34161results about How to "Easy to remove" patented technology

A surgical instrument having a locking mechanism for preventing an output shaft of the surgical instrument from rotating and a further locking mechanism for mounting a battery pack to a distal end of a housing of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument further includes a clutch mechanism for limiting the torque of a drive shaft of the surgical instrument. The locking mechanism for preventing the output shaft from rotating includes a locking switch which mates with a locking cap disposed on the output shaft. The locking mechanism for mounting the battery pack to the housing includes a groove at the distal end of the housing and a retaining ring which engages the groove when the battery pack is mounted on the housing. The clutch mechanism includes a clutch plate that interfaces with both the output shaft and the drive shaft and prevents failure of the motor shaft.

A surgical clamp assembly includes a clamp having movable jaws, each of which has a clamping surface for engaging a portion of a patient's body. An electrode forms a portion of the clamping surface of at least one of the jaws, the electrode being capable of heating, severing, or cauterizing the portion of the patient's body that is grasped by the clamp. If desired, the clamp assembly can be provided with a retainer that prevents the jaws from being opened accidently. The clamp assembly also can include an actuator that can be detached from the clamp and removed from the operative site, leaving the locked clamp in place. In this type of assembly, when it is desired to remove the clamp, the actuator can be reattached to the clamp and used to disengage the toothed retainer, and thereafter can be used to spread the jaws in order to permit the clamp to be removed.

The present invention relates to a transdermal drug delivery system comprising a dermal drug delivery patch and a heating element compartment securable to the dermal drug delivery patch. A freely transferrable heating element is securable within the heating element compartment. A drug can be administered transdermally using the present invention by placing the dermal drug delivery patch upon a patient's skin at an administration site. A heating element compartment is secured to the dermal drug delivery patch and a freely transferrable heating element is placed within the heating element compartment. The heating element provides controlled heat to the dermal drug patch and the patient's skin aid thereby improves dermal drug administration.

A surgical device for cutting substantially across a cornea of an eye of a patient, the device including a positioning ring to be attached to an eye surrounding a cornea to be cut, and defining an aperture sized to receive and expose the cornea to be cut. The surgical device further includes a cutting head assembly structured to be guided and driven over an upper surface of the positioning ring in a generally arcuate path, and having a cutting element positioned therein and structured to oscillate laterally to facilitate smooth and effective cutting of the cornea. The cutting head assembly is structured to be detachably coupled to the positioning ring by a coupling member which permits movement of the cutting head assembly relative to the positioning ring along the generally arcuate path, but maintains sufficient engagement therebetween to ensure that smooth, steady, driven movement is maintained.

A system for long-term remote medical monitoring is especially suitable for the medical supervision of astronauts onboard a space station. The system includes at least one autonomous sensor unit (SU) with a sensor (1) and transmit / receive electrodes (2) connected to a microchip (3) and mounted on a carrier (4) in the form of an adhesive bandage that can easily be applied to the skin of the subject astronaut (11). The system further includes a body transceiver (10) that is worn on the body of the subject and acts as a centralized transmitting and receiving unit, and a portable data logger (12). Medical data such as the pulse rate and the like, as well as environmental data such as the ambient surrounding air temperature, are sensed by respective allocated sensor units (SU) and transmitted from the sensor units as electrical signals via the skin and other body tissues of the subject (11) to the body transceiver (10). From the body transceiver (10), the data signals are further transmitted, for example by a radio or infrared transmission, to the data logger (12), where the data can be recorded, displayed, processed, or further transmitted via a satellite (14) to a base station (13) or a ground-based facility such as a hospital (15). Polling signals are also transmitted from the body transceiver (10) to the sensor units (SU) in a wireless manner through the skin and other body tissues of the subject.

A surgical device for cutting substantially across a cornea of an eye of a patient, the device including a positioning ring to be attached to an eye surrounding a cornea to be cut, and defining an aperture sized to receive and expose the cornea to be cut. The surgical device further includes a cutting head assembly structured to be guided and driven over an upper surface of the positioning ring in a generally arcuate path, and having a cutting element positioned therein and structured to oscillate laterally to facilitate smooth and effective cutting of the cornea. The cutting head assembly is structured to be detachably coupled to the positioning ring by a coupling member which permits movement of the cutting head assembly relative to the positioning ring along the generally arcuate path, but maintains sufficient engagement therebetween to ensure that smooth, steady, driven movement is maintained.

A bone member fastener for closing a craniotomy includes a cap and a base interconnected by a narrow cylindrical collar. The cap has an externally threaded stud that screws into an internally threaded bore of the collar, thereby allowing the cap and base to be brought into clamping engagement against the internal and external faces of a bone plate and surrounding bone. In a particularly disclosed embodiment, the base of the fastener is placed below a craniotomy hole with the collar projecting into the hole, and the stud of the cap is screwed into the bore of the base from above the hole to clamp a bone flap against the surrounding cranium. This device provides a method of quickly and securely replacing a bone cover into a craniotomy. The distance between the cap and base can be selected by how far the threaded stud of the cap is advanced into the internally threaded collar. The fastener is therefore adaptable for use in several regions of the skull having various thicknesses. An insertion tool with a long handle permits safe and convenient placement of the base between the brain and the internal face of the bone plate. Some disclosed embodiments of the fastener have a cap and base that conform to the curved surface of the skull, for example by having an arcuate shape or flexible members that conform to the curvature of the bone plate and surrounding cranial bone as the fastener is tightened.

