text:
Bullying incidents drop in Fond du Lac Schools, mental health resources increase
Sharon Roznik
Fond du Lac Reporter
FOND DU LAC - Mental health challenges, bullying and the unique needs of today's students are topics the Fond du Lac School District is tackling, head-on.
There was a major drop in bullying incidents reported last year in Fond du Lac's public schools, but a disproportionate number of incidents involved black students, according to pupil services director Katie Moder.
In her 2018-19 school climate report Monday to the Fond du Lac Board of Education, she said reported incidents of bullying had decreased by 39% from the prior year.
However, black/African American students, which make up about 10% of the student population, were involved in 46% of the bullying incidents. Moder said unfortunately, Wisconsin has some of the highest gaps for students of color in academic achievement and behavior.
"There is not a quick fix when it comes to bullying," she said. "We need to continue to build relationships and educate our students on what bullying is, how to stop it, and how to support others who may be bullied."
Bullying is defined as any willful, persistent or deliberate act or attempted act, through the use of words or actions, which are intended to cause physical injury, emotional distress/suffering or property damage or which negatively impacts the learning environment.
What sets bullying apart from rude or mean actions is repetition and an imbalance of power, Moder said.
Last year there were 162 bullying reports from Fond du Lac schools — 67 at the elementary level, 49 from middle schools and 46 from the high school.
The majority of incidents were verbal and occurred during the school day, most often in hallways, the report states. Other key locations were classrooms and the playground.
Of office discipline referrals, 64% involved male students.
RELATED: 'Goodnight Riverside' offers weekly bedtime to students
RELATED: Brandon may be a small town but it's big enough for a military tank
About 37% of the students questioned felt bullying is a moderate/severe problem at their schools, and about 50% of parents and staff said bullying was a problem at the high school.
Moder said the district's focus on prevention is implementing restorative practices to build relationships with students and create a community environment in which students don't want to harm someone else.
"We need to figure out why something is happening and make changes," she said. "And we work closely with our school resource officers, school staff and counselors to do that."
Today's students have a new set of needs
Students attending school now are labeled the "Z generation" and are known as "homelanders," Moder told the school board. They have never known a time when safety wasn't an issue, and they have always been able to view things that happen — locally and around the globe — in real time.
This environment has created a special set of student needs that has "never been greater," she said, because they lack social and emotional learning, as well as leadership development.
According to Psychology Today, this generation of students is cautious and safety preoccupied, insecure, seeking identity, global savvy and aware, realistic and pragmatic
For one subset of students, the need for seclusion and restraint continues to grow, with 1,034 incidents reported last year. Seclusion is defined as the involuntary confinement of a student, apart from others, where they are physically prevented from leaving.
Moder said although the number of students in this category decreased, incidents, often from the same student, increased in elementary EBD-contained (emotional and behavioral disability) classrooms. Programs are concentrated at Pier, Chegwin and Evans elementary schools.
More support in this area is needed, Moder said. The district tried adding instructional assistants, but it didn't fix the problem, she explained, because they lacked training and experience.
Strategies that have helped students who are in what she refers to as "disregulation" include connecting with social workers who work with them beyond the school day, through a program called Community Works.
"When you see a behavior problem, often that is the fever, but we have to dig deeper to find out what is the actual problem," she said.
Students will get more help with mental health needs
The district provides a school counselor at each elementary and middle school, five counselors at the high school, along with three social workers and five school psychologists to serve all schools.
In August 2018, the district received a grant for $75,000 from the Department of Public Instruction that paid for the hiring of a mental health navigator. The navigator worked with counselors and helped to set up training focused on self-regulation and coping skills. The focus was on the district's middle schools and STEM Institute.
This summer Fond du Lac received an additional grant that allocates $75,000 a year for two years for continued financial support for the navigator, as well as resources to launch Fondy CARES — which stands for Community Access, Responding and Empowering Students.
Moder said in October the school district will partner with SSM Health, Catholic Charities and Delta Center to offer community-based mental health supports in the school setting. The first year will be focused, again, at the middle schools and the STEM Institute. Elementary schools and Fond du Lac High School will be added the following three years.
"Our mental health navigator will work as a guide to match families with one of our providers," Moder said. "The district, with the financial assistance of the grant, will be creating therapy rooms within the school setting. The actual therapy cost is an agreement between the community providers and families."
All school staff continue to teach and reinforce expectations through positive behavior interventions and supports, she said, as well as restorative practices that build on relationships, solving problems and repairing harm.
Contact Sharon Roznik at 920-907-7936 or sroznik@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/reporterroz/
© 2023 www.fdlreporter.com. All rights reserved.


Searching for a lawyer for an executive transfer visa in Boston? Individuals who are in specialized, managerial, or executive jobs and who work for an international company doing business in the United States may obtain a visa that allows them to work temporarily in the U.S. The visa covers those who are working for the same company that employed them abroad. With more than 20 years of experience in the legal industry, I am a Boston immigration attorney with the legal acumen to help individuals who need these visas and the employers who request them. My firm, Foley Law Offices, has extensive experience with L-1 visa applications and is well positioned to make the application process go smoothly.
While a lot of paperwork is required for an L-1 visa application, there are benefits to both the employee and his or her employer. Depending on the exact classification, the visa may be valid for up to seven years. Spouses of L-1 visa holders are usually eligible for working visas for employment in the U.S. Visa holders and their spouses may pursue permanent residency while holding an L-1 visa via an adjustment of status petition.
The applicants must demonstrate that they have been working abroad for same company for which they will be working in the U.S. There must be a demonstrated legal relationship between the foreign and U.S. operations of the company. The applicant must confirm his or her executive, managerial, or specialized status. Finally, the applicant must show that he or she plans to leave the U.S. at the end of the job assignment; however, applying for permanent residency while holding an L-1 visa is allowed.
Need an attorney for an L-1 visa in Boston? If retained as your Boston immigration lawyer, I can draft the documents demonstrating that the requirements for L-1 visa status have been met. In addition, I can complete the required forms. Once the petition for temporary worker status has been approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the applicant must obtain the visa from a U.S. Consulate or U.S. Embassy in his or her home country. The process of obtaining an L-1 visa can be confusing and complex, and the stakes are high. Contact my firm today to schedule a consultation and learn how I am prepared to help you.


text:
.. rbt-command:: rbtools.commands.setup_completion.SetupCompletion

================
setup-completion
================

.. versionadded:: 1.0

:command:`rbt setup-completion` currently supports Bash and Zsh for
auto-completions. The command will detect your login shell and install the
appropriate auto-completions for your shell. You can also specify which
auto-completions you wish to install by replacing `<shell>` with either
`bash` or `zsh`.

.. rbt-command-usage::

Please refer to the installation notes for OS X and Linux if you are having
difficulties running the command.

Installation Notes
------------------

OS X
~~~~

Zsh gets installed in a directory that requires root permission to write to.
You can either run the command as root or follow the instructions for manual
installation below. To install, run:

.. code-block:: console

   $ sudo rbt setup-completion zsh

Note: Bash on OS X does not require the use of :command:`sudo`.

Linux
~~~~~

Both Bash and Zsh are installed in directories that require root permission to
write to. You can either run the command as root or follow the instructions for
manual installation below. To install, run:

.. code-block:: console

   $ sudo rbt setup-completion <shell>

Manual Installation
-------------------

Bash
~~~~

You will first need to download the `bash auto completion`_ file. Copy the
file to your home directory, and add the following command to your
:file:`.bash_profile` file::

	source ~/rbt-bash-completion

ZSH
~~~

You will first need to download the `zsh auto completion`_ file. Next, create a
directory in your home directory called .rbt-completion and copy the file to
~/.rbt-completion. Then add the following to your :file:`.zshrc` file::

	fpath=(~/.rbt-completion $fpath)
	autoload -U compinit && compinit

.. rbt-command-options::

.. _bash auto completion: https://github.com/reviewboard/rbtools/tree/master/rbtools/commands/conf/rbt-bash-completion
.. _zsh auto completion: https://github.com/reviewboard/rbtools/tree/master/rbtools/commands/conf/_rbt-zsh-completion

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Show Special: A crystal-reading with every crystal purchase!.
Harmony Now Featuring hand-made one-of-a-kind jewelry from Cindy Fess. Crystals and music abound! Michael Fess has 11 albums of beautiful new age music. and many of them are guided meditation cds.


text:
package org.forpdi.planning.document;

import java.util.Date;
import java.util.List;

import javax.persistence.Lob;
import javax.persistence.Column;
import javax.persistence.Entity;
import javax.persistence.FetchType;
import javax.persistence.Index;
import javax.persistence.ManyToOne;
import javax.persistence.Table;
import javax.persistence.Transient;

import org.forpdi.planning.fields.schedule.Schedule;
import org.forpdi.planning.fields.table.TableFields;
import org.forpdi.planning.plan.Plan;
import org.forpdi.planning.structure.StructureLevelInstance;

import br.com.caelum.vraptor.boilerplate.SimpleLogicalDeletableEntity;
import br.com.caelum.vraptor.serialization.SkipSerialization;

@Entity(name = DocumentAttribute.TABLE)
@Table(name = DocumentAttribute.TABLE, indexes = { @Index(columnList = "sequence") })
public class DocumentAttribute extends SimpleLogicalDeletableEntity {
	public static final String TABLE = "fpdi_document_attribute";
	private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;

	@Column(nullable = false, length = 255)
	private String name;

	@ManyToOne(targetEntity = DocumentSection.class, optional = false, fetch = FetchType.EAGER)
	@SkipSerialization
	private DocumentSection section;

	@Column(nullable = false)
	private String type;

	@Lob
	@Column(nullable = true)
	private String value;

	@Column(nullable = true)
	private Double valueAsNumber;

	@Column(nullable = true)
	private Date valueAsDate;

	private int sequence;

	@Column(nullable = false)
	private boolean required = false;

	@Transient
	private Schedule schedule;

