4531results about How to "Promote sports" patented technology

A circular stapling device particularly suited for surgical treatment of internal hemorrhoids is provided. The stapling device includes a distal head portion having an anvil and a shell assembly. A tissue tensioner device including a tissue engagement member is movably positioned between the anvil and the shell assembly and is operable via a tensioner trigger to position tissue within a bore defined within the shell assembly.

Devices, systems, and methods for compensate for friction within powered automatic systems, particularly for telesurgery and other telepresence applications. Dynamic friction compensation may comprise applying a continuous load in the direction of movement of a joint, and static friction compensation may comprise applying alternating loads in positive and negative joint actuation directions whenever the joint velocity reading falls within a low velocity range.

An exercise computer monitors the exercises of a user, especially a child, and provides rewards for exercises done well and regularly, thereby motivating the user. Rewards take the form of video games, cartoons, music, and merchant coupons. The exercise computer also provides encouragement and advice as the user progresses in skill level. Exercises may be prescribed. A record of exercise performance can be produced, to track the user's progress over time. The system and method can readily utilize the current install base of handheld computers and video games pre-existing in the marketplace.

A system and method for effecting multi-level spine stabilization is provided. The system includes a plurality of pedicle screws which are joined relative to each other by elongated members, e.g., rods. At least one of the rods includes a dynamic stabilizing member. The pedicle screw junctions are dynamic, i.e., free relative movement of a socket member is permitted relative to a fixed spherical element. Placement of the spherical element may be facilitated using a guidewire system that includes a guidewire and a tapered guide member. A spine stabilization assembly is also provided that includes an attachment member that includes an opening. At least one spherical element that includes a rod-receiving channel is movably mounted within the opening with three degrees of rotational freedom. The spherical element generally defines an elliptical rod-receiving channel that is deformable to a circular opening to firmly engage a rod positioned therein. Multi-level stabilization systems that combine / mix dynamic and non-dynamic stabilization modalities are also provided. The multi-level spine stabilization system offers efficacious clinical results at least in part due to the inclusion of dynamic stabilizing member(s).

Spinal stabilization devices, systems and methods are provided that include at least one pedicle screw and at least one mechanism that supports three degrees of rotational freedom relative to the pedicle screw. The mechanism may include a universal joint mechanism or a ball and socket mechanism. In the case of the ball and socket mechanism, at least one spherical element is mounted with respect to the at least one pedicle screw and a socket member cooperates with the spherical element. The spherical element and the socket member cooperate to define a dynamic junction that allows the socket member to move relative to the ball element while remaining engaged therewith. The dynamic junction is advantageously incorporated into a spinal stabilization system that includes additional pedicle screw(s), spherical element(s) and socket member(s). The spinal stabilization system may incorporate dynamic stabilizing member(s) to so as to provide clinically efficacious results.

A surgical implant is provided that includes first and second abutment surfaces between which are positioned a force imparting mechanism. A sheath is positioned between the first and second abutment surfaces, and surrounds the force imparting mechanism. The sheath is fabricated from a material that accommodates relative movement of the abutment members, while exhibiting substantially inert behavior relative to surrounding anatomical structures. The sheath is generally fabricated from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, a copolymer of polycarbonate and a urethane, or a blend of a polycarbonate and a urethane. The force imparting member may include one or more springs, e.g., a pair of nested springs. The surgical implant may be a dynamic spine stabilizing member that is advantageously incorporated into a spine stabilization system to offer clinically efficacious results.

There is provided a planar inductive battery charging system designed to enable electronic devices to be recharged. The system includes a planar charging module having a charging surface on which a device to be recharged is placed. Within the charging module and parallel to the charging surface is at least one and preferably an array of primary windings that couple energy inductively to a secondary winding formed in the device to be recharged. The invention also provides secondary modules that allow the system to be used with conventional electronic devices not formed with secondary windings.

Methods for treating anatomic tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovate generally involve positioning a distal end of a catheter device at the site of the defect, exposing a housing and energy transmission member from the distal end of the catheter, engaging the housing with tissues at the site of the defect, applying suction or other approximating tool to the tissue via the housing to bring the tissue together, and applying energy to the tissue with the energy transmission member or to deliver a clip or fixation device to substantially close the defect. Apparatus generally include a catheter body, a housing extending from a distal end of the catheter body for engaging tissue at the site of the defect, and further adapted to house a fusing or fixation device such as an energy transmission member adjacent a distal end of the housing, or a clip or fixation delivery element.

