【正文】 original thermal imaging system (Institute of Radioelectronics and Automatics, Russian Academy of Sciences。 original puterassisted system Cardiac Rhythms for monitoring oatient condition and pulsimetry (Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences。 video system for endoscopic imaging (Zenit ScientificManufacturing A~sociation。 streamlined technology for producing disposable and reusable syringes, injection needles, and surgical threads. A number of other problems of domestic medical instrumentmaking industry have been successfully solved in recent years. For example, the number and quality of therapeutic devices, particularly for laser therapy, is quite sufficient. Research studies are carried out by many anizations including former defense industry facilities. Technologies which have been developed for other purposes give fruitful results in medical industry. According to our data, more than 150 models of such medical devices have been developed over the last 5 years. Some 100 of them are mercially available. Although domestic medical devices are often superior ot foreign analogs in terms of working performance and they are definitely less expensive, many of them are not in short demand and are virtually not used. However, this activity in many other areas of medical instrument engineering cannot be considered as sufficiently successful and rational. It should be noted that many newly developed models of domestic medical devices pare unfavorably with foreign analogs. This is particularly the case for Xray and ultrasonic devices, electrocardiographic monitors, laboratory equipment, etc. Nevertheless, according to the VNIIMPVITA JointStock Company databank, certain positive trends have been observed in recent years even in these areas. However, most problems still remain unsettled and the conditions required to solve them have not yet been established. It is important to note that the serially produced Xray apparatus RUM20 (Mosrentgen JointStock Company) has been significantly updated. The updated model RUM20MSG312 is mercially available in bination with the Sapfir domestic image intensifier or an image intensifier of a French manufacturer. The Kruiz fiat image intensifier has been developed at the AllRussian ScientificResearch Institute for Medical Instrument Engineering in collaboration with MELZ Manufacturing Association and Mosrentgen JointStock Company. This device is designed to replace existing fluorescent screens in the Xray diagnostic apparatuses RUM10, RUM20, RUM20M, and others. The use of the Kruiz image intensifier significantly increases image information content and allows threefold decrease in the radiation load on patients and medical personnel. The G 2025 system for litparlit raster imaging of patients in lying position has been developed at the Mosrentgen JointStock Company. This device is mercially available with the PURS power source. It allows both manual and automatic Xray photography and anoriented Xray examination. The RTS61 mobile Xray video diagnostic apparatus has been developed at the Elektron ScientificResearch and Manufacturing Association. This device is designed to be used in surgery, orthopedics, and traumatology. Among the defense industry facilities which have reoriented their production to medical market the ScientificResearch Institute for Electromechanics (Istra) is worth mention. In collaboration with Phillips (Germany) and borrowing their technology and circuitry, the Institute for Electromechanics developed the Mammodiagnost mammographic scanner, which meets international standards of operating performance. The Rentgen48 Xray tomographic diagnostic systems with a rotary support table and the Rentgen60 Xray diagnostic systems with a remote control support table have been developed at the Sevkavrentgen Plant and received positive recognition by practicing physicians. The models of Xray diagnostic devices listed above are examples of achievements of domestic medical industry. However, many important and significant problems of the development of domestic medical Xray equipment remain unsettled, and it is unreasonable to expect that they will be solved in the foreseeable future unless special measures are taken. For example, the most mon RUM20 Xray apparatuses with the Sapfir image intensifier are equipped with the obsolete Xray image converter REP1. To replace the REP1 image converter, the Moscow Plant for Electronic Tubes has developed the Buer image converter of improved design. This device offers better image contrast, reduced clark background noise, and has an output fiberoptic window of improved design. However, the Buer image converter is not yet mercially available. Digital Xray diagnostic devices are not yet mercially available from domestic manufacturers either. The Design Bureau for Medical Engineering in collaboration with Medtekh, Ltd. (Novosibirsk) have developed the Diaskan Xray digital scanner. Serial production of this device is in progress at the Design Bureau for Medical Engineering. However, devices of sufficient quality are not yet mercially available. Domestic medical industry does not produce Xray tomographs. Their production in Chelyabinsk has been suspended. Electrocardiographic monitors are very important devices for functional diagnosis. However, domestic medical industry fails substantially behind leading foreign manufacturers and there is a disproportion in the development and production of necessary devices and app