Abstract: A diagnostic assembly (30, 320) and method for detecting a presence of cancer in a breast of a patient. The diagnostic assembly (20, 320) comprises a frame (22, 322), at least one cold bar (26, 326, 426) supported by the frame (22, 322) for receiving a hand of the patient, and a temperature controller (72) in communication with the cold bar (26, 326, 426) to maintain a constant temperature of the cold bar (26, 326, 426). The method comprises the steps of cooling at least one hand of the patient and recording a test thermal image of the breast of the patient after the hand of the patient has been cooled. The step of cooling the hand of the patient includes receiving the hand of the patient on the cold bar (26, 326, 426) to transfer heat from the hand of the patient to the cold bar (26, 326, 426), and maintaining the cold bar (26, 326, 426) at a preselected temperature.

Abstract: A diagnostic assembly (30, 320) and method for detecting a presence of cancer in a breast of a patient. The diagnostic assembly (20, 320) comprises a frame (22, 322), at least one cold bar (26, 326, 426) supported by the frame (22, 322) for receiving a hand of the patient, and a temperature controller (72) in communication with the cold bar (26, 326, 426) to maintain a constant temperature of the cold bar (26, 326, 426). The method comprises the steps of cooling at least one hand of the patient and recording a test thermal image of the breast of the patient after the hand of the patient has been cooled. The step of cooling the hand of the patient includes receiving the hand of the patient on the cold bar (26, 326, 426) to transfer heat from the hand of the patient to the cold bar (26, 326, 426), and maintaining the cold bar (26, 326, 426) at a preselected temperature.

Abstract: An endoscope assembly is disclosed having a housing adapted to be manipulated by medical personnel, such as a surgeon. An elongated lens tube has one end secured to the housing while an elongated stage is removably secured to the housing so that the stage encompasses and is coaxial with the tube. The stage together with the lens tube are adapted for insertion into the cavity of a body. A lens assembly provided within the lens tube relays the optical image from the free end of the stage to the housing. A lens assembly within the housing, furthermore, varies the magnification of the image between macroscopic magnification and microscopic magnification in which tissue may be examined on a cellular level. For macroscopic magnification, white light is transmitted through the lens tube as well as reflected back from the target tissue through the lens tube and to the housing. For microscopic examination, laser radiation is utilized in lieu of the white light illumination.

Abstract: An endoscope illumination system for use with an endoscope having both a microscopic mode and a macroscopic mode. The illumination system includes a source of broadband light and includes a source of laser illumination, which may be infrared illumination. A circuit determines the mode of operation of the endoscope. This circuit activates the source of broadband light and deactivates the source of laser illumination when the endoscope is in its macroscopic mode. Conversely, the circuit deactivates the source of broadband light and activates the source of laser illumination when the endoscope is in the microscopic mode.

Abstract: A method for transmitting medical information relating to a patient over a network, such as a telecommunication network. The medical information includes both patient identifiable data as well as patient medical condition/treatment data. The method includes the first step of encrypting the patient identifiable data and then transmitting both the encrypted patient identifiable data and the unencrypted patient medical condition/treatment data over the network. The network preferably includes two channels, and the encrypted patient identifiable data is transmitted over one channel while the unencrypted patient medical condition/treatment data is transmitted over the other channel.

Abstract: An endoscope assembly includes a housing having an outwardly extending tube with the free end adapted for insertion into a body cavity. A laser is contained within the housing which emits an output beam through the free end of the tube. A light sensor detects light in a predetermined color range which impinges upon the free end of the tube and generates an output signal representative thereof. A circuit disables the laser in response to the output signal from the light sensor.

Abstract: An endoscope assembly is disclosed having a housing adapted to be manipulated by medical personnel, such as a surgeon. An elongated lens tube has one end secured to the housing while an elongated stage is removably secured to the housing so that the stage encompasses and is coaxial with the tube. The stage together with the lens tube are adapted for insertion into the cavity of a body. A lens assembly provided within the lens tube relays the optical image from the free end of the stage to the housing. A lens assembly within the housing, furthermore, varies the magnification of the image between macroscopic magnification and microscopic magnification in which tissue may be examined on a cellular level. For macroscopic magnification, white light is transmitted through the lens tube as well as reflected back from the target tissue through the lens tube and to the housing. For microscopic examination, laser radiation is utilized in lieu of the white light illumination.

Abstract: An endoscope assembly includes a housing having an outwardly extending tube with the free end adapted for insertion into a body cavity. A laser is contained within the housing which emits an output beam through the free end of the tube. A light sensor detects light in a predetermined color range which impinges upon the free end of the tube and generates an output signal representative thereof. A circuit disables the laser in response to the output signal from the light sensor.

