Abstract: In an autonomous emergency monitoring system, wherein the user need not carry any signaling devices whatsoever, an emergency situation can be reported to an external receiver by voice input via microphones via a communication interface. Further, a monitoring of the person can ensue via sensor systems that can likewise setup an external connection via the communication interface.

Abstract: In a therapy apparatus and method for treating conditions of the heart and, particularly, of heart-proximate vessels with therapeutic ultrasound waves having a therapeutically effective region. The therapy apparatus generates therapeutic ultrasound waves with such an intensity that tissue modifications, particularly necrotization, are produced in the tissue located in the region of influence. The therapy apparatus preferably contains an ultrasound source that can be transesophageally applied.

Abstract: In therapy apparatus for the treatment of tissue in the body of a life form, at least one therapeutic ultrasound transducer emits ultrasound having an effective therapeutic region is provided. The ultrasound intensity in the region of the tissue to be treated is measured. Displacement of the effective therapeutic region and the body of the life form relative to one another ensues on the basis of the measured ultrasound intensity such that at least a part of the tissue to be treated is located in the effective therapeutic region.

Abstract: In therapy apparatus for the treatment of tissue in the body of a life form, at least one therapeutic ultrasound transducer emits ultrasound having an effective therapeutic region is provided. The ultrasound intensity in the region of the tissue to be treated is measured. Displacement of the effective therapeutic region and the body of the life form relative to one another ensues on the basis of the measured ultrasound intensity such that at least a part of the tissue to be treated is located in the effective therapeutic region.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for identifying the spatial distribution of electrical impedance within an examination subject, a source of electrical current is electrically connected to at least two feed electrodes which impress a feed current from the source in an examination region of a subject. The resulting magnetic field is measured at points outside the examination region, and an equivalent current density distribution is reconstructed within the examination region from the measured values of the magnetic field by an evaluation unit. A compensation conductor is connected to the current source. The current source delivers a compensation current, which flows in a direction opposite to the feed current, through the compensation conductor loop, so that the magnetic field generated by the feed current in the connecting lines is compensated. The evaluation unit identifies the spatial distribution of the impedance from the equivalent current density distribution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-destructively or non-invasively measuring a temperature change in the inside of a subject, in particular a living subject, identify the temperature change in a region of interest during the course of producing ultrasound images of the region by determining the change of the acoustic impedance of the region of interest, and allocating a temperature change to the impedance change. An installation for treating a living subject with heating radiation which employs the above method and apparatus for measuring the temperature change of a region of treatment, is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating acoustic rarefaction pulses, i.e., a negative pressure pulse, has a pressure pulse source and reflector having a negative reflection factor, and an acoustic propagation medium filling the space between the pressure pulse source and the reflector. The reflector has a boundary surface facing toward the pressure pulse source, consisting of a medium which is acoustically soft in comparison to the acoustic propagation medium. The boundary surface medium is separated from the acoustic propagation medium by a wall which is impenetrable by the acoustic propagation medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring weak, location-dependent and time-dependent magnetic fields emitted from a source situated in an examination subject includes a sensor arrangement having at least ten gradiometers of the first order, each gradiometer being inductively coupled to a DC-SQUID. The sensor arrangement and the examination subject are disposed in a room which shields the examination subject and the sensor arrangement from magnetic fields. The room has a shielding factor of at least 10 for magnetic alternating fields having a frequency of 0.5 Hz, the shielding factor increasing with increasing frequency. A method for operating the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring weak, location-dependent and time-dependent magnetic fields emitted from a source situated in an examination subject includes a sensor arrangement having at least ten gradiometers of the first order, each gradiometer being inductively coupled to a DC-SQUID. The sensor arrangement and the examination subject are disposed in a room which shields the examination subject and the sensor arrangement from magnetic fields. The room has a shielding factor of at least 10 for magnetic alternating fields having a frequency of 0.5 Hz, the shielding factor increasing with increasing frequency. A method for operating the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An x-ray radiator has an elongated cathode for emitting an electron beam having an elongated cross section, the electrons of the electron beam being accelerated onto an anode for generating x-radiation. The cathode is formed by a geometrical member completely filled with electron-emitting material, and the material of the cathode contains at least one element from the group of rare earths and at least one element from the group of precious metals or boron.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating focused shockwaves, suitable for extracorporeal lithotripsy, has a substantially hollow-cylindrical membrane consisting of electrically conductive material and an electrical coil arrangement disposed inside the membrane which can be supplied with a high voltage pulse to rapidly repel the membrane and thereby generate a shockwave. The apparatus includes a concave reflector in the form of a paraboloid of revolution, which surrounds the membrane and coil, and which has a center axis substantially coincident with the center axis of the membrane. An acoustic propagation medium fills at least the volume between the membrane and the reflector. The shockwave generated by the cylindrical coil and membrane arrangement is reflected and focused by the paraboloid of revolution so that the shockwaves converge at a focus. The apparatus is arranged so that the focus conicides with a region of a patient to be treated with shockwave therapy, such as a calculus.

