Abstract: An arrangement for treating patients by means of focussed shock waves, particularly lithotritors, having a therapy head which is fastened to a housing by means of an arm and comprises devices for generating, focussing and introducing shock waves into the body of a patient, the therapy head being fastened to the arm by means of a gearing.

Abstract: A connector attached to an end of a twisted wire pair, whose other end has fetal and maternal electrodes. A driving tube is removed from the twisted wire pair by pulling a drive handle and driving tube over the connector. The outer diameter of the connector is smaller than the inner diameter of the driving tube. After the connector is free, it is inserted into a housing of a leg plate, which electrically interconnects terminals of the connector and thereby the electrodes with a remote monitoring device. The housing has finger grips to help hold the housing during the insertion of the connector. The leg plate also has a base which is held in position against a mother's leg and has a ground electrode which is also electrically interconnected with the device. The housing is rotatable relative to the base.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for locating a target in a living body are provided. A three-dimensional frame carries a plurality of infrared light emitting diodes, and this frame is placed on a table. The infrared LEDs are strobed by a computer. The position of the infrared LEDs is monitored by a pair of infrared sensitive cameras and stored in a computer. The frame is then removed and a living body is placed within or closely adjacent to the volume. An ultrasonic probe is hand held within the volume and is provided with a plurality of infrared LEDs so that the probe can be monitored by the cameras. The positions of the probe LEDs are compared in the computer with the initial position of the frame LEDs so that the position of the probe can be determined quite accurately, and the position of the target in the body can be displayed on a computer monitor.

Abstract: Motion and deformation is assessed and imaged using phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging for determining velocity of a plurality of regions at a plurality of frames during a period of interest such as the cardiac cycle. A region of interest is tracked from frame to frame and based on a known last position and the velocity at the known position. Strain and rotation are determined from the changes in velocity along selected axes.

Abstract: A device designed for determining one or more medical variables in living organisms, comprises a part to be inserted into the tissue of the organism, which has an exchange channel with openings into the tissue. The device comprising a delivery unit connected with the exchange channel for the delivery of a perfusion fluid and its drainage after partial equilibration with the medical variable or quantity to be measured, i.e., preferably glucose concentration, and comparatively constant endogenous or exogenous marker variables. The device further comprising an analyzing unit for measuring the medical variable and one marker variable, and an evaluation unit for determining the actual concentration of the medical variable with the use of the marker variables.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ultrasonic shockwave transducer for use in lithotripsy, hypothermia and like treatments for generating ultrasonic shock waves and transmitting them to a concretion or tissue to be destroyed. The transducer is arranged to focus the energy of the ultrasonic shock waves proportionally onto at least two points disposed on a line disposed about the main axis of, and being spaced from the radiation surface of, the transducer, the line being arbitrarily curved in three dimensions.

Abstract: A surgical ultrasonic horn used in a surgical operation comprises a horn body and an end plate portion. Cutting portions are provided on an edge and an end of the end portion. A passage for irrigation solution extends in the horn body and the end plate portion. At least one bore opens at the cutting portions by a jet angle of 5.degree. to 90.degree. in respect of a plane of the end plate portion. The irrigation solution passage communicates with the bore, thereby the irrigation solution is sprayed therethrough.

Abstract: A surgical operation device comprising an ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations, an oscillation feedback type oscillator for supplying high-frequency power to the ultrasonic transducer, a vibration transmitter connected to the ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and amplifying mechanical vibrations at an ultrasonic frequency, a suction unit and an irrigator. The ultrasonic transducer includes a bolted Langevin type transducer. The feedback circuit of the oscillation feedback type oscillator includes an oscillation voltage detector, a phase comparator, a low pass filter, a differential amplifier, and a voltage controlled oscillator. Thus, the mechanical resonant frequency can be traced in a wide range of fluctuations of a load on the vibration transmitter during vibration and vibrations can start an appropriate mechanical resonate frequency irrespective of the load status of the vibration transmitter at the start-up.

Abstract: A shockwave source and generating device includes a ring shaped or cylindrical wave generator having a central axis for radiating shockwaves in an axial direction or radially towards a parabolic reflector so that any yet unreflected radiation from the generator is intercepted by the reflector and reflected towards a focal point on that axis.

Abstract: A photoelectric sphygmomanometer of volume oscillometric method-type is provided with regulating means for regulating quantity of light, carrier-wave gain and pulsation gain based upon the level of the carrier wave immediately after the start of cuff depressurization. This makes it possible to perform regulation after the start of depressurization and to eliminate an inability to take a measurement due to a fluctuation in the level of light received.

Abstract: This invention describes a process for the diagnosis of meconium stained amniotic fluid. Meconium staining is often the result of ongoing or transient fetal distress or prolonged gestation. This process involves the non-invasive illumination of the amnion with light of a specific wavelength and detecting the fluorescence of certain biological pigments contained within the meconium. The process uses a source of light and a means of selecting the desired wavelength of light, directing the light to the target area, retrieving the fluorescence, converting the fluorescent emission to an electrical signal, amplifying the signal and analyzing the signal with a data processing unit.

Abstract: An iontophoretic agent delivery device having donor and counter electrodes comprised of either metal or a hydrophobic polymer loaded with a conductive filler is provided. The agent reservoir in the donor electrode assembly contains about 10 to 60 wt % hydrophobic polymer, about 10 to 60 wt % hydrophilic polymer, and up to 50% agent. Similarly, the electrolyte reservoir contains about 10 to 60 wt % hydrophobic polymer, about 10 to 60 wt % hydrophilic polymer, and up to 50% electrolyte. The agent reservoir, the electrolyte reservoir and the electrodes are preferably in the form of films which are laminated to one another. The hydrophobic polymer component in the agent/electrolyte reservoir prevents the reservoir from delaminating from the metal/hydrophobic polymer based electrode, even after hydration of the reservoirs.

