Abstract: A control apparatus for a pumped rod-type laser includes an arc lamp disposed to illuminate the lasing medium, such as a NdYAG crystalline rod. The apparatus includes a full wave rectifier to power the arc lamp, and a MOSFET switching circuit to turn on and off the arc lamp power at controlled times during each half cycle of the power waveform so that the laser medium is pumped and optically discharged once during each half cycle of the power supply. The laser power output is measured by a photodetector during each half cycle, and the photodetector output is integrated and compared with a manually set, variable laser output power level. When the actual laser power reaches the preset power level, the comparator initiates turning off the MOSFET switching circuit power for that respective half cycle of the power waveform. The full wave rectified power supply also permits the use of 110 VAC utility power.

Abstract: An exerciser with an electrical stimulating device for exercising persons having paralyzed legs and the like, the exerciser having bicycle-like pedals supported on rotatable arms, and having a switchboard disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the rotational plane of the rotatable arms. Arrays of magnetically actuated switches are supported by the switchboard in semi-circular paths, and a permanent magnet is supported by one of the rotatably arms to sequentially activate the switches which, as part of a circuit containing a neuromuscular stimulator, effects selective electrical stimulation of the persons muscles to effect rotation of the rotatable arms.

Abstract: An electronic device and method for use in cosmetic and medical treatment of a person by application of electrodes to a person's skin. The device includes a high frequency oscillating circuit for supplying high frequency current in the range of from 1 to 2 megacycles per second. The high frequency oscillating circuit automatically reduces the supply power when the load impedance of the person is lowered. The high-frequency oscillating circuit includes an oscillating circuit producing an oscillation signal, a preamplifier boosting the oscillating circuit and an amplifier receiving the boosted oscillating circuit and outputting an amplified oscillating signal. Resonance circuit means are provided receiving the amplified oscilliating signal and outputting an oscillating signal with resonance at an operating frequency. An output amplifier is preferably connected to the resonance circuit receiving a signal output by the resonant circuit and outputting an amplified at an operating frequency.

Abstract: The add-on circuit arrangement permits selective muting of noise signals which are caused by electrosurgery and by a stimulus source during neurophysiological monitoring of a surgical patient. Switches (39, 7 and 24) are provided to select: electrosurgery noise muting; stimulus artifact muting; and to select fixed or variable recorder recovery time. An inductive pickup (12) is coupled to a conductor (11) which carries radiofrequency signals during active periods of electrosurgery. The pickup (12) and associated circuitry (14-17) generate output signals (ES detect signals) which correspond in time to the active periods of electrosurgery. An active output signal of the "1" output of the flip-flop (38) operates the disable switches 44 which are interposed between the monitoring electrodes (41) and the recorder (46). The flip-flop is set by the ES detect signal and reset by selected recovery time signals.

Abstract: The invention comtemplates promotion or enhanced promotion of vascular or other growth in living body tissue through effectively concurrent in-vivo delivery of at least two beams of laser irradiation at an affected area of body tissue, wherein the irradiation (a) is of low intensity at tissue impingement and (b) is also of spectral wavelength that is preferably in the visible red or in the infrared. Perturbations result in affected cells either directly by reason of differences in the physical properties of the respective beams or indirectly by reason of interaction between the two beams at or near the situs of delivery to the affected body tissue.

Abstract: Laser energy produced by a laser operating in the mid-infrared region (approximately 2 micrometers) is delivered by an optical fiber in a catheter to a surgical site for biological tissue removal and repair. Disclosed laser sources which have an output wavelength in this region include: Holmium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Ho:YAG), Holmium-doped Yttrium Lithium Fluoride (Ho:YLF), Holmium-doped Yttrium-Scandium-Gadolinium=Garnet (HO:YSGG), Erbium-doped YAG, Erbium-doped YLF and Thulium-doped YAG. Laser output energy is applied to a silica-based optical fiber which has been specially purified to reduce the hydroxyl-ion concentration to a low level. The catheter may be comprised of a single optical fiber or a plurality of optical fibers arranged to give overlapping output patterns for large area coverage. In a preferred application for the removal of atheroscleotic plaque, a Holmium-doped laser operating in the wavelength range of from about 1.9 to about 2.1 micrometers is preferred.

Abstract: A method for the treatment, by accelerating the healing process, of acute herpes simplex and acute herpes zoster, and by the reduction of post-herpetic neuralgia, subsequent to determining a dermatone on a body, which dermatome includes an area affected by herpes and which comprises a corresponding segment nerve. Two conducting electrodes are applied to the surface of the dermatome including an anode directly on the spiral ganglion of the most proximal portion of the corresponding nerve, and a cathode on the distal part of the dermatome. Electric current having a constant frequency of about 30 Hz and in the shape of monopolar pulses of an approximately square wave-form having a duration of about 0.2 msec. is applied to the electrodes. The current intensity is adjusted in corresponding with the respective skin resistance.

Abstract: In the context of ultraviolet-laser sculpting of the cornea to achieve optical correction through a newly shaped anterior surface, the invention subjects the laser beam to certain shaping and homogenizing operations prior to any attempt to specially characterize the beam for a particular sculpturing procedure. In a preferred embodiment, the shaping and homogenizing operations present a tolerably homogeneous beam of enlarged dimension, so that specialty-characterizing may proceed on a dimensional scale that is greater than the corresponding dimension of ultimate surgical delivery to the eye, thereby enabling greater control of the quality of specialty-characterizing. Provision is made for selectively monitoring the quality of the homogeneity and/or of the specially-characterized beam, with further provision for automated cutoff of laser beam delivery to an eye in the event that quality is not within predetermined limits of tolerance.

