39th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 60 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110237885 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM COMPRISING CALIBRATION MEANS AND CALIBRATION METHOD THEREOF - An electronic endoscope system includes a light source device for emitting light and an electronic endoscope having a phosphor for producing white light with which a subject tissue in a body cavity is illuminated by causing the light to hit the phosphor as excitation light, and an image sensor for outputting image data of an image obtained by photoelectric conversion of reflected light of the white light illuminating the subject tissue, a wavelength detector for detecting a wavelength of the light, a calculator for calculating a wavelength shift amount which is a difference between a wavelength detected and a preset reference wavelength, a first correction unit for correcting a light amount of the light according to the calculated wavelength shift amount, and a second correction unit for correcting the gain in photoelectric conversion by the image sensor. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237886 | IMAGING UNIT AND ENDOSCOPE - An imaging unit includes an objective optical system, an image sensor, a cover glass, a prism, and a heat conduction portion. The objective optical system imports light of an image of a subject. The image sensor forms an image of the light and outputs an imaging signal. The cover glass is provided on an imaging surface of the image sensor and seals the image sensor air-tightly. The prism is disposed between the objective optical system and the cover glass so as to guide the light from the objective optical system to the imaging surface. The heat conduction portion touches the prism and extends from the prism towards the image sensor so as to transmit heat of the image sensor to the prism. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237887 | INTERNAL BODY OBSERVATION DEVICE - The invention relates to an internal body observation device which includes an ordinary observation light source, an ordinary observation irradiation optical system, a special observation light source, a special observation irradiation optical system, an observation optical system for transmitting the light from an observation target, a detection means configured to detect the light transmitted from the observation optical system as a detection signal, and a processing unit for separating the detection signal in the respective light sources and making the detection signal into images, wherein the light from any one of the ordinary observation light source and the special observation light source is modulated, and the modulated light can be radiated to the observation target together with the light from the other light source, and the detection signal detected by the detection means is separated by the processing unit based on the frequency of the modulation. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237888 | GUIDE TUBE FOR GUIDING ENDOSCOPE OR SURGICAL TOOL IN OR INTO BODY CAVITY - In order to secure a path of insertion for an insertion rod | 2011-09-29 |
20110237889 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope which has an insertion portion which is provided with a distal end portion and a bendable bending portion at a distal end side and is inserted into a body cavity of a subject, a relative position calculation section which calculates a relative position of the distal end portion in the body cavity to the subject, a selection section which selects a search method corresponding to the position detected from a plurality of search methods for searching for a bending direction of the bending portion, based on the calculated relative position, a bending direction determination section which determines the bending direction of the bending portion according to the selected search method, and a bending drive section which bends and drives the bending portion based on the determined bending direction. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237890 | MODULAR AND COOPERATIVE MEDICAL DEVICES AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to modular medical devices, including various devices with detachable modular components and various devices with pivotally attached modular components. Additional embodiments relate to procedures in which various of the devices are used cooperatively. Certain embodiments of the medical devices are robotic in vivo devices. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237891 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope includes a curving operation portion which performs a curving operation of a curving portion by rotating around a pivot shaft in a first rotation direction and in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction from a neutral position where the curving portion is in a non-curved neutral state, a first operation wire which is pulled by the curving operation in the curving operation portion to curve the curving portion in the second curving direction, and a second operation wire which is pulled by the curving operation in the curving operation portion to curve the curving portion in the first curving direction. The endoscope includes a wire crossing portion in which the second operation wire crosses the first operation wire, and a movement regulating portion which regulates the movement of the wire crossing portion from within the operation portion into the insertion portion. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237892 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR COLOR ENDOSCOPY - Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method according to the present disclosure are provided. For example, an apparatus for providing electromagnetic radiation to a structure can be provided. The exemplary apparatus can include a first arrangement having at least two wave-guides which can be configured to provide there through at least two respective electro-magnetic radiations with at least partially different wavelengths from one another. The exemplary apparatus can also include a dispersive second arrangement structured to receive the electro-magnetic radiations and forward at least two dispersed radiations associated with the respective electro-magnetic radiations to at least one section of the structure. The wave-guide(s) can be structured and/or spatially arranged with respect to the dispersive arrangement to facilitate at least partially overlap of the dispersed radiations on the structure. In addition, another arrangement can be provided which can include at least two further wave-guides which can be configured to receive the electro-magnetic radiations from the dispersive arrangement. Each of the further wave-guides can be structured and/or spatially arranged with respect to the dispersive arrangement to facilitate a receipt of a different one of the such electro-magnetic radiations as a function of wavelengths thereof. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237893 | ILLUMINATION DEVICE AND ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - An illumination device ( | 2011-09-29 |
20110237894 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - To provide an endoscope apparatus in which the observation image can be varied continuously as the observation magnification is varied by a zoom magnification varying manipulation so that an observation image suitable for an endoscope diagnosis is obtained at each observation magnification, and to thereby prevent the operator from feeling uncomfortable and increase the accuracy of a diagnosis. An endoscope apparatus is equipped with illuminating unit having plural light sources which generate light beams having different spectra, for illuminating an observation subject; imaging unit for imaging the observation subject; observation magnification varying unit for varying observation magnification of the imaging of the imaging unit; and light quantity ratio varying unit for continuously varying an emission light quantity ratio between the plural light sources according to the observation magnification that is set by the observation magnification varying unit. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237895 | IMAGE CAPTURING METHOD AND APPARATUS - An image capturing apparatus which includes a light projection unit for projecting light of a different wavelength range emitted from each of a plurality of light sources onto an observation area administered with a fluorescent agent, an imaging unit for receiving light emitted from the observation area irradiated with each light to capture an image corresponding to each light, and a light intensity ratio change unit for changing the light intensity ratio of light emitted from each of the light sources. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237896 | ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE WITH INTRINSIC SUCTION & ENDOTRACHEAL SUCTION CONTROL VALVE - An improved endotracheal tube providing a built in suction channel for the removal of excessive secretions from the lumen of said tube and the tracheobronchial system is disclosed. Control valves for regulating the suction feature are also disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the endotracheal tube includes an additional suction channel, an above-the-cuff suction channel adapted to remove secretions above the cuff outside the endotracheal tube and within the trachea. Additionally, in at least one embodiment, the endotracheal tube is configured for use with an endoscope for videolaryngoscopy, and the like. Furthermore, in at least one embodiment, an improved technology for the administration of medications within the tracheobronchial system is disclosed. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237897 | Endoscope Structures And Techniques For Navigating To A Target In Branched Structure - Systems and methods employing a small gauge steerable catheter ( | 2011-09-29 |
