3583 results about "Combined use" patented technology

An electromechanical driver for use in gastrointestinal tract surgery, including a flexible sheath and a handle, is provided. Also dislosed are a series of surgical attachments which may be utilized in conjunction with the electromechanical driver. The handle of the driver includes at least one motor which is selectively engageable by the actuation of a trigger. The motor is coupled to a flexible drive shaft which extends through the flexible sheath. At a distal end of the flexible sheath, and correspondingly at the end of the drive shaft, the various surgical attachments may be coupled. The turning of the drive shaft provides the necessary power to actuate the surgical instrument.

A method and apparatus for distributing, generating, and redeeming discount Virtual Coupons TM , rebate or gift certificates or the like which may be used on conjunction with a frequency card program or the like. Virtual Coupons TM may be distributed electronically, for example, in the form of a diskette or CD-ROM software. Software on the diskette or CD-ROM may prompt a consumer to call a 1-800 number for a validation number or code. During the phone call, telemarketing personnel may request consumer demographic and or identification information which may be entered into a centralized database. Once the software is validated, a consumer may print out a list selected Virtual Coupons TM displayed on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). When a product is purchased, the UPC code of the product may be compared electronically with a list of Virtual Coupons TM authorized for a particular consumer. An appropriate coupon discount may then be applied and the Virtual Coupon TM may be considered "redeemed". Once redeemed, consumer ID information and Virtual Coupon TM information may be retrieved electronically and used to update a central database. Accurate data may then be produced illustrating which consumers or groups of consumers are redeeming which Virtual Coupons TM . Such data may be used for marketing purposes or to generated further diskettes for distribution targeting specific consumers or groups of consumers with specific classes of Virtual Coupon TM offerings. The use of Virtual Coupons TM eliminates or reduces fraud, and allows a frequency card discount to be applied only a limited number of times.

Expandable heart valves for minimally invasive valve replacement surgeries are disclosed. The valves are rolled into a first, contracted configuration for minimally invasive delivery using a catheter, and then unrolled or unfurled at the implantation site. One- and two-piece stents may be used in conjunction with a plurality of flexible leaflet-forming membranes. The stents may include an annulus section, a sinus section with the membranes attached over sinus apertures, and an outflow section. Lockout tabs and making slots secure the stents in their expanded shapes. Alignment structure ensures concentric unfurling of the stent. Anchoring elements at the stent edges or in the stent body secure the valve within the annulus. A method of manufacture includes shape setting the sheet-like stent to ensure an outward bias during deployment. The stent may also include dear tracks for engagement with a gear mechanism for deployment. The stent is desirably made of a superelastic material such as Nitinol and may have areas removed or thinned to reduce the bending stresses when rolled into its small spiral for catheter delivery.

A camera array captures plural component images which are combined into a single scene from which “panning” and “zooming” within the scene are performed. In one embodiment, each camera of the array is a fixed digital camera. The images from each camera are warped and blended such that the combined image is seamless with respect to each of the component images. Warping of the digital images is performed via pre-calculated non-dynamic equations that are calculated based on a registration of the camera array. The process of registering each camera in the arrays is performed either manually, by selecting corresponding points or sets of points in two or more images, or automatically, by presenting a source object (laser light source, for example) into a scene being captured by the camera array and registering positions of the source object as it appears in each of the images. The warping equations are calculated based on the registration data and each scene captured by the camera array is warped and combined using the same equations determined therefrom. A scene captured by the camera array is zoomed, or selectively steered to an area of interest. This zooming- or steering, being done in the digital domain is performed nearly instantaneously when compared to cameras with mechanical zoom and steering functions.

Apparatus, methods, and kits, are provided for use in combination with a conventional bronchoscope or other lung viewing scope. In particular, sheaths having an inflatable cuff at their distal end are provided to receive a viewing scope through a lumen thereof. The sheaths thus provide an inflatable cuff on a viewing scope assembly so that the scope can be used in procedures which require selective isolation of regions of a patient's lungs. In particular embodiments, the sheaths may include stop elements for properly positioning a viewing scope therein, pressure transducers for providing accurate lung pressure information during procedures, and the like. Methods for using and forming sheaths having inflatable cuffs are also described.

