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Surgery August inventions list 08/06

20060195003 - Thin californium-containing radioactive source wires: A cermet wire includes at least 1% californium-252 and is characterized by a diameter of no more than 0.0225 inch....

20060195004 - Minimally invasive transvalvular ventricular assist device: A tiny electrically powered hydrodynamic blood pump is disclosed which occupies one third of the aortic or pulmonary valve position, and pumps directly from the left ventricle to the aorta or from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery. The device is configured to exactly match or approximate the space...

20060195005 - Balloon for intraaortic balloon pumping catheter, catheter fitted with the same, and process for producing the balloon: A balloon for use in the method of intra aortic balloon pumping (IABP), produced by blow molding of a polyether polyurethane whose 100% modulus is 5 to 18 MPa, the balloon having a film thickness of 30 to 80 μm and a 50% modulus in the longitudinal direction is 30...

20060195008 - Endourethral device & method: An endourethral device is provided having an elongate member having proximal and distal segments, the elongate member positionable within a lower urinary tract so as to at least partially traverses a prostatic urethra. A proximal anchor, adapted to abuttingly engage portions of a bladder neck so as to at least...

20060195006 - Intraurethral incontinence device and methods: Intraurethral devices and methods for controlling urinary incontinence are disclosed. An intraurethral device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment may include an elongated sheath, a bladder retention element, a meatal retention element, and an adjustable bladder control valve that can be used to regulate the flow of urine from the...

20060195007 - Transobturator surgical articles and methods: Described are surgical articles, implants, and components suitable for surgical implant procedures including transobturator surgical procedures....

20060195009 - Apparatus and method for correcting urinary incontinence: An apparatus and a method for urine containment, storage, and release is provided for male and female patients suffering from incontinence. The device comprises a housing including a valve implanted generally in the bladder of a male or female patient. The device further comprises an access port connecting the housing...

20060195010 - Surgical implants and related methods and systems: Described are surgical implants, tools, systems, and related methods, useful for implantation of surgical implants, such as those used to treat pelvic conditions including incontinence....

20060195013 - Medical slings: A sling in accordance with the invention includes a synthetic material and a non-synthetic material positioned adjacent thereto. The non-synthetic material may be wrapped around or may be attached to the synthetic material. Additionally, the non-synthetic material may include slits. Methods for making such slings are also described....

20060195011 - Pelvic implants and related methods: Described are surgical implants that include a central support portion adapted to be positioned to support pelvic tissue, between mesh end portions adapted to be passed through body tissue, wherein edges of the end portions exhibit extensions that are resistant to deformation....

20060195012 - Valve to myocardium tension members device and method: A device for heart valve repair including at least one tension member having a first end and second end. A basal anchor is disposed at the first end of the tension member and a secondary anchor at the second end. The method includes the steps of anchoring the basal anchor...

20060195015 - Miniature ingestible capsule: A miniature ingestible capsule has multiple therapeutic or diagnostic operations that can be performed. These functions are controlled by a combination of an outside control, a pose beacon and through information relayed from an imagining array and transmitter. These functions can be in a separate capsule without an imaging array...

20060195014 - Tethered capsule endoscope for barrett's esophagus screening: A capsule is coupled to a tether that is manipulated to position the capsule and a scanner included within the capsule at a desired location within a lumen in a patient's body. Images produced by the scanner can be used to detect Barrett's Esophagus (BE) and early (asymptomatic) esophageal cancer...

20060195016 - Endoscope apparatus: An endoscope apparatus comprises: an endoscope comprising an insertion portion, wherein an air hole is formed at a distal end of the insertion portion; and a balloon attached to the distal end of the insertion portion, the balloon being expanded by supply of air through an inlet/outlet port of the...

20060195017 - Expandable device for providing access to the spine: In one embodiment, a retractor is provided for retracting tissue at a surgical location within a patient for minimally invasive access to a region of the spine. The retractor comprises an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The retractor comprises a first elongate member and a...

20060195019 - Microprobe for 3d bio-imaging, method for fabricating the same and use thereof: A microprobe that is capable of using an incident and reflected radiation ray for three-dimensional (3-D) bio-imaging. The microprobe comprises a hollow body closed at one end and having an aperture at an opposite end, at least one 3-D free space micromirror, at least one focusing lens, and a beam...

20060195018 - Reflex tester and method for measurement: A response measuring system for measuring the time required for a user or subject to respond to a prompting event includes a controller or computer connected to a plurality of annunciator driving outputs and a plurality of sensor input receivers. Methods of using the response measuring system in diagnoses and...

20060195020 - Methods, systems, and apparatus for measuring a pulse rate: The present invention includes methods, systems, and apparatus for measuring a pulse rate. One aspect includes a method for measuring a pulse rate of an individual. The method can include providing at least one sensor adapted to monitor a pulse associated with a user, and further adapted to monitor motion...

20060195021 - Noninvasive blood analysis by optical probing of the veins under the tongue: A method for analysis of blood components or parameters is disclosed where a probe having an excitation outlet and a response inlet is placed in proximity to or in contact with a tissue of an underside of a patient's tongue over a big vein in the tongue so that an...

20060195023 - Compact apparatus for noninvasive measurement of glucose through near-infrared spectroscopy: The invention involves the monitoring of a biological parameter through a compact analyzer. The preferred apparatus is a spectrometer based system that is attached continuously or semi-continuously to a human subject and collects spectral measurements that are used to determine a biological parameter in the sampled tissue. The preferred target...

20060195022 - Non-invasive tissue glucose level monitoring: Instruments and methods are described for performing non-invasive measurements of analyte levels and for monitoring, analyzing and regulating tissue status, such as tissue glucose levels....

20060195024 - Laser diode optical transducer assembly for non-invasive spectrophotometric blood oxygenation: A non-invasive near infrared spectrophotometric monitoring transducer assembly includes a housing member, which is adhered directly on a patient's skin. The housing member contains a prism coupled to a flexible and lightweight single core optical light guide, which provides a means of transferring narrow spectral bandwidth light from multiple distant...

20060195025 - Pulse oximetry data confidence indicator: According to some embodiments of the present invention, a display is used to show an indication of the signal's quality. This indication of the signal's quality may be provided in a number of ways, including one or more audio and/or visual alarms....

20060195026 - Pulse oximeter and sensor optimized for low saturation: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for facilitating detection of a physiological characteristic of a patient. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a sensor comprising a light emitter configured to emit light, the light being optimized to reduce sensitivity of blood oxygen saturation...

20060195027 - Pulse oximeter and sensor optimized for low saturation: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a pulse oximeter sensor comprising a light source configured to emit light, a detector configured to detect light after the light has been scattered by tissue, and a limiting component configured to limit light signals received at the detector from the light source...

20060195028 - Hat-based oximeter sensor: A method for use and an improved oximeter sensor substrate that is conforming to the shape of the patient's forehead. In one embodiment, the present invention is an oximeter sensor, having a substrate with a shape similar to a shape of at least a portion of a patient's forehead and...

20060195029 - Low oxygen in vivo analyte sensor: The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous and subcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host....

20060195030 - Fiber tracking phantom: A phantom for use with diffusion tensor imaging includes a container and a plurality of structures within the container. The structures have anisotropic properties, wherein when the phantom is subjected to diffusion tensor imaging, the structures provide data that is recognized as fiber bundles. The structures can be formed, for...

20060195031 - Intravascular imaging detector: An apparatus for intravascular imaging to detect and characterize early stage, unstable coronary arty plaques. The detector works by identifying and localizing plaque-binding beta-emitting radiopharmaceuticals....

20060195032 - Intravascular imaging detector: An apparatus for intravascular imaging to detect and characterize early stage, unstable coronary arty plaques. The detector works by identifying and localizing plaque-binding beta-emitting radiopharmaceuticals....

20060195033 - Insertion support system for specifying a location of interest as an arbitrary region and also appropriately setting a navigation leading to the specified region: According to an insertion support system of the present invention, when a biopsy area is specified at a periphery of the bronchi, the barycenter of the biopsy area is extracted. A circle centering on the barycenter is determined as a search area. The search area is expanded until the bronchi...

20060195034 - Device and method for the continuous non-invasive measurement of blood pressure: The invention relates to a method and a device for the continuous non-invasive measurement of blood pressure, according to the principle of the relaxed arterial wall, said device comprising at least one first pressure cuff (1) and one second pressure cuff (1′) of a comparable or identical size. Said cuffs...

20060195035 - Non-invasive radial artery blood pressure waveform measuring apparatus system and uses thereof: The invention relates to a non-invasive apparatus system for measuring radial artery blood pressure waveform, and its uses in heart rate variability measurement, autonomic nervous system measurement, personal identification, respiratory cycle and cough monitoring, home quarantine, and hospital quarantine thereof....

20060195036 - Heartbeat measuring device: To provide a heartbeat measuring device in which a ferrite antenna is accommodated in and fixed to a case without using a complicated fixing structure and while being adapted so as not to undergo an influence of an external impact. A transmitting ferrite antenna of a heart rate transmitter of...

20060195037 - Detecting atrial fibrillation, method of and apparatus for: A method and apparatus to determine possible atrial fibrillation or absence of atrial fibrillation that includes detecting pulse rhythms from a succession of time intervals each corresponding to a respective interval of time between successive pulse beats; analyzing the detected pulse rhythms to make a determination of possible atrial fibrillation;...

20060195038 - Statistical method for assessing autonomic balance: A computationally efficient method for assessing a subject's autonomic balance by measurement of heart rate variability is disclosed which is particularly suitable for implementation by an implantable medical device. Statistical surrogates are used to represent frequency components of an RR time series. A ratio of the low frequency component to...

20060195039 - Clustering with combined physiological signals: Methods of generating an extended cluster are disclosed. A first cluster including data representative of a first signal indicative of an abnormal physiological symptom is generated. A second signal is detected as representing a second abnormal physiological symptom and the second abnormal physiological symptom continues after the first abnormal physiological...

20060195040 - Controlling flow of exhaled breath during analysis: The flow rate of a gaseous sample of exhaled breath through an analytical device is controlled by a pump, and in certain embodiments two pumps. Placement of the analyte sensor in a secondary stream branching off of the primary stream through the device offers further control over the manner, duration,...

20060195041 - Centralized hospital monitoring system for automatically detecting upper airway instability and for preventing and aborting adverse drug reactions: A system and method for the automatic diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in a centralized hospital critical care monitoring system for the monitoring of a plurality of patients in at least one of a critical care, step down, and cardiac ward by telemetry. The system includes a central processor having...

20060195042 - Biological interface system with thresholded configuration: A system and method for a biological interface system that processes multicellular signals of a patient and controls one or more devices is disclosed. The system includes a sensor that detects the multicellular signals and a processing unit for producing the control signal based on the multicellular signals. The system...

20060195043 - Methods and apparatus for measuring pressures in bodily fluids: Various embodiments of the invention, therefore, provide enhanced devices for the measurement of a pressure of a bodily fluid, as well as methods of using and/or manufacturing such devices. In one set of embodiments, for example, a device for measuring a fluid may comprise an inlet port, which may be...

20060195044 - Method of using a medical instrument: A method includes actuating a lever to move a cannula of a medical instrument from a first extended position to second retracted position; and actuating the lever to move a stylet of the medical instrument from a third extended position to a fourth retracted position. Actuating the lever comprises moving...

20060195046 - Analyte detection system with reduced sample volume: In certain embodiments, a method samples a body fluid of a patient. The method includes providing a fluid handling system having one or more fluid passageways. The method further includes infusing an infusion fluid by way of a fluid handling system into a patient through one or more fluid passageways....

20060195045 - Fluid handling cassette having a fluid transport network: A fluid handling module is configured for removable engagement with a reusable main fluid handling instrument. The module comprises a housing, an infusion fluid passageway, a sample fluid passageway, and a fluid component separator. The infusion fluid passageway has a first port and a second port spaced from the first...

20060195047 - Sampling module device and method: A tissue penetration device and method of using same that may include a lancet module or sampling module. The sampling module may optionally be in a cartridge configuration and include sampling and analyzing functions, which may be integrated....

20060195048 - Method and apparatus for determining the angle between the femur and the tibia: In a method for determining the angle between the femur and the tibia in the implantation of a unicondylar knee prosthesis, in order to determine in advance the influence of the implantation position of the implant on the angle between the femur and the tibia, it is proposed that the...

20060195049 - Urethral profiling device & methodology: A urethral profile apparatus, assembly and appurtenant methodology is provided. The apparatus includes an elongate member having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end including a probe. The probe is selectively positionable within a urethral passageway by axial translation of the elongate member via the distal end, with the probe...

20060195050 - Method and system for the derivation of human gait characteristics and detecting falls passively from floor vibrations: The gait monitor system and method provides various basic gait parameters including step count, cadence, and step duration, in addition to its ability to distinguish between normal, limping and shuffling gait modes, as well as determine falls. Moreover, this gait monitor may be provided with additional sensors, e.g. beam break...

20060195051 - Posture monitoring device and method of use thereof: The present invention discloses a posture monitoring device. The device includes a tilt sensor, an alarm, and a recording device to track the changes in posture. The device has been designed to overcome the currently existing problems associated with other devices that detect poor posture. The device also includes the...

20060189838 - Intraocular radiotherapy treatment: A surgical device for localized delivery of beta radiation in surgical procedures, particularly ophthalmic procedures. Preferred surgical devices include a cannula with a beta radiotherapy emitting material at the distal end of the cannula. The surgical device is particularly suitable for use in the treatment of treat Age Related Macular...

