Abstract: A medical device incorporating magnetic material is introduced into the body of a patient. A time varying magnetic field is generated externally of the patient's body and which is of sufficient strength to magnetically induce motion in the device, thereby causing the medical device to vibrate within the patient's body. The frequency and the amplitude of the magnetic field oscillations can be continuously varied to control the vibrations induced in the medical device.

Abstract: A detachable light for use in combination with surgical and diagnostic devices. The detachable light incorporates multiple functions into a minimum number of elements in the housing of the detachable light. The housing includes aligning gripping elements which align the light to a functional centerline of the surgical or diagnostic device. The housing includes multiple light sources on its exterior surface, where the direction of light output may be adjusted. Exterior surfaces of the detachable light which are in contact with patient tissue are formed from an atraumatic material.

Abstract: Hair is permanently removed from a patient's skin by transcutaneously focusing high intensity acoustic energy at hair follicles and at dermal papilla regions during a telogen phase of hair growth and applying sufficient energy to destroy said follicles and said dermal papilla regions, so that hair is removed and regrowth is prevented. Typically, a region of a patient's skin is first ultrasonically imaged to show the location of a plurality of individual hair follicles and dermal papilla regions. The imaged hair follicles and dermal papilla regions are then treated using a system which automatically directs high intensity acoustic energy at each follicle and dermal papilla region.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method which are used to improve blood flow in small vessels such as arterioles and capillaries. Method embodiments of the present invention make use of very high frequency (typically 1 MHZ to 100 MHZ) electrical signals in combination with ultrasonic signals typically falling within the same frequency range, where the frequency of the electrical signals and the ultrasonic signals may be the same or different. The electrical signals and ultrasonic signals are applied to a patient simultaneously, typically at a single contact location which is proximate on the exterior of the body to the arterioles and capillaries where blood flow is impaired.

Abstract: Hair is permanently removed from a patient's skin by transcutaneously focusing high intensity acoustic energy at a hair follicle and applying sufficient energy to destroy the follicle, whereby hair is removed and regrowth is prevented. Typically, a region of a patient's skin would be ultrasonically imaged to show the location of a plurality of individual hair follicles. The individual imaged hair follicles are then treated using a system which automatically directs the high intensity acoustic energy at each follicle.

Abstract: Hair is permanently removed from a patient's skin by transcutaneously focusing high intensity acoustic energy at hair follicles and at dermal papilla regions during a telogen phase of hair growth and applying sufficient energy to destroy said follicles and said dermal papilla regions, so that hair is removed and regrowth is prevented. Typically, a region of a patient's skin is first ultrasonically imaged to show the location of a plurality of individual hair follicles and dermal papilla regions. The imaged hair follicles and dermal papilla regions are then treated using a system which automatically directs high intensity acoustic energy at each follicle and dermal papilla region.

Abstract: Hair is permanently removed from a patient's skin by transcutaneously focusing high intensity acoustic energy at a hair follicle and applying sufficient energy to destroy the follicle, whereby hair is removed and regrowth is prevented. Typically, a region of a patient's skin would be ultrasonically imaged to show the location of a plurality of individual hair follicles. The individual imaged hair follicles are then treated using a system which automatically directs the high intensity acoustic energy at each follicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of calculating an integrated index of a transparent, translucent or opaque material for a desired wavelength range, the method comprising measuring a filtered value of the material as a function of wavelength within the desired wavelength range and calculating a protection index from the measured filtered value. The integrated index is used to quantify the ultraviolet, infra-red, erythemal or aphakic exposure properties of the material. In addition, the integrated index is used to quantify the photopic and/or scotopic response capabilities of the material. Further, the integrated index is used to quantify the differential or mean color indices of the material in comparison to the color spectrum or another material. Moreover, the integrated index is used to quantify the heat flux absorbed by the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for treatment of body tissue includes a treatment apparatus configured to be inserted into a patient. The treatment apparatus has a distal portion, a distal end, a proximal portion and an axis. An ultrasound transducer is positioned at the distal portion of the treatment apparatus. The ultrasound transducer includes a distal ultrasound energy delivery surface and a proximal ultrasound energy delivery surface. An ultrasound energy attenuator member is positioned adjacent to the proximal ultrasound energy delivery surface and is made of a material to at least partially attenuate ultrasound energy from the proximal ultrasound energy delivery surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of calculating an integrated index of a transparent, translucent or opaque material for a desired wavelength range, the method comprising measuring a filtered value of the material as a function of wavelength within the desired wavelength range and calculating a protection index from the measured filtered value. The integrated index is used to quantify the ultraviolet, infra-red, erythemal or aphakic exposure properties of the material. In addition, the integrated index is used to quantify the photopic and/or scotopic response capabilities of the material. Further, the integrated index is used to quantify the differential or mean color indices of the material in comparison to the color spectrum or another material. Moreover, the integrated index is used to quantify the heat flux absorbed by the material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely monitoring the location of an interventional medical device (IMD) using ultrasonic signals. Both the proximity and alignment of the IMD are calculated from ultrasound signals reflected off the tissue surface. The inclusion of an offset between the distal end of the IMD and the ultrasound transducer enables accurate position and alignment monitoring of when the IMD is in contact with, or very close to, the tissue surface. The timing of the reflected signal is used to measure proximity or contact. A comparison of the strength between multiple reflected signals is used to measure the alignment of the IMD in 3D space or perpendicularity to a given surface. The present invention may be used as a location indicator within a wide variety of IMDs, and in a wide variety of medical procedures.

