Patent application number | Description | Published |
20160073573 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES - A computer-implemented method for recommending agricultural activities is implemented by an agricultural intelligence computer system in communication with a memory. The method includes receiving a plurality of field definition data, retrieving a plurality of input data from a plurality of data networks, determining a field region based on the field definition data, identifying a subset of the plurality of input data associated with the field region, determining a plurality of field condition data based on the subset of the plurality of input data, identifying a plurality of field activity options, determining a recommendation score for each of the plurality of field activity options based at least in part on the plurality of field condition data, and providing a recommended field activity option from the plurality of field activity options based on the plurality of recommendation scores. | 03-17-2016 |
20160078375 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR RECOMMENDING AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES - A computer-implemented method for recommending agricultural activities is implemented by an agricultural intelligence computer system in communication with a memory. The method includes receiving a plurality of field definition data, retrieving a plurality of input data from a plurality of data networks, determining a field region based on the field definition data, identifying a subset of the plurality of input data associated with the field region, determining a plurality of field condition data based on the subset of the plurality of input data, identifying a plurality of field activity options, determining a recommendation score for each of the plurality of field activity options based at least in part on the plurality of field condition data, and providing a recommended field activity option from the plurality of field activity options based on the plurality of recommendation scores. | 03-17-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080275469 | Tack anchor systems, bone anchor systems, and methods of use - Systems, apparatuses and methods for securing tissue to bone using tack anchors, bone anchoring systems are described. The tack anchor may include a body and a securing element. The body may include one or more compressible flanges, an opening and, a cavity. The cavity may include an opening near or proximate the flanges, and be configured to receive a suture. The securing element may be configured to slide into the opening of the body to secure a portion of one or more sutures in the cavity such that the ends of the sutures are accessible through the cavity opening. In some embodiments, tack anchor tool for insertion of a tack anchor into tissue and/or bone is described. | 11-06-2008 |
20110238113 | RING CINCH ASSEMBLY TO ATTACH BONE TO TISSUE - Systems, apparatuses and methods for securing tissue to bone using a bone anchoring system are described. Methods and apparatuses may allow transformation between locked and unlocked states, thereby allowing adjustment of the tension in the suture. The apparatus and/or methods may allow unidirectional movement of a suture, while preventing slippage or movement of the suture and tissue in the opposite direction. Ends of a suture may be individually tensioned to adjust positioning of a tissue with respect to a bone. | 09-29-2011 |
20110313453 | BONE ANCHOR COMPRISING A SHAPE MEMORY ELEMENT AND UTILIZING TEMPERATURE TRANSITION TO SECURE THE BONE ANCHOR IN BONE - A bone anchor that uses temperature transition of a shape memory material to expand the anchor within a bone. Thermal transformation of the metallic crystal state (and hence the stress/strain properties) of shape memory alloy (e.g., Nitinol, NiTi) expands engagement elements within the bone to fix the bone anchor in place. Various self-locking assemblies for attached suture material to the bone anchor are also disclosed. | 12-22-2011 |
20120265143 | MEDICAL INJECTOR AND ADAPTER FOR COUPLING A MEDICAMENT CONTAINER AND AN ACTUATOR - A medical injector ( | 10-18-2012 |
20140288597 | TACK ANCHOR SYSTEMS, BONE ANCHOR SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF USE - Systems, apparatuses and methods for securing tissue to bone using tack anchors, bone anchoring systems are described. The tack anchor may include a body and a securing element. The body may include one or more compressible flanges, an opening and, a cavity. The cavity may include an opening near or proximate the flanges, and be configured to receive a suture. The securing element may be configured to slide into the opening of the body to secure a portion of one or more sutures in the cavity such that the ends of the sutures are accessible through the cavity opening. In some embodiments, tack anchor tool for insertion of a tack anchor into tissue and/or bone is described. | 09-25-2014 |
20140296911 | BONE ANCHOR INSTALLER AND METHOD OF USE - Systems, apparatuses and methods for securing tissue to bone using a bone anchoring system are described. Methods and apparatuses may allow transformation between locked and unlocked states, thereby allowing adjustment of the tension in the suture. The apparatus and/or methods may allow unidirectional movement of a suture, while preventing slippage or movement of the suture and tissue in the opposite direction. Ends of a suture may be individually tensioned to adjust positioning of a tissue with respect to a bone. | 10-02-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080228201 | MITRAL VALVE REPAIR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE - The present invention is directed to various systems for repairing tissue within the heart of a patient. The mitral valve repair system of the present invention comprises a guide catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one internal lumen formed therein, a therapy catheter capable of applying a suture to the tissue, and a fastener catheter capable of attaching a fastener to the suture. The therapy catheter and the fastener catheter are capable of traversing the internal lumen of the guide catheter. In addition, the present invention discloses various methods for repairing tissue within the heart of a patient. In one embodiment, the method of repairing heart valve tissue includes advancing a guide catheter through a circulatory pathway to a location in the heart proximate to a heart valve, advancing a therapy catheter through the guide catheter to the heart valve, stabilizing a first leaflet with the therapy catheter, deploying a first suture into the stabilized first leaflet, disengaging the first leaflet from the therapy catheter while leaving the first suture attached thereto, stabilizing a second leaflet with the therapy catheter, deploying a second suture into the second leaflet, disengaging the second leaflet from the therapy catheter while leaving the second suture attached thereto, and joining the first and second leaflets by reducing the distance between the first and second sutures. | 09-18-2008 |
