Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including a magnetic structure having two opposite and spaced apart poles and a column or wall transverse to the poles and connecting the poles; the poles defining two opposite walls delimiting a patient-imaging space, the two opposite walls extending along substantially parallel planes which are substantially parallel to a vertical plane; and a patient positioning table which is slidably connected to a supporting frame between the two poles; the table being positioned with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the two opposite parallel walls of the poles and the table being oriented with its transverse axis perpendicular to at least one of the two opposite walls.

Abstract: A multi-pole connector has a first movable or plug-in connector member (30) with a plurality of electric contacts (131) supported by a terminal strip (31). The electric contacts are arranged in a pattern. The movable member (30) is designed to be mechanically and electrically coupled to a framework (1) which includes a second stationary, spring-biased connector member (5) which has at least one terminal strip (4, 4?) with a plurality of electric contact terminals (104, 104?) thereon, in the form of islands of material arranged in the same pattern. The movable member (30) is to be inserted into a fixed slide guide (103) and the connector member (5) is urged by springs (7) to bring terminal strips (4, 4?) into an electrical connection position with movable member (30) and a rotatable shaft (106) with cam (306) is used to move the stationary member (5) away from such position, to thereby permit release of the movable member (30).

Abstract: A method for ultrasonic detection and imaging of hemodynamic information includes the steps of transmitting ultrasonic pulses into a body, which are generated by an array of electro-acoustic transducers arranged in a predetermined order and design; receiving reflected pulses with an array of receiving electro-acoustic transducers, which generate receive signals upon stimulation of the reflected pulses, the succession of pulses transmitted to or received from the body being focused along one or more scan lines; generating a Doppler frequency shift signal resulting from the reflection of pulses transmitted by a blood flow into a vessel intersected by the scan line, in a point and along the scan line, or along a direction of propagation of a pulse; determining the direction of blood flow velocity from the average frequency value of Doppler shift frequencies; and displaying the direction of blood flow velocity by graphical and/or chromatic representation differentiating opposite directions.

Abstract: A measurement method of time varying events in a target body, including the steps of (a) providing time dependent measurements signals of parameters of the time varying events in the target body, (b) providing ecographic M-mode image data whose spatial direction is along scan-lines or along a line or curve on a 2D or 3D image of an image sequence, (c) defining a time interval within which the measurement signal has to be displayed and/or evaluated, (d) generating bi-dimensional graph information, (e) generating bi-dimensional M-mode images, (f) determining the time instant of begin of the time interval having a univoquely relation to time varying events, (g) rescaling the time scale of each graph, and (h) displaying the graph of the function corresponding to one or more of the time dependent measurement signal on a background.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for displaying images of first and second image data in which geometry data is transferred from an ultrasound imaging detector to an image combination device in addition to first image data to reduce the need for calibration and registration.

Abstract: An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of patients with limbs, particularly lower limbs, under natural stress, which apparatus includes a magnet structure having an open or closed annular shape, and a predetermined axial extension, which structure delimits a cavity for receiving at least a part of the patient body, with at least two or three open sides, the open sides providing access to the cavity. The open or closed annular magnet structure being disposed with the axis of the open or closed annular shape oriented with at least one vertical directional component and devices being provided for vertical translation of the magnet structure or the patient relative to the magnet structure.

Abstract: An ergonomic housing for electroacoustic transducers, particularly for ultrasound imaging, includes at least an inner space (4) housing, one or more electroacoustic transducers (5) and possible further electric and/or electronic components (6/7). The housing (1) has at least an acoustic window (2) at which the one or more electroacoustic transducers (5) are placed. Further included is a handle part (101) composed of an opposing gripping surface having a shape that is ergonomically fitted for being gripped by a hand or a portion thereof. The gripping surface has such a shape or profile (301) to be ergonomically fitted for being gripped by inserting it in the hollow between two adjacent fingers of the hand.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a magnet having a two poles and a wall connecting the poles; the poles delimiting a patient-imaging space; and a table which is slidably connected to one of the two poles between the two poles and which table extends substantially parallel to the two poles; a drive for displacing the table relative to the magnet; a lock for locking the table in a selected position relative to the magnet; a drive for rotating the magnet about the axis; the table connected to the magnet such that the table rotates with the magnet when the magnet rotates about the axis; the magnet and the table being rotatable from a position in which the poles and the table are horizontal to a position in which the table and the poles are vertical.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging method for use in the presence of contrast agents is disclosed in which acoustic waves are transmitted at a fundamental transmission frequency and are focused on at least one scan line. Acoustic beams reflected from the body under examination and the contrast agents are separated into harmonic and subharmonic components along with the fundamental frequency component. The amplitudes of these components compared to determine whether the reflecting material is either body tissue or the contrast agent.

