751results about How to "Minimize occurrence" patented technology

Improved devices, systems, and methods for inhibiting hyperplasia in blood vessels provide controlled and safe cryotherapy treatment of a target portion within a body lumen of a patient. Efficacy of endoluminal cryogenic cooling can be enhanced by limiting cooling of target tissues using a thermal barrier disposed between a dual balloon cryotherapy catheter. Containment of both balloons can be monitored by applying a vacuum within a space between the first and second balloons, and by coupling the vacuum space to a fluid shutoff so as to inhibit flow of cryogenic fluid in response to a change in the vacuum space. Controlled cooling of the vessel can be improved by use of a nebulizer in fluid communication with a cryogenic liquid supply lumen and a gas supply lumen.

A method and apparatus for communicating files over a communications network in which links, such as hyperlinks, to files are logical in nature, rather than physical in nature, i.e., associated with a particular electronic address. An up-to-date replication directory is maintained on each server and each server inserts current physical references corresponding to a file's logical references into a requested parent file, along with a reference to a server selection program, before the parent file is transmitted to the requesting client. The server selection program selects physical references in the order of their likelihood of providing the fastest response. If a queried server does not currently store the file, an alternate server is queried. Servers communicate with each other to create and delete replicas of files and to make corresponding updates to each server's replication directory.

In one form of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for forming a wedge-like opening in a bone for an open wedge osteotomy, the apparatus comprising: targeting apparatus for identifying a cutting plane through the bone and a boundary line for terminating a cut made along the cutting plane, wherein the boundary line is located within the bone; and an apex pin for disposition along the boundary line for providing (i) a positive stop at the boundary line for limiting cutting along the cutting plane, and (ii) a cylindrical opening extending along the boundary line so as to minimize the occurrence of stress risers within the bone when the bone on either side of the cut is moved apart so as to form the wedge-like opening in the bone. In another form of the present invention, there is provided a method for forming a wedge-like opening in a bone for an open wedge osteotomy, the method comprising: positioning targeting apparatus relative to the bone, so as to identify a cutting plane through the bone and a boundary line for terminating a cut made along the cutting plane, wherein the boundary line is located within the bone; and positioning an apex pin along the boundary line so as to provide (i) a positive stop at the boundary line for limiting cutting along the cutting plane, and (ii) a cylindrical opening extending along the boundary line so as to minimize the occurrence of stress risers within the bone when the bone on either side of the cut is moved apart so as to form the wedge-like opening in the bone; cutting the bone along the cutting plane, with the cut terminating at the boundary line; and moving the bone on either side of the cut apart so as to form the wedge-like opening in the bone.

A neural stimulation system automatically corrects or adjusts the stimulus magnitude (stimulation energy) in order to maintain a comfortable and effective stimulation therapy. Because the changes in impedance associated with the electrode-tissue interface can indicate obstruction of current flow and positional lead displacement, lead impedance can indicate the quantity of electrical stimulation energy that should be delivered to the target neural tissue to provide corrective adjustment. Hence, a change in impedance or morphology of an impedance curve may be used in a feedback loop to indicate that the stimulation energy needs to be adjusted and the system can effectively auto correct the magnitude of stimulation energy to maintain a desired therapeutic effect.

The invention relates generally to methods of monitoring and controlling the processing of blood and blood samples, particularly the separation of blood and blood samples into its components. In one aspect, the invention relates to optical methods, devices and device components for measuring two-dimensional distributions of transmitted light intensities, scattered light intensities or both from a separation chamber of a density centrifuge. In embodiment, two-dimensional distributions of transmitted light intensities, scattered light intensities or both measured by the methods of the present invention comprise images of a separation chamber or component thereof, such as an optical cell of a separation chamber. In another aspect, the present invention relates to multifunctional monitoring and control systems for blood processing, particularly blood processing via density centrifugation. Feedback control systems are provided wherein two-dimensional distributions of transmitted light intensities, scattered light intensities or both are measured, processed in real time and are used as the basis of output signals for controlling blood processing. In another aspect, optical cells and methods of using optical cells for monitoring and control blood processing are provided.

