14526results about How to "Promote formation" patented technology

Methods and devices are provided for performing gastroplasties. In one embodiment, a method of performing a gastroplasty includes gaining access to a stomach of a patient through an opening formed in the patient's abdominal wall. A multiple port access device having two or more sealing ports through which surgical instruments can be inserted can be positioned in the abdominal opening. Various instruments can be inserted through the various sealing ports to perform certain steps, such as tensioning and cutting tissue, sizing and transecting the stomach, viewing the surgical site, etc. The methods and devices can be used to perform a Magenstrasse and Mill procedure in which only a portion of the stomach is transected.

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided compositions and methods useful for the in vivo delivery of substantially water insoluble pharmacologically active agents (such as the anticancer drug paclitaxel) in which the pharmacologically active agent is delivered in the form of suspended particles coated with protein (which acts as a stabilizing agent). In particular, protein and pharmacologically active agent in a biocompatible dispersing medium are subjected to high shear, in the absence of any conventional surfactants, and also in the absence of any polymeric core material for the particles. The procedure yields particles with a diameter of less than about 1 micron. The use of specific composition and preparation conditions (e.g., addition of a polar solvent to the organic phase), and careful election of the proper organic phase and phase fraction, enables the reproducible production of unusually small nanoparticles of less than 200 nm diameter, which can be sterile-filtered. The particulate system produced according to the invention can be converted into a redispersible dry powder comprising nanoparticles of water-insoluble drug coated with a protein, and free protein to which molecules of the pharmacological agent are bound. This results in a unique delivery system, in which part of the pharmacologically active agent is readily bioavailable (in the form of molecules bound to the protein), and part of the agent is present within particles without any polymeric matrix therein.

A plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) system is described, wherein the system comprises a processing space and a high vacuum, ultra-clean transfer space. During processing, the substrate to which the thin conformal film is formed is exposed to the processing space. During substrate transfer, the substrate is exposed to the high vacuum space. Processing gases are introduced sequentially and alternately to the process chamber and the pressures and gas flows within, to and from, and between the process chamber and the high vacuum transfer space are controlled to keep the transfer space ultra-clean.

A load-bearing osteoimplant, methods of making the osteoimplant and method for repairing hard tissue such as bone and teeth employing the osteoimplant are provided. The osteoimplant comprises a shaped, coherent mass of bone particles which may exhibit osteogenic properties. In addition, the osteoimplant may possess one or more optional components which modify its mechanical and/or bioactive properties, e.g., binders, fillers, reinforcing components, etc.

Classes of liquid aminosilanes have been found which allow for the production of silicon carbo-nitride films of the general formula Si_xC_yN_z. These aminosilanes, in contrast, to some of the precursors employed heretofore, are liquid at room temperature and pressure allowing for convenient handling. In addition, the invention relates to a process for producing such films.

The classes of compounds are generally represented by the formulas:

• • and mixtures thereof, wherein R and R¹ in the formulas represent aliphatic groups typically having from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, e.g., alkyl, cycloalkyl with R and R¹ in formula A also being combinable into a cyclic group, and R² representing a single bond, (CH₂)_n, a ring, or SiH₂.

A bag for use in the intravascular treatment of saccular aneurysms and a method of forming the bag are disclosed. The bag is formed from a plurality of flexible, resilient filamentary members braided into a tubular sleeve and biased into a first shape having an expanded first diameter sized to substantially fill the aneurysm. The bag is resiliently deformable into a second shape having a diameter smaller than the first and sized to slidingly interfit within the lumen of a catheter. An opening is provided in the bag to receive a clotting medium, such as a platinum wire, on which blood clots can be induced to form by mechanical or electrolytic means. A closure is provided by biasing the filamentary members to form a constriction around the opening. In use the, bag is inserted into a saccular aneurysm via the catheter and expands to its first diameter upon release therefrom. Interstices between the interbraided filamentary members provide pores allowing blood from the aneurysm to enter the bag when the bag is positioned within the aneurysm. The clotting medium wire is packed into the bag, blood clots on the wire and occludes the aneurysm, sealing it off from the blood stream and preventing rupture. The wire is released from the catheter and is contained within the bag in the aneurysm.