20110237898 | LATERAL ACCESS SYSTEM FOR THE LUMBAR SPINE - A minimally invasive dilation device includes a plurality of rigid arms radially arrayed about a center and a dilating member positioned between the arms. A stylus may occupy the center. An outer flexible sleeve may be circumferentially secured to the arms, lying within or without the plurality of arms. An inner mesh may surround the stylus and dilating member. The device may be introduced into tissue toward a targeted area, while in a closed configuration. The dilating member may be a balloon, wherein upon inflation of the balloon, the arms are pushed radially outward, expanding the device and dilating the surrounding tissue. The dilating member may be a tube, wherein upon insertion of the tube, the arms are pushed radially outward. A cannula may be inserted inside the plurality of arms to keep the arms in an open configuration, and the dilating member may be withdrawn, providing an open passageway through the device to the targeted area. The device may be used with a neural monitoring system. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237899 | PORTAL APPARATUS WITH A FINGER SEAL ASSEMBLY - A surgical portal assembly includes a portal member defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passageway for passage of a surgical object, and being dimensioned to pass through tissue to provide access via the longitudinal passageway to an underlying operative site and a plurality of object seals in mechanical cooperation with the portal member and positioned to intersect the longitudinal passageway. Each object seal has inner surfaces defining a seal passage to permit passage of the surgical object. The inner seal surfaces of each object seal include a primary finger segment and secondary finger segments on opposed sides of, and in spaced relation to, the primary finger segments. The primary finger segment and the secondary finger segments depend inwardly relative to the seal passage with adjacent object seals being angularly displaced relative to each other through an arc of rotation about the longitudinal axis whereby the primary finger segments and the secondary finger segments of respective object seals at least partially overlap and cooperate to establish a substantial sealed relation with the surgical object. The object seals may each include a tertiary finger segment on opposed sides of, and in spaced relation to, the secondary finger segments. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237900 | PORTAL APPARATUS WITH A TUBULAR SEAL DEVICE - A surgical portal apparatus includes a portal housing, a portal member, and an elongated seal mounted within the portal housing. The portal housing defines a housing opening for reception of a surgical object and the portal member extends from the portal housing. The elongated seal includes an outer wall segment and an inner seal segment. The outer wall segment has first and second ends that are mechanically coupled to the portal housing. The inner seal segment is disposed within the outer wall segment and depends radially inwardly relative to the longitudinal axis. The inner seal segment has inner surfaces that define a seal passage and is adapted to establish a substantial sealed relation with the surgical object. The outer wall segment includes a flexible material to permit deflection of the outer wall segment and corresponding movement of the inner seal segment in at least a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237901 | Trocar - A surgical access device, such as a trocar, is described. The trocar includes a first housing member selectively coupled to a second housing member, such as with a latching assembly, and a seal which can be compressed when the housing members are coupled together, the seal for preventing or reducing transverse escape of insufflation gas or other fluid from between the coupled together first and second members. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237902 | Examination Apparatus - An apparatus and method for an examination apparatus that includes a manually movable structure having a first movement from a free state to a compressed state and a second reversing movement from the compressed state to the free state. Also included is a plurality of fingers that are disposed adjacent to the structure. The fingers having a stowed state and an open state, the stowed state having a nested relationship between the fingers to reduce a silhouette profile size. In moving from the stowed state to the open state of the plurality of fingers requires a selected sequential movement of each the fingers to proceed from the nested relationship to the open state that is accommodated by an assemblage for moving the fingers sequentially utilizing the manually operated structure, wherein the fingers are moved from the stowed state to the open state and reversed manually. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237903 | Spreader for Aortic Valve Reconstruction - A spreader for aortic valve reconstruction having a dimensionally stable ring and three retractor arms comprising, respectively, a stem and a blade, with the blade being distally disposed on the stem, and wherein the retractor arms are disposed, offset relative to each other by respectively 120° in the direction of circumference of the ring, on said ring, and wherein the stems of the retractor arms are substantially aligned as perpendicular relative to the plane of the ring, and wherein the retractor arms are supported on the ring in such a way by the proximal end of their stems that they can be radially moved relative to each other toward the inside and radially expanded by the spring force of the ring. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237904 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING BIOLOGICAL SIGNAL - An apparatus for measuring a biological signal of a body, the apparatus including; at least three interfaces which obtain signals from the body, a signal application unit which applies a signal having a frequency which is higher than one of a frequency of interest of the biological signal to one of a first interface from among the at least three interfaces, and one of a plurality of internal elements of the apparatus, a feedback signal generation unit which generates a feedback signal from component signals generated due to the applied signal, wherein the feedback signal generation unit generates the feedback signal using a signal obtained from at least one of a second interface and a third interface from among the at least three interfaces and an input control unit which receives the generated feedback signal and controls a signal input from at least one of the second interface and third interface to an amplifier. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237905 | DETERMINING A VALUE ACCORDING TO A STATISTICAL OPERATION IN A MONITORED LIVING AREA - A method for monitoring a user in a user living area in a system including a system controller having control parameters for controlling the operations of said system and a remote monitoring site, comprising; monitoring a user activity of said user; activating a control circuit in response to an occurrence of said user activity to provide user activity information to said system controller representative of said user activity; performing a statistical operation upon said user activity information to provide a statistical determination; and adjusting at least one of said control parameters in accordance with said statistical determination. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237906 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GRAPHICAL DISPLAY OF MEDICAL INFORMATION - In one embodiment, an apparatus for graphical display of medical information is provided. The apparatus comprises a memory configured to store medical information indicative of multiple categories, each category of medical information representing information about plurality of physiological variables, a processing system configured to determine a data value for at least one physiological variable in each of the category of medical information and further configured for generating a color code using the data values and a display system for displaying a color coded image comprising multiple sections, each section displaying color codes associated with a single physiological variable. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237907 | TREATMENT OF AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS - The present invention relates to the identification of compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for treating subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. The invention also provides methods of preparing the provided compounds. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237908 | OPTICAL DEVICE AND BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION DETECTOR - An optical device including a contact part having a contact surface and an opposing surface, the contact surface coming into contact with a test subject and the opposing surface being opposite the contact surface; a support body installed on the opposing surface; a first element supported by the support body; and a second element disposed between the opposing surface and the support body; wherein one of the first element and the second element is a light-emitting element for emitting light towards a detection site of the test subject; another of the first element and the second element is a light-receiving element for receiving reflected light, the reflected light being light emitted by the light-emitting element and reflected at the detection site; and the contact part is formed from a material that is transparent with respect to a wavelength of the light emitted by the light-emitting element. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237909 | Systems, Circuits and Apparatus For In Vivo Detection of Biomolecule Concentrations Using Fluorescent Tags - Systems are disclosed wherein labeled binding molecules can be provided in vivo to tissue having biomolecules that specifically bind the labeled binding molecule. A first optical radiation is emitted into the tissue in vivo to excite the labeled binding molecule bound to the biomolecule in vivo. A second optical radiation that is emitted by the excited labeled binding molecule, in response to the excitation thereof, can be detected in vivo. Related telemetric-circuits and apparatus are also disclosed. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237910 | STABILIZED MULTI-WAVELENGTH LASER SYSTEM FOR NON-INVASIVE SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC MONITORING - A spectroscopic method and system that monitors oxygenation levels in biological tissue is provided. The system includes a sensor portion, a monitor portion, and at least one optical fiber light stabilizer. The sensor portion includes at least one sensor assembly, which sensor assembly has at least one light signal outlet, and at least one light detector adapted to sense light and produce detected signals. The monitor portion has a processor in communication with the light detector in the sensor assembly, and a light source adapted to produce laser light signals at a plurality of different wavelengths. The optical fiber light stabilizer is adapted to stabilize the laser light signals. The processor is adapted to process the detected signals to determine oxygenation levels within the biological tissue. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237911 | MULTIPLE-WAVELENGTH PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITOR - A physiological monitor for determining blood oxygen saturation of a medical patient includes a sensor, a signal processor and a display. The sensor includes at least three light emitting diodes. Each light emitting diode is adapted to emit light of a different wavelength. The sensor also includes a detector, where the detector is adapted to receive light from the three light emitting diodes after being attenuated by tissue. The detector generates an output signal based at least in part upon the received light. The signal processor determines blood oxygen saturation based at least upon the output signal, and the display provides an indication of the blood oxygen saturation. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237912 | Device and Method for Detecting a Vital Parameter - A device for detecting a vital parameter is described, comprising: an optoelectronic sensor arrangement for detecting the vital parameter by means of light remission at a finger, wherein the optoelectronic sensor arrangement has a first light source for generating light in a visible wavelength range, a second light source for generating light in a non-visible wavelength range and a light-sensitive element; and a controller which is implemented to switch on the second light source in temporal intervals, execute an evaluation of the light received from the light-sensitive element in the invisible wavelength range of the second light source with respect to whether a finger is applied to the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and to switch on the first light source as soon as the evaluation indicates that a finger is applied to the optoelectronic sensor arrangement. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237913 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING AT LEAST ONE EVALUATION PARAMETER OF A BLOOD SAMPLE - The present invention provides a method for determining at least one evaluation parameter of a blood sample, comprising the following steps: providing (S | 2011-09-29 |
20110237914 | PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETER CONFIDENCE MEASURE - Confidence in a physiological parameter is measured from physiological data responsive to the intensity of multiple wavelengths of optical radiation after tissue attenuation. The physiological parameter is estimated based upon the physiological data. Reference data clusters are stored according to known values of the physiological parameter. At least one of the data clusters is selected according to the estimated physiological parameter. The confidence measure is determined from a comparison of the selected data clusters and the physiological data. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237915 | ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM AND PROCESSOR UNIT THEREOF, AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING BLOOD VESSEL INFORMATION - Ina special light mode, first to fourth special images are captured under first to fourth special light being narrow band light. A brightness ratio calculator extracts a blood vessel area containing a blood vessel from each special image. The brightness ratio calculator calculates first to fourth brightness ratios from the special images on every pixel within the blood vessel area. A depth and hemoglobin index calculator calculates the depth of the blood vessel and a hemoglobin index corresponding to the first and second brightness ratios, based on a correlation between the depth of the blood vessel and the hemoglobin index stored in advance. A depth and oxygen saturation calculator calculates an oxygen saturation level corresponding to the third and fourth brightness ratios, based on a correlation between the depth of the blood vessel and the oxygen saturation level stored in advance. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237916 | AMBIENT TEMPERATURE SENSOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A first sensor may be configured to measure a sensed amount of a physiological parameter and to generate a first signal based on the sensed amount of the physiological parameter measured by the first sensor. A second sensor may be configured to measure a temperature and to generate a second signal based on the temperate measured by the second sensor. A housing may have heat-generating electronics including a processor that may be configured to determine an overall amount of the physiological parameter based on the first signal generated from the first sensor and the second signal generated from the second sensor. The second sensor may be thermally insulated from the heat-generating electronics. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237917 | CALIBRATION OF GLUCOSE MONITORING SENSOR AND/OR INSULIN DELIVERY SYSTEM - Disclosed are methods, apparatuses, etc. for calibrating glucose monitoring sensors and/or insulin delivery systems. In certain example embodiments, blood glucose reference samples may be correlated with sensor measurements with regard to a delay associated with the sensor measurements. In certain other example embodiments, one or more parameters of a probability model may be estimated based on blood glucose reference sample-sensor measurement pairs. Based on such information, function(s) for estimating a blood-glucose concentration in a patient may be determined. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237918 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING THERAPEUTIC GUIDELINES TO A PERSON HAVING DIABETES - A method is disclosed for providing therapeutic guidelines to a person having diabetes. The method comprises measuring a blood glucose (bG) level of the person for two or more days, wherein at least one bG measurement is taken per day, and the at least one daily bG measurement corresponds to one or more daily events for the person; recording the measured bG levels in a computing device; determining, by the computing device, whether the recorded bG levels are below, within, or above one or more predetermined bG ranges; an automatically providing, by the computing device, therapeutic guidelines to the person, based on whether the recorded bG levels are below, within, or above the one or more predetermined bG ranges. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237919 | DIAGNOSIS SUPPORT METHOD, DIAGNOSIS SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND DIAGNOSIS SUPPORT APPARATUS - A diagnosis support method comprising: obtaining first blood glucose level information at a first time point and/or second blood glucose level information at a second time point which is later, by a predetermined period, than the first time point; placing a collection member, which is configured to collect a tissue fluid, on the skin of the subject for the predetermined period from the first time point to the second time point; obtaining glucose information about an amount of glucose contained in the tissue fluid collected by the collection member; and generating diagnosis support information for supporting a diagnosis of presence or absence of hypoglycemia in the subject, based on the first blood glucose level information and/or the second blood glucose level information and the glucose information. A diagnosis support system and a diagnosis support apparatus are also disclosed. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237920 | SUCTION APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING FLUID DURING A SURGICAL INTERVENTION - A description is given of a suction apparatus for extracting fluid, in particular body fluid, during a surgical intervention, with a device for creating a suction pressure ( | 2011-09-29 |