A signal processor which acquires a first signal, including a first primary signal portion and a first secondary signal portion, and a second signal, including a second primary signal portion and a second secondary signal portion, wherein the first and second primary signal portions are correlated. The signals may be acquired by propagating energy through a medium and measuring an attenuated signal after transmission or reflection. Alternatively, the signals may be acquired by measuring energy generated by the medium. A processor of the present invention generates a primary or secondary reference signal which is a combination, respectively, of only the primary or secondary signal portions. The secondary reference signal is then used to remove the secondary portion of each of the first and second measured signals via a correlation canceler, such as an adaptive noise canceler, preferably of the joint process estimator type. The primary reference signal is used to remove the primary portion of each of the first and second measured signals via a correlation canceler. The processor of the present invention may be employed in conjunction with a correlation canceler in physiological monitors wherein the known properties of energy attenuation through a medium are used to determine physiological characteristics of the medium. Many physiological conditions, such as the pulse, or blood pressure of a patient or the concentration of a constituent in a medium, can be determined from the primary or secondary portions of the signal after other signal portion is removed.

A multifunctional membrane is provided. The multifunctional membrane is suitable for use in an analyte sensor. In a particular application, the multifunctional membrane may be used in connection with an amperometric biosensor, such as a transcutaneous amperometric biosensor. Some functions of the membrane are associated with properties of membrane itself, which is comprised of crosslinked polymers containing heterocyclic nitrogen groups. For example, the membrane, by virtue of its polymeric composition, may regulate the flux of an analyte to a sensor. Such regulation generally improves the kinetic performance of the sensor over a broad range of analyte concentration. Other functions of the membrane are associated with functional components, such as a superoxide-dismutating/catalase catalyst, either in the form of an enzyme or an enzyme mimic, that can be bound to the scaffold provided by the membrane. The effect of any such enzyme or enzyme mimic is to lower the concentration of a metabolite, such as superoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide, in the immediate vicinity of the sensing layer of the biosensor. Lowering the concentrations of such metabolites, which are generally deleterious to the function of the sensor, generally protects or enhances biosensor integrity and performance. The membrane is thus an important tool for use in connection with analyte sensors, amperometric sensors, biosensors, and particularly, transcutaneous biosensors. A membrane-covered sensor and a method for making same are also provided.

A system including methods and apparatus for treatment of a medical disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea or congestive heart failure. The system involves applying separate and independent gains to flow rates of pressurized gas delivered to a patient during inspiratory and expiratory phases of a respiratory cycle to deliver the pressurized gas in proportion to the respective gains during inspiration and expiration. A base pressure may be applied in addition to the gain-modified pressures and an elevated pressure profile may be employed to assist or control inspiration. The system may be fully automated responsive to feedback provided by a flow sensor that determines the estimated patient flow rate. A leak computer can be included to instantaneously calculate gas leakage from the system. The system may be utilized in connection with conventional continuous positive airway pressure (bi-level PAP) equipment to effect various beneficial treatment applications.

A system and method for providing pulsed electrical stimulation to one or both vagus nerve(s) of a patient to provide therapy for obesity, eating disorders, neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. The electrical pulses can be provided either unilaterally or bilaterally (left and right vagus nerves) and can be supra-diaphramatic or be sub-diaphramatic. The system comprising implantable stimulator, lead(s), an external stimulator, and a programmer. The implantable stimulator, comprising a pulse generator module, and a stimulus-receiver module which is used in conjunction with an external stimulator. Control circuitry ensures selective operation of one of the modules of the implanted stimulator, at a time. Further, the external stimulator comprises a telemetry module for remotely activating (or de-activating) programs over the internet, to arrive at the optimal program for each patient. Once the optimal “dose” is titrated using the external stimulator, the implanted pulse generator can then be programmed to similar parameters. The external stimulator in conjunction with the implanted stimulus-receiver can override the implanted pulse generator module, to provide extra dose of therapy, and also to conserve the implanted battery. The external stimulator is networked to other computers. Using the networking, a physician situated remotely can monitor and program the devices, as well as, automatically generate invoicing. In one embodiment, the external stimulator also comprises GPS circuitry for locating patient.

