547results about How to "Minimizing chance" patented technology

The system, method, and program of the invention captures actual physical gestures made by a participant during a chat room or instant messaging session or other real time communication session between participants over a network and automatically transmits a representation of the gestures to the other participants. Image processing software analyzes successive video images, received as input from a video camera, for an actual physical gesture made by a participant. When a physical gesture is analyzed as being made, the state of the gesture is also determined. The state of the gesture identifies whether it is a first occurrence of the gesture or a subsequent occurrence. An action, and a parameter for the action, is determined for the gesture and the particular state of the gesture. A command to the API of the communication software, such as chat room software, is automatically generated which transmits a representation of the gesture to the participants through the communication software.

Systems and method of the present disclosure are directed to a network security monitor. The monitor can receive logs of a second computer network indicative of a status of the second computer network determined by a monitoring agent executing on the second computer network. The monitor can generate indexed logs from the logs based on log format. The monitor can retrieving a list of threat indicators from a database based on a schema from a plurality of threat indicators received from a plurality of heterogeneous repositories via the first computer network. The monitor can compare the list of threat indicators with the indexed logs. The monitor can generate a report based on the comparing to identify a threat.

Devices and methods for achieving hemostasis and leakage control in hollow body vessels such as the small and large intestines, arteries and veins as well as ducts leading to the gall bladder and other organs. The devices and methods disclosed herein are especially useful in the emergency, trauma surgery or military setting, and most especially during damage control procedures. In such cases, the patient may have received trauma to the abdomen, extremities, neck or thoracic region. The devices utilize removable or permanently implanted, broad, soft, parallel jaw clips with minimal projections to maintain vessel contents without damage to the tissue comprising the vessel. These clips are applied using either standard instruments or custom devices that are subsequently removed leaving the clips implanted, on a temporary or permanent basis, to provide for hemostasis or leakage prevention, or both. These clips overcome the limitations of clips and sutures that are currently used for the same purposes. The clips come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The clips may be placed and removed by open surgery or laparoscopic access.

Apparatuses and methods for forming displays are claimed. One embodiment of the invention includes a contact smart card wherein fluidic self assembly is used to build the microelectronic structures on the display such that a contact smart data is transmitted unidirectionally. A contact smart card is inserted directly into a device that transfers data to a display coupled to the smart card. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a contactless smart card in which fluidic self assembly is also used here to build the display. Data is transmitted to an antenna that is embedded in the contactless card in which a plurality of blocks were deposited thereon.

An active needle device (10) for fluid injection or extraction includes at least one hollow elongated shaft (11) defining at least one channel (12). The channel (12) provides communication between at least one input port (15) and at least one output port (16) of the needle device (10). At least one active component (17) such as a sensor or actuator is placed or integrated into the elongated shaft (1 1). The needle device (10) can include a macroneedle, a microneedle (21), or an array of macroneedles or microneedles (25a). The microneedles (21) can be fabricated on a substrate (26) which can remain attached to the microneedles (21) or be subsequently removed. The active component can facilitate biochemical, optical, electrical, or physical measurements of a fluid injected or extracted by the needle device (10).

Devices and methods for achieving hemostasis and leakage control in hollow body vessels such as the small and large intestines, arteries and veins as well as ducts leading to the gall bladder and other organs. The devices and methods disclosed herein are especially useful in the emergency, trauma surgery or military setting, and most especially during damage control procedures. In such cases, the patient may have received trauma to the abdomen, extremities, neck or thoracic region. The devices utilize removable or permanently implanted, broad, soft, parallel jaw clips with minimal projections to maintain vessel contents without damage to the tissue comprising the vessel. These clips are applied using either standard instruments or custom devices that are subsequently removed leaving the clips implanted, on a temporary or permanent basis, to provide for hemostasis or leakage prevention, or both. These clips overcome the limitations of clips and sutures that are currently used for the same purposes. The clips come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The clips may be placed and removed by open surgery or laparoscopic access.

A disposable unit for delivering fluid medium to one of a plurality of patients includes a sterile patient supply tube, and structure for receiving pressurized fluid medium into the patient supply tube. One or more devices is provided for precluding backflow of material from the patient to the fluid medium receiving structure, for preventing contamination of the fluid medium receiving structure and / or for preventing cross-contamination between patients.

A vascular occluding device for modifying blood flow in a vessel, while maintaining blood flow to the surrounding tissue. The occluding device includes a flexible, easily compressible and bendable occluding device that is particularly suited for treating aneurysms in the brain. The neurovascular occluding device can be deployed using a micro-catheter. The occluding device can be formed by braiding wires in a helical fashion and can have varying lattice densities along the length of the occluding device. The occluding device could also have different lattice densities for surfaces on the same radial plane.