20110237921 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FLEXIBLE ELECTRODES - Disclosed herein are systems and methods for producing and using electrodes, which may be flexible and/or stretchable, and interconnection structures that can be used both externally and/or implanted within the body. Electrodes according to various embodiments disclosed herein may be produced by depositing patterned layers of insulating and conductive polymers to form multi-layer circuits. The conductive materials and layers in the structure can be exposed on the surface of the structures for use as electrodes. A plurality of electrodes may be formed into an electrode array. In various embodiments, electrode arrays may be associated with telemetry modules configured to wirelessly transmit data collected by the electrode array to a receiver module. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237922 | PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSOR DEVICE - A physiological sensor device is attachable to the skin of a person for collecting physiological signals generated by the person's body. The device includes a flexible front layer made of a material that does not conduct electricity and a flexible back layer made of a material that does not conduct electricity. A flexible intermediate layer made of a material that does not conduct electricity is sandwiched between and fixed to the front layer and the back layer. Electrodes and electrical conductors are fixed to a back side of the intermediate layer. Each of the electrodes is attached to one of the electrical conductors and all of the electrical conductors are attached to a single common connector that protrudes through a portal in the front layer. A conductive gel pad is adhered to and aligned with each of the electrodes and protrudes through a portals in the back layer to contact the skin of a person when the physiological sensor device is attached to the skin of a person. Each layer of the physiological sensor device has, when attached to a standing person's chest, a vertically extending portion with a horizontally extending portion located at a lower end of the vertically extending portion to give the physiological sensor device a shape like an inverted T. The vertically extending portion is intended to overly a person's sternum and is sized to comfortably fit either a male or female patient. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237923 | DRY ELECTRODE FOR DETECTING EEG SIGNALS AND ATTACHING DEVICE FOR HOLDING THE DRY ELECTRODE - An electrode for detecting EEG signals comprises a body comprising a fixture on a first end of the body, and a sensor detachably held by the fixture, wherein the body has an external thread in a portion of the body extending from the first end of the body towards a second end of the body, and the sensor has a brush-like shape with pins protruding off the body. The electrode may be held by an attaching device for holding electrodes for detecting EEG signals, the attaching device comprising a strap including a plurality of holes for accommodating electrodes and a rotary closure connecting a first end of the strap and a second end of the strap. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237924 | PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM - A physiological data collection system facilitates acquiring, recording, transferring and analyzing physiological signals generated from the skin of a human subject that may be used in generating an electrocardiogram for a patient in a continuous manner over an extended period of time of twenty four to forty eight hours. The physiological data collection system is an assembly of a disposable physiological sensor device and a reusable data collection module. Collected physiological data may be transmitted for analysis via either a cable or a wireless communication system. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237925 | MICRONEEDLE ARRAY CHIP, DEVICE AND PATCH FOR TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY UTILIZING THE SAME, AND PREPARATION METHOD THEROF - The invention discloses a microneedle array chip comprising metal microneedles and a substrate, wherein the microneedle consists of a needle head with a tip at its top, a needle bar and a needle seat, and is fixed onto the substrate via the needle seat; and the needle bar of the metal microneedle, having a cylindrical or conical shape, is inclined toward the substrate at a preset angle, and the needle head has a conical shape, or the upper surface of the tip is an oval plane or oval ring plane parallel to the substrate or inclined toward it at a preset acute angle. The metal microneedles in the microneedle array chip of the invention have firm structures to avoid fracture, and have sharp tips to facilitate puncturing. The maximal puncturing depth of the microneedles is easy to adjust and control. The microneedles in the array have good uniformity, and are safe and reliable to use. The hollow microneedles, like conventional syringe needles, have lateral openings, and thus can effectively avoid the blockage of the infusion poles by skin, thereby facilitating rapid diffusion and absorption of drugs, and resulting in significant therapeutic effects. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237926 | BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE MEASURING APPARATUS - The present invention provides bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus for determining composition data of a human body, the apparatus including a plurality of electrodes and measuring circuitry which inject, through two electrodes, alternating current into the body, and which determine, with two other electrodes on different limbs, the resulting voltages, and which determine therefrom the impedance of body segments. In one apparatus, two hand contact bodies are disclosed, each of which is shaped in such a manner and provided with two electrodes in such a manner that a user when contacting the hand contact bodies with his hands comes into contact with two electrodes for each hand at the respective hand contact body. Each hand contact body includes a hand seating surface for placement of a hand inner surface thereon, each hand seating surface includes an electrically insulating separating wall extending over a part of the length of the hand seating surface, the separating wall being adapted to project into the space between middle and ring finger when a hand is placed on the hand seating surface, and on both sides of the separating wall an electrode is included such that, when a hand is placed on the hand seating surface, one electrode comes into contact with the small finger and/or ring finger at the other electrode comes into contact with middle finger and/or index finger. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237927 | DEDICATED BREAST RADIATION IMAGING/THERAPY SYSTEM - System, apparatus and methods specialized for breast and related tissue radiation therapy and imaging of a prone patient but also usable for supine patient if desired or needed. A special treatment radiation source such as a LINAC unit generates radiation of types and energy ranges specifically matched to breast tissue. Any one or more of several imaging technologies may be used to localize the tissue to be irradiated and to generate information for therapy planning, adjustment, and verification. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237928 | ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AND/OR LOCATING A MAGNETIC MATERIAL IN A REGION OF ACTION - In Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) the reconstruction requires the knowledge of a so called system function. This function describes the relation between spatial position and frequency response. For reasonable resolutions and field of views the system function becomes quite large, resulting in large acquisition times for the system function and high memory demand during reconstruction. The present invention proposes to reduce the size of the system function matrix by making use of structural properties of the matrix. Such properties are, for instance, spatial symmetries reducing the number of columns and identical responses at different frequencies reducing the number of rows. In other embodiments the matrix can be transformed to a sparse representation using appropriate base functions. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237929 | BLADDER WALL THICKNESS MAPPING FOR TUMOR DETECTION - Disclosed is a method and apparatus for detection of a bladder wall tumor. Layers of a bladder wall are created by magnetic resonance imaging. A group of voxels having a lowest intensity is identified in a layer and an energy function modification enlarges the layer of the bladder wall. A partial volume image segmentation obtains tissue type mixture percentages in each voxel near inner and outer borders of the bladder wall in the layer of the bladder wall to obtain a bladder wall thickness. A range of uncertainty at the inner and outer borders of the bladder wall is obtained, and integration is performed of the bladder wall thickness along a path starting at a point on the outer border and ending at a corresponding point on the inner border. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237930 | MRI compatible motor and positioning system - A thermal therapy system is provided. The system includes an applicator and a device for supporting and moving the applicator within a patient's body during therapy. Some embodiments include an elongated ultrasound energy applicator that is positioned using a plurality of positioners along a corresponding plurality of axes. Also, a rotational driver or motor is provided to rotate the thermal therapy applicator in the patient's body during treatment. The apparatus is constructed of magnetically-compatible materials and has a design to avoid or minimize interference between the drive components of the apparatus and a MRI imaging system in use during the treatment. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237931 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND SYNCHRONOUS IMAGING METHOD - An imaging time is shortened by maintaining a desired image contrast in imaging synchronized with the periodic body movement information regarding the subject. In order to do so, in synchronous measurement of an echo signal synchronized with the trigger information detected from the periodic body movement information regarding the subject with periodic body movement, at least one of a first period before a measurement period of an echo signal and a second period after the measurement period of the echo signal is set, a K space is divided into a plurality of partial regions, and at least one of the first and second periods is set to be different in measurement of an echo signal corresponding to a partial region at a low spatial frequency side and measurement of an echo signal corresponding to a partial region at a high spatial frequency side. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237932 | Method of Operation for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Suite - A method of operation for a magnetic resonance imaging suite. A power supply of magnetic resonance injector system receives electrical power from an AC power outlet, both of which are located outside of a shielded room of the magnetic resonance imaging suite. Electrical power from the power supply of the magnetic resonance injector system is conveyed (via an appropriate power connection) into the shielded room of the magnetic resonance imaging suite and to a component (e.g., a power head) of the magnetic resonance injector system located inside the shielded room. While this electrical power is being conveyed, radio frequency energy emitted from the power connection is being filtered. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237933 | METHOD FOR DETECTING CONTACT WITH THE WALL OF A REGION OF INTEREST - A method for detecting when a tool contacts a wall of a region of interest includes the steps of: tracking the motion of the tool and creating a tool motion profile; calculating a correlation value representative of the correlation between the tool motion profile and a wall motion profile indicative of the motion of the wall; and determining when the correlation value exceeds a threshold indicative of contact of the tool with the wall of the region of interest. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237934 | BIOPSY SUPPORT SYSTEM - A biopsy support system includes a virtual shape image generating section that generates a virtual shape image of an inside of a body cavity which is an insertion target from image data in a three-dimensional region with respect to a subject, an endoscope provided with an endoscope insertion portion and a channel, an ultrasound probe inserted into the channel including an ultrasound transducer and a position sensor that detects a three-dimensional position provided at a distal end portion thereof, an ultrasound image generating section that generates an ultrasound tomographic image, a specification section for specifying a first end and a second end in a desired range along a direction in which the ultrasound probe protrudes when the distal end portion of the ultrasound probe is moved along the direction in which the ultrasound probe protrudes from the distal end of the channel, a position detection section that detects a three-dimensional position of the position sensor based on the first end and the second end specified by the specification section and an image display control section that displays a biopsy range in which a biopsy is performed using the biopsy treatment instrument set based on the three-dimensional position superimposed on a position corresponding to the biopsy range on the virtual shape image. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237935 | Method and Apparatus for Guiding an External Needle to an Implantable Device - A system can include an implantable device, an instrument, a display device and a processor. The implantable device can include a port and a localizer for generating a navigation field. The instrument can include a tracking device for sensing the navigation field. The processor can be operably coupled to the tracking and display devices and operable to determine a real-time location of the instrument relative to the port and a trajectory of the instrument relative to an insertion axis of the port. The processor system can be operable to cause the display device to graphically render the instrument as a plurality of two or three-dimensional rings positioned around an axis coincident with the determined trajectory and in spaced relation to each other along the axis. A first ring of the plurality of rings can be positioned at the determined instrument location relative to a graphical representation of the port location. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237936 | Method and Apparatus for Guiding an External Needle to an Implantable Device - A support tool or a supply assembly that delivers a functional fluid to a patient includes an antenna array for receiving or sensing a navigation field. The navigation field can be generated from a localizer. The localizer can be incorporated or included in an implanted device. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237937 | Method and Apparatus for Guiding an External Needle to an Implantable Device - A system to generate a navigation field relative to an implanted device is disclosed. The system can include a small and/or thin localizer array positioned in the implanted device. A power management scheme and circuits can be provided to conserve and resource power in the implanted device. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237938 | MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSIS ASSISTING APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM ON WHICH IS RECORDED PROGRAM FOR THE SAME - A lesion area detection unit detects an abnormal peripheral structure (lesion area), a pulmonary blood vessel extraction unit extracts a branch structure (pulmonary blood vessel) from the three-dimensional medical image, an associated blood vessel identification unit identifies an associated branch structure functionally associated with the abnormal peripheral structure based on position information of each point in the extracted branch structure, and an associated lung parenchymal area identification unit identifies an associated peripheral area (lung parenchyma) functionally associated with the identified associated branch structure based on the position information of each point in the extracted branch structure. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237939 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DOPPLER-ASSISTED MIMO RADAR MICROWAVE IMAGING - A method and apparatus for enhanced microwave imaging of an object collects microwave responses for multiple combinations of transmit antennas, receive antennas, and object movement states. The responses are grouped into sets of responses corresponding to at least two object movement states. An image is reconstructed from the set of responses for each movement state, and a differential image representative of object movement is generated from the reconstructed image for each of the at least two object movement states. The differential image is overlaid on a reconstructed image to obtain an enhanced composite image of the object. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237940 | Medical Imaging Apparatus and Method - A medical device is used to image a body cavity using a plurality of axially and angularly spaced imaging sensors. Each i generates an image that is distinct from one another due to distinct fields of vision. Each image includes an overlapping zone with commonalities that are used to extrapolate a greater calibrated image. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237941 | DIRECTIONAL RADIATION DETECTOR - A method for imaging a body, including scanning the body so as to generate a tomographic image thereof, and analyzing the tomographic image to determine a location of a region of interest (ROI) ( | 2011-09-29 |
20110237942 | BIOIMAGING METHOD USING NEAR-INFRARED (NIR) FLUORESCENT MATERIAL - This invention provides a novel bioimaging technique that can achieve a deep observation depth and a novel method for marking a lesion that allows clear recognition of the lesion from outside a living body. This invention also provides a bioimaging marker comprising a fluorescent material obtained by doping a ceramic with rare earths and the like and a bioimaging technique comprising detecting near-infrared fluorescence that can sufficiently penetrate a living body generated upon excitation of the marker with near-infrared excitation light. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237943 | FIBROUS MARKER AND INTRACORPOREAL DELIVERY THEREOF - An intracorporeal marker includes a fibrous unitary marker body having bioabsorbable fibers compressed into a compressed configuration, and bound in the compressed configuration by a polymer binding agent. The intracorporeal marker may be incorporated into an intracorporeal marker delivery device having a delivery cannula which has a distal tip, an inner lumen and a discharge opening in communication with the inner lumen. The compression and binding occur prior to insertion of the fibrous unitary marker body into the inner lumen of the delivery cannula. The fibrous unitary marker body is slidably disposed within and pushable through the inner lumen of the elongated delivery cannula proximal to the discharge opening. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237944 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR TRANSFERING CONFIGURATION SETTINGS - A method for transferring configuration settings and/or user maintenance items includes allowing a user to select a set of configuration settings and/or user maintenance items stored in a removable memory device coupled to a medical device; displaying the selected set of configuration settings and/or user maintenance items on a display device; and importing configuration settings and/or user maintenance items stored in the removable memory device to the medical device. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237945 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ULTRASOUND STRAIN IMAGING - A system and method for improved ultrasound strain imaging includes using data from a tracking system to enhance the quality of ultrasound strain image and to reduce the dependency of image quality of the user's expertise. The tracking information is synchronized with the RF frames and interpolated to find the transformation corresponding to each frame. The RF frames with their transformations are incorporated into calculation of ultrasound strain images. The tracking system may be an optical tracker, electromagnetic tracker, accelerometer, or a structured light system. The structured light system may also be used for probe calibration, by calibrating the surface of the probe pre-operatively. In addition, a relative Young's Modulus may be calculated using tracking information that is independent from the distribution of input force. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237946 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THREE DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND BREAST IMAGING - An apparatus for ultrasonic mammography includes: an array of ultrasonic transducers and signal processing means for converting the output of the transducer array into three dimensional renderings of anatomical features; and, an applicator device having a first side conformable to the contour of the transducer array and a second side configured to accept the breast, the applicator device further containing a quantity of fluid sufficient to surround and stabilize the breast during examination without substantially altering the breast from its natural shape. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237947 | ROBOTIC 5-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND - A robotic 5D ultrasound system and method, for use in a computer integrated surgical system, wherein 3D ultrasonic image data is integrated over time with strain (i.e., elasticity) image data. By integrating the ultrasound image data and the strain image data, the present invention is capable of accurately identifying a target tissue in surrounding tissue; segmenting, monitoring and tracking the target tissue during the surgical procedure; and facilitating proper planning and execution of the surgical procedure, even where the surgical environment is noisy and the target tissue is isoechoic. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237948 | ULTRASOUND PROBE FOR USE WITH DEVICE PERFORMING NON-CONTACT RESPIRATORY MONITORING - An ultrasound probe designed for use with a monitoring system performing non-contact respiratory and cardiac monitoring is described. The ultrasound probe may be used with smart phones and tablet computing devices or standalone monitoring devices to capture respiratory and cardiac function in a monitored subject. The probe may come equipped with a hinged stand and utilize a number of different interface connections to communicate with the monitoring device. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237949 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING CARPAL TUNNEL USING ULTRASOUND IMAGING - A system and method is provided for using dynamic ultrasonic imaging to analyze a subject's carpal tunnel and generate risk factors indicative of the health of the subject's subsynovial connective tissue and the subject's risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. The system and method uses speckle imaging techniques to track dynamic structures within the carpal tunnel and statistical analysis techniques to compare the properties of these dynamic structures of the subject to those of normal subjects and subjects having carpal tunnel syndrome. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237950 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MULTI-BEAM BEAMFORMER BASED ON REAL-TIME CALCULATION OF TIME DELAY AND PIPELINE DESIGN - A multi-beamforming method based on real-time calculation of delay parameter and pipeline technique and an apparatus there of are disclosed. The system separates the parameters that should be calculated in real time from the parameters that does not require real-time calculation, and separates the parameters related to the beam sequencing number and the parameters that are independent of the beam sequencing number, and provides a real-time delay calculation unit that is adapted to different types of probe by means of simple switching. The calculation unit utilizes the pipeline design, the delay parameters of M number of beams are calculated in the calculation unit in pipeline manner, and then the memory of the same channel echo data is read, so that the delay of the beams is realized. The consumption of the FPGA resource is greatly reduced. The present invention enables high delay precision through direct calculation. In order to reduce the occupation of the hardware resource, the present invention uses the pipeline design to allow M number of beams to share the delay parameter calculation unit. The occupation of the hardware resource is greatly reduced accordingly. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237951 | Data Transmission Via Wide Band Acoustic Channels - Embodiments of the present invention relate to ultrasound (acoustic) data transmission systems, in particular data transmission over wide-band acoustic channels with frequency-dependant multi-path propagation. More specifically, embodiments of the invention involve increasing the bit rate in the acoustic channel by means of utilization of the entire ultrasound spectrum available for data transmission inside a human body. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237952 | TWO-DIMENSIONAL-ARRAY ULTRASONIC PROBE AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic probe comprises piezoelectric elements arranged in the form of a two-dimensional array, a processing IC configured to process signal information obtained from the piezoelectric elements, and a flexible wiring substrate disposed between the piezoelectric elements and the processing IC, with the piezoelectric elements mounted on a front surface, and the processing IC mounted on a rear surface. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237953 | FRONT-END CIRCUIT FOR AN ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER PROBE - The present invention relates to an ultrasound transducer probe | 2011-09-29 |
20110237954 | PERCUTANEOUS NEEDLE GUIDE AND METHODS OF USE - An indicator element of a percutaneous needle guide for a medical scanning device includes a pointer for pointing to a percutaneous needle entry site on an epidermis of a body, when the guide is attached to the device and the device is positioned over the epidermis for scanning. A user may orient and insert a needle into the entry site according to the direction of the pointer, by just viewing the pointer, without the needle being constrained by the pointer. The guide may include an adjustment mechanism for moving the indicator element with respect to the device, when the guide is attached to the device; the adjustment mechanism moves the indicator element, without changing an orientation of the pointer, in a direction approximately parallel to a plane that is approximately tangent with an apex of the device transducer surface and approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the device. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237955 | Real Time Ultrasound Catheter Probe - An ultrasound catheter probe assembly capable of scanning a three-dimensional volume is provided. The ultrasound catheter probe assembly contains a plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed along a central axis of the ultrasound catheter probe assembly. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers is disposed on a mechanism operable to reciprocally pivot the plurality of ultrasonic transducers enabling the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to scan a three-dimensional volume. A helically disposed electrical interconnection member may be disposed about a pivot axis of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers and may electrically interconnect the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to an ultrasound imaging system. The ultrasound transducer catheter probe assembly may be fluid-filled and contain bubble position control and fluid expansion compensation features. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237956 | INVESTIGATION OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF AN OBJECT - An imaging system for an object such as human or animal tissue uses scattering of an illuminating electromagnetic wave by acoustic vibrations to generate a scattered electromagnetic wave including Doppler components shifted from the frequency of the illuminating electromagnetic wave by frequencies of the acoustic vibration and multiples thereof. An acoustic transducer apparatus applies acoustic vibrations localised in two or three dimensions in a plurality of regions. A transmitter simultaneously illuminates the object with an illuminating electromagnetic wave that has a frequency in the range from 100 MHz to 100 GHz, the vibration direction of the acoustic vibration having a component parallel to the propagation direction of the illuminating electro-magnetic wave. A receiver receives the scattered electromagnetic wave. A signal processing apparatus derives characteristics of the Doppler components, and stores image data representing the derived characteristic. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237957 | DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR COMBINED OPTICAL AND THERMOGRAPHIC DETECTION OF THE CONDITION OFJOINTS - The invention relates to a device, system and method for optical detection of the condition of a joint. The invention involves: an optical measurement unit ( | 2011-09-29 |
