Abstract: Apparatus and procedure for measuring volumes and global and segmental corporal composition in human beings, by means of measuring the electrical impedance at various frequencies, determining in this manner, the ratio between the intracellular water and the extracellular water volumes, the contents of total and extracellular water in each segment and the contents of the segmental lean mass. The apparatus is made up of a computer (11) which controls an electronic box (12), fed through a feeding source (14), various electrodes (13) coming out from said electronic box (12) which are placed on the body under research.

Abstract: With an apparatus according to the invention it is possible to detect an object's velocity transverse to the direction of propagation of an interacting field. Such transverse movement is detected by applying a field that oscillates spatially in the transverse direction. The method used in the apparatus is applicable where wave energy is used to sense or detect an object by its scattering properties when using either sound waves or electro-magnetic waves. The movement can be detected according to the field properties. The field represented by the sampling pulse must feature a spatial oscillation in the directions, where the velocity components are of interest. Such a transversely oscillating field is e.g. generated by using apodization on individual transducer elements and a special focusing scheme. The apparatus uses waves of either sound or electro-magnetic radiation.

Abstract: In an ultrasound therapy apparatus and a method for the operation of an ultrasound therapy apparatus, a high-frequency generator generates electrical signals with different discrete frequency values that lie within a first frequency band in chronological succession. Whole multiples of the discrete frequency values do not lie in a second frequency band that corresponds to the reception band of a simultaneously operated diagnostic magnetic resonance apparatus.

Abstract: The shock wave source according to the invention has a membrane of an electrically conductive material which is connected on one side with a propagation medium and, on the other side, with a flat coil. The membrane is subjected to a mechanical prestress which acts radially on it by virtue of the clamping of its edge area by at least one member which has a projection which extends in a direction normal to the plane of the membrane.

Abstract: A method of optical imaging through a scattering medium is provided in which a fit is made to an inhomogeneous diffusion model. The method facilitates good differentiation between scattering and absorption. The variation of the diffusion curve associated with the presence of an inclusion is considered rather than the diffusion curve itself. An empirical model is provided which describes the variation of the diffusion curve. A linear curve fitting process is performed to provide two parameters, one parameter associated with the scattering property of the inclusion and the other parameter associated with the absorption property of the inclusion.

Abstract: NMR data required to reconstruct an image is divided into central k-space views and peripheral k-space views. NMR navigator signals are acquired during a scan to indicate patient respiration and a first gating signal is produced when respiration is within a narrow acquisition window and a second gating signal is produced when respiration is within a wider acquisition window. Central k-space views are acquired when the first gating signal is produced and peripheral k-space views are acquired when the second gating signal is produced.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing treatment on an internal target region while compensating for breathing and other motion of the patient is provided in which the apparatus comprises a first imaging device for periodically generating positional data about the internal target region and a second imaging device for continuously generating positional data about one or more external markers adapted to be attached to the patient's body or any external sensor such as a device for measuring air flow. The apparatus further comprises a processor that receives the positional data about the internal target region and the external markers in order to generate a correspondence between the position of the internal target region and the external markers and a treatment device that directs the treatment towards the position of the target region of the patient based on the positional data of the external markers.

Abstract: In order not to nip the clothes or skin of a subject between the joining portions of coil members when a detecting coil for a magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus is fitted around a region of the subject such as the leg or neck, the detecting coil 100 for a magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus, which can be separated into an upper coil member 10 and a lower coil member 20 and has an annular shape when these members 10, 20 are integrally joined, is provided at the joining portions of the lower coil member 20 with guards 27, 28 of a silicone rubber having a hardness of Hs80.

Abstract: An MRI system produces a series of image frames of a blood vessel using a cardiac gated, M-mode Fourier-velocity-encoding pulse sequence. The pulse-wave velocity of a velocity wave traversing the field of view of the image frames is determined by cross correlating a selected reference image frame with the other image frames to locate the relative position of the velocity wave in each of those other image frames, and calculating the propagation velocity of the velocity wave from its relative positions in those other image frames.

