Abstract: A probe for suctioning of ocular tissue includes a hollow suction needle having a lateral opening in a needle region to be placed on the ocular tissue to be suctioned, a laser radiation source, a hollow mirror surface defining an ellipsoidal cavity within the needle region and forming a reflective device with a first focal point within the cavity and a second focal point outside of the cavity for location in the tissue to be suctioned, and a light guide disposed within and extending through the suction needle and interconnecting the laser radiation source and the ellipsoidal cavity. The laser radiation is directed by the light guide to the first focal point and reflected by the hollow mirror surface to the second focal point.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing and providing an indication of one or more diabetes-related blood constituents of a patient, the system being based upon an ECG sensor which processes patient ECG signals, either surface, or intracardiac or epicardial, for determining a measure of a blood constituent such as insulin or glucose, or both insulin and glucose. The system has processing capability for correlating selected parameters of the ECG signal with patient blood insulin or blood glucose, to provide the insulin or glucose level. Additionally, the system is provided with input capability for enabling the patient to input data such as the time of meal intake, which is representative of glucose intake, which data is incorporated in making a determination of patient insulin need. The system can be in a first external wearable embodiment, or in a second implantable embodiment which utilizes a pacing-type lead for picking up intracardiac or epicardial signals.

Abstract: A method for cryogenic treatment of a lesion which includes the steps of delivering a fluorochemical liquid to the lesion, placing at least one cryoprobe into the lesion, and circulating cryogenic fluid through the cryoprobe, the cryogenic fluid causing an ice ball to form in a vicinity around the cryoprobe, wherein the ice ball obliterates at least a portion of the lesion. The fluorochemical liquid is utilized to augment the cryosurgical procedure and is perfused or injected into and/or around the lesioned site prior and/or during the application of a cryoprobe to the site. In one embodiment of the invention, the fluorochemical liquid acts as a contrast agent to enhance real-time medical imaging of the lesioned area and modifies the environment in and around the lesioned area. In another embodiment of the invention, the fluorochemical liquid augments cryosurgical procedures by controlling the size and shape of ice balls formed during the cryosurgical procedures.

Abstract: A device for use in assessing various characteristics of a skin blemish, which includes at least two blemish assessment discs mounted for relative movement, with each assessment disc carrying a scale of blemish criteria so that the skin blemish may be positioned adjacent the scales of each assessment disc and matched with the relevant portions thereof.

Abstract: Cardiomyoplasty is a high mortality procedure (fifty percent two year mortality) with limited hemodynamic benefit. Excision of left ventricular myocardium in dilated congestive heart failure is also a high mortality procedure (forty percent one year mortality), but is one which may produce significant hemodynamic improvement in some patients although it can produce fatal hemodynamic deterioration in other patients. Use of cardiomyoplasty following the resection of ventricular myocardial tissue to reduce the diameter of the ventricular chamber provides replacement muscle mass and permits the cardiomyoplasty to function more effectively. The invention provides a new operation to achieve low mortality, which combines the previous two procedures described above in such a way that the strengths of each procedure overcomes the weaknesses of the other.

Abstract: A laser apparatus for medical treatment use in which a laser beam is irradiated on a portion of a human body to be treated comprises a laser beam generation unit for generating a laser beam of giant pulse, a laser beam guide member having one end through which the laser beam from the laser beam generation unit is guided, and a hand piece attached to another end of the laser beam guide member and irradiating the laser beam to the portion to be treated. A beam converging point is formed within a laser beam propagating path formed in at least one of the light guiding means and the hand piece and a stay of air is prevented from a predetermined region in the laser beam propagating path including at least the beam converging point at which the air stays. The predetermined region is positioned within the hand piece or the laser beam guide member. The air stay is prevented by means of producing a vacuum state, gas seal state or air flow state in the predetermined region.

Abstract: The present invention is used for irradiating the entire of nevus on the skin with laser light uniformly and efficiently to remove it.