20110237958 | OPTICAL COHERENT CROSS-SECTIONAL IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SUCH APPARATUS - An optical coherent cross-sectional image forming apparatus in which light outputted from a light source is divided into a measurement light and a reference light inside the apparatus and in which a cross-sectional image is formed based on a coherent light, produced from a reflected light obtained by emitting the measurement light to a biological tissue through a probe inserted into a body lumen, and the reference light, wherein the apparatus includes a detector for detecting that a transmitting and receiving unit entered inside a guiding catheter for guiding the probe by using data during the axial-direction movement and a controller for stopping at least a portion of a process associated with from generation to holding of the cross-sectional image based on the optical coherence in a case in which it is detected by the detector that the transmitting and receiving unit entered inside the guiding catheter. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237959 | INDICATOR FOR FLUID RESUSCITATION - A system for providing an indication of cardiovascular function, includes a respiration input ( | 2011-09-29 |
20110237960 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING PATIENTS - A method, system and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring a subject with a transport monitor comprising a measurement unit including at least one magnetic component unit operative when monitoring the subject in absence of a high magnetic field. To maintain the monitoring capacity of a standard transport monitor even in the high magnetic field, the transport monitor is provided with a reconfiguration unit adapted to reconfigure the measurement unit for the high magnetic field so that at least part of the monitoring capability that the measurement unit has in absence of the high magnetic field is preserved in presence of the high magnetic field. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237961 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROL OF NON-INVASIVE PARAMETER MEASUREMENTS - Improved methods and apparatus for non-invasively assessing one or more parameters associated with fluidic systems such as the circulatory system of a living organism. In a first aspect, an improved method of continuously measuring pressure from a compressible vessel is disclosed, wherein a substantially optimal level of compression for the vessel is achieved and maintained using perturbations (e.g., modulation) of the compression level of the vessel. In one exemplary embodiment, the modulation is conducted according to a pseudo-random binary sequence (PBRS). In a second aspect, an improved apparatus for determining the blood pressure of a living subject is disclosed, the apparatus generally comprising a pressure sensor and associated processor with a computer program defining a plurality of operating states related to the sensed pressure data. Methods for pressure waveform correction and reacquisition, as well as treatment using the present invention, are also disclosed. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237962 | USE OF THE FREQUENCY SPECTRUM OF ARTIFACT IN OSCILLOMETRY - A system and method for processing oscillometric data from a plurality of pressure steps to determine the blood pressure of a patient. A heart rate monitor connected to the patient acquires the patient's heart rate. A time-to-frequency domain converter receives oscillometric data and converts the oscillometric data into the frequency domain. Based upon the calculated heart rate, the system and method filters the frequency domain oscillometric signal with pass bands centered at the fundamental frequency and at least one fundamental frequency. The energy of the frequency domain signal within the pass bands is compared to at least a portion of the energy of the frequency domain oscillometric signal outside of the pass bands. Based upon the comparison, the signal determines whether the signal at the current pressure step should be utilized in calculating the blood pressure of the patient. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237963 | ELECTRONIC SPHYGMOMANOMETER - An electronic sphygmomanometer determines whether a position of a measurement site falls within a proper range, and notifies whether the position of the measurement site falls within the proper range. When determination is made that a time in which the position of the measurement site falls within the proper range is not less than a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds), measurement of a blood pressure is automatically started. When determination is made that a time in which the position of the measurement site is out of the proper range is not less than a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds), the measurement of the blood pressure is started. Further, whether the position of the measurement site falls within the proper range is notified while correlated with the measurement result. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237964 | Electronic Hemomanometer, Method of Correcting Pulse Wave Data of Electronic Hemomanometer, Program for Causing a Computer to Execute Procedures and Computer-Readable Recording Medium - An object of the present invention is to provide a pulse wave data compensator for an electronic hemomanometer, a method of controlling an electronic hemomanometer, an electronic hemomanometer, a method of correcting pulse wave data in an electronic hemomanometer, a program and a recording medium, all of which can easily and assuredly correct erroneous measurements in a pulse wave pattern. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237965 | PULSE WAVE DETECTOR - A pulse wave detector includes a) a light source repeatedly turned on and off, b) a light receiving element for receiving light, and c) an arithmetic processor for processing an output value acquired through the light receiving element. The arithmetic processor performs arithmetic processing for calculating the difference between a first output value acquired through the light receiving element when the light source is turned on and a second output value acquired through the light receiving element when the light source is turned off. With this structure, a pulse wave detector capable of detecting pulse waves even under the conditions where external light intensity varies can be provided. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237966 | Device for Blood Flow Property Measurement and Method of its Connection - The device for blood flow property measurement in the body and the method of its connection to the subject enables to measure electrical impedance in the main parts of body simultaneously. The impedance is spatially localized in the particular scanning channels ( | 2011-09-29 |
20110237967 | TEMPORARY ELECTRODE CONNECTION FOR WIRELESS PACING SYSTEMS - Delivery of an implantable wireless receiver-stimulator (R-S) into the heart using delivery catheter is described. R-S comprises a cathode and an anode and wirelessly receives and converts energy, such as acoustic ultrasound energy, to electrical energy to stimulate the heart. Conductive wires routed through the delivery system temporarily connect R-S electrodes to external monitor and pacing controller. R-S comprises a first temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the cathode, and a second temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the anode. Temporary electrical connections allow external monitoring of heart's electrical activity as sensed by R-S electrodes to determine tissue viability for excitation as well as to assess energy conversion efficiency. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237968 | METHOD, IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE, AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE CONDITION OF A HEART VALVE (As Amended) - An implantable medical device has an impedance processor that determines impedance data reflective of the transvalvular impedance of a heart valve of a heart during a heart cycle. The determined impedance data are processed by a representation processor that estimates diastolic and systolic transvalvular impedance representations. A condition processor determines the presence of any heart valve malfunction, such as valve regurgitation and/or stenosis, of the heart valve based on the estimated diastolic and systolic transvalvular impedance representations. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237969 | GAS SAMPLING LINE - A gas sampling line having a channel for conducting respiratory gases from a patient respiratory interface to a gas monitor, the gas sampling line comprising, i.a., a gas sampling tube comprised of a polyether block amide material, the polyether segments of which comprise polyethyleneoxide. Use of a tube comprised of a polyether block amide material, the polyether segments of which comprise polyethyleneoxide, for sampling of respiratory gases; and a method for sampling of respiratory gases, the method comprising conducting respiratory gases through such a tube. A gas analysis system for analysing respiratory gases, comprising a gas sampling line as defined above and a gas monitor connectable to the gas sampling line. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237970 | DETERMINING ELASTANCE AND RESISTANCE - The elastance and a resistance of a subject being ventilated are determined. The determination of elastance and resistance of the breathing of the subject is made without adjusting the ventilation of the subject to facilitate the determination. That is, the determination of elastance and resistance of the subject is made without manipulating one or more parameters of the ventilation in a manner not dictated by a treatment algorithm that is designed to ventilate the subject effectively and/or comfortably. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237971 | DISCRETE CHOICE MODELING USING NEURO-RESPONSE DATA - A system obtains neuro-response data as well as survey based data during discrete choice modeling to evaluate subject decision making processes. A discrete choice model evaluates a decision made by a subject as a function of multiple variables. Neuro-response data vectors and orthogonal survey based data vectors are weighted and combined to generate multi-dimensional vectors. The multi-dimensional vectors are used to estimate the effectiveness of changing particular variables in modifying subject behavior. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237972 | NONINVASIVE MEASUREMENT OF UTERINE EMG PROPAGATION AND POWER SPECTRUM FREQUENCY TO PREDICT TRUE PRETERM LABOR AND DELIVERY - A method operable to more accurately predict true preterm labor and delivery is provided. Trans-abdominal uterine electromyography (EMG) and power spectrum (PS) analysis can identify electrical signals characteristic of labor at term and preterm with relatively high positive and negative predictive values. The use of propagation velocity (PV) of uterine EMG signals may either be done independently or in conjunction with PS analysis. This method involves applying at least two pairs of electrodes to a maternal abdomen. The time associated with measuring a voltage spike of a propagating myometrial wave traveling through the pairs of electrodes allows the amount of time required for the propagating myometrial wave to transverse the distance between electrodes to be determined. With this information a propagation velocity (PV) of the propagating myometrial wave may be determined. This PV may be compared to a labor positive predictive value (PPV). A favorable comparison indicates an increased probability of true preterm labor and delivery. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237973 | METHOD FOR USING A SILVER-SILVER CHLORIDE NEEDLE ELECTRODE SYSTEM - A method for using a needle electrode system for acquiring biopotential signals from a person's body. The needle electrode system comprises at least one silver-silver chloride needle electrode and at least one connector coupled with a monitoring device. The needle electrode system senses and sends biopotential signals to the monitoring device in preference to cutaneous electrode on the person's body by inserting the needle electrode subcutaneously into the person's body. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237974 | NEURAL MONITORING SYSTEM - A system for detecting the presence of a nerve within a subject includes a stimulator configured to provide a stimulus to a portion of the subject, a sensing device configured to be placed in communication with a muscle of the subject and to generate an output signal corresponding to a monitored parameter of the muscle, the sensing device including a mechanical sensor configured to monitor a mechanical parameter of the muscle, and a receiver configured to receive the output signal from the sensing device and to determine if the output signal corresponds to the stimulus provided by the stimulator. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237975 | MULTIPLE BIOPSY DEVICE - A biopsy device includes a first jaw and a second jaw pivotally connected to the first jaw through a pivot. The second jaw has a lever arm extending rearward from the pivot when the second jaw is closed. A wire having an end is connected to the lever arm of the second jaw. A suction tube is disposed between the first and second jaw. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237976 | BIOPSY DEVICE HAVING HEMOSTATIC CONTROL - A biopsy device assembly performs a biopsy of an anatomical tissue of a patient. The biopsy device assembly includes a housing and a biopsy device that extends out of the housing and that collects and cuts anatomical tissue from the patient. The biopsy device assembly further includes a hemostatic agent removably housed in the biopsy device. Moreover, the assembly includes an actuator assembly that moves the biopsy device relative to the housing from a first position to an extended position such that the biopsy device collects and cuts the anatomical tissue from the patient. The actuator assembly also retracts the biopsy device relative to the housing toward a retracted position. Furthermore, the assembly includes an ejection device that ejects the hemostatic agent from the biopsy device as the actuator assembly retracts the biopsy device toward the retracted position. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237977 | Device for Collecting First Pass Urine - A device for collecting a sample of the first pass portion of urine voided by a donor isolated from the midstream portion of the urine comprises a first part ( | 2011-09-29 |
20110237978 | BLOOD TEST APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A blood test apparatus having a simple constitution whereby stable measurement can be conducted by surely sampling the blood in an amount being small but sufficient for the test without placing too much burden on a patient. When a first skin contact sensor of this apparatus detects the skin, driving of a negative pressure unit is initiated. Thus, the skin rises and comes into contact with a second skin contact sensor. After piercing into the skin, the negative pressure supply is once ceased. Next, the negative pressure is applied again for a definite period of time. Thus, the opening in the skin is broadened, which facilitates the flow out of the blood. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237979 | PRECISION DEPTH CONTROL LANCING TIP - A bodily fluid sampling device is operable to lance with a precise depth and express fluid from both fingertip and alternate sites. In one form, the device is operable to adjust the penetration depth of the lancet into the skin. The bodily fluid sampling device includes a lancet adapted to form an incision in skin. A skin contacting member has an orifice through which the lancet extends when lancing the skin. The orifice has a first opening size that is sized to flatten the skin around the lancet during lancing. The orifice has a second opening size that is larger than the first opening size after the incision is formed to express fluid from the incision. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237980 | Assessment and classification system - The present invention provides assessment of cranial deformities. One embodiment for providing an on-line assessment comprises providing a server; and providing a database accessible by the server. The database comprises a plurality of image sets. Each image set comprises a plurality of images of a corresponding head shape selected from a plurality of head shapes. Each image is an image of the corresponding head shape from one viewing orientation of a plurality of predetermined viewing orientations. In one embodiment, the plurality of head shapes comprises a normal head shape and one or more head shapes selected from the group comprising a plagiocephalic head shape, a brachycephalic head shape, and a scaphocephalic head shape. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237981 | MEDICAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MEDICAL DEVICE - The application pertains to a medical device including a treatment unit for treating patients, an activation device for activating the treatment unit, and an input device for entering an activation code, the input device being coupled to the activation device, and the activation device is arranged to activate the treatment unit for a limited number of treatments and/or for a limited period when a predetermined activation code is entered via the input device. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237982 | Ultrasound-enhanced stenosis therapy - Apparatus and methods are disclosed for vein and arterial-venous fistulas stenosis and occlusion therapies, including enhancing permeability of the vessel wall using ultrasound energy and delivering a therapeutic agent into the vessel wall. Ultrasound energy may be delivered at frequencies less than 10 MHz and power less than 20 watts using transcutaneous techniques and endovascular methods. Therapeutic agents may be delivered to the treatment area via intravenous and endovascular methods. In some embodiments, ultrasound energy and therapeutic agent application may be combined with angioplasty techniques and with blood flow protection devices. In some other embodiments, a therapeutic agent may be removed from the body after exposure to the vessel wall to minimize a systemic effect of the therapeutic drug. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237983 | ULTRASOUND CATHETER FOR DISRUPTING BLOOD VESSEL OBSTRUCTIONS - Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, an ultrasound catheter includes an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens. An ultrasound transmission member or wire extends longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and, in many embodiments, a guide wire tube also extends through the same lumen. A distal head is fixed to or otherwise mechanically coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member or wire and is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. Although the distal end of the catheter body overlaps the distal head, the distal head is not directly affixed to the distal end of the catheter body. Thus, the distal tip may move freely, relative to the distal end of the catheter body when ultrasonic energy is applied through the ultrasound transmission member. Such a freely floating distal head enhances the efficiency of an ultrasound catheter, enabling the catheter to ablate calcific occlusions and increasing the useful life of the ultrasound transmission member and catheter. | 2011-09-29 |
20110237984 | DYNAMIC SYSTEM FOR SHOCKWAVE TREATMENT - A dynamic system for shockwave treatment including a shockwave source operative to produce shockwaves that propagate along a shockwave axis, an imaging beam source attached to the shockwave source, operable to emit an imaging beam along a beam axis, the shockwave source and the imaging beam source forming an assembly, an imaging detector operative to receive the imaging beam and generate signals thereby for processing into an image, and a positioner coupled to the assembly operative to position the assembly at a desired position and attitude in three-dimensional space, wherein said shockwave source is movable along the shockwave axis relative to the imaging beam source. | 2011-09-29 |