Apparatus is provided that includes an implant structure, which includes a contracting mechanism, which includes a rotatable structure, arranged such that rotation of the rotatable structure contracts the implant structure. A longitudinal member is coupled to the contracting mechanism. A tool for rotating the rotatable structure is configured to be guided along the longitudinal member, to engage the rotatable structure, and to rotate the rotatable structure in response to a rotational force applied to the tool. Other embodiments are also described.

Described is a prosthetic valve assembly comprising: a radially self-expandable stent configured to expand to bear against a wall of a native body lumen; and an implantable prosthetic valve, having a diameter, the valve being mounted inside the stent; wherein the diameter of the stent is greater than the diameter of the prosthetic valve.

The present invention relates to methods of treating and preventing Alzheimer's Disease or other tauopathies in a subject by administering a tau protein, its immunogenic epitopes, or antibodies recognizing the tau protein or its immunogenic epitopes under conditions effective to treat or prevent Alzheimer's Disease of other tauopathies. Also disclosed are methods of promoting clearance of aggregates from the brain of the subject and of slowing progression of tangle-related behavioral phenotype in a subject.

The present invention relates to capital equipment units, such as systems for providing medical treatment, that are associated with smart supplies. The smart supplies are tagged with data carriers which may encode such information as a unique ID for the supply or component, the identification of the supply or component, the identification of the source of the supply or component, the status of whether said supply or component has been previously used, the expiration date of the supply or component, and in the case where the supply or component contains drug, the purity levels of the drug and the concentration levels of the drug. The capital equipment units or their users then utilize the information to assure quality of any procedure run with the units, by way of improved pre-use checks, certification of the supplies for use, record keeping, inventory control, and charge capture.

The present invention provides improved methods and apparatus for skin treatment and tissue remodeling. The apparatus includes an array of needles that penetrate the skin and serve as electrodes to deliver radio frequency current or other electrical or optical energy into the tissue being treated, causing thermal damage in controlled patterns. The damaged regions promote beneficial results such as uniform skin tightening by stimulation of wound healing and collagen growth.

A system and method of moving and stretching plastic tissue using dynamic force. A preferably non-reactive force applying component is adjustably attachable to one or more tissue attachment structures for securing the force applying component to the plastic tissue, providing a self adjusting system that is capable of exerting relatively constant tension over a certain distance.

A method of etching silicon oxide from a multiple trenches is described which allows more homogeneous etch rates among trenches. The surfaces of the etched silicon oxide within the trench following the etch may also be smoother. The method includes two dry etch stages followed by a sublimation step. The first dry etch stage removes silicon oxide quickly and produces large solid residue granules. The second dry etch stage remove silicon oxide slowly and produces small solid residue granules in amongst the large solid residue granules. Both the small and large solid residue are removed in the ensuing sublimation step. There is no sublimation step between the two dry etch stages.

Described is a prosthetic valve assembly comprising: a radially self-expandable stent configured to expand to bear against a wall of a native body lumen; and an implantable prosthetic valve, having a diameter, the valve being mounted inside the stent; wherein the diameter of the stent is greater than the diameter of the prosthetic valve.

A porous ceramic atomized cartridge contains a heating element, a porous ceramic wick, and the liquid to be vaporized removably concealed within the body of an electronic simulated smoking pipe. Adjustment of the spacing of a circular disc heating element relative to the porous ceramic wick adjusts the level of atomization. All components are easily removable and replaceable and cleaned. A bowl of the pipe is used as an open battery chamber to allow any battery fumes to escape and allow easy removal and replacement of the battery. A conductive contact arm pivots between contact with the battery and the pipe body to control power. Vapor is activated by a manual push button switch or an automatic sound activated switch responsive to the puffing sound of a user.

A cyclonic vacuum cleaner includes a body portion, a nozzle portion and a dirt cup which is removable from the body portion. The dirt cup collects dirt and other debris separated by a cyclone and a cyclone slinger portion in the body portion. A main filter may be housed in a transparent filter door downstream of the cyclone. The dirt cup may be inserted into and sealingly held within the body portion by using a rotational camming structure.

A measuring gauge for measuring the relative position of two bones during surgery, the measuring gauge comprising an anchor, an adapter, an outrigger and a locking joint.