20090318871 | MITRAL VALVE REPAIR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE - The present invention is directed to various systems for repairing tissue within the heart of a patient. The mitral valve repair system of the present invention comprises a guide catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one internal lumen formed therein, a therapy catheter capable of applying a suture to the tissue, and a fastener catheter capable of attaching a fastener to the suture. The therapy catheter and the fastener catheter are capable of traversing the internal lumen of the guide catheter. In addition, the present invention discloses various methods for repairing tissue within the heart of a patient. In one embodiment, the method of repairing heart valve tissue includes advancing a guide catheter through a circulatory pathway to a location in the heart proximate to a heart valve, advancing a therapy catheter through the guide catheter to the heart valve, stabilizing a first leaflet with the therapy catheter, deploying a first suture into the stabilized first leaflet, disengaging the first leaflet from the therapy catheter while leaving the first suture attached thereto, stabilizing a second leaflet with the therapy catheter, deploying a second suture into the second leaflet, disengaging the second leaflet from the therapy catheter while leaving the second suture attached thereto, and joining the first and second leaflets by reducing the distance between the first and second sutures. | 12-24-2009 |
20120289977 | MITRAL VALVE REPAIR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE - The present invention is directed to a method of securing suture within a patient. The method comprises advancing suture material into the patient, passing a portion of the suture material through tissue of the patient, and advancing a fastener catheter and a suture fastener along the suture material. The fastener catheter includes a catheter main body and a handle. The suture fastener has a generally cylindrical body formed of a shape memory material and a suture fastener inner lumen. The suture fastener has at least one engagement tab biased to extend at least partially into the suture fastener inner lumen to engage against and secure one or more lines of suture passing through the suture fastener. | 11-15-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090124996 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INJECTING HIGH VISCOSITY DERMAL FILLERS - A method includes inserting a distal end portion of a needle of a medical injector into a skin of a body. An energy source operatively coupled to the medical injector is actuated such that a dermal filler is conveyed from the medical injector into the skin through the distal end portion of the needle. The distal end portion of the needle is moved within the skin during the actuating. | 05-14-2009 |
20090177158 | SELF-CONTAINED PRESSURIZED INJECTION DEVICE - An apparatus includes a medicament container and an actuator assembly coupled to a proximal end portion of the medicament container. A distal end portion of the medicament container is configured to be coupled to a needle. A piston is movably disposed within the medicament container such that the medicament container is divided into a first internal portion and a second internal portion, the first internal portion containing a medicament. The actuator assembly has a pressurized fluid container, a regulator and a bias member. The pressurized fluid container is configured to move relative to the medicament container between a first position and a second position. The regulator is configured to fluidically couple the pressurized fluid container and the second internal portion of the medicament container when the pressurized fluid container is in the second position. The bias member is configured to bias the pressurized fluid container in the first position. | 07-09-2009 |
20090198183 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INJECTING DERMAL FILLERS - An apparatus includes a tubular member and a spherical piston disposed within a lumen defined by the tubular member. The tubular member includes a distal end portion and a central portion. The distal end portion is configured to be coupled to a needle. At least the central portion of the tubular member is curved. The spherical piston is movably disposed with the lumen such that the lumen is divided into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the lumen configured to contain a medicament. | 08-06-2009 |
20090240200 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INJECTING HIGH VISCOSITY DERMAL FILLERS - A method includes inserting a distal end portion of a needle of a medical injector into a skin of a body. An energy source operatively coupled to the medical injector is actuated such that a dermal filler is conveyed from the medical injector into the skin through the distal end portion of the needle. The distal end portion of the needle is moved within the skin during the actuating. | 09-24-2009 |
20100016829 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR RETAINING A NEEDLE ON A MEDICAL INJECTOR - Medical injectors are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a medicament container, a needle assembly, a coupler, and a retainer. The medicament container has a distal end and a proximal end and is configured to contain a medicament. The coupler is configured to couple the needle assembly, which includes a needle and a hub, to the distal end of the medicament container. The retainer is configured to be coupled to the needle assembly and the medicament container. The retainer is configured to limit the movement of the needle assembly when the coupler fails to maintain the position of the needle assembly relative to the distal end of the medicament container. | 01-21-2010 |