	@Transient
	private TableFields tableFields;

	@Transient
	private List<Plan> selectPlans;

	@Transient
	private List<StructureLevelInstance> strategicObjectives;

	@Transient
	private Long exportDocumentSectionId;

	public String getName() {
		return name;
	}

	public void setName(String name) {
		this.name = name;
	}

	public DocumentSection getSection() {
		return section;
	}

	public void setSection(DocumentSection section) {
		this.section = section;
	}

	public String getType() {
		return type;
	}

	public void setType(String type) {
		this.type = type;
	}

	public String getValue() {
		return value;
	}

	public void setValue(String value) {
		this.value = value;
	}

	public Double getValueAsNumber() {
		return valueAsNumber;
	}

	public void setValueAsNumber(Double valueAsNumber) {
		this.valueAsNumber = valueAsNumber;
	}

	public Date getValueAsDate() {
		return valueAsDate;
	}

	public void setValueAsDate(Date valueAsDate) {
		this.valueAsDate = valueAsDate;
	}

	public int getSequence() {
		return sequence;
	}

	public void setSequence(int sequence) {
		this.sequence = sequence;
	}

	public boolean isRequired() {
		return required;
	}

	public void setRequired(boolean required) {
		this.required = required;
	}

	public Schedule getSchedule() {
		return schedule;
	}

	public void setSchedule(Schedule schedule) {
		this.schedule = schedule;
	}

	public TableFields getTableFields() {
		return tableFields;
	}

	public void setTableFields(TableFields tableFields) {
		this.tableFields = tableFields;
	}

	public List<Plan> getSelectPlans() {
		return selectPlans;
	}

	public void setSelectPlans(List<Plan> selectPlans) {
		this.selectPlans = selectPlans;
	}

	public List<StructureLevelInstance> getStrategicObjectives() {
		return strategicObjectives;
	}

	public void setStrategicObjectives(List<StructureLevelInstance> strategicObjectives) {
		this.strategicObjectives = strategicObjectives;
	}
	public Long getExportDocumentSectionId() {
		return exportDocumentSectionId;
	}

	public void setExportDocumentSectionId(Long exportDocumentSectionId) {
		this.exportDocumentSectionId = exportDocumentSectionId;
	}
}


text:
Evan Leeson/Flickr
World News /22 Oct 2019
Binoy Kampmark 10.22.19
Equine Hypocrisies: Race Horses for the Knackery
It was always a probable fact: the dark consequences of having what is termed in Australia a "racing" industry, where breeds do battle on the track, sponsored and watered by the money of an industry that sees no sign of contracting. Curiously, most states within the Australian Commonwealth boast a racing minister to mind the industries in which punters, animal owners, and investors partake. From greyhounds to horses, a lingering question remains: Where to with the animals once they have done their dash?
The answer came last Thursday in an ABC 7.30 Report, showing the grizzly reality facing horses once they have performed their valiant duty on track. The footage featured the mistreated beasts in their thousands, brutalised, shocked and dragged to their imminent death. Racing broadcaster Bruce McAvaney had his mind on the footage, even as he was celebrating race meets at Caulfield and Randwick. "Thursday night's ABC expose of what happens to some retired racehorses calls for immediate action."
There have been tears, distress and the sense of being unable to view the procession of cruelty. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk claimed being "sickened and appalled." Her minister for agriculture and minister for racing were likewise "deeply concerned about the allegations of animal abuse that surfaced."
But such grieving critics have also cultivated a sense of denial over the years, nursing romantic notions that racehorses find their plot of acreage and enjoy a life of well-fed retirement. McAvaney, for one, sees, "The nurturing of our racehorses in retirement as just as important as the care and training given to a yearling for a four-year-old champion."
The ugly, yet obvious point, has been avoided. Not all horses in the racing industry rise to the level of feted aristocracy. Many are the unknowables and even the untouchables. Viewed as assets, the racing horse who does not race, or races poorly, depreciates. Many end up at places such as the Meramist abattoir, purchased by kill buyers such as Peter Loffel, who is on record suggesting the industry's complicity.
This squeamishness about horse slaughter is inconsistent in one sense. It suggests a privileged sentimentality: the noble animal, butchered in industrial fashion and unable to live out its days in admired splendour, should strike a person as exceptionally appalling. Then again, other animals are just as readily industrially slaughtered. In Calla Wahlquist's words, "while the slaughter of horses through methods identical to those used to slaughter cattle or sheep is ethically no different, it has caused significantly more upset." If only cattle and sheep could race.
It should be noted that the slaughter of horses is legal under Australian law, though these are regulated by national standards, animal welfare legislation passed at the state level, and industrial codes of practice. A publication outlining the relevant standards is matter-of-fact in tone. "The focus is on essential health and hygiene issues and provides for standards that are consistent with the principles and objectives of the world standards contained in Codex Alimentarius, Volume 10 (1994)." Hardly a moving document, the focus here being on the guarantee of "wholesomeness."
On the issue of figures, stubbornness prevails. The national broadcaster has questioned suggestions by industry stalwarts that a mere one percent of horses who retire from racing find their way to an abattoir or knackery. But the cold reality remains that horses who have left the racing fold no longer come within the purview, one might even say interest, of the industry.
A study done in 2008 by the School of Animal Studies and the Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics at the University of Queensland made the point that "the subject of horse slaughter can be emotive as the horse is considered, by many, to be a companion animal. Information concerning the industry is therefore limited and because of this, little is known regarding the demographics and condition of horses relinquished to either abattoirs or knackeries." That research came to the rather glum finding that some 40 percent of those ending up being slaughtered were thoroughbreds.
Then there is the economic incentive. Animals, however elevated in the imagination, are ultimately expressions of lucre. The callings of the racing industry take precedence over the calling of kindness or ethical worth. Barry O'Farrell's 2018 report, for instance, is celebratory about thoroughbred racing in Australia, seeing as it contributes $9,152.2 million to the economy, $800 million in state and federal taxes while keeping some 71,937 people in jobs.
Those in the interest of animal welfare have various, mixed suggestions on how to approach this. There is an accounting approach: the establishment of a national horse traceability register, for instance. The Australian Senate is on the task and set to release the findings of an inquiry into the subject in December. Till then, there are only brief spikes of rage when the next figure or statistic is published showing the bloody end of racehorses. (In June, The Guardian noted that some 30 percent of Australian racehorses imported by South Korea over a five-year period have ended up being butchered.)
One chance to avoid the slaughterhouse is to prolong the durability of the racing animal. "If we come to value durability as much as other performance traits," suggest Paul McGreevy, Bidda Jones, and Cathrynne Henshall, "we can reward breeders who select for long racing careers alongside other attributes." Another suggestion, albeit starker and one draining on the industry racket, is to have fewer horses. Reducing the scale will reduce the harm. But those besotted by the mighty dollar would have something to say about that. First comes the investment, then come the morals.
A Blueprint for a Sovereign Wealth Fund for the United States
Richard E. Caroll 01.21.20

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Opinion » Editorial
Editorial: Big steps needed for AIDS Walk
by BAR Editorial Board
Wednesday Jan 8, 2020
People took part in the 2015 AIDS Walk San Francisco in Golden Gate Park. Photo: Rick Gerharter
This year's AIDS Walk San Francisco has a new co-producer, the nonprofit PRC, which presents an opportunity for organizing officials to offer a transparent evaluation of the costs associated with the event, and to revitalize it in order to increase the relatively tiny percentage of money that goes to various smaller HIV/AIDS organizations that are not major beneficiaries. For 2020, Brett Andrews, CEO of PRC, told us the agency has committed to distributing $50,000 in grants to other organizations. He declined to share how much money PRC itself will receive from the walk, or what the administrative overhead is for the event. That's unfortunate and he should release that information.
PRC and MZA Events, which originated the walk in 1987 and is this year's other co-producer, both insist that PRC will not have to pay a fee or licensing agreement to MZA for use of the AIDS Walk name and logo. "PRC is not paying anything to be able to use the name," MZA CEO Craig Miller told us. "The licensing agreement enables PRC to produce materials." Andrews initially said that PRC would have to pay MZA, but then said he was incorrect. MZA's decision to waive the fee will save costs, as it has varied greatly over the years, from $212,000 in 2012 to $137,000 in 2014. But it is unclear whether any money will be paid to MZA under another description; previous producers made payments to MZA that were listed as "AIDS Walk services."
The sad fact is that the AIDS Walk has been bringing in less money for the last several years. In 2016, $2 million was raised, according to a news release at the time. In 2017 and 2018, the walk raised $1.8 million. Last year the figure was $1.5 million. So, there was a $500,000 drop off in three years, meanwhile, administrative overhead costs remained high. Back in 2012, when MZA cut ties with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, we reported that expenses ranged from 32% (2007) to a whopping 65% (2011). The walk also brought in much more than it does today, $4.66 million in 2007 and $2.88 million in 2011. Project Inform, which produced the walk in 2014 and 2015, had a goal of boosting revenue to the 2007 level; that didn't happen. In 2017, the most recent figures available, the walk raised $1,814,637, but after $1,053,860 or 58% in expenses, only netted $586,277 for charity, according to figures provided by Miller.
If costs to stage the event continue to exceed the amount raised for HIV/AIDS charities, it would be more effective economically for donors to give to a nonprofit directly. But there are intangible benefits to the AIDS Walk, and that's what PRC and MZA are relying on for 2020. The walk, which takes place in July in Golden Gate Park, has raised more than $90 million in 30-plus years. That has enabled smaller organizations to receive grants that they might not otherwise have access to. It allows companies to participate through organizing teams of walkers, which benefits HIV/AIDS organizations and provides good PR for the companies. It brings thousands of people together in the common pursuit of raising HIV/AIDS awareness, which is spread to the broader community through news coverage and outreach.
With revenue decreasing, the walk needs to be restructured. The AIDS Walk used to provide $96,000 in grants to smaller nonprofits. This year it will be only $50,000. Andrews should disclose all costs the AIDS Walk will incur, and explain to the community whether those expenses will be borne by his agency or be passed on to all nonprofits in the form of reduced grants. Miller, too, has declined to specify costs for the event. PRC must reinvigorate the walk to increase donations, and that begins with a transparent evaluation to build trust and support with all the participants. Since PRC is providing office space for the walk, and staff hours — another cost savings — it's also in a unique position to draw on clients for paid support positions in the effort.
This type of third-party fundraising model has been around for years, and can be successful. Now that people with HIV/AIDS are living longer, donor fatigue has set in, even in the LGBTQ community. In the last decade, community support and donations were directed to the marriage equality campaign, sometimes at the expense of other issues. Looking ahead, trans rights will continue to be at the forefront and many will be donating to their preferred candidates in the 2020 presidential race. These are just some of the challenges that this year's co-producers must face in order to turn the AIDS Walk around.