An annuloplasty ring having a three-dimensional discontinuous form generally arranged about an axis with two free ends that are axially offset. The ring is particularly suited for repair of the tricuspid valve, and more closely conforms to the annulus shape. The ring is more flexible in bending about radially extending axes than about the central axis. The ring may have an inner structural support covered by a pliable sleeve and / or a fabric tube. The structural support may have a varying cross-section, such as a C-shaped cross-section in a mid-section between two free ends and a rectangular cross-section at the free ends. A deliver template having a mounting ring with about the same shape as the ring facilitates implant, and may be releasably attached to a delivery handle. The deliver template may include a plurality of cutting guides for releasably attaching the annuloplasty ring thereto while presenting maximum outer surface area of the ring. The template may have an outwardly-facing groove to receive and retain the ring.

A chemical analysis apparatus is equipped with analysis sections having openings, means for supplying samples or reagents from the openings, means for combining and mixing samples with reagents to obtain droplets as liquids to be measured, and means for measuring the physical properties of the liquids to be measured during reaction or after completion of reaction. Furthermore, plate members are provided facing each other in analysis sections and a plurality of electrodes are provided on the plate member faces that face each other. Voltage is applied from the plurality of electrodes to the droplets of the samples and the reagents.

An apparatus for use in positioning an anchor includes a tubular outer member and an inner or pusher member. During use of the apparatus, a slot facilitates visualization of the position of the anchor relative to body tissue. An anchor retainer may be provided at one end of the tubular outer member to grip the anchor and hold the anchor in place during assembly. The anchor retainer also holds the anchor during movement of the apparatus from an assembly location to an operating room or other location where the apparatus is to be used. Indicia may be provided on the inner member to indicate the position of the anchor relative to body tissue. The tubular outer member may be utilized to guide a drill during formation of an opening in body tissue and may be subsequently utilized to guide movement of an anchor into the opening in the body tissue.

An apparatus for moving an object disposed within a body lumen. The apparatus includes a first sheath, a coupling member and at least one contraction member for engaging at least a portion of the object. The coupling member is movable relative to the first sheath between a retracted position and a capture position. In the retracted position, a distal portion of the coupling member is disposed within the first sheath. In the capture position, the coupling member distal portion is disposed outside the first sheath. The coupling member is also selectively attachable to the object in at least the capture position. When the coupling member is attached to the object and the contraction member is directly engaged with the object, a predetermined coupling member movement relative to the contraction member radially contracts at least a portion of the object thereby facilitating movement of the object within the body lumen.

A method and apparatus for generating haptic effects for a touch panel or other interface device employs a touch-sensitive panel, a display and an actuator. The actuator includes a first structural element and a second structural element, a biasing element and two magnetic devices. The first magnetic device is configured to be carried by the first structural element and the second magnetic device is configured to be carried by the second structural element. The first structural element is coupled to a touch-sensitive panel and the second structural element may be coupled to the display or to a relatively fixed item. The biasing element couples the first and second structural elements together and deforms to facilitate a movement between the first and second structural elements. The actuator provides haptic effects by facilitating relative movement between the first and second structural elements.

An electrosurgical forceps is provided with a shaft that extends from a housing of the electrosurgical forceps. An end effector assembly operably coupled to a distal end of the shaft includes a pair of first and second jaw members each having jaw housing and an electrosurgical seal plate. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable from an open configuration, to a clamping configuration. The moveable jaw member includes an elongated channel defined in its respective jaw housing and extends along a length thereof. A drive assembly operably couples to the moveable jaw member via a drive rod that is engageable with the elongated channel to move the movable jaw member from the open configuration to the clamping configuration and to provide a closure force between the first and second jaw members when the jaw members are in the clamping configuration.