A technique is disclosed for disambiguating speech input for multimodal systems by using a combination of speech and visual I/O interfaces. When the user's speech input is not recognized with sufficiently high confidence, a the user is presented with a set of possible matches using a visual display and/or speech output. The user then selects the intended input from the list of matches via one or more available input mechanisms (e.g., stylus, buttons, keyboard, mouse, or speech input). These techniques involve the combined use of speech and visual interfaces to correctly identify user's speech input. The techniques disclosed herein may be utilized in computer devices such as PDAs, cellphones, desktop and laptop computers, tablet PCs, etc.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the administration of lipid-based vehicles to treat various disorders, including bladder inflammation, infection, dysfunction, and cancer. In various aspects, the compositions and methods of the invention are useful for prolonged delivery of drugs, e.g., antibiotics, pain treatments, and anticancer agents, to the bladder, genitourinary tract, gastrointestinal system, pulmonary system, and other organs or body systems. In particular, the present invention relates to liposome-based delivery of vanilloid compounds, such as resiniferatoxin, capsaicin, or tinyatoxin, and toxins, such as botulinum toxin, for the treatment of bladder conditions, including pain, inflammation, incontinence, and voiding dysfunction. Further related are methods of using these vehicles alone or in conjunction with antibodies, e.g., uroplakin antibodies, to improve duration of liposome attachment, and provide a long-term intravesical drug delivery platform. The present invention specifically relates to antibody-coated liposomes that are useful for targeting specific receptors for drug, peptide, polypeptide, or nucleic acid delivery. In one particular aspect, the present invention relates to liposomes coated with antibodies against nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor and containing NGF antisense nucleic acids, which are used as a treatment for neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

Methods of forming arrays of small, densely spaced holes or pillars for use in integrated circuits are disclosed. Various pattern transfer and etching steps can be used, in combination with pitch-reduction techniques, to create densely-packed features. Conventional photolithography steps can be used in combination with pitch-reduction techniques to form superimposed patterns of crossing elongate features with pillars at the intersections. Spacers are simultaneously applied to sidewalls of both sets of crossing lines to produce a pitch-doubled grid pattern. The pillars facilitate rows of spacers bridging columns of spacers.

In an exemplary embodiment, a battery conditioning system monitors battery conditioning and includes a memory for storing data based thereon; for example, data may be stored representative of available battery capacity as measured during a deep discharge cycle. With a microprocessor monitoring battery operation of a portable unit, a measure of remaining battery capacity can be calculated and displayed. Where the microprocessor and battery conditioning system memory are permanently secured to the battery so as to receive operating power therefrom during storage and handling, the performance of a given battery in actual use can be accurately judged since the battery system can itself maintain a count of accumulated hours of use and other relevant parameters. In the case of a nonportable conditioning system, two-way communication may be established with a memory associated with the portable unit so that the portable unit can transmit to the conditioning system information concerning battery parameters (e.g. rated battery capacity) and/or battery usage (e.g. numbers of shallow discharge and recharge cycles), and after a conditioning operation, the conditioning system can transmit to the portable unit a measured value of battery capacity, for example. A battery pack having memory stores battery history and identifying data to be retrieved by a portable battery powered device. Battery status information may be utilized in conjunction with characteristic battery history data in order to optimize charging and discharging functions and to maximize the useful life of a battery pack.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for the stabilization and fastening of two pieces of tissue. A single device may be used to both stabilize and fasten the two pieces of tissue, or a separate stabilizing device may be used in conjunction with a fastening device. The stabilizing device may comprise a probe with vacuum ports and/or mechanical clamps disposed at the distal end to approximate the two pieces of tissue. After the pieces of tissue are stabilized, they are fastened together using sutures or clips. One exemplary embodiment of a suture-based fastener comprises a toggle and suture arrangement deployed by a needle, wherein the needle enters the front side of the tissue and exits the blind side. In a second exemplary embodiment, the suture-based fastener comprises a needle connected to a suture. The needle enters the blind side of the tissue and exits the front side. The suture is then tied in a knot to secure the pieces of tissue. One example of a clip-based fastener comprises a spring-loaded clip having two arms with tapered distal ends and barbs. The probe includes a deployment mechanism which causes the clip to pierce and lockingly secure the two pieces of tissue.