text:
US6537207B1 - Identification of protective covers for medical imaging devices - Google Patents
Identification of protective covers for medical imaging devices Download PDF
imaging device
Expired - Fee Related
Mark J. Rice
Steve Spanoudis
Fovioptics Inc
2000-04-06 Application filed by Fovioptics Inc filed Critical Fovioptics Inc
2002-12-09 Assigned to FOVIOPTICS, INC. reassignment FOVIOPTICS, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: RICE, MARK J., SPANOUDIS, STEVE
A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
A61B1/00142—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
A61B1/00002—Operational features of endoscopes
A61B1/00043—Operational features of endoscopes provided with signal output arrangements
A61B1/00055—Operational features of endoscopes provided with signal output arrangements for alerting the user
A61B2560/00—Constructional details of operational features of apparatus; Accessories for medical measuring apparatus
A61B2560/02—Operational features
A61B2560/0266—Operational features for monitoring or limiting apparatus function
A61B2560/0276—Determining malfunction
A protective cover for medical imaging devices of the type having a probe with an optical system at a distal end includes a sheath of plastic material formed to enclose at least a portion of the probe and a transparent head secured to the sheath at a distal end of the cover. The transparent head provides a transparent window at the distal end of the probe to allow light to enter the probe and be imaged in a normal manner. Indicia are formed on the transparent head and are imaged by the medical imaging device. The image is then analyzed to determine if the indicia as shown in the image correspond to a preselected pattern, which may be one of a group of patterns which provide indications concerning the nature of the cover. If a pattern is recognized, the information corresponding to that pattern can be provided to an operator; if no pattern is recognized or if the pattern corresponds to an improper cover for the particular imaging device, a warning can be provided to the operator or the device disabled. The protective cover can be disposed after use with a patient, and a new cover applied to enclose the portions of the probe that will contact another patient, thereby minimizing potential spread of infection.
This application claims the benefit of No. 60/128,151, filed Apr. 7, 1999.
The present invention relates generally to medical imaging devices and more particularly to protective covers for providing infection control barriers for such devices.
Each time a medical instrument or device comes in direct contact with a patient there is a danger of cross-contamination between patients, from patients to medical personnel, or vice versa. Therefore, medical devices and instruments that come in direct contact with patients are thoroughly cleaned between uses. For many large, expensive, or complicated medical devices, which are difficult or impossible to clean using conventional methods, cross-contamination prevention is provided by the use of a protective cover placed over the device or over a portion of the device which will come in direct contact with a patient. A clean protective cover is placed on the medical device before each use. Although such protective covers may be cleaned and re-used, typically such protective covers are intended for only a single use and are disposable. Disposable protective covers for medical instruments or devices are typically made of a flexible or semi-rigid plastic material which is generally shaped to fit over the medical instrument or device with which the cover is designed to be used. Examples of medical devices for which such disposable protective covers are regularly employed include laryngoscopes, endoscopes, ultrasound probes, and transesophageal echocardiographic probes. One such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,838. Examples of disposable covers for medical devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,757,381, 5,168,863, 5,201,908, 5,359,991, 5,363,843, 5,406,939, and 5,743,849.
In recent years, advancements in video imaging technology have enabled the development of video imaging medical devices and video imaging accessories for existing medical devices. Examples of such medical imaging devices include dental cameras, retinal cameras, laryngoscope cameras, endoscopes (ENT and upper/lower gastrointestinal), as well as camera systems used for various other types of non-invasive endoscopic surgery. Although the designs of these various medical imaging devices can vary greatly, all such medical imaging devices share some basic design similarities. Generally, a medical imaging device will include a probe portion which is placed within or in contact with a patient. An optical system is placed at the distal end of the probe portion. This optical system may include a miniaturized video camera or simply a lens which is connected to a camera via an optical, e.g., fiber optic, cable running from the distal end of the probe to the proximal end thereof. A light source may also be provided at the distal end of the probe via, e.g., a fiber optic cable running through the probe from the proximal end thereof. The proximal end of the medical imaging device probe is connected to a mechanical structure, e.g., a handle, for positioning the probe. Electrical or optical signals from the optical system mounted in the distal end of the probe are provided via an electrical or optical cable to a computer based imaging and/or analysis system. The electrical or optical signals are converted into a video image, which may be displayed to a user of the device, and other observers, on a system monitor or display. The video image may also be digitized and operated upon by the computer imaging/analysis system for image enhancement and detailed computer analysis of the image.
Since medical imaging devices, and particularly the probe portions thereof, come in direct contact with patients and their bodily fluids, measures must be taken to prevent cross-contamination when such imaging devices are used. Typically, the cost, complexity, and design of most medical imaging devices prevents them from being thoroughly cleaned in a conventional manner between each use. Therefore, protective infection control covers are typically used with such medical imaging devices. Such protective covers typically cover at least the probe portion of the medical imaging device, and may extend to cover other portions of the device as well.
Since medical imaging devices depend on good optical performance for their operation, it is important that any protective cover mounted over the distal end of the imaging device probe be integrated into the optical system mounted therein to assure good image quality and repeatable accurate results. Integration of a protective cover into the optical system used in the medical imaging device requires that the protective cover have a shape and be made of a material which does not interfere with the performance of the medical imaging device. Even a properly designed protective cover can adversely affect system performance if the protective cover is not properly mounted on the imaging device. A protective cover which does not meet the exacting optical specifications (shape and material) for a particular medical imaging device, or is not properly mounted on the device, may lead to a poor visual image, or, in the case of a diagnostic device, an inaccurate result.
Optical pattern detection and identification techniques are widely used in various commercial areas. Such techniques are employed, for example, in bar code systems used for product identification. A UPC bar code is placed on a product. A laser-based bar code reading device is used to detect and identify the bar code and, therefore, the product. A similar identification technique is used for mail sorting, by identifying coded strips on the front of envelopes.
Optical pattern detection and identification techniques are also employed by devices which use video images to measure the dimensions of physical objects, such as molded plastic or machined metal parts. Such video inspection systems are commonly used in metrology laboratories, and are built by a number of companies, including Mitutoyo, Brown & Sharpe, RAM Optical Systems, and others. Objects placed upon the working areas of such systems are viewed with surface illumination, or with background (shadowgraph) illumination to show edge detail.
Optical pattern identification techniques are also used for reading printed pages of material. More complex pattern identification systems exist for recognizing hand-written signatures, retinal patterns, and finger prints.
Known methods for identifying geometric patterns, including text characters, involve first digitizing an image which contains the characters or pattern to be identified. The digitized image is provided to a computer system running a pattern recognition program. Relatively simple pattern recognition programs are used for recognizing basic patterns, including text and simple geometric shapes (lines, circles, squares, etc.), within the digitized image. More complex patterns are recognizable through more complex techniques, such as statistical, structural, or syntactic methods. Even more complex patterns can be recognized through the use of neural networks which can be trained to evaluate patterns and interpolate from them. Examples of optical pattern recognition systems and methods are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,603,976, 4,809,342, and 5,627,895.
The present invention provides an automated system and method for determining whether a protective cover meeting required specifications is properly mounted on a medical imaging device. The system and method of the present invention employs the optical and imaging/analysis systems of the medical imaging device itself to determine if a protective cover meeting required specifications is in place on the device, and that the protective cover is properly positioned on the device. Visual indicia are placed on a head of the protective cover in the field of view of the medical imaging device optical system. These indicia are included in the video image formed by the optical system. The video image is digitized and analyzed by the medical imaging device imaging/analysis system using pattern recognition algorithms to detect and identify the indicia. The visual indicia may provide information on the nature of the protective cover, e.g., its size, shape, composition, etc., and may be used as alignment marks for the cover. In accordance with the present invention, the medical imaging device is disabled, or a warning signal is provided, if analysis of the indicia in the video image, or lack thereof, indicates that either a protective cover is not present, an incorrect protective cover is being used, or the protective cover is not properly positioned on the device.
The present invention may be employed to provide for the automatic identification of protective covers for medical, dental or veterinary imaging devices. In such imaging devices a video image is created by a video system having an optical system mounted in the distal end of a probe which is placed within or in contact with a patient to be examined. The video image is digitized and provided to a computer based imaging/analysis system. The computer based imaging/analysis system runs imaging and analysis programs for enhancing, displaying, manipulating, and analyzing the video image data.
In order to prevent cross-contamination, a protective cover is placed over the probe of the imaging device to provide an infection control barrier. The protective cover includes a plastic sheath formed to enclose at least a portion of the probe. A transparent head is secured to the plastic sheath. In accordance with the present invention, a protective cover for a medical imaging device includes visual elements or indicia formed on the head of the cover. The visual indicia are formed on the protective cover in an area of the head thereof which lies in the field of view of the imaging device optical system when the cover is properly positioned on the imaging device probe. The protective cover may be manufactured from any suitable optically transparent material, such as glass or plastics, and may be formed by machining, stamping, thermoforming, casting, molding, or any other process. The visual indicia may be formed as part of the head of the cover through the initial forming process, may be created from a different material added during the forming process, or may be applied after the forming process through printing, etching, plating, painting, or some other process. The visual indicia may be in the form of basic geometric shapes (one or more circles, lines, points, polygons, etc.) or more complex outline shapes, may include one or more characters of text, including letters and numbers and/or may include a series of geometric or text elements presented with specific dimensional intervals. The indicia may be conventional machine readable characters such as bar codes. In any case, the indicia will preferably identify the protective cover by size, type, material, etc. The indicia may also be used as alignment markings and/or to provide system calibration data.
Since the indicia are provided on the protective cover in the field of view of the medical imaging device optical system, the digitized video image provided to the device imaging/analysis system will include the indicia if the cover is properly mounted on the device over the device probe. In accordance with the present invention, the digitized video image is processed by pattern recognition algorithms in programs running on the imaging/analysis system computer to detect and identify indicia appearing in the video image. Edge-detection algorithms may be used to detect the perimeters of indicia based on "brightness" and "darkness" data contained in the video image signal. Contrast enhancement algorithms may be run against the digital image data to enable improved edge detection. The perimeter data is analyzed by pattern recognition algorithms to recognize specific features of the indicia, including lines, curves, or polygons. Recognized indicia patterns are compared with stored indicia patterns to ascertain whether the detected indicia are a valid match for the stored patterns.
If the indicia pattern recognized in the video image does not match any stored valid indicia pattern, the protective cover identification system of the present invention will provide a warning to a user of the imaging device that an incorrect protective cover has been placed on the device. Alternatively, the identification system of the present invention will disable operation of the imaging device unless a valid indicia pattern is recognized. The identification system of the present invention may also provide a warning to a user of the imaging device if the correct indicia pattern does not appear in the proper location on the video image, thereby indicating that the protective cover is not properly positioned on the imaging device. The recognized indicia may also be employed by the imaging device imaging/analysis system for other purposes, such as setting focal distances, calibrating size or distance measurements, or zeroing contrast and brightness settings, depending upon the data provided by the indicia.
The protective cover identification system and method of the present invention may be used in combination with any medical, dental, or veterinary imaging or diagnostic device. The present invention provides an automated system and method for assuring that a protective cover is in place on the imaging or diagnostic device, that the correct protective cover is being used, and that the protective cover is positioned and oriented correctly. Thus, the present invention provides an automated system and method for both ensuring that an infection control barrier is in place and for ensuring that the barrier that is used does not adversely affect operation of the imaging device with which it is employed.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary medical, dental or veterinary imaging and diagnostic device employing a protective cover identification system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary protective cover employed in a protective cover identification system and method in accordance with the present invention as taken generally along line 2—2 of FIG. 1, showing exemplary visual elements or indicia formed in the head of the cover.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a computer implemented calibration process for protective cover recognition in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a computer implemented protective cover recognition process in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 5 is a view of the head of an exemplary cover as in FIG. 2 showing examples of features of the head of the cover that may be detected and screened in accordance with the invention.
