48results about How to "minimize risk" patented technology

Embodiments of the present invention can be directed to systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing transactions through mobile communication devices using telecommunications networks, systems, or proximity near-field communications systems. Embodiments may be directed to a mobile communication device displaying an application authentication element including a pre-selected authentication element. The application authentication element may include transaction data associated with a transaction conducted by a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device may obtain the pre-selected authentication element by either transmitting a request to a server computer or retrieving the pre-selected authentication element from a secure memory in the mobile communication device. A user authentication token may then be received by the mobile communication device from the user. The mobile communication device may then generate a secret token derived from the user authentication token, and if the secret token is correlated to a secret reference token, a transaction may be conducted.

Methods and systems for minimally invasive replacement of a valve. The system includes a collapsible valve and anchoring structure, devices and methods for expanding the valve anchoring structure, adhesive means to seal the valve to the surrounding tissue, a catheter-based valve sizing and delivery system, native valve removal means, and a temporary valve and filter assembly to facilitate removal of debris material. The valve assembly comprises a valve and anchoring structure for the valve, dimensioned to fit substantially within the valve sinus.

Methods and devices are provided for intervertebral implant anchorage. An implantable device for insertion into an intradiscal section between adjacent vertebrae is provided. The implantable device includes at least one anchor plate which comprises a plate member sized to be positioned within an intradiscal section between adjacent vertebrae and a plurality of anchoring elements extending from a surface of the plate member, each anchoring element including a distal—portion capable of being introduced into the vertebra through the vertebral end plate; and an intradiscal component coupled to the anchor plate.

A system and automated method for verification of employment history regarding a job applicant, the method including receiving information identifying an applicant, receiving employment history information for the job applicant, receiving information identifying an identified verification contact for verification of the employment history information, automatically providing the identified verification contact with a question pertaining to employment history information, receiving an answer from the identified verification contact, storing the answer.

A device and related method for the removal of subcutaneous adipose layers comprises a laser source; an optical fiber for conveying a laser beam emitted by the laser source; and a hollow cannula for guiding the fiber to the subcutaneous treatment area. The cannula has a curved portion at its distal end, where the curved portion can be shaped to roughly conform to the contour of the patient's body structure. In this way, laser energy from the fiber, applied to the adipose layers, is generally directed away from the lower dermis of the patient, minimizing the risk of non-reversible damage to the dermis, including skin necrosis. In another embodiment, the optical fiber is a side-firing fiber that directs the laser energy away from the dermis. In other embodiments, a radiation detector, such as a thermal or optical sensor, monitors the temperature at the surface of the skin above the treatment area to warn the operator of harmful temperatures in the lower dermis. In another embodiment, a temperature sensitive material is applied to the surface of the skin above the treatment area to warn of harmful dermal temperatures. In another embodiment, a cooling mechanism cools the surface of the skin above the treatment area to prevent damage to the dermis.

A system for heat ablation of tissue in a patient comprises a plurality of electrodes operatively connected to a source of radiofrequency energy and configured to apply RF energy to tissue at a patient site, a plurality of RF current restricting circuits, each circuit coupled between one of the plurality of electrodes and the source of radiofrequency energy, and configured to restrict RF energy to the electrode when the current restricting circuit is enabled and not restrict RF energy to flow to the electrode when the current restricting circuit is disabled, at least one return electrode adapted to contact the patient and configured to return RF energy to the RF source; and a switching mechanism configured to selectively enable each of the plurality of RF current restricting circuits, in one of a sequential and non sequential fashion, wherein the switching mechanism is isolated from each of the current restricting circuits.

The present invention relates to surgical devices and related methods of use. In particular, the present invention relates to surgical devices used for contacting and treating deeply seated areas of the brain.

A respiratory assist device and method for the prevention of ventilator acquired pneumonia in a patient is described. The respiratory assist device administers nitric oxide to the oropharyngeal area in order to decontaminate or prevent the contamination of secretions that collect in the oropharyngeal area during intubation of the patient. The respiratory assist device and method may be adapted for use, for example, as an endotracheal tube or as a tracheotomy tube.

