Abstract: A device for the testing and monitoring of the function of a shock wave or pressure wave source is provided. The testing and monitoring device is characterized in that a passive non-linear transmission element transforms very short shock wave pulses received by it, the shock wave pulses typically having pulse durations lasting a few microseconds, into a considerably lower frequency range, whose oscillations are then sensed and evaluated.

Abstract: A shockwave or pressure-wave therapeutic apparatus is provided in which a therapy head is equipped with a shockwave source. The shockwave source is connected via a shock generator to a control means which controls the release frequency of shockwaves as a function of the pulse energy thereof in such a manner that higher pulse energies correlate with lower release frequencies of the shockwaves and vice versa.

Abstract: A cosmetic composition for treating nails is provided to remove nail polish, to nourish and strengthen the nails and to moisturize and soften the cuticles around the nails.

Abstract: A laser system is provided that includes a laser device for the generation of laser radiation and a light guide for guiding the generated laser radiation. A data medium for identity data is connected to the light guide, and a readout device is included for reading out the identity data. A light guide system is also provided that includes a light guide that can be releasably coupled to a laser device using a mounting device and a data medium for identity data connected to the light guide.

Abstract: The present method and system allows minimization of a rollback effect when an electric vehicle, such as a wheelchair, brakes on a slope. The system comprises secondary brake, a controller, and a monitor that allows to apply both a control voltage and the secondary brakes according to an appropriate sequence to provide stops and starts with a minimized rollback effect. An updated armature resistance value is advantageously used to take into account evolutive conditions of the vehicle.

Abstract: A laser system is provided that includes a laser unit, an incoupling means for coupling the laser radiation into a light-guide, and an outcoupling means for coupling the laser radiation out from the light-guide. A data transmitting means is coupled to the incoupling means or outcoupling means and produces optical signals which are coupled into the light-guide via the incoupling means or the outcoupling means. These optical signals are received by a data receiving means at the other end of the light-guide. The laser system can be used for realizing a data communication between the hand-piece and the stationary unit of the laser system in the case of which additional cables between the hand-piece and the laser are not necessary for transmitting data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring blood pressure by the oscillometric technique. The method incorporates variable PIP's. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a value for the peak amplitude Amax of an oscillometric envelope; determining a cuff pressure, CP, which corresponds in time with Amax, this pressure representing the MAP of the subject; computing a variable value PIPSBP as a function of MAP; performing the calculation Asbp=Amax*PIPSBP to determine a systolic amplitude value Asbp along the oscillometric envelope; and determining the cuff pressure C which corresponds in time to Asbp, this value representing the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the subject. PIP can be calculated using a piece-wise linear, polynomial, exponential or other function.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling a shockwave source to the body of a patient is provided. The apparatus may include a coupling bellows that is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The coupling bellows may include a coupling portion that is configured to provide a coupling surface relative to the body of a patient and is transmissive to shockwaves. The coupling bellows may also include an outer portion that is sound-insulating.

Abstract: A system and method for a lithotripter is provided. The system can include a shockwave generator and an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving unit, which are in communication with an evaluating unit. The transmitting/receiving unit can include an ultrasonic transducer that emits ultrasonic pulses and receives ultrasonic waves reflected from a target area of the shockwave generator. The evaluating unit can determine a correlation coefficient of the time correlation between the ultrasonic waves and the ultrasonic pulses and provide a signal related to the coefficient. The method can include emitting ultrasonic pulses from the transducer into a body, receiving the ultrasonic waves reflected from a target object in the body, evaluating the received ultrasonic waves with the evaluating unit to determine the correlation coefficient, and providing a signal related to the correlation coefficient.

Abstract: A laser instrument that can perform effective vaporization of biological tissue and stabilization of the application cap during tissue removal is provided. The laser instrument includes an optical waveguide with a light guide portion that emits light and an application cap coupled to the optical waveguide that transmits light. The laser instrument can be inserted into an endoscope and extended or retracted to position the application cap for vaporization and removal of biological tissue.

