Abstract: A microwave apparatus for warming of a liquid such as blood or IV fluids in which the warming occurs in-line by means of a microwave heating cavity having a source of microwave energy coupled thereto. A support element in the form of a bobbin forms an assembly with an IV tube wound about the bobbin. This tubing-bobbin assembly is inserted into the microwave heating cavity. A non-invasive, non-perturbing microwave temperature monitor is provided coupled to the microwave heating cavity for monitoring the temperature of liquid flowing in the IV tube. Controls are provided including a desired operating temperature selector for combining signals representative of, not only cavity temperature, but also inlet and outlet temperatures to control the power level of microwave energy delivered to the heating cavity.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an ophthalmologic apparatus which includes a laser module which permits microsurgery with pulsed radiation as well as coagulation therapy by means of continuous-wave radiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for plotting the conformation of a lower limb of the human body, this apparatus comprising two sets of two longitudinal uprights, or splints (1), the splints of one and the same set being mutually articulated by an orthesis articulation (2) of a known type, and a plurality of cross-pieces forming braces (8, 10, 12) which transversely connect the splints (1) at various intervals. According to the invention, the spints (1) are deforable in such a way that they can be applied tighlty agains the limb in question in order to match the profile thereof, and the crosspieces (8, 10, 12) connecting these splints have an adjustable transverse dimension, so as to be able to regulate the spacing of the splints.

Abstract: A tunable dye laser has been found particularly suited to selective photothermolysis. A longer pulse duration which makes the system suitable for a wider range of applications is obtained by modifying the laser to generate a spatially noncoherent beam. The optical system at each end of the laser cell, which may include a lens or spherical mirror, refocuses the aperture of the dye cell near to itself so that substantially all light emanating from the dye cell is returned to the dye cell until the light passes through one of the optic systems as a noncoherent laser beam. A tunable intracavity element tunes the laser across the gain curve of the dye solution. The pulse duration of the laser beam can be selected from a range of durations up to about one millisecond.

Abstract: A medical treatment laser is disclosed that minimizes absorption of laser energy along the beam path by using a lasing medium having a principal emission at a wavelength shifted from the absorption wavelength. In the preferred embodiment, a CO.sub.2 laser filled with the .sup.13 C.sup.16 O.sub.2 isotope is used. The .sup.13 C.sup.16 O.sub.2 isotope generates a laser beam having a principal emission wavelength near 11.2 microns. The absorption of this wavelength in the conventional CO.sub.2 purge and insufflation gases is quite small compared to the absorption of the 10.59 micron wavelength emitted by the standard CO.sub.2 isotope. The difference in absorption allows the power generated by the laser to be maximally transmitted to the medical treatment site. In addition, the 11.2 micron line has a greater coefficient of absorption in human tissue, thereby enhancing surgery.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for rechanneling stenoses in body passages, in particular of coronary and peripheral arterial vessels, has a microwave antenna provided in the interior of the balloon, which antenna is connected to a microwave generator by way of a coaxial cable. By action of the microwaves on a microwave-absorbing dilatation liquid and/or a metallic coating on the envelope of the balloon, the catheter is heated and the vessel wall is subjected to thermal aftertreatment to prevent restenosis.

Abstract: An endoscope incorporating a solid state image pickup element for picking-up optical images of an object under observation, and an accessory means having a high frequency oscillator, is able to perform imaging and an accessory function without mutual interference due to high frequency noise from the accessory means oscillator affecting the imaging signals. The output of high frequency oscillation in the accessory means is inhibited during a signal reading period of the image pickup element by a control pulse sychronized with the application of clock signals to the image pickup element.

Abstract: A method of treating telangiectasia in a target area in a patient's dermis includes the steps of passing a laser beam against and through the patient's epidermis to the target area and simultaneously subjecting the patients epidermis to a cooling fluid at the location of the epidermis entered by the laser beam. The apparatus for effecting the treatment includes a laser beam source and devices for subjecting the patient's epidermis to a cooling fluid where the laser beam enters the epidermis.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for extracting cataract tissue in which the cataract is first softened by focusing laser radiation thereon and subsequently a tube inserted through an incision to a position adjacent the cataract. An irrigating liquid is supplied through one portion of the tube and the liquid and cataract fragments removed via an aspiration opening adjacent the tube opening. Fragments which do not readily pass through the aspiration opening are dislodged by vibration or broken up by a paddle like member pivotally mounted adjacent the aspirating opening to engage the fragment and apply a force to break up the same. The tube has a shovel shaped tip which facilitates separation of fragments from the cataract body and facilitates location of the same adjacent the aspiration opening.

Abstract: A laser treatment apparatus is to treat a site of disease of a patient with a laser beam.

Abstract: A method for carrying out surgical procedures using a laser and a laser surgical tool includes the provision of a temperature control device associated with the laser which monitors the temperature of the surgical tool and delivery system and governs the laser power output to achieve a desired temperature level. The temperature control device may be used either to prevent heating of the surgical tool and delivery system beyond it structural tolerance, or to maintain a predetermined temperature level which is optimized for a particular surgical or medical procedure. The delivery system may comprise an optical fiber, and the surgical tool may comprise the output end of the optical fiber which is free of any additional surgical cutting implement.

