Abstract: A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided interstitial thermal therapy includes receiving MRI data for tissue of a patient, generating an apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map from the MRI data, identifying a target site for thermal therapy based on the ADC map, wherein the target site is a tumor identified by low ADC values on the ADC map, planning the thermal therapy for the target site including identifying a plurality of individual localized areas to be ablated during delivery of the thermal therapy, the plurality of individual localized areas having the lowest ADC values among the low ADC values within the target site, activating a laser to deliver the thermal therapy to the plurality of individual localized areas using a laser fiber, and monitoring progress of the thermal therapy using MR thermometry.

Abstract: A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided interstitial thermal therapy includes receiving MRI data for tissue of a patient, generating an apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map from the MM data, identifying a target site for thermal therapy based on the ADC map, wherein the target site is identified based on an area on the ADC map with a lowest ADC value, planning the thermal therapy for the target site including identifying localized areas of the target site to be ablated first during delivery of the thermal therapy, activating a laser to deliver the thermal therapy using a laser fiber, and monitoring progress of the thermal therapy using MR thermometry.

Abstract: A system and method for impregnating a continuous fiber strand with a heated polymer melt involves the introduction of a polymer melt into a cavity and the routing the fiber strand through the cavity so the fiber is exposed to the polymer melt introduced therein. The strand is scrubbed as it is moved though the cavity so that the polymer melt is pressed against and blended within the fiber strand. The scrubbing action is effected by a rotating scrubber assembly mounted for rotation relative to the cavity about an axis of rotation and includes a plurality of smooth-surfaced pins arranged in a spaced, substantially circular arrangement about the rotation axis and so that the longitudinal axes of the pins are generally parallel to one another. The direction of movement of the pins along the fiber strand corresponds generally with the direction of movement of the strand through the cavity.

Abstract: A method for forming a structure of polymer-impregnated fiber and the structure formed thereby involves the rotation of a mandrel about an axis and the winding of a continuous polymer-impregnated fiber strand about the mandrel. The polymer-impregnated fiber strand is fed to the rotating mandrel so that the mandrel pulls the strand toward and winds the strand about the mandrel surface in an arrangement of windings. As the polymer-impregnated fiber strand is wound about the mandrel, the adjacent windings of the winding arrangement provide the structure with a close radial wrap, the fibers of the strand shift to an off-axis orientation, and the arrangement of windings is shifted along the length of the mandrel as the arrangement is formed to accommodate the feed of subsequent segments of the polymer-impregnated strand to the surface of the mandrel for winding thereabout. The polymer-impregnated strands of the winding arrangement are subsequently permitted to cure, or cool, to a hardened condition.

Abstract: A polyethylene or polypropylene foam and a method for its manufacture in which polyethylene or polypropylene powder, is mixed with a liquid component, e.g. mineral oil, to a substantially uniform blend and placed in a container such as a closed mold. The mixture is heated to a temperature at which the polymer flows and is in a substantially liquid state such that the intimately mixed polymer and mineral oil enter into a solution, the solution forming in situ in the container. Thereafter, upon further heating, the mineral oil is caused to undergo a phase change from a liquid to a vapor at its boiling temperature, whereupon the mineral oil acts to expand the polymer into a foam. The temperature to which the solution is heated is maintained to less than the temperature at which the polymer foam collapses due to lowering of its viscosity, thereby ensuring that the foam structure is maintained. The foam thus produced is cooled and removed from the mold.