Abstract: A method for creating ultrasound images determines if an ultrasound transducer is moving by more than a predetermined amount by obtaining two conventionally focused images D.sub.K-1 and D.sub.K. Each image is divided into a series of sections. An image processor searches the previous frame D.sub.K-1 for data points found in the current frame D.sub.K. Movement vectors are defined for each section that describe how the data points of a section move from the previous frame D.sub.K-1 to the current frame D.sub.K. The movement vectors are then applied to sections of a previously displayed adaptively focused frame I.sub.K-1 in order to create a translated adaptively focused frame I.sub.K-1'. A new adaptively focused frame is created by averaging the current adaptively focused frame A.sub.K with the translated frame I.sub.K-1'.

Abstract: A heartrate monitor of the invention includes a signal receiver adapted for being coupled to at least one sensor coupled to a medical patient, for providing an ECG signal and a pacemaker detection signal. A pacemaker activity checker, responsive to the pacemaker detection signal and the ECG signal provides first and second output signals, the first output signal indicating the occurrence of a QRS complex in the vicinity of the pacemaker detection signal, and the second output signal indicating the occurrence of an overshoot in the vicinity of the pacemaker detection signal. An overshoot validator, responsive to the ECG signals and the second output signal indicates the validity of the indicated overshoot. A QRS detector, responsive to the ECG signal, indicates the occurrence of a QRS complex in the ECG signal.

Abstract: The timing signal output from a subject circuit is accurately skewed relative to a base clock signal period. A phase-locked loop ("PLL") and sample delay circuit are implemented with the subject circuit. The PLL receives the base clock signal and generates a local clock signal. The local clock signal is input to a sample delay circuit and the subject circuit. The sample circuit generates a delay approximating that of the subject circuit. The output of the sample delay circuit is fed back into the PLL. With the base clock as the PLL's reference signal and the delayed signal as the feedback signal, the local clock signal phase is forced to precede the base clock phase by the propagation delay of the sample delay circuit. In effect, the propagation delay is nulled out. For a PLL generating multiple output phases a zero phase goes to the sample delay circuit and an output with a phase corresponding to a desired skew goes to the subject circuit.

Abstract: A SPECT study is carried out on a patient's body organ, such as the heart, and frames of image data are thereby acquired. The image data in these frames are subjected to a series of mappings and computations, from which frames containing a significant quantity of organ motion can be identified. Quantification of the motion occurs by shifting some of the mapped data within a predetermined range, and selecting that data shift which minimizes the magniture of a motion-sensitive mathematical function.

Abstract: A guide for guiding a needle for insertion into a patient during a surgical procedure has a main guide body, a mounting arrangement for attaching the main guide body onto an ultrasound probe, and a needle cap that fits removably onto the needle guide. At least one channel is located between the main guide body and the needle cap. The needle cap is preferably made of a magnetic metal, and a magnet is preferably mounted in the main guide body. The needle cap is thus removably held on the main guide body by the force of the magnet. A multi-angle embodiment of the invention has a plurality of channels, each having a different, predetermined guide angle. The mounting arrangement preferably is in the form of a adjustable clamp, with a first and a second arm, which engage the housing of the ultrasound probe. The second arm preferably pivots in the main guide body depending on the position of an adjustment arrangement such as a thumbscrew.

Abstract: A linear accelerator x-ray target assembly including an electron beam which contacts an x-ray target and generates x-rays. The target is mounted such that it can rotate freely about its axis. The target has a contoured axially outer edge. Fluid flow impinging the contoured axially outer edge of the target acts to impart rotary motion on the target. The fluid flow helps to dissipate heat from the target in two ways. Firstly, heat is transferred to a cooling fluid as the cooling fluid passes over the target. Secondly, the rotation of the target helps to dissipate heat from the target by distributing the electron beam contact point around the target instead of having the electron beam impact continuously on one spot on the target.

Abstract: An articulating detector array for gamma cameras is disclosed which is adaptable to perform different imaging techniques in a single apparatus. The articulating detector array is adapted to detect incident gamma radiation from diverse directions as well as Compton scattering thereof without the need of a collimator, as so has improved gamma ray detection efficiency. The detector array includes radiation detectors in an array and movable to a plurality of positions, in which each radiation detector is responsive to gamma radiation from a target for generating detection signals for use in tomographic imaging of the source. The detector array includes articulating support structures for mounting the detectors to the base and for moving the detectors from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A monitor system for acquiring medical data from a patient is distributed over at least two geographically separate patient monitoring areas and interconnected via a communication network. A portable monitor (102) coupled to a patient receives and processes patient data signals from a sensor coupled to the patient. At least two patient monitor docking stations (111) are provided, each one of which is selectively coupled to the portable monitor and connected for transmission of patient data received from the portable patient monitor to the communication network.

Abstract: Radiation delivered to an object (13) is gathered by a detector unit (91). A central processing unit (18) reverse calculates the radiation delivered by using attenuation factors of the object (13) and exit radiation signals (92) generated by the detector unit (91). The delivered radiation is displayed on the screen of a monitor (70). Simultaneously, a radiation map from a planning system can be displayed. Thus, the amount of radiation delivered to object (13) is measured and can then be verified and displayed. A portal imaging system (90) can contain detector unit (91).