A pedicle screw is provided that includes an upwardly extending collet. The collet may include downwardly extending slots that define deflectable segments therebetween. When a spherical element or other structure, e.g., a non-dynamic stabilizing element, is positioned around the collet, introduction of a set screw causes outward deflection of the upstanding segments into engagement with the spherical element. A snap ring may be interposed between the collet and the spherical element to facilitate positioning therebetween. In an alternative embodiment, a non-slotted collet is employed. In such embodiment, the collet and the spherical element may be threadingly engaged and may include a snap ring therebetween. The pedicle screw subassemblies may be incorporated into a spinal stabilization system which may include a dynamic stabilizing member to provide clinically efficacious results.

A network interface device provides a fast-path that avoids most host TCP and IP protocol processing for most messages. The host retains a fallback slow-path processing capability. In one embodiment, generation of a response to a TCP / IP packet received onto the network interface device is accelerated by determining the TCP and IP source and destination information from the incoming packet, retrieving an appropriate template header, using a finite state machine to fill in the TCP and IP fields in the template header without sequential TCP and IP protocol processing, combining the filled-in template header with a data payload to form a packet, and then outputting the packet from the network interface device by pushing a pointer to the packet onto a transmit queue. A transmit sequencer retrieves the pointer from the transmit queue and causes the corresponding packet to be output from the network interface device.

A motion interface structure for use with a pedicle screw is provided, the motion interface structure defining a central passage having an internal face. A helical thread is formed on at least a portion of the internal face of the central passage. The motion interface element is designed to cooperate with an upstanding region of a pedicle screw. The upstanding region includes a threaded region that is adapted to threadingly engage the helical thread associated with the motion interface element. The motion interface element may take the form of a spherical element or a universal joint mechanism. The pedicle screw and motion interface element may be incorporated into a spinal stabilization system that includes one or more additional pedicle screw / motion interface element subassemblies. The spinal stabilization system may also include a dynamic stabilizing element that provides clinically efficacious results.

A system for protocol processing in a computer network has a TCP / IP Offload Network Interface Device (TONID) associated with a host computer. The TONID provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multi-packet messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The TONID also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the TONID to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the TONID as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The TONID contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU. A preferred embodiment includes a trio of pipelined processors with separate processors devoted to transmit, receive and management processing, with full duplex communication for four fast Ethernet nodes.

A pedicle screw assembly is provided that includes a pedicle screw and a preloaded set screw. The set screw is preloaded in a threaded, central aperture formed in the head region of the pedicle screw. An interference is advantageously formed on the set screw to prevent dislodgement of the set screw, e.g., during shipment and / or clinical placement of the pedicle screw. An upwardly extending collet is generally formed in the head region of the pedicle screw, the collet being sized to receive a spherical element therearound. Advancement of the set screw relative to the pedicle screw secures the spherical element relative to the pedicle screw. The spherical element typically includes a socket member that cooperates with a dynamic stabilizing member. The pedicle screw assembly and dynamic stabilizing member are advantageously used as part of a spinal stabilization system to provide clinically efficacious results.

A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The INIC provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multi-packet messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The INIC also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the INIC to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the INIC as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The INIC contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU. A preferred embodiment includes a trio of pipelined processors with separate processors devoted to transmit, receive and management processing, with full duplex communication for four fast Ethernet nodes.

A method is provided for permitting a module which is configured to perform a dedicated function on a bed to use a graphical interface. Graphic format data used by the module is downloaded, if necessary, and stored in a memory of the graphical interface.

A system and method for facilitating a spinal stabilization procedure is provided. A tapered guide member is positioned adjacent to or in juxtaposition with the head of a pedicle screw, and the associated components are thus guided into alignment therewith. A component, e.g., a spherical element, may be advanced onto a collet that extends upwardly from the head of the pedicle screw. A guidewire may also be employed to guide components to the pedicle screw and / or to guide the guidewire into position. Thus, a conical guide member may be slid down a guidewire into alignment with a pedicle screw, and subsequently advanced components may be guided into alignment with the pedicle screw. The tapered guide member may include registration feature(s) and may facilitate alignment with off-axis locations. The facilitating system may be employed with a dynamic spinal stabilization system that provides clinically efficacious results at least in part based upon inclusion of dynamic stabilizing member(s).

A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The INIC provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multi-packet messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The INIC also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the INIC to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the INIC as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The INIC contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU. A preferred embodiment includes a trio of pipelined processors with separate processors devoted to transmit, receive and management processing, with full duplex communication for four fast Ethernet nodes.