Abstract: An improved waveguide for an infrared thermometer, comprising a silver halide optical fiber cable of low transmission loss, a high aspect ratio, and a radially decreasing index of refraction. The transmission loss is low enough to enable the cable to be up to ten meters in length, thereby extending beyond the housing of the thermometer and being insertable in confined spaces such as an ear canal. The small cross sectional area and radially decreasing index of refraction of the cable make the field of view of the cable small enough to enable it to resolve targets as small as a portion of the human tympanic membrane, enabling the device to be used to measure the core temperature of humans and other organisms.

Abstract: An ultrasonic therapeutic apparatus consisting of a therapeutic ultrasonic wave generating source driven by a driver circuit to generate therapeutic ultrasonic waves, an in vivo imaging probe so as to obtain a tissue tomographic image in the vicinity of the focus of the therapeutic ultrasonic waves. The imaging probe is used to receive echoes of the ultrasonic pulses emitted from therapeutic ultrasonic wave generating source. The driving conditions for the therapeutic ultrasonic wave generating source is adjusted on the basis of a received echo signal. The received echo signal contains information about actual intensity of the therapeutic ultrasonic waves within a living body, thus improving the safety and reliability of therapy.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for treating arterial occlusions combining an intraluminally operable catheter, having an occlusion-crossing working element, with a micro-invasive extraluminally operable locator for imaging the progress of the working element through the occlusion. Conical, abrasive, blunt-dissecting, and sharp-pointed, and steering and non-steering working elements including guide wires are described. Acoustic transducers and a flexible imaging tube are described for the locator. A suction cup is described for removably anchoring the imaging tube to a surface. A signal-emitting working element and cooperating signal-receiving locator are described. A method for treating arterial occlusions is described.

Abstract: A device to detect the location of a plurality of magnets uses a plurality of magnetic sensors, having sensor elements arranged in a known fashion. Each sensor element senses the magnetic field strength generated by each of the plurality of magnets and provides data indicative of the direction of the magnets in a three-dimensional space. The device uses fundamental equations for electricity and magnetism that relate the measured magnetic field strength to the location and strength of the magnetic dipole for each of the plurality of magnets. The device may use an iterative process to determine the actual location and orientation of each magnet. An initial estimation of the location and orientation of each magnet results in the generation of predicted magnetic field values. The predicted magnetic field values are compared with the actual measured values provided by the magnetic sensors.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the confocal measuring of surfaces inside cavities of the body, specially to measure the surface profile (1) of teeth (2) in the mouth cavity. Said device has a probe (3) that can be introduced into the cavity of the body, a light source feeding the probe (3), a detector picking up a light signal (5) and a processor (6) to digitalize the detected signal transforming it into a tridimensional representation. The device is designed using a simple construction and enabling an error free scanning of the surfaces.

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: In an MRI system using high-performance gradient hardware, a method includes de-rating selected lobes in a 2DTOF imaging pulse sequence; employing images from the two-dimensional imagery to detect the presence of disease; and performing three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MRA if disease was detected at a sufficiently high level to make three-dimensional imaging useful. By de-rating selected lobes of the 2DTOF imaging pulse sequence, sensitivity to carotid stenosis at or above the clinically important range of 60-70% is achieved.

Abstract: This invention involves apparatus and methods for relating image scan data of a patient's anatomy from an imaging scanner to a device attached to said patient's anatomy or to an apparatus located nearby said patient's anatomy. In one embodiment it includes identification of fiducial points or markers on or near the patient's anatomy in the image scan data, and subsequently relating these fiducial points to reference points or structures connected to an apparatus attached to or nearby the patient's body. Such an apparatus might be a surgical head clamp or stereotactic frame or arc which has been attached to the patient's head at the time of surgery. A mapping is made between the coordinate frame data of the scan image to the coordinate reference frame of the patient attachment means or external apparatus by physically referencing the fiducial points to the patient attachment means or external apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for three-dimensional imaging and treatment of a patient's body. The method and apparatus utilize a system for developing a therapy plan for treatment of an organ of the patient, a device for generating ultrasound image data from a treatment region and a device for providing a translucent volume image of a portion of a patient's body and a separate translucent image of the patient organ and a three dimensional viewing device to superimpose a translucent article image to enable viewing of the article image simultaneously with the patient organ and a portion of the patient's body.

Abstract: A method of imaging an object, such as a diseased human heart or bone, in a nontransparent medium, such as the human body, involves placing an array of transmitters and receivers in operational association with the medium. The transmitters generate a harmonic (frequency domain) or pulse (time domain) primary electromagnetic field (EM) which propagates through the medium. The primary field interacts with the object to produce a scattered field, which is recorded by the receivers. The scattered EM field components measured by the receivers are applied as an artificial EM field to generate a backscattering EM field. Cross power spectra of the primary and backscattering fields (in the frequency domain) or cross correlation between these fields (in the time domain) produce a numerical reconstruction of an EM hologram. The desired properties of the medium, such as conductivity or dielectric permittivity, are then derived from this hologram.

