302results about How to "Permit some movement" patented technology

Methods for reconfiguring an atrioventricular heart valve that may use systems comprising a partial or complete annuloplasty rings proportioned to reconfigure a heart valve that has become in some way incompetent, a pair of trigonal sutures or implantable anchors, and a plurality of staples which may have pairs of legs that are sized and shaped for association with the ring at spaced locations along its length. These systems permit relative axial movement between the staples and the ring, whereby a patient's heart valve can be reconfigured in a manner that does not deter subtle shifting of the native valve components. Shape-memory alloy material staples may have legs with free ends that interlock following implantation. Annuloplasty rings may be complete or partial and may be fenestrated. One alternative method routes a flexible wire, preferably of shape-memory material, through the bights of pre-implanted staples. Other alternative systems use linkers of shape-memory material having hooked ends to interengage with staples or other implanted supports which, following implantation, decrease in effective length and pull the staples or other supports toward one another so as to create desired curvature of the reconfigured valve. These linkers may be separate from the supports or may be integral with them and may have a variety of shapes and forms. Various of these systems may be implanted non-invasively using a delivery catheter.

Devices and methods for treating a damaged intervertebral disc to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. Dynamic bias devices and reinforcement devices are disclosed, which may be used individually or in combination, to eliminate nerve impingement associated with the damaged disc, and / or to reinforce the damaged disc, while permitting relative movement of the vertebrae adjacent the damaged disc.

A multi handset telephone system with a wireless telecom / doorbell module. The telecom / doorbell module has similar electronics as a cordless handset that includes audio and RF link with a base unit. A speakerphone functionality of a wireless telecom / doorbell audio processor is used to provide an intercom audio conversation. The wireless intercom / doorbell module is battery powered that is either charged by an AC adapter or by an existing doorbell wiring. The wireless intercom / doorbell module also work in parallel with the existing bell wiring. When a page key is pressed, the module pages the telephone system and shorts the doorbell wiring to make an existing bell ring. The doorbell module is coupled with a camera.

A gas inlet manifold for a plasma chamber having a perforated gas distribution plate suspended by flexible side walls. The flexible suspension minimizes mechanical stress due to thermal expansion of the gas distribution plate. In another aspect, the suspension provides thermal isolation between the gas distribution plate and other components of the chamber.

A first portable medical device is adapted for use in an interlocking system for interlocking the first medical device to a second medical device. The first device includes a housing having opposite sides, a selective element, a blocking element, and a clamp mechanism. At least one of the opposite sides includes a matable element to detachably attach a second medical device. The selective element restricts the attachment of the second device to only one side of the first device. The blocking element prevents a third medical device from attaching to the first and second devices once the first and second devices are attached. The clamp restricts the attachment of the second device to only one side of the first device when the clamp is attached to a support member. The clamp permits slide-ratcheting axial movement of a clamp shaft.

Methods for reconfiguring an atrioventricular heart valve may use systems comprising a partial or complete fenestrated annuloplasty ring proportioned to reconfigure a heart valve that has become in some way incompetent, and a plurality of staples which may have pairs of legs that are sized and shaped for association with the ring at spaced locations along its length. These systems permit relative axial movement between the staples and the ring, whereby a patient's heart valve can be reconfigured in a manner that does not deter subtle shifting of the native valve components. Shape-memory alloy material staples may have legs with free ends that interlock following implantation. One alternative is to use flexible rings that will bend in the plane of the ring as the heart beats. Other alternative systems use linkers of shape-memory material having hooked ends to interengage with staples or other implanted supports which, following implantation, decrease in effective length and pull the staples or other supports toward one another so as to create desired curvature of the reconfigured valve. These linkers may be separate from the supports or may be integral with them and may have a variety of shapes and forms. Various of these systems may be implanted non-invasively using a delivery catheter.

The invention provides methods, systems, and devices for installing thermal barriers in openings or gaps in or between structures such as walls, ceilings, and floors. At least one thermal barrier molding bag is positioned in the hole or gap, and a flowable firestop material that is operative to cure or harden, such as a hydratable cementitious slurry, is introduced into the bag to mold a barrier in the hole or gap.

A distal protection device for use in a body lumen. The device includes a functional element which may be a filter or an occlusive element. The device includes means for controlling the movement and placement of the functional element along a guidewire. Motion of the guidewire can be independent of the motion of the functional element.

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for sealing a tubular string. In one aspect, a drilling system is provided. The drilling system includes a rotating control head for sealing the tubular string while permitting axial movement of the string relative to the rotating control head. The drilling system also includes an actuating fluid for actuating the rotating control head and maintaining a pressure differential between a fluid pressure in the rotating control head and a wellbore pressure. Additionally, the drilling system includes a cooling medium for passing through the rotating control head. In another aspect, a rotating control head is provided. In yet another aspect, a method for sealing a tubular in a rotating control head is provided.

A catheter system includes a mapping catheter having an open lumen and a mapping arrangement provided at a distal end of the mapping catheter. A balloon catheter is movably disposed within the open lumen of the mapping catheter. The balloon catheter has an open lumen dimensioned to receive a lead. A balloon arrangement is provided at a distal end of the balloon catheter and inflatable with an inflation mechanism provided at a proximal end of the balloon catheter. The balloon arrangement is dimensioned to prevent movement of the lead upon inflation of the balloon arrangement, and to permit movement of the lead within the open lumen of the balloon catheter upon deflation of the balloon arrangement.

Devices and methods for treating a damaged intervertebral disc to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. Dynamic bias devices and reinforcement devices are disclosed, which may be used individually or in combination, to eliminate nerve impingement associated with the damaged disc, and / or to reinforce the damaged disc, while permitting relative movement of the vertebrae adjacent the damaged disc.