20060189839 - Method and apparatus for potentiating penile erection utilizing ultraweak electromagnetic field of very low frequency: An apparatus and method for treating erectile dysfunction by using a pulsating, ultraweak, magnetic field. A transducer generates an ultraweak, pulsating magnetic fields which is applied to the penis, which as a result of the magnetic field causes the erection of the penis. Another aspect of the invention is an...

20060189840 - Transmyocardial delivery of cardiac wall tension relief: A method for treating a disease of the heart such as congestive heart failure includes forming an access opening from a heart chamber into a pericardial space defined between an epicardial surface of the heart and a pericardium opposing the epicardial surface. A cardiac support member is deployed into said...

20060189841 - Systems and methods for photo-mechanical hearing transduction: Hearing systems for both hearing impaired and normal hearing subjects comprise an input transducer and a separate output transducer. The input transducer will include a light source for generating a light signal in response to either ambient sound or an external electronic sound signal. The output transducer will comprise a...

20060189843 - Apparatus, method, and computer program product for processing image: An image processing apparatus performs image processing of a plurality of images taken by a medical instrument. The image processing apparatus includes an intracorporeal image determination unit that determines whether the image is an intracorporeal image obtained by photographing an inside of a body or not; and an intracorporeal image...

20060189842 - Method for using variable direction of view endoscopy in conjunction with image guided surgical systems: A method for a variable direction of view endoscope used in combination with an image guided surgical system to provide new diagnostic and surgical capabilities. The method provides the following capabilities: greatly improved endoscopic orientation capabilities, global monitoring of endoscopic viewing direction, and greatly improved surgical approach and procedure planning....

20060189844 - Endoscopic devide: An endoscopic device is proposed. The endoscopic device has a control guiding wire or guiding sleeve and a shape memory hollow catheter to adjust angle of rotation for a front end of the endoscopic device up to 180°, and the hollow catheter can be rotated by an angle up to...

20060189845 - Methods and apparaus for off-axis visualization: Methods and apparatus for off-axis visualization are described herein. An endoluminal tissue manipulation assembly is disclosed which provides for a stable endoluminal platform and which also provides for effective triangulation of tools. Such an apparatus may comprise an optionally shape-lockable elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and adapted for endoluminal...

20060189846 - Disposable two-step endoscope: A disposable two-step endoscope for examining human organs includes an image capturing and transmission device and a cable that may be disconnected. The image capturing and transmission device includes a body, luminous devices, an optical image capturing device, a wireless transmission device and an internal power supply. The cable transmits...

20060189847 - Single use laryngoscope: A laryngoscope (10) to assist tracheal intubation on a patient, comprising a body having a handle (14), and a laryngoscope blade (12) extending from the handle (14); a lighting system (21) including a light source integrated in the laryngoscope body and arranged in use to be activated to adopt an...

20060189848 - Surgical retractor with attachment: A retractor configured for anchorage to the acetabular area of the hip bone via a bendable pin, such that the bent pin retains the retractor in a selected position. The retractor includes a site anchor portion, with a spacer portion extending upward from a leading end of the site anchor...

20060189849 - Surgical illumination device and method of using: A surgical illumination device and method of using includes a mounting platform attachable to a surgical device and light conducting fibers attached to the platform....

20060189850 - Flexible membrane device for measuring at least one physiological information with, corresponding sensor module and method: The invention concerns a device for measuring at least one item of physiological information in an individual, comprising a flexible membrane designed to come into contact with the skin of the individual and participating in the definition of a deformable space for a flexible substance, the substance transmitting to at...

20060189854 - Method and apparatus for remotely programming implantable medical devices: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for remotely programming implantable medical devices. The apparatus includes a server adapted to receive and store at least one request to modify the behavior of an implantable medical device provided by a programmer adapted to allow a clinician to create the at...

20060189851 - Method and device for monitoring a system: The present invention relates to a method for monitoring a system in which a datum-line display (11) is generated on a viewing screen (4) for at least one parameter of the system, comprising a baseline (14) that represents a base value for the parameter concerned, a continuous curve (15) that...

20060189853 - Method and system for improving adherence with a diet program or other medical regimen: A method, system and computer program product for remotely measuring one's adherence to a diet program while making it convenient and easy to place food orders, and learn about and try new foods that are acceptable to the diet program. The system includes a user system with a processor, memory...

20060189852 - System and method for evaluating and providing treatment to sports participants: The invention relates to a system for monitoring a physiological parameter of players engaged in a sports activity. The invention further relates to a method for evaluating and treating players when the parameter exceeds a predetermined level. The system measures, calculates and records the parameter and then alerts trained personnel...

20060189855 - Device for detecting a sleeping state judging device, method of detecting a sleeping state judging method, and computer program product: A device for detecting a sleeping state that judges a sleeping state of a subject includes a brain activity measuring unit that measures an index which reflects brain activities and which indicates an extent of changes in an activity state of a brain of the subject during sleeping at every...

20060189856 - Oxygen enhancing membrane systems for implantable devices: The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for increasing oxygen availability to implantable devices. The preferred embodiments provide a membrane system configured to provide protection of the device from the biological environment and/or a catalyst for enabling an enzymatic reaction, wherein the membrane system includes a polymer formed...

20060189857 - System and method for monitoring or treating a health condition: The present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring or treating a health condition. The method can include accessing a biological fluid, evaluating an analyte in the fluid, presenting a measurement parameter based on the evaluation, and/or administering a treatment based on the evaluation. The measurement parameter can...

20060189858 - Analyte detection system for multiple analytes: An apparatus for analyzing the composition of bodily fluid. The apparatus comprises a fluid handling network including a patient end configured to maintain fluid communication with a bodily fluid in a patient; and a pump unit in operative engagement with the fluid handling network. The pump unit has an infusion...

20060189860 - Near infrared spectroscopy device with reusable portion: A NIRS sensor device for brain monitoring is small in size, provides reliable attachment to a patient, blocks ambient light, is easy to use, is hygienic, and supports data integration with surgical and monitoring systems. The sensor device is coupled to a remote near infrared light source via a hybrid...

20060189859 - Pulse oximetry sensor adapter: An adapter allows the interconnection of a sensor originating from one manufacturer to be coupled with conventionally incompatible monitors originating from other manufacturers to form a properly functioning pulse oximetry system. The adapter matches a sensor driver in a monitor to the current requirements and light source configuration of a...

20060189861 - Method for spectrophotometric blood oxygenation monitoring: A method and apparatus for non-invasively determining the blood oxygenation within a subject's tissue is provided that utilizes a near infrared spectrophotometric (NIRS) sensor capable of transmitting a light signal into the tissue of a subject and sensing the light signal once it has passed through the tissue via transmittance...

20060189862 - Pulse oximeter and sensor optimized for low saturation: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for measuring blood oxygen saturation. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention include emitting light having a wavelength spectrum that is optimized for an oxygen saturation reading less than 80 percent, detecting the light, and transmitting signals based on...

20060189863 - Analyte monitoring device and methods of use: An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted...

20060189864 - Computer-assisted hip joint resurfacing method and system: A hip resurfacing CAS system for guiding an operator in altering a femoral head in computer-assisted surgery for subsequent implanting of a femoral head implant, comprises a trackable reference on the femur. A registration tool is trackable. A bone-altering tool is associated with a resurfacing of the femoral head. A...

20060189865 - Method and processor for visualization of 3d vectorial quantities with color-coded direction information: In a method for visualization of three-dimensional vectorial quantities at a data processing device with color-coded direction information, the vectorial quantities are displayed; dependent on their direction, in different colors in a three-dimensionally or two-dimensionally projected representation on an image output unit, and at least one reference element indicating the...

20060189866 - System for image-guided pulsed magnetic field diagnosis and treatment: A method and apparatus comprising image-guided application of a pulsed magnetic field for the diagnosis and/or treatment of various physiological, neurological and/or behavioral pathologies or conditions....

20060189867 - Probe: A probe for generating position data for use in computer assisted surgery has a handle and a shaft extending from the handle. A tip having a distal end for contacting an object to indicate the position of the object is attached to the shaft. A sensor which can respond to...

20060189868 - Elastography device and method for determining and imaging of mechanical and elastic parameters of an examination object: The present invention relates to a device for determining mechanical, particularly elastic, parameters of an examination object, comprising a) at least one arrangement for determining the spatial distribution of magnetic particles in at least one examination area of the examination object, comprising a means for generating a magnetic field with...

20060189869 - Systems and methods of 3 dimensional ultrasonic imaging of hard tissue: A system (60) and method (20) of creating an ultrasonic image (48) of a hard tissue (70) within a target (68). The method (20) includes comprising transmitting (22) from a defined location (64) a beam energy (66) towards the target (68), adjusting (24) the angle of incidence between the beam...

20060189870 - Ultrasonic shock wave head for use in lithotripsy: Disclosed is an ultrasonic shock wave head for use in lithotripsy, comprising a shock wave sounce (2) and an acoustic lens (6) for focusing the ultraasonic shock wave generated by the shock wave source (2). A bearing housing (8) for the shock wave source (2) is molded onto said acoustic...

20060189871 - Portable patient monitor: Embodiments of the present disclosure includes a portable pulse oximeter, such as a handheld pulse oximeter, that provides a user with intuitive key navigation for device operation, which reduces an amount of visual concentration needed to handle and operate the oximeter. In various embodiments, the portable pulse oximeter includes one...

20060189872 - Apnea detection system: A method and apparatus are described for utilizing a source of vascular pulse waveform data from a patient for the purpose of measuring pulsus paradoxus. The arterial pulse waveform data source described is a pulse oximeter plethysmograph but can be any similar waveform data source, including an intra-arterial transducer, external...

20060189873 - Illustrations of sodium intakes & hypertension: An instantaneous feedback for modulating an individual's systolic and diastolic blood pressures and the consumptions of sodium. The feedback is the outcomes of mathematical equations leading to a calculation or a plurality of calculations involving sodium consumptions. A plurality of values, a graph or a plurality of graphs are also...

20060189874 - Apparatus for non-invasive diagnosis of vasovagal syncope in a patient: An apparatus for non-invasive diagnosis of states of vasovagal syncope in a patient placed on a tilt table and subjected to a tilt-test, the apparatus comprising: circuits for sensing the patient's endocardiac acceleration; circuits for sensing the patient's heart rate; and analyzer circuits receiving as inputs said endocardiac acceleration and...

20060189875 - Complexity-based dynamical assay for assessing the toxicity and efficacy of pharmaceutical and other therapeutic interventions: In a subject undergoing therapeutic intervention, efficacy of the therapeutic intervention is assessed based on a series of physiologic data associated with the subject. The series of physiologic data is analyzed to produce a measure of complexity. The complexity measure is then compared to a control. The efficacy of the...

20060189876 - Method and system for analyzing an electrocardiographic signal: A method for analyzing an ECG signal includes obtaining a measurement of an area based repolarization interval from at least one beat in the electrocardiogram signal and detecting an altered ventricular repolarization based on the obtained measured area based repolarization interval....

20060189877 - System and method for correlation of patient health information and implant device data: A system and method for correlating health related data for display. The system includes a medical device recording data and a display producing device which correlates the data and simultaneously displays different types of data or displays two sets of the same type of data along with the circumstances at...

20060189878 - Method to automatically generate 'guided meditation' audio data file: An invention is disclosed for automatically generating the ‘Guided Meditation’ using the customer Preferences and Requirements. The customer Preferences and requirements if specified can be used to select meditation stages, language used for instructions, duration, and theme of meditation and ambience sounds for the entire ‘Guided Meditation’. The customer may...

20060189879 - Bio-information presentig device and bio-information presenting method: A bio-information presenting method and a bio-information presenting device, for presenting to a user bio-information, indicating a movement of a physical organ of the user. The movement of a bodily organ of the user, controlled voluntarily or involuntarily, is fed back to the user, and a background image is stored...

20060189880 - Airway instability detection system and method: A system and method for data processing is disclosed. One example of a processor-based method comprises accessing data representative of a time series of at least one component of a timed waveform corresponding to a pulse, and searching the data for an occurrence of a cluster of variations induced by...

20060189881 - Implantable signal amplifying circuit for electroneurographic recording: An implantable microvolt-level signal amplifying circuit may be used for resolving electrical signals generated by nerves in the presence of larger amplitude signals generated by muscles, the heart, or external noise sources. The circuit has a low-noise, high Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) preamplifier, followed by a cascade of stages,...

20060189882 - Monitoring electrical muscular activity: A method of monitoring electrical activity non-invasively (such as uterine activity) which includes applying a localised group of electrodes to a patient's skin and monitoring signals thereon. The electrodes are localised sufficiently such that their muscular signal contributions simulate a single source despite source non-stationarity. The signals are amplified, filtered...

20060189883 - Nervous system monitoring method: A method for monitoring the response of a nervous system of a body to a stimulus. The method comprises collecting a set of voltage measurements between selected areas on a surface of the body whilst current is being passed between selected regions of the surface of the body. The set...

20060189884 - Digital thermometer for measuring body temperature: A digital thermometer with enhanced conformity to the anatomy, such as in and around the mouth of a human being. A non-linear probe has a temperature sensor at a first end adapted to be inserted into the mouth and under the tongue, and a downwardly disposed housing portion at the...

20060189885 - Assessment of cognitive impairment: A method of assessing cognitive impairment of a user includes presenting a visual test stimulus to the user for a pre-determined test stimulus exposure duration. The test stimulus is then masked and a response from the user is measured. The response provides information about the user's perception of a characteristic...

20060189886 - System and method for quantifying and mapping visual salience: A system for quantifying and mapping visual salience to a visual stimulus, including a processor, software for receiving data indicative of a group of individual's ocular responses to a visual stimulus, software for determining a distribution of visual resources at each of at least two times for each of at...

