Abstract: A longitudinal position translator includes a probe drive module and a linear translation module. The probe drive module is coupled operatively to an ultrasonic imaging probe assembly having a distally located ultrasound transducer subassembly in such a manner that longitudinal shifting of the transducer subassembly may be effected. The probe drive module is preferably mounted to the linear translation unit so as to be moveable between a condition whereby longitudinal shifting of the transducer subassembly can be conducted either manually or automatically. When in the automatically-operable condition, the probe drive module will be engaged with a motor-driven screw associated with the linear translation module so as to cause the probe drive module to be longitudinally displaced at a constant motor-driven rate. In this manner, the distally located ultrasound transducer is longitudinally shifted during an ultrasound scan of surrounding intravascular (or other) tissue to thereby allow axially-spaced 360.degree.

Abstract: A method of ultrasonic bone-therapy subjects a bone to an ultrasonic excitation pulse signal of finite duration, supplied to a transducer next to the bone, and involving a sinusoidal signal in the ultrasonic region to approximately 2 MHz peculiarly modulated by a sinusoidal signal with frequency between about 0 Hz and about 25 kHz; the excitation signal is repeated in the range of 1 to 5000 Hz. The exposure time for therapy is chosen to be in the range of 5 minutes to 1 hour, for 1 to 3 times a day, for a period of days as necessary for healing or for promoting bone growth and ingrowth. An apparatus for implementing the above method for ultrasonic bone therapy is disclosed comprising a transducer having a transmitting and a receiving element, a special waveform signal generator, and a computer for performing the necessary operations defining a preferred treatment regime.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for using the pressure of the surgical cuff installed surrounding an endotracheal tubes or the flow rate therethrough in the calculation of parameters in lung mechanics.

Abstract: A method and device for impedance plethysmography, with relative immunity to skin-electrode contact resistance drift are provided.

Abstract: The osteoporosis diagnosing apparatus of the invention radiates repeatedly an ultrasonic impulse Ai toward the bone Mb of an examinee and receives an echo Ae from the bone Mb. The received signal is converted into a digital echo signal through an A/D converter (8), and the echo level is detected by a CPU (11). The CPU (11) extracts maximum echo level from among the echo levels detected in a given period of measurement to thereby calculate a bone acoustic impedance Zb based on the extracted maximum echo level, and then calculate the bone density of the examinee based on the calculated acoustic impedance Zb. As the impedance Zb is expressed in the square root of the product of modulus of elasticity and density of a bone, decreased in both the modulus of elasticity and the density synergistically affect the impedance to remarkably decrease the same.

Abstract: Obstructive material is removed from a stent by modified electrosurgical ablation. A modified electrosurgical device having at least one electrode is positioned within the stent, and current is supplied to the electrode. The electrode is prevented from physically contacting the stent, such as by being situated within a groove on the device. The stent may, but need not be, grounded to the current source. The device may be properly positioned within the stent by using ultrasound transducers, fiber optics, or other means. Additionally, the device may be positioned by including at least two electrodes, and measuring the impedance therebetween, as the impedance will be relatively low when both electrodes are within a conductive stent. Therapeutic fluid may be supplied through the catheter, and energy may be supplied to increase the activity of the fluid.

Abstract: A system for assessing soft-tissue injury in a subject. The system comprises means for applying energy internally to tissue of the subject in an inaudible and invisible manner, with no indications to the epidermal tissue of the subject as to when energy is being applied or how much energy is being applied. The applying means has an energy control mechanism for varying parameters of energy application. The system also comprises a subject response unit having input means controlled by the subject in accordance with perceived sensation in tissue acted upon by the energy applying means. The system also includes also data recording means for simultaneously recording parameters of energy application from the energy applying means and parameters of perceived sensation from the subject response unit. With the system, application of energy occurs invisibly and inaudibly at an internal level. The tissue is stimulated from within by the energy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining important histological characteristics of tissue, including a determination of the tissue's health. Electrical pulses are converted into meaningful numerical representations through the use of Fourier Transforms. These numerical representations are then used to determine important histological characteristics of tissue. This novel invention does not require rectification and thus provides for detailed information from the ultrasonic scan.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel method for producing real-time colorized, contrast enhanced images from a sequence of grey-scale video images obtained during diagnostic ultrasound. The particular colorizing scheme varies according to which information parameter is desired to be displayed in real-time. The information parameters used to colorize a segment of video images include: time-to-arrival, duration of brightening, and absolute brightening. Time-to-arrival colorization depicts the time that a given pixel achieves a given intensity threshold. Duration of brightening depicts the time that a given pixel's intensity stays above a given threshold. Absolute brightening depicts various threshold values obtained by the region's pixels.

Abstract: In a high-energy ultrasound therapy method and apparatus, said apparatus comprises a therapy device with at least one ultrasound therapy transducer element and a signal generator supplying an electronic signal to said ultrasound transducer element, the signal generator supplying the transducer(s) with a wideband electronic signal of the random or pseudo-random type.

