01st week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 46 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120004506 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DEVICES FOR IMAGING STRUCTURES IN OR AT ONE OR MORE LUMINAL ORGANS - In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, device and method can be provided which can facilitate imaging of biological tissues, e.g., luminal organs in vivo, using optical techniques. The exemplary device can include different designs an features of one or more catheters, which can illuminate the tissues, and collect signals from the inside of the lumen. In another exemplary embodiment according to the present disclosure, a balloon-catheter can be provided with the flexible neck, which can absorb most of the bending. According to still another exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a balloon-catheter tethered capsule can be provided, and according a yet further exemplary embodiment, a structured balloon design can be provided with one or more protuberances, thus enabling imaging of the structures in close contact, e.g., without compressing of the tissue. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004507 | BIOPSY INLET VALVE - A valve for use in irrigating, accessing and sealing the instrument channel of an endoscope is disclosed. The valve is adapted for installation onto an endoscope instrument inlet port. The valve includes an outer shell and a plurality of disks. The outer shell has a proximal end adapted for insertion of an instrument, interior walls defining a cavity, and a distal end adapted for connection to the instrument inlet port. The plurality of disks are disposed within the cavity in a stacked orientation. Each disks has an aperture therethrough for insertion of an instrument. The plurality of disks cooperate to maintain a seal around an instrument inserted through the valve. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004508 | SURGICAL ILLUMINATOR WITH DUAL SPECTRUM FLUORESCENCE - In a minimally invasive surgical system, an illuminator includes a visible color component illumination source and a hardware non-visible fluorescence emission illumination source. Thus, the illuminator outputs target image illumination light in a first spectrum where the first spectrum includes at least a portion of the visible spectrum. The illuminator also outputs target image illumination light in a second spectrum, where the second spectrum includes non-visible light with a wavelength the same as a wavelength in an emission from a fluorophore. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004509 | Drive Circuit for Light Emitting Diode - A drive circuit for a light emitting diode, and applications thereof, are disclosed. In one example, the drive circuit includes an input voltage and a ground, and a current control block including a voltage supply connection, a ground connection, a first voltage sense connection, and a second voltage sense connection. The voltage supply connection electrically connects to the input voltage and the ground connection connected to the ground. The drive circuit includes a current sense resistor connected to the first voltage sense connection, a first current adjustment resistor connected between the current sense resistor and the second voltage sense connection, and a second current adjustment resistor connected between the second voltage sense connection and the input voltage. A light emitting diode can connect from a point between the current sense resistor and the first current adjustment resistor to the ground. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004510 | SURGICAL ACCESS APPARATUS AND METHOD - An access system comprises an access device. The access device is adapted to be disposed within an opening in a body wall. The access device has an external flange adapted to be disposed external to the body wall and an internal flange adapted to be disposed internal to the body wall. Holes extend through the access device between an external surface and an internal surface of the access device. The holes span the thickness of the body wall between a location external to the body wall and a location internal to the body wall. The access device is formed of an elastomeric material adapted to conform to surfaces of instruments inserted through the holes to form instrument seals along at least a portion of a length spanning the thickness of the body wall. The elastomeric material is compressible and adapted to form a seal with the body wall. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004511 | RESPONDING TO CHANGES IN EMOTIONAL CONDITION OF A USER - A method comprises monitoring inputs to a device from a user, using the user inputs to track an emotional condition of the user, detecting a change in the tracked emotional condition of the user, and in response to detecting the change, using a camera to capture an image of the user and inserting the image into a content item. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004512 | Method, System, and Computer Program Product For The Evaluation of Glycemic Control in Diabetes From Self-Monitoring Data - A method, system, and computer program product related to the diagnosis of diabetes, and is directed to predicting the long-term risk of hyperglycemia, and the long-term and short-term risks of severe hypoglycemia in diabetics, based on blood glucose readings collected by a self-monitoring blood glucose device. The method, system, and computer program product pertain directly to the enhancement of existing home blood glucose monitoring devices, by introducing an intelligent data interpretation component capable of predicting both HbA | 2012-01-05 |
20120004513 | Apparatus and Method for Viewing an Object - An apparatus and method for generating and displaying an image of an object is described and includes a radiation source and a series of at least two linear detectors capable of detecting incident radiation after transmission through an object to define a scanning zone there between. The object is moved relative to and through the scanning zone in successive passes along at least two linear directions at an angle to each other. An image generation apparatus generates for each successive pass at least a first image from the first linear detector, a second image from the second linear detector, and a third image. An image display is adapted successively to display at least the first, second and third images and display the monocular movement parallax between the images. Each image is processed before display to reduce distortion attributable to beam spreading in a direction perpendicular to a scan direction. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004514 | DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SUPPORT DEVICE, DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SUPPORT METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A diagnostic imaging support device includes an image data acquisition unit that acquires image data of high magnification of sample tissue, an image classifying unit that generates image data of low magnification from the image data of high magnification acquired by the image data acquisition unit, and classifies the generated image data of low magnification into group by each image data pattern of a plurality of pathological tissue, and an image evaluating unit that evaluates whether or not the image data of high magnification, which is to be a base of the image data of low magnification classified by the image classifying unit, is the pathological tissue of the classified group. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004515 | MULTI-CHANNEL SENSING METHODS IN IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTOR DEFIBRILLATORS - An implantable medical device uses an implantable sensor for acquiring a physiological signal that is received by a digital signal processor. The digital signal processor is a multi-channel signal processor including a first signal processing channel having a first sensitivity for sensing the physiological signal and a second signal processing channel having a second sensitivity different than the first sensitivity for sensing the physiological signal. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004516 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SYNCHRONIZING DATA RECEIVED FROM MULTIPLE SENSOR MODULES IN A PATIENT MONITOR SYSTEM - A patient monitor system synchronizes patient data acquired by a plurality of sensor modules. Patient data from the sensor modules are synchronized by transmitting, from a patient monitor host, a start message that each newly connected sensor module uses to determine when to begin transmitting patient data to the patient monitor host. At a predetermined count interval, the patient monitor host also broadcasts an incrementing sequence count value to each of the connected sensor modules. The sensor modules use the sequence count values and the start message to determine when the patient monitor host expects each sensor module to transmit data packets. Each data packet sent by the sensor modules includes a sequence count value that the patient monitor host uses to align the various waveforms for display. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004517 | BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR AND PULSE OXIMETER SYSTEM FOR ANIMAL RESEARCH - An integrated blood pressure monitor and pulse oximeter system includes a blood flow occlusion member configured to selectively occlude blood flow through an appendage of the animal (e.g., the neck or tail); a sensor coupled to the blood flow occlusion member detecting a degree of operation thereof; Light sources coupled to the tail closer to the distal end of the tail than the tail blood flow occlusion member, and selectively directing light of two different wavelengths into the appendage; a light receiver coupled to the appendage and selectively receiving a signal associated with light directed into the appendage from the light sources; and a controller configured to selectively determine blood pressure parameters from the data and pulse oximeter parameters from the data. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004518 | TECHNIQUES FOR COMPENSATING MOVEMENT OF A TREATMENT TARGET IN A PATIENT - One embodiment includes a method of predicting a position of a target site inside a body using surrogates is provided. The method includes transforming surrogate measurements and target positions into different representations by applying an operator, establishing a special relationship between the transformed surrogate measurements and the transformed target positions, and continuously predicting the target position from the transformed surrogate measurements and the established special relationship. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004519 | Motion Cancellation of Optical Input Signals for Physiological Pulse Measurement - A pulse rate sensor that includes an accelerometer for measuring periodic motion and a piezo sensor for detecting erratic motion is capable of more accurately determining pulse rate by accounting for these types of motion. The pulse rate sensor in accordance with the present invention diminishes pulse rate signal degradation due to erratic motion through a combination of algorithms that control signal boosting, waveform refinement and signal noise suppression. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004520 | Communication System with Multiple Sources of Power - The system of the present invention includes a conductive element, an electronic component, and a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. Upon contact with a conducting fluid, a voltage potential is created and the power source is completed, which activates the system. The electronic component controls the conductance between the dissimilar materials to produce a unique current signature. The system can also measure the conditions of the environment surrounding the system. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004521 | INTEGRATED LANCING TEST STRIP WITH RETRACTABLE LANCET - An integrated lancing test strip device includes a lancet configured to form an incision in tissue and a test strip coupled to the lancet for analyzing body fluid. A retention mechanism acts as a detent to hold the lancet in a static position relative to the test strip before forming the incision. The retention mechanism is configured to release the lancet for retracting the lancet relative to the test strip to reduce smearing of body fluid by the lancet during collection of the fluid with the test strip. In one form, the retention mechanism includes breakable tabs that are broken to release the lancet, and the lancet is retracted via translational movement. The retention mechanism in another form includes one or more dimples that release the lancet when the lancet is retracted via rotational motion. In a further form, the entire integrated device is rotated to collect fluid. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004522 | BIOSENSOR COATED WITH ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER LAYER DEMONSTRATING BENDING BEHAVIOR - Disclosed is a biosensor coated with an electroactive polymer layer demonstrating a bending behavior, more specifically a biosensor including an electroactive polymer layer coated on the surface of a bioreceptor and an electrode connected to the electroactive polymer layer. When an electrical stimulation is applied to the electrode, the electroactive polymer layer shows a bending behavior and thus the surface of the bioreceptor can be exposed to an analyte to allow a concentration analysis of the analyte. When used as an implantable biosensor, the disclosed biosensor may have a substantially increased life span since the bioreceptor can be selectively exposed to the analyte. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004523 | System and methods for self-powered, contactless, self-communicating sensor devices - The innovation introduces a new kind of smart biological-sensing controller, based on silicon and/or flexible polymer printed electronics. The purpose of the device is to monitor and/or control biological signals of living organisms (for example, microbes, bacteria, insects, plants, animals, and people). Embedded in a system, the innovation can work contactless and battery-free since it is self-powered, wirelessly self-communicating without the use of electromagnetic waves like radio frequencies (RF), infrared or other electromagnetic technologies. Instead, the innovation uses alternating electric fields for powering, measuring and communicating, and introduces an innovative new method of mobile vital signs monitoring. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004524 | PROTRUDENT ANALYTE SENSOR - The methods and apparatus for detecting an analyte in blood are useful for detecting an analyte in tissue of a subject. The apparatus comprises a sensor, which comprises an elongated conductive material having a protrudent end, the protrudent end comprising an electrode that detects the presence of an analyte; a substrate affixed to the conductive material; and a support having an external surface, a proximal end, and a distal end. The conductive material is positioned on the support and the protrudent end of the conductive material protrudes beyond the distal end of the support. Optionally, the sensor is suspended within the lumen of a venous flow device. Typically, only a portion of the sensor is suspended within the lumen of the venous flow device, said portion comprising the protrudent end of the conductive material. Alternatively, the conductive material is positioned on the external surface of the intravenous infusion catheter. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004525 | MULTI-USER REMOTE HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM WITH BIOMETRICS SUPPORT - The invention presents a networked system for identifying an individual, communicating information to the individual, and remotely monitoring the individual. The system includes a remotely programmable apparatus that occasionally connects to a server via a communication network such as the Internet. The remotely programmable apparatus interacts with the individual in accordance with a script program received from the server Among other capabilities, the script program may instruct the remotely programmable apparatus to identify the individual, to communicate information to the individual, to communicate queries to the individual, to receive responses to the queries, and to transmit information identifying the individual and the responses from the remotely programmable apparatus to the server. Information identifying the individual may be obtained via a biometrics sensor, a data card, a remote monitoring device, or the interception of data from a separate information system. The information identifying the individual may be used by either or both the server system and remotely programmable apparatus for security, customization and other purposes. As the present invention has multi-user capabilities, it can be used in a public place, such as a pharmacy or health care clinic. The multi-user capabilities also allow collection and tracking of user data for the healthcare industry. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004526 | SENSOR ASSEMBLIES FORMED OF SILICONE RUBBER FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL ELECTRICAL LEADS - A sensor assembly, which may be incorporated by a medical electrical lead, includes an insulative body, formed from a biocompatible plastic, and a sensor mounted on a mounting surface of the insulative body. The mounting surface extends distally from a proximal portion of the insulative body in which first and second conductive inserts extend, being spaced apart and isolated from one another. The sensor is coupled to each of the first and second conductive inserts, and the first conductive insert includes a conductor-coupling end extending proximally from the proximal portion of the insulative body. The sensor assembly may further include an electrode extending around the sensor and the insulative body, wherein the electrode includes an aperture approximately aligned with an active surface of the sensor to expose the active surface. A mounting platform assembly for the sensor assembly may include the conductive inserts and the insulative body. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004527 | Communication System Using an Implantable Device - The system of the present invention includes an implantable device that can detect high and low frequency current signature. The implantable device can communicate with a communication device that includes a conductive element, an electronic component, and a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. Upon contact with a conducting fluid, the communication device is activated. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004528 | Implantable Remote Monitoring Sensor - An exemplary implantable sensor includes a housing that generally conforms to a curvature of an anterior chamber of a patient's eye. A sensing device disposed in the housing is configured to detect physiological parameters and transmit a signal representing the physiological parameters. The exemplary sensor may be used to detect physiological parameters such as intraocular pressure, flow velocity of aqueous humor, blood sugar, and blood biochemicals. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004529 | AUTOMATIC DISPLAY OF PREVIOUSLY-ACQUIRED ENDOLUMINAL IMAGES - Apparatus and methods are provided for use with an endoluminal data-acquisition device that acquires a set of endoluminal data-points of a lumen of a subject's body at respective locations inside the lumen, a second endoluminal device, and a display configured to display images. At least one processor includes location-association functionality that associates a given data point acquired by the endoluminal data-acquisition device with a given location within the lumen. Location-determination functionality determines, by means of image processing, in an extraluminal image of the second endoluminal device, a current location of at least a portion of the second endoluminal device. Display-driving functionality drives the display to display an indication of the endoluminal data point associated with the location, in response to determining that the portion of the second device is currently at the location. Other applications are also described. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004530 | QUANTIFICATION OF INTRACELLULAR AND EXTRACELLULAR SPIO AGENTS WITH R2 AND R2* MAPPING - Quantitative assessment of magnetic agent tagged cells in a subject comprises: acquiring a series of T | 2012-01-05 |
