Abstract: The present invention provides an eye characteristic measuring apparatus provided with an image forming condition changing unit for achieving an appropriate illuminating condition and capable of setting an optimum illuminating condition and an optimum light receiving condition.

Abstract: A safety housing, into which an infrared laser light source is integrated together with the CCD camera, forms a compact unit for the determination of tissue perfusion. Rays from the infrared laser light source radiate the area of operation and indocyanin green, previously injected intravenously into the patient, is excited to fluorescence by the radiation, which is detected by the CCD camera.

Abstract: A device for assisting the development of an infant's visual acuity and for transferring the mother's scent to an infantile environment. Supple fabric contacts an area of the mother's body for absorbing a portion of the mother's scent and is thereafter transferred and attached to the infantile environment for venting the transferred scent about the infantile environment. The supple fabric is also includes a contrasted black and white pattern for assisting the development of the infant's visual acuity. A second side of the device can be supplied with a neutral color.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for visualizing structure located on the interior of a biological substance. The device of the present invention includes a marker member which may be a solid cylinder or lumen having an interior volume. The marker member has a proximal end, and a distal end. The distal end of the device is removably insertable in the biological substance relative to the interior structure to be visualized and is composed of a biologically stable substrate material. An image-enhancing material is contained relative to the marker member in a manner such that the imaging material does not directly contact the biological substance; such imaging material will remain self-contained without causing significant tissue absorption, toxicity or undesired image distortion. The imaging material of choice is one which is capable of producing an emission or signal detectable external to the biological substance by suitable imaging instrumentation.

Abstract: An ultrasound system includes a transmit/receive switch (502), at least one frequency band selection circuit (512), and a selection unit (511). The selection unit (511) is used to determine if the data being received are from tissue or contrast agent regions. Depending on which type of region the data are from, different signal processing techniques are applied to the data. For example for tissue regions, a harmonic filter can be applied to the signal. If the signals are from contrast agent flow regions, both the harmonic filter and a fundamental filter can be used.

Abstract: A tomographic imaging system includes a moveable detector or detectors capable of detecting gamma radiation; one or more position sensors for determining the position and angulation of the detector(s) in relation to a gamma ray emitting source; and a computational device for integrating the position and angulation of the detector(s) with information as to the energy and distribution of gamma rays detected by the detector and deriving a three dimensional representation of the source based on the integration. A method of imaging a radiation emitting lesion located in a volume of interest also is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a subject for medical conditions includes causing light to impinge on at least one eye of the subject, directing reflected light from such light beam to photosensors, converting the received reflected light to corresponding electrical signals which are delivered to a processor. Processing the signals by effecting a comparison between stored information regarding the medical condition and the data provided by the monitoring to determine if an undesired medical condition exists and, if so, communicating such result. The cycle is repeated at predetermined intervals which may be short or prolonged. The method may be employed for a wide variety of medical conditions and preferably is employed with frequent cyclic monitoring for conditions such as miosis, carbon monoxide poisoning, and blood flow related conditions. A related apparatus is provided.

Abstract: In the present invention, when measuring magnetism of a measuring portion of a patient by making use of a dewar incorporating magnetism sensors each including a super conducting quantum interference device, a bed is at first positioned outside a position immediately below the dewar. At this position outside the position immediately below the dewar the patient is laid on the bed in an inspection posture. Marks are attached on the body of the patient at three points for setting X and Y axis coordinate on the measurement portion, at the position outside the position immediately below the dewar cross shaped beam patterns are projected and the position of the bed is adjusted so that the marks at the three points locate on the cross shaped beam patterns, thereafter, bed is transferred by a constant amount to the position immediately below the dewar.

Abstract: An ultrasound system used for both imaging and delivery high intensity ultrasound energy therapy to treatment sites and a method for treating tumors and other undesired tissue within a patient's body with an ultrasound device. The ultrasound device has an ultrasound transducer array disposed on a distal end of an elongate, relatively thin shaft. In one form of the invention, the transducer array is disposed within a liquid-filled elastomeric material that more effectively couples ultrasound energy into the tumor, that is directly contacted with the device. Using the device in a continuous wave mode, a necrotic zone of tissue having a desired size and shape (e.g., a necrotic volume selected to interrupt a blood supply to a tumor) can be created by controlling at least one of the f-number, duration, intensity, and direction of the ultrasound energy administered. This method speeds the therapy and avoids continuously pausing to enable intervening normal tissue to cool.