Anti-human IL20 monoclonal antibodies that can reduce IL20 mediated activation of both IL20R1/AL20R2 and IL22R1/AL20R2 receptor complexes in one or more species, including humans, are described, as well as antigen-binding molecules such as, e.g., antigen-binding antibody fragments, antibody derivatives, and multi-specific molecules designed or derived from such antibodies, and methods or producing such antibodies or other antigen-binding molecules. Such antibodies or other antigen-binding molecules can be used for treat-ing various diseases and disorders, including autoimmune or inflammatory diseases or disorders.

A method for creating a channel through a foreign material located in a body of a patient, the foreign material defining a material first surface and a substantially opposed material second surface, the channel extending through the foreign material between the material first and second surfaces, the method using an apparatus including an electrode, the method comprising: positioning the electrode substantially adjacent to the material first surface; energizing the electrode with a radiofrequency current; and using the electrode energized with the radiofrequency current to deliver energy into the foreign material to create the channel, wherein the foreign material is included in a stent graft.

A system for dental tissue treatment includes a system for directing a laser beam to an area of dental tissue to be treated, and a fluid-delivery system for directing and controlling a flow of a fluid. The fluid is directed to at least a portion of the area to be treated and the fluid flow is controlled to substantially prevent both a change in laser energy absorption by the dental tissue and attenuation of treatment efficiency due to fluid interference with the laser beam. The fluid present in at least a portion of the area to be treated may prevent or reduce the likelihood of melting of enamel in that area.

A storage container, comprising a rigid body including a floor, a front wall, a back wall, and side walls, at least one separating wall, and a plurality of fixing elements for removably fixing the separating walls to the storage container. The storage container further comprises a locking element. The container further comprises a plurality of compartments configured to be separated by the separating wall and locked via the locking element. Further, a system comprising a mobile robot and the storage container is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for secure package delivery employing the system.

A method for determining an insertion trajectory of a tool for reaching a moving target object prior to its insertion into a tissular matrix is provided, the method comprising: acquiring images of the tissular matrix; constructing a three-dimensional representation of the tissular matrix; determining coordinates of the initial position of the target object and of the obstacles; determining at least one potential trajectory of the tool from the coordinates of the obstacles of the tissular matrix and of the initial position of the target object; simulating insertion of the tool in the tissular matrix to determine displacement of the target object within the tissular matrix during insertion of the tool up to the initial position of the target object along the potential trajectory; determining a new position of the target object based on the determined displacement; and determining the insertion trajectory for the new position of the target object.

The invention relates to a testing device for measuring torques with a sensor for generating electrical signals in response to exerted torques, and signal processing means, to which the electrical signals are applied and which provide measuring values of the exerted torque. The invention provides a plurality of measuring heads, which either may have different measuring ranges or may be adapted to different tools to be tested. Each of these measuring heads has its own signal processing means. The signal processing means are calibrated in the same way, such that the torque measuring data of different measuring heads can be compared with each other. When calibrating a measuring head, the individual signal processing means can also be adjusted to take individual non-linearities of the torque sensors into account. The measuring heads can then simply be connected in parallel with the display or evaluation means. If a torque is exerted on anyone of the measuring heads, this torque will automatically be displayed or evaluated with the correct calibration.

A system and method for determining the remaining free storage capacity of a media database in a media server device (MSD), such as one used in a universal plug and play audio-visual (UPnP AV) architecture. The present invention allows a user of a MSD hosting a content directory service (CDS), prior to a large copy or move operation, to query the media database of the MSD as to the remaining free storage capacity. In one embodiment of the present invention, a query action is implemented in a control point (CP), allowing the CP to query the CDS, which in turn queries the MSD file system/operating system (OS) to determine the remaining free capacity storage of the media database. This capacity information is then sent back to the CP for presentation to a user of the MSD. In a second embodiment, the query is implemented as a dedicated AV MSD service. In a third embodiment, UPnP eventing and a new state variable capable of indicating the remaining free storage capacity is used.