Abstract: An endoscope assembly is disclosed having a housing adapted to be manipulated by medical personnel, such as a surgeon. An elongated lens tube has one end secured to the housing while an elongated stage is removably secured to the housing so that the stage encompasses and is coaxial with the tube. The stage together with the lens tube are adapted for insertion into the cavity of a body. A lens assembly provided within the lens tube relays the optical image from the free end of the stage to the housing. A lens assembly within the housing, furthermore, varies the magnification of the image between macroscopic magnification and microscopic magnification in which tissue may be examined on a cellular level. For macroscopic magnification, white light is transmitted through the lens tube as well as reflected back from the target tissue through the lens tube and to the housing. For microscopic examination, laser radiation is utilized in lieu of the white light illumination.

Abstract: A system for providing medical services over the Internet is disclosed, having a patient system at a patient location, and a medical service provider system at a provider location. The patient system includes a monitoring system having various monitoring devices, each of which produce an electronic signal indicative of a particular physical or medical characteristic of a patient. Using these electronic signals, the monitoring system produces an output signal to an interface device which, in turn, provides input to a communication device adapted for communicating via the Internet. The medical service provider system includes apparatus for receiving the information sent by the patient system. In response, the provider system sends medical advice to the patient system, via the Internet, or, if the information received tends to indicate an emergency situation might exist, notifies emergency care givers in the vicinity of the patient location that emergency services are needed at the patient location.

Abstract: An endoscope assembly is disclosed having a housing adapted to be manipulated by medical personnel, such as a surgeon. An elongated lens tube has one end secured to the housing while an elongated stage is removably secured to the housing so that the stage encompasses and is coaxial with the tube. The stage together with the lens tube are adapted for insertion into the cavity of a body. A lens assembly provided within the lens tube relays the optical image from the free end of the stage to the housing. A lens assembly within the housing, furthermore, varies the magnification of the image between macroscopic magnification and microscopic magnification in which tissue may be examined on a cellular level. For macroscopic magnification, white light is transmitted through the lens tube as well as reflected back from the target tissue through the lens tube and to the housing. For microscopic examination, laser radiation is utilized in lieu of the white light illumination.

Abstract: A method for transmitting medical information relating to a patient over a network, such as a telecommunication network. The medical information includes both patient identifiable data as well as patient medical condition/treatment data. The method includes the first step of encrypting the patient identifiable data and then transmitting both the encrypted patient identifiable data and the unencrypted patient medical condition/treatment data over the network. The network preferably includes two channels, and the encrypted patient identifiable data is transmitted over one channel while the unencrypted patient medical condition/treatment data is transmitted over the other channel.

Abstract: An endoscope assembly is disclosed having a housing adapted to be manipulated by medical personnel, such as a surgeon. An elongated lens tube has one end secured to the housing while the free end of the lens tube is adapted for insertion into a cavity of a body. At least one, and preferably several, lens assemblies are longitudinally slidably mounted within the lens tube and movable between longitudinally spaced positions within the lens tube. A drive mechanism is mounted to the housing and mechanically coupled to each lens assembly to move the lens assemblies longitudinally within the lens tube independently of one another. In doing so, the lens assemblies provide varying degrees of magnification between low or macroscopic magnification and microscopic magnification at the free end of the lens tube. A stage is also detachably secured over the lens tube and has a transparent window across its end adjacent the free end of the lens tube.

Abstract: An endoscope assembly is disclosed having a housing adapted to be manipulated by medical personnel, such as a surgeon. An elongated lens tube has one end secured to the housing while an elongated stage is removably secured to the housing so that the stage encompasses and is coaxial with the tube. The stage together with the lens tube are adapted for insertion into the cavity of a body. A lens assembly provided within the lens tube relays the optical image from the free end of the stage to the housing. A lens assembly within the housing, furthermore, varies the magnification of the image between macroscopic magnification and microscopic magnification in which tissue may be examined on a cellular level. For macroscopic magnification, white light is transmitted through the lens tube as well as reflected back from the target tissue through the lens tube and to the housing. For microscopic examination, laser radiation is utilized in lieu of the white light illumination.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which detects temperature variations of an LED used with spectroscopic devices. The apparatus and method uses a source to supply a signal to the LED. A detector coupled to the LED detects a signal at the LED. A controller is coupled to the detector to determine variations in operating characteristics of the LED resulting from changes in temperature.

Abstract: The specification discloses means for correcting timing variations present in a data stream emanating from a data storage device such as a magnetic tape drive or the like before the data stream is applied to the data separator or other such input device of a computer. This is accomplished by remodulating the time-varying bits in the data stream in a manner which reduces or eliminates the undesired timing variations. Basically, the system utilizes frequency-modulation techniques to in effect remodulate the raw data stream. The application discloses, as one preferred embodiment, a pulse-width modulator which receives the error signal output of a phase-locked loop network, the input of the pulse-width modulator being coupled to the incoming raw data stream.