20120004531 | Innately Multimodal Nanoparticles - A gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticle, method of making thereof, and method of using thereof is disclosed. The nanoparticle is substantially toxin free (making it clinically applicable), easily functionalized, and can serve as a contrast agent for a number of imaging techniques, including imaging a subject in at least two distinct imaging modes. Further, the nanoparticle is well-suited for therapeutic uses. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004532 | IRRADIATING COIL AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - An irradiating coil includes a first ring conductor located on a plane, a second ring conductor having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the first ring conductor and located substantially on the plane of the first ring conductor, a plurality of first line conductors connected the first ring conductor and to the second ring conductor, and an arrangement for making uniform a radio-frequency-pulse that is transmitted by the irradiating coil. The pulse uniforming arrangement includes a diverger which diverges a current flow of the first line conductors. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004533 | OPTIMIZATION OF MULTIPLE CANDIDATES IN MEDICAL DEVICE OR FEATURE TRACKING - Multiple candidates are optimized in medical device or feature tracking. Possible locations of medical devices or features for each of a plurality of different times are received. The possible locations of devices are modeled using a probability function. An iterative solution to obtain the maximum of the probability function determines the possible locations to be used as the locations of the medical devices or features for each time. Where two or more medical devices or features are provided with a geometric relationship, such as being connected by a detected guide wire, the probability function may account for the geometric relationship, such as a geodesic distance between the possible locations for the two medical devices. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004534 | Surgical referencing unit, surgical instrument and surgical navigation system - To improve a surgical referencing unit for a surgical navigation system, with which a spatial position and/or orientation of the referencing unit is determinable, the referencing unit comprising a base body and at least one marker element arranged on the base body, and the spatial position of the marker element being determinable by the navigation system, so that the handling thereof is simplified and possible errors are eliminated during use thereof, it is proposed that the at least one marker element be movably mounted on the base body, that the referencing unit comprise a first interface device which is configured for engagement with a second interface device provided on a surgical instrument or an implant in a connected position, and that the at least one marker element be movable into a predefined marker element position in dependence upon the interacting first and second interface devices. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004535 | VERESS NEEDLE WITH ILLUMINATED TIP AND CAVITY PENETRATION INDICATOR - A Veress needle assembly comprises an outer steel tube with a sharpened tip at the distal end surrounding an inner rod having a blunt distal end. The proximal end of the inner rod is spring biased towards a position in which its distal end extends beyond the distal end of the outer stainless steel tube so that while piercing the wall of a body cavity the inner rod is forced upwardly against the spring bias to allow the sharpened end of the outer tube to extend into a cutting position. An indicator light supported on the proximal end of the assembly is controlled by a switch which is in a first position when the outer tube is passing through the wall of the body cavity and a second position when the outer tube enters the body cavity behind the wall, allowing the rod to move beyond the distal end of the outer tube, thereby changing the illumination of the light source so that the operator is signaled that the Veress needle has passed into the body cavity. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004536 | Device and Method for Bone Imaging - The invention comprises a modified implant useful to assess bone by imaging. The modified implant comprises a medical implant and at least one detectable marker element associated with the implant that serves as a reference point in medical imaging. Preferably, the implant and the detector marker elements have different radiolucencies such that one element can be seen through the other in medical imaging. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004537 | CO-USE OF ENDOLUMINAL DATA AND EXTRALUMINAL IMAGING - Apparatus and methods are described for use with an endoluminal data-acquisition device configured to be moved through a lumen, the device having a radiopaque marker coupled thereto. While the device is being moved through the lumen (a) endoluminal data points of the lumen are acquired using the device, (b) contrast agent is continuously injected into the lumen, and (c) angiographic images of the device are acquired. It is determined that endoluminal data points correspond to respective locations within the lumen, by determining locations of the radiopaque marker within the angiographic images of the lumen, by performing image processing on the angiographic images, the locations of the radiopaque marker within the angiographic images of the lumen corresponding to respective endoluminal data points. Other applications are also described. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004538 | SYSTEM INCLUDING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC VALVE INDICATOR AND LOCATOR DEVICE - A system including an implantable flow control device and an electronic valve indicator and locator device. The implantable device includes a valve and a magnetic device. The electronic device includes a locator tool, an indicator tool, and an adjustment tool. The indicator tool includes an electronic compass module for measuring an orientation of sensed magnetic fields and a locator tool interface module for electronically communicating sensed magnetic fields to the processing module. The locator tool has a processing module which receives and stores background magnetic field data, receives target magnetic field data when the indicator tool is coupled to the locator tool and positioned above the implanted device, and electronically determines the setting of the valve based on the background magnetic field data and the target magnetic field data. The adjustment tool aligns with the locator tool for modifying the valve setting when magnetically coupled to the implantable device. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004539 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHODS OF IMAGING USING THE SAME - A method of registering the position of an object moving in a target volume in an ultrasound imaging system includes capturing a first ultrasound image of a target volume. A second ultrasound image of the target volume is then captured after the capturing of the first ultrasound image. The position of the object in the target volume is identified using differences detected between the first and second ultrasound images. In another aspect, a region of interest in the target volume is determined. A segment of an operational scan range of a transducer of the ultrasound imaging system encompassing the region of interest is determined. The transducer is focused on the segment of the operational scan range during image capture. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004540 | HUMAN CAVITY INNER WALL THREE-DIMENSIONAL MAPPING METHOD, EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEM - A human cavity inner wall three-dimensional mapping method, and a corresponding device and system, comprising: at least one field generating device which generates a plurality of distinguishable fields under excitation of a drive signal; at least one field sensor located in a target device for detecting the distinguishable fields to generate a sensor signal; and a positioning signal processing device for transmitting the drive signal to the field generating device and detecting the output of the field sensor signal to acquire data of five-dimensional position and orientation coordinates of a position on the target device where the sensor is located. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004541 | SURGERY ASSISTANCE SYSTEM - Provided is a surgery assistance system to perform relatively fast and accurate alignment between three-dimensional surface shape data acquired by measurement using a three-dimensional surface shape scanner and three-dimensional internal shape data acquired in advance, even when the position of the patient and the surface shape of the skin of the patient change during the surgery. A surgery assistance system ( | 2012-01-05 |
