Abstract: A method and apparatus for the determination of bilirubin concentration in tissue such as skin, particularly neonatal skin. Light reflected from the skin under test is analyzed to determine bilirubin concentration in the skin, corrected for maturity-dependent optical properties of the skin, the amount of melanin in the skin and the amount of blood in the skin. Reflected red to infrared light is used to determine maturity-dependent optical properties, reflected red light is used to determine melanin content, and reflected yellow-orange light is used to determine the amount of blood in the skin. Then, these quantities are used, in combination with reflected blue light, to calculate cutaneous bilirubin concentration.

Abstract: A radioactive source holder for use with a NaI (TI) spectrometer for obtaining very low dose estimates in bone minerals in vivo, comprising a molybdenum tube, a gold insert within the tube, a blind hole within the insert for receiving the radioactive source, and an inner tube inserted into the blind hole for directing radiation from the source in a narrow cone, whereby the directing of radiation in the narrow cone minimizes spectrometer response to radiation which has been scattered by soft tissue overlying a bone.

Abstract: A medical treatment installation having an imaging system and a transmitter which generates a focused therapy field, such as focused shockwaves, for treating a pathology in a region of a patient includes components for displacing the position of the focal point of the therapy field relative to the region to be treated so that the focus therapy field is successively incident at a number of locations in the region during treatment, and a mark generator, which interacts with the imaging system, for generating an indicator in the image corresponding to each of the locations of the focused therapy field in the region. The mark may identify each location at which the region has been subjected to the therapy field during treatment, so that repetitive administration of the therapy field at a location which has already been treated can be avoided.

Abstract: A patient's cardiac cycle is monitored (34) for a characteristic point (54) of the cardiac cycle. Following or in response to the characteristic point, a series of field echo sequences (FIG. 3 ) are applied to generate magnetic resonance echoes (50a, 50b, 50c, etc.) at about 10 millisecond intervals (TR=10 ms) following the characteristic point. The echoes are phase encoded (44) such that echoes phase encoded in a lowest frequency or central most segment (I) of k-space are generated at regular intervals. Between temporal consecutive segment (I) echoes, echoes with higher frequency phase encoding from segments (II) and (III) (FIG. 4 ), segments (II-IV) (FIGS. 5A, 5B), etc. are generated. The views are sorted (60) into data sets (62a, 62b, 62c, etc.) such that the central most views are sent to only a single data set and at least some of the higher frequency views are conveyed to two data sets, i.e., the high frequency views are shared or commonly used by two data sets.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing assessment indices related to bone strength which are useful in predicting the risk of bone fracture. The apparatus measures the mineral density of bone (BMD) by means of X-rays, while the propagation speed of sound V in the bone and bone thickness d are measured by means of ultrasonic waves. The bone mineral content per unit volume, i.e. the bone volume density .rho., is computed from the bone mineral density (BMD) and the thickness of the bone. An assessment value E is then computed based on V and .rho..

Abstract: A positive portion (52) of k-space and a negative portion (56) are both divided into n segments (FIG. 2 ). In each cardiac cycle, a multiplicity of field echoes (106) are generated, which multiplicity of gradient echoes are divided into groups of n contiguous echoes. Within each group, the echoes are all from either the positive portion of k-space or the negative portion of k-space. Preferably, every group of each cardiac cycle has the same views in the same order to generate like, time displaced frames of a cine image sequence. Within each group, the views from the central-most segment n are collected in the middle of the group, views from progressively less central, higher frequency segments are progressively less centrally located within each group with views of the most peripheral, highest frequency segments being collected at the ends of the group. The total number of segments is an integer multiple of four times the number of views per group to facilitate 0.degree.-180.degree. phase cycling.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the permeability of the skin or other biological membrane to a material such as a drug is disclosed. In the method, the drug is delivered in conjunction with ultrasound having a frequency of above about 10 MHz. The method may also be used in conjunction with chemical permeation enhancers and/or with iontophoresis.

Abstract: An improved enema insufflation system includes a source of barium sulfate suspension connected, by tubing, to a multi-lumen enema tip and a source of carbon dioxide, connected to the enema tip. The carbon dioxide source contains compressed carbon dioxide. The source is connected to a carbon dioxide reservoir capable of holding a pre-determined volume of carbon dioxide at a relatively low pressure. A hand actuated insufflation bulb is connected to the carbon dioxide reservoir. The insufflation bulb can draw carbon dioxide from the reservoir for delivery, through the enema tip, to a patient. The compressed, high-pressure carbon dioxide is functionally isolated from the patient to ensure patient safety.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical apparatus includes a surgical instrument having a handpiece with a transducer for converting an electrical signal into longitudinal vibratory motion of a blade connected to the handpiece and an accessory releasably connected to the handpiece to enable clamping of tissue against the vibrating blade to afford improved coagulating and cutting of tissue. Scissors-like grips actuate a pivoted clamp jaw along one side of the ultrasonically vibrating blade to compress and bias tissue against the blade in a direction normal to the direction of longitudinal vibratory movement. The clamp jaw and blade are rotatable relative to one another to align a selected blade edge of a multi-edged blade with the clamp jaw for cutting and coagulating while clamping or circumferentially spacing a selected blade edge from the clamp jaw for cutting and coagulating without clamping.

Abstract: A stenotic dilitation device includes a plurality of elongated atherotomes with cutters embedded in a substrate mounted on the outer surface of a flexible balloon along predetermined crease lines. The atherotomes are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the catheter. The ends of the balloon are attached to a hollow catheter tube over fluid ports in the catheter which establish fluid communication between the catheter and the internal chamber of the balloon. Fluid flow into and out of the chamber will inflate and deflate the balloon. When the balloon is deflated, retraction of the atherotomes toward the longitudinal axis of the catheter causes the creases and lines to form flaps of the balloon membrane material between adjacent atherotomes. In such deflated configuration, the flaps, rather than the cutters of the atherotomes, contact the vessel wall as the device is manipulated into position adjacent a stenotic site.