Abstract: The deflation of the inflatable and deflatable cuff worn by a subject during automatic sphygmomanometric measurement is accomplished in unequal size decrements and principally in larger steps than 7 Torr. Each step after detection of the initial oscillations is determined in the first instance by reference to a look-up table or an equation as a function of prevailing cuff pressure. This Base Step dimension is augmented by a factor proportional to the last oscillation amplitude, the factor being increased after detection of the maximum oscillation amplitude. A valve mechanism with at least two different effective orifice sizes is used for deflation, the smaller size effective orifice being used first, to maintain control over the decrement step rate while holding the time for decrement within a predetermined limit of 8 mSec. per Torr, i.e., maintaining the rate above 125 Torr per second.

Abstract: A device for storing a discrete quantity of liquid for use in a primary medical syringe for a bolus injection. The device comprises a body member having a core member inserted in the reservoir of the primary syringe. A liquid passageway for storing a radionuclide for the bolus injection is formed by a helical groove around the core member. A secondary syringe may be included in the primary syringe to measure small quantities of injectate.

Abstract: An instrument for the surgical removal of a conical piece of tissue having an aperture from a human or other animal body using a laser beam has a laser beam guide housing which is made up of a tube, through which the inlet laser beam passes, of an inlet deflecting member for deflecting the laser beam from its inlet direction and of an outlet deflecting member, arranged at a lateral distance from the latter, to deflect the beam along an outlet direction thereof so that on twisting the guide housing about the inlet direction the emerging laser beam sweeps out a conical surface. The outlet deflecting member is arranged on a boom member extending laterally from the tube. The instrument furthermore has a guide pin which centers the guide housing by being inserted in the tissue aperture. The guide pin and the guide housing are able to be rotated in relation to each other.

Abstract: An optical analyzer for determining an analyte in a fluid of interest such as a body fluid of interest satisfying the foregoing need and embodying the present invention may include a housing; combination optically transparent cuvette and lancet mounted removably in the housing, the cuvette may receive an optically transparent reagent test system for reacting with the body fluid to produce a change in at least one optical transmissive characteristic of the system indicative of the analyte; a cuvette carrier mounted slidably in the housing and for removably receiving the cuvette; a spring actuator mounted in the housing and connected to the cuvette carrier, the spring actuator may be compressed and released to advance the carrier and thereby advance the lancet into engagement with a portion of a body to produce the body fluid; depth control apparatus for controlling the depth of penetration of the lancet into the body portion; an electrooptical system mounted in the housing in optical engagement with the cuvett

Abstract: A non-invasive method for focal transcleral destruction of living human eye tissue. The method includes providing a conical-shaped probe, filled with a neutral saline solution and having inserted therein an electrode connected to the positive terminal of a constant current supply. The narrow aperture ends of the probe is lowered onto the conjunctiva overlying the target tissue, in about 20-30 locations with a current in the range from about 3.0-4.0 milliamps for about 30 seconds to 5 minutes at each location.

Abstract: An electrocautery instrument which is provided with a non-removable enclosed electrical switching mechanism. The entire switch assembly may be sealed from human contact by an insulating medium.

Abstract: A noninvasive method for detecting the presence of diabetes mellitus and for monitoring physical changes caused by that disease is disclosed. In performing the method, a beam of light from a low powered laser is directed at a clear site in the lens of a patient's in vivo eye. The variations in intensity of the light back-scattered from the site are utilized to derive a measurement of the diffusion coefficient. Alternatively, or in addition to taking measurements from the lens, measurements may be taken from the conjunctiva, the cornea, or the retina of the vivo eye. It has been found that the diffusion coefficient decreases more rapidly versus age in persons having diabetes mellitus than in nondiabetic persons of comparable age. By relating the variations in intensity of back-scattered light with the patient's age and by comparison with corresponding measurements taken from nondiabetic persons of comparable age, the presence of diabetes mellitus can be determined.

Abstract: The implanted device includes a rectifier circuit which is switched between modes of half wave and full wave rectification in response to the signal to be conveyed. The external device is inductively coupled to the implanted device through a pair of coils, one coil being embedded beneath the skin, forming the primary and secondary windings of a transformer. The external device delivers energy to the implanted device in amounts which vary in accordance with the rectification mode of the implanted device. By monitoring the energy delivered, the external device determines the rectification modes as they are switched and thereby ascertains the signal being conveyed from the implanted device.

Abstract: The device measures blood pressure automatically using the oscillometric technique wherein cuff pressure is deflated stepwise in dynamically determined increments while cuff pressure oscillations are sensed at each cuff pressure level and stored in a computer incorporated into the device. Stepwise cuff deflation is continued until the cuff pressure is below the subject's diastolic pressure whereupon the cuff is automatically deflated. The device can be used with different sized cuffs specific for different patient categories. For example, the device can employ an adult cuff, or a pediatric cuff. To accomodate the different cuff sizes, the device has more than one bleed orifice with which it controls the deflation steps. The onboard computer is programmed to use a selected one of the bleed orifices in the first bleed step and to use the time duration of the first bleed step to determine what size cuff is being used.