A vascular occluding device for modifying blood flow in a vessel, while maintaining blood flow to the surrounding tissue. The occluding device includes a flexible, easily compressible and bendable occluding device that is particularly suited for treating aneurysms in the brain. The neurovascular occluding device can be deployed using a micro-catheter. The occluding device can be formed by braiding wires in a helical fashion and can have varying lattice densities along the length of the occluding device. The occluding device could also have different lattice densities for surfaces on the same radial plane.

An apparatus and method enabling the injection of fluid media into a plurality of patients is provided, including a fluid supply source providing multiple doses, a metering device for measuring the doses, a pressurizing device to effect injection, a contamination prevention device disposed between the fluid source and the patient and, when desired, an electronic control device to integrate operation of the apparatus and process.

The present invention relates to the provision of vaccines which are specific for a patient's tumor and are potentially useful for immunotherapy of the primary tumor as well as tumor metastases. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method for providing an individualized cancer vaccine comprising the steps: (a) identifying cancer specific somatic mutations in a tumor specimen of a cancer patient to provide a cancer mutation signature of the patient; and (b) providing a vaccine featuring the cancer mutation signature obtained in step (a). In a further aspect, the present invention relates to vaccines which are obtainable by said method.

A vascular occluding device for modifying blood flow in a vessel, while maintaining blood flow to the surrounding tissue. The occluding device includes a flexible, easily compressible and bendable occluding device that is particularly suited for treating aneurysms in the brain. The neurovascular occluding device can be deployed using a micro-catheter. The occluding device can be formed by braiding wires in a helical fashion and can have varying lattice densities along the length of the occluding device. The occluding device could also have different lattice densities for surfaces on the same radial plane.

A catheter assembly is provided having an inner member and an outer member extending along a longitudinal axis, the inner member and the outer member having a coaxial configuration and dimensioned for relative axial movement. The outer member may include an anti rotation member adapted to engage with a longitudinal slot formed on the inner member so as to maintain rotational alignment between inner member and outer member. The inner member can be made with a proximal portion made from a tubing such as hypotubing or a coil tubing. The inner member also may be made with a proximal portion made with a support mandrel. A coil tubing can be utilized to form the guide wire receiving member which is attached to the inner member.

A system for delivering sterile fluid to a patient, while preventing cross-contamination, in which flow interrupting means are provided which basically create regions where no fluid exists in the comprehensive or over-all quality of material that is flowing from a fluid source to a patient.

A vascular occluding device for modifying blood flow in a vessel, while maintaining blood flow to the surrounding tissue. The occluding device includes a flexible, easily compressible and bendable occluding device that is particularly suited for treating aneurysms in the brain. The neurovascular occluding device can be deployed using a micro-catheter. The occluding device can be formed by braiding wires in a helical fashion and can have varying lattice densities along the length of the occluding device. The occluding device could also have different lattice densities for surfaces on the same radial plane.

A particle is disclosed that comprises a first volume of hydrophobe-rich material with tunable dissolution and solubilization characteristics and a distinct second volume of nanostructured nonlamellar liquid crystalline material, said second volume containing said first domain and being capable of being in equilibrium with said first volume. Preferably, the nanostructured nonlamellar liquid crystalline material is capable of being in equilibrium with a polar solvent or a water-immiscible solvent or both.

An automatic system for shuffling and distributing cards includes two embodiments. One embodiment includes fixed and rotating plates on which a deck of cards is supported. The device according to this embodiment, can be placed on the table. Shuffling is achieved by a plurality of card magazines and delivery trays located on the rotating plate. The fixed plate includes fixed card ejection devices which operate during and in response to rotation of the rotating plate, which eject cards at a plurality of locations about the system. The device is electrically powered and includes means to automatically stop its rotation after the last card in the deck has been distributed. In another embodiment, a hand-hold device is designed so the user can hold it in one hand and by pressing on switch the topmost card is automatically ejected to the location aimed by the user.

A method for measuring the contact force exerted on tissue by a probe for heating the tissue and containing an antenna which is connected to a radiometer whose output reading indicates the temperature at depth of the tissue contacted by the probe comprises displaying the output reading of the radiometer, applying sufficient power to the probe to heat the tissue to a selected first temperature that is not lethal to the tissue, moving the probe into contact with the tissue, observing the increase in the displayed temperature reading that occurs when the probe contacts the tissue, and advancing the probe toward the tissue until the displayed temperature reading reaches a value corresponding to a selected tissue contact force. After the probe position in the tissue has stabilized, the applied power to the probe may be increased to heat the tissue to a selected second temperature that is lethal to tissue for a sufficient time to ablate the tissue followed by lowering the tissue heating to a sub-lethal temperature. Apparatus for practicing the method is also disclosed.