The present invention provides an automated system and method for identifying protective covers used on medical imaging devices. The present invention automatically determines that a protective cover is in place, that the correct protective cover is used, and that the protective cover is correctly positioned and oriented on the imaging device. The present invention may be employed in combination with any medical, dental, or veterinary imaging and/or diagnostic device employing optical or video imaging. Such devices include dental cameras, retinal cameras, laryngoscope cameras, endoscopes (ENT and upper/lower gastrointestinal), as well as camera systems used for various other types of non-invasive endoscopic surgery. To emphasize the fact that the present invention is generically applicable to a wide variety of such imaging and diagnostic devices, the present invention will be described with reference to the schematic illustration of a generic medical imaging device 10 of FIG. 1. Although different types of medical imaging and diagnostic devices vary greatly in the details of their design and construction, most such devices will include the basic components included in the exemplary generic medical imaging device 10.
The medical imaging device 10 includes an optical or visual sensing structure, typically in the form of a probe 12 or the like. As used herein, the probe is generally the portion of the medical imaging device that comes in contact with the patient, including non-invasive contact as with the skin and contact by insertion in body cavities and surgical wounds. The probe 12 may be formed, for example, from a rigid, semirigid, or flexible tube. An optical system 14 is mounted at a distal end 16 of the probe 12. The optical system 14 typically includes one or more lenses (not shown) having a field of view directed outward from the distal end 16 of the probe 12. Alternatively, the field of view of the optical system 14 may be at an angle with respect to the axis of the probe 12, and thus may be directed outwardly from the side of the probe 12. The lenses in the optical system 14 mounted in the probe 12 may be connected directly to a miniaturized video camera which is also mounted in the probe 12 and forms part of the optical system 14. Alternatively, an optical image may be carried from the lens in the optical system 14 at the distal end 16 of the probe 12 via, e.g., a fiber optic cable 18, to a video camera system 20 located at the proximal end of the probe 12. If the video camera is included as part of the optical system 14 mounted in the distal end 16 of the probe 12, the cable 18 may include one or more wires for carrying an electrical video signal from the optical system 14 to the proximal end 22 of the probe 12. Depending upon the nature of the imaging device 10, the device probe 12 may include other useful structures (not shown) such as a light source provided at the distal end 16 of the probe via, e.g., a fiber optic cable running through the probe from the proximal end 22 thereof.
The proximal end 22 of the probe 12 is connected to a base unit 24 of the imaging device. Base unit 24 includes a handle 26 or other structure for mounting or supporting the imaging device 10 such that the distal end 16 of the probe 12 can be placed within or in contact with the body of a patient at a desired location and position. The camera system 20 is also mounted in the base unit 24. The camera system 20 converts the optical or electrical signal provided by the optical system 14 mounted in the distal end 16 of the probe 12 into an electrical video signal which is provided on a cable 28 to an imaging/analysis system 30. As described previously, the camera system 20, or a portion thereof, may be mounted within the probe 12 adjacent to or as a part of the optical system 14 mounted in the distal end 16 of the probe 12.
The imaging/analysis system 30 is typically remotely located from the rest of imaging device 10 so as to not interfere with use of the imaging device 10. The imaging/analysis system 30 is connected to the rest of the remotely located imaging device 10 via the connecting cable 28. The video signal provided on the cable 28 to the imaging/analysis system 30 may be analog or digital in nature. If the video signal provided to the imaging/analysis system 30 is analog, the video image signal may be provided directly to a display 32, such as a video monitor, connected to the imaging/analysis system 30. The imaging/analysis system 30 is typically implemented using a general or special purpose computer including conventional personal computers. Preferably, the video image signal is digital in nature, or is converted into a digital signal within the imaging/analysis system 30. The digitized video signal may be operated upon by programs running within the imaging/analysis system 30 to enhance the video image before it is displayed on the video display 32. Programs running in the imaging/analysis system 30 may also be used to manipulate and analyze other information contained in the digitized video image. Such computerized analysis of the digitized video image signal may be used, for example, to automatically locate physical structures of interest within the video image or provide a numerical analysis of information contained within the video image. The results of this computerized analysis of the digitized video image may be displayed on the display 32, either in conjunction with or separate from the video image itself.
In order to prevent cross-contamination between patients, or from patients to medical personnel or vice-versa, it is important to ensure that any portion of the imaging device 10 which comes in contact with or in close proximity to patients and their bodily fluids be thoroughly clean. However, due to the complexity and expense of the imaging device 10, it is often not practical or possible to thoroughly clean the device between each use. Therefore, a protective cover 34 is placed over portions of the imaging system 10 which will come in contact with patients and their bodily fluids to provide an infection control barrier for the device. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the protective cover 34 includes a plastic sheath (which may be flexible, rigid or semi-rigid) that is formed to fit over and enclose at least a portion of the probe 12. A transparent head 37 is secured to the sheath 35 at the distal end 38 of the cover. The sheath 35 of the protective cover 34 may be extended to also cover the base unit 24 of the imaging system 10, or a separate protective cover may be placed over the base unit 24, to provide a more complete infection control barrier. A more complete infection control barrier may be required, for example, where the imaging device 10 is employed in surgical situations. An attachment structure or mechanism 36 may be provided on the base unit 24 for attaching the protective cover 34 over the probe 12 to the base unit 24. The exact nature and design of the attachment mechanism 36 will depend on the design of the imaging device 10 and probe 12 employed on the imaging device 10.
The protective cover 34 may be made of a variety of rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible materials. The protective cover 34 may be made of a material which may be cleaned and reused, or may be made disposable after each use. Exemplary materials from which the protective cover 34 may be manufactured include glass and plastic. The protective cover 34 may be made of different materials along its length. However, the head 37 at the distal end 38 of the protective cover 34, within the field of the view of the optical system 14, provides a transparent window or "lens" (typically, non-focussing) at the distal end of the probe and is made of an optically transparent material. The head 37 may comprise a solid transparent disk. The protective cover 34 may be made in various ways. For example, the cover 34 may be made as a single injected molded part (integrally formed head and sheath) or with an injected head 37 (lens) that is insert molded with an extruded tube as the protective sheath 35 that will extend over the probe 12. The head (lens) portion 37 of the single injection molded part or the injected head (lens) portion 37 of the insert molded part is preferably made from optically clear, potentially sterilizable thermoplastic resins with inherent low birefringence. Two examples of resins that meet these requirements that may be used to make the head (lens) 37 of the cover are polymethylmethacrylate (acrylic or PMMA) and polymethylpentane (PMP). The tooling cavities to mold the lens portion 37 are preferably single-point and diamond-turned, in order to provide excellent optical transparency. An extruded tubular portion which forms the sheath 35 of the insert molded part may be made from a sterilizable plastic resin that may be thermally, ultrasonically or mechanically bonded to the injection molded lens 37 of the cover. Examples of plastic resins which may be used to form the sheath 35 are low density polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate. Typically, the sheath 35 is flexible and is formed to fit snugly on the probe. The cover may be formed to conform to the probe as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,849, incorporated herein by reference. The fabrication of protective covers for imaging systems 10 generally, including methods of manufacture and materials from which the covers may be manufactured, are well known to those skilled in the art.
In accordance with the present invention, visual elements or indicia are formed on a portion 40 of the head 37 at the distal end 38 of the protective cover 34 within the field of view of the optical system 14 of the imaging device 10. A view of the head 37 at the distal end 38 of an exemplary protective cover 34 in accordance with the present invention, as viewed from the optical system 14 of an imaging device 10, is presented in FIG. 2. As illustrated, the portion 40 of the head 37 of the protective cover 34 having the visual indicia formed thereon preferably only extends over a small portion of the field of view of the optical system 14. This will minimize any interference by the indicia with objects of interest to be viewed by the imaging system 10. Of course, the portion 40 of the head 37 of the cover 34 having visual indicia formed thereon may be larger or smaller than that illustrated.
The visual elements or indicia may be formed on the head 37 of the protective cover 34 in a variety of ways. For example, the indicia may be formed as part of the head of the protective cover 34 through the initial forming process. Thus, the indicia may be formed as molded-in features (e.g., surface bosses or indentations) of the head of the protective cover 34 which will provide image contrast when light is projected through the head. Alternatively, the visual elements or indicia may be formed during the forming process of the protective cover 34 by use of an additional material added (e.g., on the surface or embedded) during the forming process. The visual elements or indicia may be applied to the head of the cover 34 after the process of forming the cover 34 is complete, such as through printing, etching, plating, or other processes. It is apparent that the visual elements or indicia formed on the head 37 of the protective cover 34 may be formed in any manner.
The visual elements or indicia formed on the protective cover 34 may take a variety of forms. For example, one or more characters of text 42 may be formed on the head of the protective cover 34. The text may indicate the source of the cover, e.g., the manufacturer's trademark, and/or other information about the cover, such as its type, size, etc. The textual elements may also provide information on the material or optical characteristics of the cover 34. The visual elements or indicia may take the form of basic geometric shapes 44, such as one or more circles, lines, points, polygons, etc., or more complex outline shapes. These simple or complex geometric shapes may also be used to indicate the manufacturer, type, size, nature, or composition of the cover 34. The visual elements or indicia may also be formed as a series of geometric or text elements with specific dimensional intervals between the elements, such as a UPC bar-type code or other machine readable characters. In such a case, information on the manufacturer, type, size, or other characteristics of the cover may be found in the text elements or geometric shapes and/or the size or nature of the intervals between the characters or shapes. In accordance with the present invention, the visual elements or indicia formed on the head of the cover 34 may take any form capable of conveying information.
In accordance with the present invention, the visual elements or indicia formed on the head 37 of the cover 34 are formed on a portion 40 thereof which is positioned in the field of view of the optical system 14 of a medical imaging device 10. Thus, the visual elements or indicia formed on the head 37 of the protective cover 34 will appear in the video image produced by the optical and camera systems of the imaging device. Ambient light, or light from a specifically designed source, such as light from a light source mounted in the probe 12 and reflecting off of portions of the patient's body being viewed by the imaging device 10, will shine through the head 37 at the distal end 38 of the protective cover 34 and will be picked up as areas of "brightness" by the imaging device optical system 14. The visual elements or indicia formed on the distal end 38 of the protective cover 34 are designed to block or interfere with light entering the distal end 16 of the probe 12 in the areas wherein they are located. Thus, the areas in the field of view of the optical system 14 wherein the visual elements or indicia are located will show up typically as areas of "darkness" in the image picked up by the optical system 14. The areas of brightness and darkness which are picked up by the optical system 14 form the video image which is provided in digital form to, or converted to a digital form by, the imaging/analysis system 30.
Although the video image may be manually analyzed by the operator, in accordance with the present invention, the digitized video image is preferably automatically analyzed to determine the existence of, position of, and information provided by the visual elements or indicia (generally, patterns) found within the video image which correspond to the visual elements or indicia formed on the head of the protective cover 34. This analysis is performed using algorithms implemented as computer programs running in the imaging/analysis system 30. The visual indicia analysis programs may include edge-detection algorithms which are used to detect the perimeters of the indicia in the video image based on the data in the video signal. Conventional edge-detection algorithms known in the art may be employed to detect the perimeters of the indicia in the video signal. Such edge detection algorithms are described in, e.g., E. Gose, et al., Pattern Recognition and Image Analysis (book), CRC Press, 1997; F. Kammoun et al., "Optimum Edge Detection For Object-Background Picture," Graphical Models and Imaging Processing, 1994, pp. 25-28; and M. J. J. Wang, et al., "A New Edge Detection Method Through Template Matching," International Journal of Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence, 1994, pp. 899-917. Such conventional edge-detection processes generally require only that a weighted matrix multiplication be performed against data points in the digitized video image array. To enable improved edge detection, the visual indicia analysis programs may include contrast enhancement algorithms. Contrast enhancement algorithms are particularly useful in cases where the visual elements or indicia are formed as molded-in features of head of the cover 34, created by replication of a dimensional feature, or are engraved or etched into the head 37 of the cover 34, or in other cases wherein the contrast levels of the visual elements or indicia may be relatively low. Such contrast enhancement algorithms are described in, e.g., P. Meer, et al., "Multiresolution Adaptive Image Smoothing," Graphical Models and Image Processing, 1994, pp. 140-148; and T. P. Kaushal, "Visibly Better Edge Detection Using Observed Image Contrasts," Pattern Recognition Letters, 1994, pp. 641-647.
Pattern recognition algorithms are used to recognize and interpret the perimeter data derived by the edge-detection algorithms. Conventional pattern recognition algorithms may be employed for this purpose to "read" the text characters or geometric shapes found in the video image. Such pattern recognition algorithms are described in, e.g., B. Jahne, et al., Digital Image Processing—Concepts, Algorithms, and Scientific Applications (book), Springer-Verlag, 1991; J. C. Russ, The Image Processing Handbook, CRC Press, 1995; R. Cole, et al., "On the Detection of Robust Curves," Graphical Models and Image Processing, 1994, pp. 189-204; U. Seeger, et al., "Fast Corner Detection in Gray-Level Images," Pattern Recognition Letters, 1994, pp. 669-675; B. Bhavnagri, "A Method For Representing Shape Based on an Equivalence Relation on Polygrams," Pattern Recognition, 1994, pp. 247-260. Pattern Recognition may also be carried out as described in the foregoing U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,603,976, 4,809,342, and 5,627,895, incorporated by reference. The recognized characters and shapes are compared to visual indicia elements stored in memory which correspond to and indicate protective covers 34 which are known to be appropriate for use with the particular imaging device 10 to provide satisfactory infection control without affecting performance of the device 10. If a match between the visual elements recognized in the video image and valid visual elements stored in memory is not found, the imaging/analysis system of the present invention will determine that an appropriate protective cover is not in place on the imaging device 10.
