999results about How to "Obstruct passage" patented technology

Abstract of the Disclosure

An implantable analyte sensor including a sensing region for measuring the analyte and a non-sensing region for immobilizing the sensor body in the host. The sensor is implanted in a precisely dimensioned pocket to stabilize the analyte sensor in vivo and enable measurement of the concentration of the analyte in the host before and after formation of a foreign body capsule around the sensor. The sensor further provides a transmitter for RF transmission through the sensor body, electronic circuitry, and a power source optimized for long-term use in the miniaturized sensor body.

Abstract of the Disclosure

An implantable analyte sensor including a sensing region for measuring the analyte and a non-sensing region for immobilizing the sensor body in the host. The sensor is implanted in a precisely dimensioned pocket to stabilize the analyte sensor in vivo and enable measurement of the concentration of the analyte in the host before and after formation of a foreign body capsule around the sensor. The sensor further provides a transmitter for RF transmission through the sensor body, electronic circuitry, and a power source optimized for long-term use in the miniaturized sensor body.

A filter pack includes a filter construction and a sealing system for sealing the construction within a duct or housing. The filter construction has first and second opposite flow faces and is configured for a straight-through flow. The sealing system includes a frame construction and a compressible seal member. The compressible seal member is molded around a portion of the frame construction. The compressible seal member is sufficiently compressible to form a radial seal between and against the frame construction and a surface of a housing when the filter pack is inserted within the housing.

A smokeless tobacco product is provided. A water-permeable pouch containing a tobacco formulation and configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product is provided. The tobacco formulation includes granular tobacco and a buffer comprised of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. An outer packaging material enveloping the pouch is provided and is sealed so as to allow a controlled environment to be maintained within.

Abstract of the Disclosure

An implantable analyte sensor including a sensing region for measuring the analyte and a non-sensing region for immobilizing the sensor body in the host. The sensor is implanted in a precisely dimensioned pocket to stabilize the analyte sensor in vivo and enable measurement of the concentration of the analyte in the host before and after formation of a foreign body capsule around the sensor. The sensor further provides a transmitter for RF transmission through the sensor body, electronic circuitry, and a power source optimized for long-term use in the miniaturized sensor body.

A delivery device includes a durable housing portion and a separable disposable portion that selectively engage and disengage from each other. The disposable housing portion secures to the patient-user and may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. Components that normally come into contact with a patient-user or with infusion medium are supported by the disposable housing portion, while the durable housing portion supports other components such as electronics and a drive device. A reservoir is supported by the disposable housing portion and has a moveable plunger that operatively couples to the drive device, when the disposable and durable housing portions are engaged.

Methods of treatment of tissue with electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to produce lattices of EMR-treated islets in the tissue are disclosed. Also disclosed are devices and systems for producing lattices of EMR-treated islets in tissue, and cosmetic and medical applications of such devices and systems.

An improved pouching machine is provided. The improved pouching machine comprises a feed hopper with a first and a second end and a feed screw with a plurality of pins extending from the circumference. The feed screw is connected to a first shaft and the first shaft is connected to a motor to rotate the first shaft. An agitator screw is positioned adjacent to the feed screw and has a plurality of pins extending from the circumference. The agitator screw is connected to a second shaft.

Electrochemical cells, and more specifically, rechargeable batteries comprising lithium anodes for use in water and/or air environments, as well as non-aqueous and non-air environments, are presented. In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell includes an anode comprising lithium and a multi-layered structure positioned between the anode and an electrolyte of the cell. A multi-layered structure can include at least a first single-ion conductive material layer (e.g., a lithiated metal layer), and at least a first polymeric layer positioned between the anode and the single-ion conductive material. The invention also can provide an electrode stabilization layer positioned within the electrode, i.e., between one portion and another portion of an electrode, to control depletion and re-plating of electrode material upon charge and discharge of a battery. Advantageously, electrochemical cells comprising combinations of structures described herein are not only compatible with environments that are typically unsuitable for lithium, but the cells may be also capable of displaying long cycle life, high lithium cycling efficiency, and high energy density.