The wear sleeve in the present cutter tool assembly comprises a rearward split ring portion and an intermediate cylindrical ring portion adjacent a forward shoulder portion. The outer diameter of the wear sleeve intermediate portion and rearward split ring portion is uniform. The wear sleeve is inserted into the bit holder's stepped bore aperture. The split ring portion is radially compressed by the smaller diameter rearward end as the sleeve is hammered and axially displaced into the bit holder. The split ring portion forms frictional contact with the opposite end portion of the aperture. The wear sleeve friction fit can be easily removed manually in the field. The bit holder and cooperating support block are designed to limit the amount of relative yaw between the two members during operation to reduce the overall wear there between. The cutter tool assembly includes a groove having side surfaces that are inclined at least 15 degrees with respect to the horizontal axis and the cutting bit is positioned more aft of the central axis of the support block than prior art designs.

An exterior mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a signal light that provides an advanced notification system to approaching vehicles that the driver of the vehicle intends to turn or make a lane change. The exterior mirror assembly includes a housing with a reflective element and a positioning device for adjusting the position of the reflective element in the housing, and at least one signal light positioned in the housing. The signal light includes a light source and a light conduiting member which is adapted to project a pattern of light from the housing and yet restrict light from extending into the vehicle so that a driver seated in the vehicle does not directly observe the pattern of light. The light source may be provided by a light pipe which is optically coupled to a remote light source located, for example, in the vehicle. Preferably, the pattern of light extends rearwardly, forwardly, and laterally from the vehicle. In one form, the light conduiting member includes a light input surface on one end and at least one light emitting surface for directing light outwardly from the housing of the exterior mirror assembly. In another form, the exterior mirror assembly incorporates a signal light which includes a plurality of reflective surfaces for directing light forwardly, rearwardly, and laterally from the vehicle but restricts light from entering into the vehicle and distracting the driver. In yet another form, the exterior mirror assembly includes a powerfold mirror system which incorporates a security light in either the folding portion or non-folding portion of the powerfold mirror system.

A release latch for a pre-terminated cassette is described. The pre-terminated cassette includes a release latch to allow removal of the pre-terminated cassette from a patch panel, where the patch panel includes a retaining feature for retaining the pre-terminated cassette. The release latch includes a cantilever beam located on the sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette. The cantilever beam has a hinge point that allows the beam to deflect with respect to the sidewall. The release latch further includes a depressing tab provided at the distal end of the cantilever beam and a latch tab protruding from the surface of the cantilever beam between the hinge point and the depressing tab. The latch tab is capable of engagement with the retaining feature of the patch panel when the cassette is installed in the patch panel.

A process for the production of beta-3-(1,3)(1,6) glucan from a glucan containing cellular source is described, together with compositions and uses / methods of treatment involving glucan. The process of the invention comprises the steps of: (a) extracting glucan containing cells with alkali and heat, in order to remove alkali soluble components; (b) acid extracting the cells of step (a) with an acid and heat to form a suspension; (c) extracting the suspension obtained of step (b) or recovered hydrolyzed cells with an organic solvent which is non-miscible with water and which has a density greater than that of water separating the resultant aqueous phase, solvent containing phase and interface so that substantially only the aqueous phase comprising beta-(1,3)(1,6) glucan particulate material remains; wherein the extraction with said organic solvent provides separation of glucan subgroups comprising branched beta-(1,3)(1,6)-glucan, and essentially unbranched beta-(1,3) glucan which is associated with residual non-glucan contaminents; and (d) drying the glucan material from step (c) to give microparticulate glucan.

An apparatus and method is disclosed for the housing, removal, recharging, and replacing of electric vehicle batteries. The apparatus includes a modular battery carriage and a vehicular battery carriage compartment allowing replacement of electric vehicle batteries to suit the needs of the operator at the service station and an automated service station for the rapid replacement of discharged batteries in electric vehicles with replenished batteries.

An expandable venous valve having a support structure that configured to enlarge the area adjacent to the valve structure such that the flow patterns of retrograde flow are modified in a way that facilitates the flushing of the pockets at the base of the valve area to prevent stagnation of bodily fluid, which in the venous system, can lead to thrombus formation. The enlarged pocket areas can be created by forming an artificial sinus adjacent the valve structure in an unsupported section of vessel wall between two support frame section or the support frame can comprise an expanded-diameter intermediate or proximal section that forms an artificial sinus adjacent the valve structure. In another group of embodiments, the attachment pathway between opposing leaflets and the support frame and / or vessel wall comprises a proximal portion that places the leaflets in extended contact with one another and a distal portion forms a large angle with respect to the adjacent walls such that a large pocket is created at the base of the leaflets. In one embodiment, the attachment pathway extends distally along a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal attachment struts to create an extended leaflet contact area, then angles circumferentially and distally from the former along distal attachment struts to define the bottom edge of the leaflets.

Provided is a method and a system for automatically controlling display of video or image data in dependence on content classification information which is integrated within the data by means of invisible digital watermarking techniques. A controller decodes the watermarked content codes and then prevents displaying of certain material, by overlaying the display with blanking data, if the codes match certain stored codes which the controller has been set to respond to.The use of invisible digital watermark codes by a controller which operates in response to the watermark codes provides reliable control since the codes are more difficult for unauthorized persons to detect and remove than other embedded codes would be.