Abstract: A catheter for delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a branch blood vessel of a major blood vessel, generally comprising an elongated shaft having at least one lumen in fluid communication with an agent delivery port in a distal section of the shaft, an expandable tubular member on the distal section of the shaft, and a radially expandable member on the tubular member. The tubular member is configured to extend within the blood vessel up-stream and down-stream of a branch vessel, and has an interior passageway which is radially expandable within the blood vessel to separate blood flow through the blood vessel into an outer blood flow stream exterior to the tubular member and an inner blood flow stream within the interior passageway of the tubular member. The radially expandable member is located down-stream of the shaft agent delivery port, and has an expanded configuration with an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the tubular member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the kinetic analysis of tear interference is disclosed. The apparatus includes a light source for illuminating a tear film of a cornea, an optical train for modifying the light before it reaches the cornea and after it is the carrier of an image from the cornea, an image recorder to record a series of images of the illuminated tear film, and an image output for providing the series of images to a display; the series of images illustrating a tear film dispersion pattern indicative of a tear stability condition. The method includes the steps of illuminating the film on a cornea of said eye with light, recording a series of images of the illuminated film, and outputting the series of images to a display. The series of images illustrating at least one of a lipid film spread and a tear film dispersion pattern indicative of a tear stability condition.

Abstract: A method for accelerating orthodontic treatment of malocclusion by noninvasively altering a condition of bone in a patient's jaw so that teeth held in generally fixed positions in the bone are able to be relatively easily and rapidly repositioned using orthodontic appliances. The alteration may be fracturing the medullary and/or cortical bone around the teeth and/or altering vascular, nerve and/or cellular characterisitics of the medullar and/or cortical bone. Once this has been accomplished, typical appliances are used for treatment of malocclusion. Because the medullary and/or cortical bone has been fractured, and/or vascular, nerve and/or cellular characterisitics of the medullary and/or cortical bone have been altered, the appliances used to move the teeth to correct for malocclusion are capable of moving the teeth more rapidly, thereby enabling the process of treating malocclusion to be significantly accelerated in comparison to typical processes used for treatment of malocclusion.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe is disclosed for reducing the influence of electromagnetic wave leakage to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device even when the probe is inside the MRI gantry. The ultrasonic probe includes a piezoelectric material, an acoustic matching layer provided on the ultrasonic radiation side of the piezoelectric material, and backing material provided on a rear side of the piezoelectric material. A transmit beam former is used to control a transmit focal point of ultrasonic waves inside the body of a subject. A receive beam former controls a receive beam focal point of electronic waves inside the body of the subject. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus also includes a switch capable of electrically disconnecting the ultrasonic probe from a transmit/receive switch.

Abstract: A system and method for preparing a virtual three-dimensional representation of a first portion of a bone. The method may comprise obtaining, from a first orientation with respect to the first portion of the bone, first image data of the first portion of the bone and obtaining, from a second, different orientation with respect to the first portion of the bone, second image data of the first portion of the bone. A three-dimensional (3D) virtual representation of the first portion of the bone may be generated. The 3D virtual representation of the first portion of the bone may be displayed. The displayed 3D virtual representation may have an orientation, determined using at least the difference between the first and second orientations from which the first and second image data were obtained.

Abstract: Apparatus for high resolution imaging of a moving object comprises a source of low coherence light, an optical coherence tomography imaging instrument or a dual channel, optical coherence tomography/confocal imaging instrument, a transverse scanner, an interferometer, depth adjustment means, and interface optics. First and an optional second sensing blocks sense the axial and respectively the transverse position of the object. A splitting element is shared so that the interface optics and the sensing blocks have a common axis of light transmitted to and from the object. Timing means establishes a timing, and timing intervals and reference times for images as they are taken. The acceptability of each scanned image is determined according to predetermined criteria. A series of en-face OCT images, or of longitudinal OCT images of the object may be taken at different depths or transverse coordinates, and the stack of collected images is used to build 3D profiles of the object.

Abstract: MRI echo data is acquired by performing selective-excitation on regions composed of multi-slices of an object, while the object is moved continuously. The positions of the multi-slices are moved within a predetermined imaging range fixedly determined by an MRI system, according to object movement. This allows positions of the multi-slices to be changed in compliance with the moved object, so that the multi-slices positionally track with the object within the imaging range. Accordingly, a multi-slice imaging technique can be provided, which is executable during even continuous movement of the object.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and method for ultrasonically stimulating cartilage growth. The apparatus includes at least one ergonomically constructed ultrasonic transducer configured to cooperate with a placement module or strip for placement in proximity to an area where cartilage growth is desired. The apparatus also utilizes a portable, ergonomically constructed main operating unit constructed to fit within a pouch worn by the patient. In operation, at least one ultrasonic transducer positioned in proximity to an osteochondral site is excited for a predetermined period of time. To ensure that at least one ultrasonic transducer is properly positioned, and to insure compliance with a treatment protocol, a safety interlock is provided to prevent inadvertent excitation of the at least one ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: The present invention is a technique and apparatus for acquiring anatomic information used in diagnosing and characterizing abdominal aortic aneurismal disease and the like. This technique provides anatomic information, in the form of images, using a combination of a plurality of magnetic resonance angiography sequences, including a spin-echo and four contrast enhanced (e.g., gadolinium) magnetic resonance angiography sequences. The anatomic images may be used in, for example, pre-operative, operative and post-operative evaluation of aortic pathology, including aneurysms, atherosclerosis, and occlusive disease of branch vessels such as the renal arteries. The gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography provides sufficient anatomic detail to detect aneurysms and all relevant major branch vessel abnormalities seen at angiography operation.