Abstract: This invention relates to sensors for Capnometry or Capnography applications wherein measurement is made on the mainstream of the patients breathing tube gases. Provision is made for sampling the respired gases and periodically stopping them off from the sensing mechanism while introducing instead, gases of known concentrations into the sensing cell for calibrating purposes. Several methods are described for activating the valving mechanism included in the miniature sensor. In principle this invention overcomes the time delay and complexity inherent in side-stream Capnometry/Capnography where rapid, up-to-date readings of CO.sub.2 concentration in the patients air stream are delayed due to the length of the sampling tube to the measuring instrument by reversing the process and carrying calibration gases which need not change rapidly to the main-stream sensor where they can be periodically sampled and thus not impairing the higher speed response possible with main-stream sensing systems.

Abstract: A non-invasive method and apparatus for monitoring individual lung function is disclosed. A transducer (12, 14) is disposed on the torso above the lung to be monitored, the transducer producing a signal corresponding to movement of the torso portion therebeneath which, in turn, corresponds to changes in the volume of the underlying lung. Regional lung volume changes may also be assessed by utilizing transducers positioned on the torso to encompass only a portion of the underlying lung.

Abstract: A lithotripsy ultrasound locating device comprises at least one locating transducer having a plurality of focal ranges and which is associated with a therapy transducer and is axially adjustable in relation to its focus; a position indicator which generates a signal representing the distance between the sound head of the locating transducer and the focus of the therapy transducer; a computer; a monitor on which a target mark representing the focus of the therapy transducer is displayed; and an electronic transmitter/receiver arrangement controlled by the computer in order to produce an image of a concretion to be destroyed which image is constantly optimal. The computer, controls, as a function of the signal emitted by the position indicator and by way of the transmitter/receiver arrangement, the focal range of the locating transducer which, at the given distance at that moment between the sound head and the focus of the therapy transducer always lies in the range thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for obtaining in-vivo nuclear magnetic resonance data from a moving joint of a patient for imaging or spectroscopic purposes is shown which includes a support (10) for support of the patient's hand and lower arm (12). Support (10) includes a stationary section (20) and a pivotally movable section (22) which is oscillated by motor (32). A pivot shaft (26) supports member (22) for pivotal movement in the direction of arrow (30) about the shaft axis (28). Straps (14) and (16) attach the patient's hand and forearm to the respective moving and stationary sections of the support whereby the patient's wrist joint is oscillated along a predetermined path during operation of motor (32). A timing cylinder (40) with timing marks thereon is attached to shaft (26), for generation of master timing pulses by photocell (44) responsive to the timing marks through fiber optic member (42).

Abstract: An invasive lithotripter includes a pair of electrodes having rectangular cross sections, and having flat faces of rectangular configuration confronting one another. An insulating member is interposed between the electrodes and spaces them apart a predetermined distance. The insulating member at its forward edge is relieved to provide portions of the electrode flat faces exposed and confronting one another to permit an electrical spark to jump between the exposed portions of the electrode faces. The relieved portion comprises a reflector having a focus point. The portions of the electrodes facing one another across the relieved area are provided with protuberances aligned with the focus point. A spark across the exposed portions of the faces of the electrodes in an aqueous medium generates a shockwave that is focused by the reflector. A shield surrounds and extends beyond the electrode and the insulating member to inhibit radial propagation of shockwave energy while enhancing axial propagation thereof.

Abstract: In a shock wave therapy apparatus, shock wave irradiation conditions, such as the number of shock wave irradiations, a pulse rate, a driving voltage, and the number of pause shots, are set by a setting unit in accordance with the position and size of a calculus in a subject which are acquired by an ultrasonic tomographic image. Irradiation of shock waves by a shock wave applicator starts according to the set shock wave irradiation conditions, and the ultrasonic tomographic image and the corresponding irradiation condition data are displayed on a display unit during shock wave irradiation. When the number of shock wave irradiations reaches the number of pause shots, the shock wave irradiation is temporarily stopped. Then, the focus point of a shock wave is moved on the basis of the ultrasonic tomographic image and irradiation condition data displayed on the display unit. When the shock wave irradiation is completed, a therapy record of the subject is printed out by an output unit.

Abstract: The apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer having a hand piece, an ultrasonic vibrating element secured to the hand piece and a probe coupled with the hand piece for propagating the ultrasonic oscillation produced by the ultrasonic vibrating element, a driving circuit for producing a driving signal for the ultrasonic vibrating element, a voltage controlled amplifier for amplifying the driving signal, an impedance matching transformer having a plurality of primary windings connected to the output of the voltage controlled amplifier via a switching circuit and a secondary winding connected to the ultrasonic vibrating element, a probe identification circuit for detecting the probe connected to the hand piece to produce a probe identification signal, a feedback control loop for generating a control voltage which is applied to the voltage controlled amplifier for controlling the amplification factor thereof in accordance with a driving current of the driving signal, an impedance detecting circuit for detectin

Abstract: In a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system, a receive-only RF surface coil is fixedly supported on a non-metallic portable base by a non-metallic flexible support which permits the coil to be translated along any one of three orthogonal directions and to be rotated about any one of three orthogonal axes with respect to the base. The coil is therefore quickly movable to any position and orientation adjacent a patient being scanned in the magnetic resonance imaging system, and is immovably supported in the selected position and orientation during the scanning process. The coil may therefore be quickly and easily placed as close as possible to any region of interest of the patient's body without touching it, thereby optimizing the quality of the images obtained while avoiding undesirable image artifacts normally caused by movement of the coil with the patient's body motion.