Abstract: A medical information system manages clinical pathway order selection. The medical information system includes a medical database and a user terminal having a display screen. Clinical pathways are defined in the medical database. Each of the clinical pathways is associated with a patient condition and includes a sequence of time intervals and a plurality of clinical pathway order sets. Each of the clinical pathway order sets is associated with a selected one of the time intervals. A selected clinical pathway is associated with a patient in accordance with the patient's condition. When a user selects the patient's clinical pathway order sets, a next order set, which is the first unused order set in the patient's clinical pathway order sets, is determined. A list of the clinical pathway order sets associated with the selected clinical pathway may be displayed on the display screen. The next order set is identified on the list.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system enables 1.5D image information to be generated from a single firing of a linear transducer array by permitting dynamic control over the receive aperture. The imaging system comprises a transducer having a linear array of piezoelectric elements arranged in a plurality of distinct rows of the elements. The transducer is operable to provide acoustic pulses from elements of a first one of the rows in response to respective driving signals and to provide corresponding return signals in response thereto at elements of additional ones of the plurality of the rows and at the first one of the rows. A receiver is coupled to the transducer to receive a summed signal corresponding to the return signals from the elements. The receiver comprises a plurality of low voltage switches that couple to respective ones of the additional ones of the plurality of the rows, and a high voltage switch disposed in series with the low voltage switches.

Abstract: A ultrasonic probe for use in transthoracic echocardiography to produce panoramic images of the area of interest and comprising a transducer array connected to a first and second rotating mechanism, wherein the rotating mechanisms are driven using open loop control signals. The first and second rotating mechanisms comprise first and second stepper motors to accurately rotate the transducer array through a particular scan plane and adjust the scan plane. Microstepping techniques are utilized to permit greater accuracy and control. Further, the first and second rotating mechanism comprise gear assemblies which permit the transducers to rotate through a wide angle to generate panoramic ultrasound images.

Abstract: The disclosed ultrasound system processes ultrasound signals having centroid frequencies that decrease as a function of time. The system includes transducers for receiving the ultrasound signals and generating electrical signals representative thereof. The system further includes data samplers for sampling the electrical signals with a sampling frequency. A controller controls the sampling frequency so that it decreases according to a function of time and the centroid frequency.

Abstract: In order to measure the moisture content in skin, especially in the keratinous layer (stratum corneum), at least two electrodes are employed, at least one of which electrodes is placed on the skin where moisture has to be measured, the electrodes are supplied with a periodic voltage with a frequency of less than 50 kHz, and the susceptance in the keratinous layer is measured beneath the electrode or electrodes. In an apparatus for measuring the moisture content in skin three electrodes are employed, a periodic voltage being applied to two of these. The susceptance is measured below one of the electrodes, uninfluenced by the other electrodes, the measurement thus being truly monopolar.

Abstract: A method of constructing a cardiac map of a heart having a heart cycle including; bringing an invasive probe into contact with a location on a wall of the heart; determining, at at least two different phases of the heart cycle, a position of the invasive probe; and determining a local non-electrical physiological value at the location. The method is repeated for a plurality of locations in the heart. The positions are combined to form a time-dependent map of at least a portion of the heart and local relationships between changes in positions of the invasive probe and determined local non-electrical physiological values are determined. Preferably, local electrical activity at the plurality of locations is also acquired.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging catheter includes an outer sheath that is adapted to be inserted into a body cavity, and a drive shaft that is positioned in the outer sheath for transmitting mechanical driving force. The catheter is also provided with first and second elastic members. The first elastic member is disposed at the tip portion of the outer sheath while the second elastic member that is secured to the housing containing a transducer has a free end that is inserted into the first elastic member. The portion of the catheter between the housing and the first elastic member at the free end of the catheter is thus reinforced to improve flexibility and kinking of the catheter. The housing can be made of insulating ceramic material so that the insulation and resistance of the housing is high. Thus, a short between the electrodes of the oscillator does not occur even when the oscillator is in direct contact with the housing.

Abstract: A hand-held, battery-driven, oto-acoustic emission analyzer comprises an apparatus housing with two areas; an elongated housing part for electronic circuits, a measuring probe and a display, and a handgrip part for containing a power supply unit in the form of a battery compartment and a pump, such as a mechanical, hand-operated pump.

Abstract: A method and device for impedance plethysmography, with relative immunity to skin-electrode contact resistance drift. Two measurement electrodes are placed on opposite sides of a biological object such as a patient. A reference electrode is placed next to one of the measurement electrodes. Because all three skin-electrode contact resistances drift in substantially the same way over time, the difference between an impedance measured between the measurement electrodes and an impedance measured between the reference electrode and the adjacent measurement electrode is indicative of a change in the biological object's impedance, even though the skin-electrode contact resistances may drift by an amount comparable to the change in the biological object's impedance.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic method and apparatus is provided wherein an ultrasonic wave is transmitted through a patient to contact the human bone and the corresponding diagnostic waveform is then compared with a standard prestored waveform of a comparable healthy bone. The patient's bone is then judged to determine the osteoporosis condition of the patient.