In accordance with the present invention, the imaging/analysis system 30 may be programmed to take various actions in response to the determination that an appropriate protective cover 34 is not in place on the imaging system 10. If the analysis of the digitized video image results in a determination that no visual elements or indicia are found in the video image, or that the visual elements or indicia found in the video image do not correspond to valid visual elements or indicia stored in memory (preselected patterns), a warning may be provided on the display 32 to a user of the imaging device 10. Additionally, the imaging/analysis system 30 may disable the imaging device 10, to prevent its use, in such a case. The system thus provides an indication of whether the pattern has been found in the image. If the proper pattern is found, rather than being a warming or message, the indication may be absence of a message or may be a command to allow imaging to proceed.
In accordance with the present invention, the imaging/analysis system 30 may also be programmed to determine the location of visual elements or indicia (a preselected pattern) in the digitized video image, and to compare the detected locations with valid locations for the visual elements or indicia stored in memory. If the visual elements or indicia found in the digitized image are not found to be in a valid location, but are otherwise valid indicia, a warning may be provided on the display 32 indicating that the protective cover 34 is not properly positioned on the imaging device 10. The system may also compare the orientation of the pattern found in the image with a valid orientation, and provide an indication of whether the pattern is in the valid orientation. In addition, the imaging/analysis system 30 may disable use of the imaging device 10 if the protective cover 34 is found to be improperly positioned or oriented.
Information contained in the visual elements or indicia recognized in the digitized video image also may be employed by the imaging/analysis system 30 for calibration of the imaging device 10 or other purposes. For example, information contained in the recognized visual indicia concerning the optical characteristics of the protective cover 34 may be used by the imaging/analysis system 30 for setting the focal distance of the imaging device 10, calibrating size or distance measures, or zeroing contrast and brightness settings.
For purposes of exemplification, a flow chart of a calibration process implemented by the computer of the system 10 in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 3. This process is carried out prior to the protective cover recognition process and exemplifies the calibration that may be utilized with generally diffused ambient light. A simplified process may be utilized where a standard target light source and positioning fixture are available.
With reference to FIG. 3, the calibration process begins at the command of the operator at 50 and proceeds to acquire a camera image data stream at 51. The gain amplitude of the camera is checked at 52 to determine if the light level is above the imaging threshold. If the check at 52 fails, a request for retargeting is issued at 54, and the system proceeds back to acquire new camera image data at 51. If the gain amplitude is acceptable at 52, a check is made to determine if a fixed or variable focus camera is utilized at 56; if the camera is fixed focus and near field (macro) or wide angle, the program proceeds to adjust to maximum contrast setting at 57; if a variable focus camera is utilized, the program adjusts to the minimum focal length at 58 and then proceeds to adjust to the maximum contrast setting at 57. The program then proceeds at 60 to capture an image frame and store the data in an ordered array and then apply a contrast enhancement filter to the data (e.g., a centered-weight matrix multiplication) at 61. The process then proceeds to test at 62 for defocus background (grain size distribution), which, if passed, results in a message to the operator at 63 on the display device to place the cover on the instrument and continue. If the test at 62 is failed, the program proceeds to block 54 to request retargeting and then continues as described above.
Once calibration has been completed, the system may then proceed on to the protective cover recognition process, exemplified by the flow chart of FIG. 4, and illustrated with respect to an example of a protective cover shown in FIG. 5 that illustrates various types of features that may be screened for identification significance in accordance with the invention. With reference to the flow chart of FIG. 4, the cover recognition process begins upon command of the operator at 70 to capture a new image frame and store the data in an ordered array. A contrast enhancement filter is then applied at 71, for example, a center-weighted matrix multiplication, and the program proceeds to the block 72 to integrate the features of high opacity and rank by size (total area). The program then proceeds at 73 to process the "n" largest features in descending order where "n" is a preselected number or a number selected by the operator. For example, referring to the illustration of FIG. 5, there are five features of various size on the cover that would be imaged by the camera, each of which is then ranked according to the size or total area occupied by each such feature.
After the processing at 73, the program proceeds to 74 to apply edge detection and edge enhancement filters (weighted matrix operations), and then at 75 proceeds to scale to match the features included with the area of standard fiducial marks. The program then proceeds at 76 to overlay features and to rotate about centroids to achieve the best statistical shape match, and then proceeds at 77 to apply a thinning algorithm to minimize extraneous details and to extract shape vectors. Statistical analysis is performed at 79 to measure the correlation between the feature and the standard. A first possible result of the analysis is that there is no match, in which case the program proceeds back to the block 74 to again apply edge detection, etc. If no matches have been obtained in "n" tries, where "n" is a number preselected or selected by the operator, a message is provided at 80 (e.g., an audible warning or a message on the video screen for the imaging device) that the cover is not present or an incorrect cover is in use, and a warning is issued for the operator. If the analysis at 79 indicates that a match has been obtained but more than one feature has been matched, a warning (indication) is issued at 82 that the cover is correct but may be contaminated or damaged. If the analysis at 79 indicates at match on feature number 1 (the largest feature), the cover is determined to be correct, and the program proceeds at 83 to compare the size, rotational position and edge quality with the standard. If it passes this test, the program proceeds to issue a message at 85 that the test has been passed and the operator should proceed with use of the device; if the test at 83 is failed, the program provides a warning to the operator as indicated at 86 and may instruct the operator on corrective positioning of the cover. If the system determines that a proper cover is being used and is properly positioned, the operator then proceeds to use the imaging device to take an image through the head of the cover of a body structure for examination of the body structure. After the examination has been completed, the operator then removes the cover from the probe and, generally, disposes of the cover. The protective covers of the invention may be formed inexpensively of plastic materials, allowing economic disposal after use, thereby minimizing the likelihood of cross-contamination of patients.
It is understood that this invention is not confined to the particular embodiments herein illustrated and described but embraces all such forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.
1. A disposable protective cover for a medical imaging device of the type having a probe with an optical system at a distal end of the probe that receives light that is imaged by the medical device, comprising:
(a) a sheath of plastic material formed to enclose at least a portion of the probe of the medical imaging device; and
(b) a transparent head secured to the sheath at a distal end of the cover, the transparent head formed to provide a transparent window at the distal end of the probe when the cover is mounted on the probe, the transparent head formed to optically transmit light therethrough to the distal end of the probe, the transparent head having visual indicia thereon in a position that will be within the field of the medical imaging device at its distal end;
wherein the cover formed by the sheath and transparent head is formed to protect the enclosed portion of the probe from contamination when a medical device with the cover attached thereto is used in a medical procedure.
2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the indicia are selected from the group consisting of geometric patterns, letters, numbers, and combinations thereof.
3. The cover of claim 1 wherein the indicia include machine readable markings.
4. The cover of claim 3 wherein the machine readable markings are bar code characters.
5. The cover of claim 1 wherein the transparent head is formed of plastic.
6. The cover of claim 5 wherein the sheath and head are integrally formed together of the same plastic.
7. The cover of claim 5 wherein the head is formed as a transparent circular disk of plastic.
8. The cover of claim 5 wherein the indicia are molded into the plastic forming the transparent head.
9. The cover of claim 5 wherein the indicia are printed on the surface of the transparent head.
10. The cover of claim 5 wherein the head is formed of a disk of solid transparent plastic and the sheath is formed of a flexible plastic joined thereto.
11. Medical imaging apparatus comprising:
(a) a medical imaging device having a probe with an optical system at a distal end of the probe which receives light at the distal end and provides image data corresponding to the image of the light received at the distal end of the probe;
(b) a cover extending over at least a portion of the probe comprising a sheath of plastic material formed to enclose at least a portion of the probe of the medical imaging device, and a transparent head secured to the sheath at a distal end of the cover, the transparent head formed to provide a transparent window at the distal end of the probe, the transparent head formed to optically transmit light therethrough to the distal end of the probe, the transparent head having visual indicia thereon in a position within the field of the medical imaging device at its distal end; and
(c) processing means receiving the image data from the medical imaging device for analyzing the image data and recognizing selected indicia in the image from the medical imaging device corresponding to indicia on the head of the probe.
12. The medical imaging apparatus of claim 11 wherein the medical imaging device is an endoscope.
13. The medical imaging apparatus of claim 11 wherein the indicia are selected from the group consisting of geometric patterns, letters, numbers, and combinations thereof.
14. The medical imaging apparatus of claim 11 wherein the indicia include machine readable markings.
15. The medical imaging apparatus of claim 14 wherein the machine readable markings are bar code characters.
16. The medical imaging apparatus of claim 11 wherein the transparent head is formed of plastic.
17. The medical imaging apparatus of claim 16 wherein the sheath and head are integrally formed together of the same plastic.
18. The medical imaging apparatus of claim 16 wherein the head is formed as a transparent circular disk of plastic.
19. The medical imaging apparatus of claim 16 wherein the indicia are molded into the plastic forming the transparent head.
20. The medical imaging apparatus of claim 16 wherein the indicia are printed on the surface of the transparent head.
21. The medical imaging apparatus of claim 16 wherein the head is formed of a disk of solid transparent plastic and the sheath is formed of a flexible plastic joined thereto.
22. A method of covering a medical imaging device to protect against the spread of infection, the medical imaging device of the type having a probe with an optical system at a distal end of the probe which receives light at the distal end to provide data corresponding to an image of the light received at the distal end, comprising:
(a) applying a cover over the probe of the medical imaging device, the cover comprising a sheath of plastic material formed to enclose at least a portion of the probe of the medical imaging device, and a transparent head secured to the sheath at a distal end of the cover, the transparent head formed to provide a transparent window at the distal end of the probe when the cover is mounted on the probe, the transparent head formed to optically transmit light therethrough to the distal end of the probe, the transparent head having visual indicia thereon in a position within the field of the medical imaging device at its distal end;
(b) taking an image with the medical imaging device of the head of the cover to provide image data;
(c) analyzing the image data to determine if the image data includes a preselected pattern; and
(d) providing an indication of whether the pattern has been found in the image.
23. The method of claim 22 further including, before the step of applying a cover over the medical imaging device, the step of taking a calibration image with the medical imaging device to provide calibration image data, and wherein in the step of analyzing the image data corresponding to the image of the head of the cover, utilizing the calibration image data to calibrate the image data from the image of the head of the cover.
24. The method of claim 22 further including disabling the operation of the medical imaging device if the preselected pattern is not found in the image data corresponding to the image of the head of the cover.
25. The method of claim 22 further including taking an image with the medical imaging device through the head of the cover of a body structure for examination of the body structure, then removing the cover from the imaging device and disposing of the cover.
26. The method of claim 22 wherein the preselected pattern is selected from the group of patterns consisting of geometric patterns, numbers, letters, machine readable graphics, and combinations thereof.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the preselected pattern is an indicator of information concerning characteristics of the cover, and including the further steps if the preselected pattern is recognized of providing a message to an operator indicating the characteristics of the cover that correspond to the preselected pattern.
28. The method of claim 22 wherein if the preselected pattern is found, determining the location of the pattern and comparing the location to a valid location, and providing an indication of whether the pattern is in the valid location.
29. The method of claim 22 wherein if the preselected pattern is found, determining the orientation of the pattern and comparing the orientation to a valid orientation, and providing an indication of whether the pattern is in the valid orientation.
30. The method of claim 22 further including analyzing the image data to determine if the image data includes more than one match to the preselected pattern and providing an indication if more than one match is found.
US09/958,280 1999-04-07 2000-04-06 Identification of protective covers for medical imaging devices Expired - Fee Related US6537207B1 (en)
PCT/US2000/009431 WO2000059366A2 (en) 1999-04-07 2000-04-06 Identification of protective covers for medical imaging devices
US09/958,280 US6537207B1 (en) 1999-04-07 2000-04-06 Identification of protective covers for medical imaging devices
US09/958,280 Expired - Fee Related US6537207B1 (en) 1999-04-07 2000-04-06 Identification of protective covers for medical imaging devices
US20030192543A1 (en) * 2000-04-17 2003-10-16 Arnott Richard J. Apparatus for maintaining airway patency
US20040087843A1 (en) * 2002-08-26 2004-05-06 Rice Mark J. Non-invasive psychophysical measurement of glucose using photodynamics
US20040147820A1 (en) * 2001-09-13 2004-07-29 Fovioptics, Inc. Non-invasive measurement of blood analytes using photodynamics
US20050010091A1 (en) * 2003-06-10 2005-01-13 Woods Joe W. Non-invasive measurement of blood glucose using retinal imaging
US20050159646A1 (en) * 1997-01-13 2005-07-21 Medispectra, Inc. Optical probe accessory device for use in in vivo diagnostic procedures
ES2249971A1 (en) * 2004-02-03 2006-04-01 Universidad De Oviedo Magnifying glass for cutaneous dermatoscopy has handle for electrical energy feeding and handling
WO2006126194A1 (en) * 2005-05-24 2006-11-30 Stryker Gi Ltd. Tracking of disposable components
US20070219408A1 (en) * 2002-04-08 2007-09-20 Olympus Corporation Endoscope hood
US20080076967A1 (en) * 2004-05-18 2008-03-27 Scimed Life Systems, Inc. Serialization of single use endoscopes
US20080097471A1 (en) * 2006-10-18 2008-04-24 Adams Ronald D Systems for performing gynecological procedures with simultaneous tissue cutting and removal
US20080146873A1 (en) * 2006-11-07 2008-06-19 Adams Ronald D Methods for performing a medical procedure
US20080249553A1 (en) * 2007-04-06 2008-10-09 William Harwick Gruber Method, system and device for tissue removal
US20080249534A1 (en) * 2007-04-06 2008-10-09 Gruber William H Method and device for distending a gynecological cavity
