Abstract: A cart includes a power supply, a display unit, a holder having a primary coil positioned with respect to a compartment to be proximate a secondary coil of a handheld ultrasound probe when it is positioned in the compartment, a charging circuit that provides an alternating current to inductively couple the primary and the secondary coils, light sources operable to provide at least ultraviolet light, and a drive circuit electrically coupled to drive the light sources. The cart may include a dispenser with a container that can hold an ultrasound coupling medium, and a dispensing mechanism having a scoop with an elongated recess that is rotatably mounted with respect to the container to move between a first position in which the elongated recess is in fluid communication with the interior of the container and a second position in which the elongated recess is exposed to an exterior of the dispenser.

Abstract: An oral ultrasound waveguide device is disclosed for use as an oral cleaning device. One embodiment includes a power source and an ultrasonic oscillator configured to be positioned outside an oral cavity, and a waveguide configured to couple ultrasonic energy from the ultrasonic oscillator to a mouth portion configured to be received in an oral cavity. The mouth portion can be configured to couple the ultrasonic energy outward from the mouth portion via at least one matching layer.

Abstract: A three-dimensional ultrasound based assessment device includes a housing having a front end, a back end, and a cavity. An ultrasonic transducer assembly can be mounted to a ball joint which is, in turn, pivotably (pitch, roll, yaw) coupled to a socket proximate the front end. A resilient or elastic sheath retains pieces forming the socket under elastic compression, with the ball pivotally retained therein. A drive assembly positioned proximate a tail or end of a stem that extends from the ball joint may be operated to sweep the ball and ultrasonic transducer. A simple interface provides at least one of a number, text, graphic, color or symbol as a visual indicator indicative of at least one of a measurement of an anatomical structure or a comparison of the measurement of the anatomical structure with a reference, without providing images of the anatomical structure.

Abstract: A patch apparatus removably receives an ultrasound probe and attaches to a portion of a body, for example, via an adhesive. The patch apparatus may be disposable. The patch apparatus includes at least one cavity that sealingly holds a gel during use. The cavity may be sized to removably receive the ultrasound probe, in compression with the bodily tissue. Alternatively, the patch apparatus may include an adhesive or other fastener (e.g., hook and loop fastener) to removably retain the ultrasound probe. One or more magnets may indicate an orientation of the ultrasound probe or other information regarding an imaging procedure. An ultrasound probe may include a housing that is at least partially transparent, a display housed in the housing and visible from an exterior thereof, and one or more magnets to encode information regarding an orientation and/or procedure.

Abstract: A light delivery system to provide light treatment to a patient includes an elongated catheter having a light emitter that transmits light towards a target site within a patient. The catheter is sized and configured to pass through anatomical body structures to reduce or eliminate trauma associated with the delivery procedure. A visualization system of the catheter can assist a user before, during, and/or after performing light therapy. The visualization system includes sensors that provide real-time imaging or feedback.

Abstract: Light generating devices for illuminating portions of vascular tissue to administer photodynamic therapy, and usable with, or including a distal protection device. A first device includes a hollow tip, a flushing lumen, a guidewire lumen, and at least one of a light source, and a hollow light transmissive shaft that is adapted to accommodate a light source. If desired, the device can include a balloon, so that a portion of a body lumen between the balloon and the distal protection device is isolated when the balloon is inflated. A second device includes inner and outer catheters, the outer catheter including a balloon, and the inner catheter including a light source encompassed by another balloon. Yet another device is a catheter having two balloons and a sleeve extending there between. Within the sleeve, the catheter includes a light source and an expanding member.

Abstract: Light generating devices for illuminating portions of vascular tissue to administer photodynamic therapy, and usable with, or including a distal protection device. A first device includes a hollow tip, a flushing lumen, a guidewire lumen, and at least one of a light source, and a hollow light transmissive shaft that is adapted to accommodate a light source. If desired, the device can include a balloon, so that a portion of a body lumen between the balloon and the distal protection device is isolated when the balloon is inflated. A second device includes inner and outer catheters, the outer catheter including a balloon, and the inner catheter including a light source encompassed by another balloon. Yet another device is a catheter having two balloons and a sleeve extending there between. Within the sleeve, the catheter includes a light source and an expanding member.

