815results about How to "Rule out the possibility" patented technology

An electrosurgical medical device and method for creating thermal welds in engaged tissue. In one embodiment, at least one jaw of the instrument defines a tissue engagement plane that carries a recessed central portion. In another embodiment, the controller coupled to the Rf source is adapted to switch from a power control operational mode to a voltage controlled operational mode at a selected transition impedance level.

An electrosurgical medical device and method for creating thermal welds in engaged tissue. In one embodiment, at least one jaw of the instrument defines a tissue engagement plane carrying a conductive-resistive matrix of a conductively-doped non-conductive elastomer. The engagement surface portions thus can be described as a positive temperature coefficient material that has a unique selected decreased electrical conductance at each selected increased temperature thereof over a targeted treatment range. The conductive-resistive matrix can be engineered to bracket a targeted thermal treatment range, for example about 60° C. to 80° C., at which tissue welding can be accomplished. In one mode of operation, the engagement plane will automatically modulate and spatially localize ohmic heating within the engaged tissue from Rf energy application—across micron-scale portions of the engagement surface.

Endoscopic steering apparatus is provided, including an endoscope (80) having distal (82) and proximal (98) ends thereof. In a preferred embodiment, at least one proximal cylinder (92) is disposed in a vicinity of the proximal end of the endoscope, and at least one proximal piston (94) is slidably coupled to the at least one proximal cylinder. This piston is typically manually driven. A first distal cylinder (88) is disposed at the distal end of the endoscope, and a first distal piston (90) is slidably coupled to the first distal cylinder. A second distal cylinder (88) is disposed at the distal end of the endoscope, and a second distal piston (90) is slidably coupled to the second distal cylinder. A first tube (86) is coupled to the first distal cylinder and to the at least one proximal cylinder, and a second tube (86) is coupled to the second distal cylinder and to the at least one proximal cylinder. A linkage (96) is disposed at the distal end of the endoscope and coupled to the first distal piston and to the second distal piston, such that displacement of at least one of the distal pistons causes displacement of the linkage and steering of the distal end of the endoscope.

Methods for delivery and deploying a stent formed of a shape memory alloy to a desired position in a tubular area of the body, and/or for repositioning and/or retrieving a stent formed of a two-way shape memory alloy. An arrangement is provided by which the temperature of the stent is locally adjusted during delivery, repositioning and/or retrieval in a safe and controlled manner by engagement with an expandable and collapsible thermal transfer member situated on a catheter assembly.

Methods and apparatus for electrosurgically treating human skin. The skin may be treated by applying thermal energy to the dermis to shrink the skin following liposuction, or to induce collagen deposition at the site of a wrinkle for wrinkle reduction or removal. In another embodiment, a method involves electrosurgically removing or modifying tissue in the head or neck to provide a face-lift or a neck-lift. In one embodiment, the working end of an electrosurgical instrument is positioned in at least close proximity to the dermis by approaching the dermis from the underside (reverse side) of the skin.

A wireless control device includes a small, lightweight housing worn by an operator, for example on the operator's wrist, and a controlled device, for example a personal computer. Several optical emitters, preferably light emitting diodes operating in the infrared range, and several optical detectors are provided on the housing. At least one x-axis emitter-detector pair operates to detect an x-direction of a pointing motion or gesture, and at least one y-axis emitter-detector pair operates to detect a y-direction of a pointing motion or gesture. This motion can then be used to cause a response in the controlled device. For example, angles of the operator's hand at the wrist can be interpreted to induce motion of a cursor on a computer display. The device may also include a motion sensor, an environmental condition sensor, or a voice recognition sensor, and can also be adapted for gesture recognition and image scanning applications.

A wavelength selective reflection display (10) comprises a wavelength selective reflection medium (20) and a backing member (30) having a first, non-reflective optical state, and a second, reflective optical state. Both the wavelength selective reflection medium (20) and the backing member (30) are divided into pixels (40, 50, 60), and the backing member (30) is switchable between its first and second optical states on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The pixels of the backing member (30) are substantially aligned with those of the wavelength selective reflection medium (20).

The present invention relates to a system and methods by which the risk associated with a new opportunity or new or ongoing relationship may be assessed. An example of such new opportunity or new relationship for which the present invention may be used to assess the risk is that concerning a potential new customer of a financial institution. The risk assessment of the present invention may be used to assess whether a new customer should be taken on as a customer and, if so, to what extent should the possible full range of account benefits be provided to the new customer. Other applications include assessing risk regarding a candidate for employment, assessing casualty loss and/or repayment risk in the insurance industry, and assessing risk in a landlord tenant relationship to determine whether or not to rent to the prospective tenant and if so, the amount of the security deposit.