US20090270896A1 (en) * 2007-04-06 2009-10-29 Interlace Medical, Inc. Tissue cutter with differential hardness
US20090270898A1 (en) * 2007-04-06 2009-10-29 Interlace Medical, Inc. Tissue removal device with high reciprocation rate
US7648468B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2010-01-19 Pelikon Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for penetrating tissue
US7666149B2 (en) 1997-12-04 2010-02-23 Peliken Technologies, Inc. Cassette of lancet cartridges for sampling blood
US7674232B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2010-03-09 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for penetrating tissue
US7682318B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2010-03-23 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Blood sampling apparatus and method
US7699791B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2010-04-20 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for improving success rate of blood yield from a fingerstick
US7713214B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2010-05-11 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for a multi-use body fluid sampling device with optical analyte sensing
US7822454B1 (en) 2005-01-03 2010-10-26 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Fluid sampling device with improved analyte detecting member configuration
US7841992B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2010-11-30 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Tissue penetration device
US7850621B2 (en) 2003-06-06 2010-12-14 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for body fluid sampling and analyte sensing
US7862520B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2011-01-04 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Body fluid sampling module with a continuous compression tissue interface surface
US7909777B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2011-03-22 Pelikan Technologies, Inc Method and apparatus for penetrating tissue
US7909775B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2011-03-22 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for lancet launching device integrated onto a blood-sampling cartridge
US7976476B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2011-07-12 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Device and method for variable speed lancet
US7988645B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2011-08-02 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Self optimizing lancing device with adaptation means to temporal variations in cutaneous properties
US8025656B2 (en) 2006-11-07 2011-09-27 Hologic, Inc. Methods, systems and devices for performing gynecological procedures
US8079960B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2011-12-20 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Methods and apparatus for lancet actuation
US8221334B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2012-07-17 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method and apparatus for penetrating tissue
US8267870B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2012-09-18 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method and apparatus for body fluid sampling with hybrid actuation
US8282576B2 (en) 2003-09-29 2012-10-09 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method and apparatus for an improved sample capture device
US8333710B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2012-12-18 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Tissue penetration device
US8439872B2 (en) 1998-03-30 2013-05-14 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Apparatus and method for penetration with shaft having a sensor for sensing penetration depth
JP2014002320A (en) * 2012-06-20 2014-01-09 Olympus Corp Endoscope device, endoscope device recording folder generation method, and program
US20140030669A1 (en) * 2011-02-25 2014-01-30 Joachim Hey Surgical Instrument Having Integrated Navigation Control
US8651736B2 (en) 2012-02-03 2014-02-18 Welch Allyn, Inc. Probe cover container identification
US8652831B2 (en) 2004-12-30 2014-02-18 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method and apparatus for analyte measurement test time
US8668656B2 (en) 2003-12-31 2014-03-11 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method and apparatus for improving fluidic flow and sample capture
US8702624B2 (en) 2006-09-29 2014-04-22 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Analyte measurement device with a single shot actuator
US8721671B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2014-05-13 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Electric lancet actuator
US8828203B2 (en) 2004-05-20 2014-09-09 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Printable hydrogels for biosensors
CN104427923A (en) * 2012-07-12 2015-03-18 奥林巴斯株式会社 medical system
US9034639B2 (en) 2002-12-30 2015-05-19 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method and apparatus using optical techniques to measure analyte levels
USD731652S1 (en) 2014-02-19 2015-06-09 Tidi Products, Llc Dental curing light sleeve
US9144401B2 (en) 2003-06-11 2015-09-29 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Low pain penetrating member
US9226699B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2016-01-05 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Body fluid sampling module with a continuous compression tissue interface surface
US9248267B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2016-02-02 Sanofi-Aventis Deustchland Gmbh Tissue penetration device
US9351680B2 (en) 2003-10-14 2016-05-31 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method and apparatus for a variable user interface
US9375169B2 (en) 2009-01-30 2016-06-28 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Cam drive for managing disposable penetrating member actions with a single motor and motor and control system
US9386944B2 (en) 2008-04-11 2016-07-12 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method and apparatus for analyte detecting device
US9433468B2 (en) 2013-10-04 2016-09-06 Tidi Products, Llc Sheath for a medical or dental instrument
US9442065B2 (en) 2014-09-29 2016-09-13 Zyomed Corp. Systems and methods for synthesis of zyotons for use in collision computing for noninvasive blood glucose and other measurements
US9554738B1 (en) 2016-03-30 2017-01-31 Zyomed Corp. Spectroscopic tomography systems and methods for noninvasive detection and measurement of analytes using collision computing
US9560993B2 (en) 2001-11-21 2017-02-07 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Blood testing apparatus having a rotatable cartridge with multiple lancing elements and testing means
US9795747B2 (en) 2010-06-02 2017-10-24 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Methods and apparatus for lancet actuation
US9820684B2 (en) 2004-06-03 2017-11-21 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method and apparatus for a fluid sampling device
US9839386B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2017-12-12 Sanofi-Aventis Deustschland Gmbh Body fluid sampling device with capacitive sensor
WO2019073991A1 (en) * 2017-10-10 2019-04-18 オリンパス株式会社 Processor device
CA2375168A1 (en) * 1999-06-09 2000-12-14 Medispectra, Inc. An optical probe accessory device for use in in vivo diagnostic procedures
US20030114732A1 (en) * 2001-12-18 2003-06-19 Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. Sheath for guiding imaging instruments
US9820641B2 (en) 2003-04-29 2017-11-21 Aircraft Medical Limited Laryngoscope with camera attachment
US4603976A (en) 1982-11-15 1986-08-05 Erwin Sick Gmbh Optik-Elektronik Optical mark recognition apparatus
US4757381A (en) 1987-03-05 1988-07-12 Fuji Optical Systems, Inc. Means and structure for prevention of cross contamination during use of dental camera
US4809342A (en) 1984-11-27 1989-02-28 Kappner Helmut A Process and arrangements for the indentification marking and recognition of objects
US5168863A (en) 1990-08-27 1992-12-08 Medical Concepts, Inc. Sterile endoscopic system
US5201908A (en) 1991-06-10 1993-04-13 Endomedical Technologies, Inc. Sheath for protecting endoscope from contamination
US5359991A (en) 1991-04-24 1994-11-01 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cover device for endoscope
US5363838A (en) 1992-12-09 1994-11-15 George Gordon P Fiberoptic intubating scope with camera and lightweight portable screen and method of using same
US5363843A (en) 1993-03-16 1994-11-15 Yousef Daneshvar Special instrument covers
US5406939A (en) 1994-02-14 1995-04-18 Bala; Harry Endoscope sheath
US5627895A (en) 1993-11-29 1997-05-06 Sega Enterprises, Ltd. Electronic device for detecting selected visually perceptible indication information on an information storage medium for security comparison
US5743849A (en) 1996-08-09 1998-04-28 Blue Ridge Products, Lp Disposable protective sleeve for a laryngoscope and method of using the same
US5820547A (en) * 1996-09-25 1998-10-13 Karl Storz Gmbh & Co. Endoscope optics tester
US5363838B1 (en) 1992-12-09 2000-03-28 Gordon P George Fiberoptic intubating scope with camera and lightweight portable screen and method of using same
US9694144B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2017-07-04 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Sampling module device and method
US8282577B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2012-10-09 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method and apparatus for lancet launching device integrated onto a blood-sampling cartridge
US6889069B2 (en) 2001-09-13 2005-05-03 Fovioptics Inc. Non-invasive measurement of blood analytes using photodynamics
US8038603B2 (en) * 2002-04-08 2011-10-18 Olympus Corporation Endoscope hood
US7988644B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2011-08-02 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for a multi-use body fluid sampling device with sterility barrier release
US8905945B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2014-12-09 Dominique M. Freeman Method and apparatus for penetrating tissue
US8430828B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2013-04-30 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method and apparatus for a multi-use body fluid sampling device with sterility barrier release
US9498160B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2016-11-22 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method for penetrating tissue
US8388551B2 (en) 2002-04-19 2013-03-05 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method and apparatus for multi-use body fluid sampling device with sterility barrier release
US6895264B2 (en) 2002-08-26 2005-05-17 Fovioptics Inc. Non-invasive psychophysical measurement of glucose using photodynamics
US8251921B2 (en) 2003-06-06 2012-08-28 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method and apparatus for body fluid sampling and analyte sensing
US10034628B2 (en) 2003-06-11 2018-07-31 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Low pain penetrating member
US8296918B2 (en) 2003-12-31 2012-10-30 Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland Gmbh Method of manufacturing a fluid sampling device with improved analyte detecting member configuration
US10226163B2 (en) 2004-05-18 2019-03-12 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Serialization of single-use endoscopes
US9230324B2 (en) * 2004-05-18 2016-01-05 Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. Serialization of single use endoscopes
US9261476B2 (en) 2004-05-20 2016-02-16 Sanofi Sa Printable hydrogel for biosensors
US20070085686A1 (en) * 2005-05-24 2007-04-19 Stryker Gi, Ltd Tracking of disposable components
US20110054488A1 (en) * 2006-10-18 2011-03-03 Gruber William H Systems and methods for preventing intravasation during intrauterine procedures
US8647349B2 (en) 2006-10-18 2014-02-11 Hologic, Inc. Systems for performing gynecological procedures with mechanical distension
US20080097468A1 (en) * 2006-10-18 2008-04-24 Adams Ronald D Systems for performing gynecological procedures with closed visualization lumen
US8834487B2 (en) 2006-10-18 2014-09-16 Hologic, Inc. Systems and methods for preventing intravasation during intrauterine procedures
US8840626B2 (en) 2006-10-18 2014-09-23 Hologic, Inc. Systems for performing gynecological procedures with simultaneous tissue cutting and removal
US8840625B2 (en) * 2006-10-18 2014-09-23 Hologic, Inc. Systems for performing gynecological procedures with closed visualization lumen
US20080146872A1 (en) * 2006-11-07 2008-06-19 Gruber William H Mechanical distension systems for performing a medical procedure in a remote space
US9392935B2 (en) 2006-11-07 2016-07-19 Hologic, Inc. Methods for performing a medical procedure
US9301770B2 (en) 2007-04-06 2016-04-05 Hologic, Inc. Systems, methods and devices for performing gynecological procedures
US9339288B2 (en) 2007-04-06 2016-05-17 Hologic, Inc. Uterine fibroid tissue removal device
US9259233B2 (en) 2007-04-06 2016-02-16 Hologic, Inc. Method and device for distending a gynecological cavity
US9095366B2 (en) 2007-04-06 2015-08-04 Hologic, Inc. Tissue cutter with differential hardness
US20080249366A1 (en) * 2007-04-06 2008-10-09 William Harwick Gruber System for use in performing a medical procedure and introducer device suitable for use in said system
US10130389B2 (en) 2007-04-06 2018-11-20 Hologic, Inc. Uterine fibroid tissue removal device
US8574253B2 (en) 2007-04-06 2013-11-05 Hologic, Inc. Method, system and device for tissue removal
US8951274B2 (en) 2007-04-06 2015-02-10 Hologic, Inc. Methods of high rate, low profile tissue removal
US10156481B2 (en) 2012-02-03 2018-12-18 Welch Allyn, Inc. Probe cover container identification
CN104427923B (en) * 2012-07-12 2017-03-15 奥林巴斯株式会社 medical system
US9459201B2 (en) 2014-09-29 2016-10-04 Zyomed Corp. Systems and methods for noninvasive blood glucose and other analyte detection and measurement using collision computing
US9459203B2 (en) 2014-09-29 2016-10-04 Zyomed, Corp. Systems and methods for generating and using projector curve sets for universal calibration for noninvasive blood glucose and other measurements
US9459202B2 (en) 2014-09-29 2016-10-04 Zyomed Corp. Systems and methods for collision computing for detection and noninvasive measurement of blood glucose and other substances and events
US9453794B2 (en) 2014-09-29 2016-09-27 Zyomed Corp. Systems and methods for blood glucose and other analyte detection and measurement using collision computing
US9448165B2 (en) 2014-09-29 2016-09-20 Zyomed Corp. Systems and methods for control of illumination or radiation collection for blood glucose and other analyte detection and measurement using collision computing
US9610018B2 (en) 2014-09-29 2017-04-04 Zyomed Corp. Systems and methods for measurement of heart rate and other heart-related characteristics from photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals using collision computing
EP2293714B1 (en) 2014-08-13 Quantitative methods for obtaining tissue characteristics from optical coherence tomography images
US5920395A (en) 1999-07-06 System for locating relative positions of objects in three dimensional space
US5384862A (en) 1995-01-24 Radiographic image evaluation apparatus and method
US8064666B2 (en) 2011-11-22 Method and device for examining or imaging an interior surface of a cavity
EP1360927B1 (en) 2010-09-01 Optical imaging device and optical imaging detecting method
US6902935B2 (en) 2005-06-07 Methods of monitoring effects of chemical agents on a sample
DK2442720T3 (en) 2016-12-19 Focus scan devices
EP2263192B1 (en) 2015-12-02 Method and system for dynamic feature detection
US4876455A (en) 1989-10-24 Fiber optic solder joint inspection system
EP0904733A1 (en) 1999-03-31 A method and apparatus for recording a three-dimensional image of a body part
US6640127B1 (en) 2003-10-28 Surgical operation navigating system using a reference frame
Wittenberg et al. 1995 Recording, processing, and analysis of digital high-speed sequences in glottography
US9213895B2 (en) 2015-12-15 Iris scanning apparatus employing wide-angle camera, for identifying subject, and method thereof
JP4794708B2 (en) 2011-10-19 3-dimensional position and orientation sensing apparatus
JP4240556B2 (en) 2009-03-18 Method and system for converting the position of the patient to the position of the image
US20060126903A1 (en) 2006-06-15 Imaging system and method for body condition evaluation
US6549288B1 (en) 2003-04-15 Structured-light, triangulation-based three-dimensional digitizer
US5220360A (en) 1993-06-15 Apparatus and method for topographical analysis of the retina
US20120130243A1 (en) 2012-05-24 Systems and methods for detecting and displaying body lumen bifurcations
US20080033283A1 (en) 2008-02-07 Apparatus for Navigation and for Fusion of Ecographic and Volumetric Images of a Patient Which Uses a Combination of Active and Passive Optical Markers
JP4373003B2 (en) 2009-11-25 Apparatus and method for marking to explore the "Hotsutosupotsuto" of the human body tissue
EP0958784A1 (en) 1999-11-24 Intima-media thickness measuring apparatus and arterial sclerosis diagnosing system
US20100228131A1 (en) 2010-09-09 Puncture adaptor, ultrasonic probe for puncture, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for puncture, method for detecting angle of puncture needle
US4695163A (en) 1987-09-22 Method and apparatus for determining surface shapes using reflected laser light
EP1653410B1 (en) 2017-04-12 Ultrasonic tissue characterization apparatus and method
Owner name: FOVIOPTICS, INC., KENTUCKY
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:RICE, MARK J.;SPANOUDIS, STEVE;REEL/FRAME:013556/0782