The object of the present invention is to create a method for storing data in the cloud that ensures the privacy of the said data even against the administrators of the servers that make up the cloud, without impeding the practical and convenient management of the access permissions to such data. This guarantee is obtained by encrypting the stored data and the distributed and partitioned storage (for example, by the Shamir method) of the keys that allow decrypting the said data. When this method is implemented, an attacker, who wants to access the data in an unauthorized manner, should obtain unauthorized access to at least two different servers, located in different physical locations and administered by different authorities.

An apparatus and a method for sampling from a product flow, where the sampling is performed continuously and where the product is collected in a cup for determining physical conditions, for example, weight in relation to volume, and where the cup is emptied after ending the sampling. The apparatus is provided with at least one sampling cup provided with a filling opening and an emptying opening with different cross-sectional areas. It is not necessary to perform a turning movement of the sampling cup in order to empty it. Instead, preferably, the sampling cup is emptied by opening/uncovering the bottom. Emptying of the cup and subsequent cleaning of the cup are effected with open bottom by passage of the product flow through the cup; but, emptying may also occur in a separate duct.

An endocervical seal has a sleeve with a passageway for receiving an intrauterine interventional or diagnostic tool. The sleeve has a coaxially disposed outer balloon with a distal portion configured to inflate in a cervical os and a proximal portion configured to inflate in a cervical canal.

Featured is an apparatus for the collection and storage of patient vital sign information as well as systems and methods related thereto. Such a collection and storage apparatus of the present invention forms a workstation that is configured and arranged so as to be capable of acquiring one or more pieces of patient vital sign information and/or data. Such an apparatus includes a re-configurable chair that can adapted to support one or more diagnostic devices, such as a scales and one or more vital sign monitors that are configured and arranged with circuitry and devices to measure and/or monitor any one or more of blood pressure, pulse O₂ saturation, body temperature, or blood sugar.

A hair drying/styling device which combines a uniquely designed rotating hairbrush and blow dryer into a single product. The present invention simplifies the popular styling technique of brushing hair while applying the blow dryer, by allowing the user to completely disregard the blow dryer, as this operation is automated by the product. The user has the comfort of performing both of these vital tasks with one hand, providing the other hand with the freedom necessary to part and prepare each section of the hair for treatment. Furthermore, the present invention introduces a new rotating hairbrush specifically designed to prevent tangling and overheating of the hair—two of the most common complaints with users of prior art.

A prosthetic heart valve in combination with a delivery assembly that includes a first elongate component that is movably disposed to a second elongate component. The delivery assembly has a temporary valve location relative to the delivery assembly to which the prosthetic heart valve can be releasably mounted in position and a spaced implantation location relative to the delivery assembly to which the prosthetic heart valve can also be releasably mounted in position. The prosthetic heart valve and delivery assembly combination is configurable with movement of the first elongate component relative to the second elongate component from a delivery state with the prosthetic heart valve mounted in the temporary location to an implantation state with the prosthetic heart valve repositioned from the temporary, location to the implantation location so that the prosthetic heart valve can subsequently be deployed from the implantation location.

The disclosure provides an implantable medical device comprising a material capture element, which has a generally closed conical deployed shape and a narrow end disposed at or proximate the first end of the device. The material capture element includes a wide end facing the second end of the device, the material capture element having a zone of wider radial dimension which provides a first vessel contact site. A plurality of wire tethers are coupled to the wide end and extend to the second end. The wire tethers define a substantially open passageway for blood and provide a second vessel contact site. The first and second contact sites are spaced longitudinally from one another to provide stability. A first retrieval element is disposed at the first end and coupled to the narrow end, while a second retrieval element is disposed at the second end and coupled to the wire tethers.

A method for preparing tissue for medical applications, including decellularizing the tissue by means of a detergent, characterized in that the decellularizing detergent contains at least one amphiphilic lipopeptide; treating the decellularized tissue with an α-galactosidase; and cross-linking the collagen fibers of the treated tissue by means of a suitable cross-linking agent.