Encoder and decoder microchips suitable for use in secure unidirectional remote control devices. The encoder microchip includes circuits for performing and encoding function on an identification number embedded in the microchip and a combination of a characterization number and a stepping counter value, so as to generate a transmission value which is only decidable by a related decoding function having access to the same identification number. The decoder microchip includes circuits for decoding the transmission value into a decoded characterization number and a decoded counter value and circuits for comparing the decoded counter value with a decoded counter value range. The encoder and decoder microchips are also provided with means for synchronizing the decoder microchip with a particular encoder microchip which has generated a synchronization command.

A new shape changing staple and instrument for the fixation of structures to include bone tissue and industrial materials. This new staple stores elastic mechanical energy to exert force on fixated structures to enhance their security and in bone affect its healing response. This staple once placed changes shape in response to geometric changes in the materials structure, including healing bone tissue. The staple is advanced over prior staples due to its: 1) method of operation, 2) high strength, 3) method of insertion, 4) compressive force temperature independence, 5) energy storing staple retention and delivery system, 6) compatibility with reusable or single use product configuration, 7) efficient and cost effective manufacturing methods, and 8) reduction in the steps required to place the device. In addition to the staple's industrial application an embodiment for use in the fixation of the musculoskeletal system is shown with staple, cartridge, and extrusion handle.

An improved system and method for placing implantable medical devices (IMDs) such as leads within the coronary sinus and branch veins is disclosed. In one embodiment, a slittable delivery sheath and a method of using the sheath are provided. The sheath includes a slittable hub, and a substantially straight body defining an inner lumen. The body comprises a shaft section and a distal section that is distal to, and softer than, the shaft section. A slittable braid extends adjacent to at least a portion of one of the shaft section and the distal section. In one embodiment of the invention, the sheath further includes a transition section that is distal to the shaft section, and proximal to the distal section. The transition section is softer than the shaft section, but stiffer than the distal section.

A desorption atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (DAPCI) system delivers a primary ion beam composed of an inert, high velocity gas and solvent ions to a surface to effect desorption and ionization of both volatile and non-volatile species present on surfaces. A electrode having a tapered tip is connected to a high voltage power supply. The tapered tip projects outward from a capillary carrying a high-speed flow of gas. A vapor of a solvent is mixed into the annular gas flow surrounding the needle. The gaseous solvent vapor is ionized in close proximity to the tapered tip by virtue of the high voltage applied to the electrode. The high-speed flow of gas and solvent vapor ions extending outward from the capillary is directed toward a substrate on which an analyte of interest may have been deposited. The solvent vapor ions can blanket the surface of the analyte causing a static charge build up that facilitates ion desorption and additionally can provide positive ion adducts of the analyte freed from the substrate surface that can be directed toward an atmospheric intake of a mass spectrometer or other instrument capable of studying the analyte.

A desorption atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (DAPCI) system delivers a primary ion beam composed of an inert, high velocity gas and solvent ions to a surface to effect desorption and ionization of both volatile and non-volatile species present on surfaces. A electrode having a tapered tip is connected to a high voltage power supply. The tapered tip projects outward from a capillary carrying a high-speed flow of gas. A vapor of a solvent is mixed into the annular gas flow surrounding the needle. The gaseous solvent vapor is ionized in close proximity to the tapered tip by virtue of the high voltage applied to the electrode. The high-speed flow of gas and solvent vapor ions extending outward from the capillary is directed toward a substrate on which an analyte of interest may have been deposited. The solvent vapor ions can blanket the surface of the analyte causing a static charge build up that facilitates ion desorption and additionally can provide positive ion adducts of the analyte freed from the substrate surface that can be directed toward an atmospheric intake of a mass spectrometer or other instrument capable of studying the analyte.

Quality of Service (QoS) support is provided by means of a Tiered Contention Multiple Access (TCMA) distributed medium access protocol that schedules transmission of different types of traffic based on their service quality specifications. In one embodiment, a wireless station is supplied with data from a source having a lower QoS priority QoS(A), such as file transfer data. Another wireless station is supplied with data from a source having a higher QoS priority QoS(B), such as voice and video data. Each wireless station can determine the urgency class of its pending packets according to a scheduling algorithm. For example file transfer data is assigned lower urgency class and voice and video data is assigned higher urgency class. There are several urgency classes which indicate the desired ordering. Pending packets in a given urgency class are transmitted before transmitting packets of a lower urgency class by relying on class-differentiated urgency arbitration times (UATs), which are the idle time intervals required before the random backoff counter is decreased. In another embodiment packets are reclassified in real time with a scheduling algorithm that adjusts the class assigned to packets based on observed performance parameters and according to negotiated QoS-based requirements. Further, for packets assigned the same arbitration time, additional differentiation into more urgency classes is achieved in terms of the contention resolution mechanism employed, thus yielding hybrid packet prioritization methods. An Enhanced DCF Parameter Set is contained in a control packet sent by the AP to the associated stations, which contains class differentiated parameter values necessary to support the TCMA. These parameters can be changed based on different algorithms to support call admission and flow control functions and to meet the requirements of service level agreements.

