Abstract: A system or method displays an appropriate user interface for a multi-function machine. A controller changes displayed contents of a user interface to display a functional screen corresponding to a copy-function when a document handler sensor senses a document placed in a document handler and changes the displayed contents of the user interface to display a functional screen corresponding to a facsimile-function when a telephone number sensor circuit senses a telephone being inputted through a ten-key pad. The controller also changes the display of the user interface to display a functional screen corresponding to a copy-function when a platen cover sensor senses a lifting of a platen cover. Lastly, the controller changes the display of the user interface to display a function screen corresponding to a print-function when a portable memory drive sensor senses an insertion of a portable memory device into a portable memory drive.

Abstract: The present invention has the objective of providing an image reading device capable of normally excellent reading of document images without influence from a soiled or damaged glass document platen, and eliminates the influence of a soiled or damaged glass surface of a document platen by normally reading document images using a new glass surface which is neither soiled not damaged by moving the document platen via a platen moving lever.

Abstract: A method for making Doppler ultrasound measurements utilizes an ultrasound probe having two transducer arrays oriented at right angles to one another and spaced apart from one another. The first array is used to measure multiple apparent Doppler parameters such as velocity at respective regions within a cross section of a structure such as a blood vessel. The second array is used to measure second apparent Doppler parameters at one of these regions. The first and second apparent Doppler parameters for the same point are used to correct the first apparent Doppler parameters to more nearly equal true velocity or energy.

Abstract: The apparatus is used for therapeutically treating injuries using ultrasound. The apparatus includes an ergonomically constructed ultrasonic transducer treatment head module and a portable, ergonomically constructed main operating unit. The transducer treatment head module is positioned adjacent the area of the injury and excited for a predetermined period of time. The apparatus includes means for positioning and holding the treatment head module adjacent positions on the torso of the body, such as the clavicle, the pelvis, the hip and the spine.

Abstract: A catheter tube carries an operative element, such as, for example, an imaging element to visualize tissue. The catheter tube also carries a support structure, which surrounds the operative element. A steering element moves the operative element relative to the support structure. A guidance element generates an electric field within the support structure, while sensing spatial variations in the electric field during movement of the imaging element. The guidance element generates an output that locates the imaging element relative to the support structure based upon an analysis of the sensed spatial variations. The support structure preferably carries an identification code, which represents the specific spatial geometry of the support structure. The support structure outputs the identification code to the guidance element for consideration when generating the location-specific output.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system includes an ultrasonic transducer having multiple ultrasonic transducer elements which are movable between at least first and second configurations which differ in curvature. The transducer elements supply receive signals to a receive beamformer, and the receive beamformer supplies output signals to a scan converter, which is controlled by a scan converter controller. The scan converter controller generates a control signal indicative of the configuration of the transducer elements, and the scan converter responds to this control signal to reduce image distortion associated with movement of the transducer elements between the first and second configurations.

Abstract: Bony ingrowth adjacent a surface of a prosthetic device is provided by positioning an emitting surface of an ultrasonic applicator adjacent a skin location corresponding to an interface between bone tissue and an artificial prosthetic device located inside the body. Ultrasound is created and transmitted from the emitting surface into the body at the skin location toward at least a portion of the interface. The ultrasound is modulated to induce shear waves of acoustic energy within the bone adjacent the portion of the interface. The shear waves promote bony ingrowth at the portion of the interface.

Abstract: An ultrasonic detection system for transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) is disclosed using a detector in the TMR handpiece for detecting concealed coronary blood vessels as well as verifying completion of transmural TMR channels by displaying the detector's output on a video monitor or analyzing the detector output electronically to identify those conditions.

Abstract: An A-mode ultrasound echography method is employed for monitoring the position of a patient during hyperthermia treatment. A therapy apparatus includes a therapy device having at least one ultrasound therapy transducer and at least one monitoring ultrasound transducer, where the ultrasound monitoring transducer is linked to an electronic circuit for processing A-mode signals and is part of an A-mode echography device. The therapy apparatus further includes a device for causing the ultrasound transducer operating in A-mode to transmit a brief signal and to receive the echo of the brief signal. A comparing device compares the echo received with a reference echo, and transmits the result of the comparison to a control device.

Abstract: Wavelength diversity coupled with fiber-based time delay, optical energy delivery, and ultrasonic energy sensing, are proposed to form a novel, rapidly tunable (e.g., 1 Khz-100 Mhz) and wide instantaneous bandwidth (e.g., >50% bandwidth at center carrier), ultrasonic probe system for therapy, diagnostics, and non-invasive surgery, particularly for intracavity operation with a typical 100 channel/transducer element count. This ultrasonic system architecture is a multi-wavelength optical delay line module using two high speed (i.e., <10 microseconds wavelength switching time), bulk acousto-optic tunable filters, that provide collinear, high power, multi-wavelength optical input and output beams. This wavelength selection module also provides high optical throughput (e.g., 90% efficiency) and excellent (e.g., -30 db) optical blockage of the unwanted leakage (undiffracted) light, preventing noise propagation when such modules are cascaded to provide many variable signal time delays.