Your cart is empty. Add some Grey's gear and hit the water!
Fast drying and capable of withstanding a serious battering from rocks,gravel and thorny undergrowth.
Wading boots designed for the more fanatical angler - synthetic nubuckleather upper adds longevity, and the extra padding and support in theankle add comfort.
Greys® Strata CTX Felt Sole Wading Boot is rated 1.2 out of 5 by 5.
Rated 1 out of 5 by JohnfromCanada from Eyelets falling out after little use I'm from Canada. Last year, I bought an outfit to leave in Scotland for my annual fishing trip to the Highlands. These boots were part of it. I used them for three days and left them in storage till this year's trip. On the first day, 12 eyelets fell out and I was left with a difficult walk over rough ground to get back. Eyelet loss shows up on almost every review of this product. Grey's help-line referred me to the store from which I bought them and they referred me back to Grey's. I'm size 13 and it will be very awkward to obtain replacements up here even at my cost. Unless Grey's does better at taking responsibility for this defective product, I'm facing a messed-up holiday.
Rated 1 out of 5 by Inky from Very disappointed! Having purchased a number of Greys products, I had no qualms about ordering the CTX boots and waders. Sadly as others intimate the boots very quickly began to fall apart. Quickly followed by the replacement pair. Unfortunately the waders purchased at the same time also failed giving me wet feet. I was able to purchase a pair of Greys GRXI boots and they have p reformed well for 3 years.
Rated 1 out of 5 by Johnson from Avoid The quality (or lack of it) has changed my perception of this brand. The nubeck covering peels off within months and the eyelets are now popping out. They look a mess, need replacing and all within 2 years of light use.
Rated 2 out of 5 by len A from frilly laces! After a few days of salmon fishing in Iceland, both bootlaces have shredded,and needed to be knotted together for the latter half of the week's holiday. On the plus side, boots were very supportive and easy to use.


