47506results about How to "Reduce risk" patented technology

An electrosurgical system has an electrosurgical generator and a bipolar electrosurgical instrument, the generator being arranged to perform a treatment cycle in which radio frequency energy is delivered to the instrument as an amplitude-modulated radio frequency power signal in the form of a succession of pulses characterized by periods of a least 100 milliseconds between successive pulses and by a predetermined pulse mark-to-space ratio. Energy delivery between pulses is substantially zero and the mark-to-space ratio is typically 1:4 or less. Each burst is of sufficiently high power to form vapor bubbles within tissue being treated and the time between successive pulses is sufficiently long to permit condensation of the vapor. The treatment cycles may each include an initial period and a subsequent period, the pulse duty cycle being increased or energy being delivered continuously in the subsequent period in order that tissue coagulation can be achieved quickly despite increasing tissue impedance.

An adaptive method, system and program for securing data against a plurality of electronic and environmental events directed at computers utilizes a hacking monitor which generates attack warnings (such as a hacking warning) dependent upon the severity of the attack. Based upon these warnings, data is filtered to extract security sensitive words etc. and the extract and remainder data (if necessary) is stored in assigned memory. Full or partial reconstruction is permitted, manually or automatically, with a security clearance. Encryption is typically used dependent upon the warning. The information processing system includes a filter which is adjusted based upon the degree of attack warning to extract security sensitive words. A storage system stores extracted data and remainder data (if necessary) based upon the level of the warning and a compiler is used to reconstruct the data in the presence of the appropriate security clearance level.

A method and apparatus for carrying our thermal ablation of target tissue is disclosed. The apparatus includes an RF ablation device having a multi-electrode electrode assembly designed to be deployed in target tissue, defining a selected-volume tissue region to be ablated, and having infusion channels for infusing a liquid into the target tissue during the ablation process. A control unit in the apparatus is operably connected to an RF energy source, for controlling the RF power level supplied to the electrodes, and to an infusion device, for controlling the rate of infusion of a liquid through the device into the tissue. During both electrode deployment and tissue ablation, impedance and or temperature measurements made within the tissue are used to control the RF source and infusion device, for optimizing the time and extent of tissue ablation.

Apparatus and methods are provided for placing and advancing a diagnostic of therapeutic instrument in a hollow body organ of a tortuous or unsupported anatomy, comprising a handle, an overtube, a distal region having an atraumatic tip. The overtube may be removable from the handle, and have a longitudinal axis disposed at an angle relative to the handle. The overtube may be selectively stiffened to reduce distension of the organ caused by advancement of the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument. The distal region permits passive steering of the overtube caused by deflection of the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument while the atraumatic tip prevents the wall of the organ from becoming caught or pinched during manipulation of the diagnostic or therapeutic instrument.

A method and apparatus for carrying our thermal ablation of target tissue is disclosed. The apparatus includes an RF ablation device having a multi-electrode electrode assembly designed to be deployed in target tissue, defining a selected-volume tissue region to be ablated, and having infusion channels for infusing a liquid into the target tissue during the ablation process. A control unit in the apparatus is operably connected to an RF energy source, for controlling the RF power level supplied to the electrodes, and to an infusion device, for controlling the rate of infusion of a liquid through the device into the tissue. During both electrode deployment and tissue ablation, impedance and or temperature measurements made within the tissue are used to control the RF source and infusion device, for optimizing the time and extent of tissue ablation.

A bipolar surgical device includes a pair of actuable jaws. A first electrode member which optionally includes a line of electrically coupled tissue-penetrating elements is formed on one of the jaws, and a second electrode member which optionally includes a line of electrically coupled tissue-penetrating elements is formed on the same or the other jaw. The electrode members are laterally spaced-apart and arranged in a parallel, usually linear manner so that the lateral distance therebetween remains generally constant. In operation, tissue may be grasped between the jaws so that the electrode members contact and / or the tissue-penetrating elements enter into the tissue. By energizing the electrode members at opposite polarities using a high frequency energy source, tissue between the jaws will be heated, coagulated, and / or necrosed, while heating of tissue outside of the lines will be minimized.

