Abstract: A method for ultrasound imaging in the presence of contrast agents, particularly in the field of cardiology, including detecting physiological, especially electrocardiographic signals; transforming the signals or a part thereof into pulses for controlling an ultrasonic probe pointed to the heart region, to synchronize it with the heart cycle; performing image acquisitions at predetermined heart cycle phases for predetermined limited times, with a predetermined ultrasonic beam intensity; processing the received signals and displaying them on a display. Image acquisition takes place in the systolic phase of each heart cycle from the end of diastole to the end of systole, a certain fixed number of acquisitions per unit time and an intensity of the ultrasonic beams being determined with the help of an intermediate Mechanical Index for controlled destruction of a certain percentage of contrast agent microbubbles.

Abstract: The opto-acoustic generator of ultrasound waves comprises an optical fiber associated to a laser-energy source, and an opto-acoustic transducer which is applied to said fiber and is designed to be impinged upon by the laser beam and to absorb partially the energy, converting it into thermal energy, thus bringing about the formation of ultrasound waves by the thermo-acoustic effect. Said opto-acoustic transducer consists of a layer or film containing prevalently graphite, which is applied on a surface of said optical fiber.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method, an instrument and a system for performing verification measurements and corrections of magnetic fields in magnets for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging machines. According to the invention, test elements are used whereof Nuclear Magnetic Resonance images are detected. Then, these actually detected images are compared with the theoretical images which would be obtained in ideal conditions. The number, magnitude and position of correcting magnetic charges are determined from the differences between the actual image and the theoretical image. The invention is also directed to a specific test element and to a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging machine.

Abstract: A patient table is used in combination with a biomedical apparatus such as a magnetic resonance imaging machine. The table includes a supporting surface sized to accommodate at least a part of the patient's body. At least one recess is formed in one or more areas of the supporting surface, these recesses being open at the peripheral edge of the supporting surface. The table is formed of first and second parts that can be angled relative to one another. The table can be swung horizontally to relative positions relative to the machine and locked in selected ones of the positions.

Abstract: A Faraday cage, particularly for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance applications, has perforated peripheral walls in the form of gratings or networks and grounding elements, or elements having a predetermined potential with respect to the ground. The perforated or grated walls of the cage have a dark color at their inner side, preferably black or the like. By this arrangement, a contrast is generated with the light coming from outside the cage, which causes a higher transparency effect, and reduces the risk of claustrophobic crises or sensations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Faraday cage, particularly for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance applications, having walls which delimit a room, said walls being at least partially made of an electrically conductive material and connected to the ground or to a predetermined potential. According to the invention, the Faraday cage has a floor which rests at least partly on the ground and has such a construction that the weight is spread all over its surface. According to a further characteristic, the floor wall is load-bearing and preferably consists of crossed load-bearing beams and load bearing panels therebetween. The floor is electrically conductive and is connected at least electrically to the other walls of the cage.

Abstract: An examination table, particularly in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance image detecting machines of the so-called dedicated type, i.e. designed for detecting images of specific body parts, has an at least one-degree-of-freedom constraint (5, 6) to the machine (1), and has supports (6, 7, 12, 402, 302) which allow the examination table (2) to be moved in at least one, preferably two or more degrees of freedom. Advantageously, the examination table (2) is mounted in such a way as to be able to slide (7, 6) on a stationary guide (5) which is fixed with a predetermined orientation with respect to the detection cavity (101) of the machine (1) and it may be further translated in both senses (6, 7) along said guide (5) and rotated (11, 12) about an axis (402) perpendicular to the direction it follows while sliding on the guide (5).

Abstract: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatus of the type for imaging specific parts of the body, the device including a magnetic structure (1), having a cavity (101) for accommodating the limb part to be examined, which may be accessed from the outside, and in which, or at least in one part of which (V) the necessary magnetic fields are generated.

Abstract: A method to improve the efficiency of coil systems in devices for NMR image detection, by of a quadrature coil system (1, 2; 3, 4), having at least two coils, whose magnetic fields follow orthogonal directions. The method according to the invention provides the deformation of the two coils (1, 2, 3, 4) in accordance with the peculiar geometrical characteristics of the parts, or limbs, or bodies to be examined and in such a way that the magnetic fields associated to the two coils contain, in the relevant volume, being meant to contain the body under examination or a part thereof, different and complementary areas of concentration (B1, B2; B3, B4), hence of higher sensitivity and efficiency, of the magnetic field, the combination of the complementary areas (B1, B2; B3, B4) generating a comprehensive magnetic field with a predetermined higher intensity and homogeneity in the relevant volume, which is meant to contain the body under examination or a part thereof.