Abstract: An MRI system is employed to produce an image of an ultrasonic wave propagating through tissue or the like. An imaging pulse sequence used to acquire the image data is performed in synchronism with the operation of an ultrasonic transducer, and reconstructed phase images measure the motion of excited spins. Physical parameters of the acoustic field such as acoustic pressure, acoustic intensity and wave number may be calculated and imaged. Non-linear propagation characteristics of the acoustic field are also measured and imaged.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the presence of solid tumor tissue, for identifying and mapping the margins of solid tumors during surgical or diagnostic procedures, and for grading and characterizing tumor tissue by detecting changes in the optical properties of an area of interest suspected to contain tumor tissue.

Abstract: An unwanted effect of secondary radiation enhancement from backscatter of incident ionizing radiation on a relatively extensive metallic portion of an instrument to be inserted into a human body under x-ray fluoroscopy is minimized by coating the metallic surface thereof with a biocompatible material having the characteristic of shielding the secondary radiation enhancement effect from reaching body tissue. The depth of penetration of the secondary radiation enhancement is dependent on the atomic number of the metallic portion in conjunction with the expected radiation characteristics and energy level of the radiation incident on the metallic surface.

Abstract: Non-invasive therapeutic treatment of bone in vivo using ultrasound in conjunction with application of a biochemical compound or bone growth factor is performed by subjecting bone to an ultrasound signal supplied to an ultrasound transducer placed on the skin of a bony member, and involving a repetitive finite duration signal consisting of plural frequencies that are in the ultrasonic range to 20 MHz. Concurrent with application of the ultrasound is the utilization of a bone growth factor applied to the skin of a bony member before stimulation with ultrasound. Ultrasonic stimulation is operative to transport the bone growth factor to the bone and then to synergistically enhance the interaction of the bone growth factor with the bone, whereby to induce healing, growth and ingrowth responses. In another embodiment, a vibrational or mechanical input together with a biochemical compound enhances both bone fracture healing and treats osteoporosis.

Abstract: The electroacoustic transucer comprises a dome-shaped carrier on whose inner side are mounted piezoelctric elements and which furthermore is also provided with piezoelectric elements on its outer side. The piezoelectric elements on the inner and on the outer side are switched in separate groups and can be triggered such that the sound waves produced by them can be synchronized, by which means the power intensity in the focus can be increased.

Abstract: MRA data is acquired from a large region of interest by translating the patient to successive stations at which successive portions of the three-dimensional MRA data set are acquired. Patient movement is chosen to track a bolus of contrast agent as it passes through the region of interest and a 3D acquisition is performed at a succession of stations. The order and shape in which k-space is sampled differs from station-to-station to achieve maximum image contrast.

Abstract: A disposable calibration device is used to calibrate a measurement system which transmits radiation or acoustic waves to a material or tissue in order to effect measurements. The disposable calibration device includes a structure with a window through which the radiation or acoustic waves can be transmitted, as well as a removable calibration target arranged on the window and capable of returning a portion of the radiation or acoustic waves for calibrating the measurement system. The removable calibration target can be peeled from a window to allow a measurement to be made on the material or tissue. Once a measurement is complete, the disposable calibration device can be discarded and a new calibration device can be inserted on the measuring system.

Abstract: A method of imaging a subject in an imaging system having a magnetic field and a plurality of receive coils movable with respect to the magnetic field includes sensing the magnetic field by means of at least one sensor having a known position with respect to the subject. At least one of the plurality of receive coils is selected in accordance with the sensing, and is enabled to form an image of the subject. The sensor may include a plurality of sensor coils disposed at differing locations within the magnetic field to sense the differing field amplitudes and/or phases thereof. The differing field intensities cause differing voltage amplitudes and/or phases to be induced on the sensor coils. The differing voltage amplitudes and/or phases are compared to determine the relative positions of the magnetic isocenter of the system and the receive coils to be enabled.

Abstract: A medical instrument uses solid tapered cones mounted to a preferably concave, spherically curved, piezoelectric ultrasound transducer which focuses and concentrates the ultrasound energy to a narrow tip so very high levels of ultrasound can be delivered to the tissue adjacent to the tip. Ultrasound matching layers or variable curvature geometries are employed at the tip aid in transferring the energy from the tip to the tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a electrode assembly and related method that includes a insulator assembly, an electrode assembly, a charging system, a mechanism for measuring electrical voltages, a mechanism for adjusting the distance between inner and outer electrode tips, and a controller. The insulator assembly includes an insulator body having a hollow central portion with a threaded inner wall. The insulator assembly includes inner and outer conductors that are electrically connected to the charging system and are physically connected to inner and outer electrodes, respectively. The electrodes are positioned such that their longitudinal axes are aligned and the tips of the electrodes are in relatively close physical proximity. The distance between the tips is defined as the spark gap. The charging system charges a capacitor that discharges and forms a spark across the spark gap.