25539 results about "High frequency" patented technology

A qualifying connection for an instrument attaches to a source of electrosurgery energy to and the instrument and has first and second parts coupled to the instrument and the source, respectively. Optical couplings on the connection transmit invisible energy to identify the instrument and are proximate on the first and second parts. A light modifier on the first part is proximal to the second part for modification of radiation in the infrared wavelengths so infrared transmitters encode signals and non contact coded proximity detectors on the second part are the coupled detectors. Non contact coded proximity detectors respond to modified infrared light establishing an Nth bit identification code. An infrared light supply in the source pass from the transmitters across the communicating couplings for encoding signals by modification of the infrared light with a light modifier. Mechanical attachments include conjugating male and female portions physically extending between the parts for mating engagement. The attachments juxtaposition the parts when the attachments geometrically conjugate to geographically positioning the couplings proximate for communicating. The attachments have one or more conductors for delivery of high frequency energy from the source to the instrument. A cable fits between the first part of the connection and the instrument and has electrical conductors for carrying energy passing through the first part of the connection from the source to the instrument. An identifying circuit couples to the second part and responds to invisible light optically communicated across the couplings for verifying the type of instrument connected by the cable to the source.

The present invention provides systems, apparatus, and methods for dissecting, resecting, severing, cutting, contracting, coagulating, or otherwise modifying a tissue or organ of a patient. An apparatus of the invention includes an electrosurgical probe configurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the probe including an active electrode terminal, a fixed return electrode disposed proximal to the active electrode terminal, and a movable return electrode configured to move linearly with respect to the active electrode terminal between the open configuration and the closed configuration. A method of the present invention comprises clamping a blood vessel between the active electrode terminal and the movable return electrode, coagulating the clamped blood vessel by application of a first high frequency voltage, and severing the coagulated blood vessel by application of a second high frequency voltage.

This invention relates to the destruction of pathological volumes or target structures such as cancerous tumors or aberrant functional target tissue volumes by direct thermal destruction. In the case of a tumor, the destruction is implemented in one embodiment of the invention by percutaneous insertion of one or more radiofrequency probes into the tumor and raising the temperature of the tumor volume by connection of these probes to a radiofrequency generator outside of the body so that the isotherm of tissue destruction enshrouds the tumor. The ablation isotherm may be predetermined and graded by proper choice of electrode geometry and radiofrequency (rf) power applied to the electrode with or without temperature monitoring of the ablation process. Preplanning of the rf electrode insertion can be done by imaging of the tumor by various imaging modalities and selecting the appropriate electrode tip size and temperature to satisfactorily destroy the tumor volume. Computation of the correct three-dimensional position of the electrode may be done as part of the method, and the planning and control of the process may be done using graphic displays of the imaging data and the rf ablation parameters. Specific electrode geometries with adjustable tip lengths are included in the invention to optimize the electrodes to the predetermined image tumor size.

Apparatus and methods for treating an intervertebral disc by ablation of disc tissue. A method of the invention includes positioning at least one active electrode within the intervertebral disc, and applying at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s), wherein the volume of the nucleus pulposus is decreased, pressure exerted by the nucleus pulposus on the annulus fibrosus is reduced, and discogenic pain of a patient is alleviated. In other embodiments, a curved or steerable probe is guided to a specific target site within a disc to be treated, and the disc tissue at the target site is ablated by application of at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s). A method of making an electrosurgical probe is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating the surface with neutral particle beams comprising an antenna container, a plasma generating part, a neutral particle beam generating part and a treating part, wherein the antenna container comprises antennas connected to high frequency electric power supply through which high frequency electric power supplies, the plasma generating part transfers gases from a gas injector into plasmas with the supplied power, the neutral particle beam generating part reverts the obtained plasmas to neutral particle beams via the collision thereof with metal plates, and the treating part treats the surface of a target with the neutral particle beams.

An interlaced image processing module and corresponding method facilitate improved processing of interlaced motion images. In one embodiment, the interlaced image processing module receives image data frames having interlaced first and second fields and produces a reference field and error field. The reference field corresponds to the still image content of the interlaced frame, whereas the error field corresponds to the motion content of the interlaced frame, particularly the motion between fields. Motion between fields is thus represented in the error field, without redundant representation of the still image content provided by the first field. Where there is little motion between fields, the error terms will be small so the predictor preserves the coding efficiency provided by any auto-correlation in the image. Further, the interlaced image processing method does not rely upon pixel group classification, and thus avoids classification errors, and the loss of coding efficiency from still image content in motion classified blocks. Finally, problems presented by relative motion between fields are avoided, as are local artifacts. Another embodiment transforms the interlaced fields into frame data having a high frequency field and a low frequency field.

An input/output processor for speeding the input/output and memory access operations for a processor is presented. The key idea of an input/output processor is to functionally divide input/output and memory access operations tasks into a compute intensive part that is handled by the processor and an I/O or memory intensive part that is then handled by the input/output processor. An input/output processor is designed by analyzing common input/output and memory access patterns and implementing methods tailored to efficiently handle those commonly occurring patterns. One technique that an input/output processor may use is to divide memory tasks into high frequency or high-availability components and low frequency or low-availability components. After dividing a memory task in such a manner, the input/output processor then uses high-speed memory (such as SRAM) to store the high frequency and high-availability components and a slower-speed memory (such as commodity DRAM) to store the low frequency and low-availability components. Another technique used by the input/output processor is to allocate memory in such a manner that all memory bank conflicts are eliminated. By eliminating any possible memory bank conflicts, the maximum random access performance of DRAM memory technology can be achieved.