20060189888 - Device for non-invasive measurement of fluid pressure in an adjustable restriction device: A restriction system, such as an adjustable gastric band, for forming a restriction in a patient and non-invasively communicating pressure data regarding the restriction to an external monitor. The system includes a restriction device for implantation in a patient to form a restriction. The system further includes an implanted port...

20060189889 - Management systems for the surgically treated obese patient: In one embodiment, a pressure sensing system is described which transmits data to a patient management system external to a patient. The pressure sensing system can rigidly couple to an implantable port or flexibly couple to an implantable port. In some embodiments, the pressure sensing system communicates with a hydraulic...

20060189887 - Non-invasive measurement of fluid pressure in an adjustable gastric band: A food intake restriction device for forming a restriction in a patient's gastro-intestinal tract and non-invasively communicating pressure data regarding the restriction to an external monitor. The device includes a food intake restriction device implanted substantially about a patient's gastro-intestinal tract to form a restricted opening in the tract. A...

20060189890 - Liquid handling means for excision apparatus: A device for dispensing liquids includes one or more liquid outlet means carried on a movable head. The device forms part of an automated excision apparatus for cutting biomolecule spots from an array of such spots carried in a gel. The head is mounted on an automated motion control system...

20060189891 - Flexible elongate surgical needle device having a tissue engaging section being of greater flexibility than an intermediate section, and methods of using the device: Medical devices, kits, and methods for utilizing an elongate surgical needle that may be used through an endoscope working channel or through an external accessory channel device used with an endoscope are provided. The needle has a proximal end and a flexible distal end, an opening at or near the...

20060189892 - Obtained tissue extractor and biopsy forceps: An obtained tissue extractor is used in combination with a biopsy forceps. The biopsy forceps includes an elongate insertion portion to be inserted into a body, and a biopsy cup provided at a tip of the insertion portion, including a pair of cup bodies which obtains a living body tissue,...

20060189893 - Systems and methods for detecting abnormal cells: Systems and methods of interrogating clusters of cells for two or more biological markers that do not, or rarely, occur in the same cell during normal cellular growth, development and function, to indicate the existence of cells that are part of a local area where a pre-neoplastic or neoplastic lesion...

20060189894 - Method for rapid identification of infections and/or risk situations related to gastroduodenal pathologies and machine for performing the method: A method for immediate identification and rapid comparative assessment of indicators of the presence of infections and/or risk situations related to gastroduodenal pathologies, comprising the steps of: aspirating, during an endoscopy, a preset quantity of gastric juices, and sending at least part of the aspirated gastric juices to a control...

20060189895 - Test strip container with integrated meter having strip coding capability: A system for diagnostic testing may include a meter for performing a test on a sample applied to a test media and a selectively closable container configured to house test media compatible with the meter. The system may also provide mechanisms for removing a meter from a test container and...

20060189896 - Medical device with collapse-resistant liner and mehtod of making same: A medical device for guiding through anatomy, such as a catheter or guidewire, with a tubular body that has been slotted to enhance bending flexibility, and a polymer liner with an anti-collapsing structure, and a method of making a medical device with a kink-resistant corrugated tubular member and an anti-collapsing...

20060189897 - Polymer jacket for a guidewire: Disclosed herein is a guidewire comprising a core; and a jacket disposed upon the core; wherein the jacket comprises a segmented layer that is radially disposed upon the core and wherein the segmented layer comprises at least two segments having different compositions and/or different physical properties. Disclosed herein too is...

20060189898 - Implantable sensor: A sensor which can be implanted in a body part to collect data relating to the body part, the sensor includes a jacket which has a side wall which can be deformed inwardly, and first and second ends. A sensor part is contained within the jacket, and fastened to the...

20060189900 - Biological interface system with automated configuration: A system and method for a biological interface system that processes multicellular signals of a patient and controls one or more devices is disclosed. The system includes a sensor that detects the multicellular signals and a processing unit for producing the control signal based on the multicellular signals. The system...

20060189901 - Biological interface system with surrogate controlled device: Various embodiments of a biological interface system and related methods are disclosed. The system may include a sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes for detecting multicellular signals emanating from one or more living cells of a patient, and a processing unit configured to receive the multicellular signals from the sensor...

20060189899 - Joint movement apparatus: Systems, methods and devices for restoring or enhancing one or more motor functions of a patient are disclosed. The system comprises a biological interface apparatus and a joint movement device such as an exoskeleton device or FES device. The biological interface apparatus includes a sensor that detects the multicellular signals...

20060189902 - Method and apparatus for reproducing content data: An apparatus for reproducing a content, includes a reproduction processing unit for reproducing the content, a detecting unit for detecting a motion of a person, a predicting unit for predicting a timing of the motion of the person, based on an output from the detecting unit, and a control unit...

20060189903 - Method for recording, assessing and premeditating performance on grapho-motor and writing tasks: A computerized method for recording and scoring the process by which an examinee performs cognitive or psychological grapho-motor tasks that call for the use of pencil and paper, such as drawing or copying graphical configurations or text. The examinee uses a digital pen that leaves a trace on a writing...

20060183959 - Peripheral brachytherapy of protruding conformable organs: A system for and method of applying non-invasive brachytherapy to a targeted volume within a protruding organ of a patient, employs an applicator constructed so as to be positioned relative to the organ so that an enhanced dose of divergent radiation is deliverable from at least two locations at or...

20060183960 - Peripheral brachytherapy of protruding conformable organs: A system for and method of applying non-invasive brachytherapy to a targeted volume within a protruding organ of a patient, employs an applicator constructed so as to be positioned relative to the organ so that an enhanced dose of divergent radiation is deliverable from at least two locations at or...

20060183961 - Method and apparatus mechanically providing and/or using modulated audio effects into the interior of human flesh: Method affecting the interior of human flesh, providing modulated power signal to at least one solenoid to create a modulated solenoid action delivered through a mechanical interface to the human flesh to create a modulated audio effect into the interior. Providing the modulated power signal may include receiving an audio...

20060183962 - Artificial cardiac pump: An artificial cardiac pump, comprising an impeller (3) rotatably supported on a fixed shaft body (2) in a housing (1) and a drive mechanism rotating the impeller, wherein blood is taken in from the front side and force-fed to the rear side by the rotation of the impeller (3). The...

20060183963 - Peri-arterial blood flow booster: A peri-arterial blood flow booster apparatus for improving blood pressure and flow, to be implanted around a blood vessel of a patient. The booster comprises a pressure applying device (56) comprising at least one balloon (44), placed alongside a portion of the blood vessel and a restrainer (54) for restraining...

20060183964 - Device for self-monitoring of vocal intensity: A device to monitor vocal information such as vocal volume and frequency and provide such information in a plurality of forms, such as tactile, audible, temporal, and visual; and to induce altered vocal volume and/or frequency by altering how the user hears his or her voice, such as by shifting...

20060183965 - Integrated implantable hearing device, microphone and power unit: An implantable hearing unit is provided that includes an implantable microphone, a rechargeable power storage device and a speech signal processor. The hearing unit further includes a signal coupling device that is adapted for electrical interconnection to an implantable auditory stimulation device, which is operative to stimulate an auditory component...

20060183966 - Surgical articles and methods: Surgical instruments, implantable articles and surgical procedures disclosed for treating medical disorders, particularly incontinence. Improved surgical sling procedures are disclosed. Novel surgical instruments and kits for use in sling procedures are also disclosed. The present invention affords options for surgeons with concomitant advantages to the patient and the healthcare provider....

20060183967 - Adjustable stomach band: The invention relates to an adjustable stomach band with a rigid back (4) and a chamber (2), arranged on the stoma side of the back (4), for control of stoma constriction by means of introduction or removal of fluid from the chamber (2). According to the invention, such a stomach...

20060183968 - Article of clothing with a novel attachment means: An article of clothing including extensions for insertion into a body cavity permit swimsuits, undergarments, and several other types of clothing to be secured in place with a minimum of fabric, as described. The articles are made dimensionally stable to maintain their position and orientation relative to the wearer's body....

20060183969 - Method, system, and kit for treatment of a patient's extremity: A kit and system for treating plaque formation in a patient's extremity are provided. A pressure pump and at least two elongated vacuum chambers are included in the kit and system. Each chamber has a proximal longitudinal end adapted to receive a patient's extremity and a distal longitudinal end adapted...

20060183970 - Implantable device and method for managing erectile dysfunction: An implantable device and method for managing a patient's erectile dysfunction, wherein the device generally comprises: at least one power source member that is adapted to be implanted in the patient's lower abdominal wall; at least one pulse generating member that is adapted to be implanted in the patient's lower...

20060183971 - Cellular telephone with remote video scope and motion detector: A cellular telephonic video scope and motion detector with the video scope and motion detector remotely and removably connected to the input/output port of the cellular telephone. A further embodiment allows control of the direction of the distal end of the video scope. A further embodiment allows attachment of the...

20060183972 - Operation apparatus controller and surgery system: The operation apparatus controller controls a group of apparatuses including multiple medical apparatuses, which respectively can store patient IDs. Also, the operation apparatus controller has a patient ID comparing section which compares the patient ID stored in the various apparatuses within the group of apparatuses and a notifying section which...

20060183973 - Endoscopic devices and method of use: A catheter including a shaft including a body with a proximal portion and a distal portion, the body defining an opening from the proximal portion to the distal portion, the distal portion having an exterior dimension suitable for insertion into a body of a subject as a procedural instrument, the...

20060183974 - Endoscope with improved maneuverability: Apparatus and method for endoscopic examination of a tubular conduit are described. The apparatus is provided with an insertion tube fitted at a distal end thereof with an optical head for visualization of the conduit's interior. The insertion tube is coupled with a major inflatable sleeve, which upon inflation is...

20060183975 - Methods and apparatus for performing endoluminal procedures: Methods and apparatus for performing endoluminal procedures are described herein. An endoluminal tissue manipulation assembly is disclosed which provides for a stable endoluminal platform and which also provides for effective triangulation of tools. Such an apparatus may comprise an optionally shape-lockable elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and adapted for...

20060183976 - Medical wireless imaging device: An endoscope having restricted dimensions and comprising at least one image gatherer, at least one image distorter and at least one image sensor shaped to fit within said limited dimensions, and wherein said image distorter is operable to distort an image received from said image gatherer so that the image...

20060183977 - Endoscope: An endoscope includes light emitting devices arranged in the distal end portion of its insertion unit, and at least one elongated heat-radiating member. One end of the radiating member is arranged in the vicinity of the light emitting devices and the other end is arranged in a predetermined position adjacent...

20060183978 - Laryngoscope: A laryngoscope 10 includes an elongate blade 20 for insertion into the patient, a handle 12 for manipulating the blade, and a connecting member 30 interconnecting the blade and the handle. The handle axis 14 is laterally spaced from a plane of a blade axis 22 such that the handle...

20060183979 - Methods for using an implantable sensor unit: A method for obtaining data using an implantable sensor unit in a body of a patient includes: implanting the sensor unit in the body; conducting an imaging procedure on the body such that the sensor unit in the body serves as a fiducial marker; detecting a parameter using the sensor...

20060183981 - Knowledge determination system: A method for determining whether a subject has knowledge of a stimulus is described. The method includes generating a sensory signal corresponding to the stimulus for receipt by the subject, and collecting a cerebral indicator signal involuntarily generated in response to the subject processing the sensory signal. Identifying whether degrees...

20060183980 - Mental and physical health status monitoring, analyze and automatic follow up methods and its application on clothing: A physical and mental health status monitor, analyze and follow up clothing system. Whose purpose is to monitor the user's body fat distribution, muscular activity and position changes to diagnose health status. Regularly giving suggestions to the user to achieve proper exercise and posture to reduce body fat and prevent...

20060183983 - Compact apparatus for noninvasive measurement of glucose through near-infrared spectroscopy: The invention involves the monitoring of a biological parameter through a compact analyzer. The preferred apparatus is a spectrometer based system that is attached continuously or semi-continuously to a human subject and collects spectral measurements that are used to determine a biological parameter in the sampled tissue. The preferred target...

20060183982 - Optical element for measuring information of living body and device for measuring information of living body using the optical element: The present invention provides an optical element for measuring information of living body for noninvasively measuring a body fluid component in a test sample of living body with high accuracy, stability, and ease. The optical element includes a light incident surface, a contact surface contacting living body and having a...

20060183984 - Analyte sensor: The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host....

20060183985 - Analyte sensor: The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host....

20060183986 - Intraocular lens measurement of blood glucose: One aspect of the invention provides a blood glucose monitoring system including a light source adapted to transmit light onto at least a portion of a retina of an eye of a subject; a sensor adapted to receive light from the retina; a data capture and analysis system adapted to...

20060183987 - Intravenous ultraviolet implant: Intravenous ultraviolet implant within a human body having a plurality of ultra-violet frequency (UV) LED's attached radially in an inwardly facing manner to a rigid ring, an electrical power cord attached at one end to the UV-LED ring and at the other end to a power supply such as a...

20060183988 - Pulse oximeter with parallel saturation calculation modules: A method and apparatus for reducing the effects of noise on a system for measuring physiological parameters, such as, for example, a pulse oximeter. The method and apparatus of the invention take into account the physical limitations on various physiological parameters being monitored when weighting and averaging a series of...

20060183989 - Biomedical electrodes and biomedical electrodes for electrostimulation: A biomedical electrode for transmitting and/or receiving electrical signals to/from a patient is disclosed. The electrode includes a metallized fabric, wherein metallization of the fabric is connected at least on a top side and a bottom side of the fabric so as to uniformly transmit or receive the electrical signals....

