Abstract: A handpiece having a set of longitudinally vibrating piezoelectric elements and which may additionally have an electric motor to provide rotational or oscillatory movement to the ultrasound horn. The piezoelectric elements are surrounded by a high temperature plastic sleeve, and the sleeve is filled with high temperature potting material. The potting material seal the piezoelectric elements against moisture without affecting the performance of the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A variable type ultrasonic probe is provided, in which each of piezoelectric units accommodated in the probe is separated into a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and the piezoelectric units are easily arrayed in an arcuately curved arrangement. The ultrasonic probe has therein a piezoelectric unit separated into at least three piezoelectric elements, i.e., a central element and both opposite end elements, and disposed on a backing member in a manner such that a lower face electrode of each piezoelectric element is led out. A leading-out wiring board provided with conductive paths formed on both major faces thereof is arranged on the lower faces of the one end and central piezoelectric elements. The lower face electrodes of the one end element and central element are electrically led out by the upper face conductive path and the lower face conductive path of the leading-out wiring board, respectively.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a system including a CT system, an NM system, a NM bed operatively coupled to the NM system, and a CT bed operatively coupled to the CT system, with the CT bed coupled to the NM bed when the CT system is used for dual mode imaging.

Abstract: In order to make both the maintenance of a scan range and a frame rate for ultrasonic imaging and high definition of an image compatible with each other, a sound-ray density for scan is made nonuniform, and a sound-ray density is rendered dense at a required portion and coarse at portions other than the portion.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method is disclosed for generating and identifying water and fat separated MR images. Image data is first acquired to obtain two echo images with the water and fat signals orthogonal in the first echo image, and parallel/anti-parallel in the second echo image. The effect of background field inhomogeneties are removed, and water and fat images are separated from each other. The separated water and fat images are identified according to the difference of their precessing frequencies.

Abstract: A system and method improve a quality of sensor image data from a wavefront emanating from an eye. The sensor image data include a pixel array of intensities. A filter array is populated with a coefficient at each position of the array and the filter array is applied to each position in the pixel array. The system includes a process and a software package adapted to perform the above method steps.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe is provided for imaging and diagnosing areas of interest that are in immediate contact with the probe. The probe provides an integrated standoff comprised of a rubber material having optimal acoustic characteristics. The lens is directly applied to the transducer and the standoff is applied to the lens such that the focal zone is placed at the area immediately below the patient contact surface of the probe. The lens material also encapsulates the transducer and provides reliable protection against electrical shock. The standoff is also separated from the surface being examined by a cap comprised of a biocompatible elastomer having high chemical and abrasive resistance that enables the probe to be easily sterilized and disinfected and provides further protection against electrical shock. The use of a standoff with optimal acoustic properties in, combination with the arrangement of the lens, standoff and cap provides a probe with a focal zone placed at the area immediately below the probe.

Abstract: Optical characteristics, including vision defects, of optical systems, such as the eye, are measured using a collimated beam from a diode laser focused at a position relative to the eye other than the retina for providing a finite source of secondary radiation on the retina of the eye, the image of which is close to a desired diffraction-limited spot. The secondary radiation is reflected back from the retina as a reflected wavefront of radiation that passes through the eye and is directed onto a wavefront analyzer where distortions associated with the reflected wavefront are measured. By focusing on the cornea through a long-focal-length lens and thus converging the beam through a small angle, as opposed to focusing a collimated light onto the retina, the need for lenses or lens combinations and the time required to adjust such to accommodate the different visual characteristics of each patient is eliminated.

Abstract: A novel magnetic resonance method for two-dimensional or three-dimensional imaging of an examination zone is described, in which k-space is scanned at predetermined sampling positions. Magnetic resonance signals of a first data set over k-space and magnetic resonance signals of subsequent reduced data sets over part of k-space are acquired, and data of the subsequent reduced data sets are completed with data of the first data set in order to obtain a full image of the scanned object. The acquisition of data of the subsequent reduced data sets (d2, d3, d4) will start or end with the highest value in k-space. Further a novel magnetic resonance apparatus and a computer program product are described, which are designed for performing the above mentioned method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring wavefront aberrations. A beam splitter separates the aberrated wavefront into two components, mirror arrays focus each of the components to a plurality of discrete lines with the discrete lines of one component having a different orientation than the discrete lines of the other component, and an imaging device detects the discrete lines to determine wavefront aberrations. The method includes separating the wavefront into two components, focusing each of the components into a plurality of discrete lines with the discrete lines of one component having a different orientation than the discrete lines of the other component, and detecting information related to the discrete lines.

