1163results about How to "Small shape" patented technology

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.

An electrode support structure assembly is provided comprising an electrode support structure including a plurality of splines. Each of the plurality of splines can have a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The assembly further comprises a first element defining an axis and comprising an outer surface. The outer surface comprises a plurality of slots configured to receive the distal end portion of each of the plurality of splines. The first element is configured such that the distal end portion of each of the plurality of splines may move with respect to each slot. In accordance with some embodiments, the distal end portion of each of the plurality of splines comprises a section configured for engagement with the first element, wherein the section comprises a shoulder.

Implants, implant systems, and methods for treatment of mitral valve regurgitation and other valve diseases generally include a coaptation assist body which remains within the blood flow path as the leaflets of the valve move, the valve bodies often being relatively thin, elongate (along the blood flow path), and/or conformable structures which extend laterally from commissure to commissure, allowing the native leaflets to engage and seal against the large, opposed surfaces on either side of the valve body during the heart cycle phase when the ventricle contracts to empty that chamber of blood, and allows blood to pass around the valve body so that blood flows from the atrium to the ventricle during the filling phase of the heart cycle. Separate deployment of independent anchors near each of the commissures may facilitate positioning and support of an exemplary triangular valve body, with a third anchor being deployed in the ventricle. An outer surface of the valve body may accommodate tissue ingrowth or endothelialization, while a fluid-absorbing matrix can swell after introduction into the heart. The valve body shape may be selected after an anchor has been deployed, and catheter-based deployment systems may have a desirable low profile.

An interbody fusion device is provided that includes an interbody cage, a fixation system and an actuation mechanism to deploy one or more blades. The cage acts as an intervertebral spacer and provides resistance to the compressive loads in the spinal column. The fixation system includes an anchor and a ramp. These components could be manufactured from various medical grade materials.

A method for manufacturing a field effect transistor, includes: forming a mask of an insulating film on a semiconductor layer containing Si formed on a semiconductor substrate; forming the semiconductor layer into a mesa structure by performing etching with the use of the mask, the mesa structure extending in a direction parallel to an upper face of the semiconductor substrate; narrowing a distance between two sidewalls of the mesa structure and flattening the sidewalls by performing a heat treatment in a hydrogen atmosphere, the two sidewalls extending in the direction and facing each other; forming a gate insulating film covering the mesa structure having the sidewalls flattened; forming a gate electrode covering the gate insulating film; and forming source and drain regions at portions of the mesa structure, the portions being located on two sides of the gate electrode.

An endoluminal prosthesis includes a tubular graft, an expandable annular support structure and a restraining mechanism restraining the prosthesis in a collapsed configuration in which the annular support structure is compressed to a low profile. The restraining mechanism holds the annular support structures in the collapsed configuration until the prosthesis is positioned for deployment. The restraining mechanism is then released to allow the annular support structures to expand into conforming engagement with the inner wall of a lumen in which the prosthesis is to be deployed. A feature according to the invention provides a balloon catheter onto which the prosthesis is loaded for deployment where the balloon is expanded to provide a radial force to release the restraining mechanism. Another feature provides for a restraining member that breaks upon application of the radial force to release the annular support structure from its constrained configuration. Another feature of the invention provides for independent and/or sequential release of the annular support members. Various types of annular support members attached to tubular grafts in a variety of manners may be used in accordance with the invention. The invention may be used in tubular grafts for endoluminal placement within a body lumen, including blood vessels, and for the treatment of abdominal and other aneurysms.

An endoluminal prosthesis is provided that includes a tubular graft and an expandable annular support structure. The annular support structure is coupled to the tubular graft so that the graft and support structure, in combination, provide columnar support while maintaining prosthesis flexibility. The prosthesis has sufficient strength and durability to withstand loads applied during deployment and sufficient flexibility to permit implant in a sealing arrangement within a tortuous body lumen. An embodiment according to the invention provides a plurality of annular structures with staggered, longitudinally overlapping apices of undulating structures. One embodiment relates to tubular grafts for endoluminal placement within a body lumen, including blood vessels, and for the treatment of abdominal and other aneurysms.

There are provided a subminiature optical system having a miniature size and capable of obtaining a narrow view angle using only five sheets of lenses, and a portable device having the same. The subminiature optical system includes a first lens convex toward the object side and having positive refractive power. a second lens concave toward an image side and having negative refractive power, a third lens convex toward the object side and having positive refractive power, a fourth lens concave toward the image plane and having negative refractive power, and a fifth lens convex toward the image plane and having negative or positive refractive power, sequentially from an object side.