20060183990 - Sensory for measuring of signals on the surface of the skin and method for producing of the sensory: The present invention relates to sensory for measuring signals on the surface of the skin and for producing sensory. In the sensory in accordance with the invention, the electrode surfaces required for measuring of a signal and/or conductors required for transmitting of a signal have been fastened to the textile...

20060183993 - Device, system, and method for locating an in-vivo signal source: Devices, systems and methods for locating an in-vivo signal source. For example, a system for tracking an in-vivo image sensor includes: a location detecting unit to locate the in-vivo image sensor over time; and a data modifying unit to modify data sampled by the location detecting unit based on information...

20060183991 - Polymorphisms in the th clcn7 gene as genetic markers for bone mass: Provided are genetic methods and materials for assessing bone mineral density (BMD) and determining the susceptibility of an individual to a disorder which is associated with a low level of BMD, the method comprising use of chloride channel 7 (Clcn7) marker. The methods may be used e.g. for diagnosis of...

20060183994 - Projector with transmitter information receiver and method of correcting distortion of projected image: A projector has a transmission time information reception unit for calculating the distances between a transmitter and first and second ultrasonic receivers based on reception times of ultrasonic and infrared pulses transmitted from a transmitter-equipped pointer rod for pointing to positions on a projection surface. The projector also has an...

20060183995 - Surface identification using microwave signals for microwave-based detection of cancer: A method and a system of determining a surface location defining an interface between an object to image and an antenna is provided. The method uses geometric principles and the fact that an impedance mismatch at the interface results in significant reflection. A propagation time from the surface to each...

20060183992 - Ultrasonic endoscope device: An ultrasonic endoscope device includes an optical image obtaining device that obtains an optical image of an examinee, an ultrasonic-image obtaining device that obtains an ultrasonic image of the examinee, a positional-information obtaining device that obtains positional information of the optical image obtaining device with respect to the examinee upon...

20060183998 - A method for determining the condition of an object by magnetic resonance imaging: A method for determining the condition of an animate or inanimate object by magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, particularly for determining the pathologic condition of rheumatoid arthritis (“arthritis rheumatoides”) and carrying out a patient follow-up....

20060184000 - Fast generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition image reconstruction algorithm for magnetic resonance imaging: The present invention proposes a fast GeneRalized Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisition (GRAPPA) image reconstruction algorithm for magnetic resonance imaging. The algorithm simplifies data fitting and channel merging in the process of reconstruction into a one-step linear calculation. Parameters needed to perform the linear calculation step can be pre-calculated and stored,...

20060183996 - Magnetic resonance imaging system: A magnetic resonance imaging system in which measurement data (k space data) of arterial phase is extracted easily (and instantaneously) after imaging a plurality of time phases including the arterial phase and its image can be displayed in dynamic MRA measurement employing a contrast medium. Dynamic measurement is thereby carried...

20060183997 - Magnetic resonance system and method for checking the positioning of an examination subject: In a magnetic resonance system and method for checking the positioning of an examination subject, with an image acquisition unit that acquires images of an examination subject by means of nuclear magnetic resonance, an image processing unit automatically searches the acquired images of the examination subject for geometric figures in...

20060183999 - Method and system for motion compensation in magnetic resonance (mr) imaging: A method and system are provided for imaging by predicting, from multiple real time MR imaging data, motion of an object and subsequently obtaining high-resolution imaging data of the object using the predicted motion of the object. Thus, the process uses real time images to derive a history of the...

20060184001 - Method for mri scanning of animals for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies: A method for detecting the presence of various transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) in mammals is provided. Steps include taking a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image of the brain of the mammal, selecting a section within the image, determining a measurement of a first brain structure in the section, and determining...

20060184002 - Quantitative contrast enhanced black-blood imaging using quadruple-inversion recovery: A reduced field-of-view (FOV) imaging technique combines suppression of signals from outer volume and inflowing blood. Both outer volume and blood suppression are achieved using an SFQIR (Small-FOV Quadruple-inversion-Recovery) preparative pulse sequence including two double-inversion pulse pairs separated by appropriate delays. Within each pair, inversion pulses are successively applied to...

20060184003 - Intra-procedurally determining the position of an internal anatomical target location using an externally measurable parameter: Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with facilitating intra-procedurally determining the position of an internal anatomical target location using an externally measurable parameter are described. One exemplary method embodiment includes pre-procedurally correlating internal anatomy motion with external marker motion. The example method may also include providing computer graphics to...

20060184004 - Magnetic resonance imaging for a plurality of selective regions set to object continuously moved: MRI echo data is acquired by performing selective-excitation on regions composed of multi-slices of an object, while the object is moved continuously. The positions of the multi-slices are moved within a predetermined imaging range fixedly determined by an MRI system, according to object movement. This allows positions of the multi-slices...

20060184006 - Intraoperative c-arm fluoroscope datafusion system: In one form of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for producing a virtual road map of a patient's vascular anatomy for use by a surgeon while conducting a procedure on the patient's vascular anatomy, the apparatus comprising: a virtual 3D model of the patient's anatomy, wherein the...

20060184005 - Models and methods of using same for testing medical devices: Disclosed herein are synthetic anatomical models that are designed to enable simulated use testing by medical device companies, medical device designers, individual inventors, or any other entity interested in the performance of medical devices. These models are unique in possessing a level of complexity that allows them to be substituted...

20060184007 - Interventional magnetic resonance imaging based on global coherent free precession: Methods and systems for obtaining intravascular magnetic resonance images of blood flow are disclosed. In preferred forms, a train of radio frequency (RF) pulses is produced by an intravascularly introduced RF transmitter positioned in proximate location to the blood flow so as to create a continuous stream of coherently excited...

20060184008 - Programmable injector control: A fluid injection arrangement, in the context of patient imaging systems, in which phases of contrast medium injection and flushing medium injection can be freely and selectably ordered so as to make available to the operator and patient a vast array of possible protocols that has hitherto been essentially unattainable....

20060184009 - Local endo coil for intracorporeal placement for recording magnetic resonance signals: An outer balloon is provided in the interior thereof with a coil conductor for a local endo coil for intracorporeal placement for recording magnetic resonance signals, which can be deployed for the purpose of receiving signals. In addition to the coil, a filling medium is fed into the balloon, so...

20060184010 - Low temperature probe and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis apparatus using the same: In an ultrahigh sensitive NMR apparatus, a stability of a temperature of a very low temperature probe coil is improved. A low temperature probe of the high sensitive NMR apparatus is structured at a very low temperature by a cooling apparatus. A cooling medium at a room temperature (300 K)...

20060184011 - In vivo localization and tracking of tissue penetrating catheters using magnetic resonance imaging: Magnetic resonance image (MRI) guided tissue penetrating catheters and their methods of use. One or more MRI apparatus (e.g., one or more coils) are positioned on or in a catheter device that includes a tissue penetrator that may be used to form a penetration tract from a body lumen in...

20060184012 - Method for operating a medical imaging apparatus to correct for deflection of the patient support board: In a method for operation of an imaging medical apparatus, a recumbent board supporting an examination subject is positioned in the scan region of the medical-technical apparatus, an exposure of both a section of the recumbent board and of a part of the tissue of the examination subject to be...

20060184013 - Method and apparatus for determining position and rotational orientation of an object: A method and apparatus for determining position and rotational orientation of an object within a predetermined area is disclosed. Position markers, encoded with their identity, are viewed with a camera, images are captured and processed, and the position and rotational orientation of the object are calculated. Three embodiments are disclosed;...

20060184014 - Registration aid for medical images: A registration aid for medical images obtained from an examination subject respectively with different imaging modalities at separated points in time, has a carrier adapted to be reproducibly applied to an examination subject at separated points in time at a substantially identical position on the examination subject at each of...

20060184015 - Colonography of an unprepared colon: A method for generating colonography images for colorectal screening of a patient. The patient is administered an amount of radiopaque stool marker which will enable stool present in the patient's colon to be distinguished from soft tissue. The patient's colon is imaged after the stool marker has been administered to...

20060184016 - Method and apparatus for guiding an instrument to a target in the lung: The invention provides methods and apparatus for navigating a medical instrument to a target in the lung. In one embodiment, the invention includes inserting a bronchoscope into the lung, inserting a catheter into the lung through the working channel of the bronchoscope, inserting a tracked navigation instrument wire into the...

20060184017 - Method and arrangement for x-ray examination: In order during an x-ray examination, despite a variable foreign magnetic field at the location of an x-ray tube to still enable x-ray images with image sections giving the same coverage to be generated, there is provision in accordance with the invention to compensate for the previously determined change to...

20060184018 - Radio guided seed localization of imaged lesions: A method of removing lesions by implanting a radioactive seed at the location of the lesion, locating the lesion with the radioactive seed, and removing the lesion with the radioactive seed....

20060184020 - Displacement measurement method and apparatus, strain measurement method and apparatus, elasticity and visco-elasticity constants measurement apparatus, and the elasticity and visco-elasticity constants measurement apparatus-based treatment apparatus: The present invention provides elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus etc. for measuring in the ROI in living tissues elastic constants such as shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, Lame constants, etc., visco elastic constants such as visco shear modulus, visco Poisson's ratio, visco Lame constants, etc. and density even...

20060184021 - Method of improving the quality of a three-dimensional ultrasound doppler image: The present invention relates to a method of improving a 3D ultrasound color Doppler image through a post-processing. A method of processing an ultrasound image, includes the following steps: a) recognizing a target object from an inputted ultrasound image based on an object recognition algorithm using connectivity of the target...

20060184019 - Ultrasonic imaging apparatus: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus which displays ultrasonic image of a subject, and displays a measurement pattern in the displayed ultrasonic image based on measurement pattern information with respect to a location and a form of the measurement pattern to be input, to perform the image measurement of the ultrasonic image....

20060184023 - Ultrasonic imaging apparatus and ultrasonic image processing apparatus, method and program: An ultrasonic image processing apparatus capable of analyzing speckle information contained in the entire ultrasonic image and displaying the analysis results as a moving image. The ultrasonic image processing apparatus is an apparatus for processing reception signals, which are obtained by transmitting ultrasonic waves toward an object to be inspected...

20060184022 - Ultrasound for the diagnosis and treatment of carpal tunnel and other localized nerve compression conditions: An apparatus and methods for diagnosing and treating nerve compression conditions in a patient, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome and other nerve compression conditions. Ultrasound transducer heads having an array of high frequency piezoelectric crystal elements mounted in the transducer head capable of delivering frequencies of 7.5...

20060184026 - Blood viscosity measurement device: There is disclosed a blood viscosity measurement device which measures a flow rate of blood and a thickness of a blood vessel to determine a viscosity of the blood. The device substitutes the flow rate of the blood, the thickness of the blood vessel, and a blood pressure into a...

20060184025 - Displacement measurement method and apparatus, strain measurement method and apparatus, elasticity and visco-elasticity constants measurement apparatus, and the elasticity and visco-elasticity constants measurement apparatus-based treatment apparatus: The present invention provides elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus etc. for measuring in the ROI in living tissues elastic constants such as shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, Lame constants, etc., visco elastic constants such as visco shear modulus, visco Poisson's ratio, visco Lame constants, etc. and density even...

20060184024 - Tissue thickness measurement device: A device is described that can be easily used to accurately measure and monitor tissue thickness using ultrasound. The device comprises a remote control and data processing unit, a handheld ultrasound transducer, a display monitor and means for effectively coupling ultrasound to tissue....

20060184027 - Diagnostic imaging system, magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, and method of diagnostic imaging: A diagnostic imaging system includes a scanner, a plurality of computers, and a control unit. The scanner scans a subject to obtain data. The control unit switches between a multiprocessing mode and a parallel processing mode, the multiprocessing mode allowing the same process in any of a medical-image forming process...

20060184028 - Apparatus and method for ultrasonic color imaging: This invention discloses a method and apparatus for ultrasonic color imaging applicable in medical diagnoses and industrial inspections. Multiple color parameters calculated via evaluating a plurality of characterizing properties of the ultrasonic signal attributable to an image point are employed to specify the color of the image point. The produced...

20060184029 - Ultrasound guiding system and method for vascular access and operation mode: The present invention provides an ultrasound_medical imaging system with integrated devices and functionalities for use in wide range of medical procedures that require vascular and arterial access. The present invention discloses a method for detection, recognition and classification of blood vessels. Said method further calculates the optimal insertion parameters of...

20060184031 - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic image acquiring method: A measurement data processing device measures a size of a diagnostic region from a tomographic image as two-dimensional information. An ROI width determining device determines a size of a region of interest based on the size (lateral width and longitudinal width) of the diagnostic region. An oscillation angle determining device...

20060184030 - Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus: In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus for forming a Doppler image, a plurality of partial regions are set within a scan region in which Doppler information is obtained. A partial scan operation is performed a plurality of times in a repetitive manner in each of the partial regions. In each partial...

20060184032 - Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus comprises an ultrasound probe, a transmitter (including a transmitting pulse generator and a transmitting beamformer), a receiver (including a preamplifier and a receiving beamformer), a CFM processor (including a moving-element signal extractor and a velocity corrector), a tomographic image processor, and a display unit. The apparatus...

20060184034 - Ultrasonic probe with an integrated display, tracking and pointing devices: An Ultrasonic probe with integrated devices and functionalities for use in a wide range of medical applications. The present invention supports vascular and arterial access procedures. The apparatus consist of the following: ultrasonic probe, several optional displays, tracking and pointing devices. All devices are integrated together with special probe housing....