Abstract: A method of measuring the thickness of a biological tissue by ultrasounds and a device carrying out such method. The method is implemented with an ultrasound probe that emits ultrasonic pulses within a body under examination and receives echoes generated from structures of the body under examination. The probe includes an array of two or more electro-acoustic transducers and, in combination, means for processing the reception signals and means for orienting one or more lines of sight, along which the emission of the pulses and/or the reception of the echoes is focused, according to different angles with respect to an axis perpendicular to the emitting surface of the probe.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic transducer comprising a plurality of micro-cells, arranged in an array having M rows and N columns, and driving electronic means apt to connect in parallel to each other said micro-cells so as to form at least two sub-groups of said micro-cells, the micro-cells of each sub-group being connected in parallel to each other, at least one column of said array comprising micro-cells belonging to at least two different adjacent sub-groups, so that a radiation emitted in a direction perpendicular to the array columns by said at least one column has a phase that is intermediate between the phases of said at least two different adjacent sub-groups.

Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging apparatus having an open U- or C-shaped magnet structure, wherein the magnet structure has at least one vertical connection member for joining two horizontal wall members which lie one above the other and are supported in a cantilever fashion and in a predetermined spaced relationship by the vertical member, the vertical member being eccentrically connected to the two wall members at a side edge thereof. The horizontal wall members and the vertical member delimit the upper and lower sides and at least a vertical lateral band of a space for receiving at least one part of a patient body. The horizontal wall members also support means for generating a static magnetic field that permeates the patient receiving space.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe for diagnostic images includes a set or array of electroacoustic transducers generating an ultrasonic beam and defining at least one scan plane or a predetermined scan volume, and one or more layers matching acoustic impedance characteristics of the transducers with acoustic impedance characteristics of tissues under examiantion. The layers overlap the transducers, on the face emitting/receiving acoustic pulses. Acoustic properties of the material or materials constituting the one or more layers, the geometric shape of the layers, and/or the structure of the transducers cause the ultrasonic beam to be apodized and the profile of the ultrasonic beam in a plane perpendicular to the scan plane and parallel to the ultrasonic beam to be highly homogeneous. The emitted pulse has a greater intensity uniformity in the part of the ultrasonic beam closer to the scan plane and a predetermined lower intensity in side lobes of the ultrasonic beam.

Abstract: A method of ultrasonic detection and localization of contrast agent microbubbles wherein the decision as to whether or not the received ultrasonic signals indicate the presence of a single microbubble or a small microbubble population is made by analyzing the projections of the spectra of said received ultrasonic signals in multidimensional spaces, and by comparing such projections with the projections in said multidimensional spaces of sample control signals corresponding to known conditions of presence and/or absence of single microbubbles and/or small microbubble populations.

Abstract: A needle-guide device, particularly for ultrasound probes, or the like, comprising a base body constructed and arranged for connection to the probe and at least one elongated guide hole for receiving a needle-like surgical tool, characterized in that said needle-guide device is made of at least two removably connectable parts, which are shaped in such a manner that each of them forms complementary parts of the peripheral delimiting wall of the elongated guide hole for the surgical tool, which peripheral wall parts complete each other when said two parts of the needle-guide device are connected, thereby forming an elongated guide hole for guiding the needle with a 360° covering delimiting wall.

Abstract: A patient support device for use with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging apparatus includes a patient support surface and at least one receptacle for housing and/or removably coupling a coil adapted to receive signals from anatomic regions upon excitation thereof by the Magnetic Resonance Imaging apparatus, the at least one receptacle being arranged in an area of the patient support surface corresponding to a position of an anatomic region to be imaged. The receptacle is adapted for removable fastening of removably connectable bases of the receiver coil, and the base of each coil and its respective housing or coupling receptacle include complementary mechanisms for electrical connection to at least one dedicated electrical line such that the electrical connection is automatically effected when the base of each coil is fitted and/or mechanically fastened in a respective housing or coupling receptacle.

Abstract: Method for making magnets particularly for the use in MRI scanners, which magnets are three-dimensional and have a tubular wall made of magnetized material, with a closed or open annular shaped cross-section, the tubular wall being composed of individual elements made of magnetized material, the magnetization of each element made of magnetized material having a predetermined direction in the transverse section plane and said directions being determined such to generate a uniform static magnetic field in the cavity of the tubular wall.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe particularly for diagnostic purposes includes a first array of ultrasound transducers that generate ultrasound waves by electric excitation and transforming ultrasound waves impinging on them into electric signals. Each transducer is provided with contact electrodes which are connected respectively to a ground potential and to electric signals feeding lines. The first array of transducers includes emitting transducers and is intended only for generating and transmitting ultrasound waves, while a second array of transducers is provided over the first array of emitting transducer and includes receiving transducers for generating the electric receipt signals. The second array of transducers is formed of a material having piezoelectric behavior.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus comprising a magnet structure which delimits a cavity for receiving a body under examination or a part thereof, and which includes means for generating a magnetic field in said cavity, as well as means for causing the body under examination or the part thereof to emit nuclear magnetic resonance signals, a region being defined in the cavity, known as imaging volume, and means for receiving the nuclear magnetic resonance signals. The MRI apparatus also comprises an electronic processing unit with which the means for receiving the nuclear magnetic resonance signals are electrically connected; the cavity has an access opening for receiving a body under examination or part thereof. The geometric center of the geometric shape of the cavity delimited by the magnet structure is in offset relation to the geometric center of the imaging volume.

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.