Abstract: The disclosed method provides a two-dimensional display of an enhanced image of measurement data from a prescribed test (e.g., a medical test), which is adjusted to incorporate information relating to a known pretest probability that a particular condition is present. The enhancement adjusts a particular parameter of the two-dimensional image, such as gray level or hue, to facilitate a more accurate evaluation of the condition.

Abstract: A tracking system in which radiofrequency signals emitted by an invasive device such as a catheter, are detected and used to measure the position and orientation of the invasive device. The invasive device has a transmit coil attached near its end and is driven by a low power RF source to produce a dipole electromagnetic field that can be detected by an array of receive coils distributed around a region of interest. The position and orientation of the device as determined by the tracking system are superimposed upon independently acquired Medical Diagnostic images, thereby minimizing the radiographic exposure times. One or more invasive devices can be simultaneously tracked.

Abstract: A signal receiving coil device for an MRI apparatus, to be fitted to a patient for detecting nuclear magnetic resonance signals, comprising a coil member assuming a substantially cylindrical shape when fitted to the patient and having at least one flexible section and at least one rigid section disposed sequentially and alternately in a circumferential direction of said cylindrical shape; a first coil unit disposed on the coil holding member, and having a signal receiving direction thereof crossing substantially orthogonally the direction of a static magnetic field generated by the MRI apparatus when the coil holding member is fitted to the patient; and a second coil system disposed on the coil holding member, and having a signal receiving direction of reception thereof crossing substantially orthogonally both of the direction of the static magnetic field and the signal receiving direction of the first coil unit when the coil holding member is fitted to the patient.

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: Sensor position indicator coils to be used in magnetoencephalographic experiments and a means of attaching them to the head. The invention comprises a headband (1) and a coil assembly attached to it. The coil assembly consists of a coil set (5) and of at least three fastening strips (6) or of fastening strips having coil sets of individual coils (5') on them. The mechanical properties of the coils are very important. The coil set (5) has three thin- or thick-film coils cast in epoxy resin. The outside surface of the headband (1) and the inside surfaces of the fastening strips (6) have been covered with materials adhering to each other easily. In addition, the underside of the coil set (5) can contain three small knobs, formed during casting, on which the coil set leans when pressed against the head, staying in the tangent plane of the head.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for a real-time tracking and imaging of objects. The apparatus comprises of a real-time image forming device, a device for coupling the image forming device with a wave generator generating waves adapted to effect appropriate treatment of said object directed towards a target focus, wherein the coupling device includes a device for displacing the image forming device relative to said target focus. The invention offers the advantage of great positional freedom for the image forming device, enhanced resolution and safe observation of objects within the body of a mammal, and in particular a human being. The object is in particular selected from a concretion, a bone or a tumor, notably a cancerous tumor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of actively cancelling undesirable acoustic noise generated by a patient diagnosing apparatus during a diagnosis operation which includes a remotely located active noise cancellation unit. The undesirable acoustic noise is transferred via hollow tubes from the patient diagnosing apparatus to the remote location to be detected thereat. A control unit thereafter generates cancellation waves based upon the detected undesirable acoustic noise. The cancellation waves are transferred to the patient area via additional hollow tubes to cancel the undesirable acoustic noise. The use of hollow tubes of non-magnetic, non-metallic material ensures that the undesirable acoustic noise and the cancellation waves do not interfere with the diagnosis of operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to medicine and veterinary. The device for magnetotherapy comprises a variable generator (1) of current pulses, an energy accumulator (2) and a circuit (3) for discharge of the energy accumulator (2), including a controlled switching element (5) and an inductor (4) capable of producing a therapeutic pulsed magnetic field, and also a unit (7) for controlling the duration of pulses of the magnetic field produced by the inductor (4) and a controller (10) of the amplitude of pulses of the magnetic field. According to the invention, the discharge circuit (3) of the energy accumulator (2) includes a unit (6) for controlling the slope of the leading edge of pulses of the magnetic field produced by the inductor (4). The device is predominantly intended for arresting and relieving acute pain syndromes, phantom limb pain and attacks of bronchial asthma, and also for treating mastities of cattle.

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. A display of these characteristics as a function of pre and post anesthetic administration is particularly useful to the anesthesiologist and surgeon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multichannel spectrometer (10), in particular for examining moles (16) having an evaluating and display device (14) and optical means (18, 19, 21, 23, 22) to determine and display reflectance spectra of a skin surface on an ascertainable image plane (x,y) while considering white standards (17).