Abstract: A method and a apparatus for transferring medically effective substances in the form of molecules, such as DNA, oligos, certain chemicals, etc., into the living cells of humans, animals and/or plants using acoustic energy or through cavitation which is produced by acoustic energy in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo. Via suitable sensors, the lifetime of the cavitation bubbles is determined or specified, which then for its part acts as the criterion or the function for controlling the acoustic intensity and thus also the cavitation intensity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing bipolar acoustic pulses is provided. The apparatus includes a boundary layer medium in between a propagation medium and a border medium. The boundary layer medium is configured to reflect unipolar acoustic pulses to convert them into bipolar acoustic pulses. The method includes providing the foregoing boundary layer medium, propagation medium, and border medium, and additionally providing a reflector positioned to reflect unipolar acoustic pulses onto the boundary layer medium. The method further includes converting unipolar acoustic pulses into bipolar acoustic pulses by reflecting the unipolar acoustic pulses off of the boundary layer medium.

Abstract: A thermotherapy device for treatment of diseased biological tissues includes an outer lumen and at least one inner lumen. Preheating of non-target tissue is carried out during a desensitizing mode of the thermotherapy process at a temperature that is sublethal to cells of the non-target tissue structure but is high enough to provoke the building of heat shock proteins for protecting non-target tissue structures during the thermotherapy process. Then during a destructive mode of the thermotherapy process, an energy source is insertable into one of the lumens in carry out a heating protocol to treat the enlarged tissue while the non-target tissue is protected by shock proteins produced during the desensitizing mode of the process. The energy source can be microwave, ultrasound or other energy source, and a temperature sensing device can be used in controlling the energy source for effective treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manipulating acoustic pulses is provided. The apparatus includes a wave-path with an acoustic network suspended within it, and the acoustic network includes at least one acoustic lens and at least one acoustic plate. The acoustic lens is structured to convert a plane pulse into a converging pulse, and the acoustic plate is structured to convert a single pulse into a split converging pulse. The method includes providing the foregoing wave-path and acoustic network, and converting a plane pulse to a split converging pulse by transmitting the plane pulse along the acoustic wave-path through the acoustic network.

Abstract: A non-invasive apparatus and method for monitoring the blood pressure of a subject detects a pulse signal at both a first and second location on the subject's body The elapsed time between the arrival of corresponding points of the pulse signal at the first and second locations is determined.

Abstract: A method for locating a concrement (3), for example a renal calculus or gallstone, in the body (1) of an organism for positioning a therapy device such as a lithotripsy instrument, whereby a substantially vertical projection image of the concrement is generated on an image window (6) by means of a radiation source (5), the body is displaced in the body plane relative to the radiation source (5), the projection d′ of the displacement distance is captured with a further projection image and the vertical z-position of the concrement is calculated as 1 z = z ′ · d d ′ ,

Abstract: A non-invasive apparatus and method for monitoring the blood pressure of a subject detects a pulse signal at both a first and second location on the subject's body. The elapsed time between the arrival of corresponding points of the pulse signal at the first and second locations is determined. Blood pressure is related to the elapsed time by relationships such as: P=a+b ln(T) where a and b are constants dependent upon the nature of the subject and the signal detecting devices. The system can be calibrated by measuring a single pair of reference blood pressure and corresponding elapsed time.

Abstract: The present method and system allows minimization of a rollback effect when an electric vehicle, such as a wheelchair, brakes on a slope. The system comprises secondary brake, a controller, and a monitor that allows to apply both a control voltage and the secondary brakes according to an appropriate sequence to provide stops and starts with a minimized rollback effect. An updated armature resistance value is advantageously used to take into account evolutive conditions of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring blood pressure by the oscillometric technique. The method incorporates variable PIP's. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a value for the peak amplitude Amax of an oscillometric envelope; determining a cuff pressure, CP, which corresponds in time with Amax, this pressure representing the MAP of the subject; computing a variable value PIPSBP as a function of MAP; performing the calculation Asbp=Amax*PIPSBP to determine a systolic amplitude value Asbp along the oscillometric envelope; and determining the cuff pressure C which corresponds in time to Asbp, this value representing the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the subject. PIP can be calculated using a piece-wise linear, polynomial, exponential or other function.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring one or more vital signs of a subject has a number of sensors. There is at least one redundant sensor. Each sensor originates a signal. A selection system determines performance criteria for a number of groups of signals. Each group includes one or more signals. The apparatus computes a predicted value for a vital sign by either computing a value from each group of signals and taking a weighted average with weights based upon the performance criterion or by selecting one of the groups of signals for which the performance criterion is best and computing the output value from that group of signals. The output values are relatively insensitive to artifacts and to errors caused by the disconnection or malfunctioning of one sensor.