Abstract: A system is disclosed for locating positions in the vasculature of a human patient for the purpose of rendering treatment or making a diagnosis therein during a catheterization procedure, such as a procedure to implant an intraluminal arterial graft. The system includes a board which rests under the patient during the procedure which has two markers that can be detected under fluoroscopy. The markers can be moved backwards and forwards along a track in the board to pinpoint various locations in the blood vessel of interest, for example, the points of attachment for the ends of an arterial graft. One of the markers also can be pivoted about the track to represent the angle at which a particular blood vessel is disposed in the patient. The markers can be locked into position with brakes for the duration of the procedure.

Abstract: A therapy system for treatment of a subject with focused acoustic waves has a source of focused acoustic waves, equipment for displacing the focus none of the focused acoustic waves and the subject to be treated relative to one another, and a locating system which non-invasively acquires the three-dimensional spatial position of a region within the subject to be charged with the focused acoustic waves relative to the focus zone of the focused acoustic waves continuously as a function of time. The system further includes a display which graphically displays the three-dimensional data generated by the locating system.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the location of receptor regions including a nuclear resonance tomograph and an indicator device for the skin sites located directly above the receptor regions. The indicator device is in the form of one or more, preferably non-magnetic, indicator elements which can be placed on the skin, or a light marker device connected with the display unit of the nuclear resonance tomograph. The light marker device places a mark on the skin site located above the measurement area.

Abstract: The present method and apparatus use image processing to determine information about the position of a designated object. The invention is particularly useful in applications where the object is difficult to view or locate. In particular, the invention is used in endoscopic surgery to determine positional information about an anatomical feature within a patient's body. The positional information is then used to position or reposition an instrument (surgical instrument) in relation to the designated object (anatomical feature). The invention comprises an instrument which is placed in relation to the designated object and which is capable of sending information about the object to a computer. Image processing methods are used to generated images of the object and determine positional information about it. This information can be used as input to robotic devices or can be rendered, in various ways (video graphics, speech synthesis), to a human user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for determining characteristics of peripheral arterial volume and compliance. A blood pressure cuff is inflated and deflated around a limb of the body and pressure measurements are taken. The volume of air removed from the cuff is determined in a quantifiable manner, such as by expelling air through an orifice of known characteristics or by means of a volume of know characteristics. The detected pressures and volume of air removed are used to compute oscillation volume, which in turn is used to display arterial capacity and compliance as a function of transmural pressure and time. Arterial capacity may be displayed in terms of arterial radius, arterial cross-sectional area, or arterial volume. Also, systolic and pulse pressures are determined using only these determined values.

Abstract: A medical method comprises the steps of scanning a predetermined internal organ of a patient to collect individualized dimensional data about the organ, digitizing the data, and automatically storing encoded structural dimensions of the organ at different times. Dimensions of the organ are automatically compared with previously stored dimensions to determine changes in the dimensions. A cognizable signal is automatically generated, at a remote facility or at the person of the patient, upon a determination that dimensions of the organ have changed so as to indicate a dangerous condition of the patient, such as a ruptured splenic hematoma or a ruptured aneurysm.

Abstract: A bead thermistor air flow sensor assembly comprising bead thermistor and circuit conductor completely encapsulated between upper and lower layers of thin plastic film. The thermistors are mounted adjacent the outer ends of arms adapted to be aligned with the nostrils and mouth of the patient when the sensor assembly is positioned on the face of the patient by double faced mounting tape. The electrical circuit and bead thermistors being fully encapsulated and sealed, the assembly can be immersed in fluid for sterilization between uses. The assembly is thin and very flexible, permitting either face thereof to be applied to the patient to facilitate connection to monitoring equipment which may include an alarm to signal when normal breathing is interrupted.

Abstract: A spectrophotometer for providing an image of a radiation scattering medium having one or more radiation attenuating constituents is disclosed herein. The spectrophotometer includes a light source for illuminating the scattering medium with electromagnetic radiation of at least one wavelength. In one embodiment a time-gated detector serves to detect, during a predefined detection interval, the electromagnetic radiation having traversed a distribution of path lengths during propagation through a region of the medium. A photon counting apparatus or the like measures the intensity of the detected portion of the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the measured intensity is a function of attenuation of the region within the medium. A display apparatus is operative to generate the image in accordance with the measured intensity.

Abstract: System and method for detection and localization of malignant tissue in situ during a medical procedure such as endoscopy or surgery. A fluorescent metabolic imaging agent, consisting of a carbohydrate analog coupled to a fluorophore in a manner such that the imaging agent accumulates in tissue in proportion to the glucose metabolic rate of the tissue, is systemically or locally injected into a patient before commencement of the endoscopic or surgical procedure. After a period of time during which the imaging agent accumulates in the body tissue, the tissue under examination in the endoscopic or surgical field of view is illuminated by a broadband light source filtered by an optical bandpass excitation filter to transmit light at the fluorescent excitation wavelength of the imaging agent. An optical bandpass emission filter filters the light emitted from the illuminated tissue to transmit light at the fluorescent emission wavelength of the imaging agent to a high-sensitivity cooled-CCD video camera.