Abstract: A laser ultrasound probe, suitable for intravascular use, of the kind having an ultrasonic transducer element comprising an ultrasound receiving surface of piezoelectric polymeric material and an optical fiber with one end directed forwardly from that surface and arranged to receive laser radiation for transmission through the optical fiber and emission from the said one end thereof, wherein the optical fiber is coupled with laser source means adapted to provide alternatively a relatively low average power laser beam, which, when modulated or pulsed and emitted from the one end of the optical fiber and incident on a target, will generate ultrasound at an intensity suitable to be received by the transducer element and converted thereby into electrical monitoring signals, and a relatively high average power laser beam suitable, when incident on the said target, to produce ablation thereof, the transducer element being sufficiently robust to withstand the ultrasound which is then also generated.

Abstract: NMR images indicative of thermal changes in tissues undergoing therapy are produced using a gradient-recalled double-echo pulse sequence. A reference phase image is produced using a short echo time (TE.sub.1) and a measurement phase image is produced with a longer echo time (TE.sub.2). Temperature maps are produced during therapy using the phase difference information at corresponding pixels of the two phase images.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having both functions of a color flow imaging function of displaying with color a blood flow distribution within the subject on a tomographic image of the subject and a pulse Doppler function of evaluating and displaying with great accuracy a blood flow velocity of a point to be observed which is designated within a tomographic plane. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus implements the pulse Doppler function through few operations as compared with the conventional one. A direction of the blood flow is evaluated on the basis of a blood flow distribution of the peripheral pixels of the point of interest to be observed, determined through the color flow imaging function.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring the anisotropic mechanical properties of tissue is provided. The device comprises a flexural resonator driven by a transducer to oscillate at a plurality of angles of oscillation while in contact with a tissue to be analyzed. The resonance frequencies and resonance peak widths for the flexural resonator are measured at each of the plurality of angles of oscillation. Based on these values and the free state resonance frequency of the oscillating flexural resonator, anisotropic mechanical properties of the tissue are derived. A pressure normalizing element is utilized to ensure secure and standardized contact between the flexural resonator and the tissue during the measurements.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus for acquiring Doppler information at a focal point in an object under inspection from AC components of a spatial frequency distribution of ultrasonic waves reflected from the focal point by removing components reflected from an off-axial static reflector. A transmission trigger generating circuit drives in accordance with predetermined time shifts an array of piezo-electric elements to transmit an electronically converged ultrasonic beam. Reflected signals from a reflector on the axis of the beam only are stored in memory.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for imaging tissues from inside a patient's body cavity is disclosed. The ultrasonic probe includes an end portion having a back and forth pivotable transducer assembly for transmitting an ultrasonic beam. The transducer assembly is supported by a silicon-containing support about a cavity and includes a transducer block on a base layer connected to the support via one or more twistable or flexible support arms. The transducer block includes a backing layer, a transducer layer on said backing layer, and an acoustic matching layer on the transducer layer. A bottom electrode in the transducer block penetrates the backing layer to connect electrically to a bottom face of the transducer layer to a conductor which is on a first face of the block. A top electrode penetrates the acoustic matching layer to connect electrically to a top face of the transducer layer to a conductor on a second face of the block for activating the transducer layer.

Abstract: A hydromassage bathtub with ultrasound micromassage system comprising a plurality of ultrasound emission devices (13, 113) distributed over the walls of the bathtub. The ultrasound emission devices (13, 113) comprise means (23, 26; 118, 125) for orientating the direction of emission of the ultrasounds into a wide beam, at least 10 cm. wide at a distance of 20 cm. from the source. In case of conical beam, the means orient the beam into a solid angle of not less than 30.degree. and advantageously at least 50.degree.. With one ultrasonic emitting element (24) inside the emission device the emission beam obtained is superior to the natural width or divergence of said element.

Abstract: A method of performing an ultrasonic examination with a transducer/receiver through a coupling gel including loading the coupling gel in a stand-on-end container which can be maintained in an upside down, standby position without leaking; maintaining the container in a standby position; applying the coupling gel to a subject; performing the ultrasonic examination with the transducer/receiver through the coupling gel; reading the ultrasonic image; and returning the container to the standby position for ready use.

Abstract: An underfluid imaging, diagnostic, interventional, or measuring catheter apparatus including an outer catheter body and a drive shaft receivable in the outer body and rotatable with respect to the outer body; an ultrasound transducer array mounted on the rotatable drive shaft and rotated with the drive shaft; and a ultrasound window portion disposed on the outer body, wherein the ultrasound transducer array is longitudinally positionable within the outer body proximate the window portion so as to allow transmission of ultrasound signals from the transducer array to the outside of the catheter. The ultrasound signals are a sequential set of spatially related tomographic image planes which define a volumetric field of view around the catheter. An underfluid therapeutic or diagnostic device can be received in the catheter through a port extending from proximate a proximal end to proximate a distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating for the effects of variable attenuation in a body being scanned by an ultrasound pulse echo scanner in which a compensation signal is derived on the basis that the signal strength of the received signal at any time instant after generation is influenced by both attenuation and back scatter. The apparatus comprises an array of transducers which generate a received signal from an echo, for applying a time-dependent gain to produce a signal which is a function of the received signal, temporary storage and integrator functions operable to sum the signal values for each time instant from a commencement point, the combining of the integrated signal with the stored original signal to form a quotient, and the displaying of the signal thus generated.