The invention provides a tool jig (50) for use with a bone plate (10) having one or more fixing element apertures (20), wherein the tool jig (50) guides placement of a drill sleeve (34) to enable the drill sleeve (34) to be attached to a fixing element aperture (20), the tool jig (50) comprising a body (52), a securing means (80) on the body adapted to releasably secure the tool jig (50) to the bone plate (10) such that the tool jig (50) can be firstly secured in position to the bone plate (10) and secondly removed, and one or more tool jig apertures (54) defined in the body (52) wherein an at least one or all tool jig apertures (54) are adapted to be substantially aligned with an at least one or all fixing element apertures (20); wherein, in use, the tool jig aperture (54) guides the drill sleeve (34) so that the longitudinal axis of the drill sleeve (34) substantially aligns with the axis of the fixing element aperture (20) prior to attaching the drill sleeve (34) to the fixing element aperture (20). The invention also provides a medical implant assembly (5) comprising the tool jig (50) and the bone plant (10), a kit comprising the medical implant assembly and at least one drill sleeve (34), and methods of using same.

Associating multiple existing financial accounts with a multi-card account. The single multi-card account may allow a cardholder to determine an order for processing a financial transaction among the multiple financial accounts. This ordering may be dependent on the type of financial transaction. Also, the cardholder may allows partial payments from multiple financial accounts, such that a single purchase could be allocated to multiple accounts associated with the multi-card account. These systems and methods minimize the number of cards a cardholder must carry, thus minimizing the chance of losing cards or otherwise having an unauthorized use of an account and also minimizing the chance of an embarrassing rejection of a transaction.

Quality of Service (QoS) support is provided by means of a Tiered Contention Multiple Access (TCMA) distributed medium access protocol that schedules transmission of different types of traffic based on their service quality specifications. In one embodiment, a wireless station is supplied with data from a source having a lower QoS priority QoS(A), such as file transfer data. Another wireless station is supplied with data from a source having a higher QoS priority QoS(B), such as voice and video data. Each wireless station can determine the urgency class of its pending packets according to a scheduling algorithm. For example file transfer data is assigned lower urgency class and voice and video data is assigned higher urgency class. There are several urgency classes which indicate the desired ordering. Pending packets in a given urgency class are transmitted before transmitting packets of a lower urgency class by relying on class-differentiated urgency arbitration times (UATs), which are the idle time intervals required before the random backoff counter is decreased. In another embodiment packets are reclassified in real time with a scheduling algorithm that adjusts the class assigned to packets based on observed performance parameters and according to negotiated QoS-based requirements. Further, for packets assigned the same arbitration time, additional differentiation into more urgency classes is achieved in terms of the contention resolution mechanism employed, thus yielding hybrid packet prioritization methods. An Enhanced DCF Parameter Set is contained in a control packet sent by the AP to the associated stations, which contains class differentiated parameter values necessary to support the TCMA. These parameters can be changed based on different algorithms to support call admission and flow control functions and to meet the requirements of service level agreements.

A chamber for a surveillance camera that is designed to be mounted inside a larger camera housing. The chamber is sealed and provides a controlled internal environment for sensitive camera optics and internal electronics. A flush mount window is provided for the front lens of the camera, and a sealed feed-through electronic connector is provided for attachment to external controls. Valves for both adding and removing gasses to / from the chamber are provided. In one embodiment, temperature, pressure and / or humidity sensors may be deployed inside the chamber and connected electronically to a display or computer for monitoring and adjustment. In another embodiment of, a heating element is provided to evaporate moisture from the camera lens and / or from the window, and to help control the temperature inside the chamber.

A spinal stabilization system includes a first engagement member and a support structure. The first engagement member is adapted to be disposed between a first vertebra and a second vertebra. The engagement member generally includes a seating surface for accommodating at least a portion of a laminar region of the first vertebra. The support structure engages a portion of the second vertebra. The structural cooperation of the first engagement member and the support structure is such that the engagement member restricts reduction of the intervertebral spacing between the first and second vertebrae.