An appliance for storing, distributing and placing surgical fasteners comprises a handgrip body and an elongate element attached to the handgrip. The elongate element includes a magazine slide adapted to be displaced in the elongate element by a control rod. The control rod can be, in turn, actuated by the handgrip. The magazine slide also has surgical fasteners. Each surgical fastener has an anchoring bar, a catching bar and a connecting strip. A distal part of the anchoring bar has a conical shape. A distal end of the distal part of the anchoring bar has a hemispherical shape.

Stent-valves (e.g., single-stent-valves and double-stent-valves), associated methods and systems for their delivery via minimally-invasive surgery, and guide-wire compatible closure devices for sealing access orifices are provided.

An electrically heated smoking system includes a shell and a replaceable mouthpiece. The shell includes an electric power supply and electric circuitry. The mouthpiece includes a liquid storage portion and a capillary wick having a first end and a second end. The first end of the wick extends into the liquid storage portion for contact with liquid therein. The mouthpiece also includes a heating element for heating the second end of the capillary wick, an air outlet, and an aerosol forming chamber between the second end of the capillary wick and the air outlet. When the shell and mouthpiece are engaged or connected, the heating element is in electrical connection with the power supply via the circuitry, and a flowpath for air is defined from at least one air inlet to the air outlet via the aerosol forming chamber. In use, liquid is transferred from the liquid storage portion towards the heating element by capillary action in the wick. Liquid at the second end of the capillary wick is vaporized by the heating element. The supersaturated vapor created, is mixed and carried in the air flow from the at least one air inlet to the aerosol forming chamber. In the aerosol forming chamber, the vapor condenses to form an aerosol, which is carried towards the air outlet.

A suture and needle combination is disclosed for use during surgical and non-surgical procedures comprising a suture needle 16 with a breakaway tip 20, insertable tip 24 or reusable tip 32. Suture 10 passes freely through hollow needle 16 after a user removes needle tip (20,24, or 32) during use. This suture needle combination reduces the amount of room needed within a surgical site, reduces the length of needle 16 needed to exit tissue (for example) while suturing, and decreased trauma to at risk anatomical structures during a surgical procedure or other use.

A heart valve prosthesis is provided having a self-expanding multi-level frame that supports a valve body comprising a skirt and plurality of coapting leaflets. The frame transitions between a contracted delivery configuration that enables percutaneous transluminal delivery, and an expanded deployed configuration having an asymmetric hourglass shape. The valve body skirt and leaflets are constructed so that the center of coaptation may be selected to reduce horizontal forces applied to the commissures of the valve, and to efficiently distribute and transmit forces along the leaflets and to the frame. Alternatively, the valve body may be used as a surgically implantable replacement valve prosthesis.

Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. In addition, these therapeutic drugs, agents and / or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the formation of blood clots. Various materials and coating methodologies may be utilized to maintain the drugs, agents or compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned.

A surgical staple comprising a first deformable leg, a second deformable leg and a backspan having first and second transverse portions spaced apart to create a gap therebetween. The backspan further includes a third transverse portion spaced distally from the first and second transverse portions and distally of the gap. A first non-linear backspan portion extends between the first transverse portion and the first end portion of the third transverse portion and a second non-linear backspan portion extends between the second transverse portion and the second end portion of the third transverse portion.

A system that tracks the current and historical locations of a GPS locator device carried by a person provides widely available access to data referencing these locations, so that a parent can easily and frequently monitor the location of a child. Monitoring of a child's location may be conducted via a Web site, which provides graphical maps of location data, or via calling into a call center. The present invention also provides a means for a parent to trigger the automatic transmission of the device's location, via a Web site or call placed to a call center agent or a VRU. The present invention also provides a process of auto-notification of a device's movement that exceeds a pre-specified threshold. The present invention also includes a capability to function as a proximity alert device.

Items of mail are rapidly processed in a mail sampling system to determine if the mail is contaminated with a chemical or biological agent. The mail sampling system maintains a negative pressure in a containment chamber and includes a triggering sampler that makes a threshold determination regarding possible contamination, and a detecting sampler that obtains a sample for more detailed analysis in response to a signal from the triggering sampler. A sample of particulates collected from an item of mail is either removed for analysis or analyzed in the system to identify a contaminating agent. Optionally, the system includes an archiving sampler, which archives samples for subsequent processing and analysis, and a decontamination system, which is activated to decontaminate the mail if needed.

Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, including self-expanding stents, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The devices utilized to deliver the implantable medical devices may be modified to reduce the potential for damaging the implantable medical device during deployment.

