394 results about "Device placement" patented technology

The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for placing a minimally-invasive access with respect to a patient's bone or other non-soft tissue. The subject invention can use a drilling machine incorporating an ultrasound motor. The subject drilling machine can be applied to sample, for example, bone biopsies under MRI control. In a specific embodiment, the subject ultrasound motor can be completely manufactured of non-magnetic materials, such as plastics, titanium, and titanium alloy, or ceramics and piezoceramics. The subject drilling apparatus can be placed into an MRI near field without influencing the image quality, and without the drilling apparatus itself being disturbed by the MRI magnet, gradient, or high-frequency field. The subject invention can incorporate good shielding with the subject drilling apparatus use of these materials, and can achieve minimal, if any, image distortions or so-called artifacts. Thus, the subject invention can involve the problem by use of non-magnetic materials of low magnetic susceptibility for the design of an actuation unit.

An improvement is described to disposable devices for performing chemical or biological tests on a sample of fluid, and the method by which such devices perform tests. The power for the device comes from an electrochemical battery, where a portion of the fluid sample itself provides the electrolyte for the battery. Furthermore, the time of diffusion of the fluid into the battery provides the timing signal for activation of the system. Communication between the improved device and an information system is provided by a transponder system built into the device which requires no direct electrical connection. Rather, the device is placed in proximity with a reader which can interrogate the device, obtain the results of the test and if necessary provide power for the device to perform the test, and / or communicate the information. The improvements and methods are particularly applicable to devices for performing in vitro diagnostic tests on a sample of body fluid.

A user interface(s) in which the displays of different devices become “synchronized” when the devices are brought into close proximity with one another. One exemplary embodiment permits drag-and-drop procedures that originate on one device to be terminated on the other. Illustratively, the solution could be handled in the following manner:The user would place the second device alongside or in close proximity to the first device,The two devices would detect each other,The user would touch the representation (such as an icon) of the party on the second device's display that they wish to add to the call,The user would slide the representation across the first device / second device border onto the first device's screen,The user would slide the representation to a spotlight or hot spot and then lift the finger from the screen,The party would be connected to the call.

Medical device delivery systems and related kits and methods for placing multiple expandable medical devices within a body vessel are provided. A delivery system includes first and second expandable medical devices having the same or different dimensions. Placement of the first and second expandable medical devices in a body vessel can be achieved without requiring withdrawal of one or more components of the delivery system and insertion of secondary components.

Techniques for reducing the complexity and improving the accuracy of receive signal strength based location systems. The system comprises a plurality of radio sensor devices placed at known positions within a space in which devices are to be located. According to one technique, the path loss is measured between all combinations of pairs of radio sensor devices based on a test signal transmitted by each radio sensor device. A path loss model is evaluated to compute modeled path loss data between all combinations of pairs of radio sensor devices. For each measured path loss, a path loss error relative to each radio sensor device is computed by taking the difference between the measured path loss and the modeled path loss. The path loss error relative to each radio sensor device at any candidate position is interpolated from the computed path loss errors. A path loss estimate between a candidate position and each radio sensor device is computed by adding the interpolated path loss error relative to that radio sensor device at the candidate position and path loss data obtained by evaluating the path loss model based on the distance between at each candidate position and the corresponding radio sensor device. When determining the position of a device emitting radio signals (called a target device), the improved path loss estimate is used. According to another technique, for each radio sensor device, parameters are derived for a path loss model function from the measured path loss between that radio sensor device and each of the other radio sensor devices using a minimization computation. Then, a path loss estimate between a position and each radio sensor device is computed by evaluating the path loss model function using the parameters derived for each radio sensor device.

A composition, apparatus and method for use in a wellbore is described. In one aspect, a composition may include a shape-conforming material and nanoparticles sufficient to absorb a selected form of energy to heat the shape-conforming material to near or above a glass transition temperature. A method of deploying an apparatus using such a composition may include placing the apparatus at a suitable location in a wellbore and exposing the composition to the selected energy to deploy the apparatus in the wellbore.

A blocking device provides read and write protection for computer long-term storage devices, such as hard drives. The blocking device is placed between a host computer and the storage device. The blocking device intercepts communications between the host and the storage device and examines any commands from the host to the storage device. Certain commands, such as commands that may modify the storage device, may be discarded.