A microfluidic device and its use for the production of micro-arrays, in particular for the detection of protein interactions, is described. Said microfluidic device comprises a flow cell part (1) and a chip part (2) together forming at least two crossing, preferably perpendicular, closed channels (3, 4), said flow cell part forming open channels providing the bottom wall and at least part of the side walls, in particular three walls of said closed channels (3, 4), said closed channels (3, 4) being connected to at least three fluid providing means for generating at least three fluid flows (7) and said closed channels (3, 4) being designed and dimensioned such that the flow of at least three aqueous fluids streaming through each of said channels (3, 4) is laminar at least until after said crossing of said channels (6), said chip part (2) forming the top wall and optionally part of said side walls, in particular the fourth wall, of said closed channels (3, 4) and having a surface that is activatable by reaction with an activating molecule.

A venous access device comprises a catheter portion extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end, the flexible shaft defining a lumen therein in combination with a plurality of branches separated from one another and extending distally from the flexible shaft.

A three dimensional printing system includes an appliance tier, a processing tier, and a work cell tier. The appliance tier (1) defines a client interface for receiving process parameters and data pipeline parameters for a given production job, and (2) provides instructions based upon the process parameters. The processing tier processes the data pipeline parameters and outputs a sequence of slice data arrays pursuant to a print engine platform. The work cell tier includes a work cell server and a plurality of functional cells. A functional cell can be a print engine, a post processing station, an inspection station, or a robotic transport mechanism. The work cell server transfers the slice data arrays to one or more print engines. Based upon the instructions from the appliance server tier the work cell server sequentially operates the plurality of functional cells to produce a three dimensional article of manufacture.

An implantable cardiac electrostimulator comprising an atrial sensing channel for processing intracardiac electrogram signals and for detecting signals corresponding to atrial activity and for generating an atrial sense event signal upon detection of a signal corresponding to atrial activity, a ventricular sensing channel for processing intracardiac electrogram signals and for detecting signals corresponding to ventricular activity and for generating a ventricular sense event signal upon detection of a signal corresponding to ventricular activity, a VES detector being operatively connected to said atrial and ventricular sensing channel and being adapted to detect ventricular extrasystoles an atrial stimulation pulse generator a ventricular stimulation pulse generator a stimulation control unit being operatively connected to said atrial stimulation pulse generator and said ventricular stimulation pulse generator. The stimulation control unit is adapted to determine a scheduled time of delivery of an atrial stimulation pulse (T(A)) and a scheduled time of delivery of ventricular stimulation pulse (T(V)). The stimulation control unit is further adapted to trigger said atrial stimulation pulse generator or said ventricular stimulation pulse generator at the scheduled point of time T(A) or T(V), respectively, if no atrial sense event signal is generated before time out of an atrial escape interval (VAI), said atrial escape interval timing out at T(A), or if no ventricular sense event signal is generated before time out of a ventricular escape interval (VEI), said ventricular escape interval timing out at T(V), respectively. T(A) und T(V) are determined depending upon detection of a ventricular extra systole while maintaining a proper atrioventricular synchrony by setting a physiologically adequate A-V-delay between T(A) and corresponding T(V).

A method of verifying that a first unit and a second unit being mounted to each other are correctly paired, the first unit comprising a first visual identifier and the second unit comprising a second visual identifier, the method comprising the steps of (i) capturing an image of the first and second unit mounted to each, the image comprising both the first and the second visual identifier, and (ii) processing the captured image to (a) identify the first and the second visual identifier, and (b) determine whether the captured identifiers represent a predefined combination of visual identifiers to thereby verify the pairing.

A novel two-stage clamp used in testing a device-under-test (DUT) is herein presented. The two-stage clamp provides two sequential actuations via one linear force, and includes clamps moving in multiple different directions. The two-stage clamp uniquely uses the DUT being clamped to provide the linkage and timing for the two-stage actuation of clamps moving in three different directions.

The invention relates to deodorizing products, and in particular, deodorizing products that find use in toileting. In some aspects, the deodorizing product is a solid substrate that disintegrates when exposed to water such as in a toilet bowl, where the solid substrate has been pre-infused with a scenting agent, for example, an essential oil or a microencapsulated essential oil. The composition can be placed directly into the toilet bowl water prior to toileting, thereby expediting the action of the scenting agent. After toileting, the scenting agent is substantially removed when the toilet is flushed. The invention can also be used as a deodorizing product without deployment in liquid water.