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (A) applies appropriate magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio frequency pulses across an examination region to generate magnetic resonance signals or views indicative of the properties of a volume of a subject examined in the examination region. The views are reconstructed (B) into voxel values V(x,y,z) and stored in a volumetric image memory (C). A relative angle and position of a viewing plane (10) relative to the image volume are selected. A plurality of rays (14), each corresponding to a pixel P(i,j) of a resultant projection image, are projected from the viewing plane into the volumetric image data. Each ray retrieves a corresponding vector of voxel values V.sub.1, V.sub.2, V.sub.3, . . . V.sub.n. Bright voxel values indicate blood. Dark pixel values indicate non-blood tissue. Intermediate voxel values have a greater uncertainty whether the pixel value represents blood or non-blood tissue.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for locating a target in a living body. Three cameras are supported at an elevated location such as on a wall or from a ceiling. The cameras are supplied as an integrated unit with a computer and are factory calibrated to said computer. A patient examining table is provided with a single radiation device, the radiation which is detectable by the cameras. The table is moved both horizontally and vertically to establish X, Y and Z coordinates relative to the room in which the installation is made. A hand held ultrasound probe is positioned to detect a target in a body disposed on said table, and an ultrasound scan screen apparatus displays the relation of the probe to the target, and also provides information for moving the table to position the target at a predetermined location.

Abstract: Surgery is performed with pulsed heat means that selectively destroys tissue in a region within a patient. The size of the region destroyed is dependent upon the frequency of the pulses of the pulsed heat means and thermal conductivity of the tissue of the patient. The pulsed heat means can be a coherent optical source that is guided by laser fiber to the tissue to be destroyed. In another embodiment the pulsed heat means is a focussed ultrasound transducer that dissipates ultrasonic energy at a focal point within the region of tissue to be destroyed. A magnetic resonance imaging system employing a temperature sensitive pulse sequence creates an image of the tissue and the region being heated to allow a surgeon to alter the position of the pulsed heat means or vary the pulse frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for facilitating the positioning of a live image with respect to a reference image in which the live and reference images are combined to produce a composite image that is displayed.

Abstract: An iontophoretic electrode has a plurality of ion transmitters for establishing electric field lines in an area and a plurality of receivers for accepting ions flowing along the field lines. A plurality of shields are located to resist ion flow between adjacent transmitters and receivers. The transmitters, shields and receivers are in at least a sequence of transmitter, shield, receiver, shield. The electric field lines emanate substantially in one direction and return in substantially the opposite direction. The transmitters and receivers have matrix structures with space to contain ionic medication and electrolyte, respectively. A support for holding a plurality of sequences has current carrying contacts exposed to connect the transmitters and receivers in circuit with a source of electrical power. The preferred method includes establishing an electric field with lines of energy between a plurality of first and second conductors of ions and then passing ions along the energy lines between the conductors.

Abstract: An acoustic wave generator has a shockwave source contained in a housing with a volume between the shockwave source and the location at which the acoustic waves exit the generator which is divided into two sub-volumes, each filled with acoustic propagation medium. The location at which the acoustic waves exit the generator is in the form of a deformable cushion which permits the generator to conform to the surface of a subject to be irradiated with the acoustic waves. The liquid propagation medium in both sub-volumes is circulatable, with the amount of liquid propagation medium in the sub-volume forming the cushion being variable.

Abstract: A MRI sound system transducer and headset provides music and operator communication for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) patient. The inventive system includes a pneumatic, non-magnetic transducer which converts electrical output from a music source or operator microphone to moving air, and delivers this pneumatic audio signal through plastic tubes inside the high magnetic field area to a headset which attenuates the ambient noise in the area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for MRI imaging capable of reducing the time between end of measurement and completion of image reconstruction by performing part of image reconstruction calculation in parallel with measurement of magnetic resonance signals, which particularly performs image reconstruction calculation up to (N-1) dimensions of N-dimensional image reconstruction calculation in parallel with measurement of signals and performs the image reconstruction calculation for the remaining one-dimensional direction after the measurement has been finished.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing stereotactic surgery upon a target within a skull establishes a first, predetermined geometric relationship between a skull mount fixture mounted on the skull and a scanning table surface upon which the skull is supported; and that geometric relationship is duplicated by a displacement bar mounted upon the skull mount fixture.

Abstract: A system and method for the quantitation of whole body distribution of radiopharmaceuticals which can determine the percentage uptake of the radiopharmaceutical in a selected region of the body. The system obtains anterior and posterior views of the body using a scintillation camera. These views are then lined up and the geometric mean of the activity at each pixel location is determined. This normalizes the data to produce an activity level which would result if the organ studied were at midpoint of the body. As a result, fast and accurate results are obtained even for organs that are well visualized in only one of the anterior or posterior views.