Apparatus for controlling force applied to and for manipulation of a surgical instrument. Movement and / or forces applied to the surgical instrument are preferably sensed within the apparatus. An actuator is preferably used to apply force to the surgical instrument for control and manipulation of the instrument. The apparatus applies variable force feedback to apply force to the surgical instrument in one or more degrees of freedom to provide an enhanced haptic experience to the user.

A cartridge for a surgical apparatus includes a housing having a slot configured to accommodate a blade. A plurality of fasteners is configured to be deployed by the housing. A first row of the plurality of fasteners is positioned on a first side of the slot and a second row of the plurality of fasteners is positioned on a second side of the slot. The first row of the plurality of fasteners is the nearest row of fasteners to the slot on the first side of the slot that are deployed by the housing, and the first row of the plurality of fasteners is spaced apart from the slot such that an undamaged tissue margin is formed on a section of tissue during operation of the surgical apparatus.

A method and system for reducing the time it takes for a trader to place a trade when electronically trading on an exchange, thus increasing the likelihood that the trader will have orders filled at desirable prices and quantities. The “Mercury” display and trading method of the present invention ensure fast and accurate execution of trades by displaying market depth on a vertical or horizontal plane, which fluctuates logically up or down, left or right across the plane as the market prices fluctuate. This allows the trader to trade quickly and efficiently. The price consolidation feature of the present invention, as described herein, enables a trader to consolidate a number of prices in order to condense the display. Such action allows a trader to view a greater range of prices and a greater number of orders in the market at any given time. By consolidating prices, and therefore orders, a trader reduces the risk of a favorable order scrolling from the screen prior to filling a bid or ask on that order at a favorable price.

An improved human user computer interface system, providing a graphic representation of a hierarchy populated with naturally classified objects, having included therein at least one associated object having a distinct classification. Preferably, a collaborative filter is employed to define the appropriate associated object. The associated object preferably comprises a sponsored object, generating a subsidy or revenue.

A flexible mounting base to hold a sensor at an infusion site, the sensor being a removable in vivo sensor for monitoring analyte concentration level in a patient, such as blood glucose (BG) level. The mounting base comprises a flexible adhesive that anchors the flexible sensor set at an infusion site to provide stability for the sensor set in a convenient and comfortable manner. Placement of the mounting base onto the patient's skin causes the insertion needle to pierce the skin for transcutaneous placement of the cannula with the sensor therein. The insertion needle can then be withdrawn to leave the cannula and sensor at the selected insertion position, with the distal segment of the sensor being exposed to patient extracellular fluid via apertures formed in the cannula.

PCT No. PCT / FR97 / 01617 Sec. 371 Date Jul. 28, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Jul. 28, 1998 PCT Filed Sep. 12, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98 / 10722 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 19, 1998An expandable osteosynthesis implant has branches (5) each connected at one end to a seat (7) which is pierced by an orifice (8), suitable for being slid from a posterior direction between the facing faces of two consecutive vertebrae in order to hold them a given distance apart and restore stability of the spinal column. According to the invention, the branches (5) and the seat (7) define a hollow cage (1) which, in a "rest" position, has an outside general shape that is a cylinder of circular section, and a portion at least of the inside volume (9) of the cage (1) towards the distal ends of the branches (5) is in the form of a circular truncated cone whose large base is towards the seat (7), which implant has at least three branches (5) and, inside the inside volume (9) at least one spacer (2) suitable for passing through the orifice (8) and the large base of the truncated cone.

The present invention discloses devices and methods for performing intravascular procedures with out cardiac bypass. The devices include various embodiments of temporary filter devices, temporary valves, and prosthetic valves.The temporary filter devices have one or more cannulae which provide access for surgical tools for effecting repair of the cardiac valves. A cannula may have filters of various configurations encircling the distal region of the cannula, which prevent embolitic material from entering the coronary arteries and aorta.The temporary valve devices may also have one or more cannulae which guide the insertion of the valve into the aorta. The valve devices expand in the aorta to occupy the entire flow path of the vessel. In one embodiment, the temporary valve is a disc of flexible, porous, material that acts to filter blood passing therethrough. A set of valve leaflets extend peripherally from the disc. These leaflets can alternately collapse to prevent blood flow through the valve and extend to permit flow.The prosthetic valves include valve fixation devices which secure the prosthetic valve to the wall of the vessel. In one embodiment, the prosthetic valves have at least one substantially rigid strut, at least two expandable fixation rings located about the circumference of the base of the apex of the valve, and one or more commissures and leaflets. The prosthetic valves are introduced into the vascular system a compressed state, advanced to the site of implantation, expanded and secured to the vessel wall.