20120004542 | CHEMICAL LIQUID INJECTOR - A chemical liquid injector has syringe adapter | 2012-01-05 |
20120004543 | SYRINGE ADAPTER - Syringe adapter | 2012-01-05 |
20120004544 | DELIVERY OF BIOLOGICAL COMPOUNDS TO ISCHEMIC AND/OR INFARCTED TISSUE - The delivery of biological compounds to ischemic and/or infarcted tissue are described herein where such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid, such as saline, can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood, thereby leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. Additionally, any number of therapeutic tools can also be passed through the deployment catheter and into the imaging hood for performing any number of procedures on the tissue for identifying, locating, and/or accessing ischemic and/or infarcted tissue. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004545 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ULTRASOUND DATA PROCESSING - Methods and systems for ultrasound data processing are provided. One method includes acquiring channel ultrasound data from a plurality of channel connected to a plurality of elements of an ultrasound probe and storing the channel ultrasound data from the plurality of channels. The method further includes generating ultrasound images based on processing of the acquired channel ultrasound data and displaying the ultrasound images. The method also includes performing additional processing on the stored channel ultrasound data while the ultrasound images are displayed and displaying updated ultrasound images generated by the additional processing. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004546 | System and Method for Treating Hemorrhoids - A system and method for treating hemorrhoidal piles, addressing both cause and symptoms, by endoluminal/interstitial application of energy are disclosed. Inflamed dilated blood vessels (hemorrhoids/piles) are caused due to connective tissue disorder, relative increase in pressure in the superior hemorrhoidal artery and weakening of the vessels' valves. The dilated blood arteries in anal/rectal region are irradiated from inside the pile using (laser) energy for minimal pain/discomfort. The center of the pile is irradiated over a certain diameter, absorbing energy; is denatured causing volume reduction. Central vessels located in the same diameter are obliterated immediately relieving bleeding. In treatment, new connective tissue replaces the coagulated tissue. Closing inflowing arteries further shrinks piles in weeks to three months. Complications are highly diminished. A hand-piece and a fiber with a sharp distal tip are beneficial. Including an imaging system, (ultrasound imaging, optical coherence tomography) and an intelligent system to calculate necessary laser energy parameters help address each pile individually. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004547 | MONITORING APPARATUS FOR MONITORING AN ABLATION PROCEDURE - The present invention relates to a monitoring apparatus ( | 2012-01-05 |
20120004548 | NON-THERMAL ACOUSTIC TISSUE MODIFICATION - A methodology and system for modifying tissue including directing the acoustic beam for a predetermined time duration at a multiplicity of target volumes, which target volumes contain tissue, thereby to modify the tissue in the target volumes while the acoustic beam has a pressure at target volume which lies below a cavitation threshold and the predetermined time duration being shorter than a time duration over which the acoustic beam produces thermal modification of tissue in the target volume | 2012-01-05 |
20120004549 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TREATING PHOTOAGED TISSUE - A method and system for ultrasound treatment of photoaged tissue are provided. An exemplary method and system are configured for first, ultrasound imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area, second, delivery of ultrasound energy at a depth and pattern to achieve the desired therapeutic effects, and third to monitor the treatment area during and after therapy to assess the results and/or provide feedback. The exemplary treatment method and system can be configured for producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation to treat the epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal components of photoaged tissue. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004550 | Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and ultrasonic diagnosis method - An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe which includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers which transmit ultrasonic waves to an object, receive the ultrasonic waves reflected by the object, and output ultrasonic detection signals; a reception time calculating device which calculates at least one of a reception time and a reception wave at each of elements corresponding to lattice points set in a shallower region than a region of interest in the object; an image generating device which generates an image at a lattice point in the region of interest, based on a hypothetical sound velocity set in the region of interest and the calculated one of the reception time and the reception wave; an image analyzing device which analyzes the generated image; and a local sound velocity calculating device which calculates a local sound velocity in the region of interest, based on a result of the image analysis. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004551 | Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and ultrasonic diagnosis method - An ultrasonic diagnosis method of one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter: transmitting ultrasonic waves to an object through an ultrasonic probe including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, and outputting ultrasonic detection signals after receiving the ultrasonic waves reflected by the object; calculating at least one of a reception time and a reception wave at each of respective elements corresponding to two or more lattice points at different depths in the object with respect to the ultrasonic probe; and calculating a local sound velocity which is a sound velocity in a local region, using calculated one of the reception time and the reception wave. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004552 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a change amount calculating unit, an estimating unit and a control unit. The change amount calculating unit is configured to calculate amount of change of a pattern of each of a plurality of local regions among a plurality of ultrasound images generated along time series based on a reflected wave of an ultrasound wave transmitted by an ultrasound probe. The estimating unit is configured to estimate a position of a rotation axis of a scanning cross-section in each ultrasound image based on the amount of change of the pattern of each of the plurality of local regions calculated by the change amount calculating unit. The control unit is configured to superimpose the rotation axis estimated by the estimating unit on each ultrasound image and displays the same on a monitor. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004553 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND STORAGE MEDIUM - The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiments includes an ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit, a tomographic image generating unit, an analyzing unit, and an analysis result display controller. The ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit is configured to transmit ultrasonic beams in multiple directions and is configured to receive echo signals of the multiple directions. The tomographic image generating unit is configured to generate a tomographic image in accordance with each of the directions of the ultrasonic beams. The analyzing unit is configured to compare echo signals of corresponding spatial positions in the tomographic images generated by the tomographic image generating unit with respect to each of the directions of the ultrasonic beams, and is configured to perform an analysis based on the comparison. The analysis result display controller is configured to display the analysis result obtained by the analyzing unit onto the displaying unit. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004554 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS - The ultrasound probe according to the present embodiment comprises ultrasound oscillators configured to transmit and receive ultrasound waves, an intermediate layer configured to have greater acoustic impedance than the ultrasound oscillators, a backing material configured to support the ultrasound oscillators, and a buffer layer. The ultrasound oscillators, the intermediate layer and the backing material are disposed in that order of the ultrasound oscillator, the intermediate layer and the backing material. The buffer layer, which has smaller acoustic impedance than the intermediate layer and the backing material, is disposed between the intermediate layer and the backing material. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004555 | METHOD OF STRETCHING ORGANIC PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ORGANIC PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL, ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER, ULTRASONIC WAVE PROBE AND ULTRASONIC WAVE MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSIS DEVICE - Provided is a stretching method of an organic piezoelectric material which sequentially performs a primary stretching step for carrying out primary stretching of an organic piezoelectric material which has not been stretched, a heat treatment step for heat treating the organic piezoelectric material subjected to primary stretching, and a cooling step for carrying out secondary stretching of the heat treated organic piezoelectric material while the organic piezoelectric material is cooled down to the room temperature, and is characterized in that tension is applied continuously to the organic piezoelectric material from the primary stretching step to the cooling step without releasing the tension, and heat treatment is carried out while keeping the tension in a range of 0.1-500 kPa. A stretching method and a production method for producing an organic piezoelectric material exhibiting excellent planarity, machining characteristics and piezoelectric characteristics and suitable for high frequency and broadband are thereby provided, and an ultrasound transducer using the organic piezoelectric material produced by the method, and an ultrasound medical image diagnosis device are also provided. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004556 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ESTIMATING THE SIZE AND POSITION OF A MEDICAL DEVICE TO BE APPLIED WITHIN A PATIENT - The field of the invention relates to medical imaging systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for estimating the size and position of a stent or other medical device within a patient. In one embodiment, a medical imaging system includes an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends, configured to be inserted into a vessel of a patient, an imaging device coupled to the distal end of the elongated tubular member, and a console electrically coupled to the imaging device, wherein the console includes a computer-usable medium, electrically coupled to the imaging device, having a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to execute a process including generating an image of the vessel, and overlay one or more shapes onto the image age to provide a visual approximation of the size and position of a medical device to be applied within the patient. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004557 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FLUORESCENT IMAGING WITH BACKGROUND SURGICAL IMAGE COMPOSED OF SELECTIVE ILLUMINATION SPECTRA - A surgical site is simultaneously illuminated by less than all the visible color components that make up visible white light, and a fluorescence excitation illumination component by an illuminator in a minimally invasive surgical system. An image capture system acquires an image for each of the visible color components illuminating the surgical site and a fluorescence image, which is excited by the fluorescence excitation component from the illuminator. The minimally invasive surgical system uses the acquired images to generate a background black and white image of the surgical site. The acquired fluorescence image is superimposed on the background black and white image, and is highlighted in a selected color, e.g., green. The background black and white image with the superimposed highlighted fluorescence image is displayed for a user of the system. The highlighted fluorescence image identifies tissue of clinical interest. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004558 | BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT DEVICE - Average blood pressure data of a morning time zone of every week and average blood pressure data of a night time zone of every week calculated by an average calculation portion are stored in a memory by performing blood pressure measurement. An every-week processing portion alternately switches and displays the average blood pressure data of the morning time zone and the average blood pressure data of the night time zone read from the memory based on an instruction input through an operation unit on a display unit every three seconds, or the like. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004559 | Blood Pressure Meter - A blood pressure meter includes a cuff unit and a clip unit. The cuff unit includes at least one first connecting portion and at least one second connecting portion. The clip unit is detachably connected with the cuff unit and comprises a first clipping portion for each first connecting portion and a second clipping portion for each second connecting portion, wherein the first and the second clipping portions are pivotally connected in such a manner that the first clipping portion is connected to the first connecting portion in a detachable manner and the second clipping portion is connected to the second connecting portion in a detachable manner, thereby the blood pressure meter is advantageous in that accurate positioning and operation for blood pressure monitoring is achieved. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004560 | CUFF FOR BLOOD PRESSURE INFORMATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE AND BLOOD PRESSURE INFORMATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME - A cuff for a sphygmomanometer includes an air bladder for compressing a living body, an exterior cover including the air bladder, and a fixing unit arranged in the exterior cover. A portion closer to an end of the exterior cover is inserted between a roller arranged in the fixing unit and a stopper, and is fixed by being pushed against the roller by the stopper. The roller is rotatable only in a direction of reducing the size of the annular portion of the exterior cover. Accordingly, the cuff for the sphygmomanometer has a simple configuration, is inexpensively manufactured, and easily carries out and stably reproduces attachment with respect to the upper arm. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004561 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF DETERMINING PATIENT PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS FROM AN IMAGING PROCEDURE - A method of determining at least one patient physiological parameter from an imaging procedure includes at least the steps of measuring time enhancement outputs for at least two different regions of interest, and determining at least one difference between the time enhancement outputs to provide a measure of the at least one patient physiological parameter. The physiological parameter can be a parameter of the cardiopulmonary system. It can also be the cardiac output, the blood volume in a region, a rate transfer term or a transit delay. A first time enhancement output may be measured in the ascending aorta or the descending aorta and a second time enhancement output may be measured in the pulmonary artery trunk. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004562 | DYNAMIC MOTION CONTRAST AND TRANSVERSE FLOW ESTIMATION USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - The methods described herein are methods to ascertain motion contrast within optical coherence tomography data based upon phase variance. The phase variance contrast observes the nanometer scale motion of scatterers associated with Brownian motion and other non-flow motion. The inventive method of calculating motion contrast from the phase variance can differentiate regions of different mobility based on the motion contrast differences, and can use the phase information to characterize mobility properties of the scatterers. In flow regions, the inventive method for acquiring and analyzing motion contrast can identify the regions as well as characterize the motion. Furthermore, the inventive method can determine quantitative flow estimation, the index of refraction variations, and absorption variations within flow regions. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004563 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING A BIOLOGICAL SIGNAL - Provided is an apparatus and method for analyzing a biological signal. The apparatus may measure the biological signal, detect a noise signal influencing the electrical characteristics of the measured biological signal, and display the measured biological signal by distinguishing a normal section of the measured biological signal from an abnormal section of the biological signal. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004564 | DEVICES AND METHOD FOR ACCELEROMETER-BASED CHARACTERIZATION OF CARDIAC SYNCHRONY AND DYSSYNCHRONY - Systems and methods according to the invention employ an acceleration sensor to characterize the synchrony or dyssynchrony of the left ventricle. Patterns of acceleration related to myocardial contraction can be used to assess synchrony or dyssynchrony. Time-frequency transforms and coherence are derived from the acceleration. Information and numerical indices determined from the acceleration time frequency transforms and coherence can be used to find the optimal pacing location for cardiac resynchronization therapy. Similarly, the information can be used to optimize timing intervals including V to V and A to V timing. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004565 | ISCHEMIA DETECTION USING A HEART SOUND SENSOR - A system comprising an implantable medical device (IMD) includes an implantable heart sound sensor to produce an electrical signal representative of at least one heart sound. The heart sound is associated with mechanical activity of a patient's heart. Additionally, the IMD includes a heart sound sensor interface circuit coupled to the heart sound sensor to produce a heart sound signal, and a signal analyzer circuit coupled to the heart sound sensor interface circuit. The signal analyzer circuit measures a baseline heart sound signal, and deems that an ischemic event has occurred using, among other things, a measured subsequent change in the heart sound signal from the established baseline heart sound signal. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004566 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING EPISODE PROFILES OF DETECTED TACHYCARDIA EPISODES - A medical device and associated method sense a cardiac signal and initiate an arrhythmia episode detection process in response to the cardiac signal by enabling an arrhythmia detection counter to be adjusted during the detection process. Data is accumulated relating to cardiac events during the detection process. An arrhythmia episode profile is established using the accumulated data. The accumulated data includes a pattern of the adjustment of the detection counter during the detection process | 2012-01-05 |