A system, method, and program for managing applications on remote communication devices, such as cellular telephones, on a wireless communications network. A server on the wireless network stores application threshold event data and manages communication device resident applications through device interaction, such as limiting access to server-side applications, updating the application, or recording the occurrence of the threshold event for other application uses.

A collaborative communication system is disclosed. The collaborative communication system integrates a number of electronic. communication tools to meet the collaborative communication needs for an enterprise, family members or friends. All communications are within the system. According to one aspect of the collaborative communication system, registered users in the system are provided public, group and private arenas or domains. Depending on the privacy, communications with others may be conducted in any one of these domains. According to another aspect of the collaborative communication system, communications with others can be conducted through electronic internal mail (herein “i-mail”), instant messaging and file sharing. In particular, the i-mail operates on identifiers pertaining to registered users, thus eliminating the possibility of the registered users receiving unwanted email from other users outside the system.

Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for statistical multiplexing of compressed video streams. A deadline of a packet of a compressed video stream is computed based on a program clock reference value of the packet. A plurality of packets, which includes the packet, is sorted based on deadlines corresponding to the packets. A next packet from the sorted plurality of packets is selected, the next packet having a corresponding deadline nearest to a system clock time. The next packet is transmitted.

An improved outlet tube device for a urinary drainage bag is disclosed wherein an outlet valve mechanism is contained with a rigid housing fixed securely to the drainage bag, rather than just being clamped to the outlet tubing, and thus cannot become separated from the bag. The outlet valve can be opened only by positive action on the part of the medical care personnel, thereby assuring that urine will be discharged only in a controlled manner. Further, because the valve mechanism does not require that a substantial length of tubing with a freely movable end be used in conjunction with the outlet port, there is no need to engage the free end of the tubing with a keeper. Thus the possibility of the tubing springing back to its straight configuration and flicking residual urine on the attending medical personnel is eliminated. In one embodiment the outlet tube device comprises a pinchcock-type valve which is fixedly mounted to the bag and which is normally operative to clamp off the outlet tube. In a second embodiment the outlet tube device comprises a syringetype fitting which is fixedly mounted to the bag. Depressing the syringe plunger closes the valve, and retracting the plunger opens the valve to permit fluid to be discharged through the outlet tube. In a third embodiment, a hose clamp is contained within a rigid housing and is selectively operative to clamp a hose to prevent fluid flow therethrough.

A slip-resistant stocking of the type that is worn by ambulatory hospital patients for walking directly on smooth, hard hospital floors, comprises a stocking, such as a tube sock, having a slip-resistant material applied to the foot portion of the stocking around the periphery of an outside surface thereof, such that slip-resistant material is always positioned under the bottom of the foot of the patient regardless of the rotational orientation of the foot portion of the stocking around the axis of the foot. The slip-resistant material can be on the inside as well as the outside of the stocking, so the stocking also will be slip-resistant when worn inside out. The slip-resistant material can be provided as discreet elements deposited at spaced locations around the stocking. The elements can be formed of recognizable shapes or decorative designs, which will be visible on the top of the stocking.

Session data is encoded in a tag-length-value format and encrypted using a modified encryption key. A session cookie is then formed by concatenating the length of the length of the secret, the length of the secret, the secret itself, and the encoded and encrypted configuration data. The session cookie is transmitted from a server computer to a client computer, where it is stored.

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for generating a test code for an automatic procedure is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of defining a source file having a plurality of tags associated with a member of a library of executable code objects defining a set of instructions for performing a portion of the automatic test procedure, generating a test plan in a conventional language from the source file, and generating an automated test code for the automated test procedure from the source file. In one embodiment, a test index identifying system elements tested by the test code is generated and incorporated into the test plan, allowing the user to verify that all desired system elements are exercised by the automated test code. The article of manufacture comprises a data storage device tangibly embodying instructions to perform the method steps described above. The apparatus comprises means for defining a source file having a plurality of tags, wherein each tag is associated with a member of a library of executable code objects defining a set of instructions for performing a portion of an automatic test procedure, means for generating a test plan in a conversational language from the source file, and means for generating an automated test code for the automatic test procedure from the source file.

Provided is a flat panel type heat transfer device for effectively dissipating heat generated from a heat source in contact with a casing, comprising the casing sealed and having a certain shape, a coolant loaded in the casing and undergoing phase transition, one or more flat panel type hydrophilic wick structures in contact with at least a portion of an inner surface of the casing, manufactured by aggregating fibers capable of absorbing the coolant, and providing a coolant passage leading the coolant to flow in a direction parallel to the inner surface of the casing, and one or more support structures, each having a plurality of through holes which provide coolant passages through which coolant in a vapor phase or a liquid phase flows, while supporting the hydrophilic wick structure such that the hydrophilic wick structure is in close contact with the inner surface of the casing, wherein the coolant fills a portion of a space in the casing and circulates in the space in a manner such that the coolant flows through the hydrophilic wick structure by means of capillary force generated in fine passages formed in the hydrophilic wick structure toward a relatively hot point, is evaporated by heat from a heat source, flows in a vapor phase toward a relatively low temperature point, condenses at the relatively low temperature point, flows back in a liquid phase to the relatively hot point, and repeats the cycle of evaporation and condensation.