20060184033 - Ultrasound probe, particularly for diagnostic imaging: An ultrasound probe particularly for diagnostic purposes includes a first array of ultrasound transducers that generate ultrasound waves by electric excitation and transforming ultrasound waves impinging on them into electric signals. Each transducer is provided with contact electrodes which are connected respectively to a ground potential and to electric signals...

20060184035 - Ultrasonic probe for intra-cavity diagnosis and manufacturing method thereof: A diagnostic ultrasonic probe for use in body cavities has at its tip an ultrasonic transducer array, which has a layered structure wherein a flexible circuit board, an electric circuit, a backing material, a piezoelectric element array, an acoustic impedance matching layer and an acoustic lens are formed atop another...

20060184036 - Medical imaging transmit spectral control using aperture functions: Methods and systems are provided for controlling the transmit spectrum in medical imaging. A combination of different delays and/or sign changes are used control the spectrum. The different delays and/or sign changes are applied across the transmit aperture. For example, a repeating pattern of three different delays in addition to...

20060184039 - Apparatus and method for light control in an in-vivo imaging device: A device and method for for example operating an in vivo imaging device wherein the illumination is operated at a certain rate or range of rates, and images are transmitted from the device....

20060184040 - Apparatus, system and method for optically analyzing a substrate: An apparatus for optically analyzing a substrate. The apparatus includes: (a) a light source for directing light onto the substrate; (b) optics for creating an optical path from light reflected from the substrate; and (c) a multiple wavelength imaging optical subsystem positioned in the optical path. The multiple wavelength imaging...

20060184044 - Biological optical measurement instrument: A biological optical measurement instrument including: a measurement probe positionable to a surface of a subject, which irradiates light beams having a plurality of wavelengths from a light beam source through optical fibers onto the subject, and collects the light beams passed inside the subject from a plurality of positions...

20060184043 - Method and apparatus for high resolution spatially modulated fluorescence imaging and tomography: An improvement in a method for quantitative modulated imaging to perform depth sectioned reflectance or transmission imaging in a turbid medium, such as human or animal tissue is directed to the steps of encoding periodic pattern of illumination preferably with a fluorescent excitation wavelength when exposing a turbid medium to...

20060184042 - Method, system and apparatus for dark-field reflection-mode photoacoustic tomography: The present invention provides a method, system and apparatus for reflection-mode microscopic photoacoustic imaging using dark-field illumination that can be used to characterize a target within a tissue by focusing one or more laser pulses onto a surface of the tissue so as to penetrate the tissue and illuminate the...

20060184045 - Optical measurement instrument for living body: An optical measurement instrument for a living body to measure dynamic change of blood of a brain includes light incident units for irradiating light on a head of a subject, a light detector for detecting a light irradiated from the light incident units and reflected within the subject, a signal...

20060184046 - Optical measurement instrument for living body: An optical measurement instrument for a living body including a first light irradiator for irradiating light from a first irradiation position in a small region as considered as a plan on the surface of a head of a subject into the inside of the head in the region in the...

20060184047 - Optical measurement instrument for living body: An input instrument for a living body, using an optical measurement system for the living body, includes first and second light incident units arranged on a head of a living body, and first and second light detectors which are paired with the first and the second light incident units respectively,...

20060184037 - Pulsed lighting imaging systems and methods: Systems and methods for monitoring patients utilizing reflectance avoidance as well as other imaging modalities. Information regarding perfusion, oxygen saturation and oxygen availability, as well as others may be obtained. System embodiments may include a light source, a light transport body configured to project light from the light source to...

20060184041 - System for testing semiconductors: A system that includes an imaging device for effectively positioning a probe for testing a semiconductor wafer....

20060184038 - System, method, and product for analyzing images comprising small feature sizes: A method of reconstructing a cell using a raw image of a biological probe array is described that comprises (a) assigning an intensity value to a reconstructed cell of a reconstructed image, where each reconstructed cell comprises a plurality of reconstructed pixels; (b) determining a weighted intensity value for each...

20060184049 - Apparatus for acquiring tomographic image formed by ultrasound-modulated fluorescence: In a fluorescence tomography apparatus for obtaining fluorescence tomographic images of a region of an object to be observed: an application unit concurrently applies an ultrasonic wave and excitation light to the region so that ultrasound-modulated fluorescence is emitted from the region under the influence of the ultrasonic wave; and...

20060184048 - Tissue visualization and manipulation system: Tissue visualization and manipulation systems are described herein. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is...

20060184051 - Apparatus and methods for non-invasively measuring hemodynamic parameters: Improved apparatus and methods for non-invasively assessing one or more hemodynamic parameters associated with the circulatory system of a living organism. In one aspect, the invention comprises apparatus adapted to accurately place and maintain a sensor (e.g., tonometric pressure sensor) with respect to the anatomy of the subject, including an...

20060184050 - Biomedical optical device and biomedical optical measuring method: Light having a wavelength to be absorbed by a target object is irradiated from a light irradiating unit toward a subject while varying its intensity in the course of time. At least two detecting elements arrayed along a scanning direction detect a component having a large time delay out of...

20060184052 - Blood-pressure monitor: Disclosed is a blood-pressure monitor, which comprises signal generation means for generating a breathing-guidance signal during a blood-pressure measurement, and display means for displaying an indication for guiding breathing based on the breathing-guidance signal. The blood-pressure monitor of the present invention can display an indication for guiding resting breathing during...

20060184054 - Blood pressure monitor cuff and blood pressure monitor: An air bag being inflated and deflated as air comes in and out is included. The air bag is formed of a flexible sheet material. The air bag has at least an inner circumferential sheet positioned inside when a blood pressure monitor cuff is wrapped around a living body, and...

20060184053 - Tunnel type sphygmomanometer assembly: The present invention discloses an improved tunnel type sphygmomanometer assembly which comprises a platform, a deformable plate disposed on the platform and an air cuff covered on the surface of the plate; one end of the plate is fixed to the platform and the other end of the plate is...

20060184055 - Method and system for determination of pulse rate: A method and system for determining pulse rate of a patient are disclosed. The method and system include acquiring measured information for at least one pulse at a pressure step, determining and storing quality values for the at least one pulse at the pressure step, analyzing pulse matching criteria for...

20060184056 - Apparatus for detecting sleep apnea using electrocardiogram signals: An apparatus for diagnosing sleep apnea only uses an electrocardiogram signal and a computer processor and associated computer code that are configured to analyze the electrocardiogram signal and classify each time period of the electrocardiogram signal as either apneic or normal. A diagnostic measure of sleep apnea for the human...

20060184057 - A small, fast responding whole-body indirect calorimeter: A system for determining resting metabolic rate (RMR) based primarily on oxygen consumption is described. The system consists of an enclosed, sealed chamber within which the patient/subject sits or reclines. The rate of volumetric oxygen change in the system is then monitored to determine the subjects' oxygen consumption rate. The...

20060184058 - Aptitude testing: A method of assessing the cognitive aptitude of a subject to a predetermined task, the method including the steps of: (i) presenting to the subject a group of cognitive tasks; (ii) detecting brain response signals from the subject during presentation of the group of cognitive tasks; (iii) calculating SSVEP amplitude,...

20060184059 - Method of and apparatus for monitoring of muscle activity: Apparatus for monitoring muscle activity, said apparatus comprising means for providing signals indicative of muscle activity, for example EMG-signals, means for processing of said signals in order to detect a particular activity and means for providing a feedback signal, wherein said device is designed in order to be individually adaptable...

20060184060 - Pathology assessment with impedance measurements using convergent bioelectric lead fields: A method and apparatus for measuring impedance for pathology assessment in a living being using convergent bioelectric lead fields is disclosed, including injecting a current between first and second electrodes implanted in a body of a living being, where the first and second electrodes define a first electric lead field...

20060184061 - Dental root canal apex measuring apparatus and method: Apparatus for determining the apex of a dental root canal in a tooth includes a software operated microcontroller having a pulse generator, a memory and an analog to digital converter (ADC), the pulse generator feeding pulses to a gain control circuit for controlling the amplitude of the pulses. The apparatus...

20060184062 - Fitting of brightness in a visual prosthesis: The invention is a method of automatically adjusting an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual patient. The perceptual response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and The response to electrical neural stimulation varies from patient to patient and the relationship between current and perceived...

20060184063 - Single motor handheld biopsy device: A tissue removal apparatus having a cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The cutting element includes an outer cannula defining a tissue-receiving opening and an inner cannula concentrically disposed within the outer cannula. The outer cannula has a trocar tip at its distal end and a cutting board snugly disposed...

20060184064 - Urine sample collection device: A urine collection device includes a support apparatus for supporting the urine collection device on a toilet. An attachment section attaches to a sample holder and a collection section receives and directs urine into the sample holder....

20060184065 - Method and apparatus for storing an analyte sampling and measurement device: Methods and apparatus are provided for storing used and unused test strips in a desiccated environment. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing an analyte sampling device having a instrument housing and a cartridge having a plurality of penetrating members wherein the penetrating members are slidably movable to extend outward...

20060184067 - Contact sensors and methods for making same: The present invention is directed to novel contact sensors. The contact sensors of the invention include a conductive composite material formed of a polymer and a conductive filler. In one particular embodiment, the composite materials can include less than about 10 wt % conductive filler. Thus, the composite material of...

20060184068 - Hair sensor: A hair sensor, which can suppress mixing of external noise to a minimal level when a sliding sound of hair is detected, amplified, and output as an audio output in order to estimate surface characteristics and the degree of hair damage, and which can be easily used, is provided. The...

20060184066 - Method for aiding stent-assisted coiling of intracranial aneurysms by virtual parent artery reconstruction: A method of creating a surface model of an intracranial aneurysm in an artery having a lumen, the aneurysm having a neck and a dome and the virtual reconstruction of the parent artery across the lateral extension of the aneurysm neck. The method includes the steps of: determining a center...

20060173233 - Brachytherapy applicator for delivery and assessment of low-level ionizing radiation therapy and methods of use: Applicators for ionizing radiation therapy and their methods of use are provided for expedient preparation of precise treatment plans and for quantitative assessment of therapy delivered to natural or surgically-created, intra-corporeal cavities or lumina. Feedback capability is provided for timely treatment control and for verification of treatment to plan using...

20060173232 - Hdr adapter for electronic radiation source applicator: An applicator designed for use with a miniature electronic x-ray source, having a relatively large guide for the electronic source, is modified by an adapter inserted into the source guide to produce a narrower-diameter guide that will receive a standard afterloader that irradiates with isotopes....

20060173234 - Apparatus for treating patients suffering from vascular disease by means of infra-,audible-and untrasound waves: An apparatus (10) and a method for treating patients suffering from vascular disease with infra-, audible- and ultrasound waves. The apparatus (10) includes a treating head (15) for emitting sound waves with frequencies ranging from 1 Hz to 100 kHz and introducing the sound waves through a coupling medium (20)...

20060173235 - Gynecological brachytherapy applicator and system: A vaginal brachytherapy applicator is versatile to different anatomies and more comfortable to the patient than prior applicators. An inflatable balloon on a shaft may be inelastic or elastic. In one embodiment the shaft is rotatable relative to the balloon for enabling a ring or band of dose delivery, for...

20060173236 - Brachytherapy magazine seed indicator: A indicator usable with plural brachytherapy element dispensing devices such as seed magazines or seed cartridges for determining the number of seeds remaining in the cartridge and/or the number of seeds that have been dispensed. In one embodiment, the indicator is releasably attachable to a brachytherapy-element dispensing device. In another...

20060173237 - Method and apparatus for treating pelvic organ prolapses in female patients: An anterior implant adapted to treat central and lateral cystoceles present in a female patient includes laterally extending stabilizing straps for supporting the implant between the patient's bladder and vagina independently of the patient's arcus tendineous fascia pelvis. Rectocele and hysterocele repairs can be carried out using a single posterior...

20060173238 - Dynamically controlled gastric occlusion device: A dynamically controlled gastric occlusion device monitors at least one physiological parameter that varies as a function of food intake and controls the degree of gastric constriction of an occluding device, such as a gastric band, based on the monitored physiological parameter. In another embodiment, the dynamically controlled gastric occlusion...

20060173239 - Drive for an endoscope: The drive (1) for a flexible endoscope (2) has support elements (3, 4) which move relative to one another in a displacement direction (s) perpendicular to the axial direction (a) of the endoscope (2) and can be fixed in a desired position. On each of the support elements (3, 4),...

20060173240 - Electronic endoscope system: An electronic endoscope system for observing living tissues inside a body cavity includes an illuminating apparatus having a white light source emitting white light and an excitation light source emitting excitation light, an electronic endoscope including an insertion part to be inserted into the body cavity, an imaging device that...

20060173241 - Front end structure of endoscope: An endoscope having an inserted portion, which is to be inserted into a tubular organ, including a bendable portion that is adapted to bend arbitrarily by a remote operation and a distal unit with a window for observation to capture an image of inside of the tubular organ, is provided....

20060173242 - Hermetic endoscope assemblage: Hermetically sealed enclosures and constructions are disclosed for use in endoscopic systems, particularly endoscopic systems with electronic imaging and illumination systems in the enclosures. Compound optical windows are also disclosed for use in the systems. The compound optical windows may have separate panes for an imaging system and an illumination...

20060173243 - Endoscope: A slender insertion section of the endoscope has an endoscope distal-end portion, a tubular body and a bending portion, all extending along the longitudinal axis of the insertion section. The bending portion is arranged between the distal-end portion and the tubular body. The insertion section has an inner component. The...

