| 27th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 63 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20090171397 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A RETAINER FOR A BONE STABILIZATION DEVICE - A skeletal fixation apparatus includes: a plate having first and second spaced apart surfaces and a plurality of apertures extending through the surfaces of the plate, each aperture for receiving a respective fixation element for coupling the plate to one or more bones of a patient; and at least one retention element having an elongate member coupled to the plate at first and second ends thereof, wherein the first end of the elongate member is fixed in position and the second end of the elongate member is operable to rotate about the first end such that: (i) at least a portion of the elongate member overlies at least a portion of a first of the apertures when the second end is in at least one first rotational position to retain a first fixation element in the first aperture, and (ii) the elongate member does not substantially overlie the first aperture when the second end is in at least one second rotational position to permit the first fixation element to enter or exit the first aperture. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171398 | PROVISIONAL BONE PLATE - A provisional bone plate formed of an implantable plastic and having a length corresponding to the longest bone plate in a particular family of bone plates. The provisional bone plate includes a head contoured to match the head of a particular bone as well as a shaft for placement adjacent the bone shaft. The provisional bone plate includes a plurality of circumferential notches surrounding the elongate body or shaft of the bone plate. The circumferential notches are substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the bone plate and define frangible portions of the bone plate which can be removed from the distal end thereof to alter the length of the provisional periarticular bone plate to correspond to the length of the various bone plates in a family of bone plates. The provisional bone plate is constructed of a biologically suitable plastic, is radiographic, and melts at a temperature less than 200° Fahrenheit. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171399 | Bone Plate with Complex, Adjacent Holes Joined by a Relief-Space - A bone plate is described which is adapted for use in situ to fix a spatial relationship of at least two bone parts. The bone plate has at least one pair of the bone screw apertures that are adjoined by a relief-space contiguous with the open space of the screw apertures themselves. An adjoined aperture pair forms a complex aperture and has a center-to-center distance d of the apertures along an axis running through the centers of the apertures. The center-to-center distance d is equal to or greater than the sum of the radii (r | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171400 | APPARATUS FOR DISCRETE TISSUE ANCHORING FOR SOFT TISSUE REPAIR AND METHOD OF USE - Disclosed herein are devices and methods for securing soft tissue to a rigid structure such as bone. Various directional anchors that allow for increasing the stability the attachment of soft tissue to bone are described. Also described is a delivery system for use with the directional anchors that allows for open surgical or arthroscopic application of one embodiment of the device. A method for repairing rotator cuff tears is also described. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171401 | Pedicle screw with a closure device for securing a rod for stabilization of the vertebral column - A pedicle screw ( | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171402 | Long-Nosed Crimp Pliers for Use in Orthopedics - Cable and crimp assembly kits for fixing bone fractures include long-nose crimp pliers that have a pair of operating handles and connected opposed long jaws. The long jaws are designed to hold and crush a wire crimp. The jaws are long and narrow enough to be able to insert and crush a crimp through a small incision, such as used by a known wire passer tool, at a deeply located bone without spreading or opening wider the small incision. The long-nosed pliers can be used with a crimp alone or with a crimp and an intermediate part that provisionally holds a tension applied to an associated cable or wire. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171403 | METHOD FOR THE FIXATION OF BONE STRUCTURES - The invention facilitates the fixation of bone fractures. In a particular embodiment, a method for fixing bone fractures comprises the steps of: inserting a head component coupled to a wire through a first bone portion and anchoring the head component in a second bone portion, inserting a cap over the wire toward the head component until the cap contacts the second bone portion, and applying pressure to the wire using a tensioner to reduce the distance between the first bone portion and the second bone portion. The excess wire beyond the cap can then be removed. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171404 | ENERGY GENERATING SYSTEMS FOR IMPLANTED MEDICAL DEVICES - Devices and systems for generating energy for powering implanted medical devices such as a pacemakers and defibrillators. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171405 | VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION METHOD - An implanted electrical signal generator delivers a novel exogenous electrical signal to a vagus nerve of a patient. The vagus nerve conducts action potentials originating in the heart and lungs to various structures of the brain, thereby eliciting a vagal evoked potential in those structures. The exogenous electrical signal simulates and/or augments the endogenous afferent activity originating from the heart and/or lungs of the patient, thereby enhancing the vagal evoked potential in the various structures of the brain. The exogenous electrical signal includes a series of electrical pulses organized or patterned into a series of microbursts including 2 to 20 pulses each. No pulses are sent between the microbursts. Each of the microbursts may be synchronized with the QRS wave portion of an ECG. The enhanced vagal evoked potential in the various structures of the brain may be used to treat various medical conditions including epilepsy and depression. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171406 | ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING SCAFFOLDS FOR CELL-BASED PACING - The invention provides a biological electrode including a first biocompatible polymer, an electrically conducting biocompatible polymer and mammalian donor cells and an electrical stimulation system for delivering electrical stimulation into target tissue including target cells. The system includes a biological electrode including an electrically conductive polymeric matrix and mammalian donor cells embedded in the electrically conductive polymeric matrix. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171407 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINIMIZING POST-INFARCT VENTRICULAR REMODELING - A cardiac rhythm management device for in which pre-excitation pacing is applied to one or more sites in proximity to an infarcted region of the ventricular myocardium. Such pacing servers to either prevent or minimize post-infarct remodeling. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171408 | Intra Cardiac Device, System And Methods - An intra cardiac device is disclosed. The device comprises means for transforming kinetic energy from heart tissue movement into electrical energy in use, from which electrical energy information in respect of heart function is obtainable. Furthermore, a system is disclosed, comprising one such intra cardiac device and at least one receiver, wherein the intra cardiac device comprises means of communication, through which said at least one device communicates with the receiver(s) wirelessly. In this way energy from heart movement provides self contained intra cardiac devices for conveniently monitoring or stimulating a patient's heart. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171409 | IMPLANTABLE DEVICE WITH VOLTAGE DELAY TEST - An implantable medical device (IMD), such as a defibrillator, performs a capacitor reform or other temporary high current mode, such as to maintain efficacy of a battery or a high voltage defibrillation energy storage capacitor in spite of non-use. Before performing the capacitor reform or other high current mode, a voltage delay test can be performed. A voltage delay can be declared when an initial battery voltage measurement is less than a later battery voltage measurement during a loaded condition such as the charging of the capacitor. If a voltage delay is present, the capacitor reform or other temporary high current mode is enabled, otherwise, the capacitor reform or other temporary high current mode is inhibited. This saves energy, increasing the life of the IMD before explant. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171410 | IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATOR PROGRAMMING VIA ELECTRODES - Apparatus is provided, including a control unit configured for implantation in a body of a subject. An electrode is coupled to the control unit. The control unit is configured to receive programming instructions via the electrode and to drive current into tissue of the subject via the electrode. Other embodiments are also described. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171411 | Method and System for Treating Acute Heart Failure by Neuromodulation - Methods and systems of treating acute heart failure by applying a therapy signal at least one sympathetic cardiopulmonary fiber surrounding the pulmonary trunk that affects heart contractility more than heart rate. Methods and systems also include adjusting the signal to effectuate treatment. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171412 | HANDLING IMPROPER DEVICE DATA IN IMPLANTABLE DEVICES - A system and method for handling data received from an implantable medical device (IMD) is provided. The method includes communicating a device parameter value of an IMD device parameter from the IMD to an external device and determining, at the external device, that the communicated device parameter value is at an improper value. Additionally, in response to the determining that the communicated device parameter value is at an improper value, automatically performing at least one of re-programming the IMD device parameter with a selected substitute device parameter value, ignoring, or purging non-programmable data. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171413 | IMPLANTABLE DEVICE, SYSTEM INCLUDING SAME, AND METHOD UTILIZING SAME - An implantable device. The implantable device includes a computing device, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) pH sensor connected to the computing device, and a communication system connected to the computing device. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171414 | INTERROGATION OF STORED DATA IN IMPLANTABLE DEVICES - A system and method is provided for receiving user input to perform an initial interrogation of an implantable medical device (IMD) using an external device. The initial interrogation commences a communication session between the IMD and the external device. During the initial interrogation, first data is transferred from the IMD to the external device and displayed at the external device. The first data comprises device configuration data of the IMD. During the initial interrogation, background transfer of second data from the IMD to the external device is initiated during or after the display of first data, without requiring a user request for the second data. The second data comprises historical physiological episode data. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171415 | COATED MEDICAL LEADS AND METHOD FOR PREPARATION THEREOF - An implantable medical device can be made more durable and long-lasting by providing a silane coating on at least a portion of a metal or metal alloy outer surface of an electrically conductive device, upon which silane coating is placed an insulating layer. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171416 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTUATING A LASTING CHANGE IN A NEURAL-FUNCTION OF A PATIENT - Methods and apparatus for treating an impaired neural function in a brain of a patient. In one embodiment, a method for treating a neural function in a brain of a patient includes determining a therapy period during which a plurality of therapy sessions are to be performed to recover functional ability corresponding to the neural function. The method continues by identifying a stimulation site in or on the brain of the patient associated with the neural function, and positioning an electrode at least proximate to the identified stimulation site. The patient is then treated by providing electrical stimulation treatments to the stimulation site. The treatment can comprise delivering electrical stimulation signals to the electrode during the therapy sessions. After expiration of the therapy period, the method includes preventing electrical stimulation signals from being delivered to the stimulation site. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171417 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR EMG-TRIGGERED NEUROMUSCULAR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION - A system and methods for EMG-triggered NMES include a display of a target reference signal indicator and an EMG signal indicator. The target reference signal may be automatically adjusted in a continuous manner over time until the detected EMG signal reaches the target reference signal. Once the EMG signal reaches the target reference signal, a stimulation signal is sent to stimulate the muscle or muscles to contract. The stimulation signal includes an exponentially increasing portion so as to minimize pain. The entire system may be controlled via a single control knob. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171418 | Apparatus for Non-Invasive Stimulation of an Animal - An apparatus for performing non-invasive stimulation of an animal's body, the apparatus comprising: a connector body having a conductor and a pair of stimulators electrically coupled to said conductor, the pair of stimulators being disposed on the connector body to allow the cutaneous surface of the animals body to be engaged therebetween. In use, a power source is electrically coupled to said conductor to transmit an electric current to the pair of stimulators to perform non-invasive stimulation on the animals body as current passes therethrough. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171419 | CAPACITOR REFORMATION METHOD AND DEVICE CONFIGURED TO PERFORM THE CAPACITOR REFORMATION METHOD - A method for reforming one or more capacitors in an implantable medical device includes the steps of determining a capacitor reformation time period using empirical capacitor charging data, configuring the programming module with capacitor reformation instructions that include the capacitor reformation voltage and time period, and in response to the capacitor reformation instructions, charging the capacitors for the capacitor reformation time period. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171420 | Housing for an Implantable Medical Device - An implantable medical device having a concave ceramic housing component; a concave metal housing component attached to the ceramic housing component to form a hermetically sealed enclosure; and an electronic trans-housing magnetic flux component disposed within the enclosure. Another aspect of the invention provides an implantable medical device having a ceramic housing component; a metal housing component; a circumferential sealing member attached to a periphery of the ceramic housing component and to a periphery of the metal housing component to form a hermetically sealed enclosure; and an electronic trans-housing magnetic flux component disposed within the enclosure. Still another aspect of the invention provides an implantable medical device with a first metal housing component; a second metal housing component, the second metal housing component forming an opening; a ceramic housing component disposed in the opening, the first metal housing component, the second metal housing component and the ceramic housing component cooperating to form a hermetically sealed enclosure; and an electronic trans-housing magnetic flux component disposed within the enclosure. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171421 | MRI-SAFE HIGH IMPEDANCE LEAD SYSTEMS - Some embodiments are directed to MRI/RF compatible medical interventional devices. A plurality of spaced apart high impedance circuit segments are configured to have a high impedance at a high range of radiofrequencies and a low impedance at a low range of frequencies The high impedance circuit segments may comprise co-wound coiled inductors and can reduce, block or inhibit RJ-transmission along the lead system ( | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171422 | Radiation treatment device - Embodiments include an apparatus, a medical device, a method and a system. The medical device includes an ellipsoidally-shaped reflector having a first focus and a second focus. The ellipsoidally-shaped reflector also provides a translational coupling of electromagnetic energy from the first focus to the second focus. The medical device also includes a controllable electromagnetic energy source aligned to emit a non-biologically emitted electromagnetic energy in a proximity to the first focus. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171423 | Head Orthosis - This invention relates to a head orthosis that fits about the head and radiates far-infrared radiation for activating the physiological conditions of the head. The head orthosis according to the invention comprises a radiator formed of a material containing a pulverized far-infrared radiating substance in a strip shape so as to come into retaining contact with at least a part of the temporal region of the head. The head orthosis having the radiator in contact with the temporal region of the head can irradiate the far infrared rays intensively to the temporal region of the head, while preventing the far-infrared rays from dispersing over the entire head, thereby to apply far-infrared radiation intensively to the head having the nerve tissues. Furthermore, since the radiator contains homogeneously pulverized far-infrared radiating substance, the far-infrared radiating area of the far-infrared radiating substance is made wide to prevent the interference of the far-infrared radiation, consequently to increase the amount of far-infrared radiation releasing from the far-infrared radiating substance. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171424 | RF DEVICE FOR HEATING BIOLOGICAL TISSUE USING A VIBRATING APPLICATOR - Apparatus and methods for treating biological tissue | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171425 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL LEAD AND METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF - A medically implantable lead configured for insertion into a human or animal body to be attached in the body with its distal end to tissue inside the body, as a rotatable helix at a distal end thereof that can be screwed into the tissue. The helix serves as an attachment of the lead to the tissue as well as a conductor for conducting electrical signals to the tissue through electrically conducting surfaces on the helix. The surfaces of the helix are partly insulated so as to restrict the conducting of signals between the helix and the tissue to desirable regions. The surfaces of the helix facing inwardly, toward an inner bore of the helix, are electrically insulated. In a method for manufacturing such a lead, the wire forming the helix has protrusions in desired areas and the wire including the protrusions is coated with an electrically insulating layer. The protrusions are uncovered from the insulating layer in desired regions. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171426 | RADIALLY EXPANDABLE STENT - An expandable stent radially adjustable between a collapsed state and an expanded state. The stent generally includes a main body and a plurality of connector segments. The main body has first and second ends, a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end, and a plurality of ring structures. Each of the plurality of connector segments joins adjacent ring structures. Some ring structures may be connected by a pair of diamond connector segments that define a diamond-shaped portion when the stent is in the expanded state. Some ring structures may be connected by flex connector segments oriented to permit rotation of the second ring structure about the longitudinal axis during radial expansion of the stent. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171427 | SEQUENTIAL IMPLANT DELIVERY SYSTEM - A method and device includes advancing a first stent and a second stent into a stenosed region of a blood vessel to protect or shield the vessel from possible blockage. The delivery device may include placement rings, selectively engagable by positioning members disposed on the outer wall of in inner catheter. The positioning members and the placement rings may be utilized to accurately place multiple stents within an afflicted vessel, in a single invasive procedure. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171428 | Deployment handle for an implant deployment device - A deployment handle ( | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171429 | ENDOVASCULAR DEVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM - An endovascular delivery system includes a bifurcated prosthesis disposed on a delivery device and a snare catheter having a snare opening system. A sheath is slidably disposed over at least a portion of the prosthesis and at least a portion of the snare catheter. One end of the snare catheter resides external to the prosthesis in the delivery system and the other end at least partially resides in a limb of the prosthesis. A snare mechanism is disposed within the snare catheter that is capable of forming a loop external to the snare catheter through the opening and snaring a guidewire for placement in a limb of the prosthesis. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171430 | BIFURCATION STENT DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHODS - A catheter assembly may include a main balloon arranged to reside within the main vessel, and a branch balloon configured to extend from the main vessel into the branch vessel. A stent may be situated around the main balloon and may include a branch aperture at a location between proximal and distal open ends of the stent. The branch balloon may extend from within the stent, through the branch aperture, and into the branch vessel. The branch balloon, when inflated, may extend into the branch vessel. The main balloon, when inflated, may also expand the stent within the main vessel. In some arrangements, the branch balloon, when inflated, can function as an anchor within the branch vessel that resists radial and axial movement of the stent relative to the branch vessel and main vessel during expansion of the stent by the main balloon. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171431 | Electrical Conduction Block Implant Device - The present invention provides an electrical block implant sized and shaped for securement at the perimeter of the pulmonary ostium of the left atrium. By utilizing various expandable ring designs and optional anchoring mechanisms, the present invention causes even, circular scarring around the perimeter of the pulmonary ostium, achieving reliable blocking of aberrant electrical signals responsible for atrial fibrillation. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171432 | STENT-VALVES FOR VALVE REPLACEMENT AND ASSOCIATED METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SURGERY - Stent-valves (e.g., single-stent-valves and double-stent-valves), associated methods and systems for their delivery via minimally-invasive surgery, and guide-wire compatible closure devices for sealing access orifices are provided. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171433 | CONTROL HANDLE - A delivery device for deploying an expandable prosthesis and method of use thereof are described. The delivery device comprises a handle that comprises a trigger. Activation of the trigger enables incremental retraction of the outer sheath to expose a self-expanding prosthesis. Activation and subsequent deactivation of the trigger causes a movable member to ratchedly engage with a stationary rack and a trigger rack. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171434 | PROSTHESIS LOADING DELIVERY AND DEPLOYMENT APPARATUS - Prosthesis loading and deploying systems include a capturing device with a proximal stent-engaging member and an elongate pulling member extending distally from the stent-engaging member. With a prosthesis or stent in a relaxed or enlarged-radius state, the pulling member is guided distally through a delivery catheter, pulling the stent-engaging member and prosthesis into the catheter lumen to progressively radially compress the prosthesis to a reduced-radius state. Simultaneously the distal end region of an elongate control device is maintained within a proximal region of the prosthesis, so that the prosthesis is compressed about the control device distal end region as these components enter the catheter. When the prosthesis is compressed about the control device, it tends to follow axial movement of the control device, thus to afford reliable positional control of the prosthesis inside the catheter by manipulating the control device. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171435 | IMPLANTABLE GRAFT DEVICE HAVING TREATED YARN AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME - An implantable graft device having treated yarn is disclosed. The device comprises a graft body forming a lumen defining a longitudinal axis and comprising proximal and distal ends. The graft body comprises a woven fabric having warp yarns aligned in a first direction and a weft yarns aligned in a second direction. At least one of the weft yarns and the warp yarns has an agent applied thereto defining treated yarns of the graft body. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171436 | GRAFTS AND STENT GRAFTS HAVING A RADIOPAQUE BEADING - A device and method provides a graft having a layer of synthetic non-metallic material including a first surface and a second surface spaced apart from the first surface. The device further includes a beading coupled to the layer and a radiopaque agent coupled to the beading. Another device and method provides a implantable prosthesis having a stent frame, a first inner layer and a second outer layer defining a central axis. The implantable prosthesis further includes a beading coupled to at least one the layers. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171437 | LOW PROFILE NON-SYMMETRICAL STENT - A stent for use in a medical procedure having opposing sets of curved apices, where the curved section of one set of apices has a radius of curvature that is greater than the curved section of the other set of apices. One or more such stents may be attached to a graft material for use in endovascular treatment of, for example, aneurysm, thoracic dissection, or other body vessel condition. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171438 | STENT HAVING LESS INVASIVE ENDS - The present examples provide a stent for use in a medical procedure that comprises at least one apex having first and second generally straight portions and a curved portion disposed between the first and second straight portions. The curved portion may comprise at least one region having a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the first and second straight portions, which may facilitate compression of the stent and insertion of the stent into smaller vessels. The stent may be used alone, or in conjunction with a stent-graft, and may comprise one or more barbs configured to engage an inner wall of a vessel or duct. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171439 | Temporary Stent - Temporary stent having a plurality of ring elements arranged adjacent to each other, with said stent being capable of being explanted after it has been implanted in a body lumen, with all ring elements ( | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171440 | WOVEN FABRIC WITH CARBON NANOTUBE STRANDS - A woven fabric for an implantable medical device includes a plurality of carbon nanotube strands interwoven with a plurality of textile strands, where each carbon nanotube strand comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes. An implantable medical device comprises a component and a fabric secured to the component, where the fabric includes a plurality of woven carbon nanotube strands, and each of the carbon nanotube strands comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171441 | ENDOVASCULAR GRAFT WITH SEPARATELY POSITIONABLE AND REMOVABLE FRAME UNITS - A device for repairing a vessel body including a plurality distinct and independently positionable, expandable frame units disposed within a tubular graft. The independent frame units are capable of being positioned, repositioned, or removed to conform the tubular graft to the anatomy of the vessel body. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171442 | Z-STENT WITH INCORPORATED BARBS - A stent constructed from at least two individual monolithic stent units is provided. The stent includes at least two individual stent units. Each individual stent unit has, as a monolithic structure, a first strut, a second strut, and a third strut. A first apex adjoins the first and second struts, and a second apex adjoining the second and third struts, where the second apex is disposed in a direction generally opposite the first apex. The monolithic stent unit includes an attachment mechanism at the end of at least the first strut. The first strut of each monolithic stent unit is joined at an attachment point to the third strut of an adjacent monolithic stent unit. The attachment mechanism is bent to form an angle relative to the attachment point. A method of manufacturing the same stent also is provided. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171443 | STENT GRAFT HAVING FLOATING YARNS - An implantable graft device is disclosed. The device comprises a graft body forming a lumen defining a longitudinal axis and comprising proximal and distal ends. The graft body comprises a woven fabric having warp yarns aligned in a first direction and weft yarns aligned in a second direction. The weft yarns are woven with the warp yarns. A portion of the warp yarns along the longitudinal axis of the graft body are not interwoven with the weft yarns, defining floating yarns having loops aligned in one of the first direction and the second direction. The device further comprises an expandable stent disposed circumferentially about the longitudinal axis and received through the loops of the floating yarns to attach the stent to the graft body. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171444 | Two-Stage Scar Generation for Treating Atrial Fibrillation - The present invention seeks to provide an implant configured to utilize at least two different scar-generating mechanisms that are generated in sequential or overlapping stages. For example, in one embodiment the present invention provides an expandable device that can be positioned at a desired target location within a patient to generate mechanical ablation damage. After a predetermined amount of mechanical ablation has occurred, additional ablation damage is generated by a different source, such as energy delivery, drug delivery, or inflammatory material delivery. In this respect, the overall ablation scarring can be better controlled by utilizing the ablation techniques that are most appropriate at specific phases of a technique or locations within a patient. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171445 | Electrical Conduction Block Implant Device - The present invention provides an electrical block implant sized and shaped for securement at the perimeter of the pulmonary ostium of the left atrium. By utilizing various expandable ring designs and optional anchoring mechanisms, the present invention causes even, circular scarring around the perimeter of the pulmonary ostium, achieving reliable blocking of aberrant electrical signals responsible for atrial fibrillation. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171446 | LOW PROFILE STENT WITH FLEXIBLE LINK - The invention provides an improved stent design for repairing vasculature, the stent having rings including struts defining first peaks and second peaks, selected second peaks of adjacent rings being connected by links. The stent design incorporates non-linear links with undulating portions extending generally perpendicular to or circumferentially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the stent and adjacent first peaks with different longitudinal lengths such that stent flexibility is increased without sacrificing stent compression for delivery. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171447 | STENT-VALVES FOR VALVE REPLACEMENT AND ASSOCIATED METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SURGERY - Stent-valves (e.g., single-stent-valves and double-stent-valves), associated methods and systems for their delivery via minimally-invasive surgery, and guide-wire compatible closure devices for sealing access orifices are provided. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171448 | Implantable device with miniature rotating portion for energy harvesting - A miniature rotating portion, anchored to and used within the human body. Optionally and preferably, the device may be used to generate energy for sensors or other implantable devices. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171449 | STENT FORMED FROM POLYMER-BIOCERAMIC COMPOSITE WITH RADIOPAQUE BIOCERAMIC PARTICLES - Implantable medical devices fabricated at least in part of a polymer-bioceramic composite having bioceramic particles with radiopaque functional groups grafted to a surface of the bioceramic particles are disclosed. Implantable medical devices fabricated at least in part of a radiopaque material having bioceramic particles with polymer chains grafted onto a surface of the bioceramic particles, the radiopaque functional groups being chemically bonded to the grafted polymer chains, are disclosed. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171450 | Woven Textile Vascular Prosthesis - A woven textile vascular prosthesis including a tubular trunk and at least one fork, each fork having an apex located between outgoing tubular branches with a small diameter, wherein at least a portion of a wall of the prosthesis in a zone of the apex is woven more densely than in other zones having an original weave construction. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171451 | IMPLANTABLE DEVICE HAVING COMPOSITE WEAVE - An implantable device having a composite weave graft is disclosed. The device comprises a graft body forming a lumen defining a longitudinal axis and comprising proximal and distal ends. The graft body comprises a composite of low dernier yarns and polymeric yarns configured for low profile delivery and radial elongation relative to the longitudinal axis during use. The graft body has a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion. The first portion comprises at least one expandable stent radially attached thereto for support and the second portion having corrugations for enhanced kink resistance. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171452 | Magnesium-Based Biodegradable Metallic Material - As a novel biodegradable metallic material the degradation speed of which in vivo can be controlled over a broad scope while achieving desired mechanical properties such as strength, work hardening and ductility without restricting the shape of an implant device, it is intended to provide a magnesium-based biodegradable metallic material which comprises Mg containing Mg as the major composition and having a concentration of inevitable impurities equal to or less than 0.05 atomic %, is free from precipitates or intermetallic compounds, and has an average grain size being regulated to equal to or less than ¼ of the minimum part of the material. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171453 | Drug Coated Stent Having a Surface Treatment and Method of Manufacturing - Drug coated stents for implantation in a body vessel are provided. A stent can include a plasma treatment on the luminal surface and a protein-adherence deterring layer on at least a portion of the luminal surface. A further embodiment includes a method of manufacturing a drug coated stent. Another further embodiment includes a method of treating a vascular condition with a drug coated stent. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171454 | COATED STENT AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE - The present embodiments provide a coated stent for use in a medical procedure that comprises a coating and a stent disposed over the coating. The stent has a first expanded state in which an inner diameter of the stent is less than or equal to an outer diameter of the coating, thereby causing an inner surface of the stent to engage the outer surface of the coating. The stent may comprise a shape-memory material that is preconfigured to expand to the first expanded state. In one example, the stent may be temporarily held in a second expanded state having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the coating, placed over the coating in the second expanded state, and then allowed to return to the first expanded state to engage the coating. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171455 | BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS - According to an aspect of the present invention, polymers that have a plurality of well defined polymer segments linked by disulfide linkages are provided. When these disulfide linkages are broken, multiple smaller polymers of lower molecular weight are produced. According to another aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided that contain polymers that have a plurality of well defined polymer segments linked by disulfide linkages. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171456 | Percutaneous heart valve, system, and method - Devices, systems, and methods are provided to treat diseased cardiac valves. The device includes a percutaneous heart valve having an expandable valve frame including valve frame members, a valve leaflet coupled to the valve frame, and an expandable stent anchoring frame coupled to the valve frame including stent frame members defining a first portion and a second portion having greater flexibility than the first portion, where the first portion and the valve frame define a length, and where the stent frame members and the valve frame members along the length provide a contiguous surface over which a delivery device can repeatedly slide over the length in its entirety in two longitudinal directions when the first portion and the valve frame are in a partially expanded state during delivery from the delivery device. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171457 | APPARATUS FOR RESTORING AORTIC VALVE AND TREATMENT METHOD USING THEREOF - The present invention is an apparatus designed to effectuate restoration of normal aortic valvular function where there is aortic valvular regurgitation either primary or secondary to diseases of the aorta such as aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, rheumatic aortic disease annuloaortic ectasia and etc. is present. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171458 | INTRAOCULAR LENS WITH ACCOMMODATION - An accommodating intraocular implant apparatus is disclosed for implantation in the human eye. The apparatus includes an optic portion having a periphery and an optic axis, said optic portion lying substantially within an optic plane transverse to said optic axis; at least one flexible haptic extending from a point on or near the periphery of the optic portion; at least one flexible haptic having a fixation anchor portion distal to the periphery of the optic portion; and at least one flexible haptic having a centering anchor portion. The fixation anchor portion and the centering anchor portion are adapted to couple to a portion of the eye. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171459 | COATING SOLUTIONS COMPRISING SEGMENTED REACTIVE BLOCK COPOLYMERS - This invention is directed toward surface treatment of a device. The surface treatment comprises the attachment of reactive segmented block copolymers to the surface of the substrate by means of reactive functionalities of the terminal functionalized surfactant material reacting with complementary surface reactive functionalities in monomeric units along the polymer substrate. The present invention is also directed to a surface modified medical device, examples of which include contact lenses, intraocular lenses, vascular stents, phakic intraocular lenses, aphakic intraocular lenses, corneal implants, catheters, implants, and the like, comprising a surface made by such a method. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171460 | ELECTROMECHANICAL SPEECH AID - An electromechanical system for the stimulating of vibration of biological tissue, particularly of the human throat tissue, is provided with an electromechanical converter ( | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171461 | SPINAL IMPLANTS AND METHODS - Spinal implants are disclosed that can be used for annular repair, facet unloading, disc height preservation, disc decompression, or for sealing a portal through which a nucleus an intervertebral implant was placed. In some embodiments, an implant is placed within the intervertebral disc space, primarily within the region of the annulus fibrosus. In some embodiments, the implant is expandable. In some embodiments, the implant has a sealing tail structure comprising a tail flange and a linkage. In some embodiments, the sealing tail structure limits the extrusion or expulsion of disc material, either annulus fibrosus or nucleus, into the posterior region of the spine where it could impinge on nerves. In some embodiments, the tail structure is retained in place within the annulus fibrosus by means of an anchor. In some embodiments, the anchor is constructed from multiple components. