160results about How to "Improve patient outcomes" patented technology

Medical and / or robotic devices, systems and methods can provide an indicator associated with each manipulator assembly of a multi-arm telerobotic or telesurgical system. The exemplary indicator comprises a multi-color light emitting diode (LED) mounted to a manipulator moving an associated surgical instrument, allowing the indicator to display any of a wide variety of signals. The invention may provide an additional user interface to facilitate communications between the telesurgical system and / or members of a telesurgical team.

An embodiment of the present invention is a method of generating a report based on an association metric. The method involves identifying node state data associated with a sample, and generating an association metric based on the node state data.

The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using IL-6 antagonists such as an Ab1 antibody or antibody fragment having binding specificity for IL-6 to prevent or treat disease or to improve survivability or quality of life of a patient in need thereof. In preferred embodiments these patients will comprise those exhibiting (or at risk of developing) an elevated serum C-reactive protein level, reduced serum albumin level, elevated D-dimer or other coagulation cascade related protein(s), cachexia, fever, weakness and / or fatigue prior to treatment. The subject therapies also may include the administration of other actives such as chemotherapeutics, anti-coagulants, statins, and others.

The sheath is configured for use in the vascular system and has utility in the introduction and removal of implant delivery catheters. The access route is through the ventricular myocardium, more specifically at the left ventricular apex, into the aortic root. The distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration during advancement to the arteries into the aorta. The distal end of the sheath is subsequently expanded using a radial dilatation device, which is removed prior to the introduction of implant delivery catheters. In an exemplary application, the sheath includes a supported proximal end, a supported distal end, and a collapsible center section. Certain configurations of the sheath are capable of being inserted in a first, small cross-sectional configuration, being expanded diametrically to a second, larger cross-sectional configuration, and then being reduced to a diametrically small size for removal.

A liquid sampling catheter contains a lumen filled by a sampling cannula with a hollow lumen and either a closed or open distal tip. Attached to the proximal end of the device is a modular blood storage component. The sampling stick slides through the patient's skin or through a seal and in-dwelling lumen on a corresponding sampling hub to sample blood from a patient. This embodiment establishes a simple, standardized, and quick procedure for sampling small amounts of bodily liquids such as blood for a variety of analyte tests.

An improved pulse oximeter provides for simultaneous, noninvasive oxygen status and photoplethysmograph measurements at both single and multiple sites. In particular, this multiple-site, multiple-parameter pulse oximeter, or “stereo pulse oximeter” simultaneously measures both arterial and venous oxygen saturation at any specific site and generates a corresponding plethysmograph waveform. A corresponding computation of arterial minus venous oxygen saturation is particularly advantageous for oxygen therapy management. An active pulse-inducing mechanism having a scattering-limited drive generates a consistent pulsatile venous signal utilized for the venous blood measurements. The stereo pulse oximeter also measures arterial oxygen saturation and plethysmograph shape parameters across multiple sites. A corresponding calculation of delta arterial saturation and comparison of plethysmograph shape parameters between multiple sites is particularly advantageous for the detection and management of persistent pulmonary hypertension in neonates (PPHN), a patent ductus arteriosis (PDA), and aortic coarctation.

A uterine manipulator includes a sound and a body. The sound has a selectively actuatable anchor disposed proximate a distal end and an operating mechanism spaced from the anchor for controlling actuation of the anchor. The body has a passage therethrough adapted to receive the sound passed proximally through the body to a position in which the operating mechanism is accessible proximally of the body and the anchor extends distally.

Disclosed is an expandable transluminal sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, collapsed cross-sectional configuration, subsequent expansion of at least a part of the distal end of the sheath to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration, and subsequent removal in a third, collapsed cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is configured for use in the vascular system and has utility in the introduction and removal of implant delivery catheters. The access route is through the femoral arteries and the iliac arteries into the aorta. The distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, collapsed cross-sectional configuration during advancement to the arteries into the aorta. The distal end of the sheath is then expanded using a radial dilatation device, which is removed prior to the introduction of implant delivery catheters. The distal end of the sheath is subsequently reduced to a diametrically small size for removal.

A method of directing energy to tissue includes the initial steps of determining target tissue location and / or target tissue margins, positioning an ablation device for delivery of energy to target tissue, and positioning one or more heat-sensitive optical probes into a tissue region to be monitored. Each heat-sensitive optical probe is adapted to utilize spectral properties of light to access one or more optical fiber portions of the heat-sensitive optical probe in response to heat. The method also includes the steps of applying energy to the ablation device, continuing ablation while size and / or position of ablated zone which received heat above a threshold value is displayed on a monitor using one or more electrical signals generated by the one or more heat-sensitive optical probes, determining whether the ablated zone displayed on the monitor is larger than the target tissue margins, and terminating ablation if it is determined that the ablated zone displayed on the monitor is larger than the target tissue margins.

Medical and / or robotic devices, systems and methods can provide an indicator associated with each manipulator assembly of a multi-arm telerobotic or telesurgical system. The exemplary indicator comprises a multi-color light emitting diode (LED) mounted to a manipulator moving an associated surgical instrument, allowing the indicator to display any of a wide variety of signals. The invention may provide an additional user interface to facilitate communications between the telesurgical system and / or members of a telesurgical team.