Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing tissue from a volume surrounding a region of interest with a body part of a patient is disclosed. The tissue removal volume and location is determined by stereotactic radiography. The size of the tissue removal volume surrounding the region of interest is derived by placing boundaries around the region of interest in each stereotactic radiographic image. A tissue removal tool is moved within the derived tissue removal volume. The tissue in the region of interest which has been previously diagnosed as cancerous can be marked with a radioactive isotope, for example, and the removal of such tissue from the removal volume which surrounds the region of interest can be monitored to determine whether the tissue in the region of interest has been completely removed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing tissue from a volume surrounding a region of interest with a body part of a patient is disclosed. The tissue removal volume and location is determined by stereotactic radiography. The size of the tissue removal volume surrounding the region of interest is derived by placing boundaries around the region of interest in each stereotactic radiographic image. A tissue removal tool is moved within the derived tissue removal volume. The tissue in the region of interest which has been previously diagnosed as cancerous can be marked with a radioactive isotope, for example, and the removal of such tissue from the removal volume which surrounds the region of interest can be monitored to determine whether the tissue in the region of interest has been completely removed.

Abstract: Several embodiments of a temperature gradient sensing probe formed from a printed circuit thermocouple array are disclosed. The printed circuit thermocouple array is formed by an electrically insulative sheet having a first surface, a second surface and N electrically conductive junctions passing through the sheet from the first surface to the second surface, wherein N is an integer greater than one. N electrically conductive paths formed from a first conductive material are applied to the first surface, wherein each of the N conductive paths formed from the first conductive material have a junction end electrically connected respectively to one of the N conductive junctions and a connector end for electrical connection to a signal transmission conduit. N electrically conductive paths formed from a second conductive material, dissimilar to the first electrically conductive material are also provided.

Abstract: A panel connector for securely connecting an edge connector of a temperature gradient sensing probe having a support shaft to a monitoring circuit is disclosed. The panel connector includes a base having a top side containing a support shaft receiving channel therein. A plurality of resilient electrical contacts formed from a first conductive material and at least one resilient electrical contact formed from a second conductive material, which is dissimilar from the first conductive material, reside on the top side of the base. The connector is provided with a cover for clamping the edge connector and the support shaft of the temperature sensing probe in the connector.

Abstract: An ultrasonic oscillator drives a tool at a set frequency. An amplitude control runs the oscillator to set the vibration level. A frequency regulator joins the amplitude and the oscillator. A control feedback loop, in the frequency regulator, keeps handpiece linear dynamics. An operational transconductance amplifier, in the oscillator, governs gain of the loop. A circuit connects to the control to retard the rate of current application over time to the amplifier. The circuit has switching to either retard the rate or reset for start up. The amplifier is a current output device with current directly proportional to the bias current and input voltage with bias as gain change for the loop. The circuit limits the bias to the amplifier to modify frequency response and output current. A capacitor delays application of the bias to the amplifier. Replaceable tools of various lengths or shapes positioned along an axis vibrate for surgery at the frequency and a wave length.