Abstract: A disposable probe made of a transparent plastic material, for the determination of vaginal pH and other indices, including a small pipe with a closed head, a hole provided near the head and one or more pH indicators or other indicators disposed within the probe.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating focused shockwaves, suitable for extracorporeal lithotripsy, has a substantially hollow-cylindrical membrane consisting of electrically conductive material and an electrical coil arrangement disposed inside the membrane which can be supplied with a high voltage pulse to rapidly repel the membrane and thereby generate a shockwave. The apparatus includes a concave reflector in the form of a paraboloid of revolution, which surrounds the membrane and coil, and which has a center axis substantially coincident with the center axis of the membrane. An acoustic propagation medium fills at least the volume between the membrane and the reflector. The shockwave generated by the cylindrical coil and membrane arrangement is reflected and focused by the paraboloid of revolution so that the shockwaves converge at a focus. The apparatus is arranged so that the focus conicides with a region of a patient to be treated with shockwave therapy, such as a calculus.

Abstract: A method of electromyographic scanning paravertebral muscles comprising measuring electrical potential across a persons's spinous process bilaterally across segments of the spinous process.

Abstract: A device for measuring the elastic and elasticoviscous deformability of skin a measuring probe (1) is provided that exerts pressure on the skin surface (2) in a measuring probe channel (3), a light barrier (4) being disposed in the region of the measuring probe channel (3), the measured length 7 of which light barrier extending transversally to the measuring probe channel (3) in the region of the outlet (5) thereof. The change in light intensity serves as a measure for the deformation of the skin surface.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer for use with an ultrasound brain lesioning system includes an acoustic focusing lens, a piezoelectric transducer plate disposed in spaced relation with the focusing lens, an acoustic coupling medium disposed between the focusing lens and the transducer, and a pressurized fluid contacting the rear surface of the transducer to maintain a spaced relation between the transducer plate and the back surface of the lens. An electrical excitation signal is supplied to the transducer to promote production of an ultrasonic signal by the transducer.

Abstract: A lens assembly is formed by a curved dish or support member with piezo-electric transducers mounted on the concave outer surface. Flat mounting facets are machined on the outer surface to accommodate bonding between the transducer and the support member. A small concave focusing surface or lens for each transducer is machined on the concave inner surface of the support member directly opposite to the transducer and mounting facet. The focusing lenses are only slightly more convex than the inner surface of the support member, and the size of the focusing lenses is only a fraction of the size of the support member. Therefore, the path length of the energy from every point on every transducer to the invivo target region is almost identical. The energy arrives at the target region very closely in phase, forming a short pulse of maximum intensity.

Abstract: Method of employing a balloon tube for creating a thrombosis of vessels located directly under the surface of a body cavity which is difficult to reach, through the initiation of an electric current between the balloon which is deflated as introduced into the body cavity and which is inflated by introducing a fluid on the spot and an outside electrode. The fluid which is used to inflate the balloon is electrically conductive and the balloon wall is semi-permeable for the fluid.

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.

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring device includes a cuff (1) intended to be placed around the upper arm or the thigh of a person, a pressure sensor (2) and a manometer (3). The values measured by the cuff are automatically corrected in a correction unit (4), so as to eliminate systematic errors contingent on the pulse frequency and the pressure level prevailing at the moment of measuring blood pressure. The device also includes an infeed unit (6) into which data relating to the person's age, sex and arm circumference is inserted. The correction unit (4) then uses this data to correct the values measured by the cuff, so that systematic errors contingent on age, sex and arm circumference will be eliminated. The corrective values of the systolic and diastolic pressure are then displayed on a display unit (8), these pressure values being independent of the person's age, sex, arm circumference, pulse frequency and pressure level.

Abstract: An improved method and device for electrical stimulation treatment of a body part of a patient. The electrical stimulation treatment device comprises an elongated, flexible, self-supporting, self-adherable strip electrode adapted to be placed in direct surface-to-surface contact with the body part of a patient by being wound around the body part and an electric current source electrically connected to the strip electrode. The strip electrode is an elongated, thin, substantially planar, flexible, permeable substrate which is impregnated and filled with a gel which is capable of adhering to itself.