Abstract: An extracorporeal lithotripsy apparatus includes a shock waves source which generates shock wave along an acoustic axis in a propagation direction, with the shock waves being caused to converge, either by a curvature of the shock wave source or by the use of a separate focusing element, at a focus region, the lithotripsy apparatus being initially positioned so that a calculus to be disintegrated is coincident with the focus region. During treatment, the calculus may be displaced from its original, identified position by patient movement, such as due to respiration.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracorporeal lithotripsy has one or more shock wave sources for generating shock waves converging at a focus zone in which a calculus to be disintegrated is located in a patient, and additionally has a therapeutic ultrasound source for generating ultrasound waves focused at a focus zone substantially coinciding with the focus zone of the shock wave source. The ultrasound waves generated by the therapeutic ultrasound source have a sufficiently high energy to be effective for assiting in disintegrating the calculus, as contrasted with ultrasound waves used to obtain an ultrasound image. The shock wave source and the therapeutic ultrasound source can be driven from a generator stage connected both sources, which is capable of driving the sources simultaneously or in selected chronological succession, such as in alternation.

Abstract: A coupling member for transmission of shock waves from a shock wave device to a patient to be treated is composed of an elastic, shape-stable material having a moist outside surface, and is preferably formed of a hydro-gel, such as a polyacrylamide gel. The material is provided with an insert which contributes to its good stability and also enables manipulation of the member. The coupling member can also include, with or without the insert, a shock wave sensor which is embedded in the material and enables checking the power and the position or center of the shock wave source relative to a predetermined point.

Abstract: A shockwave source of the type wherein a shockwave is generated by rapid electromagnetic repulsion of a membrane by a rapidly energized coil has a central opening extending through the membrane and the coil. An ultrasound head of an ultrasound transmission and reception system is received in the opening. The ultrasound head is disposed in a mount which is rotatable around its longitudinal axis by a rotary drive. In one embodiment of the shockwave source, the shockwave source also has a focusing device disposed in front of the membrane, and in this embodiment the focusing device also has a central opening in which the ultrasound head is received. The ultrasound head has a distal end in contact with a liquid coupling agent for promoting transmission to, and reception from, a patient to which the shockwave source is coupled. The shockwave source is particularly suited for lithotripsy treatment of gallstones.

Abstract: A shock wave generator has a focusing stage wherein a number of different lenses having respectively different concentrating characteristics are accommodated, and which can be selectively introduced transversely into the path of the shock wave pulse, by linear displacement or by pivoting. The lenses can be alternatively introduced one at a time in one embodiment, or in a second embodiment more than one lens can be simultaneously introduced to achieve a concentrating characteristic resulting from a combination of lenses. For further adjustment and flexibility, the shock wave generator is provided with at least two capacitors for selectively varying the amount of discharge energy used to trigger the shock wave. The approach path between the membrane which generates the shock wave and the lens can also be varied.

Abstract: A shock wave source has a coil carrier, a planar or concave coil, a membrane consisting of electrically conductive material and a foil consisting of electrically non-conductive material. The membrane is disposed between the coil and the foil so as to be held tightly therebetween but having a perimeter which is capable of substantially unrestrained movement. Upon the application of a high voltage pulse to the coil, the resulting field causes the membrane to be rapidly repelled, however, only the mechanical forces of the membrane act on the foil, with no electromagnetic forces generated by the coil acting on the foil. The resulting pressure pulse is intensified to form a shock wave pulse in a transmission medium adjacent to the foil.

Abstract: A shock wave tube has a coil carrier, an isolating foil, and a diaphragm. The diaphragm is made of a bronze alloy, preferably beryllium bronze. The diaphragm is silvered on the side facing the coil carrier. The coil carrier is made of an aluminum oxide ceramic. Advantages deriving from the use of the materials are long life, substantially constant technical parameters and good reproducability of the shock waves generated.

Abstract: A lithotripter for treating calculi has a housing formed by a first sub-housing with an opening with a membrane for contacting the patient, a second sub-housing composed of two parts with the first of the two parts forming a cylindrical bearing with the first sub-housing to allow rotation around an axis, a second part being mounted for pivotal movement on an axis extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The second housing part supports the source of the shockwave to create a shockwave on a central axis and includes a focussing arrangement mounted on the second part for focussing the shockwave on the central axis. To locate the calculus or stone, two scanning heads having sector scanning planes are mounted at a predetermined angle on the focus arrangement. To locate the stone, the second housing part is rotated to locate the stone in one of the scan planes, and then the second housing part is pivoted to move the second scan plane onto the stone.

Abstract: A shock wave source, especially useful for a lithotriptor, has a pressure source for the generation of a pressure wave impulse, a focusing device for focusing the pressure wave pulse, and a seal diaphragm for coupling the pressure wave pulse into the body of a patient, perhaps via a coupling body placed between the seal diaphragm and the patient. The seal diaphragm and the focusing device of the pressure source form a space which serves as a prepassage. The prepassage space is filled with a liquid substance which has a high B/A ratio and an acoustic impedance less than or equal to that of water. The advantage of this configuration is that the pressure wave pulse can be built up very rapidly in its course through the space. At a given point in the space, with the selection of the above-mentioned substances, as compared to water, a given minimum value of the quotient amplitude/build-up time of the pressure wave pulse can be achieved inspite of a reduced output amplitude at the pressure source.