Based on the Danish TV crime series inspired by bestselling author Elsebeth Egholm, "Those Who Kill" stars Chloë Sevigny as Catherine Jensen, a brilliant police detective who tracks down serial killers. Jensen is also investigating her stepfather, who may be a serial killer, while searching for her missing brother. She enlists the help of Thomas Schaffer (James D'Arcy), a forensic psychiatrist, to help her understand the minds of serial killers, all the while luring Schaffer into her own personal investigation. Both characters possess a deep psychological understanding that connects them to the killers' victims and to the killers themselves.
Catherine takes on a unlikely role when she looks at Thomas' profile and the killer strikes another family.


text:
package contagionJVM.Creature.Zombie;

import contagionJVM.IScriptEventHandler;
import org.nwnx.nwnx2.jvm.NWObject;

@SuppressWarnings("unused")
public class Zombie_OnPerception implements IScriptEventHandler {
    @Override
    public void runScript(NWObject objSelf) {

    }
}


Is your color falling flat? It might be time to give your color an update. The weather is getting hotter and so are the hair color trends for the upcoming summer season.
"I predict the spring/summer of 2013 will mark the return of the natural look. Women will begin to move away from the high-maintenance colors of 2012 and into less-fussy, organic-looking locks," says Tracey Cunningham, Redken creative consultant for color and co-owner of Meche Salon.
2. "Redheads will welcome the spring and summer months with more intense, dark vibrant reds. I continue to get requests for Bryce Dallas Howard's red hair, as this color creates a look, which fits with all skin tones. A darker red shade such as Bryce's is perfect for women with lighter skin tones, who are looking to change up their look."
3. "Blondes will continue to follow Gwyneth Paltrow's lead by requesting a honey-golden hue. Spring and summer is the prime time to shake up your blonde by adding some soft golden shades, that will really make your look pop."
If you're looking to achieve one of these celebrity looks, Cunningham suggests asking your colorist about Redken's new Chromatics Beyond Cover age defying permanent color that she uses on her famous clients. "What makes Beyond Cover so appealing to many of my celebrity clients is that it guarantees 100 percent gray coverage." And with clients like Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz, we think you're taking the tip from the right person.