Abstract: A lead insertion tool of a molded polymer including a main body and two movable fingers extending at an angle from one end of the main body for holding a cardiac sensing lead or cardiac pacing lead. The inner ends of the fingers are configured to grasp a pacing lead electrode body. A tubular member with finger tabs extends down and over the main body and down and over the extending fingers so that the ends of the fingers movingly engage about the pacing lead body when the tubular member is slid down the body of the lead insertion tool. The inner ends of the extending fingers can be geometrically configured to accept any particular pacing lead body member supporting the electrodes of the pacing lead.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining bleeding time includes a cutting assembly and a member for providing a compensation factor as a function of temperature of the subject. The cutting assembly provides an incision of predetermined dimensions for external bleeding therethrough. The compensation member measures temperature of the subject throughout the period of external bleeding and provides a compensation factor as a function of sensed temperature. The multiplicative product of measured time length of external bleeding and the compensation factor provide a normalized bleeding time of the subject.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and apparatus for monitoring the cumulative amount of blood in a blood-containing liquid mixture emanating from a patient during a surgical procedure, or during recovery from a surgical procedure. The apparatus comprises a conduit for withdrawing a liquid mixture comprising blood from the surgical site. The liquid mixture is filtered, after which the blood concentration of the liquid mixture is measured by a first measuring means. The volumetric flow rate of the liquid mixture is also measured by a second measuring means. The liquid mixture blood concentration and flow rate readings are used to electronically calculate the cumulative amount of blood lost by the patient to the liquid mixture. Finally, the cumulative blood loss value is displayed. The liquid mixture is disposed of following the two measurements. A method of using such an apparatus during a surgical procedure and/or during recovery from a surgical procedure is also disclosed.

Abstract: Stereotactic radiosurgery is facilitated by a technique for computing the doses at various points within the patient's body. In particular, the doses are computed at a relatively high density of points within a fine dose grid and at a relatively low density of points within a coarse dose grid. In that fashion, the user can quickly obtain necessary information about the radiation dose distribution before implementation of a proposed treatment plan. An advantageous technique of locating the intersection between the radiation beam and the contour or other surface of the patient is also provided. The method is especially well suited for use with a particular structure which allows one to utilize relatively narrow beam widths as a result of great mechanical accuracy.

Abstract: A stethoscope for use with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) screenings in order to supervise a patient, including a bell chest piece adapted to pick up audible heart and breathing sounds or other bodily sounds from the patient, a flexible hollow tube connected at one end thereof to the bell chest piece and adapted to transmit audible heart and breathing sounds from the bell chest piece.

Abstract: An MRI method is disclosed, by which, when liquid moving in a body to be examined stays in a predetermined region, this region is excited by using the nuclear magnetic resonance phenomenon and when the liquid thus excited moves from that excited region, a nuclear magnetic resonance signal produced by the excited spin and emitted during the relaxation time thereof is detected.

Abstract: A body fat thickness measuring device comprising a pair of infrared emitting diodes, one emitting a steady, low-intensity light, and the other emitting periodic, high-intensity pulses of light, to be placed against the skin where the fat is to be measured. The device contains an array of detectors in the form of infrared-sensitive photo-transistors which are placed against the skin in predetermined locations near the two diodes, yet shielded from ambient light. The detector array provides signals proportional to the amount of infrared light detected, and these signals are summed and amplified, forming a composite signal. The amplitude of this composite signal, which is indicative of the thickness of the layer of fat, is displayed on a digital readout device.

Abstract: The radioactive ray detecting therapeutic apparatus of the present invention has an insertable part to be inserted toward an affected part. A therapeutic apparatus for treating the affected part, and a radioactive ray detecting apparatus for detecting radioactive rays discharged out of the affected part and providing signals by which to direct the therapeutic apparatus to the affected part, are provided in the tip part of the insertable part.

Abstract: A method and system in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) medical imaging systems corrects for three-dimensional distortions arising from the apparatus and patient specific distortions using a phantom and a helmet, both of which have fiducial markers in a three-dimensional matrix. The positions of the phantom and helmet fiducial markers are automatically detected and compared in a computer system which uses image transform algorithms to correct for the various distortions.

Abstract: The production of shock-waves is triggered by using the cushion that couples acoustically and, incidentally physically, a shock-wave generator to the body of a living being; any pressure variations in the cushion are detected at a particular phase and used for triggering the generation of shock-waves. The pressure level in the cushion is kept constant, on a long term-basis, and at a level about which breath-induced pressure variations occur.