A double temperature sensor is provided for measuring a near-surface temperature of the ambient air and the temperature of the skin surface (9). A heat flux insulation block (4) is made of an insulation material in one piece as a housing. Two temperature sensor elements (2, 3) with respective electric connections (6) belonging to them are arranged in the heat flux insulation block (4) one on top of another at spaced locations from one another and near the surface.

Expandable emboli filter and thrombectomy devices adapted for use with microcatheters to remove debris from blood vessels. The devices embody expanded profiles that span the entirety of various sized target vessels and thus are particularly effective in the engagement of debris found in vessels.

An apparatus and a method for optimizing robot performance includes a computer connected to the robot controller for receiving performance data of the robot as the controller executes a path program. The computer uses the performance data, user specified optimization objectives and constraints and a kinematic/dynamic simulator to generate a new set of control system parameters to replace the default set in the controller. The computer repeats the process until the new set of control system parameters is optimized.

The invention is a method for increasing the airflow to a zinc-air battery such that the energy density is 500 mwh/cc to 1000 mwh/cc. This allows 8 to 16 hours use as a primary (throw-away) battery, with, for example, high-duty cycle, high-drain cochlear implants, and neuromuscular stimulators for nerves, muscles, and both nerves and muscles together. The systems incorporating the high energy density source are also part of the invention, as well as the resulting apparatus of the method. The uses of this inexpensive, i.e., a $1.00 per day, throw-away primary battery are new uses of the modified zinc-air battery and are directed toward helping people hear again, walk again, and regain body functionality which they have otherwise lost permanently.

A method of deploying a surgical fastener into a patient by introducing the fastener into a body of a patient while the fastener is in a first shape having a first loop with a back span and an original size and shape. The method then involves moving end segments of the fastener away from each other substantially along an entire length thereof while keeping the back span in substantially its original size and shape. The method then involves forming the fastener into a second loop having a width greater than a width of the first loop.

A removable vascular filter system for capture and retrieval of emboli while allowing continuous perfusion of blood. This system is useful for any percutaneous angioplasty, stenting, thrombolysis or tissue ablation procedure. The system may minimize the incidence of stroke, myocardial infarction or other clinical complications that may be associated with these procedures.

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for sensing subsurface data. One embodiment of the invention comprises a shuttle attached to a conveyance where the conveyance and shuttle are adapted to be spooled downhole into a borehole for sensing seismic data. The shuttle contains a sensor package that is preferably acoustically isolated in the shuttle. The sensor package includes a sensor array and a magnet clamp. A sensor section can contain several shuttles, each shuttle containing at least one sensor. In one embodiment, the sensor can be a fiber optic sensor. The magnet clamp is operable to controllably clamp and acoustically couple together the sensor package, the shuttle, and the adjacent structure which is typically the borehole casing. The magnet clamp is likewise operable to unclamp and uncouple the shuttle from the adjacent structure so as to be retracted uphole for subsequent use.

Methods and devices for treating defective heart valves are disclosed herein. In one exemplary embodiment, a transcatheter heart valve includes an expandable shape memory stent and a valve member supported by the stent. A plurality of micro-anchors can be disposed along an outer surface of the stent for engaging native tissue. The transcatheter heart valve can be configured to be advanced into a dilated valve annulus via a balloon catheter. The balloon can be inflated to expand the transcatheter heart valve from a collapsed diameter to an over-expanded diameter such that the micro-anchors engage tissue along the surrounding valve annulus. After engaging the tissue, the balloon can be deflated and the shape memory stent can retract or recoil toward its predetermined recoil diameter. As the stent recoils, the surrounding tissue is pulled inward by the stent such that the diameter of the valve annulus is reduced.

The progress of a endovascular aneurysm repair can be monitored by inserting a pressure transducer sensor using a catheter into the sac during endovascular aneurysm repair and then using a small, hand-held read out device to measure pressure easily, safely, inexpensively and accurately. In one aspect a sensor is introduced into the body by the steps of folding or rolling the sensor into a cylinder, loading it into a catheter, and deploying into the aneurysm sac by allowing it to unroll or unfold, either by itself or facilitated by the incorporation of a super-elastic alloy component.

A prosthesis for insertion into a body passage is disclosed. The prosthesis includes a plastic or polymer base material which is compatible with living tissue and which possesses a memory of a predetermined configuration. The base material further has a glass transition temperature at which the prosthesis can be molded intravascularly from the predetermined configuration to a larger-radius implant configuration, which is sized and shaped to conform to an internal anatomy of the body passage to expand a narrow segment of or to occlude an opening of an out pouch of the body passage. The glass transition temperature is greater than a temperature of the body passage so that the prosthesis after being molded can be allowed to cool to the temperature of the body passage.