Abstract: A method is described for increasing the temporal resolution of MR fluoroscopy procedures. A central portion of the image requiring a higher temporal resolution is updated more frequently using less-than-complete newly acquired NMR data. A running average of the signals produced by peripheral structures is used to form the periphery of the image and to remove artifact-producing data from the less-than-complete NMR data.

Abstract: According to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, a cross section of an examining human body having bubbles implanted as ultrasonic shadowing agent is scanned by an ultrasound so as to obtain an echo signal. Image data is repeatedly generated based on the echo signal. Then, image data is displayed as a motion image. Power of the ultrasound to be transmitted is changed from first power to second power, which is stronger than first power. The ultrasound of first power breaks a first amount of bubbles. The ultrasound of second power, which is stronger than first power, breaks a second amount of bubbles, which is larger than the first amount of bubbles. Though the image generated by use of first power is unclear, the amount of breakage of bubbles can be extremely retrained. Since the image is used to examine the state of the bubble flow to the region of interest, unclearness can be allowed.

Abstract: Non-invasive near infrared optical medical imaging devices for both hematoma detection in the brain and early tumor detection in the breast is achieved using image reconstruction which allows a mapping of the position dependent contrast diffusive propagation constants, which are related to the optical absorption coefficient and scattering coefficient in the tissue, at near infrared wavelengths. Spatial resolutions in the range of 5 mm for adult brain sizes and breast sizes can be achieved. The image reconstruction utilizes WKB approximation on most probable diffusion paths which has as lowest order approximation the straight line-of-sight between the plurality of sources and the plurality of detectors. The WKB approximation yields a set of linear equations in which the contrast optical absorption coefficients are the unknowns and for which signals can be generated to produce a pixel map of the contrast optical resolution of the scanned tissue.

Abstract: A three-dimensional gadolinium-enhanced MR study of e.g. the patient's thoracic vasculature is carried out while the patient holds his or her breath. Acquisition of all data in each three-dimensional partition takes place during one and only one heartbeat. By synchronizing the MR pulse sequence to the patient's cardiac cycle, and advantageously by acquiring the MR data during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle, image artifacts caused by cardiac motion and pulsatile flow are eliminated or minimized.

Abstract: The invention related to positioning and marking a patient at a diagnostic apparatus, for example before and after a fluoroscopic examination in a computer tomograph comprising at least four line lasers being movably supported for travelling along a respective axis, two line lasers being arranged above a patient placed on a movable table projecting a sagittal line and a transverse line on the body of the patient and two further line lines arranges sidewards of the table each projecting a line along the body axis sidewards on the body, further comprising numerically controlled drive means for moving the line lasers to adjust the projected lines in a transverse direction and comprising a positioning control device, controlling the drive means and a manually operated input device for supplying the coordinates, the location and extension of the radiation zone as determined by the computer tomograph for being supplies to the control device, and projecting orthogonal coordinate axes on the patient for marking the p

Abstract: A method of acquiring an analog electrical pulse signal caused by a radiation event impinging on a detector crystal and viewed by a plurality of detector units. An image is formed based on a plurality of the events, each of which is captured by some of the detector units. The method of acquiring includes.(a) adding a linearity enhancement signal to the analog signal; and(b) converting the analog signal to a digital signal, where the linearity enhancement signal is slowly varying relative to the length of an analog signal pulse. Alternatively or additionally, a resolution enhancement signal is added to the analog signal before (b) converting the analog signal to a digital signal. The resolution enhancement signal varying relatively quickly compared to the length of an analog signal pulse.

Abstract: A phased array transducer for an ultrasonic imaging system includes a flexible support element which supports an array of piezoelectric transducer elements. Shape transducers such as strain gauges or capacitive transducers are coupled to the support element to generate a signal indicative of the instantaneously prevailing curvature of the array. A user-controlled actuator is coupled to the support element to flex the support element between at least first and second configurations, wherein the support element has separate curvatures along the axis of the transducer in each of the first and second configurations. In some applications the transducer elements are positioned for separate scan formats in the first and second configurations. The support element can be provided with first and second alternating regions which differ in flexibility, in order to concentrate flexing of the support element in the second regions.

Abstract: A method for locating blood vessels in a live human body utilizing infrared scanning and imaging techniques to distinguish relative temperature differences between blood carrying vessels and surrounding human tissue. An infrared imaging camera is used to detect the emissions of an object to differentiate the specific elevated surface temperature associated with blood vessels in a human body and surrounding tissue and marking same by the introduction of a marking device visible through temperature differentiation within the infrared imaging field.

Abstract: An ultrasound flow measurement system converts each of plural groups of reflection sample values from scatterers, into baseband complex data values and enables a velocity determination from just two lag samples. A cross correlation function derives a first cross-correlation value between a first set of complex data values that are derived at a first common sample time, during succeeding transmit events, and a second set of complex data values that are derived at a second common sample time, during succeeding transmit events. A second cross-correlation function derives a second cross-correlation value between the first set of complex data values and a third set of complex data values that are derived at the common second sample time. A local oscillator synchronizes both the baseband conversion and cross-correlation operation, and exhibits a rate of change of phase per sample time.

Abstract: An endermology body massager having at least two rollers spaced from each other in a parallel configuration. The rollers rotate in the same direction and are rotatably mounted movable axes. A vacuum source is connected to the chamber that houses the rollers. The vacuum source facilitates the suction of the skin between the rollers and helps bring the rollers closer to each other during operation. The rollers or housing have ultrasound generators that are selectively controlled by the operator. In a first embodiment, the ultrasound generators are located within the rollers. In the second embodiment, the ultrasound generators are disposed in the housing around the rollers. Therefore, a controlled and combined endermology with ultrasound treatment can be achieved.

