A computer-based system has been developed for the integration and display of computerized tomography (CT) image data in the operating microscope in the correct perspective without requiring a stereotaxic frame. Spatial registration of the CT image data is accomplished by determination of the position of the operating microscope as its focal point is brought to each of three CT-imaged fiducial markers on the scalp. Monitoring of subsequent microscope positions allows appropriate reformatting of CT data into a common coordinate system. The position of the freely moveable microscope is determined by a non-imaging ultrasonic range-finder consisting of three spark gaps attached to the microscope and three microphones on a rigid support in the operating room. Measurement of the acoustic impulse transit times from the spark gaps to the microphones enables calculation of those distances and unique determination of the microscope position. The CT data are reformatted into a plane and orientation corresponding to the microscope's focal plane or to a deeper parallel plane if required. This reformatted information is then projected into the optics of the operating microscope using a miniature cathode ray tube and a beam splitter. The operating surgeon sees the CT information (such as a tumor boundary) superimposed upon the operating field in proper position, orientation, and scale.
Chronic patellar tendinitis can be a frustrating diagnostic and therapeutic problem. This report evaluates seven tendons in five patients with chronic patellar tendinitis. The etiologies included "jumper's knee" and Osgood-Schlatter disease. In all cases magnetic resonance images (MRI) showed thickening of the tendon. Some of the tendons had focal areas of thickening which helped establish the etiology. All cases had intratendinous areas of increased signal which, in four cases, proved to be chronic tendon tears. MRI is useful in evaluating chronic patellar tendinitis because it establishes the diagnosis, detects associated chronic tears, and may help determine appropriate rehabilitation.
Thirty magnetic resonance (MR) examinations of the Achilles tendon were performed: 20 from patients without suspected tendon abnormalities; ten from patients with suspected tendon abnormalities. The appearance of the normal Achilles tendon is hypointense and flattened. Partial tears appeared as high-signal intratendinous collections, complete acute ruptures appeared as tendinous discontinuity, and uncomplicated surgical repairs appeared as areas of tendinous continuity with inhomogeneous signal in the operative site. Chronic tendinitis appeared as a diffuse thickening of the tendon. MR imaging of the Achilles tendon at 1.5 T enabled the determination of the degree of tendinous continuity, which may help with diagnosis, treatment, and the pacing of rehabilitation.
A ferroelectric field effect transistor (FeFET) that may potentially integrate the data storage and logic functions in the same circuitry can also be used as a platform to study the properties of the ferroelectric material itself. Thin crystals of α-In2Se3, a ferroelectric transition metal chalcogenide semiconductor featuring van de Waals interlayer coupling and an energy gap of around 1.4 eV, was used in this work as the channel material as opposed to the gate dielectric of the FeFET. These FeFETs, which feature a back gate of heavily doped Si and a gate dielectric of 300 nm thick thermally grown SiO2, were measured down to liquid helium temperatures. They were found to show good electric field effect functions and electric field effect induced metallic behavior, along with possible signs for the existence of polarization domains.
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