20060173244 - System and method of obstruction removal: In one aspect, the present invention is a system for preparing a patient for an endoscopy procedure, such as a colonoscopy. The endoscopic preparation and examination system includes an endoscope, a source of irrigation and aspiration, and a control unit. The endoscope includes an elongated flexible shaft with a distal...

20060173245 - Disposable attachable light source unit for an endoscope: An LED based light source unit for an endoscopic imaging system produces illumination for a camera through an endoscope. The light source unit includes an array of LEDs mounted to a thermally conductive substrate, a light guide to collect light emitted from the LEDs and to couple the light into...

20060173246 - Medical information interface and communication system: A mobile point-of-care medical station adapted to be employed by patient monitors made by a variety of different manufacturers. A mobile point-of-care medical station includes a patient medical parameter processor and a communication interface. The patient medical parameter processor automatically acquires data, representing medical parameters of a patient, and processes...

20060173248 - Derivation of flow contour from pressure waveform: The present invention provides a system and method for estimating a blood flow waveform contour from a pressure signal. An arterial or ventricular pressure signal is acquired from a pressure sensor. Landmark points are identified on the pressure waveform that correspond to features of a flow waveform. In one embodiment,...

20060173247 - Finger sleeve sensor holder: A conformable medical sensor is provided that has particular applicability for positioning a pulse oximeter sensor relative to a patient appendage. In one embodiment, the sensor holder includes a patient engaging member that is plastically deformable to permit the sensor holder to be conformed to the patient appendage, and plastically...

20060173249 - Method of producing a synthesized bipolar ecg waveform from a scalar ecg waveform: An adapter converts a scalar ECG signal into a pseudo-vector ECG signal suitable for synchronization purposes on certain MRI systems having vector ECG inputs. The pseudo ECG signal while lacking significant diagnostic information replicates sufficient ECG features for timing purposes. Different pseudo ECG signals may be synthesized for compatibility with...

20060173251 - Current-based position sensing: A method for position sensing includes inserting a probe comprising at least one electrode into a body of a subject, and passing electrical currents through the body between the at least one electrode and a plurality of locations on a surface of the body. Respective characteristics of the currents passing...

20060173250 - Device for examining a neutral electrode: The invention relates to a device for testing a neutral electrode (1) for use in electrosurgery, comprising a measuring surface (25) which is formed by a plurality of measuring electrodes (20), whereon the neutral electrode (1) is applied. Each measuring electrode (20) of the measuring surface (25) is connected to...

20060173252 - Sensor in vivo measurement of osmotic changes: The present invention teaches a method, system and units for measuring changes in blood during a longer period of time in vivo with a patient by measuring diffusivity of solvent. A differential pressure sensor is arranged on a silicon wafer or beam comprising resistors being in communication with fluids in...

20060173253 - Systems and methods for detection of wound fluid blood and application of phototherapy in conjunction with reduced pressure wound treatment system: Wound fluid blood detection systems and methods are described that are operable in conjunction with reduced pressure wound treatment (RPWT) systems, as well as ancillary therapy and monitoring systems applied concurrently with RPWT systems. The blood detection monitor operates by optically characterizing the content of wound fluids to the extent...

20060173256 - Apparatus and method for controlling operation of vehicles or machinery by intoxicated or impaired individuals: The present invention relates generally to non-invasive methods and apparatuses for determining analyte properties of a subject and identity characteristics of a subject. Embodiments of the present invention provide analyte property determination and identity determination or verification from the same spectroscopic information, making unauthorized use or misleading results less likely...

20060173254 - Compact apparatus for noninvasive measurement of glucose through near-infrared spectroscopy: The invention involves the monitoring of a biological parameter through a compact analyzer. The preferred apparatus is a spectrometer based system that is attached continuously or semi-continuously to a human subject and collects spectral measurements that are used to determine a biological parameter in the sampled tissue. The preferred target...

20060173255 - Compact apparatus for noninvasive measurement of glucose through near-infrared spectroscopy: The invention involves the monitoring of a biological parameter through a compact analyzer. The preferred apparatus is a spectrometer based system that is attached continuously or semi-continuously to a human subject and collects spectral measurements that are used to determine a biological parameter in the sampled tissue. The preferred target...

20060173258 - Apparatus and method for measuring transit time of oxygen in blood: In order to measure a transit time of oxygen in blood, at least one sensor is attached to at least one prescribed position on a subject. The sensor is adapted to detect a light absorption of arterial blood at the prescribed position. An oxygen saturation of the arterial blood at...

20060173257 - Sleep evaluation method, sleep evaluation system, operation program for sleep evaluation system, pulse oximeter, and sleep support system: Measurement is made about a necessary evaluation parameter of a subject, the parameter being variable due to sleep apnea of the subject. A body position of the subject is detected in terms of angle information. The parameter measurement and the body angle detection are executed at a predetermined sampling frequency....

20060173259 - Biological interface system: A system and method for an improved biological interface system that processes multicellular signals of a patient and controls one or more devices is disclosed. The system includes a sensor that detects the multicellular signals and a processing unit for producing the control signal based on the multicellular signals. The...

20060173260 - System, device and method for diabetes treatment and monitoring: An apparatus and method may provide a system, apparatus and method for monitoring diabetes, including a server to serve data to a cellular communications network; a communications device including a wireless transceiver; a cellular network to enable data to be communicated between the communication device and the server; and a...

20060173261 - Biopotential sensor: A sensor for measuring biopotential signals from the skin of a patient. The sensor comprises a carrier having a top surface positioned contiguous with the skin of the patient when the sensor is applied to the patient's skin and a bottom surface facing away from the patient when the sensor...

20060173262 - Medical lead with segmented electrode: A medical lead having a conductor assembly and a segmented electrode assembly. The segmented electrode assembly includes a conductive segment electrically coupled to a conductor of the conductor assembly. A passageway is positioned between an inner surface and outer surface of the conductive segment. An electrically insulating material extends through...

20060173263 - Neural interface assembly and method for making and implanting the same: An implant assembly for creating a neural interface with a central nervous system having at least one biocompatible intracortical electrode is presented along with a method of making and implanting device. The mechanical, electrical and biological characteristics of the assembly support its use as a reliable long term implant....

20060173270 - Adaptable user interface for diagnostic imaging: A method of operating a user interface is provided. The method includes receiving a first control command at a console operationally coupled to a first and second medical system, wherein the console has control over both the first and second medical systems. The first medical system is operated based upon...

20060173266 - Ex vivo verification of biopsy tissue samples: An instrument for verification of presence of image enhancing, contrasting agent in a biopsy sample which was obtained by imaging the lesion area with an imaging modality which is sensitive to the contrasting agent. In one embodiment of the invention, an optical spectrometer is used to analyze biopsy samples for...

20060173269 - Integrated skin-mounted multifunction device for use in image-guided surgery: The invention comprises an integrated skin-mountable multifunction device for use with a computer assisted or image guided surgical system and methods of using the same, wherein the multifunction device includes a patient mountable portion that has at least one position indicating element and at least one imageable pattern whose geometry...

20060173264 - Interface apparatus for passive tracking systems and method of use thereof: An interface apparatus (20) for tracking by a tracking system (40) of an object(s) in space for position and orientation and for interacting with the tracking system (40). The interface apparatus (20) comprises passive detectable devices (12,14,16,22) trackable for position by the tracking system (40). A mounting device (10,24) receives...

20060173265 - Method and apparatus for receiving data in human body communication system: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for receiving data in a human body communication system. The receiving apparatus, which comprises plural receiving electrodes, selects the optimum pair of receiving electrodes when receiving data, so that it can improve quality of received information and obtain position information of a...

20060173267 - Method and device for administering health care remotely: The video medicine method and system disclosed includes at least one remote center configured to examine a patient, communicate with a diagnostic center enabling a doctor to provide medical care via video conference....

20060173271 - Method for analyzing medical image data: A method for analyzing a medical image. The process: establishes a predetermined criteria; obtains data in a plane traverse the anatomical object; identifies a point disposed on the object in the plane; detects contour points of the object in the plane from the identified point; analyzes the obtained contour points...

20060173272 - Method for analyzing medical image data using level set: A method for analyzing medical image includes obtaining a plurality of surface fronts on an object, such points being disposed in a three dimensional volume in the object; varying the volume of each one of the points such volumes combining into a common volume; and terminating the process when the...

20060173268 - Methods and systems for controlling acquisition of images: Systems and methods for interacting effectively with three-dimensional data are provided such that a data acquisition system of an imaging system can be guided appropriately to gather relevant information from the object being imaged. In one embodiment, the imaging system includes the data acquisition system for obtaining a three-dimensional image...

20060173273 - System or method for examining a patient by means of an imaging medical diagnostic equipment: In order to enable patient data to be reliably taken into account in a simple manner for examination by means of an imaging medical diagnostic equipment of a patient positionable on a table top of a patient table, it is provided according to the invention for an occupancy distribution exerted...

20060173274 - Functional magnetic resonance imaging guided transcranial magnetic stimulation deception inhibitor: Functional brain imaging is used to determine the regions of a brain an individual uses to lie or deceive, and then the TMS is applied to that region of the brain while the individual, is, e.g., attempting to respond to a question. If the person is attempting to deceive, TMS...

20060173277 - Adaptive imaging parameters with mri: Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with automatically adapting MRI controlling parameters are described. One exemplary method embodiment includes configuring an MRI apparatus to acquire MR signal data using a non-rectilinear trajectory. The example method may also include acquiring MR signals, transforming the MR signals into image data, and...

20060173278 - Anatomical fixture for magnetic resonance position imaging: Fixtures for immobilizing a patient during magnetic resonance imaging....

20060173276 - Contrast-enhanced moving table mr arteriography with stochastic sampling of central k-space: A system is described for the acquisition of a magnetic resonance scan of a subject. The system is particularly useful when the subject which contains a volume of interest which is larger than the field of view of the system and when the scan includes a time dependent signal. The...

20060173279 - Method for implementing a medical imaging examination procedure: In a method for implementation of an imaging measurement procedure, at least three image data sets of at least one region of interest of an examination subject are obtained using different measurement parameters and/or different imaging measurement procedures. A difference image of a first and a second of the image...

20060173275 - System for early detection of disease and development of disease-specific biomarkers: The present invention relates to a method for the detection of a specific disease in a mammal, comprising providing an NMR spectrum of metabolites in a body fluid of an individual of said mammal in which said disease is suspected and comparing said NMR spectrum with a difference profile, comprising...

20060173280 - Multi mode imaging marker: The invention provides a device for percutaneously implanting an imaging marker for identifying a location within a tissue mass. The subcutaneous imaging marker comprises at least a first element and a second element, each of which have a primary imaging mode. The primary imaging mode of the first element is...

20060173281 - Method and system for evaluating vertebrobasilar disease: A method and system are disclosed for evaluating symptomatic VBD which uses quantitative hemodynamic assessment in order to identify patients at high risk for stroke and provide appropriate guidance for intervention. Patients with symptomatic VBD may be considered for intervention to provide blood flow augmentation if evidence of sufficient flow...

20060173282 - Method for the production of hyperpolarized 129xe: The present invention relates to a method for the production of hyperpolarized 129Xe and to a method for the production of a contrast agent....

20060173283 - Method of magnetic resonance imaging: The present invention provides methods for passive visualisation of invasive devices by employing a hyperpolarised solution of a high T1 agent having a T1 value of at least 5 seconds at a field strength in the range of 0.001-5 T and a temperature in the range of 20-40° C. Devices...

20060173285 - Methods and systems for reducing rf-induced heating in magnetic resonance imaging: A conducting wire assembly (80) is provided for use with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (10). The conducting wire assembly (80) includes at least one impedance component (82) coupled externally to a conducting wire (34). The impedance component (82) is configured to dynamically vary an impedance of the conducting...

20060173284 - Radiofrequency coil and catheter for surface nmr imaging and spectroscopy: In one aspect, the present invention provides a cylindrical meanderline coil that can significantly improve the performance and usefulness of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) catheter radiofrequency (RF) coils by shaping the spatial dimensions of the volume of excitation and reception of signal. This can provide improved accuracy in defining the...

20060173289 - Device for detecting shape of endoscope: Position detecting elements are disposed in an endoscope insertion portion at predetermined intervals. Even when the endoscope insertion portion is bent, position data representing the detected positions of the elements is used to infer or detect the shape of the insertion portion. A virtual element is disposed between adjoining elements...

20060173291 - Electromagnetically tracked k-wire device: Devices and methods for registering, dynamically referencing, and navigating an anatomical region of interest of a patient are provided using a tracked Kirschner wire (K-wire), where the K-wire includes a position-indicating element....

20060173290 - Localised medical instrument with tilt and swivel screen: The invention relates to a medical instrument comprising a medical tool intended, while a medical act is being performed, to be maintained by a user and/or by a robot and the position of which is intended to be determined by a tracking system, and comprising a display system having a...

20060173286 - Method and apparatus for determining a pose of an implant: A method for determining a pose of an implant object that is located inside a human or animal body uses a CAD model of that implant through a reconstruction X-Ray procedure that encompasses a translation-reconstruction run of the X-Ray arrangement viz ô viz the implant object. In particular, the method...

20060173287 - Method and arrangement for tracking a medical instrument: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for the intravascular or intracardial navigation of a catheter (5). Using an X-ray fluoroscopy device (1), firstly an image database of 2D images is generated, where at the same time as each 2D image (I) is taken the associated heartbeat phase...

20060173288 - Mr visualization of interventional devices: MR method for generating MR images of an object to be examined located inside an examination volume by means of an MR device and for simultaneously locating an interventional instrument inserted into the examination object, which instrument is equipped with a locating device. For the reconstruction of an MR image...