Abstract: Dermal hydration is determined in a target region of a human subject by determining a relationship between first and second measurements. The first measurement is a measurement of a first type of electromagnetic radiation that has been reflected from the target region, the second measurement is a measurement of a second type of electromagnetic radiation that has been reflected from the target region, and the second type of electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by liquid, namely water or perspiration, to a greater degree than the first type of electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by the liquid. The electromagnetic radiation that is reflected from the region and measured is initially transmitted to the region from a remote location, and the transmitted electromagnetic radiation is not visible to a naked human eye. An examination being carried out in accordance with the present invention can be carried out while the region is moving, by tracking the region.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of detecting amyloid-containing deposits in a mammal without administering exogenous chemicals such as fluorophores or chromophores. The method includes subjecting tissue of a mammal, preferably tissue of a mammal suspected of having at least one form of amyloidosis to autofluorescence-initiation, preferably by subjecting the tissue to at least excitation incident radiation from a light source having a wavelength of light within the range of from about 360 to about 370 nm, and more preferably to illumination incident radiation from a light source having wavelengths in the visible spectrum, to produce an emitted light signal beam and a reflected light signal beam. The method also preferably includes detecting the presence of emitted light having a wavelength of from about 400 nm to about 460 nm.

Abstract: A tubular anatomical structure in a mammalian subject is occluded by directing ultrasonic energy from outside of the body. For example, a male subject may be sterilized by directing ultrasonic energy through the skin of the scrotum, onto the vas deferens. The focal spot of an ultrasonic transducer may be registered with the structure to be treated by means of guide members on a probe holding the transducer. The procedure is simple and can be entirely non-invasive. Apparatus for performing this and other treatments may be provided as a disposable unit, and the guide members may be arranged to hold a fold of tissue without substantially obstructing the sonic path from the transducer to the fold.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to screening patients for an early stage of coronary artery disease. According to this method, a patient is screened based on the time-activity curve for a radioactive tracer passing through a left ventricle region of the patient's body. According to another aspect of the invention, an array of gamma particle detectors is employed to obtain data for a region of interest that is larger than and encompasses a left ventricle region of the patient's body. An analysis of the data identifies the subset of the region of interest that corresponds to the left ventricle region. According to a further aspect of the present invention, a second technique is employed to locate the left ventricle region. A still further aspect of the present invention relates to obtaining images of a patient's heart using a high temporal resolution gamma camera.

Abstract: An improved ophthalmic imaging instrument including a wavefront sensor-based adaptive optical subsystem that measures phase aberrations in reflections derived from light produced by an imaging light source and compensates for such phase aberrations when capturing images of reflections derived from light produced by the same imaging light source. The high-resolution image data captured by the improved ophthalmic imaging instrument can be used to assist in detection and diagnosis (such as color imaging, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography) of abnormalities and disease in the human eye and treatment (including pre-surgery preparation and computer-assisted eye surgery such as laser refractive surgery) of abnormalities and disease in the human eye.

Abstract: A parameter compilation memory (62, 114) stores patient physiological information and contrast agent arrival or uptake times (tD, tA, tV) from past patients. A triggering or synchronizing window processor (64, 112) sets a triggering window, i.e. estimates the arrival time, based on the past patient information. A subject (16) disposed within an imaging region (12, 90) is injected with a contrast agent (66). Arrival of the contrast agent in the imaging region is detected (72, 110) with a real time tracking method. Diagnostic imaging is commenced on the first to occur of the detection of contrast agent arrival within the window and the end of the triggering window. The uptake times for the subject (16) are compared to those stored in the memory (62, 114) and analyzed to propose a diagnosis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic Doppler flow phantom is described which is formed of tissue-mimicking material containing a plurality of fluid flow paths through which fluid is pumped. The fluid flow paths are made of tubing and each extends over a different portion of the depth of the phantom and at a different angle. Each path is individually accessible by a probe located on the simulated skin surface at the top of the phantom, enabling the performance of the probe to be evaluated over a wide range of depths from shallow to very deep and over several flow angles.

Abstract: An open MRI or other diagnostic imaging system (A) generates a three-dimensional diagnostic image representation, which is stored in an MRI image memory (26). A laser scanner or other surface imaging system (B) generates a volumetric surface image representation that is stored in a surface image memory (34). Typically, the volume and surface images are misaligned and the magnetic resonance image may have predictable distortions. An image correlating system (C) determines offset, scaling, rotational, and non-linear corrections to the magnetic resonance image representation, which are implemented by an image correction processor (48). The corrected magnetic resonance image representation and the surface image representation are combined (50) and stored in a superimposed image memory (52). A video processor (54) generates image representations from selected portions of the superimposed image representation for display on a human-readable monitor (56).

Abstract: Apparatus for creating an anatomic space in tissue in a body including an introducer device having a tubular member with a bore extending therethrough. A tunneling shaft assembly is slidably mounted in the bore of the introducer device. The tunneling shaft assembly includes a tunneling shaft having proximal and distal extremities. A blunt tip is secured to the distal extremity of the tunneling shaft. A balloon assembly is provided. The balloon assembly is removably secured to the tunneling shaft. The balloon assembly includes a deflated collapsed balloon. A sheath encloses the balloon and is carried by the tunneling shaft. The sheath has a weakened region extending longitudinally thereof permitting the sheath to be removed to release the balloon.

Abstract: A transmit beamformer method and system is provided for applying absolute delays between groups of channels and applying relative delays to channels within the groups of channels. For example, every fourth channel is responsive to an absolute delay from a controller. The delay for channels between every fourth channel are set as relative delays corresponding to a further delay in addition to the absolute delay.