Abstract: A system for and method of determining and compensating for the effect of a field influencing object on a field sensor, preferably a coil, that is within a navigational domain. The navigational domain contains navigational magnetic energy and disturbing magnetic energy, and the field influencing object produces the disturbing magnetic energy in response to the navigational magnetic energy. The correction system includes a first transmitter for projecting into the navigational domain field energy in a first waveform sufficient to induce a first signal value in the sensing coil. The system also includes a second transmitter for projecting into the navigational domain field energy in a second waveform sufficient to induce a second signal value in the sensing coil. The system further includes a signal processor for receiving the first signal value and for receiving the second signal value to determine the effect of the electrically conductive object on the field sensor.

Abstract: A system for and method of determining and compensating for the effect of a field influencing object on a field sensor, preferably a coil, that is within a navigational domain. The navigational domain contains navigational magnetic energy and disturbing magnetic energy, and the field influencing object produces the disturbing magnetic energy in response to the navigational magnetic energy. The correction system includes a first transmitter for projecting into the navigational domain field energy in a first waveform sufficient to induce a first signal value in the sensing coil. The system also includes a second transmitter for projecting into the navigational domain field energy in a second waveform sufficient to induce a second signal value in the sensing coil. The system further includes a signal processor for receiving the first signal value and for receiving the second signal value to determine the effect of the electrically conductive object on the field sensor.

Abstract: A system for and method of determining and compensating for the effect of a field influencing object on a field sensor, preferably a coil, that is within a navigational domain. The system includes a first and second transmitter to create signals. A signal processor is able to process the created signals. The method can include determining interference and/or a correct signal based on the two signals. Also, a shield can be provided to limit transmission of selected fields.

Abstract: A method and apparatus adapted to utilize means for controlling a plurality of energy pulses to repetitively increase and decrease the temperature of a target tissue with a prescribed timing for each temperature change and specific peak temperature for each temperature change to provide selected necrosis of diseased cells.

Abstract: An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor is disclosed. The anchor is adapted to be secured to an anatomical structure and contains a sensor housing. A receiver is located within the sensor housing and is adapted to sense reference signals generated by a surgical guidance system. A transmitter, connected to the receiver, conveys to a processor signals received by the receiver, so that the signals transmitted by the receiver are indicative of a current position of the anchor. Various other structures and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are adapted to use synchronized hyperthermia or synchronized chirp hyperthermia to provide selected necrosis of diseased cells.

Abstract: A patient-shielding and coil system, including a coil wire electrically coupled to a source of electrical current, an electrically conductive surface, insulation material situated between the coil wire and the conductive surface, and a drain wire connected to the conductive surface and forming a capacitive current loop with respect to the source.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a location of a sensor in a surgical navigation domain includes a first magnetic field generator having a first coil set, a second magnetic field generator having a second coil set. The first and second coil sets are disposed substantially within a common plane. The apparatus further includes a processor configured to receive a plurality of signals. The processor calculates the location of the sensor from the plurality of signals. The sensor produces the plurality of signals in response to magnetic fields generated by the first and second magnetic field generators.

Abstract: A system for and method of determining and compensating for the effect of a field influencing object on a field sensor, preferably a coil, that is within a navigational domain. The navigational domain contains navigational magnetic energy and disturbing magnetic energy, and the field influencing object produces the disturbing magnetic energy in response to the navigational magnetic energy. The correction system includes a first transmitter for projecting into the navigational domain field energy in a first waveform sufficient to induce a first signal value in the sensing coil. The system also includes a second transmitter for projecting into the navigational domain field energy in a second waveform sufficient to induce a second signal value in the sensing coil. The system further includes a signal processor for receiving the first signal value and for receiving the second signal value to determine the effect of the electrically conductive object on the field sensor.

Abstract: An integrated surgical anchor/localization sensor is disclosed. The anchor is adapted to be secured to an anatomical structure and contains a sensor housing. A receiver is located within the sensor housing and is adapted to sense reference signals generated by a surgical guidance system. A transmitter, connected to the receiver, conveys to a processor signals received by the receiver, so that the signals transmitted by the receiver are indicative of a current position of the anchor. Various other structures and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for and method of determining and compensating for the effect of a field influencing object on a field sensor, preferably a coil, that is within a navigational domain. The navigational domain contains navigational magnetic energy and disturbing magnetic energy, and the field influencing object produces the disturbing magnetic energy in response to the navigational magnetic energy. The correction system includes a first transmitter for projecting into the navigational domain field energy in a first waveform sufficient to induce a first signal value in the sensing coil. The system also includes a second transmitter for projecting into the navigational domain field energy in a second waveform sufficient to induce a second signal value in the sensing coil. The system further includes a signal processor for receiving the first signal value and for receiving the second signal value to determine the effect of the electrically conductive object on the field senior.

Abstract: A method for navigating a catheter within a navigational domain includes providing a catheter including locatable electrode elements distributed along and affixed to a length of the catheter. The locatable electrode elements include at least two navigated electrode elements and one or more virtually navigable electrode elements located relative to the at least two navigated electrode elements. Location data is; provided for the at least two navigated electrode elements and location data for the one or more virtually navigable electrode elements is determined as a function of the location data for the at least two navigated electrode elements. A system for navigating a catheter within a navigational domain includes a catheter having locatable electrode elements distributed along and affixed to a length of the catheter.

