Abstract: Time course MRI data is acquired from the hippocampal region of the brain and processed to produce an index which is a measure of the functional connectivity between locations therein. The MRI data is acquired while the brain is substantially at rest and the spontaneous low frequency component of the time course data at each location in the hippocampus is extracted and compared in a cross-correlation process.

Abstract: A radiographic apparatus is disclosed, which allows a biopsy needle or a drug injection needle to be run into a patient accurately and quickly. Once a needle entry point on a body surface of the patient and a target point in the patient are designated and inputted on the screen of a display monitor, the radiographic apparatus in this invention automatically displays, en block on the display monitor, a guideline linking the two points, intersection marks indicative of intersections of the guideline and CT images, and angles and length serving as a reference for determining a direction and depth of running the needle. The operator has only to run the needle to a required depth along the guideline and intersection marks in the direction indicated by the angles displayed. Thus, the biopsy needle or injection needle may be run into the patient accurately and quickly.

Abstract: A probe configured as a finger tip of a glove used to recognize tissue types in a human patient and adapted to perform both optical and electrical measurements to diagnose tissue type while scanned over the surface of the tissue. Hybrid electronic technology reduces the size of the diagnostic elements. The necessary electrical connections are led down the finger and the glove to a remotely positioned control unit. The control unit provides power to the diagnostic device and analyzes the signals received from the device.

Abstract: A microcoil configuration, preferably on a medical device to be inserted into a patient, has an opposed pair of microcoils. At least one or each microcoil of the opposed pair of microcoils has at least a region where a diameter circumscribed by a first winding is greater than the diameter circumscribed by at least one complete second winding, especially an adjacent winding displaced from the first winding along an axis or core of the medical device or an axis of the microcoil. The second winding is nearer to or farther from an intermediate region between the microcoils that define the pair of microcoils. For example, it is common to have a connecting (usually straight or non-wound) lead between the two microcoils, and this lead may be used to define an intermediate region.

Abstract: A surgical system or assembly for performing cardiac surgery includes a surgical instrument; a servo-mechanical system engaged to the surgical instrument for operating the surgical instrument; and an attachment assembly for removing at least one degree of movement from a moving surgical cardiac worksite to produce a resultant surgical cardiac worksite. The surgical system or assembly also includes a motion tracking system for gathering movement information on a resultant surgical cardiac worksite. A control computer is engaged to the attachment assembly and to the motion tracking system and to the servo-mechanical system for controlling movement of the attachment assembly and for feeding gathered information to the servo-mechanical system for moving the surgical instrument in unison with the resultant surgical cardiac worksite such that a relative position of the moving surgical instrument with respect to the resultant surgical cardiac worksite is generally constant.

Abstract: A method for MRI signal analysis of an area of a biological tissue comprising: a) providing a biological tissue, wherein physiological activity is taking place in an area thereof; b) acquiring sequential magnetic resonance images, at least during a portion of time in which the physiological activity is taking place, of said area and of at least a portion of the tissue in a vicinity of the area; c) constructing, responsive to at least one pixel-related parameter value of the images, a pixel parameter space; and d) separating the pixel parameter space into at least two subspaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to an MR method in which the nuclear magnetization is enhanced under the influence of a first steady magnetic field and a second steady magnetic field acts on the nuclei previously influenced by the first magnetic field. According to the invention, the two magnetic fields overlap in time and enclose an angle other than 0° relative to one another, the angle preferably amounting to 90°. The enhanced nuclear magnetization is then sustained after the activation of the first steady magnetic field while the direction of the nuclear magnetization is determined by the second steady magnetic field. The use of two mutually perpendicular magnetic fields is advantageous notably for Overhauser imaging methods, because it enables the use of mutually perpendicular RF fields for the ESR saturation and the MR excitation, thus uncoupling the coils generating such RF fields from one another.

Abstract: A method of detecting a neurological disorder such as dyslexia includes the steps of measuring microstructure of cerebral white matter, and correlating the microstructure to the presence of the neurological disorder. For dyslexia, the white matter is confined to temporo-parietal white matter. The microstructure is measured by determining cerebral white matter anisotropy using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI).

Abstract: The invention provides robotic surgical systems which allow selectable independent repositioning of an input handle of a master controller and/or a surgical end effector without corresponding movement of the other. In some embodiments, independent repositioning is limited to translational degrees of freedom. In other embodiments, the system provides an input device adjacent a manipulator supporting the surgical instrument so that an assistant can reposition the instrument at the patient's side.