The invention relates to a microfabricated device for the rapid detection of DNA, proteins or other molecules associated with a particular disease. The devices and methods of the invention can be used for the simultaneous diagnosis of multiple diseases by detecting molecules (e.g. amounts of molecules), such as polynucleotides (e.g., DNA) or proteins (e.g., antibodies), by measuring the signal of a detectable reporter associated with hybridized polynucleotides or antigen / antibody complex. In the microfabricated device according to the invention, detection of the presence of molecules (i.e., polynucleotides, proteins, or antigen / antibody complexes) are correlated to a hybridization signal from an optically-detectable (e.g. fluorescent) reporter associated with the bound molecules. These hybridization signals can be detected by any suitable means, for example optical, and can be stored for example in a computer as a representation of the presence of a particular gene. Hybridization probes can be immobilized on a substrate that forms part of or is exposed to a channel or channels of the device that form a closed loop, for circulation of sample to actively contact complementary probes. Universal chips according to the invention can be fabricated not only with DNA but also with other molecules such as RNA, proteins, peptide nucleic acid (PNA) and polyamide molecules.

Current phacoemulsification handpieces require rigorous cleaning after each procedure because the aspiration and irrigation pathways for fluids are integral to the handpiece. According to the present invention, a removable horn extension and nosecone may be used with a phacoemulsification handpiece to allow for disposable fluid pathways exterior to the handpiece. This will reduce the cleaning time and effort, reduce cross-contamination, and increase the lifespan of the handpiece. Furthermore, the current invention allows different horn extensions to be used to excite different motions at the tip of the handpiece, depending on the preference of the surgeon.

A system, including software components, that efficiently and dynamically analyzes changes to data sources, including application programs, within an integration environment and simultaneously re-codes dynamic adapters between the data sources is disclosed. The system also monitors at least two of said data sources to detect similarities within the data structures of said data sources and generates new dynamic adapters to integrate said at least two of said data sources. The system also provides real time error validation of dynamic adapters as well as performance optimization of newly created dynamic adapters that have been generated under changing environmental conditions.

An expandable osteosynthesis implant has branches (5) each connected at one end to a seat (7) which is pierced by an orifice (8), suitable for being slid from a posterior direction between the facing faces of two consecutive vertebrae in order to hold them a given distance apart and restore stability of the spinal column. According to the invention, the branches (5) and the seat (7) define a hollow cage (1) which, in a "rest" position, has an outside general shape that is a cylinder of circular section, and a portion at least of the inside volume (9) of the cage (1) towards the distal ends of the branches (5) is in the form of a circular truncated cone whose large base is towards the seat (7), which implant has at least three branches (5) and, inside the inside volume (9) at least one spacer (2) suitable for passing through the orifice (8) and the large base of the truncated cone.

A device for use as a portal in percutaneous minimally invasive surgery performed within a patient's body cavity includes a first elongated hollow tube having a length adjusted with a self-contained mechanism. The first elongated tube includes an inner hollow tube and an outer hollow tube and the inner tube is adapted to slide within the outer tube thereby providing the self-contained length adjusting mechanism. This length-adjustment feature is advantageous for percutaneous access surgery in any body cavity. Two or more elongated tubes with adjustable lengths can be placed into two or more adjacent body cavities, respectively. Paths are opened within the tissue areas between the two or more body cavities, and are used to transfer devices and tools between the adjacent body cavities. This system of two or more elongated tubes with adjustable lengths is particularly advantageous in percutaneous minimally invasive spinal surgeries, and provides the benefits of minimizing long incisions, recovery time and post-operative complications.

A patient safety system including an adjustable bed and a patient monitoring system is disclosed herein. The adjustable bed can automatically adjust to a safe default configuration when the safety system detects that a care provider has left the patient's room or when the safety system detects that the patient is trying to leave the bed. The patient monitoring system can send an alert to the care provider and / or sound an alarm if the patient tries to leave the bed and a care provider is not present with the patient.