A rotationally vibrating imaging catheter and method of utilization has an array of ultrasound or optical transducers and an actuator along with signal processing, display, and power subsystems. The actuator of the preferred embodiment is a solid-state nitinol actuator. The actuator causes the array to oscillate such that the tip of the catheter is rotated through an angle equal to or less than 360 degrees. The tip is then capable of rotating back the same amount. This action is repeated until the desired imaging information is acquired. The rotationally vibrating catheter produces more imaging points than a non-rotating imaging catheter and eliminates areas of missing information in the reconstructed image.Rotationally vibrating catheters offer higher image resolution than stationary array catheters and greater flexibility and lower costs than mechanically rotating imaging catheters.The rotationally vibrating array carried on a catheter is vibrated or rocked forward and backward to allow for acquisition of three-dimensional information within a region around the transducer array.The addition of adjunctive therapies to the imaging catheter enhances the utility of the instrument. Examples of such therapies include atherectomy, stent placement, thrombectomy, embolic device placement, and irradiation.

A rotationally vibrating imaging catheter and method of utilization has an array of ultrasound or optical transducers and an actuator along with signal processing, display, and power subsystems. The actuator of the preferred embodiment is a solid-state nitinol actuator. The actuator causes the array to oscillate such that the tip of the catheter is rotated through an angle equal to or less than 360 degrees. The tip is then capable of rotating back the same amount. This action is repeated until the desired imaging information is acquired. The rotationally vibrating catheter produces more imaging points than a non-rotating imaging catheter and eliminates areas of missing information in the reconstructed image.Rotationally vibrating catheters offer higher image resolution than stationary array catheters and greater flexibility and lower costs than mechanically rotating imaging catheters.The rotationally vibrating array carried on a catheter is vibrated or rocked forward and backward to allow for acquisition of three-dimensional information within a region around the transducer array.The addition of adjunctive therapies to the imaging catheter enhances the utility of the instrument. Examples of such therapies include atherectomy, stent placement, thrombectomy, embolic device placement, and irradiation.

An automated system and method of geometric 3D point location. The invention teaches a system design for translating a CAD model into real spatial locations at a construction site, interior environment, or other workspace. Specified points are materialized by intersecting two visible pencil light beams there, each beam under the control of its own robotic ray-steering beam source. Practicability requires each beam source to know its precise location and rotational orientation in the CAD-based coordinate system. As an enabling sub-invention, therefore, an automated system and method for self-location and self-orientation of a polar-angle-sensing device is specified, based on its observation of three (3) known reference points. Two such devices, under the control of a handheld unit downloaded with the CAD model or pointlist, are sufficient to orchestrate the arbitrary point location of the invention, by the following method: Three CAD-specified reference points are optically defined by emplacing a spot retroreflector at each. The user then situates the two beam source devices at unspecified locations and orientations. The user then trains each beam source on each reference point, enabling the beam source to compute its location and orientation, using the algorithm of the sub-invention. The user then may select a CAD-specified design point using the handheld controller, and in response, the handheld instructs the two beam sources to radiate toward the currently selected point P. Each beam source independently transforms P into a direction vector from self, applies a 3×3 matrix rotator that corrects for its arbitrary rotational orientation, and instructs its robotics to assume the resultant beam direction. In consummation of the inventive thread, the pair of light beams form an intersection at the specified point P, giving the worker visual cues to precisely position materials there. This design posits significant ease-of-use advantages over construction point location using a single-beam total station. The invention locates the point effortlessly and with dispatch compared to the total station method of iterative manual search maneuvering a prism into place. Speed enables building features on top of point location, such as metered plumb and edge traversal, and graphical point selection. The invention eliminates the need for a receiving device to occupy space at the specified point, leaving it free to be occupied by building materials. The invention's beam intersection creates a pattern of instantaneous visual feedback signifying correct emplacement of such building materials. Unlike surveying instruments, the invention's freedom to situate its two ray-steering devices at arbitrary locations and orientations, and its reliance instead on the staking of 3 reference points, eliminates the need for specialized surveying skill to set up and operate the system, widening access to builders, engineers, and craftspeople.

A blocking device provides read and write protection for computer long-term storage devices, such as hard drives. The blocking device is placed between a host computer and the storage device. The blocking device intercepts communications between the host and the storage device and examines any commands from the host to the storage device. Certain commands, such as commands that may modify the storage device, may be discarded.