Abstract: Endocardial mapping and ablation system for introduction into a chamber of the heart formed by a wall and having a passage leading thereto comprising a catheter probe having a distal extremity adapted to be positioned in the chamber of the heart. The catheter probe is comprised of a plurality of flexible longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced-apart arms adapted to be disposed within the chamber of the heart. Electrodes are carried by the arms and are adapted to be moved into engagement with the wall of the heart. Markers visibly ultrasonically are carried by the arms for encoding the arms so that the one arm can be distinguished from another. An ablation catheter is carried by and is slidably mounted in the catheter probe and has a distal extremity movable into the chamber of the heart while the catheter probe is disposed therein.

Abstract: Contrast between tumor and normal fat and normal fibro-glandular breast tissues is enhanced in an NMR image by a preparatory pulse sequence executed prior to the imaging pulse sequence. An off-resonance spin-locking RF pulse is employed to enhance contrast between fibro-glandular tissue and tumors and an inversion recovery sequence is employed to enhance contrast between fat and tumors.

Abstract: A method for minimizing the distortion of the isodose contours created by tissue surface irregularities and for targeting the depth of maximum dose at an effective tissue depth during radiation therapy to a treatment field from a source is described. The method comprises the steps of: (i) placing an effective thickness of an anionic polymeric hydrogel into operational contact with the treatment field prior to the therapy; and (ii) administering the therapy in a manner such that the effective thickness of the anionic polymeric hydrogel is between the source and the treatment field, and the anionic polymeric hydrogel is in operational contact with the treatment field while the therapy is being administered. A preferred method is also described for marking the surface area of electron bombardment and radiation treatment portals on individuals prior to diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: An MRI magnet arrangement comprises, an annular electromagnet defined by a coil, an annular shim of magnetic material coaxially disposed within the coil, first permanent magnet means having a field, the direction of which is the same as the field of the coil, disposed coaxially within the said shim and second permanent magnet means disposed coaxially within the said first permanent magnet means, the field of which is arranged to be opposite in direction to the field produced by the said first permanent magnet means, the arrangement being such that the magnetic field produced in an imaging volume within the said second permanent magnet means is substantially homogeneous.

Abstract: A gantry defines an opening, and a surface coil is mounted in a predetermined position inside the opening. In tomography using this MRI apparatus, an examinee supported on a top board is moved into the opening. At this time, the top board is movable without being obstructed by the surface coil. The surface coil receives NMR signals from a photographed site lying directly over the surface coil. Sectional images are prepared based on the NMR signals received. When shifting the site to be photographed, the operator in a scanner control room gives an instruction to move the top board, thereby adjusting a photographing position. It is unnecessary for the examinee to move on the top board, or for the operator to move from the scanner control room to the photographing room. The examinee entering the gantry opening is illuminated by light from a light projector. A position of the top board when the light illuminates the site to be photographed is regarded as a starting point.

Abstract: A method for use in medical diagnosis uses an endoscope having an insertion member, a sensor mounted at least in part to the insertion member for receiving energy waves from internal body tissues of a patient, and a converter operatively connected to the sensor for generating electrical signals encoding information contained in the energy waves. An analyzing unit is operatively connected to the converter for automatically identifying an organic object from the electrically encoded information, while a signal generator is operatively connected to the analyzing unit for automatically generating an alert signal sensible by an operator to inform the operator of the existence of the organic object.

Abstract: Radiation is generated toward a patient. A radiographic region of the radiation covers a predetermined field-of-view. Both of a stereotactic radiation producing filter and a radiographic radiation producing filter are transported in such a way that the stereotactic radiation producing filter and the radiographic radiation producing filter sequentially intercept the beam axis between the patient and a generation position for the radiation. When the stereotactic radiation producing filter is located on the beam axis, it forms the radiation into radiation required for stereotactic radiosurgery. When the radiographic radiation producing filter is located on the beam axis, it forms the radiation into radiation required for radioscopy. Radiation present within the radiographic region is detected with employment of a radiation detecting unit positioned opposite to the generation position of the radiation with respect to the patient.

Abstract: A general surveillance monitor to monitor the vital physiological signs of patients undergoing examination by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging is constructed such that each functional module of the monitor is individually protected from the electromagnetic environment and high frequency parasitic currents and such that the control assembly is a computer system without any magnetic storage.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance imagining method, using an effect that a fluid flows out of a plane where it is selectively excited between the time of applying a 90.degree. radio frequency pulse and the time of applying of a 180.degree. radio frequency pulse, two, images are separately constructed from multiple echo signals which are sampled before applying the 180.degree. radio frequency pulse and multiple echo signals which are sampled after applying the 180.degree. radio frequency pulse. An image of the fluid flow and an image of a static part are separated from each other based on a difference between the two constructed images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for stimulating bone growth in a mammal. The method comprises the step of exposing a bone zone where bone growth is to occur to cavitation for bringing forth haemorrhage and/or microfissures and/or to at least partially loosened bone chips at said bone zone.

Abstract: A head holder with the following characteristics: it is compatible with MR (no metallic parts); it is adjustable for use with adults and children; it does not produce any degradation of imaging or spectroscopy raw data; it does not induce claustrophobia; it can be used as a fixation device for cervical spine MR examinations; and it can operate with any MR unit. A strap is placed around the head of the patient at the forehead, is tightened, and then the head with band attached is positioned for optimal comfort and examining advantage. Lock screws are then tightened, holding the head comfortably in three-dimensional space. Only a single band is placed over the forehead of the person and the rest of the fixation is provided by adjusting and locking screws located in the base and along the sides of the holder. This prevents the patient from being able to rotate his or her head from side to side or up and down. The holder is designed to fit into the MR table.