A method of treating a brain disorder by heat transfer from brain tissue comprising the steps of surgically cutting a heat transfer aperture into a patient's skull, thereby exposing a predetermined portion of patient's brain; surgically implanting into said heat transfer aperture a heat pump having one or more electrical sensor elements and one or more temperature sensor elements; surgically implanting a heat transfer management unit in a body cavity of said patient such that a micro controller of the heat transfer management unit is connected to one or more activity sensor elements and one or more temperature sensor elements contacting brain tissue and connecting the heat transfer management unit to said heat pump via a lead bundle. Optionally, the heat transfer unit may be located external to the patient's body. Responsive to signals from one or more activity or temperature sensor elements, mathematical algorithms of the heat transfer management unit determine abnormal brain activity, causing the heat pump to remove heat from the brain tissue into a heat sink, thereby cooling the predetermined portion of the patient's brain. This technique utilizes acute hypothermia by means of a Peltier cooler or similar device to cool the brain temperature to reduce or prevent seizure initiation and/or propagation. The method may be used in association with brain stimulation and/or drug application to acutely avoid the occurrence of a seizure episode.

A biometric method and system for personal authentication using sequences of partial fingerprint signatures provides a high security capability to various processes requiring positive identification of individuals. This approach is further enhanced by employing a frequency domain technique for calculating a Similarity Index of the partial fingerprint signatures. In a baseline usage, the sequential partial fingerprint sequence techniques augments sentinel systems for gaining access to restricted areas, and when used in combination with financial cards, offer a unique and greatly simplified means for authenticating or identifying individuals. A highly automated technique initially obtains a reference set of linear partial fingerprint signatures which serve as reference data against which later proffered candidate data in the form of at least two linear partial fingerprint signatures are compared for authentication. The particular two candidate signatures used and the sequence in which they are submitted are selected with the user's consent and serve as a PIN-like unique personal code. In an advanced embodiment, a pair of proximity sensors located along each of the linear tracks used for developing the linear partial signatures produce finger sensing signals which compensate for finger movement speeds and hence significantly improves the calculated Similarity Index values. The use of only partial fingerprint data greatly allays the concerns of widespread fingerprint dissemination by many individuals.

Methods and systems of continuously optimizing data in WiFi positioning systems. A location-based services system for WiFi-enabled devices calculates the position of WiFi-enabled devices. A WiFi-enabled device communicates with WiFi access points within range of the WiFi-enabled device so that observed WiFi access points identify themselves. A reference database is accessed to obtain information specifying a recorded location for each observed WiFi access point. The recorded location information for each of the observed WiFi access points is used in conjunction with predefined rules to determine whether an observed WiFi access point should be included or excluded from a set of WiFi access points. The recorded location information of only the WiFi access points included in the set are used and the recorded location information of the excluded WiFi access points are excluded when calculating the geographical position of the WiFi-enabled device.

Method and system to provide therapy for obesity and gastrointestinal disorders such as FGIDs, gastroparesis, gastro-esophageal reflex disease (GERD), pancreatitis and ileus comprises vagal blocking and/or vagal stimulation. Vagal blocking may be in the afferent or efferent direction, and may be with or without stimulation pulses. Blocking may be provided by one of a number of different electrical blocking techniques. Electrical signals may be provided with an external stimulator in conjunction with an implanted stimulus-receiver, or an implanted stimulus-receiver comprising a high value capacitor for temporary power source. In one embodiment, the external stimulator may comprise an optional telemetry unit. The addition of the telemetry unit to the external stimulator provides the ability to remotely interrogate and change stimulation programs over a wide area network, as well as other networking capabilities,

Remote control of energy consumption is realized using a readily installable, flexible approach. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a remote source communicates with a wireless controller for executing energy usage control. The remote source sends signals to the wireless controller via a gateway located near or, in one implementation, forming part of the wireless controller. In response to the signals, the wireless controller sets control settings for operating one or more of a variety of equipment types, such as a furnace, air conditioner, water heater or heat pump. With this approach, wired connections from the gateway to energy-consuming equipment do not necessarily need to be made in order to effect remote energy-consumption control. For instance, when used in connection with a controller wired to the energy-consuming equipment, the gateway need only communicate wirelessly with the controller and does not necessarily need to be coupled to the energy-consuming equipment. In addition, access to the energy-consuming equipment for establishing remote energy control is not necessary; rather, the remote energy control can be effected by accessing user-friendly locations, such as those where thermostats and other controllers are typically located.