20100324531 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INJECTING HIGH VISCOSITY DERMAL FILLERS - A method includes inserting a distal end portion of a needle of a medical injector into a skin of a body. An energy source operatively coupled to the medical injector is actuated such that a dermal filler is conveyed from the medical injector into the skin through the distal end portion of the needle. The distal end portion of the needle is moved within the skin during the actuating. | 12-23-2010 |
20110270186 | SELF-CONTAINED PRESSURIZED INJECTION DEVICE - An apparatus includes a medicament container and an actuator assembly coupled to a proximal end portion of the medicament container. A distal end portion of the medicament container is configured to be coupled to a needle. A piston is movably disposed within the medicament container such that the medicament container is divided into a first internal portion and a second internal portion, the first internal portion containing a medicament. The actuator assembly has a pressurized fluid container, a regulator and a bias member. The pressurized fluid container is configured to move relative to the medicament container between a first position and a second position. The regulator is configured to fluidically couple the pressurized fluid container and the second internal portion of the medicament container when the pressurized fluid container is in the second position. The bias member is configured to bias the pressurized fluid container in the first position. | 11-03-2011 |
20110295257 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STERNUM REPAIR - The invention provides systems and methods for sternum repair. A sternum repair device may include a central body, which may include a plurality of bands and buckles, such that a band extends from the central body and is received by a buckle component. The band may wrap around the sternum and the device may be tightened to keep the separate sternum pieces together. | 12-01-2011 |
20120259313 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR LIMITING PRESSURE AND FLOW WITHIN A MEDICAL INJECTOR - A medical injector ( | 10-11-2012 |
20120323241 | STERNUM BAND TENSIONER DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD - The invention provides systems and methods for sternum repair. A sternum repair device may include a central body, which may include a plurality of bands and buckles, such that a band extends from the central body and is received by a buckle component. The band may wrap around the sternum and the device may be tightened to keep the separate sternum pieces together. Various band tensioning devices, systems and methods are disclosed. | 12-20-2012 |
20140125943 | EYEGLASSES - Eyeglass assemblies including an eyeglass lens having an engaging portion. Under typical conditions of use, the engaging portion is maintained in contact with an eyeglass frame member by means of a removable bonding member (RBM). Under selected atypical ambient conditions, the RBM changes so that the engaging portion and the frame member can be separated. The engaging portion can extend from the lens, or can be a recess in the lens. The RBM can be a suitable adhesive (RBA), or a component composed of a shape memory metal (RBSMA) or a material which softens when subjected to heat or other atypical condition. The engaging portion can be shaped and treated to reduce stresses therein. Similarly, the open ends of an eyeglass rim can be maintained in contact with each other under typical conditions of use by an RBA or an RBSMA so that the rim is positioned around an eyeglass lens, but can be released under selected atypical ambient conditions. | 05-08-2014 |
20140150173 | Pool Covers - A device for covering a pool, for example a swimming pool, has an upper component composed of a closed cell polymeric foam and a lower component composed of an open cell polymeric foam. The device can have, or can acquire in use, a convex upper surface which reduces the danger that it will be blown off the pool by wind. | 06-05-2014 |
20140316443 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PASSING SUTURE - A device is disclosed that can pierce and hold tissue and then pass suture through tissue. The device can have a shuttle that can removably attach to a suture and jaws that can be rotatably opened and closed with respect to each other. A method for using the device to repeatedly pass the suture through the tissue without removing the suture or device from the target site is also disclosed. | 10-23-2014 |
20150286065 | Eyeglasses - Eyeglass assemblies include an eyeglass lens having an engaging portion. The junction between the body portion of the lens and the engaging portion can consist essentially of smoothly curved surfaces. The engaging portion can be extend from the periphery of the lens or can be a recess in the lens. In some assemblies, under typical conditions of use, the engaging portion is maintained in contact with an eyeglass frame member by means of a removable bonding member (RBM). Under selected atypical ambient conditions, the RBM changes so that the engaging portion and the frame member can be separated. The RBM can be a suitable adhesive (RBA), or a component composed of a shape memory metal (RBSMA) or a material which softens when subjected to heat or other atypical condition. | 10-08-2015 |
