36results about How to "Minimal distraction" patented technology

An electrode coupling output system provides indication to the physician, via electrode guidance instrumentation, concerning the electrical coupling of an electrode, such as an ablative or mapping electrode, with a patient. The output can be provided to the physician via an output device incorporated into the handle set of the electrode catheter. For example, a visual, audio or mechanical output can be provided via the handle set. Additionally or alternatively, the output can be provided to the physician via a navigation system. The indication may be provided by changing the color or other display characteristics of the electrode on the navigation system display or by way of providing a waveform indicating the electrode coupling. In this manner, electrode coupling information is provided to a physician in a manner that minimizes physician distraction.

A method for inserting an intervertebral disc prosthesis into a space between two vertebrae involves inserting the prosthesis partway into the space under constraint to prevent endplates of the prosthesis from articulating, releasing the prosthesis from constraint, and inserting the unconstrained prosthesis farther into the space. In some embodiments, the method involves grasping the prosthesis with a grasping device to insert the prosthesis partway under constraint, loosing the grasping device to release the prosthesis from constraint, and pushing the prosthesis farther into the disc space using the grasping device and/or one or more separate pusher devices. A system includes a grasping device, at least one separate pushing device, and optionally a vertebral spreading device and/or a vertebral midline indicator device.

An on-board music search, retrieval and downloadable system has a plurality of musical works, each correlated with a music search code or identifier. The search code or identifier comprises a plurality of information including title, artist, era of song, genre, history of song, and song associations. Any one of the search codes or identifiers identified in an executed search retrieves the musical works associated therewith. The system provides an on-board database in communication with a remote database for searching a plurality of musical works correlated with a music search code or identifier, including a plurality of information such as title, artist, era of song, genre, history of song, and song associations. Any one of the search codes or identifiers identified in an executed search retrieves the musical works. The on-board music system provides easy song retrieval, enabling a driver to search and play songs without being distracted while driving.

Methods and apparatus are provided for generating route instructions on a turn-by-turn navigation system in a vehicle. Turn instructions can include a turn icon as well as visual and audio prompts. The turn-by-turn navigation system includes special routing features, such as “Where am I”, “Verification”, “Stop by”, pre-set destinations, and time-restricted road routing. The turn-by-turn navigation system can generally be produced more economically than a typical premium system having a full complement of costly features, such as a color map display. Moreover, the turn-by-turn navigation system can be configured with only those features deemed most useful to a broad-based market segment, in order to further reduce manufacturing costs.

Methods and apparatus are provided for generating turn instructions on a turn-by-turn navigation system. The turn instructions can include a turn icon as well as visual and audio prompts. A countdown bar is typically embedded within the turn icon to provide upcoming turn information in intuitive graphic form, in order to reduce driver distraction. The turn-by-turn navigation system can generally be produced more economically than a typical premium system having a full complement of costly features, such as a color map display. Moreover, the turn-by-turn navigation system can be configured with only those features deemed most useful to a broad-based market segment, in order to further reduce manufacturing costs.

A workstation (100) has a motor-driven, height-adjustable back work surface (102), an independently adjustable front work surface (104), optionally dimmable work lights (114, 116), free-standing fans (118), and heated floor pad (120). The fans are pivotable and free-standing units that may be positioned to provide optimal comfort. The motor drives, work lights, fans, and heated floor pad connect to central control box (150), and a single point user interface (130) is operatively connected to allow the user to controlling all of these devices from a single device. One or more digital displays (137, 139) may be provided to indicate the work surface elevations. An optional activity sensor (122) may be provided to power down the lights, fans and heater when the workstation is not in use.

A needle and catheter system, including components, is provided such that the position of an stimulating needle may be identified after insertion into the body of a patient by electrically stimulating and thus locating a specific nerve. Positioning of the stimulating needle while simultaneously controlling and monitoring the electrical impulses applied therethrough is made possible by a control device and monitor integral with the stimulating needle. When a specific nerve is located, the catheter is inserted through the needle to a point slightly beyond the distal tip of the needle. The catheter tip may then be manipulated and the optimum position for the catheter tip determined by applying an electrical impulse through the helical wire and/or the ribbon support wire to the proximal tip catheter, this electrical stimulation being utilized in determining the specific location of the catheter tip within the nerve. Once properly located, or at any time relative movement between the catheter and needle is not desirable, the catheter can be locked into position with a catheter lock which may be part of the stimulating needle hub. A catheter adapter is utilized to allow easy access to the catheter and introduction of fluid into the nerve of the patient through the catheter tip.