Abstract: A system for constructing image slices through a selected object, the system comprising an identifiable fiducial reference in a fixed position relative to the selected object, wherein the fiducial reference comprises at least two identifiable reference markers. A source of radiation is provided for irradiating the selected object and the fiducial reference to form a projected image of the selected object and the fiducial reference which is recorded by a recording medium.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing, prognosing, staging, and/or monitoring a mammalian amyloidogenic disorder or a predisposition thereto by detecting a protein or polypeptide aggregate in the cortical and/or supranuclear regions of an ocular lens of the mammal.

Abstract: A normally closed valve that may be opened upon insertion of a nozzle permits two-way flow when opened by a luer-taper nozzle. The valve also is able to resist large back pressures. The valve includes a substantially rigid housing that defines a passageway having an inlet section and an outlet section. The housing has an exterior inlet face to which the inlet section opens. The inlet section preferably has tapered and expanding zones. The tapered zone is adjacent to the exterior inlet face and is shaped to receive the nozzle. The expanding zone is adjacent to the tapered zone and has a larger inner diameter than the tapered zone's inner diameter. The exterior of the inlet section of the housing may have threads to accept luer-lock threads that may surround the nozzle.

Abstract: A method for anatomical imaging includes acquiring image data representative of three-dimensional volume segments of an image volume of interest in a subject. The image data are acquired in synchronism with corresponding physiological cycles of the subject. Each volume segment contains image data distributed in three dimensions. Acquiring image data includes selecting a sequence of scan lines for each respective volume segment configured to minimize an occurrence of motion artifacts throughout the image volume. The image data representative of the volume segments is combined to produce a representation of a three-dimensional anatomical image of the image volume.

Abstract: A diagnostic method and associated system includes the steps of exposing at least one sample location with excitation radiation through a single optical waveguide or a single optical waveguide bundle, wherein the sample emits emission radiation in response to the excitation radiation. The same single optical waveguide or the single optical waveguide bundle receives at least a portion of the emission radiation from the sample, thus providing co-registration of the excitation radiation and the emission radiation. The wavelength of the excitation radiation and emission radiation is synchronously scanned to produce a spectrum upon which an image can be formed. An increased emission signal is generated by the enhanced overlap of the excitation and emission focal volumes provided by co-registration of the excitation and emission signals thus increasing the sensitivity as well as decreasing the exposure time necessary to obtain an image.

Abstract: A cortical surface registration procedure related to a diagnostic or surgical procedure. In one embodiment, the procedure includes the steps of pre-operatively obtaining a first textured point cloud of the cortical surface of a targeted region of a brain of a living subject, intra-operatively obtaining optically a second textured point cloud of the cortical surface of the brain of the living subject, and aligning the first textured point cloud of the cortical surface to the second textured point cloud of the cortical surface so as to register images of the brain of the living subject to the cortical surface of the living subject.

Abstract: Gamma rays obtained from radioisotope administered to an examinee are detected by a gamma ray information-detecting unit so that a first tomographic image obtained therefrom is formed on a CRT. Further, a second tomographic image of the examinee detected by using an ultrasonic wave information-detecting unit juxtaposed with respect to the gamma ray information-detecting unit is formed while making the second tomographic image overlap on the first tomographic image. Thus, it is possible to obtain a tomographic image in which relative positional relationship of tissue is clear.

Abstract: A method for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) uses steady-state free precession (SSFP) to image changes in blood oxygenation between two time periods. A center frequency of the SSFP sequence is placed between the different resonant frequencies for oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin whereby the signals have a phase difference of 180° and tend to cancel. By repeating the SSFP imaging sequence at different times, the difference in the measured signals provides a measure of change in oxyhemoglobin. RF flip angle of the SSFP sequence is chosen to maximize signal level in the frequency range from that of water in the presence of oxyhemoglobin and that of water in the presence of deoxyhemoglobin.

Abstract: A laser blood-flow meter includes a laser-beam irradiator for irradiating laser beams to biological structure, a detector for detecting scattered beams resulted from scattering of the laser beams in the biological structure, the laser blood-flow meter measuring blood flow of the biological structure in accordance with the scattered beams detected by the detector, and a beam-collector for collecting the scattered beams to direct the collected beams to the detector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for examining a substance volume to characterize its type, particularly useful for examining tissue to characterize it as cancerous or non-cancerous. The method comprises: applying a polarizing magnetic field through the examined substance; applying RF pulses locally to the examined substance volume such as to invoke electrical impedance (EI) responses signals corresponding to the electrical impedance of the substance, and magnetic resonance (MR) responses signals corresponding to the MR properties of the substance; detecting the EI and MR response signals; and utilizing the detected response signals for characterizing the examined substance volume type.

Abstract: A medical valve is provided that includes a housing having a main conduit and a branch extending from the main conduit and in fluid communication with it. The bore of the branch has an elastomeric septum piston disposed therewithin and at least a portion of the elastomeric septum piston is movable by either compression or by a longitudinal advancement along the secondary bore towards the bore of the main conduit. In one embodiment, the septum piston is cylindrical and includes a centrally positioned slit. The bore of the branch includes two opposing projecting members along a distal portion of the bore which effectively narrow the diameter of the bore. When the elastomeric member is pushed from a proximal position to a distal position, it is transversely compressed by the projecting members to open the slit and allow fluid passage. After removal of the longitudinal displacement force the septum piston retracts away from the distal portion back to the proximal portion.