20150376909 | Pool Covers - A device for covering a pool, for example a swimming pool, has an upper component composed of a closed cell polymeric foam and a lower component composed of an open cell polymeric foam. The device can have, or can acquire in use, a convex upper surface which reduces the danger that it will be blown off the pool by wind. | 12-31-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130054314 | FINANCIAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND INCENTIVE SYSTEM FOR FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIORS - Embodiments of the invention provide financial health assessment and incentive systems for financially responsible behaviors. The methods, apparatus and computer program products provide for receiving a financial behavior set associated with a customer, identifying a difference between the financial behavior set associated with the customer and a second financial behavior set, and providing to the customer an incentive to make an alteration to a financial behavior. In some example implementations, financial behaviors exhibited by or otherwise attributable to individuals who are socially affiliated with the customer via a social network are observed and associated with the customer. In some example implementations, advertisements for goods and/or services that are potentially attractive to the customer are directed to the customer in response to identifying a difference between the financial behavior set associated with the customer and the second financial behavior set. | 02-28-2013 |
20130054376 | SYSTEM FOR EXPANDING CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS - Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for offering products or services to existing customers of a merchant based on the likelihood that the customer will purchase additional products or services of the merchant, wherein a computing device monitors data that is indicative of a customer's personal circumstances and a processor analyzes changes in the data and correlates the changes to opportunities for the merchant to offer products or services to the customer. A computing device then receives an indication that the customer is proximate in time to a change in data that correlates to an opportunity for the merchant to offer products or services to the customer and communicates the offers for the correlated products or services to the customer. | 02-28-2013 |
20130054447 | SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY RISK BASED ON NETWORK POSITION - Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for determining a customer's risk profile by collecting data, via a computing processor, relating to the customer's risk tendencies from social networks which the customer is a member and from customer data available to a merchant based on prior dealings with the customer, analyzing the two sets of customer data with the computing processor to correlate the data to indicators of increased risk and determining a customer risk profile based on the indicators of increased risk. | 02-28-2013 |
20130054479 | DETERMINING LIKELIHOOD OF CUSTOMER ATTRITION OR RETENTION - A method identifies one or more customers likely of attriting. The method includes collecting a first set of customer data from one or more social networks in which the customer is a member, where the first set of customer data is indicative of a degree of connection of each of a plurality of connections within the one or more social networks. The method then collects a second set of customer data, where the second set of customer data comprises data available to an entity based on prior interactions between the entity and the customer. Next, the second set of customer data is analyzed to identify any negative interactions between the entity and the customer. Finally, information regarding the identified negative interactions is correlated with the first set of customer data to identify one or more connections as customers of the entity at risk of attriting. | 02-28-2013 |
20130054480 | DETERMINING NETWORK VALUE OF CUSTOMER - A method determines a network value of a customer by collecting a first set of customer data from one or more social networks in which the customer is a member, where the first set of customer data is indicative of a number and quality of each of a plurality of connections within the one or more social networks. The method then collects a second set of customer data, where the second set of customer data includes data available to an entity based on prior interactions between the entity and the customer and analyzes, using a processing device, the first set of customer data and the second set of customer data. Then the method determines, using a processing device, the network value of the customer based at least in part on the analysis of the first set of customer data and the second set of customer data. | 02-28-2013 |
20150081405 | FINANCIAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND INCENTIVE SYSTEM FOR FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIORS - Embodiments of the invention provide financial health assessment and incentive systems for financially responsible behaviors. The methods, apparatus and computer program products provide for receiving a financial behavior set associated with a customer, identifying a difference between the financial behavior set associated with the customer and a second financial behavior set, and providing to the customer an incentive to make an alteration to a financial behavior. In some example implementations, financial behaviors exhibited by or otherwise attributable to individuals who are socially affiliated with the customer via a social network are observed and associated with the customer. In some example implementations, advertisements for goods and/or services that are potentially attractive to the customer are directed to the customer in response to identifying a difference between the financial behavior set associated with the customer and the second financial behavior set. | 03-19-2015 |
20150081439 | SYSTEM FOR EXPANDING CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS - Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for offering products or services to existing customers of a merchant based on the likelihood that the customer will purchase additional products or services of the merchant, wherein a computing device monitors data that is indicative of a customer's personal circumstances and a processor analyzes changes in the data and correlates the changes to opportunities for the merchant to offer products or services to the customer. A computing device then receives an indication that the customer is proximate in time to a change in data that correlates to an opportunity for the merchant to offer products or services to the customer and communicates the offers for the correlated products or services to the customer. | 03-19-2015 |