A server operating a website with discrete transactional webpages identifies subject matter for a sales contract between a merchant and an inquiring party. The website is provided with an augment logon procedure for potential inquiring parties, be they offerees or offerors to a contractual relationship. As part of the logon information of the inquiring party, at least one—a preferably a plurality—of direct contact routes from the server to the offeree and/or offeror is solicited. These direct contract routes can included landline, cell phone, pager, or other direct computer to computer communication. The inquiring party initially contacts the server and identifies the subject matter of the proposed contract, for example an airline trip, the sale of an electronics item such as a TV, or a restaurant reservation and at least one other parameter required for the consummation of a contract. This information is communicated to the merchant. The merchant either accepts or rejects the proposed contract parameter and communicates this fact to the server. The server then makes direct contact to the inquiring party with indexing occurring through the provided direct contract routes until actual contact is attained to the inquiring party. During the contract formation, direct server to inquiring party contact is repeated until an actual contact is established, enabling the virtual presence of the inquiring party for a sufficient interval to establish a contract.

A server operating a website with discrete transactional webpages identifies subject matter for a sales contract between a merchant and an inquiring party. The website is provided with an augment logon procedure for potential inquiring parties, be they offerees or offerors to a contractual relationship. As part of the logon information of the inquiring party, at least one—a preferably a plurality—of direct contact routes from the server to the offeree and/or offeror is solicited. These direct contract routes can included landline, cell phone, pager, or other direct computer to computer communication. The inquiring party initially contacts the server and identifies the subject matter of the proposed contract, for example an airline trip, the sale of an electronics item such as a TV, or a restaurant reservation and at least one other parameter required for the consummation of a contract. This information is communicated to the merchant. The merchant either accepts or rejects the proposed contract parameter and communicates this fact to the server. The server then makes direct contact to the inquiring party with indexing occurring through the provided direct contract routes until actual contact is attained to the inquiring party. During the contract formation, direct server to inquiring party contact is repeated until an actual contact is established, enabling the virtual presence of the inquiring party for a sufficient interval to establish a contract.

Apparatus and method for allowing an operator of a transit vehicle to make public address announcements to passengers internal and external to the vehicle. The safety of the vehicle and passengers is maintained through providing a hands-free directional microphone having noise canceling characteristics. The microphone is used as an input device for receiving an audio signal and provides the signal to a processing module that converts the signal into a digital signal. The digital signal is then processed by a digital signal processor to cancel undesirable noise common to a transit vehicle. The noiseless signal can then be converted into an analog signal and recorded within the memory of the public address system where, upon needed, the signal can be transferred to an output device such as a speaker system internal or external to the vehicle. After playback, the recorded message can also be easily repeated by means of a repeat switch.

A dip for holding open a book while it is being read, with two integrated clamp and handle pieces to respectively hold the front and back covers of the open book, independently hinged to a single integrated clamp and handle piece to hold the open pages of the book, where the damping force is provided by a helical spring on each hinge, and a rubber strip is affixed to each of the three damping surfaces.

A removable pouch assembly for attaching a storage pouch to the back of a sports bra.

A multifunction test instrument probe includes a housing having a hollow bore with an open end. A clamp plunger is carried in the hollow bore, with a first end including a thumb press, and a second end including an alligator clamp having a pair of jaws, with a compression spring normally biasing the thumb press away from the housing, and normally biasing the alligator clamp substantially within the hollow bore proximate the open end. A point plunger is also carried in the bore, with a first end including a thumb press, and a second end terminating in a point, with a second compression spring normally biasing the thumb press away from the housing, and biasing the point within the hollow bore proximate the open end. When the clamp plunger is depressed, the alligator clamp is extended from the open end and the jaws are urged open by a jaw spring, and when the clamp plunger is released, the compression spring acts to retract the alligator clamp back towards the hollow bore and the jaws are urged closed by contact with the open end. When the point plunger is depressed, the point is extended from the open end. When the clamp plunger is again depressed, the point retracts into the housing.