Disclosed is a system for identifying which one of a plurality of interchangeable transducer heads is connected with an ultrasonic scanner. The system includes a unique impedance mounted on each transducer head and an impedance determining circuit in the scanner for determining the impedance of the interconnected transducer head. The impedance determination circuit is connected to a character generator for producing an alpha-numeric representation of the transducer head designation along the mar...

The present invention relates to a head-clamping device for surgical purposes, specifically for intra-operatively fixing the patient's head in any anatomically possible position, the center of rotation of the head clamp being in the cervical vertebral region of the patient.

An electro-optical device comprises first and second substrates (10, 20) disposed facing each other, an interconnect (14) formed on the surface of the first substrate (10) opposing the second substrate (20), and a conductive member (40) passing through the second substrate (20) and reaching both surfaces of the second substrate (20), and the conductive member (40) and interconnect (14) are electrically connected between the first and second substrates (10, 20).

In a mechanical sector scanner, a first bevel gear is mounted on the end of an output shaft of a motor, and an ultrasonic transducer is rotatably supported for rotating about a scanning axis transverse to the output shaft. A second bevel gear engaging the first bevel gear is mounted on the back surface of the transducer. The output shaft oscillates about an output axis. Oscillations of the output shaft are coupled to the transducer by the bevel gears. The second gear has a plurality of teeth arr...

An ultrasound transducer is translatable for scanning along a body surface by having the transducer mounted at the free end of an articulated arm which is moved in a single nominally vertical plane during a scan. The arm is pivotally connected at one end to a head which is turnable at least about a vertical axis so the arm can be directed in other single planes. The head is mounted on a horizontally and transversely movable arm which is on a longitudinally movable carriage. Potentiometers produc...

A scanner for use in ultrasonic imaging systems of the type which translates a transducer assembly along a path of successive positions. The scanner rotates the assembly during translation and, in one embodiment, rotates the transducer about a center of rotation which is offset from the center of translation.

An ultrasound sensing apparatus suitable for human body scanning, particularly regions which are difficult to scan with larger ultrasound heads. The ultrasound transducers are mounted for rotation in an off-axis configuration. With this configuration, transmission and reception of sound occurs without the sound being normal to the membrane contacting the body. This eliminates reverberation problems and permits viewing of shallow tissue with a relatively small apparatus.

An arch support for the foot includes a plantar support member having a cavity to removably receive a metatarsal support element; metatarsal support elements of different height can be used depending on the activity engaged in by the wearer; heel wedges of different height may similarly be used; the metatarsal support element has, in particular, an open lattice-like structure which reduces material and weight of the support, improves flexibility and allows better air circulation.

In the present invention, there is described a setup for producing a self-supporting ceramic body or ceramic composite by the oxidation of a parent metal to form a polycrystalline ceramic material comprising the oxidation reaction product of said parent metal with an oxidant, including a vapor-phase oxidant, and optionally one or more metallic constituents dispersed throughout the polycrystalline ceramic material. The setup is used with a method which comprises the steps of providing at least a ...

Disclosed is a medical bed comprising: a bed plate on which a patient is laid in a desired posture; and a device for retaining the patient in the desired posture in such a manner that the patient is prevented from moving along the bed plate. The retaining device comprises: a plurality of elongated members for blocking motion of the patient along the bed plate; and a plurality of recessed of the bed plate or suction pad equipped to each elongated member for adjustably fitting the elongated member...