E-z-em Company, Inc.

E-z-em, Inc.

Phillip H Meyers

Franklin R Greene

A multi-ply sheet having a center ply support matrix in which the radio opaque compound barium sulfate is distributed as a powder and is supported by the matrix. The barium sulfate is present in an amount sufficient to block scatter radiation produced by the medical radiology procedures. A base ply of a thin liquid impervious polyethylene material is fastened to one side of the support matrix ply. A third ply is composed of a typical absorptive surgical drape material and is fastened to the other side of the support matrix ply.

Protective sheet

An apparatus for detecting temperature variations over selected regions of living tissue is in the form of a low pressure supported pillow structure including a first wall portion of temperature responsive material and a second wall portion of transparent material to permit viewing of the temperature responsive material. The wall portions comprise a fluid chamber including an inflation valve to permit inflating the pillow structure when gaseous fluids are used. The method of using the pillow structure comprises pressing the temperature responsive film into conformity with the tissue, or portion of other object to be scanned, and viewing the temperature response through the clear wall portion. The flexible film is preferably also elastic and carries liquid crystals on its inner surface to give it a temperature responsive characteristic. The elastic characteristics of such a sheet of material enhances its ability to closely conform to contoured objects or tissues while minimizing local unequal pressure regions--and thereby minimizing meaningless artifacts in the scan. Disposing liquid crystals on the inner surface permits viewing the temperature variation response while the device is in contact with the patient. The temperature response is visible through the transparent material wall. Where non-compressible fluids or semi-solids or gels are used to 'inflate' the device, elastic characteristics for a wall portion is preferable. As such inflation media do not compress, an elastic wall portion will stretch to allow the temperature sensitive film to conform to a protrudence extending thereinto.

Apparatus for detecting temperature variations over selected regions of

An apparatus for detecting temperature variations over selected regions of living tissue. The invention relates to the apparatus and to the method of detecting said temperature variations for aid in the early detection of malignant tissue in the breasts. The invention provides for the use of liquid crystals encapsulated between elastic flexible sheets which represent a composite film. The crystals are responsive to changes in temperature of said tissue to display a color pattern on said film representative of said temperature variations. The film conforms to the contour of the tissue to which it is applied, without materially deforming said tissue, by evacuating air from between said film and said tissue. The color pattern produced on said film is observed and is recorded photographically to obtain a thermogram of said temperature variations. The contoured film and the tissue are fan cooled for a relatively short period of time to produce a more sensitive color pattern on said film representative of said temperature variations.

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New Orleans, LA, United States of America

Phillip H Meyers