Abstract: A system which includes at least one ultrasound data collection device which is programmable to carry out a specific ultrasound procedure on a selected part of a human body of a patient. The resulting ultrasound data is transmitted via a local server at the site of the data collection device to the internet and from there to a web database server which processes the raw ultrasound data and provides application-specific information, such as a three-dimensional model, which can be used for diagnostic interpretation of the body part imaged by the ultrasound suitable for use in the treatment of the patient.

Abstract: A system which includes at least one ultrasound data collection device which is programmable to carry out a specific ultrasound procedure on a selected part of a human body of a patient. The resulting ultrasound data is transmitted via a local server at the site of the data collection device to the internet and from there to a web database server which processes the raw ultrasound data and provides application-specific information, such as a three-dimensional model, which can be used for diagnostic interpretation of the body part imaged by the ultrasound suitable for use in the treatment of the patient.

Abstract: A system which includes at least one ultrasound data collection device which is programmable to carry out a specific ultrasound procedure. The resulting ultrasound data is transmitted via a local server to the internet and from there to a web database server which processes the raw ultrasound data and provides application-specific information, such as a three-dimensional model, which can be used for diagnostic interpretation of the body part imaged by the ultrasound.

Abstract: The system includes an ultrasound apparatus which provides successive images of a bladder during the voiding process, the images being approximately one second long so as to provide an accurate picture of the action of the bladder during voiding. The images are then processed to form a substantially continuous moving image, i.e. a video or motion picture. The video covers approximately five minutes so as to capture the entire voiding event. The system is initiated typically by the user by pressing a button or other implement on the ultrasound apparatus which is carried by a belt or on a garment adjacent the abdomen of the user. Several processing techniques are used to compensate for any movement of the user or the device during the voiding process so as to provide a coherent and continuous moving image of the bladder during the voiding process.

Abstract: The apparatus is worn by a user and includes means for automatically scanning the bladder of the user with ultrasound signals. The returning signals are used to calculate the volume of urine in the bladder and also to calculate the actual surface area of the bladder. The theoretical surface area of a spherical bladder having the said calculated volume is then determined. A surface area index (SAI) is then determined as follows: ##EQU1## The SAI value is an indication of the roundness of the bladder and hence the pressure within the bladder.

Abstract: A pulse Doppler system for determining blood flow velocity in a blood vessel in a body, in particular the carotid artery. A sample region covering a section of the artery is investigated, using two spaced transmitters, one with a frequency of 3 MHz and the other with a frequency of 4.5 MHz. The received echo beams are then processed to determine the component blood velocities for each frequency. The two component values are then resolved into a true blood flow velocity for the sample region. That information is used to produce a color-coded velocity map of the artery, which may be conveniently displayed to the operator.

Abstract: The automatic bladder scanning apparatus includes a transducer assembly (30), which includes a plurality of individual transducer elements (32). A first plurality of transducer elements are connected into an approximately circular or octagonal arrangement to produce a transmitted signal beam. The data transmission signal is pseudo-random. The returning echo signal is received by another plurality of transducer elements arranged in a preselected pattern. One receiving pattern includes two orthogonal sets of linear arrays, while the other receiving pattern involves an octagonal arrangement. The received signals from the second plurality of transducer elements are processed to form a composite received signal. The composite received signal is then further processed to produce information concerning the three dimension image of the bladder, which information is then used to calculate the bladder volume.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for reversing the bit order of a portion of a digital word. The apparatus contains a shifter, connected to the input through a bit reversing means, and selector means which forms an output word by selecting appropriate bits either directly from the input word or from the output of the shifter.