There is provided a thin film transistor (TFT) capable of improving electron mobility and minimizing the occurrence of hysteresis due to traps. The TFT includes a channel layer and a gate insulating layer, wherein the channel layer is made of an oxide semiconductor. In the TFT, the gate insulating layer includes one or more first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer, and the first dielectric layer has a dielectric constant different from that of the second dielectric layer.

This invention provides methods, devices and device components for sensing, imaging and characterizing changes in the composition of a probe region. More particularly, the present invention provides methods and devices for detecting changes in the refractive index of a probe region positioned adjacent to a sensing surface, preferably a sensing surface comprising a thin conducting film supporting surface plasmon formation. In addition, the present invention provides methods and device for generating surface plasmons in a probe region and characterizing the composition of the probe region by generating one or more surface plasmon resonances curves and/or surface plasmon resonance images of the probe region.

A neural stimulation system automatically corrects or adjusts the stimulus magnitude in order to maintain a comfortable and effective stimulation therapy. Auto correction of the stimulus magnitude is linked to the measurement of pressure in the vicinity of the electrode-tissue interface. Because the pressure near the electrode-tissue interface can provide a measure of the electrode contacts' proximity to the neural tissue, and hence quantity of electrical energy delivered to the neural tissue, a change in the measured pressure or pressure morphology indicates that the stimulation energy may need to be adjusted. Hence, changes in pressure provide a feedback mechanism that permit the system to effectively auto correct the stimulus amplitude in order to maintain a desired therapeutic effect.

A respiratory treatment device comprising a flow generator and a humidifier adapted to receive a supply of air at positive pressure from the flow generator and deliver it to an air delivery tube, wherein the humidifier includes a base, a humidifier lid, and a water tank, and the water tank includes a water tank lid, the water tank is removably receivable in the base to define a first air flow path from the flow generator to an interior of the water tank, and the humidifier lid is connectable to the air delivery tube, and is adapted to form a seal with the water tank lid to define a second air flow path from the interior of the water tank to the air delivery tube.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a collagen material that possesses physical properties to an extent that allows suturing while still maintaining the biochemical properties inherently possessed by collagen, and retains its shape for a certain amount of time even after application to the body; its production process; and, a medical material on which it is based, examples of which include a artificial tube for nerve, artificial tube for spinal cord, artificial esophagus, artificial trachea, artificial blood vessel, artificial valve or alternative medical membranes such as artificial endocranium, artificial ligaments, artificial tendons, surgical sutures, surgical prostheses, surgical reinforcement, wound protecting materials, artificial skin and artificial cornea, characterized by filling or having inside a substance having biocompatibility that can be degraded and absorbed in the body into a matrix of a non-woven fabric-like multi-element structure of collagen fibers having ultra-fine fibers of collagen as its basic unit.

The invention provides a wide-angle, low-cost endoscopic objective optical system that is reduced in terms of distortion and field curvature and composed only of spherical lenses, especially a video endoscopic objective optical system. The optical system comprises a first group G1 comprising a negative meniscus lens convex on an object side thereof, an aperture stop S, a second group G2 comprising a positive lens having a plane directed toward an object point side, a third group G3 including at least one concave refractive surface and having a positive refracting power as a whole, and a fourth group G4 comprising a cemented lens comprising a negative meniscus lens and a double-convex lens and having positive refracting power, so that an image is formed at an imaging device I via the first group G1 to the fourth group G4. A chief ray is reflected at the convex surface of the positive lens in the second group in a direction away from an optical axis.

Disclosed is a method of performing a contention based access in a UE of a mobile communication system. The method includes: triggering a BSR to an ENB if data to be transmitted to the ENB occurs; and triggering the contention based access if the BSR has been triggered. The method can minimize collision between signals transmitted in the uplink by multiple UEs through contention based transmission resources in a mobile communication system.

A monitoring system for a periphery of a structure (100) comprises a monitoring module (102) having a detection and ranging system (304, 308) arranged to support monitoring of a portion of the periphery in order to detect passage of a body beyond the periphery. The detector (304, 308) has an imaging resolution that prevents conclusive visual identification by a human operator of the nature of the body. The monitoring module also comprises a video capture apparatus (312, 314) arranged to provide video data. The system also comprises a monitoring station apparatus (200) arranged to receive data from the monitoring module (102). In response to detection of the passage of the body by the detection system (304, 308), the monitoring station (200) enables the operator to review the video data. The video data enables the operator to identify readily the nature of the body detected and thereby to provide confirmatory visual evidence when the body is human.