Abstract: A coil assembly (40) includes a first, birdcage type head coil assembly (42) dimensioned to receive a patient's head and a second, neck coil assembly (44) including an anterior coil portion (44a) and a posterior coil portion (44b) dimensioned to receive the patient's neck region. The head and neck coils are partially overlapped. A first cable extends (98a) from the anterior coil portion past the birdcage head coil assembly and a second coaxial cable (98b) extends from the posterior portion past the birdcage head coil assembly. A first decoupling circuit (104a) is disposed in the first coaxial cable beyond a guard ring (106) and a second decoupling circuit (104b) is disposed in the second coaxial cable adjacent the region of overlap between the head and neck coil assemblies. The decoupling circuits are positioned and tuned to prevent radio frequency communication along the coaxial cable sheath between the head and neck coil assemblies.

Abstract: An apparatus for focussing vibrational energy upon a target volume within a surrounding contiguous medium imparts high intensity energy upon the target volume from low level energy sources. A plurality of standing compression waves are established within the medium along corresponding longitudinal axes between opposing pairs of coordinated transducers. The target volume is located at the common intersection of the axes of the standing compression waves. Opposing pairs of transducers are positioned from each other at a distance equal to an integer multiple of half wavelengths of the corresponding standing wave therebetween. The phase angle of each standing compression wave is regulated so as to cause each wave to be at its maximum intensity (amplitude) within the target volume at the point of common intersection with the other standing waves.

Abstract: An enhancer receives, combines, and correlates at least two sets of data from different imaging sources, such as a mammographic imaging system and an ultrasound imaging system, for imaging bodily tissue, such as breast tissue. The processed data can then be displayed. The enhancer embeds sets of data in matrixes and uses singular value decomposition to compress the data into singular vectors and singular values. The compressed data can be altered to enhance or suppress desired features.

Abstract: A compounded field of view ultrasound image is derived from correlated frames of ultrasound image data. An operator manually translates an ultrasound probe across a patient target area. Frames of sensed echo signals are processed to detect probe motion without the use of a dedicated position sensor or motion sensor. Motion is detected by correlating the frames for probe translation among as many as 6 degrees of freedom. Image registration then is performed for correlated portions to compound a large ultrasound image. Such image encompasses an area larger than a single field of view image frame for the given manually-scanned transducer probe.

Abstract: A method for assessment of bone properties comprises passing ultrasonic signal through a bone tissue, modeling an output signal and a reference output signal and subjecting parameters of the models to comparative analysis. An apparatus is also disclosed for practicing the method.

Abstract: A method and system of processing Doppler data includes determining a noise component independently of automatic signal analysis. A succession of frequency spectra is formed in response to receiving reflected energy from an object of interest. A Doppler waveform is then derived from the succession of frequency spectra. The execution of noise estimation is limited to time periods between peaks of the Doppler waveform, providing a first level of isolation from the true-signal processing. Implementation of the noise estimation is based upon portions of the frequency spectra that are independent of the portions from which the Doppler waveform is derived. This provides a second level of isolation. The determined noise component is used as a threshold level in subsequent derivation of the Doppler waveform. Preferably, there are multiple noise thresholds that are adaptively utilized to permit application of a short search block during Doppler frequency detection.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for correlating radiologic and ultrasonic images of biological tissue. An X-ray image and a plurality of corresponding ultrasound images are generated while the biological tissue remains immobilized. X-ray opaque indexing points provide lateral registration of the X-ray film with the ultrasound apparatus. The fan-out of X-ray beams penetrating the tissue from a point X-ray source is determined and used to correlate the X-ray image data to the ultrasonic image data. Apparatus and methods are also provided for determining the location of the X-ray source relative to the indexing points.

Abstract: A lead adapted to be implanted adjacent a spinal cord located within a spinal column of a vertebrate in order to facilitate stimulation of the spinal cord or adjacent tissue. An ultrasonic transmitter/receiver produces an ultrasonic sound wave that creates ultrasonic echo waves reflected from a predetermined portion of the spinal cord and generates a distance signal related to the distance between the transducer/receiver and the predetermined portion of the spinal cord. The distance signal is used to adjust the amplitude of an electrical stimulation signal that stimulates the spinal cord or adjacent tissue so that the value of the stimulation signal tends to remain uniform in spite of changes in the relative distance between the transducer/receiver and the predetermined portion of the spinal cord.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system has a probe containing a 2-D array of transducer elements and a base unit for the phase-delayed driving of the transducer elements of the array. Transmit pulsers digitally controlled by the base unit are provided for the transducer elements in the probe, and an address decoder is provided for the transmitting state, and a multiplexer for the ultrasonic signals in the receiving state. For the transmitting state, the probe and the base unit are interconnected via digital control lines and, for the receiving state, via a number of signal lines that is reduced by the multiplexer factor of the multiplexer.

Abstract: A method for imaging and three-dimensional modeling portions of the heart, particularly the left ventricular endocardial and epicardial surfaces, using imaging data. Preferably, a transesophageal ultrasound probe is inserted into an esophagus of a patient to provide multiple plane imaging data at end systole and end diastole during a cardiac cycle. The image planes are then traced along the boundaries of the epicardial and endocardial surfaces to produce sets of data points, which are further processed and expanded through interpolation. These data points are used for modeling the endocardial and epicardial surface at the end systole and end diastole extremes of the cardiac cycle.