Abstract: A system and method for applying radiation therapy include utilizing a radiation applicator that is spaced apart from and mechanically independent of a radiation source. An array of targets is affixed to the radiation applicator and cameras image the targets to determine coordinates that are compared to desired target coordinates. If there is a correlation between actual target coordinates and desired coordinates, radiation source-to-applicator alignment is achieved. Consequently, the patient is properly positioned relative to a radiation beam, such as an electron beam. On the other hand, if the actual and desired coordinates are different, the relative position of the radiation source and the gantry is adjusted. Preferably, the adjustment is automated.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system enables 1.5D image information to be generated from a single firing of a linear transducer array by permitting dynamic control over the receive aperture. The imaging system comprises a transducer having a linear array of piezoelectric elements arranged in a plurality of distinct rows of the elements. The transducer is operable to provide acoustic pulses from elements of a first one of the rows in response to respective driving signals and to provide corresponding return signals in response thereto at elements of additional ones of the plurality of the rows and at the first one of the rows. A receiver is coupled to the transducer to receive a summed signal corresponding to the return signals from the elements. The receiver comprises a plurality of low voltage switches that couple to respective ones of the additional ones of the plurality of the rows, and a high voltage switch disposed in series with the low voltage switches.

Abstract: In a clinical linear accelerator system for delivering charged particles for medical applications, a series of monolithic cavity-defining members is connected to form a succession of accelerating cavities, with temperature regulation being achieved by aligning internal cooling passageways through the series of monolithic members. As a result, a continuous coolant flow path is formed through the monolithic members. At each member-to-member interface, there is a leakage-release path for non-intrusively conducting any leakage that occurs at the interface. In the preferred embodiment, there is a braze connection that separates the leakage-release path at an interface from the coolant flow path at that interface. The braze connection provides a seal that further safeguards against coolant entering an area in which performance of the system is affected.

Abstract: Techniques for conducting two-dimensional fat-saturated multislice MR studies are disclosed. The frequency of saturation pulses is varied on a slice-by-slice basis. In a second preferred embodiment, the phase, or the phase and frequency, of one or more elements of a spatially and spectrally selective MR pulse sequence are varied on a slice-by-slice basis. In a third preferred embodiment, the order in which MR image data is acquired from a plurality of slices is changed so as not to minimize the time between inadvertent saturation of the water signal in a particular slice and the acquisition of MR image data from that slice.

Abstract: In a radiation emitting device, particularly in a radiation treatment device (2), the actual radiation delivered to an object (13) via a radiation beam (1) is adjusted to match the field to be irradiated on object (13). Jaws (250, 252, 254, 256) are arranged between a radiation source and an object (13) to provide an opening (110). The field is divided up into sections, and wedge corrections and/or monotonic functions are calculated for each of the sections. The wedge corrections and/or monotonic functions are used to deliver radiation to each of the sections in the field. Jaws (250, 252, 254, 256) and the radiation dose are controlled during the treatment of each of the sections.

Abstract: The present invention is an ultrasound imaging system that displays images with improved dynamic range. An echo signal is sampled so that each sample contains at least N bits in order to create a digital echo signal having at least 2.sup.N possible values that determine a dynamic range of the digital echo signal. A single-color lookup table is generated having approximately 2.sup.N RGB component entries, each entry defining a pixel having a unique hue, intensity, and saturation value. Each sample of the digital echo signal is mapped to an RGB component entry of the single-color lookup table, and the mapped RGB components are displayed on the display to produce a single-color image having a dynamic range that is substantially equal to the dynamic range of the digital echo signal.

Abstract: An ultrasound system creates ultrasound images at faster frame rate by eliminating ultrasonic transmissions along every beam line. Preferably, ultrasound images are created by alternately transmitting ultrasonic signals on the even and odd transmit beam lines. Parallel beam forming is used where transmissions along a single transmit beam line create echo signals on a pair of receive beam lines. To eliminate the artifact caused by the round-trip beam line sensitivities, echo signals created in response to transmissions along the even transmit beam lines are averaged with echo signals created in response to transmissions on the odd transmit beam lines. The averaged echo signals are used to create an ultrasound image without artifacts.

Abstract: In the axial direction, a collimator is a fan-beam collimator. In the transverse direction, the collimator has a set of central magnifying fan beams located between two sets of peripheral magnifying fan beams.

Abstract: An ultrasound medical imaging system having a flexible, versatile and programmable architecture, particularly with respect to a back end subsystem. The architecture for the back end subsystem is generalized and includes multiple identical and interchangeable processing elements or boards that combine to produce sufficient processing power to support real time imaging in the various modes of ultrasound operations. The architecture may also tune front end parameters for a front end subsystem based on back end processing, bypass faulty processing elements or boards, and/or distribute processing load across operational processing elements or boards. A method for operating such an ultrasound medical imaging system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing noise in an output signal produced from a plurality of input signals indicative of a repetitious phenomena exhibited by a signal source.