An intravascular device for keeping open a previously constricted site within a vessel and for minimizing tissue debris at such a site from closing off the vessel is provided. The device includes an expandable substantially tubular body defined by a framework having a plurality of openings. The device also includes a flexible netting system having a structural design for extending across each of the openings. Such a design allows the netting system to expand along with each opening in the framework to minimize release of tissues debris at the site from closing the lumen of the vessel. The netting system can include a plurality of pores to permit communication between fluid flow within the vessel and the vessel wall, and at least one pharmacotherapeutic agent for the treatment or prevention of certain conditions. A method for placing the device at a site of interest is also provided.

An intravascular device for keeping open a previously constricted site within a vessel and for minimizing tissue debris at such a site from closing off the vessel is provided. The device includes an expandable substantially tubular body having a distal end and a proximal end. The device also includes a flexible netting system that is circumferentially disposed about the body, and extends beyond at least one of the distal end or proximal end. The netting system can expand along with the body to minimize release of tissues debris at the site from closing the lumen of the vessel. The netting system can include a plurality of pores to permit communication between fluid flow within the vessel and the vessel wall, and at least one pharmacotherapeutic agent for the treatment or prevention of certain conditions. A method for placing the device at a site of interest is also provided.

The subject disclosure relates to pre-installed software and services, such as online services, and markets for pre-installed software and online services. In one aspect, the disclosed subject matter facilitates contracting between software vendors and device manufacturers or redistributors for placement and / or conversion of software applications or services in devices. As further advantages, embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can provide transparency into markets for device placement and can facilitate detailed contract performance tracking. Further non-limiting embodiments are provided that illustrate the advantages and flexibility of the disclosed subject matter.

A medical device placement and monitoring system is provided that includes numerous circuits that can be used alone or in combination. The circuits include a feedback initiator, a feedback receiver, and a clinician notifying device. By various means in the provided circuits, the feedback initiator provides information about the location of a radio frequency identification tag secured to a medical device inserted within a patient. This information or data is received and analyzed by the feedback receiver that monitors the circuit, which then transmits an output to the clinician notifying device to alert or advise the attending clinician of this information. The data that is output supplies information about the location of the radio frequency identification tag to the clinician, thereby assisting the clinician in placement of a variety of medical devices including nasogastric or endotracheal tubes, as well as in monitoring proper device placement after initial insertion.

A contactless, inductive charger having a generally planar surface is provided. An image, text or other visual indicator is disposed upon the substantially planar surface such that the visual indicator represents a preferred placement orientation for an electronic device for optimal inductive charging. The charger includes a primary coil positioned within the boundaries of the image, such that a user has a visual guide for placing the device on the charging surface for maximum efficiency in charging. The visual indicator, which may be a picture, outline, text or other directional indicator, may be geometrically similar to a shape of the electronic device or may be in the shape of a generic device. It may be disposed upon the charger by a method selected from the group consisting of painting, molding, silk screening, plating, vapor deposition and adhesive retention.

A composition, apparatus and method of use of the composition and apparatus are described. In one aspect, a composition may include a shape-conforming material and nanoparticles sufficient to provide an elastic modulus of the composition that is greater than the elastic modulus of the shape-conforming material. A method of deploying an apparatus using such a composition may include placing the apparatus at a suitable location in a wellbore and activating the composition to deploy the apparatus in the wellbore.

The present invention provides wireless power supply systems intended primarily for use in powering and charging laptops and other portable electronic devices. In one embodiment, the power supply system includes a laptop cradle that can be used in upright or reclined positions. The cradle may be generally J-shaped and may house the wireless power supply circuit with the channel defined in the cradle. The cradle may includes a plurality of primaries to provide the ability to supply power to more than one device and / or to permit flexibility in placement of devices on or in the cradle. The present invention may also provide handheld cradles sized to power handheld devices that can be separate, standalone power supply stations or they can receive power from the laptop cradle. In an alternative embodiment, the power supply station may be incorporated into an adjustable height desktop pedestal. In yet another embodiment, the power supply station may be incorporated into a flexible desktop mat. The power supply station may be incorporated into a power block having one or more magnets that draw the power block into alignment. In another alternative embodiment, the power supply station is incorporated directly into items of luggage.

