Abstract: A stereotactic head frame localizer having a plurality of fiducial rods disposed in a plurality of sides is disclosed. The stereotactic head frame localizer includes five connected sides with each side including a plurality of the fiducial rods. One of the sides may be removably attached to the stereotactic head frame localizer. The fiducial rods include a material or may be formed from a material that, in cooperation with a selected imaging modality (i.e. CT, MRI, or PET), will appear on the resulting image scan as image points. The fiducial rods may be disposed in an orientation that is horizontal, vertical, or diagonal to an axis of a body of a patient. The stereotactic head frame localizer may be used in cooperation with a head ring attached to a patient for determining the location of a target in an x, y, and z coordinate system.

Abstract: Relief of urethral obstruction is achieved by heat ablation of prostatic tissue by an ablation electrode passed within the urethra to a position in the prostate near the point of urethral obstruction. The electrode is coupled to a high frequency power supply to ablatively heat the urethra and the prostatic tissue near the urethra. Image guidance of the electrode placement is monitored by an imaging device. The temperature of the tissue is sensed at the electrode to control the high frequency heating energy and ablation process. The electrode has a blunt tip to help prevent piercing of the wall of the urethra during insertion of the electrode into the urethra through the penis and the positioning of the electrode tip near to the point of urethral obstruction. Several forms of electrodes, apparatus, and methods accommodate the specific objectives.

Abstract: A system for quantitative computer graphic determination of positions on a patient's anatomy and positions on associated equipment located near the patient's anatomy in relation to anatomical data, as from CT or MR scanning. A first camera produces a quantitative electronic readout of its field-of-view which provides a determination of relative spacial coordinates of uniquely identifiable points in its field-of-view. A second camera produces a quantitative electronic readout of its field-of-view which provides a determination of relative spacial coordinates of uniquely identifiable points in its field-of-view. The two cameras are located with respect to the patient's anatomy and the associated equipment so that the fields-of-view of the cameras include both the patient's anatomy and the equipment, but are taken from different directions. A body marker is positioned with respect to the patient's anatomy at a known position relative to said patient anatomy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for altering a function of neural tissue in a patient. An electromagnetic signal is applied to the neural tissue through an electrode. The electromagnetic signal has a frequency component above the physiological stimulation frequency range and an intensity sufficient to product an alteration of the neural tissue, the alteration causing the patient to experience a reduction in pain, and a waveform that prevents lethal temperature elecation of the neural tissue during application of the electromagnetic signal to the neural tissue.

Abstract: This patent relates to an apparatus involving optical cameras, one or more, and computer graphic means for registering anatomical subjects seen in the cameras to computer graphic image displays of image data taken from CT, MRI or other scanning image means. One or more cameras may be set up to view the anatomical subject. The anatomical subject has been scanned previously by an imaging machine such as a CT scanner and the data has been stored in a computer with computergraphic readout. The computer has software which enables rotation translation and scaling of the anatomical subject seen in the image data. By registering the field of view of the camera or cameras with the corresponding graphic view of the image data, a registration of the optical view with the scanner image view can be made. In this way, points identifiable in the camera view can be located in the image data view and vice versa.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for altering a function of neural tissue in a patient. An electromagnetic signal is applied to the neural tissue through an electrode. The electromagnetic signal has a frequency component above the physiological stimulation frequency range and an intensity sufficient to produce an alteration of the neural tissue, the alteration causing the patient to experience a reduction in pain, and a waveform that prevents lethal temperature elevation of the neural tissue during application of the electromagnetic signal to the neural tissue.

Abstract: A medical needle or cannula for stimulation or ablation includes a rigid bent tip for simplified placement at target sites within a patient's anatomy. The curved tip or shaft is used to steer the device within the patient's body and to avoid critical anatomical structures. The device is partially insulated and has a tip that is at least partially electrically exposed; a connection to an external signal generator provides electrical stimulation or high-frequency heating of the patient's tissue proximal to the exposed tip. The device includes a longitudinal passage to facilitate the injection of fluids or the insertion of instruments through the cannula or needle.

Abstract: A skin-based band is fixed to a patient's skin in a repeatable position and includes reference markers which, attached to the skin band, can be visualized in tomographic image scanning. The reference markers appear as reference marker images in the image scan data from the image scan and correspond to coordinate positions in the image scan coordinate system. The reference markers also provide corresponding reference marker positions in the physical space of the patient's anatomy, which may correspond to a stereotactic coordinate system associated with a digitized navigator or frameless stereotactic reference system near the patient. The band can also be placed on the patient again at the time of surgical intervention, and the reference markers can be touched or referenced by the surgical navigator in the stereotactic coordinate system.

