20th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 56 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120123211 | OBJECTIVE LENS UNIT FOR ENDOSCOPES - An objective lens unit for endoscopes, with an objective lens having at least one lens and with an objective lens frame that is mounted in an endoscope housing in such a way that the insertion depth in the distal direction is restricted by a covering glass established in the endoscope housing and the objective lens frame that can be fastened in the endoscope housing forms the proximal end. In order to provide an objective lens unit for endoscopes that is simple to assemble and can be positioned in stationary manner in the endoscope housing, it is proposed according to the invention that the objective lens frame should be capable of being removably fastened in the endoscope housing. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123212 | Endoscope with adjustable viewing angle - An endoscope with adjustable viewing angle includes a light outlet device on the distal end of the endoscope to radiate illuminating light at an angle of illumination and a light conductor to transmit illuminating light to the light outlet device such that the light outlet device can be moved to adjust the angle of illumination in relation to the endoscope and such that a flexible portion of the light conductor is configured and positioned in order to be elastically reshaped when the light outlet surface is moved. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123213 | ILLUMINATION UNIT AND ENDOSCOPIC APPARATUS - An illumination unit includes semiconductor light sources, a target light quantity setting unit for setting a target light quantity for a total outgoing light quantity, a light quantity ratio setting unit for setting an outgoing light quantity ratio among the semiconductor light sources, an amplitude value setting unit for setting amplitude values of driving signals for the semiconductor light sources based on the set outgoing light quantity ratio and a driving signal generating unit for generating the driving signals by use of common pulse modulation control while keeping the set amplitude values. When the target light quantity is set, a driving pulse signal corresponding to the target light quantity is set in common among the semiconductor light sources. The driving pulse signal is formed to have amplitude values corresponding to the outgoing light quantity ratio to generate individual driving signals for driving the semiconductor light sources respectively. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123214 | WOUND RETRACTOR - A wound retractor ( | 2012-05-17 |
20120123215 | LAPAROSCOPIC TISSUE RETRACTOR - A tissue refractor deforms while passing through an injector tool into an expanded or deployed shape suitable for engaging and retracting tissue during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The tissue retractor may also deform once again into an undeployed shape for extraction from the surgical site. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123216 | CANNULA SYSTEM - A cannula system is described. The cannula system may be formed of biocompatible materials that are suitable to be sterilized. Accordingly, the cannula system may be reusable for a relatively large number of surgical procedures assuming conventional sterilization techniques are employed after each surgical procedure. Additionally, the cannula system may be provided with an internal valve system disposed in a port portion thereof wherein the valve system may be operable to receive the trocar there through, as well as maintaining insufflation of the body cavity. Furthermore, the cannula system may be provided with a plurality of rib members formed on an external surface of the cannula shaft, wherein the rib members may engage the tissues adjacent the incision, thus maintaining the position of the cannula shaft and reducing and/or lessening relative movement of the cannula shaft. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123217 | STABILIZER FOR ROBOTIC BEATING-HEART SURGERY - Surgical methods and devices allow closed-chest surgery to be performed on a heart of a patient while the heart is beating. A region of the heart is stabilized by engaging a surface of the heart with a stabilizer without having to stop the heart. Motion of the target tissues is inhibited sufficiently to treat the target tissues with robotic surgical tools which move in response to inputs of a robotic system operator. A stabilizing surface of the stabilizer is coupled to a drive system to position the surface from outside the patient, preferably by actuators of the robotic servomechanism. Exemplary stabilizers includes a suture or other flexible tension member spanning between a pair of jointed bodies, allowing the member to occlude a coronary blood vessel and/or help stabilize the target region between the stabilizing surfaces. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123218 | Methods and means for clinical investigations - Described are methods for testing at least one effect of a pharmaceutical substance in a subject, which include administering a pharmaceutical substance to the subject, measuring with at least one sensor contained within a mobile sensor system, at the subject or in close proximity to the subject, at least one parameter value indicative of a the subject's body function, transmitting at least one sensor system signal associated with the at least one parameter value to a receiver contained within a mobile base unit, the receiver being provided with a means for wireless transmission, and wirelessly transmitting a mobile base unit signal associated with the at least one sensor system signal from the receiver to a back-end system, wherein at least the back-end system correlates the at least one parameter value with and/or displays a representation of the at least one effect of the pharmaceutical substance. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123219 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING MEDICAL MONITORING EQUIPMENT - A device for monitoring physiological parameters of a medical patient includes a pneumatic system configured to be coupled to a patient to provide a regulated gas thereto, a computer coupled to the pneumatic system and configured to regulate gas to the patient via the pneumatic system, and a touchscreen monitor coupled to the computer. The touchscreen monitor includes a first graphical user interface (GUI) having a first display, and a second GUI having a second display different from the first display and configured having interaction fields to enable parameters to be input therewith. The device includes a first trigger configured to switch at least from the first GUI to the second GUI. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123220 | Systems, Methods and Materials for Delivery and Debonding on Demand - Various systems, methods and materials are disclosed that enable efficient delivery of an agent into an adhesively adhered article, in which the agent elicits a desired outcome, on demand. This strategy, though general in scope, is also more specifically described with regard to enabling painless or atraumatic removal of products adhering to mammalian tissues such as skin and hair by suitably exploiting the ingress of an appropriate agent or like fluid. Other techniques and articles that aid in the handling or removal of such adhesive products are also disclosed. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123221 | DEVICE FOR PROCESSING AND TRANSMITTING MEASURED SIGNALS FOR MONITORING AND/OR CONTROLLING MEDICAL IMPLANTS, DIAGNOSTIC DEVICES OR BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES - Disclosed is a device ( | 2012-05-17 |
20120123222 | BIOMEDICAL DEVCIE CAPABLE OF USING AN EARPHONE AND MICROPHONE PLUG TO TRANSMIT DATA AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING DATA - The present invention relates to a biomedical device capable of using an earphone and microphone plug to transmit data and a method for transmitting data, wherein the biomedical device comprises: a measuring unit, a micro-control unit, an earphone and microphone plug, a switch unit, a level shift unit, an amplifying unit, and a power management unit. By way of inserting the earphone and microphone plug into an earphone and microphone jack of a portable electronic device, the biomedical device is able to transmit data to the portable electronic device without passing the certification of the transmission format defined by a potable electronic device vender in advance. Moreover, through the method, a user can input biomedical data into the portable electronic device, so as to record and trace the daily biomedical data thereof; in addition, the biomedical data can be uploaded to a Cloud Database via the portable electronic device for a telemedicine management. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123223 | ACUTE CARE TREATMENT SYSTEMS DASHBOARD - A medical system according to embodiments of the present invention includes at least one sensor configured to monitor physiological status of a patient and to generate sensor data based on the physiological status, a user interface device, a processor communicably coupled to the user interface device, the processor configured to: present via the user interface device an array of two or more possible input elements, the input elements each comprising a class of patients or a diagnosis and treatment pathway; receive a selected input element based on a user selection among the two or more possible input elements; acquire the sensor data and process the sensor data to generate physiological data; and present via the user interface screen the physiological data according to a template that is customized for the selected input element. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123224 | Real-Time Evaluation of CPR Performance - A computer-implemented method for providing summary information for lifesaving activities is disclosed. The method involves sensing one or more activities that are repeatedly and cyclically performed on a victim by a rescuer; identifying a cyclical timing interval over which performance is to be analyzed for a integer number of cycles of the one or more activities, and gathering data from the sensing of the one or more activities during the time interval; generating, from analysis of the one or more activities, summary data that condenses data sensed for the one or more activities into a summary of the one or more activities; and providing, for display to a user, a visual summary of the performance of the one or more activities over the identified time interval. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123225 | Mouth Guard for Detecting and Monitoring Bite Pressures - An intra-oral pressure monitoring system is provided. The system is beneficial for measuring or monitoring teeth clinching or grinding during sleep. The system includes a generally horseshoe-shaped, elastomeric mouth piece. The mouth piece is dimensioned to reside between the upper and lower teeth of a patient. The mouth piece has a two or more fluid-containing cells embedded therein. The cells are configured to receive pressure applied by the teeth of a patient. The system is able to monitor bite pressures during a patient's sleep or time of resting. A method for monitoring bite pressures of a patient during sleep is also provided. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123226 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A MONITORING SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a method for operating a monitoring system for monitoring physiological data of a patient. For saving power, motion activity data of the patient is obtained and the measurement of physiological data of the patient is initiated, if the motion activity is non-zero and below a selected threshold. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123227 | Apparatus, Systems, and Methods Adapted to Transmit Analyte Data Having Common Electronic Architecture - Embodiments provide apparatus, systems, and methods adapted to communicate analyte data and/or related information. In a first aspect, the apparatus includes a transmitter/receiver unit which is configurable as either a transmitter or a receiver. The transmitter/receiver unit may be coupled to an on-body sensor and may be configured as a transmitter, or may be coupled to a management unit and may be configured as a receiver as part of a continuous analyte monitoring system. Analyte data communication systems and methods are provided, as are other aspects. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123228 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING DISRUPTION OF A VAGAL NERVE - Method and apparatus for disrupting a gastric vagal nerve in the gastroesophageal region and testing the function and disruption of the vagal nerve. In one example embodiment, a treatment device applies ultrasound at a high energy level, such as high intensity focused ultrasound, to a vagal nerve to disrupt it and then ultrasound at a lower energy level to another portion of the vagal nerve, preferably further from the stomach, so as to stimulate the vagal nerve. Alternative ways to test the function or disruption of the vagal nerve involve using PCP-GABA, a pancreatic polypeptide, pressure changes inside the stomach, the gastric mucusol pH, a dye agent in the stomach, and other tests. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123229 | MODEL-BASED INFUSION SITE MONITOR - A medication delivery monitoring device is disclosed. The device includes a user interface configured to receive input information, and a sensor configured to measure a plurality of fluid state parameters of a fluid delivery channel through which the medication is delivered by a vascular access device (VAD) to an infusion site region of the patient. The device also includes a processor configured to determine a state of the infusion site region based on the plurality of measured fluid state parameters and the input information, and an output device configured to provide a communication regarding the state of the infusion site region. Methods and computer-readable mediums for monitoring medication delivery are also disclosed. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123230 | ANALYTE MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE - Analyte monitoring systems and methods that make interstitial fluid from a patient's body available to one or more sensors disposed outside the patient's body. The monitoring systems and methods may be used in conjunction with medicament dispensing systems and methods in order to provide a feedback loop for continuous sensing of analyte levels and corresponding dispensing of medicament based on sensed analyte levels. Dispensing or pumping systems or portions thereof may be used to move a patient's interstitial fluid into communication with the one or more sensors. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123231 | MONITORING CARDIAC OUTPUT AND VESSEL FLUID VOLUME - The present disclosure describes embodiments of a patient monitoring system and methods that include the measure and display of hemoglobin statistics, cardiac output statistic and vessel volume statistics. In an embodiment, total hemoglobin trending, cardiac output, or vessel volume is displayed over a period of time. Statistics can include frequency domain analysis, differences between measurement sites, or further calculations based on concentrations and volume of fluids added to a patient which may be unique for each patient monitored. The total trending and/or statistics can further be used to help control the treatment of a patient, such as being used to control IV administration. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123232 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING HEART RATE VARIABILITY USING WAVELET TRANSFORMATION - The present invention relates to advanced signal processing methods including digital wavelet transformation to analyze heart-related electronic signals and extract features that can accurately identify various states of the cardiovascular system. The invention may be utilized to estimate the extent of blood volume loss, distinguish blood volume loss from physiological activities associated with exercise, and predict the presence and extent of cardiovascular disease in general. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123233 | DISPOSABLE USB CUP - The present invention provides a handheld USB Cup for use in collection of a fluidic body sample, comprising a receptacle comprising side surfaces, a bottom plate and a sensor assembly, the sensor assembly comprising at least one sensor and a slave circuitry; said sensor assembly is permanently affixed to said side surfaces or said bottom plate. The receptacle is capable of maintaining the fluidic body sample for a sufficient time period in the vicinity of the sensor thereby the sensor is operative to provide continuous measurement of an electric, chemical or physical property of the urine. The slave circuitry responds to the electric, chemical or physical property of the fluidic body sample received from the sensor and is configured and operable to electronically communicate the measurement of the electric, chemical or physical property of the fluidic body sample to an external processing master unit. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123234 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC MONITORING OF DIABETES RELATED TREATMENTS - The present invention discloses a monitoring system and method for use in monitoring diabetes treatment of a patient. The system comprises a control unit comprising a first processor module for processing measured data indicative of blood glucose level and generating first processed data indicative thereof, a second processor module comprising at least one fuzzy logic module; the second processor module receives input parameters corresponding to the measured data, the first processed data and a reference data including individualized patient's profile related data, to individualized patient's treatment history related data and processes the received data to produce at least one qualitative output parameter indicative of patient's treatment parameters, such that the second processor module determines whether any of the treatment parameters is to be modified. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123235 | IMPLANTABLE THERANOSTIC ARTICLE - A theranostic article has one or more specific molecular recognition markers for cells on the surface thereof, wherein the recognition markers are selected from the group consisting of peptides, proteins, antibodies, antigens, aptamers, molecular imprinted polymers and polynucleotides. When the article is implanted in a body, cellular ingrowth is controlled, with desired cell types anchoring and proliferating on the implant's surface to generate a thin layer, and thereafter ceasing accumulation. The cellular layer thereby presents a biomimetic surface acceptable to the body, and also presents a low barrier to diffusion of analytes with at least substantially constant diffusion characteristics, allowing use of an analyte sensor within the article. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123236 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BRAIN FIBER BUNDLE MICROSCOPY - An intracranial implant to position a fiber bundle to a specified region of a brain of an animal. The implant may include a base support to be fixed to a skull of the animal over an orifice drilled in the skull, a hollow conduit arranged through the base support to guide the fiber bundle to the brain of the animal through the drilled orifice and a first locking member arranged on the base support, to cooperate with a ferrule of the fiber bundle, the first locking member configured to lock the fiber bundle to the specified region of the brain of the animal. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123237 | MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM THAT REDIRECTS HEAT WASTE FOR PATIENT PALLET HEATING - According to certain embodiments, a medical imaging system includes an imager, a patient pallet, and a heating subsystem. The imager obtains measurement data of a patient. Further, the imager includes at least one electrical component that generates heat. The patient pallet supports the patient to be scanned by the imager. Further, the heating subsystem heats the patient pallet using the heat generated by the at least one electrical component of the imager. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123238 | TREATMENT PROCESS OF RADIOLOGICAL IMAGES FOR DETECTION OF STENOSIS - A treatment process of radiological images is provided. The process comprises obtaining at least one set of images. For each set, the process comprises: segmenting an at least one first image to obtain an at least one first segmented image and to detect a plurality of arteries of the region of interest and an at least one second image to obtain an at least one second segmented image and to detect and isolate the tool; defining in the at least one first segmented image a plurality of lines, wherein each line defines an artery; determining, from the second segmented image and the defined lines, an artery of interest corresponding to the artery in which a tool has been inserted; and applying a quantitative analysis algorithm of coronary lesions to the artery of interest to detect lesion of the artery of interest. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123239 | Medical Image Processing System and Processing Method - According to the invention, a medical image processing system comprises: a storage unit storing a medical image, a database server storing medical image information about the medical image, a computer aided diagnosis unit identifying an object to be identified and surrounding objects of the object using the medical image and the medical image information, and a position detector detecting a relative position of the identified object on the basis of the surrounding objects using the identified object and surrounding objects and storing information about the detected position. Accordingly, the medical image processing system can detect and provide the position of the object, and the medical image can be rapidly accurately interpreted at a hospital. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123240 | Method of Assessing Central Arterial Stiffness Using Mri, Method of Assessing Vascular Function Including Arterial Stiffness, Applications Program and Media Embodying Same - Featured are methods for non-invasive assessment of a vascular physiological parameter including but not limited to central arterial stiffness, vascular reactivity and/or local arterial stiffness. The methods of the invention use any one of a number of magnetic resonance imaging techniques known in the art to acquire image data so as to arrive at these vascular physiological parameters. Also such methods include locating the detector or imaging coil proximal to a single artery and external to the body/specimen. According to one aspect, the methodology determines the central arterial stiffness from image data acquired at the single arterial location. In another aspect, image data is acquired so that one or more of central arterial stiffness, vascular reactivity and/or local arterial stiffness can be determined from the acquired image data alone or in combination with other acquired data/information. The disclosed methods of the invention allow for reproducible, non-invasive diagnosis of early stage indicators of atherosclerosis. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123241 | EXTERNAL MEDICAL DEVICE WARNING OTHER MEDICAL DEVICE OF IMPENDING ADMINISTRATION OF TREATMENT - In one embodiment, an external first medical device includes a treatment module for administering a first treatment. The first medical device also includes a warning module for transmitting, before the first treatment is administered, a warning about the impending administration of the first treatment. The warning is suitable for receipt by a second medical device that could be attached to the patient unbeknownst to the first device, and which could be impacted by the first treatment. As such, the second medical device is given the opportunity to take a defensive action. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123242 | EXTERNAL MEDICAL DEVICE REACTING TO WARNING FROM OTHER MEDICAL DEVICE ABOUT IMPENDING INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATION OF TREATMENT - In one embodiment, an external second medical device is capable of being attached to a patient. The second medical device includes an operation module that is capable of operating at different capacities, such as at a first capacity and a second capacity. The second medical device also includes a receiver for receiving a warning about an impending administration of a first treatment to the patient, by a first medical device that does not know about the second medical device being attached to the patient. In response to receiving the warning, the second medical device undertakes a defensive action, whereby the operation of the operation module is capable of being performed at the second capacity. This way, the first treatment, when administered, will impact the second medical device less or not at all. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123243 | CATHETER GUIDANCE OF EXTERNAL ENERGY FOR RENAL DENERVATION - An in vivo apparatus includes a flexible shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length sufficient to access a patient's renal artery relative to a percutaneous access location. An energy guide apparatus is provided at the distal end of the shaft and dimensioned for deployment within the renal artery. An ex vivo apparatus includes an arrangement configured to localize the energy guide apparatus within the renal artery, and an energy source configured to direct ablative energy to target tissue located a predetermined distance from the localized energy guide apparatus. The target tissue includes perivascular renal nerve tissue adjacent the renal artery. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123244 | TISSUE-CHARACTERIZATION PROBE WITH EFFECTIVE SENSOR-TO-TISSUE CONTACT - The present invention relates to a device for tissue-characterization, designed for effective sensor-to-tissue contact. The device includes an element, having a rigid surface of a linear cross-section, on which at least one sensor is arranged, and a mechanism for applying a force to a soft tissue, the line of force being at an acute angle with the rigid surface, for stretching or stretching and pushing the soft tissue against the rigid surface, thus achieving effective contact between the tissue and the at least one sensor. In consequence, the accuracy of the sensing is improved. In accordance with another embodiment, a plurality of sensors is employed, arranged along a curved element, for providing three-dimensional information regarding the tissue, for example, by small-scale computerized tomography. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123245 | Multi Transmit/Receive Head Array Coil with Removable Panels - A modular multi-transmit head coil for use in Deep Brain Stimulation procedures includes a mounting frame arranged for attachment to the stereotactic head frame of the patient. An integrated MR stereotactic locating phantom is included as part of the coil structure which has attached MR/CT compatible fiducials on it to correlate pre-op, intra-op and post op images. The frame carries a series of modular removable coil elements in a transceive array that are connected to a set of RF power amplifiers that directly drive the coil elements. A control system including suitable software is arranged to control the signals to the coil elements so as to generate a required RF field with all the coil elements in place and with one or more the coil elements removed to allow access to the patent for the installation of the DBS leads. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123246 | Haemodynamic data estimation - Techniques exist for measuring local blood velocity of flow rate waveforms in, for example, mammalian vascular segments. A method and system for deriving information on disease in vascular segments, for example mean pressure, drop in mean pressure and/or hydraulic resistance, from such measured waveforms is described. The waveforms can, for example, be measured non-invasively using Doppler ultrasound or magnetic resonance techniques. Form factors (Vff, Pff) for the velocity waveform and the centreal arterial pressure are determined. Stenosis may be detected by detecting changes e.g in Vff/Pff. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123247 | Systems And Methods For Measuring And Modeling In Vivo Manganese Ion Transport In A Subject - Described herein are systems and methods for quantitatively measuring manganese ion efflux in a subject. In general, the systems and methods compare imaging data from a subject taken over specific periods of time to pharmacokinetic models in order to measure manganese ion efflux rates from an organ in a subject. By understanding the specific location and rate of manganese ion efflux and influx from the organ, it is possible to more accurately correlate calcium ion activity. Calcium ion efflux is associated with a number of biological mechanisms in the subject, and the methods and systems described herein can be used as a diagnostic tool not only for monitoring calcium efflux in the subject but also aid in the treatment of diseases associated with changes in calcium ion efflux. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123248 | DARK BLOOD DELAYED ENHANCEMENT MAGNETIC RESONANCE VIABILITY IMAGING TECHNIQUES FOR ASSESSING SUBENDOCARDIAL INFARCTS - The technology herein provides a dark blood delayed enhancement technique that improves the visualization of subendocardial infarcts that may otherwise be disguised by the bright blood pool. The timed combination of a slice-selective and a non-selective preparation improves the infarct/blood contrast by decoupling their relaxation curves thereby nulling both the blood and the non-infarcted myocardium. This causes the infarct to be imaged bright and the blood and non-infarct to both be imaged dark. The slice-selective preparation occurs early enough in the cardiac cycle so that fresh blood can enter the imaged slice. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123249 | PROVIDING AN OPTIMAL ULTRASOUND IMAGE FOR INTERVENTIONAL TREATMENT IN A MEDICAL SYSTEM - Embodiments for providing an optimal ultrasound image for interventional treatment in a medical system are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, a medical system comprises: a medical device that is inserted into a target object and configured to remove a lesion within the target object; an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from the target object to output ultrasound data; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit, the processing unit being configured to forma plurality of ultrasound images based on the ultrasound data and perform an image processing upon each of the ultrasound images to detect a position of the medical device. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123250 | Method and System for Pigtail Catheter Motion Prediction - A method and system for autoregressive model based pigtail catheter motion prediction in a fluoroscopic image sequence is disclosed. Parameters of an autoregressive model are estimated based on observed pigtail catheter tip positions in a plurality of previous frames of a fluoroscopic image sequence. A pigtail catheter tip position in a current frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence is predicted using the fitted autoregressive model. The predicted pigtail catheter tip position can be used to constrain pigtail catheter tip detection in the current frame. The predicted pigtail catheter tip position may also be used to predict abnormal motion in the fluoroscopic image sequence. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123251 | DETECTION OF THE POSITION OF A MOVING OBJECT AND TREATMENT METHOD - The invention relates to a method for determining the position of an object moving within a body, wherein the body is connected to markers, a movement signal is determined based on the measured movement of the markers, images are taken from the object using a camera or detector, wherein the camera or detector is moved with respect to the object, it is determined from which direction or range of angles or segment the most images corresponding to a pre-defined cycle of the movement signal are taken, and using at least some or all of the images of the segment containing the most images for a specified movement cycle, an image of the object is reconstructed. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123252 | IMAGING APPARATUS FOR LARGE AREA IMAGING OF A BODY PORTION - An imaging apparatus for large area imaging of a body portion of a vertebrate, having an optical scanner for generating image data, an image data processing unit for generating a primary skeleton image of the bone and/or joint structure from the image data of the body surface and stored standard skeleton images. A sensing head scans a depth scan image of the body portion stepwise or a sensing device senses bony references in the body portion. Markers mark the position and orientation of the sensing head or device for spatial orientation, and a navigation base station records spatial positions of the markers. A scanning data-processing unit produces a corrected skeleton image and/or anatomical rotational points of the body portion based on the primary skeleton image and on the depth scan image provided with position data and/or the position data of the bony references scanned with the sensing device. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123253 | ANATOMY MODELING FOR TUMOR REGION OF INTEREST DEFINITION - A hot spot detection system for automatically segmenting and quantifying hot spots in functional images includes a segmentation unit ( | 2012-05-17 |
20120123254 | LYMPHATIC PRESSURE-MEASURING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - The present invention has an object to measure lymphatic pressure with more safety and ease at lower cost. To achieve this, a lymphatic pressure-measuring system | 2012-05-17 |
20120123255 | APPARATUS FOR IMPLANTING A PRELOADED LOCALIZATION WIRE - An apparatus for percutaneously implanting a localization wire into a tissue mass comprises a cannula with a preloaded localization wire having a distal end and at least one anchor. An actuator is in operable communication with the cannula and is configured for operation between a charged condition and a discharged condition to retract the cannula toward a retracted position to expose the distal end and the at least one anchor of the localization wire to the tissue mass, without inducing movement of the localization wire, and with the cannula being removable from the localization wire in its entirety. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123256 | THERMOACOUSTIC IMAGING WITH QUANTITATIVE EXTRACTION OF ABSORPTION MAP - A method of thermoacoustic imaging of an object includes providing thermoacoustic signals representing a mechanical wave response to a delivery of electromagnetic energy into the imaged object, reconstructing an energy deposition image representing a local energy absorption within the object based on the thermoacoustic signals, and decomposing the energy deposition image into a quantitative absorption image representing a distribution of a local absorption coefficient in the object and at least one further image component. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123257 | Multi-Fluid Medical Injector System and Methods of Operation - A multi-fluid injector system and methods of operation thereof are presented. One embodiment of such a fluid injector system includes a powered injector, a pressure jacket support, a syringe pressure jacket, and a syringe. The pressure jacket support includes a front plate and a rear plate. The rear plate is connected to the injector and the front plate is spaced from the rear plate and defines a slot. The syringe pressure jacket has a proximal end pivotally connected to the rear plate so that a distal end of the pressure jacket pivots relative to the front plate. The syringe has a syringe body with a distally extending discharge conduit. With the syringe disposed in a barrel of the pressure jacket, pivotal movement of the pressure jacket results in the distal end thereof pivoting toward the front plate to place the discharge conduit within the slot in the front plate. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123258 | RENAL DENERVATION CATHETER WITH RF ELECTRODE AND INTEGRAL CONTRAST DYE INJECTION ARRANGEMENT - A catheter includes a flexible braided shaft having a length sufficient to access a target vessel of the body, such as a renal artery. An electrode at the catheter's distal tip is configured to ablate extravascular target tissue, such as perivascular renal nerve tissue. An electrical conductor coupled to the electrode extends along a first lumen of the shaft. A second lumen of the shaft terminates at a port arrangement on an outer surface of the shaft near the electrode. The second lumen transports a contrast media from the catheter's proximal end and through the port arrangement. The catheter may include a steering arrangement and a lubricious coating on an outer surface of the shaft, allowing a clinician to navigate the catheter through vasculature and into the target vessel without use of a separate delivery sheath or guiding catheter. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123259 | MULTILUMEN CATHETER WITH PRESSURE RESISTANT LUMEN AND METHOD - The assembly comprises two or more catheter tubes fused together to form a fused catheter bundle. Each tube has at least one lumen extending longitudinally through the catheter from its distal end to its proximal end and at least one of said tubes comprises a pressure resistant lumen. The tubes are fused together by use of heat & pressure generated by heat shrinkable tube slides positioned over a segment of the catheter tubes while mandrels are positioned within each tube lumen. After cooling, the heat shrinkable tube may be removed and the mandrels removed such that and the fused catheter bundle is formed. One or more of the tubes may be of a different hardness, material and/or color. A distal end of the fused catheter bundle can be split free floating, stepped or tapered tipped. A non fused portion may form catheter extension legs. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123260 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM - A biological information processing apparatus, including: a conversion element which receives an ultrasonic wave transmitted from a subject and converts the ultrasonic wave into an analog signal; an analog-digital converting unit; a first memory which records a digital signal; a signal processing unit which outputs information on an inside of a biological body from the signal recorded in the first memory; a second memory which records information on an ineffective area, for which information need not be recorded; and a controlling unit which controls activation of the analog-digital converting unit or recording to the first memory, wherein the controlling unit stops the activation of the analog-digital converting unit or recording to the first memory in a period in which the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ineffective area is received based on the information recorded in the second memory. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123261 | Renal Nerve Ablation Using Mild Freezing and Vibration - A catheter includes a thermal unit provided at its distal end and configured to receive a thermal transfer fluid. The thermal unit is configured to cause formation of ice particles in perivascular renal nerve tissue adjacent the thermal unit and warm tissue of the renal artery adjacent the thermal unit to a temperature above freezing while ice particles remain formed in the perivascular renal nerve tissue. A vibration source is configured to generate vibration of the ice particles sufficient to disrupt perivascular renal nerve tissue and terminate sympathetic renal nerve activity with no or negligible damage to thawed renal artery tissue. The vibration source may be configured to generate vibration sufficient to nucleate ice formation within at least the perivascular renal nerve tissue so that ice particles form throughout the perivascular renal nerve tissue adjacent the thermal unit. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123262 | PUSH/TRACKING SEQUENCES FOR SHEAR WAVE DISPERSION VIBROMETRY - Shear Wave Dispersion Vibrometry (SDUV) is performed such that, after a single instance of their push pulse ( | 2012-05-17 |
20120123263 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT METHOD - Disclosed are an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasonic measurement method enabling easy acquisition of elasticity information by means of a shear wave. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123264 | DEVICES FOR CREATING PASSAGES AND SENSING BLOOD VESSELS - Devices and methods are disclosed for creating passages in tissue and detecting blood vessels in and around the passages. The devices may be used to create channels for altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of an individual, particularly individuals having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In addition, the devices may be used to sample tissue during biopsy or other medical procedures where perforating a blood vessel could result in injury to a patient. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123265 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE ENHANCEMENT BASED ON ENTROPY INFORMATION - Embodiments for enhancing an image quality of an ultrasound image based on entropy information in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound data acquisition unit acquires multiple ultrasound data, and a processing unit forms entropy information based on the multiple ultrasound data and adaptively perform data processing for image enhancement upon the multiple ultrasound data based on the entropy information. The processing unit forms multiple ultrasound images based on the multiple ultrasound data with the data processing performed. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123266 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PREVIEW IMAGE - There is disclosed an embodiment for providing a preview image. An ultrasound data acquisition unit transmits and receives ultrasound signals to and from a target object to acquire a plurality of ultrasound data. A processor forms volume data by using the plurality of ultrasound data. The processor further sets a plurality of rendering directions corresponding to a plurality of geometries and renders the volume data along the plurality of respective rendering directions to form a plurality of preview images. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123267 | THREE DIMENSIONAL FETAL HEART IMAGING BY NON-ECG PHYSIOLOGICAL GATED ACQUISITION - An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system acquires 3D data sets of the fetal heart by use of a gating signal synthesized from detected motion of the fetal heart. A sequence of temporally different echo signals are acquired from a location in the anatomy where motion representative of the heart cycle is to be estimated, such as a sample volume in the fetal carotid artery or an M line through the fetal myocardium. A heart cycle signal is synthesized from the detected motion and used to gate the acquisition of fetal heart image data at one or more desired phases of the fetal heart cycle. In an illustrated embodiment 3D data sets are acquired from multiple subvolumes, each over the full fetal heart cycle, then combined to produce a live 3D loop of the beating fetal heart. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123268 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING DEVICE - Spurious response resulting from a high-order vibration mode that occurs when the cell shape of a capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducer is anisotropic is reduced. Assuming that a ratio between a long direction (l) and a short direction (w) of a diaphragm forming a capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducer is a representative aspect ratio (l/w), the representative aspect ratio is set to a value at which a dip of 6 dB or greater would not be formed within a transmit and receive bandwidth of a probe. Alternatively, the representative aspect ratio is so set that there would be six or more vibration modes for which the value obtained by dividing the frequency of a vibration mode having an odd number of anti-nodes by a fundamental mode frequency would be 2 or less. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123269 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASONIC SCANNER - The present disclosure provides a precise performance three-dimensional ultrasound scanner that is lightweight for an easy hold by suggesting a novel constitution of a swing mechanism wherein an arrangement of the drive motor perpendicular to the swing axis requires a smaller capacity motor and eliminating a backlash. The swing mechanism includes: an arm holder connected to a rotational axis of the motor; an arm connected to the arm holder so that the arm swings within a certain angular range; a link, attached to the arm, for moving in unison with the arm; a shaft, connected to the link, for transmitting a rotary power of the arm to the transducer unit. The swing mechanism can be operated using the smaller capacity motor and eliminates the need for a pulley, gear or belt eliminating backlashes to promote implementation of lightweight precision three-dimensional ultrasound scanners. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123270 | DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCERS AND FLOW SENSOR - The invention proposes to equip the tip of a surgical instrument such as a needle or catheter or any other instrument with an ultrasound transducer array to measure flow just in front of the tip by means of time and frequency differences between the sent and received pulses. Since no image is required, only a few transducer elements are required. The transducer elements generate a pressure pulses in specific directions and receives its echo's without the use of imaging techniques and complex driving electronics. Using the frequency shift and time delay of the received signals the proximity and lateral direction of the blood flow may be detected, thus identifying blood vessels. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123271 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING ROTATIONAL TRANSDUCERS FOR CONCURRENTLY IMAGING BLOOD FLOW AND TISSUE - A method for generating a composite image using an intravascular imaging device includes receiving reflected echo signals from at least one transducer along a first of a plurality of radial scan lines. The received echo signals are passed through a plurality of signal processing channels to form a plurality of filtered signals. The filtered signals include a high-resolution tissue structure signal and at least one first pre-blood-flow-mask signal. High-resolution tissue structure signals are processed to form a high-resolution tissue structural image. First pre-blood-flow-mask signals are cross-correlated with second pre-blood-flow-mask signals from an adjacent radial scan line to form blood-flow-mask signals. Blood-flow-mask signals are processed to form a blood-flow mask. For each pixel of the composite image, it is determined whether to use a corresponding pixel of the high-resolution tissue structural image or a corresponding pixel of the cross-correlated blood flow mask to generate the composite image pixel. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123272 | ROTARY ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM - This invention relates to a rotary ultrasound imaging system comprising a control device, an ultrasound probe head and a rotary motor device, wherein the rotary motor device receives ultrasound signals sent from the ultrasound probe head, and outputs the received ultrasound signals to the control device through a 360-degree rotation; and the ultrasound probe head comprises a housing with an installation groove which is provided therein with an ultrasound transducer with a concave focusing surface. Since the concave focusing surface is directly formed on the ultrasound transducer, focusing of the rotary ultrasound imaging system is realized without addition of extra components (e.g. lens). Therefore lateral resolution and performance are improved. Furthermore, since the output shaft of the rotary motor of the rotary ultrasound imaging system is configured as a hollow shaft, ultrasound signals from the ultrasound transducer may be sent to the control device through a path of 360-degree rotation. Therefore, complicated modules are not necessary for position alignment and signal connection for 360 degrees rotary ultrasound transducer. The invention may efficiently shield disturbances arising from electrical noise. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123273 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: transmission and reception signal lines that send transmission and reception signals of ultrasound to a plurality of ultrasound transducers; signal determining portions near the ultrasound transducers and determine a selection signal for selecting an ultrasound transducer to be driven or a readout signal for reading out the selection signal, the selection signal being sent out in synchronization with a transmission signal for forming the transmission and reception signal, and couple the ultrasound transducer to be driven with the transmission and reception signal line according to a result of the determination; and direct current blocking/clipping circuits that block a direct current bias component superimposed on the transmission and reception signal and sent via the transmission and reception signal line, and clip a waveform with large amplitude. The transmission and reception signal line sends the transmission and reception signal with the selection signal or the readout signal. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123274 | ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An ultrasonic transducer which can attenuate ultrasonic waves emitted toward the rear without increasing a thickness of a backing layer includes: a piezoelectric transducer which emits and receives ultrasonic waves; and the backing layer which is provided in contact with the rear of the piezoelectric transducer and which attenuates the ultrasonic waves emitted in a rear direction from the piezoelectric transducer. The backing layer includes a plurality of acoustic tubes formed in the rear direction from a plane of the backing layer that is in contact with the piezoelectric transducer. Each of the acoustic tubes has a different length based on a principle of superposition of acoustic waves. The acoustic tubes include an acoustic tube which has (i) a portion of the length formed in a direction perpendicular to the rear direction and (ii) the remaining portion of the length formed in a direction parallel to the rear direction. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123275 | INFRARED IMAGING OF CUTANEOUS MELANOMA - A process is described for identifying and classifying cutaneous melanoma of a lesion on the skin of a subject by a FTIR spectrometer coupled with a micro-imaging system. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123276 | CATHETER WITH OPTICAL CONTACT SENSING - A medical probe, including a biocompatible sheath having proximal and distal ends, and having at least one transparent strip between the proximal end and the distal end. The probe also has one or more functional elements positioned within the biocompatible sheath. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123277 | METHOD FOR DETECTING AN EXTRAORDINARY SITUATION - A method for detecting an abnormal situation of a person, a contact measuring device which the person wears directly or indirectly on the body and which is a contact sensor and/or a pressure sensor and/or a photosensor and/or a distance measuring device being used to determine a contact state and/or the pressure exerted by a body part, such as a foot of a person, onto a reference surface, such as a floor, so that an abnormal situation can be detected among a plurality of situations. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123278 | LOW-NOISE OPTICAL PROBES FOR REDUCING AMBIENT NOISE - An optical probe, which is particularly suited to reduce noise in measurements taken on an easily compressible material, such as a finger, a toe, a forehead, an earlobe, or a lip, measures characteristics of the material. A neonatal and adult disposable embodiment of the probe include adhesive coated surfaces to securely affix the probe onto the patient. In addition, the surface of the probe is specially constructed to reduce the effect of ambient noise. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123279 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF A BALLISTOCARDIOGRAM SIGNAL - There is provided a method and apparatus for the analysis of a ballistocardiogram signal. The method comprises detecting heart beats in the BCG signal by locating typical features of a heart beat for a user in the BCG signal, the typical features of the heart beat having been obtained during a training step. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123280 | METHOD FOR MEASURING ARTERIAL PRESSURE AND A DEVICE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SAME - A method for measuring arterial pressure involves hydraulically separating a static pressure source from a body area situated opposite thereto and containing an artery by placing a rigid separating element between the two and along the artery. With the aid of the separating element, pulse waves are converted into pressure waves, which run along said element on the first side thereof, and the passage of the pulse waves is detected with the aid of the pressure waves. A device for measuring arterial pressure comprises a rigid separating element which has a first contact surface for interacting with the body and a second contact surface which is opposite to the first and is used for interacting with the static pressure source. A push-type pressure gauge with a contact area that is embedded into one of the two contact surfaces of the separating element and a pulse wave detector are disposed inside the rigid separating element. The sensing element of the detector is located on the first contact surface. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123281 | SPHYGMOMANOMETER - In a sphygmomanometer, an elbow detection mechanism that detects the placement of a measurement subject's elbow is provided in a portion of a cuff unit above a rotation axis. Because the elbow detection mechanism is provided in the portion of the cuff unit above the rotation axis on the biological member (upper arm) exit side, the distance L between the elbow detection mechanism and the biological member (upper arm) exit of the cuff unit can be kept constant even when the cuff unit rotates. This enables providing a sphygmomanometer that has a mechanism for changing the inclination angle of the cuff unit relative to a base and includes a mechanism for achieving a constant distance between the elbow detection mechanism and the entrance of the cuff unit regardless of the inclination angle of the cuff unit. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123282 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTION OF VENOUS PULSATION - Methods and systems for detecting venous pulsation are provided. In one embodiment, a metric of the pulse shape of one or more plethysmographic signals is derived and the presence of venous pulsation is detected based on the metric of pulse shape. Examples, of metrics of pulse shape include a skew metric and a ratio of a minima-to-maxima time over a pulse period interval. In an exemplary embodiment, the presence of venous pulsation is detected based on a metric of the pulse shape of one or more plethysmographic signals and on a phase comparison of the plethysmographic signals. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123283 | Apparatus, Method, And Computer Program For Predicting Risk For Cardiac Death - An apparatus, a method, and a computer program for predicting a risk for a cardiac death are presented. Early repolarization patterns in leads of an electrocardiogram recorded from a subject are detected if an amplitude of a J-point at a QRS complex and ST segment junction of a lead exceeds a predetermined amplitude threshold. Amplitude patterns of ST segments in leads of the electrocardiogram are also determined. Finally, an elevated risk for a future cardiac death of the subject on the basis of a possible arrhythmia is predicted if early repolarization patterns are detected in at least two leads of the electrocardiogram, and if the ST segments in the at least two leads of the electrocardiogram are determined to have a horizontal or descending amplitude pattern. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123284 | WIRELESS HEMODYNAMIC MONITORING SYSTEM INTEGRATED WITH IMPLANTABLE HEART VALVES - Described is a wireless hemodynamic monitoring system that is integrated with implantable cardiac devices. The system includes at least one sensory component that is adapted to measure one or more hemodynamic parameters inside a cardiac chamber of a subject. At least one transceiver is attached with the sensory component to transmit a signal containing data corresponding to the hemodynamic parameters and receive control signals from an external control device. An energy harvesting system is attached with the sensory component to measure pressures within the cardiac chamber and generate power for the monitoring system. The monitoring system can be attached with a heart valve or other cardiac device and implanted within a patient. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123285 | System for Cardiac Condition Characterization Using Electrophysiological Signal Data - A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection includes an interface for receiving signal data representing an electrical signal indicating electrical activity of a patient heart over multiple heart beat cycles. A signal processor uses the received signal data in calculating at least one of, (a) a first signal characteristic value substantially comprising a ratio of a time interval from S wave to T wave, to a time interval from Q wave to S wave and (b) a second signal characteristic value substantially comprising a ratio of a T wave base voltage from a peak of a T wave to a zero base reference voltage, to an R wave base voltage from a peak of an R wave to a zero base reference voltage. A comparator compares at least one of the first and second characteristic values with a threshold value to provide a comparison indicator. A patient monitor in response to the comparison indicator indicating a calculated signal characteristic value exceeds the threshold value, generates an alert message associated with the threshold. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123286 | DEVICES FOR DIAGNOSING SLEEP APNEA OR OTHER CONDITIONS AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system includes a sensor device having a body configured to be inserted into an airway of a patient and one or more sensors mounted in or on the body. The one or more sensors are configured to collect sensor data associated with the airway of the patient. The system also includes a signal analyzer configured to analyze the sensor data. The one or more sensors could include one or more microphones. The signal analyzer could identify volume and/or pitch characteristics of the sensor data, perform pattern recognition to identify one or more patterns using the volume and/or pitch characteristics, and use the one or more patterns to identify a type, a location, and/or a degree of airway obstruction. This could be done, for instance, to determine if the patient suffers from obstructive sleep apnea or other condition that affects his or her airway. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123287 | PORTABLE DEVICE FOR BREATHING DETECTION - A device for detecting breathing of a subject, includes a colorimetric CO2 detector. A method for determining whether a subject is breathing and a method for verifying proper placement of an endotracheal tube when using a resuscitation bag are also described. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123288 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF DETERMINING EXHALED NITRIC OXIDE - A method and apparatus of determining the level of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) is disclosed. The method involves measuring the level of exhaled NO ( | 2012-05-17 |
20120123289 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS TRANSMISSION OF NEURAL DATA - Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a neuralphysiological data acquisition system configured to wirelessly transmit neural data from a patient to a receive subsystem. In an embodiment, a neuralphysiological data acquisition system includes a plurality of electrodes, a headstage, and a wireless module. The electrodes are configured to be implanted subcutaneously within neural tissue of a patient and to collect analog neural data from the patient. The headstage is coupled to the electrodes, and configured to receive and convert the analog neural signals to digital output. The wireless module is coupled to the headstage and configured to wireless transmit a signal representing the digital output to a receive subsystem including a wireless receiver. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123290 | EEG MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MONITORING AN EEG - An EEG monitoring system ( | 2012-05-17 |
20120123291 | Bio-Impedance Measurement Apparatus and Assembly - A bio-impedance measurement apparatus includes a flexible band member fastened around a body portion, two probe sets attached to the flexible band member, a measurement device, and a wireless device. One probe set includes a probe having a tip portion for piercing the skin of the body portion to be located adjacent to an acupuncture point. Another probe set, used as an electrical ground, includes a probe that contacts the reference skin. The measurement device is disposed on the flexible band member and electrically coupled to the two probe sets to provide an impulse current signal to the acupuncture point. The measurement device amplifies and measures the voltage response across the acupuncture points and the ground. The amplified signal is converted to a digital signal for Fourier transformation. The wireless device, coupled to the measurement device, transmits the acupuncture code and impedance information to a remote monitor station. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123292 | Nerve Mapping Surgical System and Method of Use of Dual Function Surgical Instrument Within Such System - A surgical system has an electrode probe, an analyzer, a bipolar instrument, a bipolar power supply and a switch, the switch in communication with the analyzer, the bipolar power supply and the bipolar instrument, to permit alternate use of the bipolar instrument as a surgical instrument and use as an exploratory probe. An electrode probe delivery device has a base plate, an insertion guide connected to and extending from the base plate and formed for receipt of an electrode probe. A catheter on the device permits receipt of at least one electrode probe and a handle connects to the catheter and permits movement thereof such that the catheter is passable through the base plate for introduction into a patient. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123293 | MOTOR NERVE ROOT STIMULATION - A motor device for bypassing or bridging an area of neurological damage, including at least one electrode having an electric mechanism for generating electric current, and a programming mechanism for programming the electrode. A biofeedback system and an artificial spinal cord. A method of stimulating muscle in a person having neurological damage, by applying electric current to nerves, bypassing or bridging an area of neurological damage, and moving the muscle in a natural manner. Methods of moving muscles of a paraplegic, reducing or eliminating pain from an individual, and treating foot drop. A therapeutic method for exercising for an individual with neurological damage. A method of generating movement of muscle and sensing that movement in a person having neurological damage. A method of generating movement of muscle using information from the brain and sensing that movement in a person having neurological damage. A method of diagnosing neurological damage. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123294 | FLEXIBLE NEURAL LOCALIZATION DEVICES AND METHODS - Methods for determining if a nerve is nearby a device. The neural stimulation tools described herein are configured to be flexible and low-profile, so that they can be used within body regions that may be tortuous or difficult to reach, such as within a compressed or partially occluded neural foramen. In most cases, these tools described herein are ribbon-shaped and adapted to be manipulated bimanually, applying force to the ends of the devices from separate locations outside of the patient's body. Thus, the distal end region of the device may be configured to couple to the proximal end of a guidewire. One or more surfaces of the devices may include an electrode or multi-polar network of electrodes configured to stimulate only nerves within a predetermined distance of a particular face of the device. Methods of using these devices are described. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123295 | BIOPSY NEEDLE, SAMPLE EXTRACTING UNIT, BIOPSY APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING BIOPSY NEEDLE - The present invention relates to a biopsy needle, a sample extracting unit, a biopsy apparatus, and a biopsy needle control method. The biopsy needle includes an outer tube and an inner tube movably disposed within the outer tube. The inner tube has a plurality of inner openings defined in a side wall thereof. The outer tube has at least one outer opening defined in a side wall thereof. In response to movement of the inner tube, the outer opening selectively overlaps one of the inner openings thereby to define a communication port which communicates with an interior of the inner tube. The biopsy needle is incorporated in the sample extracting unit and the biopsy apparatus, and is controlled by the biopsy control method. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123296 | SURGICAL TOOL - A surgical tool for use in a tissue removal procedure from a subject is described. The surgical tool has proximal and distal regions and at least one sensor for sensing one or more predetermined conditions located at a distal region of the surgical tool. And a substantially flat signal transmission structure electrically connected with the at least one sensor and extending between the location at the distal region and the proximal region. The signal transmission structure is configured for providing impedance controlled signal transmission between the at least one sensor and the proximal region. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123297 | SYSTEMS AND INTERFACES FOR BLOOD SAMPLING - The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or receiving a substance or substances such as blood from subjects. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to devices and methods for receiving or extracting blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin, using devices containing a substance transfer component (for example, one or more needles or microneedles) and a reduced pressure or vacuum chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In some embodiments, the device may contain a “snap dome” or other deformable structure, which may be used, at least in part, to urge or move needles or other suitable substance transfer components into the skin of a subject. In some cases, for example, the device may contain a flexible concave member and a needle mechanically coupled to the flexible concave member. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123298 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FLUID ASPIRATION - An in-line sampling system that includes a sampling valve and a syringe for selectively introducing a fluid to and aspirating a fluid from a downstream fluid conduit connected to a catheterized patient. The syringe has a fluid chamber into which fluid is aspirated, a volume regulator for adjusting the volume, a fluid line through which fluid flows through the syringe to a downstream fluid conduit. The syringe also has a valve mechanism for selectively controlling fluid flow along the fluid line and selectively shifting the volume regulator to adjust the volume of the fluid chamber. A housing provides for the fluid chamber and mounts the fluid line, valve mechanism and volume regulator. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123299 | MALLEOLAR REGISTRATION CLAMP AND MALLEOLAR REGISTRATION METHOD - A malleolar registration clamp comprising a reference unit and a receiving portion for receiving the malleolus, wherein the receiving portion is designed to receive at least part of the malleolus in a defined position relative to the receiving portion, and the position of the reference unit relative to the receiving portion is defined. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123300 | PROBE FOR ENTERAL NUTRITION | 2012-05-17 |
20120123301 | Spinal motion measurement device - This invention is a minimally-invasive device, including bone-moving members and motion-measuring members, that can help surgeons to obtain objective, quantitative information concerning spinal flexion, extension, lateral bending, decompression, compression and torsion in order to select the best therapy for each patient. The prior art does not offer surgeons the opportunity to objectively and independently measure each of these movements. As a result, currently there is tremendous variation concerning which therapies are selected for which conditions. It is very unlikely that quality is being optimized and costs are being best managed with such high variation in practice patterns. This variation may be greatly reduced by the availability of objective information concerning spinal motion from this device. In this manner, this device can help surgeons to select the optimal therapy, to improve the quality of care, and to reduce the risk and expense of unnecessary spinal procedures and hardware. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123302 | Multiple-Frequency Ultrasonic Phased Array Driving System - An apparatus for sonicating a patient includes an ultrasound array having a plurality of transducers; a driving module for driving said transducers; and a control kernel for causing said driving module to drive said transducers concurrently at two different frequencies. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123303 | Minimally Invasive Access for Renal Nerve Ablation - An elongated flexible medical device is inserted into a patient's body via a natural orifice, and advanced through the natural orifice to a location proximate innervated tissue that influences renal sympathetic nerve activity. The medical device can be advanced into a body organ and to a location within the organ proximate the innervated tissue. The organ may comprise an organ of the gastrointestinal tract or urinary tract. The medical device may be advanced through and beyond an access hole in a wall of the organ, and situated at a location proximate the innervated tissue. One or both of imaging and ablation energy is delivered from a distal end of the medical device to the innervated tissue. Innervated renal tissue can be ablated using various forms of energy, including RF energy, ultrasound energy, optical energy, and thermal energy. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123304 | MOVING STANDING WAVES - A method of treating a region of tissue with ultrasound, the method comprising: generating a first ultrasound standing wave (USW) pattern at a first frequency in the region; and simultaneously generating a second USW pattern in the region spatially overlapping the first USW pattern at a second frequency different from the first frequency. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123305 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STIMULATING HAIR GROWTH - A device for stimulating hair growth applied to a user's scalp. The device includes a housing. A plurality of light emitting diodes coupled to the housing operable to emit non-coherent light, the non-coherent light having at least two intensity peaks. A plurality of pairs of teeth extending from the housing, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed between each pair of teeth; and wherein each of the plurality of pairs of teeth parts the user's hair to expose the scalp. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123306 | Apparatus and method for eye exercises - Apparatus and method for eye-exercise utilizing a set of goggles, the set of goggles containing a display suitably positioned for a wearer to observe a set of LEDs, which when lit in a sequential manner cause the wearer to exercise the muscles of the eye. One set of LEDs is arranged in linear patterns along a horizontal line, a vertical line and two oblique lines at approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal. Another set of LEDs is arranged in a circular pattern around the periphery of the display. Alternate embodiments include the feature of illuminating cartoon characters or other interesting graphics so that the eye-exercise method may be effective for children. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123307 | Arm brace - Disclosed is an apparatus and method for immobilizing the shoulder of a user. The apparatus comprises an elbow cap, a shoulder cap, a first tension member extending between the elbow cap and the shoulder cap and a second tension member extending from the wrist. The method comprises connecting the first tension member between the elbow cap located on an elbow corresponding to the shoulder to be immobilized to the shoulder cap located on an opposed shoulder behind the back of the user and support and maintain the wrist proximate to the user's torso with the second tension member. The method further comprises tightening the first tension member so as to draw the elbow behind a frontal plane of the user's torso proximate to the user's torso. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123308 | HYPEREXTENSION KNEE BRACE - A knee brace for treating hyperextension in a patient's knee. The knee brace includes two lateral uprights and a back support positioned horizontally to and generally at a middle portion of the lateral uprights. The lateral uprights and the back support define an integral frame. A plurality of straps includes a thigh, shin and patella strap connected at opposed ends to the frame for securing the brace to the patient. A plurality of cushion pads is disposed along inner surfaces of the lateral uprights and the thigh and shin straps for providing comfort and for mitigating brace migration. An inflatable air bladder is located on an inner surface of the back support for positioning behind the knee. The air bladder has an inflation tube for increasing or decreasing the air volume within the air bladder to affect a range of motion for the patient's knee. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123309 | Orthotic device and method of manufacture - An orthotic device having a thin, flexible material defining a plantar wall and lateral, medial and posterior sidewalls. A fastening mechanism releasably secures the lateral and medial sidewalls together. In some embodiments, the plantar wall defines a laterally extending distal trimline positioned distal of the first metatarsal head and proximal of the third, fourth and fifth metatarsal heads when the foot is secured within the orthotic device. In other embodiments, the device includes a heel post having a distal terminal edge with a medial portion extending into the arch proximal to the navicular bone and a lateral portion positioned proximal of the arch. In still other embodiments, an elongate strip of padding material projects inwardly below and proximate the medial malleosus and the lateral malleosus and is positioned to inhibit withdrawal of the calcaneous bone. A method of manufacturing an orthotic device is also disclosed. | 2012-05-17 |
20120123310 | GARMENT WITH LUMBAR TRACTION DEVICE - A lumbar traction device is operable to be used by a user that has a lumbar region and a lower leg. The device includes a garment that includes at least one coupling member. The device also includes a lumbar support member operable to be worn adjacent to the lumbar region. The device also includes at least one lower leg support to be worn adjacent to the lower leg. Moreover, the device includes at least one connecting member connecting the lumbar support member and the lower leg support. The connecting member is substantially inelastic, and a load applied to the lower leg support is transferred to the lumbar support member via the connecting member to provide distraction to the lumbar region of the user. Moreover, the lumbar support member, the lower leg support, and/or the connecting member is coupled to the garment via the coupling member. | 2012-05-17 |