20120004567 | RHYTHM CORRELATION DIAGNOSTIC MEASUREMENT - An ambulatory medical device includes a cardiac activity sensing circuit and a processing circuit. The processing circuit includes a correlation circuit and a rhythm discrimination circuit. The correlation circuit generates an indication of correlation between each of at least a portion of the cardiac depolarizations and a stored template representative of a normal sinus rhythm. The rhythm discrimination circuit is configured to compare the indications of correlation to a specified correlation threshold value, classify the information representative of cardiac activity as a specific cardiac rhythm using the comparison, and identify at least one indication of correlation that determines the classification. The processing circuit provides the identified indication of correlation to a user or process. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004568 | Method for identifying R waves in an ECG signal and an ECG measuring instrument as well as a magnetic resonance device - A method for identifying R waves in an ECG signal is proposed. An ECG measuring instrument measures ECG signals of a patient in which R waves are to be detected. The measured ECG signals are compared with respective reference quantities based on at least two comparison rules. The second comparison rule is dependent on a result of a first comparison conducted according to a first comparison rule. A signal that an R wave has been detected is issued if the first and the second comparison rules are fulfilled. Making the second comparison rule dependent on the result of the first comparison rule enables an adept response to changes of measurement conditions. These changes can be taken into account in further comparisons. Therefore the detection of R waves in an ECG signal can be optimized, leading to an improvement in the image quality in ECG-triggered MR examinations. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004569 | Method for Generating a Trigger Signal by an EKG Signal as Well as an EKG Measuring Apparatus and a Magnetic Resonance Device - A method for generating a trigger signal for a magnetic resonance measurement by an R wave of an EKG signal is proposed. The EKG signal is captured by an algorithm manager. The algorithm manager includes at least a first trigger instance having a trigger algorithm. EKG signals from at least two different EKG channels are processed by the trigger algorithm. The algorithm manager includes at least a further trigger instance for capturing the EKG signal. The further trigger instance has at least one further trigger algorithm for processing EKG signals from at least two different EKG channels. The trigger signal is generated by selecting a trigger instance from the different trigger instances. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004570 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE, BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION MEASUREMENT METHOD, AND BODY COMPOSITION MEASUREMENT DEVICE - To accurately acquire body composition information using data acquired by another device. Thus, there is provided a body composition monitor with scale including a communication unit for allowing input of biological component information (cross-sectional area, site length, subcutaneous fat percentage, visceral fat percentage, etc.) of a living body measured with another device such as an MRI, where step of calculating the body composition of the living body based on the biological component information, an impedance detected by an impedance detection unit, and a weight measured by a load detection unit is executed. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004571 | LUNG AEROSOL COLLECTION DEVICE - A device for collecting material from lung aerosols. The device functions by collecting aerosols from the lower airway separated from material in the by collecting air from the upper airway in a chamber that when full causes the remaining exhaled aerosols from the lungs to be captured by a filter. The filter collects sample of material from the separated lung aerosols. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004572 | REDUCED PROFILE BIOPSY DEVICE - A biopsy device is disclosed that includes a housing maintaining a stylet and a cannula. A control device is operably coupled to operate the stylet and the cannula. A handle operates to modify the device from a loading configuration with an expanded profile to a delivery configuration with a reduced profile. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004573 | Methods and Apparatuses for Full-Thickness Hollow Organ Biopsy - A method for obtaining a full thickness biopsy of the wall of a hollow organ, comprising obtaining an apparatus comprising a cannula comprising a proximal cannula end comprising a cutting edge; and a distal cannula end comprising a biased spring, the biased spring being coupled to a needle carrier and a releasable lock; and a needle disposed within the cannula and carried on the needle carrier, the needle comprising: a tip; a flange; a notch portion comprising a notch thickness; and a shaft comprising a shaft thickness; where the shaft thickness is greater than the notch thickness and the releasable lock is configured to hold the cannula in a withdrawn position relative to the needle; obtaining a patient having skin, a first wall, and a second wall; creating an incision through the skin of the patient; inserting the apparatus into the incision; advancing the apparatus through the first wall and the second wall; withdrawing the cannula relative to the needle; locking the cannula with the releasable lock; aligning the notch portion such that the notch portion straddles the second wall; releasing the releasable lock such that the cutting edge of the cannula passes completely through the second wall creating a full-thickness biopsy; and withdrawing the apparatus from the patient. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004574 | Cannula with Introducer, Needle Protecting Guard and Blood Collecting System - A cannula introducing device comprises an elongate body ( | 2012-01-05 |
20120004575 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDEXING CONTENT VIEWED ON AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An apparatus and method for collecting heart rate information associated with a user while the user is viewing and/or listening to multimedia content and/or experiencing real-life events. The heart rate information is interpreted to determine a level of physical arousal. The level of physical arousal may be stored with the multimedia content. Interpretation of emotional characteristic can provide several gradations of user's preference (e.g., the degree to which the user is aroused). | 2012-01-05 |
20120004576 | PRESSURE SENSING FOR A MULTI-ARM CATHETER - A method for operating a medical probe includes pressing a distal end of the medical probe, which includes one or more arms that extend diagonally outward from a central shaft and have respective position transducers coupled thereto, against an intra-body surface, so as to cause the arms to exert pressure on the surface and bend with respect to the central shaft in response to the pressure. Positions of the respective position transducers coupled to the arms are measured, and the pressure exerted by the arms is estimated responsively to the measured positions. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004577 | TISSUE VISUALIZATION DEVICE AND METHOD VARIATIONS - Tissue visualization device and method variations are described herein where an imaging hood is temporarily sealed against a region of tissue to be treated while under direct visualization. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. The imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to the tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid is pumped into the hood until the fluid displaces any blood leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element. Temporary sealing against the tissue can be achieved in a number of ways such as circumferential balloons inflatable within the hood or other sealing techniques. A field of view of the imaging element can be expanded by inflating the balloon beyond the imaging hood. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004578 | System and Method for Analyzing Biomechanics - A system and a method for analyzing biomechanics. The biomechanics analyzing system for analyzing a motion state of an organism includes a detecting unit, a low-pass filter, a high-pass filter and a processing unit. The detecting unit disposed on a surface of a muscle of the organism detects an acceleration signal. The low-pass filter filters the acceleration signal to produce a low-frequency signal. The high-pass filter filters the acceleration signal to produce a high-frequency signal. The processing unit analyzes a motion posture or a motion frequency of the motion state of the organism according to the low-frequency signal, and analyzes a motion strength of the motion state of the organism according to the high-frequency signal. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004579 | Virtual Prosthetic Limb System - A system for configuring a prosthetic limb for use by a living being is provided. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to receive a control signal generated in response to a command from the living being and to generate a plurality of virtual bodies on a display including members of a virtual prosthetic limb and at least one virtual object. The ECU is further configured to control movement of at least one member of the virtual limb responsive to the control signal, to determine a contact force between first and second virtual bodies of the plurality of virtual bodies upon engagement between the first and second bodies caused by movement of one of the one member of the virtual limb and the at least one virtual object and to adjust a position of at least one of the first and second bodies responsive to the contact force. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004580 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STIMULATION OF BIOLOGICAL TISSUE - An apparatus for generating focused currents in biological tissue is provided. The apparatus comprises an electric source capable of generating an electric field across a region of tissue and means for altering the permittivity of the tissue relative to the electric field, whereby a displacement current is generated. The means for altering the permittivity may be a chemical source, optical source, mechanical source, thermal source, or electromagnetic source. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004581 | ROBOT MOTOR REHABILITATION DEVICE - A robot rehabilitation device, especially suitable for being used in motor rehabilitation activities on patients suffering from neurological and/or orthopaedic damages of a various nature as well as motor rehabilitation on patients with a hip or knee prosthesis, including a portal structure fixed to a base structure, a motor-driven belt suitable for allowing patient to walk, a bodice basically provided with four straps or braces that can be hooked to the device structure and worn by the patient, for the support thereof, a first exoskeleton and a second exoskeleton articulated and independent for the passive and assisted movement of the lower limbs of the patient, the exoskeletons including automatic actuation and movement elements, with the rehabilitation device that further includes a device for lifting the patient for the automatic and continuous control of the amount of weight of the same to be used in the therapy. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004582 | Method of Determining Depth of Chest Compressions During CPR - A method of processing a raw acceleration signal, measured by an accelerometer-based compression monitor, to produce an accurate and precise estimated actual depth of chest compressions. The raw acceleration signal is filtered during integration and then a moving average of past starting points estimates the actual current starting point. An estimated actual peak of the compression is then determined in a similar fashion. The estimated actual starting point is subtracted from the estimated actual peak to calculate the estimated actual depth of chest compressions. In addition, one or more reference sensors (such as an ECG noise sensor) may be used to help establish the starting points of compressions. The reference sensors may be used, either alone or in combination with other signal processing techniques, to enhance the accuracy and precision of the estimated actual depth of compressions. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004583 | Compression Device with Structural Support Features - A compression sleeve for being wrapped around a leg of a wearer includes adjacent flexible sleeve sections. At least one of the sleeve sections has an air bladder therein adapted to inflate for compressing a portion of the leg. A structural component is secured to the sleeve and extends generally between the flexible sleeve sections to maintain a spacing of the adjacent sleeve sections lengthwise of the leg when the sleeve is wrapped around the leg. Bladder layers are joined together to form the air bladder. The bladder is joined together at least at two weld points on opposite sides of the structural component to locate the structural component on the sleeve so as to maintain the spacing of the adjacent sleeve sections. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004584 | JOINT BRACE AND A MOVEMENT RESTRAINING DEVICE THEREFOR - A movement restraining device for use in combination with an elastic wrap of a joint brace includes at least one elongated bendable member including a plurality of spaced-apart strips each of which has opposite strip surfaces parallel to the strip surfaces of the remaining ones of the strips, and first and second retaining plates facing each other. The strips further have first end portions substantially perpendicular to and fixed between the first and second retaining plates, and second end portions extending away from the first and second retaining plates. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004585 | ORTHOSIS SUPPORT - An orthosis support is disclosed that includes a belt having a connector to close the belt in a continuous loop, a belt attachment member receiving the belt, and a strap extending from the belt attachment member. The strap has a first end and a second end and is closable as a loop with at least one of the first and second ends releasably connectable to the strap itself. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004586 | Elbow Brace - The invention is for a brace for preventing or reducing muscular and nerve disorders in the region of the elbow such as tennis elbow. The brace comprises a sleeve adapted for fitting over a wearer's arm with one end terminating above the wearer's elbow and the other end terminating below the wearer's elbow. The sleeve includes a cut-out section arranged to be located over an injured portion of the wearer's elbow joint. The brace also includes a pad which supports the elbow and has an outer contour that avoids contact with the injured area of the wearer's elbow. The pad also serves to isolate the wearer's elbow from contact and pressure. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004587 | BRACES USING LACING SYSTEMS - The disclosure relates to medical braces having lacing systems for tightening of the medical braces. Some embodiments include multiple components of the lacing system integrated into a single housing piece. For example, multiple reels can be used to tighten different portions of the lacing system, and the multiple reels can be mounted onto a single housing. Also, multiple lace guides can be integrated into, or attached to, a single housing piece. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004588 | FINGER ORTHOSIS - A finger orthosis for moving a joint of a finger is provided. The finger orthosis includes a first cuff configured to couple to a first finger portion, a second cuff configured to couple to a second finger portion, and an actuator member coupled to said first and second cuffs, said actuator member configured to provide relative rotation between said first and second cuffs when a force is applied to said actuator member. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004589 | DELIVERING A CONDUIT INTO A HEART WALL TO PLACE A CORONARY VESSEL IN COMMUNICATION WITH A HEART CHAMBER AND REMOVING TISSUE FROM THE VESSEL OR HEART WALL TO FACILITATE SUCH COMMUNICATION - Devices and methods for delivering conduits into the wall of a patient's heart to communicate a coronary vessel with a heart chamber. The devices are passed through the coronary vessel and the heart wall to place the conduit and establish a blood flow path between the vessel and the heart chamber. Additional devices and methods are provided for removing tissue from a coronary vessel or the heart wall to establish a flow path between the coronary vessel in communication with the heart chamber. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004590 | SATIATION POUCHES AND METHODS OF USE - A method for controlling appetite by means of a satiation device is disclosed. The device, which includes a flexible webbing defining proximal and distal openings and a biasing structure, is attached to the patient's stomach with the proximal opening positioned adjacent and below the patient's gastro-esophageal junction. The biasing structure imparts pressure against the wall of the patient's stomach adjacent the gastro-esophageal junction. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004591 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FOCUSED RESONANCE NANOPERMEABILIZATION (FORN) - This Invention relates to a method for achieving Focused Resonance Nanopermeabilization (FORN), which can be utilized in a novel anticancer therapy, and other selective permeabilization therapy and a machine to carryout the said method, where the transient permeabilization of cells by Focused Resonance pulses induces a significant increase of anti-tumor drug concentration in tumor or other interested cells. This invention can be successfully applied to the treatment of tumors in humans and Animals by using antimitotic drugs, chemotherapy. The invention is also useful in transpermeabilization of drug molecules for non cancer applications like vaccine and delivery of genetic materials for therapeutic purposes. Focused Resonance Nanopermeabilization (FORN), would enable a practical solution to a whole body application in its natural environment, without implanting electrodes or external probes, FORN is completely non-invasive. This invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the above method. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004592 | COMPOSITIONS FOR SOLUBILIZING TISSUE - Tissue solubilizing compositions are provided. The compositions comprise 3-(decyl dimethyl ammonio) propane sulfonate and polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether, such as tetraethylene glycol dodecyl ether. The compositions may be useful to solubilize tissue, including skin, mucosal membrane, and other tissue. The compositions may be further useful to preserve and recover analytes contained within the solubilized skin, mucosal membrane, and other tissue. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004593 | ANTISEPTIC BASED ON BISPYRIDINIUM ALKANES - An antimicrobially effective composition includes a) at least 0.15% by weight of bispyridinium alkane, b) at least 3.5% by weight of humectant and c) water. Upon dilution with water, the composition produces a solution with an osmolality of from 230 to 350 mOsmol/kg and is free from surfactant. It is used as an antiseptic and is suitable for use in a method for the disinfection of injured or uninjured skin of a human being or animal, preference being given to use in the case of newborns, in particular those born prematurely. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004594 | METHODS OF TREATING DEGENERATIVE BONE CONDITIONS - Methods and articles of manufacture for treating patients with degenerative bone are provided. The methods are useful to improve bone quality in a localized area of a degenerative bone (e.g., osteopenic or osteoporotic bone), such as by improving BMD to be substantially similar to BMD in an average, healthy individual at the age of peak BMD. The methods can comprise forming a void in a localized area of the degenerative bone and filling the void with a bone regenerative material that causes generation of new, healthy, natural bone material. The articles of manufacture can comprise kits formed of various materials useful in the inventive methods for improving bone quality. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004595 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CUTTING AND EVACUATING TISSUE - Various medical devices and methods for cutting and/or evacuating tissue are provided. The devices and methods may utilize a reciprocating mechanism or motor powered by suction from a vacuum source. The medical devices and methods may be used on tissue in various regions of a patient's body and for treating various conditions, e.g., for performing a polypectomy or discectomy. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004596 | Catheter for Use in Revascularization Procedures and Method of Using Same - A method of removing vascular blockage includes providing a catheter system. comprising an outer catheter, a cutting catheter having a serrated distal end, a bypass catheter, and a guidewire. In the catheter system, the bypass catheter is slidably disposed within the cutting catheter and the outer catheter. The method includes positioning a distal end of the catheter system at a proximal end of an occlusion located within a vessel and moving the bypass catheter through the occlusion so that a medicated treatment solution may be delivered through the bypass catheter to an area of the brain or other tissue served by the vessel blocked by the occlusion. Both during and after the delivery of medicated treatment solution to the blocked part of the vessel with the bypass catheter, the physician may engage the occlusion with the cutting catheter by moving the cutting catheter in a clockwise/counterclockwise or forward/backward direction within the outer catheter, cutting and then removing at least a portion of the occlusion from the vessel. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004597 | MEDICAL DEVICE FOR INJECTING FLUID INTO A BODY - The medical device ( | 2012-01-05 |
20120004598 | Apparatus and process for producing CO2 enriched medical foam - An apparatus for producing medical foam for wound care or hair stimulation has a foam generation unit including a fluid reservoir, a fluid delivery line and a foam generation tip. The apparatus also includes a compressed gas unit having at least one container of compressed gas, a source of electric power, and a gas regulator valve. A supply of wound care or hair stimulating solution is communicably connected to the foam generation tip such that when the apparatus is operated medical foam is produced by the foam generator tip. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004599 | GAS MIST MASK DEVICE - The present invention is to provide a gas mist mask device which is compact and economical, and enables to take a mist bath for the face or the eyes by using the physiological actions of oxygen or carbon dioxide. The gas mist mask device comprises a gas supply means | 2012-01-05 |
20120004600 | GAS MIST PRESSURE BATH DEVICE - The invention is to provide a gas mist pressure bath device, which causes to contact carbon dioxide, oxygen or a mixed gas of carbon dioxide and oxygen to the skin or mucous membrane of the head of a living body at pressure higher than a predetermined value for efficiently enabling skin-pass absorption. This device is to cause oxygen, carbon dioxide or a mixed gas of oxygen and carbon dioxide at density higher than a predetermined value to contact the skin or mucous membrane of the head of the living body, and is composed of a gas mist generation means | 2012-01-05 |
20120004601 | Interventional procedure drive and control system - A pumping system for use in medical applications where liquids must be infused and aspirated from a mammalian patient, and whose economics are such that it is cost effective to simply dispose of it after a single use. The system features positive displacement pump(s) such as reciprocating pump(s) containing a damping mechanism to dampen out the peaks and valleys in the fluid pressure that is pumped, which is important for preventing cavitation. The system furthermore features a shut-off valve on the extraction side so that certain injected fluids such as contrast medium, are not immediately pumped out of the patient. In a preferred embodiment, the system also features means for independently controlling the fluid pressure/volume on the infusion and extraction sides, self-priming capability, a continuous fluid path, and visual air bubble detection, with viewports located at important points in the fluid path, such as at pumps and valves. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004602 | CONNECTION AND ALIGNMENT DETECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A medical device includes a first housing portion (FHP) and a second housing portion (SHP) configured to be to be movable relative to each other from a first position to operatively engage at a second position to couple at least one of a drive device and a needle-inserting device supported by one of the FHP and the SHP to a reservoir supported by the other of the FHP and the SHP. Electronic circuitry configured to detect at least one of a first magnetic interaction between a magnet and at least one of a first magnetically attractive material and a first magnet-responsive device and a second magnetic interaction between the magnet and at least one of a second magnetically attractive material and a second magnet-responsive device, and to provide a signal or a change in state in response to detecting at least one of the interactions. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004603 | BREASTFEEDING MILK CONSUMPTION MEASURING DEVICE - A device and method for measuring an amount of breast milk suckled during a breastfeeding session, the device including a mechanism for determining the change in volume of a breast during the breastfeeding session (before breastfeeding and after breastfeeding), and a calculation unit for calculating therefrom the quantity of milk suckled during the breastfeeding session. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004604 | INSERT FOR A BREAST PUMP - The present invention relates to an insert adapted to fit on a breast-receiving funnel of a breast pump. The insert comprises a circumferentially extending resiliently deformable wall which defines a teat receiving space and against which a user's teat is locatable, the insert being configured to define a pressure chamber between the resiliently deformable wall and a breast receiving funnel when the insert is fitted on a breast receiving funnel, wherein said wall is configured to deform towards a user's teat located in the teat receiving space in a predetermined manner when a pressure difference is applied between the teat receiving space and the pressure chamber such that a peristaltic action is applied to a user's teat, to aid the expression of milk therefrom. | 2012-01-05 |
20120004605 | CATHETER ASSEMBLY - A catheter assembly includes an expandable and collapsible structure having an outer surface. The expandable and collapsible structure is adapted to expand between a contracted state and a dilated state. A coating is disposed on the outer surface of the expandable and collapsible structure. The coating includes a bioactive agent. A sleeve is disposed over the coating. The sleeve is adapted to expand between a compressed state and an enlarged state and to return to the compressed state. The sleeve defines a plurality of openings in the compressed state. An outer diameter of the coating is less than an outer diameter of the sleeve when the expandable and collapsible structure is in the contracted state and greater than the outer diameter of the sleeve when the expandable and collapsible structure is in the dilated state. | 2012-01-05 |