Abstract: The capnometer of the invention is an equipment which detects a signal which time-varies in accordance with a carbon dioxide concentration from a respiration gas, thereby calculating the carbon dioxide concentration. The capnometer has: carbon dioxide concentration calculating device for detecting the maximum value for each expiration from a concentration signal corresponding to the calculated carbon dioxide concentration, for comparing the maximum value with concentration signals respectively corresponding to a plurality of predetermined concentration ranges, and for outputting one of different control signals for the concentration ranges; and reporting device for outputting a sound corresponding to the carbon dioxide concentration, in accordance with the control signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for analyzing particles includes a distribution data preparation device for measuring parameters that characterize particles contained in a specimen and for preparing a distribution data of the particles in a coordinate space based on the parameters, a judgement region storage device for storing in advance a predetermined judgement region in the coordinate space, a base point extraction device for extracting, when the distribution data forms at least one group, a group base point that shows a position of the group, a judgement region correction device for correcting a position of the judgement region in the coordinate space by referring to each group base point extracted every time a distribution data is prepared by the distribution data preparation device, and a judgement device for judging the specimen based on the particles present within the corrected judgement region.

Abstract: A device includes a pulse wave detection device that detects pulse waves; a pressure detection device that detects a pressure; a pulse wave processing device; and a display of displaying pulse wave processing data and pressures. It is provided with a pulse wave detectability test device that determines the pulse wave detectability from a pressure; a pulse wave detection state notification device that notifies the operator of the pulse wave detectability status; a pulse wave/pressure storage device that temporarily stores pulse wave and pressure data; and a pulse wave/pressure comparison device that compares pulse wave and pressure data by comparing temporarily stored past data and the current data. These devices enable the operator to easily determine the pressure to be applied when measuring pulse waves, and provide improvements in the efficiency of pulse wave measurement.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus includes a multiple antenna device coupled to an electromagnetic energy source that produces an electromagnetic energy ablation output. The multiple antenna device includes a primary antenna with a lumen and a longitudinal axis, and a secondary antenna deployable from the lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis. At least a distal end of each secondary antenna is structurally less rigid than the primary antenna, and the primary antenna is sufficiently rigid to be introduced through tissue. At least one cable coupling the multiple antenna device to the energy source. A cooling element is coupled to the primary antenna. A variety of energy sources can be used including RF, microwave and laser.

Abstract: A chemical signal-impermeable mask is positioned in the electrolyte flow such that the mask is between a source of chemical signal and a working electrode which senses the chemical signal transported from the source (e.g., by diffusion). The configuration of the mask is such that the mask prevents substantially all chemical signal transport from the chemical signal source having a radial vector component relative to a plane of the mask and the catalytic face of the working electrode, thus allowing primarily only chemical signal transport that is substantially perpendicular to the place of the mask and the catalytic surface of the working electrode. By reducing or eliminating chemical signal radial transport toward the working electrode, the mask thus significantly reduces or eliminates edge effects. By substantially reducing edge effects created by radial transport of chemical signal, it is possible to obtain a more accurate measurement of the amount (e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously effecting the removal of multiple hairs from a skin region by using light energy to destroy hair follicles in the region. Light energy is applied to the region through an applicator which converges the light energy to enhance destruction of desired portions of the follicles, is preferably pressed against the skin region to deform the upper layers of the skin reducing the distance from the skin surface to portions of hair follicles which are to be destroyed, including the bulge and papilla of the follicles, and which applicator is preferably cooled to minimize or eliminate thermal damage to the epidermis in the region being irradiated. Parameters for the irradiation, including pulse duration, are selected to effect complete damage of desired portions of the hair follicles in the region with minimal damage to surrounding tissue and to the patient's epidermis.