20060173292 - Biological tissue motion trace method and image diagnosis device using the trace method: A one frame image of a moving image formed by producing tomographic images of an object to be examined is displayed (S2), a mark is superposed on a designated portion of a tissue the movement of which is tracked in the displayed one frame image (S3), a cutout image of...

20060173293 - Method and apparatus for computer assistance with intramedullary nail procedure: A specially-programmed, computer-assisted surgery system is used to reduce the number of fluoroscopic images required to be taken during the course of a intramedullary nail procedure, eliminates the need for a Steinman pin, and assists the surgeon in properly aligning and securing the nail during insertion....

20060173295 - Apparatus for detecting strong magnetic fields for protection of medical devices: A medical device for providing therapy to a host patient comprises a stimulation engine for generating a stimulation regimen and configured to provide the regimen to the patient in a first mode of operation, and a detector coupled to the stimulation engine for detecting the presence of a strong magnetic...

20060173294 - Radiation modulator positioner: A radiation modulator positioner operative to cause a relative motion between a radiation modulator and a radiation source housing, wherein said radiation source housing and said radiation modulator positioner are detached and free to move relative to each other in at least one degree of freedom....

20060173297 - Imaging method and apparatus for visualizing coronary heart diseases: An imaging method and an apparatus are disclosed for visualizing coronary heart diseases. An imaging tomographic technique is used to record and reconstruct one or more images of the heart or a region of the heart after a contrast agent injection. In the method, in a late period after the...

20060173296 - Site marker visable under multiple modalities: A site marker is provided that includes a generally hollow body defining a cavity. At least one marker element is captured within the cavity but is able to move within the cavity. The capturing prevents migration of the marker within a body. The site marker is formed into a predeployment...

20060173298 - Intracardiac catheter and method of use: The invention provides a cardiac balloon catheter and methods of using the same in the process of venography in the coronary sinus and pulmonary vein of the heart. The catheter has a flexible body containing a curved distal portion, at least three lumens running the length of the body each...

20060173299 - Systems and methods for improved three-dimensional imaging of a body lumen: The systems and methods described herein provide for the improved three-dimensional imaging of the an internal body lumen of a living being. A medical imaging system is provided which can include an image processing system and a medical imaging device. The medical imaging device can be insertable into the internal...

20060173300 - Open structure sizing device: A system and method for sizing and imaging of cardiovascular defects generally are disclosed capable of producing model images or forms that mimic the shape of defects such as openings or breaches in cardiac septum walls, so that remedial devices of the correct size and shape can be administered to...

20060173302 - Medical detector that uses multiple detector heads spaced over a limited arc: Separated medical detector heads for medical single particle imaging, are all located clustered together at one end of an arc, e.g., over 202.5° or 180° of arc. The entire patient can still be imaged, but the patient can enter and exit the imaging area without going between the heads....

20060173301 - Novel method of analysis and measurement of the distribution or reserve of the coronary blood flow: The present invention relates to the field of the essentials of life and, more particularly, to the field of biological analysis. More particularly it relates to a method for the analysis, detection and/or prognosis of disturbances of blood flow in the different regions of the organism, in patients capable of...

20060173307 - Circular ultrasound tomography scanner and method: A portable mechanical high-precision device (30) for performing circular or helical scanning of a patient's organ (71) or body surface for tissue diagnosis and/or treatment includes a substantially hollow housing (10) for accommodating the organ therein and a securing unit (61) for securing the housing to the organ or body...

20060173315 - Client/server-based ultrasound diagnostic system: The present invention relates to a client/server-based ultrasound diagnostic system. The client/server-based ultrasound diagnostic system comprises: a client configured to comprise a probe for transducing an electric signal into an ultrasound signal, and vice versa, a beam former for transceiving the electric signal from/to the probe, and a display unit;...

20060173319 - Clinical apparatuses: The present invention provides elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus etc. for measuring in the ROI in living tissues elastic constants such as shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, Lame constants, etc., visco elastic constants such as visco shear modulus, visco Poisson's ratio, visco Lame constants, etc. and density even...

20060173313 - Coherence factor adaptive ultrasound imaging: A set of N×M signals are acquired from an object, where N is the number of array elements and M corresponds to variations in data acquisition and/or processing parameters. The parameters include transmit aperture functions, transmit waveforms, receive aperture functions, and receive filtering functions in space and/or time. A coherence...

20060173303 - Full-field breast image data processing and archiving: A system, computer program product, and related methods are described for obtaining, processing, and/or and archiving full-field breast image data, such as full-field breast ultrasound (FFBU) data, in a manner that promotes ready integration with current x-ray mammogram-based breast cancer screening methodologies, and which can alternatively be used to support...

20060173316 - Hand scanner with moveable platen: A hand scanner according to the invention may obtain an image of the hand and fingers including the bracelet crease/carpel delta area and palm surface regions up to the tips of the fingers using ultrasound measurement techniques. A hand scanner according to the invention may include a movable arcuate platen...

20060173314 - Hand-held ophthalmic device: A hand-held pachymeter includes an ultrasonic probe capable of emitting ultrasonic pulses and capable of receiving echo signals of the ultrasonic pulses. The echo signals may include an echo signal from an anterior portion of a cornea of an eye and an echo signal from a posterior portion of the...

20060173311 - Method and system for controlling an ultrasound system: Methods and system for controlling an ultrasound system are described. One method includes acquiring ultrasound data relating to an object and iteratively adjusting acoustic power output of the ultrasound system based on the acquired ultrasound data....

20060173318 - Systems and methods for detecting and presenting textural information from medical images: The invention is directed to systems and methods for detecting and presenting textural information from medical images. In one embodiment, a medical imaging system includes an imaging transducer assembly configured to emit one or more energy pulses and receive one or more echo signals, and a console, coupled to the...

20060173309 - Ultrasonic diagnostic device: A tomographic image and a tissue characteristic image that are in conformity with each other in terms of time-phase and positional relationships can be displayed superimposedly, thereby providing an excellent ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that enables an easy and detailed observation of a relationship between a structure and a characteristic of...

20060173312 - Ultrasonic imaging system: Disclosed are a system and method of selecting one or more operational parameters of an ultrasonic imaging system. In particular, methods and means are disclosed for automatically or semi-automatically determining a best operating frequency, or for determining whether a system should operate in a fundamental imaging mode or a harmonic...

20060173310 - Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic device: In an ultrasonic probe including an insert section which is to be inserted into a body cavity organ of a subject and a handle section which is coupled with the insert section, a plurality of vibrator elements (104) are disposed at a tip end of the insert section over the...

20060173308 - Ultrasonograph: A probe 10 receives an echo signal, and the echo signal is stored in memory 18. Operation desk 28a has at least one readout-range setting device 34 for setting an echo signal readout-sensitivity range of the echo signal stored in memory 18. Echo signals in the sensitivity range preset by...

20060173306 - Ultrasonographic device: An ultrasonographic device includes an ultrasonic wave transmitter/receiver section which transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a test subject through a probe, a phasing addition circuit which controls the phase of the received ultrasonic wave and generates RF signal frame data, an RF signal frame data selection section...

20060173305 - Ultrasonographic method and ultrasonographic device: An ultrasonographic method includes: a first encoding transmission/reception step for transmitting an ultrasonic beam encoded by an encoding set consisting of a plurality of modulation codes in which at least two are in complementary relationship and demodulating reception signals corresponding to the ultrasonic beam; a step for obtaining a first...

20060173317 - Ultrasound diagnostic system for automatically detecting a boundary of a target object and method of using the same: A method and a system of automatically detecting a boundary of a target object by using an ultrasound diagnostic image. In accordance with the present invention, the boundary of the target object can be detected automatically and precisely. The ultrasound diagnostic method and system form an edge detection boundary candidate...

20060173304 - Volumetric ultrasound scanning of smaller-sized breast: An apparatus and related methods are described for obtaining volumetric ultrasound scans of a breast of a supine patient in which a fluid reservoir including a bottom flexible membrane contacts an upward-facing surface of the breast. The fluid reservoir is filled with water or other suitable acoustically conductive fluid until...

20060173320 - Method and apparatus for elasticity imaging: A computational efficient algorithm for compression analysis of free-hand static elasticity imaging performed using medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging equipment offers tissue compression quality and quantity feedback to the operator. The algorithm includes a criterion for automatic selection of the most advantageous pre- and post- compression frame pairs delivering elasticity images...

20060173322 - Multiple receive beams for rapid acquisition: Multiple receive beams are formed for each transmission for rapid acquisition. The receive aperture is shifted as a function of the position of each receive beam. Multiple receive beams with differently positioned apertures are formed in response to a single transmit beam. Alternatively or additionally, the apodization varies as a...

20060173323 - Sound wave therapy application system: A system including a method and apparatus for applying sound wave therapy to a mammal utilizing a silicone layer at or near the skin to enhance the therapeutic affect....

20060173321 - Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic device: An ultrasound probe comprises therapeutic transducers which include a plurality of arrayed first transducer elements and emit therapeutic ultrasounds to a subject, and diagnostic transducers which include a plurality of arrayed second transducer elements and emit diagnostic ultrasounds to the subject and receive the diagnostic ultrasounds, wherein the therapeutic transducers...

20060173324 - 3d imaging system and method for signaling an object of interest in a volume of data: The invention concerns a medical imaging system comprising means (2) of acquiring at least one volume of 3D data (3DV), means (3) of detecting at least one object of interest in said volume of data, display means (4) able to supply a 2D representation (2DR) of said volume of data...

20060173325 - Ultrasonographic display device: There is provided an ultrasonic image displaying system capable of displaying an image of a fetus that is easy for a subject to understand without requiring a complicated operation by an operator. The ultrasonic image displaying system is provided with a display unit 104 for displaying an image of a...

20060173327 - Ultrasound diagnostic system and method of forming arbitrary m-mode images: The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic system and a method of forming arbitrary M-mode ultrasound images. The ultrasound diagnostic system includes: a probe for transmitting ultrasound signals toward a desired part of a target object and receiving the ultrasound signals reflected from the desired part; a scan converter...

20060173326 - User interface for a three-dimensional colour ultrasound imaging system: A three-dimensional ultrasound imaging system color user interface generates a volumetrically-rendered ultrasound image. The ultrasound image is manipulable using three-dimensional image compositing functions. The interface presents to the user three-dimensional image controls for controlling the ultrasound image. The three-dimensional image controls have an operational similarity to two-dimensional image controls for...

20060173328 - Tissue motion comparison display: A difference between a detected motion and a reference motion is automatically displayed. The reference motion is a modeled motion of an organ, a base line motion of an organ or another portion of an organ. A deviation in motion amplitude, angle or both angle and amplitude from a reference...

20060173330 - Device for pivoting an ultrasound element assembly of a probe in an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus: The present invention relates to a device for pivoting an ultrasound element assembly of a probe in an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus. A pivot shaft is rotatably coupled to a base and supports the ultrasound element assembly. A wire holder is coupled to the pivot shaft. A driving motor is mounted...

20060173331 - Ergonomic transducer housing and methods for ultrasound imaging: A palmar surface may allow for ease of gripping an ultrasound transducer probe. By facing the palmar surface so that the users hand is directed downwards, towards the patient's skin, during use, less wrist flexing may result. To allow for gripping, the cable extends from the transducer at a location...

20060173329 - Ultrasonic probe: The ultrasonic probe of the present invention includes an ultrasonic element unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, an oscillation mechanism for causing oscillation to the ultrasonic element unit and a detector for detecting the oscillation of the ultrasonic element unit. The detector detects the oscillation angle and the oscillation...

20060173332 - Detection of small-size defects in medical ultrasonic imaging: The invention relates to an ultrasonic medical imaging apparatus intended for analyzing an organic medium potentially including defects within a noisy structure. Ultrasound signals focused at a given depth according to M distinct successive excitations arc emitted and an image formation module makes it possible to obtain an image of...

20060173333 - Two-dimensional transducer arrays for improved field of view: A method and system for using two-dimensional transducer arrays for improving the field of view during an ultrasonic examination are disclosed. The ultrasonic imaging system includes a two-dimensional transducer array with a plurality of acoustic elements, a beam controller, a signal processor, and a display. The beam controller controls a...

20060173334 - Ultrasonographic device and ultrasonographic method: In an ultrasonic imaging device having an image synthesizing unit, correlation between images to be synthesized is computed for balancing between an improvement in contrast resolution and an improvement in spatial resolution, and an amount of displacement between the images is computed. When the amount of displacement is large, the...

20060173335 - Ultrasound beamformer with scalable receiver boards: A beamformer for an ultrasound system and a method for developing a beamformer are provided. The beamformer includes an RF interface configured to be connected to receiver boards that are connected to a probe. The method includes providing receiver boards, wherein each of the receiver boards is capable of conveying...

20060173336 - Method of selecting part of a run of echocardiography images: In a system wherein an electrocardiogram corresponding with a run of images is acquired and displayed simultaneously with the run of echocardiography images, data are deduced from the digital signal representation of the displayed electrocardiogram and these data are used to identify a part of the run of images....

20060173337 - Intravascular ultrasound probing device: The present invention provides an intravascular ultrasound probing device using Doppler effect. The intravascular ultrasound probing device comprises a first tube, a first ultrasound probe head positioned in the first tube, a second ultrasound probe head positioned in the first tube and an separating member positioned between the first ultrasound...