Nitrogen-containing phase-stabilized films, methods of forming phase-stabilized films, and structures and devices including the phase-stabilized films are disclosed. The phase-stabilized films include a matrix material and a phase stabilizer, which provides a morphologically stabilizing effect to a matrix material within the films. The phase-stabilized films may be used as, for example, gate electrodes and similar films in microelectronic devices.

Methods, devices, and systems for treating the support structures of the body, particularly for incontinence, take advantage of two mechanisms to enhance the support provided by the fascia, ligaments and tendons: first, the invention increases a modulus of elasticity of these tissues, and particularly of the fascial tissues. The increase in modulus can be effected by directing sufficient energy to the fascial tissue so as to promote the formation of scar tissue. The second mechanism attaches tissue planes together, often by directing energy to an interface between adjacent fascial tissues.

The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within the head and neck of a patient's body, particularly including tissue in the ear, nose and throat. In one aspect, a method is provided for reducing the volume of enlarge swollen tissue in the patient's nose, such as swollen nasal tissue, mucus membranes, turbinates, polyps, neoplasms, cartilage (e.g., the nasal septum) or the like. In particular, the turbinates are treated by positioning one or more electrode terminal(s) adjacent to the turbinates, and delivering electrically conductive fluid, such as isotonic saline, to the nasal cavity to substantially surround the electrode terminal(s) with the fluid. High frequency voltage is applied between the electrode terminal(s) and one or more return electrode(s) to remove a small tissue segment, channel or hole from the region near or in the turbinates to shrink the turbinates and prevent swelling, due to the formation of scar tissue as the wound heals. The high frequency voltage may be selected to effect a small amount of thermal damage to the walls of the channel or hole to facilitate the formation of scar tissue without extending this thermal damage beyond the immediate region of the target site.

A bag for use in the intravascular treatment of saccular aneurysms and a method of forming the bag are disclosed. The bag is formed from a plurality of flexible, resilient filamentary members braided into a tubular sleeve and biased into a first shape having an expanded first diameter sized to substantially fill the aneurysm. The bag is resiliently deformable into a second shape having a diameter smaller than the first and sized to slidingly interfit within the lumen of a catheter. An opening is provided in the bag to receive a clotting medium, such as a platinum wire, on which blood clots can be induced to form by mechanical or electrolytic means. The opening is urged to a closed position by resiliently biasing the filamentary members. In use the, bag is inserted into a saccular aneurysm via the catheter and expands to its first diameter upon release therefrom. Interstices between the interbraided filamentary members provide pores allowing blood from the aneurysm to enter the bag when the bag is positioned within the aneurysm. The clotting medium wire is packed into the bag, blood clots on the wire and occludes the aneurysm, sealing it off from the blood stream and preventing rupture. The wire is released from the catheter and is contained within the bag in the aneurysm.

A general purpose interface tile of a first integrated circuit includes a plurality of micropads. A second integrated circuit may be stacked on the first integrated circuit such that signals from the second integrated circuit are communicated through the micropads and the interface tile to other circuitry on the first integrated circuit. Similarly, signals from the first integrated circuit are communicated through the interface tile and the micropads to the second integrated circuit. In the event that the first integrated circuit is a programmable logic device having a programmable interconnect structure, the interface tile is part of and hooks into the programmable interconnect structure and provides a general purpose mechanism for coupling signals from the second integrated circuit to the programmable interconnect structure and/or for coupling signals from the programmable interconnect structure to the second integrated circuit.

System, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for fixing bones with bone plates having movable locking elements.