Abstract: A tonometer for measuring intraocular pressure of an eye is described. The tonometer includes an eyepiece having a conduit extending through an outer surface. The outer surface is concave shaped to conform to an eyeball. The tonometer also includes a plunger extending through the conduit having a head at a first end and having a probe at a second end which extends beyond the outer surface of the eyepiece so as to contact the eyeball when the eyepiece is positioned to conform to the eyeball. The tonometer also includes a fluid reservoir having a top and a bottom. The bottom of the reservoir is sealed by a membrane that is in juxtaposition with the head of the plunger. In addition, the tonometer includes an indicator positioned in the fluid reservoir for measuring a level of fluid in the reservoir. The level of fluid in the reservoir is proportional to an intraocular pressure of the eyeball when the eyepiece is positioned to conform to the eyeball.

Abstract: For the purpose of providing, by only improving the shape of the device body, at a low cost and without impairing user comfort a wrist-worn portable device and a wrist-worn pulse wave measuring device whereby the device body does not turn unnecessarily around the wrist. A wrist-worn pulse wave measuring device 1 attaches device body 10 by means of wrist band 12 to the wrist, and attaches sensor unit 30 to the base of a finger by means of a band for holding the sensor. At the end of cable 20 leading from sensor unit 30 is formed connector piece 80, which is attached by simply sliding connector 70 in the direction of twelve o'clock. Because device body 10 has a turning stop 108 forming an approximately 115.degree. angle to the back, device body 10 will not turn unnecessarily even if it is turned in the direction of six o'clock or twelve o'clock on a wristwatch.

Abstract: A method for prophylactic therapy for post-cataract extraction posterior capsular opacification of an eye having a lens posterior capsule, the method including the step of irradiating the lens capsule with laser radiation so as to destroy cells which remain in the lens capsule after extraction of the cataract, the laser radiation being substantially absorbable in water and of a level less than that required to rupture the lens capsule.

Abstract: A liquid coolant supply system for supplying a liquid coolant to a thermal therapy catheter includes a sensor control unit, a liquid coolant containment unit and mounts. The sensor control unit includes a pump, a cooling device, a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor. The liquid coolant containment unit includes a sealed reservoir, a coolant-sensor interface module and a pump interface fluidly coupled to the thermal therapy catheter. The coolant-sensor interface module includes a body defining a fluid chamber, a temperature interface supported adjacent the fluid chamber within the body, and a pressure interface supported adjacent the fluid chamber within the body. The mounts removably support the sealed reservoir, pump interface, temperature interface and pressure interface of the containment unit adjacent the cooling device, the pump, the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A computerized method and system using a shift-invariant artificial neural network (SIANN) for the quantitative analysis of image data. A series of digitized medical images are used to train an artificial neural network to differentiate between diseased and normal tissue. The sum of the weights in groups between layers is constrained to be substantially zero so as to avoid saturation of layers which would otherwise be saturated by low frequency background noise. The method and system also include utilizing training-free zones to exclude from training the center portions of microcalcifications in the digitized images. The method and system further include rule-based selection criteria for providing a more accurate diagnosis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scoring EEG, EMG and EOG data, for sleep stages, in order to simulate the scoring results achieved by human scorers in which a general determination is initially made of the presence or absence of a plurality of elemental events. This determination is employed to develop the probabilities of the occurrence of the elemental events. These probabilities are then employed as a base to determine the probabilities of the occurrence of Rechtschaffen and Kales events. The Rechtschaffen and Kales event probabilities may be modified to account for the stage 2 rule and the REM rule. These Rechtschaffen and Kales event probabilities are then employed to determine the probability distribution of possible sleep stages for each epoch of the polysomnograph and choose the most likely score.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and reporting medical information includes a stand-alone monitor for storing data records comprising measured values and time stamps and for transmitting the records to a remote reporting unit over a communication system. The remote reporting unit includes a relational data base that is updated when records are down-loaded from the monitor; a report generator for generating chronological graphs of the measured values for a particular patient; and a report transmitting unit for transmitting reports to a requesting health care provider.