Abstract: An intravascular imaging guidewire which can accomplish longitudinal translation of an imaging plane allowing imaging of an axial length of a region of interest without moving the guidewire. The imaging guidewire comprises a body in the form of a flexible elongate tubular member. An elongate flexible imaging core is slidably received within the body. The imaging core includes a shaft having an imaging device mounted on its distal end. The body and the imaging core are cooperatively constructed to enable axial translation of the imaging core and imaging device relative to the body. The body has a transparent distal portion extending an axial length over which axially translatable imaging may be performed. The imaging guidewire has a maximum diameter over its entire length sized to be received within a guidewire lumen of an intravascular catheter.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic apparatus has a computer, a bus, processors, memories and an input arrangement, the imput arrangement including an adjustment arrangement for the nearly simultaneous adjustment of at least two input parameters, to which a processor is allocated for conversion into control parameters.

Abstract: System and methods for performing a therapeutic procedure using focused ultrasound include providing a piezoelectric transducer including a plurality of transducer elements, such as a concave concentric ring array or a liner array of transducer elements. Drive circuitry is coupled to the transducer for providing drive signals to the transducer elements at one of a plurality of discrete RF frequencies. A controller is coupled to the drive circuitry for periodically changing a frequency of the drive signals to one of the plurality of discrete frequencies, while controlling a phase component of the drive signals to maintain the focus of the transducer at a primary focal zone during a single sonication.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for in vivo detection of the direction of Langer's lines in the skin. Light is irradiated into the skin as primary light at one defined site (7) identified through the epidermis (6) in such a way that it is transported in the skin (5) by scattering or absorption, while part of said irradiated light emerges from the skin as secondary light in the region surrounding the irradiated site. An amplitude-dependent property of secondary light emerging from the skin (5) around the irradiated site is measured in order to determine the preferential direction of the diffuse light transport in the skin (5) and, consequently, determine the orientation of Langer's lines thereof.

Abstract: The present invention includes stereotactic vectors, no electronic calculations and imaging, diagnostic and treatment techniques. The invention also includes machines or instruments using those aspects of the invention. The present invention also includes methods and processes using the devices of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method/system of monitoring in real time changes in concentration of glucose in tissues. Laser-induced profiles of absorbed optical energy distribution in tissues are determined via measurements of spatial (in-depth) profile of optically-induced acoustic (pressure) transients using a wide-band optoacoustic transducer. Such technique can be applied for monitoring of glucose concentration in various human or nonhuman tissues, cell cultures, solutions or emulsions.

Abstract: A computerized imaging system (such as CAT scan, MRI imaging, ultrasound imaging, infrared, X-ray, UV/visible light fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy or microwave imaging) is employed to sense the position of an endoscopic treatment system within the body of a patient. In a preferred embodiment, the system provides real-time computer control to maintain and adjust the position of the treatment system and/or the position of the patient relative to the treatment system; and also provides (if desired) real-time computer control of the operation of the treatment system itself. Other embodiments include a steerable catheter system having a rotatable abrasive member actuated by an external magnetic field.

Abstract: The invention relates to an MR method which utilizes a microcoil without connection leads which causes an increase of or a change in phase of an external RF magnetic field in its direct vicinity within an object to be examined. This increase can be used to localize the coil, to image the direct vicinity, or to track the propagation of a liquid flow passing through the direct vicinity.

Abstract: In a method and control apparatus for tracking a contrast agent using an imaging medical device a test bolus of a contrast agent is initially injected into an examination subject, followed by an injection of a main bolus at a time interval of &Dgr;ti. The arrival of the test bolus in the observation volume is chronologically determined by periodically repeated survey measurements. An image data measurement is started at a time interval &Dgr;tm subsequent to the detection of the test bolus, this time interval &Dgr;tm being defined according to the prescribed time interval &Dgr;ti.

Abstract: An apparatus for detection of precancerous and cancerous conditions in a breast is provided and includes a computer for digitizing at least one of a mammogram image data and a (scinti)mammogram image data of a breast, computer-based software operably associated with the computer based means for manipulating at least one of said digitized mammogram image data and said digitized (scinti)mammogram image data and generating at least one of a mammogram ROI image and a (scinti)mammogram ROI image data indicative of precancerous and cancerous condition, and monitor operably associated with the computer based means for concurrently visually displaying at least one of said digitized mammogram image data and said digitized (scinti)mammogram image data and said mammogram ROI image and said (scinti)mammogram ROI image data in a superimposed manner.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of modulating temperature of tissue in a subject to be spectroscopically probed. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises applying a tissue modulation device of the invention to the tissue, passing current through the temperature regulating element so as to elevate or lower the temperature of the tissue, and passing electromagnetic radiation through the window of the device. Preferably, spectroscopic probing is performed when the temperature of the tissue has been elevated or lowered and when the temperature of the tissue is not elevated or lowered. The method can further comprise collecting Raman spectra emitted by the tissue. The invention also provides a method for determining phase transition, and a method for determining lipid content and identity and protein content and identity in a tissue of a subject.