Abstract: A collimator apparatus for a treatment planning machine that delivers a beam. A circular collimator defines a circular aperture for the beam. At least one movable collimator jaw is moved into the projection of the circular aperture with respect to the beam in order to eclipse a portion of the beam.

Abstract: A collimator apparatus for a treatment planning machine that delivers a beam. A circular collimator defines a circular aperture for the beam. At least one movable collimator jaw is moved into the projection of the circular aperture with respect to the beam in order to eclipse a portion of the beam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for altering a function of neural tissue in a patient. An electromagnetic signal is applied to the neural tissue through an electrode. The electromagnetic signal has a frequency component above the physiological stimulation frequency range and an intensity sufficient to produce an alteration of the neural tissue, the alteration causing the patient to experience a reduction in pain, and a waveform that prevents lethal temperature elevation of the neural tissue during application of the electromagnetic signal to the neural tissue.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for calibrating and recalibrating a digitized navigator or so-called frameless stereotactic instrument or device during a surgical operation. The apparatus enables calibration for the stereotactic digitizer to be recovered after sterile draping of the patient, movement of the patient's head during operation, relative movement of the patient's head and reference apparatus associated with the stereotactic digitizer, power failures, or other events which could compromise calibration of the stereotactic digitizer during the operation which would otherwise preclude continuations using the digitizer. It also provides convenient means for initial calibration or repeat calibration, should that be necessary. The apparatus is, in one embodiment, cooperatively coupled to, or coupled so as to move with, the portion of the patient's body which is being operated upon and enables the repositioning of the recalibration means after sterile draping.

Abstract: The intraoperative calibration of an arbitrary surgical instrument relative to a surgical navigation digitizing system is achieved by a calibration guide. The calibration guide is established in position and orientation relative to the digitizing system coordinate system. The surgical instrument is aligned to the calibration guide during calibration to establish its probe and end orientation in the digitizer coordinates. The instrument carries a marker structure which is trackable in the digitizer coordinates to enable tracking by rigid-body transformation of the instruments probe and end position after calibration in the calibration guide.

Abstract: An electrical brain contact device and device for connecting a plurality of lead wires with individual take-up terminals is described. The lead wires in the brain contact device extend to a terminal mount with an array of lead-wire terminals on it. A connector assembly includes a connector block with a matching array of take-up terminals and an elongate cavity to receive the terminal mount, and a mechanism to removably draw the take-up terminals into terminal-to-terminal contact with the terminal mount to facilitate electrical connection.

Abstract: This invention relates to the automatic determination of beam parameters and other criteria to determine a dose plan of radiation on a target volume. The method involves determination of geometric and other radiation involvement criteria, with search of a phase space on the incoming direction of the irradiation beam ports. The evaluation of the goodness of fit, based on parameter thresholds and other considerations, makes it possible to search on the entire phase space of possible beam directions towards the target volume so as to improve the treatment planning dosimetry. The invention applies to circular or non-circular collimator shapes, and can be illustrated by use with a linear accelerator (LINAC) as a means for X-ray delivery to a target volume such as a tumor within a patient's body.

Abstract: This invention relates to any operating pointer or arm apparatus whose position can be detected and read out on a computer and associated graphics display, and where the pointer can be changed from its pointer function to a "3D mouse" so as to alternately by use control the functionality of the computer as in calibration and display features. Specific embodiments of the invention are given, and one of them is a neurosurgical operating arm which has electronic readout for coupling to a computergraphic display which shows the position of the arm relative to patient anatomy. In one embodiment, the arm has five angular degrees of freedom to achieve a pointer position anywhere in space, at any angle. Electronic readout from the arm positions and joint angles are assimilated into a computegraphic display system. The display system displays anatomical image data taken from the patient with modern imaging techniques.

Abstract: A security system using a remote sensing unit and a transponder in either one-way or two-way radio communication with a central station. The security system provides for the continuous monitoring of remote points in a particular area from a central station without need of physical connections between the central station and the remote points. The security system further provides the added feature of using redundant code comparison to ensure the validity of the transmitted signal.

Abstract: An automatic telephone directory system is interactive with users over telephone lines and provides voice messages to callers where the user wishing to leave a message enters his user code number and numbers representing messages, which may include any phone number at which the user may be reached, if available. Messages may be removed from the directory or changed. Callers obtain the messages over the directory telephone lines by entering the user code number identifying the user party which the caller wishes to contact. Then the system transmits the voice message to the caller. The user code numbers and numbers representing the messages entered by the user are stored in separate locations in memory. The system counts calls for directory service and removes the user code number and the message accompanying it, if a call for that user is not received during a predetermined number of calls to the directory thereby enabling removal of stale messages automatically.