A method and system for detecting an ineffective effort of a patient being mechanically ventilated by a ventilator comprises (i) monitoring a respiratory flow of air of the patient after said ventilator has cycled; (ii) creating a signal indicative of said flow; (iii) removing artefact from said signal; (iv) monitoring said signal for perturbations; and (v) determining that an ineffective effort has occurred when said perturbation is significant.

Methods and devices for processing packets are provided. The processing device may Include an input interface for receiving data units containing header information of respective packets; a first module configurable to perform packet filtering based on the received data units; a second module configurable to perform traffic analysis based on the received data units; a third module configurable to perform load balancing based on the received data units; and a fourth module configurable to perform route lookups based on the received data units.

A solid free-form (SFF) method is used to manufacture a component from successive layers of feedstock material with low ductility. A plasma stream is created by energizing a flowing gas using an arc electrode, the arc electrode having a variable magnitude current supplied thereto. The plasma stream is directed to a predetermined targeted region to preheat the predetermined targeted region prior to deposition. The current is adjusted and the feedstock material is introduced into the plasma stream to deposit molten feedstock in the predetermined targeted region. The current is adjusted and the molten feedstock is slowly cooled at an elevated temperature, typically above the brittle to ductile transition temperature of the feedstock material, in a cooling phase to minimize the occurrence of material stresses.

Methods and systems are provided herein for monitoring pathogens in various environments and on various items, wherein data from monitoring is trackable, analyzable and comparable versus various standards or thresholds. The methods and systems disclosed herein also include a platform for managing the detection and reporting of pathogens across a number of locations within a number of environments, and using such detection for a wide variety of purposes.

Disclosed is a stent assembly for expanding in vivo vessels, the assembly comprising first and second radially expandable mesh stents, wherein the first stent is separated by a predetermined distance from the second stent and a stent jacket spans the predetermined distance such that a first end of the jacket is operatively associated with the first stent and a second end of the jacket is operatively associated with the second stent.

An intravascular device for keeping open a previously constricted site within a vessel and for minimizing tissue debris at such a site from closing off the vessel is provided. The device includes an expandable substantially tubular body defined by a framework having a plurality of openings. The device also includes a flexible netting system having a structural design for extending across each of the openings. Such a design allows the netting system to expand along with each opening in the framework to minimize release of tissues debris at the site from closing the lumen of the vessel. The netting system can include a plurality of pores to permit communication between fluid flow within the vessel and the vessel wall, and at least one pharmacotherapeutic agent for the treatment or prevention of certain conditions. A method for placing the device at a site of interest is also provided.

There is provided a display device capable of delivering adequate video display performance even when a lighting period of a backlight is varied in accordance with the content or the like of image data. The device has circuits (8050, 8060) for varying a lighting period of a backlight (8090) for illuminating a display panel (8010) in accordance with image data (8002), setting information (8003), and the like from an external device; and circuits (8070, 8080) for adjusting the timing of start (and turning off) of lighting of the backlight in accordance with the length of the lighting period.

An intravascular device for keeping open a previously constricted site within a vessel and for minimizing tissue debris at such a site from closing off the vessel is provided. The device includes an expandable substantially tubular body having a distal end and a proximal end. The device also includes a flexible netting system that is circumferentially disposed about the body, and extends beyond at least one of the distal end or proximal end. The netting system can expand along with the body to minimize release of tissues debris at the site from closing the lumen of the vessel. The netting system can include a plurality of pores to permit communication between fluid flow within the vessel and the vessel wall, and at least one pharmacotherapeutic agent for the treatment or prevention of certain conditions. A method for placing the device at a site of interest is also provided.

A flow generator and humidifier construction is described, including a flow generator construction adapted to reduce noise output compared to known flow generators of comparable size. The flow generator includes a chassis forming first and second muffler volumes and a venturi-shaped connection portion, and a metal/polymer composite material blower enclosure which suppresses noise from the blower. The flow generator may be programmed to include a reminder system including a menu from which the user may request a reminder to take specific action, e.g., replace a component, call a physician, and/or enter patient data card, etc.