The disclosure relates to devices and methods for implantation of an orthopedic device between skeletal segments using limited surgical dissection. The implanted devices are used to adjust and maintain the spatial relationship(s) of adjacent bones. Depending on the implant design, the motion between the skeletal segments may be increased, limited, modified, or completely immobilized.

Systems and methods for removing material from a packaged electronic device of the type encapsulated with a protective material that forms an outer surface of the device. An exemplary system includes a stage for placing the device in a first position for receiving laser radiation to remove the material by ablation, and for placing the device in a second position for viewing one or more features along the outer surface of the device. An optical system is configured to provide an exterior image, including one or more features along an exposed surface of the device, while the device remains in the second position. A viewing system displays a captured image of the device, including one or more features interior to the protective surface, overlayed with the exterior image for simultaneous viewing of both images so that a position of a first feature present in the captured image can be viewed in relation to a position of a second feature in the exterior image. The combination of the first feature position and the second feature position can be used to define a region of the device for material removal with a laser. In an associated method a captured image of the device is provided, the image including one or more features interior to the protective surface. One or more features along the outer surface of the device are viewed with an optical system while the device remains on a stage, the optical system providing an exterior image. The captured image is combined with the exterior image for simultaneous viewing so that the position of a first feature present in the captured image can be viewed in relation to the position of a second feature in the exterior image. A region is defined for decapsulation based on the position of the first feature relative to the position of the second feature.

A support which positions a musical instrument or other device in front of a musician or user in a near-vertical orientation, while comfortably distributing the instrument's weight upon the musician's body. It comprises a strap made from a strip of flexible material which is passed over the shoulder of a musician. The ends are attached to a guitar at points of attachment located upon either side of the guitar's body, a departure from previous practice. Due to the selection of the points of attachment, the guitar is supported in a generally vertical orientation. The tuner head or upper portion of the guitar then extends to a position generally above the musician's shoulder. A shoulder pad of cushioning material is slidably affixed to the underside of the strap. An adjustable cord or strap is attached from the shoulder pad to the guitar's tuner head, whereby the cord can secure and stabilize the positioning of the tuner head and thus the vertical orientation of the guitar. In addition, upwardly-pulling tension afforded by the cord's attachment to the guitar's tuner head stabilizes the position of the shoulder strap at the highest point of the strap, which is above the musician's shoulder. The guitar is supported and positioned in a near-vertical position, and the musician can play freely with both hands, without requiring either hand for support or positioning of the instrument. Such positioning enhances certain musical techniques, including "two-handed tapping' or "touch-style' methods of play. The guitar will remain in the proper playing position during seated or standing performance and during performance gyrations, and the shoulder pad will remain properly positioned atop the musician's shoulder during a performance.

A touch enabled device includes a touch enabled graphical user interface that displays a canvas region and a drop zone region. The canvas region displays an object. The drop zone region displays an area that is distinct from the canvas region. Further, the touch enabled device includes a processor that positions the object within the drop zone upon receiving a request to move the object from the canvas to the drop zone and a batch processing command that the processor performs on the drop zone region such that the batch processing command is performed on the object within the drop zone and any other objects within the drop zone region.

A method for performing trigger point therapy using a massage device having a spherical ball with an array of pliable nodes that project axially from the surface of the ball. The massage device can be manipulated by the user or a second person. Effective manipulation to the user's back and neck are achieved when the user places the device between himself and a rigid surface and rolls the ball at a trigger point location.

A method and apparatus for determining when a device is placed in a high ambient motion environment (HAME). The method includes receiving sensor data, and based on the sensor data determining if the device has been placed in the HAME. When placement in the HAME is detected, the method further includes putting the device in a HAME mode. In one embodiment, putting the device in the HAME mode includes locking user input features.

A deployment sheath for medical devices is provided that includes one or more pleats in its pre-deployment state that are allowed to open during deployment so as to facilitate easier device deployment and sheath removal. Preferably, the sheath is removed by everting it over itself during the delivery process. By orienting the pleats along the length of the sheath, preferably helically around the sheath, the sheath undergoes a predictable enlargement during deployment so as to relieve friction of the everted sheath sliding along itself during deployment. This allows the sheath to be removed with less tension than previous everting sheath constructions and assures more accurate device placement in a patient.