Abstract: An apparatus for fixing a female breast for use in a variety of medical-technical applications such as, for example, ultrasound therapy, ultrasound diagnosis or biopsy. The fixing apparatus includes a container, into which the breast is introduced, a fixing diaphragm, and at least one compression cushion. The compression cushion presses the breast against the fixing diaphragm thereby achieving a fixed position of the breast.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance information acquired by a movable magnetic resonance instrument is used to monitor hyperthermia treatments such as tissue ablation. The instrument may include both the magnetic resonance equipment and an energy applicator such as a high intensity focused ultrasound unit. The treatment can be conducted under automatic control after the operator marks a treatment volume on an image of the subject, such as a magnetic resonance image acquired using the movable magnetic resonance instrument. The automatic treatment can be based on interpolation of tissue response curves at plural test points near the treatment volume. The system can also provide automatic supervisory control during manual operation, to prevent application of heat to sensitive anatomical structures.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for determining volumes of body fluids in a subject using bioelectrical response spectroscopy. The human body is represented using an electrical circuit. Intra-cellular water is represented by a resistor in series with a capacitor; extra-cellular water is represented by a resistor in series with two parallel inductors. The parallel inductors represent the resistance due to vascular fluids. An alternating, low amperage, multi-frequency signal is applied to determine a subject's impedance and resistance. From these data, statistical regression is used to determine a 1% impedance where the subject's impedance changes by no more than 1% over a 25 kHz interval. Circuit components of the human body circuit are determined based on the 1% impedance. Equations for calculating total body water, extra-cellular water, total blood volume, and plasma volume are developed based on the circuit components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of reducing human skin wrinkles, including applying a focused ultrasound beam to a region of human skin to stimulate or irritate a dermis layer in the region of the skin without adversely damaging an epidermis layer in the region of the skin so as to cause a change in the dermis layer of the skin that results in a change in a smoothness of the epidermis layer of the skin. In particular, relatively low power, low frequency focused ultrasound is applied to the dermis layer for a period of time sufficient to cause a biological response in the body wherein the biological response causes synthesis and/or production of new connective tissue that results in reduction or elimination of human skin wrinkles.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for assessing tumor extent in medical temporally acquired images. The method, on which the computer program product and system is based, includes obtaining image data corresponding to temporally acquired images including a tumor and surrounding anatomy and performing variance processing on the obtained image data to derive variance image data defining a variance image indicative of variation of voxels in the temporally acquired medical images. Techniques include novel developments and implementations of breast volume segmentation, breast border removal, lesion enhancement, determination of the bounding sphere, computation of a 3-D search volume, suppression of surrounding structures, and volume growing. Output from the methods yields an estimate of the extent of the tumor (lesion) in the breast.

Abstract: A device and method useful in the diagnosis and treatment of congestive heart failure. Specifically the present invention senses the trans-thoracic impedance as well as patient posture. By correlating changes in posture with trans-thoracic impedance changes, the present invention is able to diagnose and assess the degree of congestive heart failure. The present invention is described in the context of an implantable pulse generator system, but it may also be practiced in conjunction with various types of implantable devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for measuring one or more physical characteristics of material such as tissue using optical radiation. The system can use light that is scattered by a tissue layer to determine, for example, the size of nuclei in the tissue layer to aid in the characterization of the tissue. These methods can include the use of fiber optic devices to deliver and collect light from a tissue region of interest to diagnose, for example, whether the tissue is normal or precancerous.

Abstract: An improved ultrasonic wave cosmetic device which is able to protect skin against burns. The ultrasonic wave cosmetic device for treating skin includes a probe head having a skin contact metal surface for contacting the skin to transmit an ultrasonic wave thereto, an ultrasonic wave vibration element for vibrating at an ultrasonic wave frequency in response to an output signal from an ultrasonic wave oscillation circuit, and a temperature sensor mounted in a manner directly contacting a side surface of the ultrasonic wave vibration element and a surface opposite the skin contact metal surface for detecting the temperature of the probe head. The temperature sensor feeds back signals to the oscillation circuit which terminates the oscillation output signal when the probe head gets too hot.

Abstract: A novel method of magnetic resonance focused surgical and therapeutic ultrasound is disclosed where a patient is administered a contrast medium comprising a gas or gaseous precursor filled vesicle, and optionally a therapeutic compound.

Abstract: A system is disclosed, for administering a therapeutic agent locally and to a depth within cardiac tissue. An elongate, flexible catheter contains a flexible electric conductor and supports at its distal end an implantable electrode incorporating a penetrating element, typically a fixation helix or a linear needle that penetrates cardiac tissue as the electrode is implanted. A therapeutic agent is delivered through the electrode, to the cardiac tissue surrounding the penetrating element. The electrode acts as a sensor, electrically coupled through the flexible conductor, and monitors an electrical condition of the surrounding cardiac tissue. A controller is coupled to the sensor and to a pump or reservoir containing the therapeutic agent, to control delivery of the agent responsive to the sensed electrical condition. The implanted electrode further can be used to deliver RF current to ablate the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: Acoustic shock waves for medical uses are generated by an electrical discharge between two electrodes, which are mounted in a liquid medium. A catalyst is added to the liquid medium in the area of the electrodes; this catalyst partially or completely catalytically converts the gas which forms upon application of the voltage to the electrodes back into its original state or partially or completely prevents the formation of the gas.