Abstract: The effect of ultrasound irradiation of a human or other animal body portion is enhanced by operating the body portion as a trapped mode resonator. The intensity and location of resonances within the body portion is controlled by controlling such variables as the amplitude, frequency and/or phase of the ultrasound irradiation. This minimizes the overall energy required to be applied to the body portion in order to achieve a desired localized intensity level.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system superimposes sectional views created from volumetric ultrasound data and the location data for an intervention device, such as a catheter. The position of an interventional medical device may be shown, in one or more views, relative to organs and tissues within a body as the interventional device is moved. The interventional device positional data is updated continuously and is superimposed on tissue images that may be updated less frequently, resulting in real-time or near real-time images of the interventional device relative to the tissues. The superimposed images permits medical personnel to perform procedures such as angiograms with minimal or no exposure of patients to x-rays and contrasting dye. The look and feel of the familiar fluoroscopy-like imaging may be maintained, or a three dimensional real-time, or near real-time projected image of the intervention medical device relative to an organ or tissue may be provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely monitoring the location of an interventional medical device (IMD) which monitors changes in frequency response characteristics of a sensor. Embodiments of the present invention may use changes in the complex impedance properties of the sensor, at antiresonance, or changes in the resonant frequency of an LC circuit to indicate whether or not the IMD is in contact with a tissue surface. The present invention is adapted for use in conjunction with a wide variety of IMDs, and in a wide variety of medical procedures.

Abstract: The effect of ultrasound irradiation of a human or other animal body portion is enhanced by operating the body portion as a trapped mode resonator. The intensity and location of resonances within the body portion is controlled by controlling such variables as the amplitude, frequency and/or phase of the ultrasound irradiation. This minimizes the overall energy required to be applied to the body portion in order to achieve a desired localized intensity level.

Abstract: A method of treatment by ultrasound comprises providing a first, ultrasound field intensity-to-voltage transducer sized for insertion into the vicinity of a treatment site and a second ultrasound treatment transducer. The free field intensities created by the second transducer in response to various second transducer exciting signal levels are determined. The first transducer outputs in the free field in response to various second transducer exciting signal levels are also determined. The first transducer is inserted into the vicinity of the treatment site, and the second transducer is positioned to create an ultrasound field at the treatment site. The distance from the second transducer to the first transducer is determined. An exciting signal is applied to the second transducer. The output of the first transducer is determined.

Abstract: A treatment tool such as a catheter, MIS or other surgical tool apparatus for placement within a heart chamber, organ aperture or other body opening and axial ranging therein, the apparatus particularly adapted for laser-assisted percutaneous transmyocardial revascularization (MTR). At the distal end of the tool is an annular ultrasound transducer with associated structure, positioned to transmit ultrasound signals substantially axially aligned with the axis of the treatment tool to the cardiovascular tissue, the transducer further receiving returning signals from the cardiovascular tissue to be treated. In a preferred embodiment, the transducer comprises a piezoelectric crystal material. The transducer assembly is attached to the distal tip of the tool such that a laser delivery means or other functional device can be extended through the lumen of the tool and the annular ultrasound transducer.

Abstract: A method of treatment by ultrasound comprises providing a first, ultrasound field intensity-to-voltage transducer sized for insertion into the vicinity of a treatment site and a second ultrasound treatment transducer. The free field intensities created by the second transducer in response to various second transducer exciting signal levels are determined. The first transducer outputs in the free field in response to various second transducer exciting signal levels are also determined. The first transducer is inserted into the vicinity of the treatment site, and the second transducer is positioned to create an ultrasound field at the treatment site. The distance from the second transducer to the first transducer is determined. An exciting signal is applied to the second transducer. The output of the first transducer is determined.

Abstract: A transducer for use in a localization and therapeutic ultrasound system. The transducer of the present invention includes multiple elements that are driven separately. The elements operate together to focus a continuous wave ultrasound beam at a focal zone that is at a variable distance from the elements. The transducer includes a mechanism to adjust the focal distance so that the focal zone may be moved to multiple depths.

Abstract: A spectral wavelength discrimination system and method for using are provided which allows the wavelength of a beam of radiation to be accurately determined using compact inexpensive optics and electronics. The system is particularly useful for identifying the emission wavelength of a multi-component marker system which includes a plurality of components having different wavelength ranges. The system comprises a wavelength selective beamsplitter, termed a Linear Wavelength Filter, that directs predetermined fractions of the beam at each wavelength into each of two output beams. The intensities of these output beams are measured. The measurements and selected system parameters, including the beamsplitter spectral characteristics and the detector sensitivity characteristics are used in a special algorithm for performing Fourier based wavelength-dispersive analysis. The unique solution of the Fourier based analysis is the wavelength of the beam of radiation.