Abstract: A device having an electric antenna and a magnetic antenna is described, the antennas being spatially arranged in immediate mutual proximity. The electric antenna has at least one current-carrying electric conductor which acts as a resonator for the electric antenna, while the magnetic antenna has a coil with at least one current-carrying conductor loop which acts as an inductor of the magnetic antenna. Thus the electric antenna and the magnetic antenna are spatially arranged relative to each other such that the direction of the current in the electric conductor of the electric antenna extends substantially at right angles to the direction of the current in the conductor loop of the magnetic antenna.

Abstract: A physiological sensor system is provided for recording electrical measurement signals in an environment which impairs the recording, in particular in a magnetic resonance instrument, having a plurality of measurement electrodes as well as a signal amplifier device, a power supply and an electronic device for signal conversion and signal transmission to an external signal processing and/or control instrument. The measurement electrodes (3, 4, 5, 14, 15, n) and the signal amplifier device (6, 16) are arranged in a first shielded casing (2, 13), and the power supply and the electronic device being arranged in a second shielded casing (9), the signal amplifier device (6, 16) being connected or connectable to the electronic device and the power supply through a shielded and/or twisted-wire cable connection (7, 17).

Abstract: A physiological sensor system is provided for recording electrical measurement signals in an environment which impairs the recording, in particular in a magnetic resonance instrument, having a plurality of measurement electrodes as well as a signal amplifier device, a power supply and an electronic device for signal conversion and signal transmission to an external signal processing and/or control instrument. The measurement electrodes (3, 4, 5, 14, 15, n) and the signal amplifier device (6, 16) are arranged in a first shielded casing (2, 13), and the power supply and the electronic device being arranged in a second shielded casing (9), the signal amplifier device (6, 16) being connected or connectable to the electronic device and the power supply through a shielded and/or twisted-wire cable connection (7, 17).

Abstract: An acoustic therapy apparatus has a source of therapeutic acoustic waves and an ultrasound locating means with an ultrasound transducer, wherein the source and the ultrasound transducer are combined to form an oblong applicator with a longitudinal axis provided for introduction into the body interior of a patient, the ultrasound locating system generating ultrasound images with respect to a plane that contains the longitudinal axis of the applicator. The source and the ultrasound transducer are disposed relative to each other in the applicator so that the source and the ultrasound transducer are successively arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis, with the ultrasound transducer being arranged preceding the source the in introduction direction, and the center axis of the plane describing an angle of less than 90° with that section of the longitudinal axis of the applicator located in the region of the source so that the center axis is inclined toward the source.

Abstract: In an ultrasound therapy apparatus and a method for the operation of an ultrasound therapy apparatus, a high-frequency generator generates electrical signals with different discrete frequency values that lie within a first frequency band in chronological succession. Whole multiples of the discrete frequency values do not lie in a second frequency band that corresponds to the reception band of a simultaneously operated diagnostic magnetic resonance apparatus.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer for diagnostic and therapeutic generates ultrasound waves of different wavelengths in diagnostics mode or therapy mode. The ultrasound transducer has an n.times..lambda./4 matching layer for a propagation medium adjoining the ultrasound transducer, and a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer element with a first electrode located between the matching layer and the ultrasound transducer element, a second electrode attached at the opposite side of the ultrasound transducer element, and a third electrode that divides the ultrasound transducer element into two regions. Ultrasound waves can be generated for the diagnostics mode and for the therapy mode dependent on the division of the ultrasound transducer element. The n.times..lambda./4 matching layer is effective for the wavelength of the ultrasound waves in diagnostics mode as well as in therapy mode.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a carrier which can be inserted into a living examination subject, having a distal end which is advanced into the subject, the carrier carrying an optical examination apparatus by means of which an image from the interior of the subject can be obtained and transmitted to the exterior of the subject, and the carrier also carrying a source of therapeutic ultrasound at the distal end. A body region exhibiting a pathology which is treatable with therapeutic ultrasound can thus be insonified with the therapeutic ultrasound in the same surgical intervention which is used to obtain the endoscopic images.

Abstract: A source of therapeutic acoustic waves for minimally invasive treatment of internal body regions with the therapeutic acoustic waves has a number of source parts which emit the acoustic waves. In order to be able to apply the source easily in the inside of the body in a simple way, source parts are arranged so as to be foldable in an introduction position giving the source a relatively small cross section as viewed in the introduction direction. After introduction into a patient the source parts are unfolded into a working position.

Abstract: A therapy apparatus for locating and treating a zone situated in the body of a subject life form with ultrasound includes an ultrasound transducer which can be optionally operated in a therapy mode or a locating mode, and which generates therapeutic ultrasound waves having a first frequency focused onto a zone of action in the therapy mode and generates diagnostic ultrasound having a second frequency in the locating mode. The ultrasound transducer also receives portions of the diagnostic ultrasound reflected in the body of the subject in the locating mode and converts them into electrical signals that are supplied to an evaluation electronics which provides image information about the zone to be treated.