The present invention relates generally to a device and method for preventing the undesired passage of emboli from a venous blood pool to an arterial blood pool. The invention relates especially to a device and method for treating certain cardiac defects, especially patent foramen ovales and other septal defects, through the use of an embolic filtering device capable of instantaneously deterring the passage of emboli from the moment of implantation. The device consists of a frame, and a braided mesh of sufficient dimensions to prevent passage of emboli through the mesh. The device is preferably composed of shape memory allow, such as Nitinol, which conforms to the shape and dimension of the defect to be treated.

A process and apparatus for free form fabrication of a three-dimensional work piece comprising (a) feeding raw material in a solid state to a first predetermined location; (b) depositing the raw material onto a substrate as a molten pool deposit under a first processing condition; (c) monitoring the molten pool deposit for a preselected condition; (d) comparing information about the preselected condition of the monitored molten pool deposit with a predetermined desired value for the preselected condition of the monitored molten pool deposit; (e) solidifying the molten pool deposit; (f) automatically altering the first processing condition to a different processing condition based upon information obtained from the comparing step (d); and repeating steps (a) through (f) at one or more second locations for building up layer by layer a three-dimensional work piece. The apparatus is characterized by a detector that monitors a preselected condition of the deposited material and a closed loop electronic control device for controlling operation of one or more components of the apparatus in response to a detected condition by the detector.

Apparatus & methods for optimizing anchoring force are described herein. In securing tissue folds, over-compression of the tissue directly underlying the anchors is avoided by utilizing tissue anchors having expandable arms configured to minimize contact area between the anchor and tissue. When the anchor is in its expanded configuration, a load is applied to the anchor until it is optimally configured to accommodate a range of deflections while the anchor itself exerts a substantially constant force against the tissue. Various devices, e.g., stops, spring members, fuses, strain gauges, etc., can be used to indicate when the anchor has been deflected to a predetermined level within the optimal range. Moreover, other factors to affect the anchor characteristics include, e.g., varying the number of arms or struts of the anchor, positioning of the arms, configuration of the arms, the length of the collars, etc.

A system including a computerized shopping cart that includes a closed mechanical cart (1) which interconnects/disconnects to units for the insertion/storage of products upon manual command managed by a shopping computer aimed at managing shopping problems and controlling all electronic functions, i.e. automatic system for optically scanning (7) bar codes (UPC/EAN standard), one for checking (8) the correctness of the customer's operations, one emitting the intelligent multimedia commercial message, one for the wireless exchange of data with the outside, for use in supermarkets. The system provides shopping info (8) (list of products on sale, location, price, other), or of the product being purchased (price, whether it is on sale, partial groceries bill), or already purchased (list of purchased items) or to be purchased (remaining shopping list), guided by appropriate interactive messages (acoustic, visual.

Methods of treatment of tissue with electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to produce lattices of EMR-treated islets in the tissue are disclosed. Also disclosed are devices and systems for producing lattices of EMR-treated islets in tissue, and cosmetic and medical applications of such devices and systems.

Disclosed herein are methods, devices, compositions, and systems for providing an interface between medical instrumentation and a patient. In various embodiments, the interface provides a sterile barrier, acoustic coupler, and thermal insulator between the patient and a medical instrument. In some embodiments, an acoustic coupler interface is used between an ultrasound instrument and a patient. In some embodiments, the acoustic coupler comprises a thermoplastic elastomer (“TPE”) and in particular oil-enhanced or gelatinous TPEs that can be used in diagnostic and therapeutic (HIFU) ultrasound procedures.

A method of preventing ingress of material into the left atrium of a heart includes providing a delivery sheath, advancing the sheath distal end through an opening between the right atrium and the left atrium of the heart, providing an expandable cage, delivering the expandable cage to the left atrium, and expanding the expandable cage within the left atrium. The expandable cage includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of supports extending therebetween. The expandable cage also includes a first membrane provided at its proximal end and a second membrane provided at its distal end. The expandable cage has a collapsed configuration so that it can be received within the lumen of the delivery sheath, and an expanded configuration for deployment within the heart. When expanded, the first membrane is positioned at an opening between the left and right atria of the heart, and the second membrane is positioned at the ostium of the left atrial appendage. The first membrane substantially prevents passage of blood between the atria and the second membrane prevents passage of embolic material from the left atrial appendage into the left atrium of the heart.