Abstract: A biopsy method and apparatus for determining and locating the presence or absence of a neoplastic and other disease condition within a human or animal subject by detecting during a test period the respective electrical potentials of the electromagnetic field present in the subject between each of a plurality of measurement locations in the area of the neoplasm and at least one reference location while a combination biopsy instrument and electrode is inserted into the subject at the location of suspected neoplasm. Electrical potential differences are compared during this period to obtain relationships therebetween which are indicative of either the presence or absence of neoplastic tissue. Once the neoplastic tissue is located and identified, the biopsy instrument is manipulated to remove a tissue sample for further study.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating acoustic rarefaction pulses, i.e., a negative pressure pulse, has a pressure pulse source and reflector having a negative reflection factor, and an acoustic propagation medium filling the space between the pressure pulse source and the reflector. The reflector has a boundary surface facing toward the pressure pulse source, consisting of a medium which is acoustically soft in comparison to the acoustic propagation medium. The boundary surface medium is separated from the acoustic propagation medium by a wall which is impenetrable by the acoustic propagation medium.

Abstract: An insertable intracavity probe for use in magnetic resonance imaging of an area of interest in a body cavity particularly the colon, has an elongate shaft with a handle at its proximal end and an inflatable balloon structure at its distal end. The balloon structure has an outer balloon containing a loop-type pickup coil for connection to an interfacing network. The coil is sandwiched between two internal separately inflatable balloons, and when the probe is inserted, the coil can be optimally positioned relative to the area of interest by controlled differential inflation of the balloons. The probe also has an insertable rod-like mandrel for providing twisting orbital-type movement of the balloon structure on the shaft, by rotation of the mandrel, useful to steer the probe along curves or bends in the body cavity when it is being inserted.

Abstract: A photo-pulse from a photo-pulse generating apparatus is branched, where one branch is radiated to an examined body and the reflected light reflected within the examined body is delayed in time in proportion to the depth from the surface of the examined body and is led to a time-analyzing reflected light measuring apparatus. In this measuring apparatus, the other branched reference photo-pulse or reference signal pulse is input as delayed by the time for which the photo-pulse reflected within the examined body returns and only the reflected light component synchronized with the entering timing of this reference light pulse is analyzed in the time and is detected. By varying the detection sensitivity of this measuring apparatus in response to the depth from the surface of the examined body, the interior can be observed.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (A) examines a region of a patient and generates a plurality of views which are reconstructed (B) into a volumetric image representation and stored in a volume image memory (C). A ray projector (D) projects a plurality of rays (14) from a selectable viewing plane (10) into the volume data and retrieves a plurality of data values that lie along each ray. A maximum intensity projection system (E) selects the brightest pixel along each ray to become the corresponding pixel value of an uncorrected projection angiographic image which is stored in an image memory (F). The uncorrected angiographic image represents blood as bright or white values and non-blood tissues as dark or black values. Noise, some tissue types, regions with fine capillaries, and the like, cause the background non-blood regions of the image to appear hazy or gray rather than black.

Abstract: T*.sub.2 contrast in images reconstructed from fast NMR pulse sequences is improved by increasing the gradient recalled echo time TE. The pulse repetition time TR is minimized to maintain high temporal resolution by asymmetrically acquiring the echo signal with its peak disposed bear the end of the acquisition window.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fastening member (1) which is placed into a patient's cavity, such as a nostril, surrounded by tissue, and which allows a flow through the cavity through a port (5) and which can be joined to the measuring device via a suitable connecting piece (2). The fastening member (1) is flexible, whereby it can be formed, before being placed into the cavity, into a shape or size which fits better into the cavity, whereupon the fastening member, in the cavity, tends to return towards the original state by pressing against the surrounding wall of the cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting in the location and surgical removal of foreign bodies embedded in the human or animal body. A calibrated grid-forming screen, of a material opaque to X-radiation, is located over the injury site, with accurate reference to a targeting mark naturally or artificially formed near the site. An X-ray image is formed, showing the body part, the foreign object, and a calibrated grid overlay image. Two such images, taken from different angles, typically 90.degree., enable the precise location of the object to be determined in three dimensions by triangulation. With the location of the foreign body in three dimensions, the surgeon is then able to exactly locate the site for incision and to know in advance the depth to which to extend the incision, and to exactly reach the foreign body.

Abstract: A radiographic diagnostic apparatus for irradiating radiations to the subject for diagnosis, which comprises radiation generator section for irradiating radiations to the subject, detecting section for detecting radiations passing through the subject, and converting the detection results into image data, the image data containing first image data before catheter insertion and second image data after catheter insertion, extracting section for extracting the desired portion from the first image data, image synthesizing section for combining the portion extracted at the extracting section with either the first image data or the second image data and converting the overlapping areas in the resulting combined data into different data to form third image data, and display section for displaying the third image data obtained at the image synthesizing section.

Abstract: Apparatus particularly suited for implantation and/or extraction of osteal prostheses, comprising an ultrasonic power generator, regulator means for regulating the ultrasonic power generator in accordance with a predetermined algorithm, at least one transducer connected to the output line for converting said electrical energy to a linear mechanical motion, an acoustic transformer for increasing or decreasing peak-to-peak motion of the transducer and means for connecting the acoustic transformer to a surgical tool or a prosthetic device. The system suitably comprises a pair of transducers, one operating at each of 20 KHz and 40 KHz frequencies. Novel adapters for the four major types of osteal prosthesis are also provided.