20060173338 - Stereoscopic three or four dimensional ultrasound imaging: Medical diagnostic ultrasound stereo imaging is provided. A medical diagnostic ultrasound system operable to scan a body with ultrasound is also operable to generate a three dimensional stereoscopic view of the body. The video processing unit and/or display device create the stereoscopic display....

20060173339 - Method, compounds and preparations for the identification of sentinel lymph nodes: The present invention relates methods for the identification of a sentinel lymph node and to compounds and preparations used in said methods....

20060173340 - Ultrasonic imaging device: The present invention provides an ultrasonic imaging technique for realizing a contrast echo image having an S/N ratio sufficiently high to make a definite diagnosis on the basis of a contrast echo image by imaging an echo component scattered by a microbubble contrast medium and a tissue harmonic component generated...

20060173341 - Electromagnetic ultrasound converter: Disclosed is an electromagnetic ultrasonic transducer for coupling-media-free generation and/or reception of ultrasonic waves in the form of linearly polarized transverse waves in a, respectively from a workpiece, having at least one unit which converts the ultrasonic waves inside the workpiece and which is provided with a coil arrangement for...

20060173343 - Grounded interleaved flex for ultrasound transducer array: Electronic cross-talk is reduced in an ultrasound transducer. Ground traces are interleaved with signal traces on a flexible film. By providing ground traces between the signal traces, the electrical cross-talk between signal traces is reduced....

20060173342 - Method and apparatus for improving the performance of capacitive acoustic transducers using bias polarity control and multiple firings: Presented is a method of operating a capacitive microfabricated ultrasonic transducer (cMUT) array with multiple firings of varying bias voltage polarity patterns to improve its performance in imaging non-linear media, such as in contrast agent imaging or tissue harmonic imaging. Additionally, transducers incorporating the method are provided. The method of...

20060173344 - Method for using a refrigeration system to remove waste heat from an ultrasound transducer: Methods and systems are provided for cooling an ultrasound transducer using a refrigeration system located within the imaging system. A closed loop of recirculating coolant located in the transducer assembly transports waste heat from the remotely located heat producing acoustic components or active electronics components to a thermally conductive shoe,...

20060173345 - Strip transducer for large aperture ultrasonics: The present invention provides a critical breakthrough in large aperture ultrasonic transducer technology, enabling a variety of large ultrasonic devices that emulate optical lens functions. The present invention is a transducer assembly and method of production. The assembly includes metalized transducer material and additional materials in a design that enables...

20060173346 - Ultrasound diagnostic system and method for automatically activating a probe: The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic system and a method of automatically activating a probe. The ultrasound diagnostic system comprises: a probe; a sensor mounted on the probe for sensing a user touching the probe and generating a selection signal in response thereto; and a central controller for...

20060173347 - Method and device for ultrasound measurement of blood flow: A method and a device (1) for ultrasound measurement of the blood flow through a heart valve are proposed. To permit a simple, automated measurement, it is proposed that the measurement area (9) of a measurement beam (7) is moved three-dimensionally by means of a multi-array transducer (11) and continuously...

20060173348 - Array rotation for ultrasound catheters: A transducer array is connected with a catheter housing. As the transducer array is rotated, the catheter housing also rotates. As a result, at least a portion of the catheter housing twists about a longitudinal axis. By applying rotation in a controlled way, such as with a motor, a plurality...

20060173349 - Method for and system of intrusion detection by using ultrasonic signals: A method for and system of intrusion detection by using ultrasonic signals are provided. The method includes a training phase and a detection phase. The training phase includes capturing multi-echo signals when no intrusion is present under surveillance. The captured ultrasonic multi-echo signals are analyzed and features are extracted, learned...

20060173350 - Systems and methods for three dimensional imaging with an orientation adjustable array: The systems and methods described herein allow for three dimensional imaging with a medical ultrasound imaging system having an orientation adjustable imaging device. The imaging device can include a transducer array configured to image an imaging field in two dimensions. The imaging device can also include an orientation adjustment unit...

20060173351 - System and method for inserting a needle into a blood vessel: A needle insertion system and method. The insertion system includes an imaging system and a needle. The imaging system includes at least one infrared emitter an infrared detector, a computing unit, a display device, and a power source. The method includes the steps of preparing a body target area, putting...

20060173353 - Biological information measuring apparatus,reference element, and method of using the biological information measuring apparatus: When there is any abnormality or characteristic change in the light intensity of a light source or the sensitivity of a light detector, measurement accuracy decreases. To address this problem an apparatus is provided including a light source, a living body measuring optical element for applying light emitted from the...

20060173355 - Detecting human cancer through spectral optical imaging using key water absorption wavelengths: Spectral optical imaging at one or more key water absorption fingerprint wavelengths measures the difference in water content between a region of cancerous or precancerous tissue and a region of normal tissue. Water content is an important diagnostic parameter because cancerous and precanerous tissues have different water content than normal...

20060173358 - Fluorescence observation endoscope apparatus and fluorescence observation method: A fluorescence observation endoscope apparatus is provided with an endoscope to radiate excitation light from a light source to the inside of a body cavity and pick up a fluorescence figure from a living body tissue in the body cavity; and a fluorescence image generation unit to conduct signal processing...

20060173356 - Method and device for calibrating a medical instrument: A system and method for calibrating an object having at least one marker attached thereto, wherein a spatial position of the object is ascertained based on the at least one marker, and an outline, view or geometry of the object is optically detected from at least one side. The detected...

20060173354 - Method and system for free space optical tomography of diffuse media: A method and a system for free space optical tomography provides one or more light source and one or more light sensors spaced, which in one embodiment are spaced apart from and object to be imaged. A surface capture system coupled to a variety of optical models provides the method...

20060173352 - Optical transillumination and reflectance spectroscopy to quantify disease risk: The present invention uses spectroscopic tissue volume measurements using non-ionizing radiation to detect pre-disease transformations in the tissue, which increase the risk for this disease in mammals. The method comprises illuminating a volume of selected tissue of a mammal with light having wavelengths covering a pre-selected spectral range, detecting light...

20060173357 - Patient registration with video image assistance: A method and device for reciprocally assigning a spatial position of a patient and/or a part of a patient's body and an acquired, stored patient data set includes producing at least two video image recordings of the patient and/or part of the body from different recording positions via at least...

20060173361 - Endoscopy capsule with site marking capability and application of the same: A capsule dimensioned and shaped to move with the body of a living subject for identifying tissues related to at least one lesion along a gastrointestinal tract of the living subject. In one embodiment, the capsule has locating means for locating tissues related to at least one lesion along the...

20060173360 - Method for detection and display of extravasation and infiltration of fluids and substances in subdermal or intradermal tissue: A method for the real-time visualization and detection of extravasated and or infiltrated fluid and substances, including blood, that occur near the cannulation site of an injection is described wherein illumination or transillumination with near infrared light is used to image the contrast in real-time between absorbing and nonabsorbing subdermal...

20060173362 - Methods of medical imaging using quantum dots: A method for identifying cells of a living subject in vivo includes delivering a plurality of optical nanoparticles to the cells, optically imaging the optical nanoparticles, and identifying the cells of a living subject from an image and/or spectrum of the optical nanoparticles....

20060173359 - Optical apparatus for guided liver tumor treatment and methods: Native tumorous and non-tumorous tissues and thermally denatured tissues can all be identified optically in patient livers by means of one or more probes inserted into the liver. Fluorescence and/or diffuse reflectance values can be used for initially locating a tumorous mass, effectively centering a thermal ablation device within a...

20060173365 - Coronary sinus sensing device: The present invention provides a new mechanical sensor approach to maneuvering catheters and other cardiac devices into blood outlets, with particular application to maneuvering cardiac devices into the coronary sinus and beyond. Additionally, the inventive sensing device provides assessment of the viability of branching veins and other potential device sites,...

20060173364 - Multi-channel electrophysiologic signal data acquisition system on an integrated circuit: A physiologic data acquisition system includes an analog input, a sigma-delta front end signal conditioning circuit adapted to subtract out DC and low frequency interfering signals from and amplify the analog input before analog to digital conversion. The system can be programmed to acquire a selected physiologic signal, e.g., a...

20060173363 - System and method for passive monitoring of blood pressure and pulse rate: System and method that can monitor pulse rate and passively produce a blood pressure measurement and automatically log the data for the user. Additionally, coupling to the Internet or Information Systems expands the options for the early detection of diseases, based on sudden detected changes and trend analyses, and the...

20060173366 - Vascular stiffness evaluation apparatus, vascular stiffness index calculating program, and vascular stiffness index calculating method: Investigation is made into a cause by which an abnormal result is obtained from an arterial stiffness evaluation apparatus for evaluating a degree of arteriosclerosis based on pulse waves and blood pressures which are detected from an ankle and an upper arm. Provided is an arterial stiffness evaluation apparatus capable...

20060173367 - Equine fitness monitoring: Apparatus for determining the health or fitness, under an exercise load, of an animal such a horse comprises: a first sensor (incorporated in module (3) and having electrodes (5, 6)), positioned in blanket (1) under saddle (2a) of a horse, generating physiological data, e.g. breathing or heart rate, blood pressure...

20060173368 - Low frequency analysis of cardiac electrical signals for detecting heart diseases, especially the coronary artery diseases: A method and system for detecting heart diseases, especially the coronary artery diseases, comprises the steps of obtaining twelve (12) lead cardiac electrical signals from a patient, mathematically transforming the time-domain wave signals into twelve (12) frequency-domain amplitude spectra with one for each of the 12 leads, selecting a number...

20060173371 - Method and apparatus for determining alternans data of an ecg signal: Method and apparatus for determining alternans data of an ECG signal. The method can include determining at least one value representing at least one morphology feature of each beat of the ECG signal and generating a set of data points based on a total quantity of values and a total...

20060173372 - Method and apparatus for determining alternans data of an ecg signal: Method and apparatus for determining alternans data of an ECG signal. The method can include determining at least one value representing at least one morphology feature of each beat of the ECG signal and generating a set of data points based on a total quantity of values and a total...

20060173370 - Method for recognizing heartbeat and for calculating quantities acquired from that: The present invention relates to a method for recognizing and measuring heartbeat in physical training, in which method individual heartbeats are recognized and measured from the electrical signal of the heart, the EKG signal, on the area of waist and/or on the body area below the waist by means of...

20060173369 - Monitoring of atrial activation: The invention relates to a method and system for monitoring atrial activation in a patient. In the method, a moment of occurrence and a wave form are predicted for a subsequent P wave based on a sequence of P waves already received in ECG signal data obtained from the patient....

20060173373 - Bio signal measuring apparatus and method: A bio signal measuring apparatus. The bio signal measuring apparatus includes an electrocardiogram measuring attached to the skin of a patient to measure an electrocardiogram signal of the patient. A heart sound sensor contacts the skin of the patient to measure a heart sound signal of the patient. A controlling...

20060173374 - Electrically insulated surgical probing tool: A surgical tool for probing bone tissue includes an elongate member coupled to a handle assembly. The handle assembly is electrically coupled to a electrical signal source. The surgical tool includes an electrically conductive portion in communication with an un-insulated distal end of the elongate member, and insulated portion extending...

20060173375 - Arrangement for measuring the body temperature of a living organism: An arrangement for measuring the body temperature of a living organism includes a sensor housing containing a first temperature sensor for measuring the skin temperature of the living organism, a second temperature sensor and an evaluation unit. The first temperature sensor is placed on the skin of the body and...

20060173376 - Moon phase menstrual tracking and educational system: A system and method for tracking and informing about a physical, emotional, or physiological cycle, such as a menstrual cycle, includes at least one definition entry and at least one date indicator. Each definition entry defines indicia such as color to represent a stage of a physical, emotional, or physiological...

20060173377 - Quick cycle biopsy system: A method for extracting a tissue sample includes altering the pressure inside the lumen of a cannula to facilitate extraction of a tissue sample from the cannula. One aspect of the invention includes a biopsy apparatus comprising a valve for controlling the pressure inside the lumen of the cannula. In...

20060173378 - Automatic blood sampling device: The present invention relates to an automatic blood sampling device comprising a catheter part being operatively connected to a penetration member, the operatively connection between the catheter part and the penetration member being provided via one or more tube sections. The device further comprises pump means being adapted to pump...

20060173380 - Analysis apparatus and analysis method for body fluids: The invention concerns an analytical instrument for assaying body fluids, the instrument having the following features: a) a housing provided with a receiving element for engaging a body part, b) an abutment for the body part which can be moved between a release position and an operating position relative to...

20060173379 - System for withdrawing body fluid: The invention relates to a system for withdrawing body fluid from a body part via a withdrawal site located on the surface of the body part, with at least one sensor for detecting at least one variable dependent on the location or state of the withdrawal site, and with an...

20060173381 - Catheter: The invention relates to a catheter arrangement which comprises at least a first basic element and a second basic element, which second basic element is arranged such that it is slidably arranged in the first basic element over at least part of its length and has a sensor unit that...

20060173382 - Guidewire with superelastic core: A medical guidewire including a tapered corewire formed from a superelastic material and a hypotube extending around the outer surface over a portion of the corewire resulting in improved torque characteristics for the guidewire....

20060173383 - Shear-stress microsensor and surgical instrument end tool: The invention relates to an end tool for a surgical instrument, comprising a tool-holder support (1) made from a rigid material including a flat face (2) or base layer adapted to support a tool, and a surgical tool (11) formed by a stack of elementary layers adapted to be firmly...

20060173384 - Method and apparatus for physiological testing: A device and method to test the sincerity of physical effort of an individual. The device has a moveable member, a sensor for measuring force applied to the shaft; and a resistance means to vary the resistance to movement of the moveable member. The relationship between the varied resistive force...