Abstract: The subject invention provides a method for diagnosing prostate cancer and determining preoperatively the pathological stage in patients with prostate cancer. The methods described herein can be used for prediction of margin positivity, seminal vesicle (S.V.) involvement, and lymph nodal (L.N.) involvement in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. The method includes use of a neural network which provides prostate cancer stage information for a patient based upon input data which includes the patient's preoperative serum PSA, biopsy Gleason score, and systemic biopsy-based information. Its positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy are superior to that of current nomograms in use. Use of this method can result in enormous cost savings by accurately diagnosing patients with prostate cancer and by avoiding multiple imaging tests and expensive surgery in unindicated patients.

Abstract: Instrument and method for removing stones (calculi) from the kidneys, the bladder and other parts of the body. A stone is captured in a basket at the distal end of an elongated tubular member and broken into pieces while it is held by the basket. The stone is broken up by a hammering action provided by a reciprocating shaft which extends through the tubular member into the basket and is driven toward the stone by a spring. The stone is removed from the body by withdrawing the tubular member from the body with the pieces of the stone in the basket. Since the tip of the shaft impacts upon the stone inside the basket, the instrument is safe in that the reciprocate tip cannot strike the tissue outside the basket.

Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging method and apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is an insertable probe consisting of a handle portion and an insertable portion. The probe has a NMR signal receiver disposed within the insertable portion and a reception frequency tuner which may be connected to an actuator which extends outside the sample into which the probe has been inserted. The NMR method of this invention includes the steps of inserting a NMR probe at a preselected detection location in a cavity within a sample, placing the sample in an external magnetic field, applying a perturbation pulse to the sample, and using the probe to receive the NMR emissions from the sample.

Abstract: A mechanically-expandable urethral bougie (10) especially useful for dilation of urethral strictures comprises a probe formed from two elongated rods (12, 14) connected at their one end, the rods having a semicircular cross-section and grooves at the mating surfaces. These grooves form a guide slot 26 for a core element (28) which has wedging elements (34, 36) engageable with camming surface of the rods. The end of the probe opposite to the connected ends of the rods is provided with a drive mechanism for axial movement of core element (28). When the core elements move in the axial direction, engagement of its wedging elements (34, 36) with camming surfaces of the rods causes expansion or dilation of the probe, depending on the direction of movement. At its front end, the bougie is provided with a leader (52) of a smaller diameter and higher flexibility than the rest of the probe. The leader facilitates the insertion of the bougie into the patient's urethra.