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171462 | HUMERAL COMPONENT OF A SHOULDER JOINT PROSTHESIS - A humeral component of a reverse shoulder prosthesis includes a stem part configured for location within the intramedullary cavity of the humerus, the stem part having a stem axis, an epiphyseal part connected to the elongate stem part and having a concave bearing surface defining an epiphyseal axis, and wherein the epiphyseal axis is offset posteriorly relative to the stem axis. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171463 | Arthrodesis module and method for providing a patient with an arthrodesis - An endoprothetical connection element for creating a knee arthrodesis comprises a coupling element that comprises a first fastener and a second fastener. The first fastener is adapted for connection with a first fastening element corresponding to the first fastener that is provided at a shaft insertable into a femur of a patient. The second fastener is adapted for connection with a second fastening element corresponding to the second fastener that is provided at a shaft insertable into a tibia of the patient. The coupling element is formed such that a first longitudinal axis of the femoral shaft connected to the first fastener and a second longitudinal axis of the tibial shaft connected to the second fastener include an angle different from 180 degrees which, when implanted into the body of the patient, is lying in a coronal plane of the patient. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171464 | JOINT SOCKET FOR A HIP ENDOPROSTHESIS - The joint socket of a hip endoprosthesis consists of a socket shell ( | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171465 | Polymeric Regions For Implantable Or Insertable Medical Devices - According to one aspect, the present invention is directed to implantable or insertable medical devices which comprise polymeric regions that comprise high vinyl acetate content EVA (or another soft polymer) and a therapeutic agent. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to implantable or insertable medical devices which comprise (a) a first region comprising a first EVA and (b) a second region adjacent to the first region that is of lower durometer than the first region. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171466 | Aspheric hip bearing couple - A joint prosthesis device comprises a head configured to fit within a cup and in one embodiment includes a first member for attachment to a first bone in a joint and including a first articulation surface portion defined by a first radius of curvature and a second member for attachment to a second bone in the joint and including a second articulation surface portion defined by a second radius of curvature and a third articulation surface defined by a third radius of curvature, wherein each of the second radius of curvature and the third radius of curvature has a length that is different from the length of the first radius of curvature by less than 0.05 millimeters and wherein the origin of the second radius of curvature is not coincident with the origin of the third radius of curvature. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171467 | IMPLANTABLE CARTILAGINOUS TISSUE REPAIR DEVICE - A cartilaginous tissue repair device with a biocompatible, bioresorbable three-dimensional silk or other fibre lay and a biocompatible, bioresorbable substantially porous silk-based or other hydrogel partially or substantially filling the interstices of the fibre lay; with or without an integral means of firmly anchoring the device to a patient's bone. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171468 | CONTROL OF A PASSIVE PROSTHETIC KNEE JOINT WITH ADJUSTABLE DAMPING - The invention relates to the control of a passive prosthetic knee joint with adjustable damping in the direction of flexion such that a prosthetic unit attached to the knee joint can be adapted for climbing stairs. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171469 | INTELLIGENT ORTHOSIS - An orthotic frame has proximal and distal frame members joined by a knee joint, and a foot support joined by an ankle joint to a distal end of the distal frame. A knee actuator connected between the proximal and distal frame members has a selective stiffness allowing selection of a relatively rigid stiffness during stance and a relatively flexible stiffness during swing. The stiffness of the knee actuator is selected according to the gait cycle, either mechanically according to dorsal flexion of the ankle joint or electronically according to gait cycle phases recognized based on read sensor data. An ambulatory unit gathers data from sensors located on the orthotic frame. Sensor data may be provided to a base unit for diagnostic and biomechanical evaluation, or evaluated by the ambulatory unit to control active components of the orthotic frame according to the recognized gait cycle phases for functional compensation. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171470 | Knee joint prosthesis - A knee joint for a leg prosthesis comprising an upper joint part ( | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171471 | MONITORING AND CONTROL APPARATUS FOR COMPUTER NUMERICAL CONTROL MACHINES - A monitoring and control apparatus for monitoring and controlling computer numerical control (CNC) machines. The monitoring and control apparatus includes a monitoring and control device, a movement control card, and a movement control daughter card. The movement control daughter card is connected between the movement control card and a movable portion of the CNC machine so the movement control card controls the movable portion of the CNC machine using the movement control daughter card. The movement control daughter card includes a plurality of movement signal interfaces, a microprocessor, and a wireless transmitter. The plurality of movement signal interfaces are connected to the CNC machine to receive a plurality of status signals from the CNC machine. The microprocessor is for storing the status signals. The wireless transmitter is for transmitting the status signals from the microprocessor to the monitoring and control device. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171472 | SAFETY MASTER - A safety master configured to communicate with a plurality of safety slaves over a safety field network or with a plurality of safety local I/O units connected by a safety back plane bus of the safety master, wherein each of the plurality of safety slaves and safety local I/O units allow connection to safety I/O devices in a plurality of cell equipment, and wherein the safety master receives a status signal indicating a “safe state” or an “unsafe state” related to cell equipment from each of the corresponding plurality of safety slaves or safety local I/O units, and controls operation/stop of cell equipment by executing an interlock operation program with the received status signal as an input to output an operation instruction signal. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171473 | STORAGE SYSTEM, STORAGE SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD AND STORAGE SYSTEM CONTROL APPARATUS - A storage system includes a housing, a cooling unit cooling the interior of the housing, and a plurality of control units adapted to control the cooling unit. The control units each include a mount state acquisition unit acquiring a mount state of the control unit in the housing, an operation state acquisition unit acquiring an operation state of the cooling unit, and a determining unit determining a provisional main control unit, from among the plurality of control units, that is operable to control the entire cooling unit based on information acquired from the mount state acquisition unit and the operation state acquisition unit. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171474 | METHOD, COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM, AND SYSTEM FOR DISCOVERY AND REGISTRATION OF CONTROLLED DEVICES ASSOCIATED WITH SELF-DESCRIBING MODULES - A system, method, and computer-readable medium for the discovery and registration of controlled devices associated with self-describing Modules in a control system are provided. A controlled device associated with a self-describing module is coupled with a master controller on which the self-describing module is installed. A remote monitoring system is communicatively coupled with the master controller, and a remote monitoring system agent is installed on the master controller. The agent discovers a Module associated with the controlled device and queries the Module for a version thereof. The agent then evaluates whether the Module is self-describing. In the event the Module is self-describing, the agent requests a run-time capabilities object from the Module and registers the controlled device with the remote monitoring system according to the capabilities object. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171475 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM FOR DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF SELF-DESCRIBING CONTROLLED DEVICE MODULES IN A CONTROL SYSTEM - A system, method, and computer-readable medium for configuring a controlled device in a control system are provided. A self-describing device Module associated with a controlled device provides capabilities of a controlled device both at runtime and before installation. The controlled device Module includes a capabilities component that, when queried, provides a description of the controlled device's capabilities both as a capabilities object that can be queried at runtime and in a self-describing capabilities file implemented in an XML format prior to operational configuration of the Module or controlled device. The Module is configured to generate its runtime capabilities object and self-describing capabilities file. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171476 | Control System for Production Machine - A system for controlling cyclic production machines (CPMs) includes a control processor linked to a plurality of controllers. One or more controllers, some of which may also serve as controllers of dispensing and dosing devices feeding the CPM with materials, are coupled to a CPM. An operator interface supporting one or more user stations provides for displaying data to a user. Each controller is linked at least to a timing unit of a respective CPM. One or more sensors whose signals provide indications as to the working parameters of the CPM are further linked to a controller. Gathered signals are temporarily stored in respective controllers to be further transferred to, processed and stored in, the control processor. Working parameters are associated with characteristic profiles and/or statistics to be further stored in the control processor. A user of a CPM may examine the history of a working parameter, the current and/or stored characteristic profiles and statistics; correlate between profiles and/or statistics of different parameters or related to different times. The user may adjust the configuration parameters of the CPM and/or the respective dispensing and dosing devices, such that the current characteristic profile or statistics conform with a pre-stored characteristic profile and/or statistics. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171477 | LASER GENERATED SYNTHETIC MEGA SCALE APERTURE FOR SOLAR ENERGY CONCENTRATION AND HARNESSING - Systems and methods are described that employ high-intensity lasers to set up a thin plasma sheet, also called a waveguide or “hot shell”, in the atmosphere as a function of beam intensity and geometry. A laser beam can be spread and directed with physical optics (e.g., lenses, mirrors, other optical elements, etc.) to generate a thin inverted cone-shaped hot shell waveguide in the atmosphere. The hot shell of the waveguide has a different index of refraction (n) from that of the surrounding air layers and as such serves to internally reflect portions of the entering solar rays entering an aperture in the hot shell, toward the tip of the cone and a solar energy storage component positioned there, thus providing a virtual solar energy concentration system. In another embodiment, the solar energy storage component shuts down or otherwise rejects incoming solar energy when fully charged, to mitigate damage to system components. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171478 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE - A system, method and apparatus for controlling an electrical device are provided. At least one image of at least one moving entity is processed, for determining if the at least one moving entity is at least one of entering and exiting a monitored area, and for determining if the at least one moving entity comprises at least one triggering shape. If the at least one moving entity is determined to be at least one of entering and exiting the monitored area, and the at least one moving entity comprises the at least one triggering shape, then control of the electrical device is triggered and a counter for counting triggering shapes present in the monitored area is triggered. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171479 | Plant Control System - A plant control system includes at least one control apparatus, and an engineering apparatus for changing a security state of the control apparatus. The control apparatus includes: a security management part for accepting a security level change request downloaded from the engineering apparatus and changing a security level of the control apparatus by referring to a password held by the control apparatus; and a change permission part for permitting a change in the security level by the security management part. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171480 | FULLY AUTOMATED, COMPUTER-AIDED INTERVENTION APPARATUS WITH OPERATIONAL STABILIZATION APPARATUS FOR MALFUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATE METHOD - The invention proposes a fully automated, computer-aided intervention apparatus ( | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171481 | AUTOMATED ABNORMAL MACHINE TRACKING AND NOTIFYING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An automated abnormal machine tracking and notifying method includes automatically collecting and analyzing a plurality of test results to obtain a plurality of abnormal information, storing the abnormal information in a machine status database, respectively counting an integral value of each abnormal information of at least a related potentially abnormal machine, judging whether a sum of the integral values of each potentially abnormal machine is greater than n, and automatically notifying at least a user of the potentially abnormal machine and the abnormal information by an automatic notification subsystem when the sum of the integral values is greater than n. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171482 | ATTACHMENT CONTROLLER - A controller for a power machine attachment. The controller includes a computing device, a memory, and at least one sensor. The memory is programmed with an application program specific to the type of attachment, and operating parameters specific to planned use of the attachment. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171483 | OPERATOR CONTROL UNIT AND METHOD FOR ASSIGNING AN ON-SCREEN DISPLAY TO A SOFTKEY BUTTON - An operator control unit for operating a machine tool, a production machine, a crane and/or a robot, includes a screen, softkey buttons and an operating button. The operator control unit is designed such that on invoking an on-screen display, the invoked on-screen display is displayed. A user menu is displayed by pressing the operating button, and, by pressing a softkey button for a certain length of time, the softkey button pressed in this manner is assigned to the invoked on-screen. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171484 | SELF-DESCRIBING DEVICE MODULE AND SYSTEM AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF - A system, method, and computer-readable medium for generation of a controlled device Module are provided. Various components are provided to a Module designer for selection, and the designer defines the interface APIs specifying the component functionalities. The designer may specify custom commands or events for the Module including Commands, Properties, and Parameters, and custom components corresponding to the custom commands are generated. A self-describing capabilities component is then generated for each component, and a composite capabilities component may then be generated from the capabilities components of each of the components. The completed Module package is then produced by an integrated development environment station. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171485 | Segmenting a Humming Signal Into Musical Notes | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171486 | PERSONAL MESSAGING DEVICE WITH VISUAL INDICATORS - The present invention relates to a personal recorder with indicator lights corresponding to each channel with visual indicators to see if there is a message on each channel. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171487 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SYNCHRONIZING PLAYING OF AN ORDERED LIST OF AUDITORY CONTENT ON MULTIPLE PLAYBACK DEVICES - A method, system and program product for synchronizing playing of a playlist on multiple audio devices. The method includes installing code on multiple audio devices connected to a network, the code being configured to synchronize playing of a playlist on the devices, and configuring, using the code, one device as a primary device for synchronizing playing of the files in the playlist on the other devices located in multiple locations. Further, the method includes communicating data corresponding to a current state of the primary device to each secondary device that is to play the playlist in synchronization with the primary device, synchronizing, using data communicated by the primary device, a current state of the secondary device that is to play the file, and playing the playlist on the secondary device, such that the secondary device plays the playlist at a same time in synchronization with the primary device. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171488 | EXTENDING DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT AND AUTHENTICATION TO AUDIO SPEAKERS - A system and method for playing audio material is described. The audio material is illustratively downloaded from a network, or from a storage media, each coupled to a loudspeaker through a speaker drive unit. A speaker authorization signal is provided to the speaker drive unit from the network or storage media. The speaker drive unit provides an audio signal to the loudspeaker if the authorization signal indicates that the loudspeaker is authorized to play the audio material. The speaker drive unit does not provide an audio signal to the loudspeaker if the authorization signal indicates that the loudspeaker is not authorized to play the audio material. The system and method includes a monitoring unit to furnish a signal indicating the sound generated by the loudspeaker, to be stored, and to determine whether the loudspeaker has played the audio material. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171489 | INTERCHANGEABLE DRIVE ELEMENT FOR BOTTLE OR CONTAINER SUPPORTS IN A CONTAINER LABELING MACHINE OR A MACHINE CONFIGURED TO PRINT INFORMATION ON BOTTLES OR CONTAINERS, WHICH INTERCHANGEABLE DRIVE ELEMENT IS CAPABLE OF BEING USED IN DIFFERENT CONTAINER LABELING OR CONTAINER INFORMATION PRINTING MACHINES IN BOTTLE OR CONTAINER FILLING PLANTS - An interchangeable drive element for bottle or container supports in a container labeling machine or a machine configured to print information on bottles or containers, which interchangeable drive element is capable of being used in different container labeling or container information printing machines in bottle or container filling plants. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72( | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171490 | IDENTIFICATION OF ENGINEERING INTENT REQUIREMENTS IN AN ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENT - Engineering requirements are defined in an electronic environment. In one embodiment, a method includes providing at least one of a set of master requirements and a set of version requirements to be applied to the electronic product definition, and referencing an electronic reference document from at least one of the set of master requirements and the set of version requirements, the electronic reference document including one or more particular engineering requirements to be applied to the electronic product definition. Alternately, a method includes defining a callout linked to the at least one of the set of master requirements and the set of version requirements, the callout being adapted to supersede a conflicting engineering requirement set forth in at least one of the set of master requirements and the set of version requirements. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171491 | Rotor Assembly System and Method - A system for assembling a rotor stack having a plurality of rotor disks may include a measurement system for measuring characteristics of the rotor disks, a computer electronically connected to the measurement system for capturing data from the measurement system, and solid modeling software for creating a virtual stack of the rotor disks optimized for concentricity. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171492 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING SETUPS DURING TEST, MARK AND PACK OPERATIONS - A method includes determining production targets for devices of different types in a production line. A queue level of devices of a first type that have completed performance of a first operation configured in accordance with a first setup state in the production line and await performance of a second operation in the production line is determined. Based on the determined queue level, a second type of device is selected for subsequent processing in the first operation based on the production targets and a setup time associated with configuring the first operation from the first setup state to a second setup state associated with the second type of device. The first operation is configured in accordance with the second setup state for processing devices of the second type. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171493 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMANCE BASED PRODUCTION SCHEDULING AND DISPATCHING - Execution control systems for optimizing the efficiency of manufacturing processes are described in this application. For example, an execution management system may optimize IC processes and scheduling by analyzing a number of desired metrics along with system constraints, such as tool availability, tool reliability, etc, along with information from conventional processing tools such as APC and SPC. The optimized processing schedule may then be implemented in real-time and updated with new process requests and current information relating to tools and other metrics, thereby reducing human interaction and inefficiency. Other embodiments are also described in this application. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171494 | CONCEPT FOR MONITORING THE MANUFACTURE OF OBJECTS CONSISTING OF MULTIPLE MATERIAL LAYERS - The manufacture of an object consisting of multiple material layers successively built up one upon the other can be monitored in an advantageous manner in that after the application of a material layer, a height profile of a circumference of the object is established, such that after the application of each material layer, a comparison with a reference information can be used for evaluating whether the preceding production step delivered a result which enables to draw the conclusion of a faultless application of the material layer. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171495 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING STATUSES OF WAFERS - A method of controlling statuses of a plurality of wafers is described. A status of a wafer among the wafers is determined. An action related to the status is taken, according to the status determined, to the wafer and/or other wafers to improve a yield or yields thereof. | 2009-07-02 |
| 20090171496 | Knitting Structure Model Generating Program, Knitting Structure Model Generating Device and Knitting Structure Model Generating Method - A knitting structure model is generated from knitting structure data represented by specific symbols so that an individual can easily imagine what type of knit fabric will be knitted. A knitting structure data acquiring portion ( | 2009-07-02 |