Abstract: A method of deriving a prediction model and calculating a predicted lens power to provide a desired post-operative spherical equivalent to correct myopia in a phakic eye of a patient using an intraocular lens includes measuring and determining the predictive significance of certain pre-operative characteristics of the eye, including cycloplegic and manifest spherical equivalent, vertex distance, anterior chamber depth, and keratometry. The prediction model is derived using multiple regression analysis on the pre-operative and post operative data. Measured data corresponding to a particular patient is used in the lens power prediction model to calculate the predicted lens power for implantation in the patient.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) is provided for assisting medical personnel in interpreting data collected by a multiple electrode catheter deployed within the body. The GUI generates and displays an image of the multiple electrode catheter. By manipulating appropriate controls, the medical personnel are able to change the orientation of the displayed image until it matches the orientation of the actual multiple electrode catheter as seen on a fluoroscope. Afterwards, the medical personnel can determine the relative position and orientation of the catheter by reference to the GUI generated image. To aid in interpreting data recovered by the catheter, the individual electrodes and splines are highlighted and labeled. Electrodes recovering particular types of physiological waveforms can be automatically identified and highlighted. Comments and anatomic landmarks can be inserted where desired to further assist in interpreting data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the safe delivery of thermosensitive liposomes containing medicant to a targeted tissue region using ultrasound. Thermosensitive liposomes containing medicants are delivered to a region of interest, the region of interest is located using ultrasound imaging, ultrasound therapy is applied to heat the region of interest, and the temperature of the region is monitored to determine whether a designated threshold temperature has been reached which allows for the release of medicants from the liposomes. If the threshold temperature is reached, and the liposomes are melted, the treatment stops. If the threshold temperature has not been reached, the application of ultrasound therapy and ultrasound imaging are alternated until the threshold temperature is reached. The ultrasound imaging, temperature monitoring and ultrasound therapy are preferably performed with a single transducer.

Abstract: A device and method for providing a stimulus to the measurement of the field of vision of the human eye. The stimulus is presented at predetermined test sites in a region of the background of a perimeter to a person to be tested. The stimulus has at least two visual characteristics that can be varied for the determination of a threshold. The stimulus is preferably formed by sine waves.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method are presented to determine low rates of blood flow using contrast agents. Pairs of differently modulated pulses are transmitted in several beam directions to acquire echoes which can be combined to separate harmonic frequencies by pulse inversion. The pulses of each pair are transmitted in rapid succession to minimize motional artifacts. The transmission in the different beam directions is time-interleaved, resulting in the sampling of each beam direction over a long ensemble time for the detection of low rates of flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting diseases and abnormalities of a patient's eyes is disclosed. The apparatus includes an image-recording device for recording images of the patient's eyes while illuminated with infrared light and while at least two different meridians of the patient's eyes are illuminated with visible light in a time period shorter than the response time of the patient's eyes. The apparatus further includes a light source for illuminating the patient's eyes with infrared and two different meridians of the patient's eyes with visible light, and a control system for controlling the image-recording device and the light source. In one embodiment, the image-recording device includes a high-speed digital camera, the light source includes a group of infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a pair of flashes, and the control system is a computer system. The invention is useful in detecting both refractive and non-refractive errors of the eyes.

Abstract: Signal recovery in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is provided by generating a single excitation pulse and exciting a target region of a subject with the generated excitation pulse. A first image is obtained using a first partial k-space frame of the target region. A compensation pulse is generated and the target region excited with the compensation pulse. A second, compensated, image is obtained subsequent to the excitation by the compensation pulse using a second partial k-space frame of the target region. The first and second images are combined to form a combined image of the target region. The first and second obtaining steps are carried out sequentially during a single quadratic excitation pulse.

Abstract: With a method for determination of the direction of introduction (4) and for controlling the introduction path of biopsy needles, probes and similar in organisms (2) by using an ultrasound imaging machine, a scanning unit (1) of the ultrasound is placed onto the introduction range of the organism (2) in order to display an image (3a) according to a sectional plane (3) in which or along which the directional axis (4) of the introduction path runs and the biopsy needle or similar is controlled during its actual introduction in the corresponding image display (3a, 6). For improvement of the accuracy of introduction and for an easier procedure a larger volume range (3) of the organism (2) is scanned by using a 3D-imaging and with a contingent interim storage of the derived signals by a volume storage the sectional plane (3a) to be displayed is selected according to predeterminable criteria from the volume (3), after which selection the intended introduction path (4) is virtually displayed in this image and an e.

Abstract: An eye examination device includes an eye examination unit for examining or measuring an eye of an examinee; a carrying case including a first housing part for housing the eye examination unit and a base part which mounts thereon the eye examination unit; a horizontal movement unit which moves the eye examination unit in a horizontal direction with respect to the base part; and a vertical movement unit which moves the eye examination unit in a vertical direction with respect to the base part.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting the offset induced by Field Effect Transistor (FET) photo-conductive effects in solid state x-ray detectors includes dedicating rows at the beginning and end of an x-ray detector scan. The dedicated rows may be used to measure the “signal” induced by the photo-conductivity of FET switches in solid state x-ray detectors. Since the signal induced by FET photo-conductivity decays over time, the measurements taken at the beginning and end of a detector scan may be used to predict by interpolation the amount of signal contributed by photo-conductive induced offset for each row of the detector scan on a column by column basis.

Abstract: A pulse Doppler ultrasound system and associated methods are described for monitoring blood flow. A graphical information display includes simultaneously displayed depth-mode and spectrogram displays. The depth-mode display indicates the various positions along the ultrasound beam axis at which blood flow is detected. These positions are indicated as one or more colored regions, with the color indicating direction of blood flow and varying in intensity as a function of detected Doppler ultrasound signal amplitude or detected blood flow velocity. The depth-mode display also includes a pointer whose position may be selected by a user. The spectrogram displayed corresponds to the location identified by the pointer. Embolus detection and characterization are also provided.