Abstract: A therapy apparatus for the treatment of pathological tissue with focused ultrasound waves, has a catheter introducible into the body of a living subject to be treated and having at least one pressure sensor disposed at the region of its distal end. A control unit to which the output signal of the pressure sensor is supplied generates an alarm signal if the level of the output signal of the pressure sensor exceeds a limit value, thereby minimizing the risk of damaging healthy tissue.

Abstract: A therapy system for treating pathological tissue with heating radiation includes an ultrasound locating system and a catheter introducible into the body of a patient to be treated, the catheter having at least one pressure sensor in the region of its distal end. The catheter is used to apply the heating radiation to a specified site within the patient. The pressure sensor generates signals due to interaction with the diagnostic ultrasound waves of the ultrasound locating system, and these signals are supplied to an image generating unit within the ultrasound locating system. The image generating unit calculates the position of the pressure sensor in the ultrasound image on the basis of the signals from the pressure sensor, and mixes a mark into the displayed image at the appropriate location, so that the position of the catheter is thereby identifiable.

Abstract: An ultrasound applicator for the urogenital region, particularly for treating benign prostate hyperplasia, emits ultrasound waves focused onto a working region lying on the working axis of the ultrasound applicator, the ultrasound waves, as seen in a plane proceeding at a right angle relative to the working axis, having a cross section which can be circumscribed by an envelope that has a first principal axis intersecting the working axis and at least one second principal axis that preferably intersects the first principal axis at a right angle. The length of the first principal axis exceeds the length of the second principal axis or axes.

Abstract: A catheter which is provided for employment in the treatment of pathological tissue in a patient by charging with heating radiation, whereby the treatment ensues under diagnostic ultrasound monitoring and the catheter has at least one acoustic marking member attached in the region of its distal end for marking tissue not to be treated. The marking member has an acoustic impedance deviating from that of the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A therapy apparatus for locating and treating a zone in the body of a living subject with focused, therapeutic ultrasound waves having a first frequency includes an ultrasound locating system which emits diagnostic ultrasound having a second frequency, and which receives parts of the diagnostic ultrasound reflected in the body of the subject and converts them into electrical signals which are used to form an image of the zone to be treated with the subject. In order to permit the locating system to be operated simultaneously with the generation of therapeutic waves, and thus to be able to generate a continuous image without disturbances caused by therapeutic waves, the electrical signals are supplied, before forming the image, to a filter having a transfer function with a rejection band wherein the first frequency lies and a passband wherein the second frequency lies. The output signals from the filter are then used to generate the image.

Abstract: A pressure pulse source for generating acoustic pressure pulses in an acoustic propagation medium has a foil arrangement formed by a number of electrically contacted piezoelectric foils stacked directly on top of one another with no interstices between the foils, and employs a drive system for driving the individual foils in succession according to the traveling wave principle.

Abstract: A pressure pulse source, of the type suitable for generating shockwaves, has a positive lens for focusing the pressure pulses onto a focal zone. The positive lens has an acoustic exit face which has a shape, in a focusing zone, for focusing the pressure pulses and a shape, in at least one measurement zone, which deviates from the shape in the focusing zone. A pressure sensor containing a piezoelectric polymer foil is disposed at the measurement zone. The pressure sensor, or a number of such pressure sensors, generate signals which are used to monitor the pressure pulses emerging from the positive lens, such as by acquiring their peak value.

Abstract: A shockwave generator for extracorporeal lithotripsy has a housing filled with an acoustic propagation medium, through which shockwaves propagate, and in which an ultrasound applicator is disposed for locating a calculus to be treated. The ultrasound applicator has components which may be damaged if traversed by shockwaves. At least a portion of the ultrasound applicator in which these components are disposed is therefore acoustically shielded with a substance having an acoustic impedance substantially differing from the acoustic impedance of the propagation medium, so that essential parts of the shockwaves are reflected thereby and thus the non-reflected parts do not reach the shielded portion of the ultrasound applicator with sufficient energy to damage the compartments.

Abstract: An ultrasound sensor has a piezoelectric foil polarized in at least in one region, a signal electrode arranged at one side of the piezoelectric foil, and comprises a shell electrode arranged at the other side of the piezoelectric foil. The piezoelectric foil, the signal electrode and the shell electrode are component parts of a multilayer structure wherein the signal electrode and the shell electrode are separated from the piezoelectric foil by a dielectric coupling layer, and the signal electrode and the polarized region of the piezoelectric foil overlap in a region forming a pressure-sensitive sensor surface.