Abstract: An array of ultrasonic transducers, where each of the ultrasonic transducers has a matching layer end and a driving layer/individually isolated end. A bump bond connects each one of the ultrasonic transducers to a substrate. A high voltage electrical conductor is connected to at least one driving layer/individually isolated end to provide a drive signal to at least one of the ultrasonic transducers. A conductive/matching layer is disposed to electrically connect each matching layer end. An outer matching layer is connected to the conductive/matching layer. The bump bond is an indium or solder bump bond having a contact area for contact with an ultrasonic transducer less than 20 percent of the driving layer/individually isolated end for the contacted ultrasonic transducer so as to provide mechanical stability while reducing cross talk among the plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

Abstract: A system for navigating a catheter probe through a body cavity includes a sensing coil affixed to a distal end of the probe. Magnetic fields are projected into the body cavity to induce voltage signals in the sensing coil that are sufficient to describe the orientation and position of the probe. A set of magnetic coils each generates a substantially uniform field in a single respective dimension. The orientation angles of the sensing coil may be determined from known values of the unidirectional fields and the measured induced voltage signals. Gradient magnetic fields with components in two dimensions are projected into the body cavity to induce another group of voltage signals. The geometrical intersection of constant voltage surfaces developed by certain gradient fields that produce the measured induced voltage signals is a set of lines on which the catheter is located. The point of intersection of such lines yields the positional coordinates.

Abstract: An instrument for and method of effectively treating the prostatic urethra so as to relieve the symptoms associated with an enlarged urethra is disclosed. The tissue of at least selected portions of the prostate are compressed (preferably with a balloon inserted into the prostatic urethra so as to enhance hemostasis) and at least selected portions of the compressed tissue are directly irradiated (preferably with a laser beam transmitted from within the passageway in selected radial directions and moved along the prostatic urethra while exposing the tissue) so as to cause coagulation necrosis of selected portions of the compressed tissue so that as the tissue heals, the necrosed tissue slowly sloughs off during normal urination through the urinary tract so as to effectively remove the constricted portions of the prostatic urethra. Ultrasonic transducers are used from within the prostatic urethra to image the tissue as it is irradiated so as to monitor the procedure to insure proper exposure to the laser beam.

Abstract: A miniature transducer designed for use in a medical imaging system catheter probe is disclosed. The transducer has an electric cavity and coaxial construction for preventing electric fields from being emitted or received by the transducers. The construction of the transducer enables two to be mounted very close to one another on a thin catheter probe, one for transmitting acoustic pulses and the other for sensing echoes in response to the acoustic pulses, for imaging extremely close targets. The transducers can be secured to the catheter probe in such a way as to substantially acoustically isolate one from the other.A method of making the transducer by applying several electrically-conductive and insulating coatings and layers to a core in selected sequence so as to create a transducer having an electrical cavity, coaxial construction.

Abstract: A miniature transducer designed for use in a medical imaging system catheter probe is disclosed. The transducer has an electric cavity and coaxial construction for preventing electric fields from being emitted or received by the transducers. The construction of the transducer enables two to be mounted very close to one another on a thin catheter probe, one for transmitting acoustic pulses and the other for sensing echoes in response to the acoustic pulses, for imaging extremely close targets. The transducers can be secured to the catheter probe in such a way as to substantially acoustically isolate one from the other.A method of making the transducer by applying several electrically-conductive and insulating coatings and layers to a core in selected sequence so as to create a transducer having an electrical cavity, coaxial construction.

Abstract: A system for navigating a catheter probe through a body cavity includes a sensing coil affixed to a distal end of the probe. Magnetic fields are projected into the body cavity to induce voltage signals in the sensing coil that are sufficient to describe the orientation and position of the probe. A set of magnetic coils each generates a substantially uniform field in a single respective dimension. The orientation angles of the sensing coil may be determined from known values of the unidirectional fields and the measured induced voltage signals. Gradient magnetic fields with components in two dimensions are projected into the body cavity to induce another group of voltage signals. The geometrical intersection of constant voltage surfaces developed by certain gradient fields that produce the measured induced voltage signals is a set of lines on which the catheter is located. The point of intersection of such lines yields the positional coordinates.

Abstract: A system for navigating a catheter probe through a body cavity includes a sensing coil affixed to a distal end of the probe. Magnetic fields are projected into the body cavity to induce voltage signals in the sensing coil that are sufficient to describe the orientation and position of the probe. A set of magnetic coils each generates a substantially uniform field in a single respective dimension. The orientation angles of the sensing coil may be determined from known values of the unidirectional fields and the measured induced voltage signals. Gradient magnetic fields with components in two dimensions are projected into the body cavity to induce another group of voltage signals. The geometrical intersection of constant voltage surfaces developed by certain gradient fields that produce the measured induced voltage signals is a set of lines on which the catheter is located. The point of intersection of such lines yields the positional coordinates.

Abstract: A system for navigating a catheter probe through a body cavity includes a sensing coil affixed to a distal end of the probe. Magnetic fields are projected into the body cavity to induce voltage signals in the sensing coil that are sufficient to describe the orientation and position of the probe. A set of magnetic coils each generates a substantially uniform field in a single respective dimension. The orientation angles of the sensing coil may be determined from known values of the unidirectional fields and the measured induced voltage signals. Gradient magnetic fields with components in two dimensions are projected into the body cavity to induce another group of voltage signals. The geometrical intersection of constant voltage surfaces developed by certain gradient fields that produce the measured induced voltage signals is a set of lines on which the catheter is located. The point of intersection of such lines yields the positional coordinates.