Abstract: An apparatus for laser surgery on a patient disposed on an operating table is provided. A laser device which produces a laser beam is disposed under the operating table. A beam guiding device is also provided which guides the laser beam from the laser device laterally toward an outside side of the table, and upwardly near an outside side of the table to a point above the table. A horizontal pivot arm is also provided which receives the laser beam from the beam guiding device above the table and guides the laser beam to an operation site. The horizontal pivot arm includes an adjustable length.

Abstract: The surgical correction is carried out with the aid of thermocoagulation of the cornea along the lines appropriately oriented with respect to the minimum refractive power meridian and to the distal points of the eyeball central optic zone. Two of such lines are essentially circular arcs, while two other lines are the sides of two angles the bisector of which is the minimum refractive power meridian. Provision is also made for a device for preliminary marking out of the eyeball, aimed at carrying out thermocoagulation along said lines. The device is in fact a cylinder-shaped housing which accommodates special elements adapted to be brought in contact with the corneal surface upon placing the housing on said surface in order to obtain the impressions of the lines along which thermocoagulation is then carried out.

Abstract: A method for modifying tissue with a quasi-continuous laser beam to change the optical properties of the eye comprises controllably setting the volumetric power density of the beam and selecting a desired wavelength for the beam. Tissue modification is accomplished by focusing the beam at a preselected start point in the tissue and moving the beam's focal point in a predetermined manner relative to the start point throughout a specified volume of the tissue or along a specified path in the tissue. Depending on the selected volumetric power density, the tissue on which the focal point is incident can be modified either by photoablation or by a change in the tissue's visco-elastic properties.

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring appliance having a pulse beat detector responding to arterial pulse beats, an ECG signal detector and a time measuring apparatus which ascertains the time intervals between peaks of a predetermined type of the ECG signal detected by the ECG signal detector, preferably its R-peaks, and pulse beats in each case following the R-peaks and detected by the pulse beat detector. A display apparatus displays a datum representing the duration of the ascertained time intervals as blood pressure information. The blood pressure measuring appliance must merely be calibrated initially, for example, with the aid of a sphygmomanometer, in blood pressure values. The inflatable bag can be eliminated for further blood pressure measurements.

Abstract: The specification discloses apparatus for changing the radius of curvature of a cornea, which includes a needle (34) for being inserted into the periphery (14) of the cornea (10). A device (36, 38, 40) heats the needle (34) to a temperature sufficient to degrade a plurality of elongated regions (12) of the corneal stroma, such that the limbus of the cornea is constricted to change the radius of curvature of the cornea.

Abstract: An eye restraining device includes a ring-shaped element which contacts the sclera of an eye so that the cornea projects above the ring-shaped element. A second embodiment includes a head restraint including a plurality of adjustable engaging components for accommodating different sized heads.

Abstract: A laser catheter for removing atherosclerotic plaque. The distal end of the laser catheter, in addition to including a distal port for dye injection and preferably a steerable or at least movable guide wire, includes a smoothly tapered forward face with a sapphire, ruby, diamond or the like window for directing a mid-infrared laser beam centripedally toward a targeted plaque structure. A mid-infrared laser beam, preferably a erbium YAG or HF laser, is conducted through the catheter to abate plaque. A second catheter, substantially identical to the first catheter can slidably disposed about the first catheter so as to provide a tiered laser catheter. Thus, the smaller catheter can target plaque in the most constricted regions of the vessel and can then be advanced into the smaller diameter region wile bringing the second, larger catheter into engagement with a larger diameter packed portion thereby enable the irradiation, and ablation of the same.

Abstract: A demand pacemaker which regulates its pacing rate based upon sensed oxygen saturation percentage. The pacemaker employs a two wavelength reflectance oximeter as a sensor. The sensor includes an oscillator which sequentially activates red and infrared diodes. The duty cycle of the oscillator is regulated by the relative amounts of red and infrared light reflected by the blood. The construction of the sensor allows the sensor to operate with only two conductors, optimizing it for incorporation in a standard, bipolar pacing lead.

Abstract: A conventional keratomileusis procedure is modified to the extent that a controlled tissue-ablating laser radiation is applied solely to the freshly cut part of the cornea that is left after severing the lenticle, the radiation being so controlled and characterized as to effect a volumetric removal of exclusively stromal tissue that, upon replacement of the lenticle over the thus-sculptured remainder of the cornea, a new and optically corrected curvature results.

Abstract: A laser beam guidance system comprises a combination of mirrors that establishes an optical channel within which the laser beam is confined for movement. The system also includes means for moving the combination of mirrors to spatially reorient the optical channel. A beam steering scanner located on the path of the laser beam moves the beam within the optical channel onto selected paths which generally follow the longitudinal axis of the channel. Additionally, a focusing element in the system brings the beam into focus at selectable points on the beam. In accordance with a preestablished program, the beam is moved within the channel and focused at points along the beam to photochemically affect cells in the cornea of the eye.

Abstract: Stimulating electrodes, such as defibrillation or pacing electrodes, are constructed utilizing a metal and its chloride, preferably tin and stannous chloride. The electrodes are relatively large and sufficiently flexible to substantially conform to the area of the body on which they are placed. An electrically conductive medium, such as a saline gel, is placed over a conductive plate having at least a surface formed substantially of tin, to which a quantity of stannous chloride is affixed. In a preferred form, the stimulating electrodes are provided as a disposable set.

Abstract: A cornea laser-cutting apparatus adapted for use in cutting out a cornea of patient's or donor's eye in full thickness cornea transplanting surgery or keratoplasty. The cornea laser-cutting apparatus comprises an HF or Er-YAG laser source and a projection optical system for converging laser beams radiated from the laser source in a ring-like shape on the cornea, and includes an axicon lens or mirror movably mounted for varying the size of the ring-like shape.