Methods of forming arrays of small, densely spaced holes or pillars for use in integrated circuits are disclosed. Various pattern transfer and etching steps can be used, in combination with pitch-reduction techniques, to create densely-packed features. Conventional photolithography steps can be used in combination with pitch-reduction techniques to form sumperimposed, pitch-reduced patterns of crossing elongate features that can be consolidated into a single layer.

The present invention relates to a personal shopping system for combined use in both the home of a user and a shopping establishment. The system includes a host computer which is coupled to a host modem and, optionally, to at least one wireless multi-access point. At least one shopping establishment kiosk cradle is employed to interface with a portable terminal which is also part of the system. The portable terminal can be used in both the shopping establishment and the home of the user. It is configured to read bar codes associated with items related to shopping, and includes a memory, a bar code reader, a wireless transceiver, and a data interface. The data interface of the terminal communicates with a data interface of the shopping establishment kiosk cradle. A home cradle for the portable terminal is also provided and is adapted to remain in the home of the user. It includes a home portable terminal-receiving station and a home data interface to communicate with the data interface of the portable terminal. A home data transfer circuit is also included to permit data exchange between the home data interface and the modem coupled to the host computer.

The present invention provides a system and method for input of images containing faces for accessing, linking, and or visualizing multiple similar facial images and associated electronic data for innovative new on-line commercialization, medical and training uses. The system uses various image capturing devices and communication devices to capture images and enter them into a facial image recognition search engine. Embedded facial image recognition techniques within the image recognition search engine extract facial images and encode the extracted facial images in a computer readable format. The processed facial images are then entered for comparison into at least one database populated with facial images and associated information. Once the newly captured facial images are matched with similar “best-fit match” facial images in the facial image recognition search engine's database, the “best-fit” matching images and each image's associated information are returned to the user. Additionally, the newly captured facial image can be automatically linked to the “best-fit” matching facial images, along with comparisons calculated, and/or visualized. Key new use innovations of the system include but are not limited to: input of user selected facial images for use finding multiple similar celebrity look-a-likes, with automatic linking that return the look-a-like celebrities' similar images, associated electronic information, and convenient opportunities to purchase fashion, jewelry, products and services to better mimic your celebrity look-a-likes; health monitoring and diagnostic use by conveniently organizing and superimposing periodically captured patient images for health professionals to view progress of patients; entirely new classes of semi-transparent superimposed training your face to mimic other similar faces, such as mimic celebrity look-a-like cosmetic applications, and or facial expressions; intuitive automatic linking of similar facial images for enhanced information technology in the context of enhanced and improved organization, classification, and fast retrieval objects and advantages; and an improved method of facial image based indexing and retrieval of information from the web-crawler or spider searched Web, USENET, and other resources to provide new types of intuitive easy to use searching, and/or combined use with current key-word searching for optimized searching.

The invention provides methods and compositions for hybridization-based assays that employ oligonucleotide tags, wherein probes specific for the same target polynucleotide are labeled with a plurality of different oligonucleotide tags. When probes are used in conjunction with a microarray, or like, readout platform, containing hybridization sites of tag complements, assay of a target polynucleotide results in a signal being generated from any of a plurality hybridization sites with predetermined addresses and the number of such sites generating a signal is proportional to the relative amount of the target polynucleotide in a population, test sample, or reaction volume, as the case may be. The invention provides methods and compositions for measuring amounts of selected target polynucleotides in a sample and for providing a digital readout of such amounts. Statistical confidence in measurements made by the present invention may be increased as much as desired by increasing the size of the sample of successfully hybridized and selected probes from which signals are generated.