The present invention is directed to a dynamic fixation system for engaging, via bone fixation elements, one or more parts of a patient's body. Preferably, the dynamic fixation system is used to engage one or more vertebrae for stabilizing the attached vertebrae with respect to one another while still permitting the vertebrae to move with respect to one another. The dynamic fixation system may include a first rod having first and second ends, a second rod having first and second ends, and a damping component and / or a damping mechanism for interconnecting the first and second rods. In one embodiment, the damping component is injection molded in-between the one of the ends of the first rod and one of the ends of the second rod so that the first and second rods are prevented from separating with respect to one another but are still permitted to move with respect to one another.

A delivery device for a collapsible heart valve includes an operating handle, including a frame defining a movement space therein, a carriage assembly moveable within the movement space, and a first resheathing lock having a locked position and an unlocked position. The delivery device further includes a catheter assembly, including a first shaft around which a valve-receiving compartment is defined, the first shaft being fixedly connected to one of the frame or the carriage assembly, and a distal sheath operatively connected to the carriage assembly. The distal sheath is moveable between a closed condition adapted to maintain the valve in the compartment and an open condition adapted to fully deploy the valve. With the resheathing lock in the locked position, the distal sheath is unable to move to the open condition to fully deploy the valve.

The invention provides methods, systems and devices for installing thermal barriers in openings or gaps in or between structures such as walls, ceilings and floors. At least one firestop block is positioned in the holes or gaps formed by the wall and a fluted metal deck of the ceiling or floor. The walls can be gypsum walls, which may have a metal track at the top or bottom, or could be block walls made of concrete or similar material. The firestop blocks are made of fire resistant material such as hydratable cement or intumescent materials. A flexible or flowable firestop material that is operative to cure or harden, such as elastomeric sealant or silicone, or hydratable cementitious slurry, is introduced into the space between the firestop block and the hole or gap, as a sealant or filler.

A method and system for limiting the motion of components such as the optics of a camera are disclosed. The system can comprise a stage and a snubber assembly for controlling motion of the stage in six degrees of freedom. For example, the snubber assembly can permit movement in one translational degree of freedom while substantially limiting motion in the other five degrees of motion so as to facilitate focusing and / or zooming of a camera while inhibiting misalignment of the optics and while providing some protection against shock and vibration. Such motion control can be achieved while mitigating costs associated with precision manufacturing of the snubber assembly.

A fluid control input device for endoscope includes a moving member that is moved in accordance with the operation for instructing the switching of a channel arranged in the endoscope by an operator, a restoring member that restores the moving member to a predetermined restoring position, an operated amount detecting member that detects the amount of movement or operated force of the moving member by the operation of the operator and outputs information corresponding to the detected amount of movement or operated force, a covering member that is connected to an exterior member of the endoscope so as to watertightly cover the moving member while permitting the movement of the moving member, and an amount-of-force changing mechanism that changes the amount of operated force of the moving member after / before a predetermined position at which the moving member is moved by the operation of the operator to the predetermined position.

A connector assembly for accurately projecting fasteners for connecting two building members together while permitting limited relative motion between the members. The assembly includes a plate having one or more longitudinal slots. The plate is secured to or a part of one of the building members. The plate is connected to the other building member by fasteners projected through breakaway washers formed in the slots. The breakaway washers each have an opening for guiding the fastener and centering the fastener on the slot. Centering the fastener on the slot prevents inadvertent clamping of the plate and the other building member together so that limited relative motion is permitted.

An armrest mounted to a base and a method of inhibiting the movement of an armrest is disclosed. The armrest comprises an armrest support member adapted to be coupled to the base, the armrest support member being movable in a linear direction between a first position and a second position. The armrest also includes a release mechanism configured to selectively engage the armrest support member to retain the armrest support member between the first position and the second position. The method comprises operating the user interface to reduce friction between the cam and the rail sufficient to permit movement of the armrest support member, moving the armrest support member between the forward position and the rearward position, and releasing the user interface whereby the cam applies sufficient friction to inhibit movement of the armrest support member.

The invention provides surgical or diagnostic tools and associated methods that offer improved user control for operating remotely within regions of the body. These tools include a proximally-located actuator for the operation of a distal end effector, as well as proximally-located actuators for articulational and rotational movements of the end effector. Control mechanisms and methods refine operator control of end effector actuation and of these articulational and rotational movements. A multi-state ratchet for end effector actuation provides enablement-disablement options with tactile feedback. The tool may also include other features. A force limiter mechanism protects the end effector and manipulated objects from the harm of potentially excessive force applied by the operator. An articulation lock allows the fixing and releasing of both neutral and articulated configurations of the tool and of consequent placement of the end effector. A rotation lock provides for enablement and disablement of rotatability of the end effector.

The invention provides a method of revising an implanted spinal device, such as an implanted arthroplasty device having a cephalad component fixed to a first vertebra and a caudal component fixed to a second vertebra inferior to the first vertebra. The method includes the following steps: removing a portion of a previously implanted spinal arthroplasty device; and attaching a revision component to a remaining portion of the previously implanted spinal arthroplasty device to alter a biomechanical characteristic of the implanted arthroplasty device. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of limiting motion between adjacent vertebrae including the steps of accessing an implanted spinal arthroplasty device comprising a cephalad component fixed to a first vertebra and a caudal component fixed to a second vertebra inferior to the first vertebra, the cephalad and caudal components having a range of motion between them, and attaching a revision component to the cephalad and caudal components to reduce the range of motion. The invention also includes revision devices for revising the biomechanics of implanted spinal arthroplasty devices.