A recognition tool according to various examples of the invention intelligently recognizes natural input before it is passed to a destination or target application. More particularly, the recognition tool according to various examples of the invention provides better formatting for text recognized from natural input, based upon the context in which the text is being inserted into a target application. The recognition tool also provides various tools for correcting inaccurately recognized text. The recognition tool may allow a user to select only a part of an inaccurate text, and then identify alternate text candidates based upon the selected portion of the inaccurate text. Further, when the user selects text containing multiple words for correction, the recognition tool provides cross combinations of alternate text candidates for the user's selection. Still further, if the user replaces inaccurate text by submitting a new natural input object, the recognition tool ensures that the text recognized from the new natural input object is different from the inaccurate text been replaced. The recognition tool additionally affects the recognition experience after recognized text has been provided to the target application. The recognition tool provides the target application with the original natural input object for the recognized text, along with the alternate text candidates for that original natural input object. Thus, the target application can use the alternate text candidates to correct inaccurately recognized text. Further, a user can insert the original natural input object for recognized text within the target application.

A process for selectively removing carbon dioxide from a gaseous stream by converting the carbon dioxide to a solid, stable form is provided. In a sequestration process, carbon dioxide enriched air is passed through a gas diffusion membrane to transfer the carbon dioxide to a fluid medium. The carbon dioxide rich fluid is then passed through a matrix containing a catalyst specific for carbon dioxide, which accelerates the conversion of the carbon dioxide to carbonic acid. In the final step, a mineral ion is added to the reaction so that a precipitate of carbonate salt is formed. This solid mineral precipitate can be safely stored for extended periods of time, such as by burying the precipitate in the ground or depositing the precipitate into storage sites either on land or into a body of water. An apparatus for removing carbon dioxide from a gaseous stream is also provided.

A load-bearing osteoimplant which comprises a shaped, coherent aggregate of bone particles.

A stent comprising a tubular stent matrix of which diameter is extendable and a flexible polymer layer covering the stent matrix. The polymer layer is closely attached to and covers the entire surface of the stent matrix. Since the flexible polymer layer closely covers the entire surface of the stent matrix not only the outer periphery of the stent matrix, the stent has no problem of causing allergic to metal, stimulus of tissues due to metal, and rust development. Since the inner periphery of the stent is a flat and smooth surface covered by the polymer layer without convexes and concaves, the formation of thrombus can be inhibited well. There is no problem of drift between the polymer layer and the stent matrix, thereby maintaining the positional relationship between the stent matrix and the polymer layer before and after the expansion of the stent.

Novel exendin and exendin agonist compound formulations and dosages and methods of administration thereof are provided. These compositions and methods are useful in treating diabetes and conditions that would be benefited by lowering plasma glucose or delaying and/or slowing gastric emptying or inhibiting food intake.

A cardiac ablation catheter includes a coil-like ablating element that is deployable from an elongate, flexible sheath. The ablating element, while in the deployed position, has a shape with at least one revolution oriented in a plane that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The catheter system is well-suited to ablate a circumferential region of tissue about a pulmonary vein or the posterior wall of the left atrium proximate the pulmonary vein os. The treated tissue region electrically isolates the atria from the pulmonary vein.

Methods, devices and instruments provided for performing ablation transmurally across the wall of an organ. Devices may directly access tissue to be ablated through direct access openings formed in the patient and, optionally, an organ where the ablation is to be performed. Instruments facilitating making openings, dissecting, and delivery of ablation instruments are also described.

An assembly structured to introduce a trocar or other medical instrumentation into a body cavity through an entry site formed in the cavity wall. The introducer assembly includes a base formed of a semi-rigid, flexible and/or a semi-flexible material having an instrument receiving passage extending there through, and further including an exterior sealing surface extending between proximal and distal portions of the base. The sealing surface has a predetermined configuration which is shaped to conform to the shape of the entry site as the base passes into the entry site. A fluid restricting seal is thereby established between the exterior of the base and the peripheral tissue surrounding the entry site, particularly when the entry site is formed by an incision commonly utilized an open laparoscopic procedure.