A spinal stabilization system may be formed in a patient. In some embodiments, a minimally invasive procedure may be used to form a spinal stabilization system in a patient. Bone fastener assemblies may be coupled to vertebrae. Each bone fastener assembly may include a bone fastener and a collar. Extenders may be coupled to the collar to allow for formation of the spinal stabilization system through a small skin incision. The extenders may allow for alignment of the collars to facilitate insertion of an elongated member in the collars. An elongated member may be positioned in the collars and a closure member may be used to secure the elongated member to the collars. An adjuster may be used in conjunction with the extenders to change a separation distance between the bone fastener assemblies.

Intravascular devices (e.g., stents, stent grafts, covered stents, aneurysm coils, embolic agents and drug delivery catheters and balloons) are used in combination with fibrosing agents in order to induce fibrosis that may otherwise not occur when the implant is placed within an animal or to promote fibrosis betweent the devices and the host tissues. Compositions and methods are described for use in the treatment of aneurysms and unstable arterial (vulnerable) plaque.

A method and system for personal authentication using sequences of partial fingerprint signatures provides a high security capability to various processes requiring positive identification of individuals. In a baseline usage, the sequential partial fingerprint sequence techniques augments sentinel systems for gaining access to restricted areas, and when used in combination with financial cards, offer a unique and greatly simplified means for authenticating or identifying individuals. A highly automated technique initially obtains eight (illustratively) linear partial fingerprint signatures which serve as reference data against which later proffered candidate data in the form of at least two linear partial fingerprint signatures are compared for authentication. The particular two candidate signatures used and the sequence in which they are submitted are selected with the user's consent and serve as a PIN-like unique personal code. The use of only partial fingerprint data greatly allays the concerns of widespread fingerprint dissemination by many individuals.

A method and apparatus are provided for automatically preparing a client communication pertaining to a financial product for a client, wherein the client communication is for combined use with a corresponding host vehicle. The method comprises providing a format for the client communication wherein the communication format includes a variable portion; inputting into a computer-accessible storage medium variable information other than a client identification; inputting into the storage medium decision information; and using the decision information to select a subset of the variable information for inclusion in a variable portion of the client communication corresponding to the variable portion of the client communication format. The apparatus comprises an inputting device for inputting into a computer-accessible storage medium variable information comprising other than a client identification and decision information; a processor operatively coupled to the storage medium for using the decision information to automatically select a subset of the variable information for each of the clients; and an output preparing component in operative communication with the processor for preparing the client communications and for automatically inserting into the client communication the subset of variable information for the corresponding and respective client.

Vehicle recorder systems are arranged in configured with a video camera, light-weight memory systems, and radio communications facility suitable for use in conjunction with an automobile. An automobile equipped with these video recorder systems used normally throughout the service today, provides a video record of unusual events which may occur from time-to-time. Events such as accidents, near-miss incidents, driving of use, among others, trigger a system to preserve video images collected before and after the moment of the event. Replay of these images yield information regarding cause and true nature of the event. These systems are particularly arranged about, and in support of fleet use of vehicles. That is, groups of vehicles are arranged and coupled together whereby a plurality of such vehicles may communicate with a common system providing a fleet manager advanced fleet management tools.

A dialog device comprises a natural language interfacing device (chat interface or a telephonic device), and a natural language output device (the chat interface, a display device, or a speech synthesizer outputting to the telephonic device). A computer stores natural language dialog conducted via the interfacing device and constructs a current utterance word-by-word. Each word is chosen by applying a plurality of language models to a context comprising concatenation of the stored dialog and the current utterance thus far. Each language model outputs a distribution over the words of a vocabulary. A recurrent neural network (RNN) is applied to the distributions to generate a mixture distribution. The next word is chosen using the mixture distribution. The output device outputs the current natural language utterance after it has been constructed by the computer.

Home network-assisted selection of an intermediary service network for a roaming mobile terminal is disclosed. The selection is based on a list of desired intermediary service networks generated using information associated with the mobile terminal's home service network. In one example embodiment, the list is provided to a central access server, which provides this information to a local access network to which the mobile terminal is requesting access. The local access network selects one of the networks included on the list of desired intermediary service networks obtained from the central access server. This example embodiment uses existing protocols without modification, and can be used in conjunction with other intermediary service network selection procedures, if desired.