A flexible transcutaneous electrical nerve and/or stimulation electrode includes a conductive fabric and a flexible conductive adhesive with a barrier portion surrounding a perimeter of the fabric for preventing extending and/or extendable frays of the fabric from extending exterior to the adhesive. An electrical lead wire interconnects the conductive fabric with an electrical stimulation device and a non-conductive sheet is disposed on another side of the conductive fabric for preventing undesirable electrical contact with the conductive fabric and providing a border seal.

To reduce power consumption and associated heating in a line card of line termination equipment (LTE, 12) employing multiple cub-channel carriers to communicate broadband information to customer premise equipment (CPE, 30) down a wireline communication resource (26, sub-channel carrier transmissions are restricted (58) during periods of CPE inactivity. Power supplies to a power amplifier (30) associated with the line card and wireline resource (26) are reduced, with digital signal processing capabilities of the LTE (12) further restricted (64). When the CPE wishes to re-start communication, the CPE (30) locks (68) to a correct alignment in a transmission scheme using a pilot tone that is transmitted within a simple pattern sent during reduced sub-channel carrier transmissions. Alternatively, should all transmission from the LTE cease during CPE inactivity, then the CPE monitors (80) the transmission environment and sends (82) a wake-up call to the LTE between boundaries of an uplink slot. The LTE (12) re-establishes pilot tone transmissions (86), with synchronization and lock (88) subsequently achievable by the CPE (30): this is illustrated in FIG. 2.

A method for monitoring and protecting a designated real estate Title (Deed/Transfer) against title theft, fraudulent transaction, mortgage fraud includes process and steps of compiling selected data records associated with a designated real estate Title from plurality of predefined sources and storing the compiled data into an associated file within a computer database, number referencing stored selected data to further facilitate confirmation and authentication of the data records, execute monitoring process for an authenticated Title by preparing and registering security Charge/Mortgage on the Title, Issue transaction permit code, registering with local and national lender data base, Mortgage default insurers and Title insurance companies as protected Title, protect an authenticated Title from fraudulent transaction, mortgage fraud and illegal activity by further verifying transactional data of the requesting party with the stored authenticated data, stop transaction on detection of data discrepancies, issue transaction completion permit and discharge registered security charge by obtaining consistency in obtained data records. A system comprising of confirmation, authentication and verification algorithm and ID validation hardware components. The system further includes a computer database for storing data records, computer software to validate ID cards, reference number data records, execute confirmation, authentication and verification algorithm and issue transaction completion permit/Termination warning and security charge/discharge documents.

The present invention comprises an electrical connector device for electrically connecting an alternating current (“AC”) photovoltaic (“PV”) solar panel device having an integral micro-inverter to the utility grid. The electrical connector device is a compression connector fitting that includes an upper and lower housing, which each include a channel for receiving the main electrical conductor line. The electrical connector device further includes three electrical prong, which are designed to pierce and penetrate the insulation of the main electrical conductor line to establish an electrical connection between the micro-inverter and the utility grid, when the electrical connector device is compressed about the main electrical conductor line. The shape of the channel formed in the electrical connector device has a distinctive cross-sectional shape that substantially corresponds to the shape of the main electrical conductor line to insure proper alignment and orientation of the main conductor line within the connector device.

Apparatus for monitoring a plurality of tissue viability parameters of a tissue layer element, in which two different illumination sources are used via a common illumination element in contact with the tissue. One illumination source is used for monitoring blood flow rate and optionally flavoprotein concentration, and collection fibers are provided to receive the appropriate radiation from the tissue. The other illuminating radiation is used for monitoring any one of and preferably all of NADH, blood volume and blood oxygenation state of the tissue element, and collection fibers are provided to receive the appropriate radiation from the tissue. In one embodiment, the wavelengths of the two illumination sources are similar, and common collection fibers for the two illuminating radiations are used. In another embodiment, the respective collection fibers are distanced from the illumination point at different distances correlated to the ratio of the first and second illuminating wavelengths.

The present invention relates to a liquid polymeric composition capable of forming a physiologically active substance-containing implant when it is injected into a living body and a method of preparation thereof. The composition comprises a water-soluble biocompatible liquid polyethylene glycol derivative, a biodegradable block copolymer which is insoluble in water but soluble in the water-soluble biocompatible liquid polyethylene glycol derivative and a physiologically active substance.