The present invention relates to an electronic atomization cigarette which only contains nicotine without harmful tar. The electronic atomization cigarette includes a shell and a mouthpiece. The external wall of the shell has an air inlet. An electronic circuit board, a normal pressure cavity, a sensor, a vapor-liquid separator, an atomizer, a liquid-supplying bottle are sequentially provided within the shell, wherein the electronic circuit board comprises an electronic switching circuit and a high frequency generator. A stream passage of the sensor is provided on one side of the sensor, and a negative pressure cavity is provided in the sensor. The atomizer and the liquid-supplying bottle is in contact with each other. An atomization cavity is arranged in the atomizer. A retaining ring for locking the liquid-supplying bottle is provided between one side of the liquid-supplying bottle and the shell, and an aerosol passage is provided on the other side of the liquid-supplying bottle. The air inlet, normal pressure cavity, vapor-liquid separator, atomizer, aerosol passage, gas vent and mouthpiece are sequentially interconnected. The advantages of the present invention include smoking without tar, significantly reducing the cancerogenic risk. Furthermore, users still feel as if they are smoking and experiencing the same excitement, and the cigarette is no need to be lit and is no fire risk.

The present invention provides a new family of ultrasonically powered medical devices and systems for powering such devices. Disclosed are methods for improving the overall power transfer efficiency of devices according to the present invention, as well as a wide variety of medical uses for such devices and systems. Devices of the present invention comprise a transducer that, during operation, converts electrical energy into high frequency, low amplitude mechanical vibrations that are transmitted to a driven-member, such as a wheel, that produces macroscopic rotary or linear output mechanical motions. Such motions may be further converted and modified by mechanical means to produce desirable output force and speed characteristics that are transmitted to at least one end-effector that performs useful mechanical work on soft tissue, bone, teeth and the like. Power systems of the present invention comprise one or more such handheld devices electrically connected to a power generator. Examples of powered medical tools enabled by the present invention include, but are not limited to, linear or circular staplers or cutters, biopsy instruments, suturing instruments, medical and dental drills, tissue compactors, tissue and bone debriders, clip appliers, grippers, extractors, and various types of orthopedic instruments. Devices of the present invention may be partly or wholly reusable, partly or wholly disposable, and may operate in forward or reverse directions, as well as combinations of the foregoing. The devices and systems of the present invention provide a safe, effective, and economically viable alternative source for mechanical energy, which is superior to AC or DC (battery) powered motors, compressed air or compressed gas, and hand powered systems.

The invention discloses a two-bed duplex tube medical diagnosis X-ray high frequency high voltage generator, which comprises a power supply and a central control unit, and also comprises a high frequency inverter circuit, a pulse-width modulation drive circuit and a high voltage commutation circuit. The generator converts the industrial power supply into two way high frequency high voltage, and then obtains positive end DC high voltage and negative end DC high voltage after the rectification and the filter to supply an X-ray pipet for working. Because the frequency is high and the high voltage ripple after the rectification and the filter is minimum, causing the X-ray pipet of a radiographic table and the X-ray pipet of an electric perspective table to work in turn under the condition of arranging only one set of high voltage supply. The equipment investment is saved, and the work of using the X-ray diagnosis for the medical staff is convenient. Being served as the high voltage supply, the invention is also suitable for the safety detection fields such as the industrial fault detection, the civil aviation, the station, the custom, etc., and supplies the stable high quality high voltage for the equipment.

The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within the head and neck of a patient's body, particularly including tissue in the ear, nose and throat. The present invention applies high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more electrode terminals in the presence of electrically conductive fluid to remove and/or modify the structure of tissue structures. The present invention is particularly useful for treating sleep obstructive disorders, such as sleep apnea and snoring.

In a display panel, a dummy pulse of a predetermined voltage signal is superimposed on a data signal and the dummy pulse has an amplitude much larger than the amplitude of the data signal, and thus a signal waveform applied to a light modulation layer such as LC layer is changed to a high frequency wave. The applying position of the dummy pulse is varied according to each color of R, G and B, or varied according to frame or field. By performing a MLS drive with the dummy pulse superimposed on the data signal, the amplitude difference between the selection signal and the data signal can be reduced. Thus, a common driver IC and a segment driver IC can be formed as one semiconductor chip to be placed on one side, constructing a three side free type.

The invention discloses a medical diagnosis X-ray high frequency high pressure generator, comprising a power supply, a central control unit, a high frequency inverter circuit, a pulse width modulation driving circuit and a high pressure transform and high pressure output circuit. The generator transforms the industrial power to two ways of high frequency and high pressure, a positive direct current high pressure and a negative direct current high pressure are obtained through rectifying and wave-filtering to provide an X-ray ball tube to work. As the frequency is high, the ripple of the rectified and wave-filtered high electric pressure is tiny, and the X-ray quality projected by the X-ray ball tube is high, and the clearance of photos of the perspective and photograph is also high. The X-ray ball tube of a photograph bed or the X-ray ball tube of an electric perspective bed can work if allocated with the high pressure power. The invention is convenient for the medical staff to use the X-ray to do the work of diagnosing diseases. As the high pressure power supply, the invention is also suitable in the safety inspection fields such as industrial flaw detection, civil aviation, station and customs etc, and provides a stable and high qualified high pressure power supply for the equipments.

A dielectrophoretic display is shifted from a low frequency closed state to a high frequency open state via at least one, and preferably several, intermediate frequency states; the use of such multiple frequency steps reduces flicker during the transition. A second type of dielectrophoretic display has a light-transmissive electrode through which the dielectrophoretic medium can be viewed and a conductor connected to the light-transmissive electrode at several points to reduce voltage variations within the light-transmissive electrode.

Methods and apparatus for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within a patient's body, particularly including tissue in the spine. In a method of the invention high frequency (RF) electrical energy is applied to one or more active electrodes on an electrosurgical probe in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid to remove, contract or otherwise modify the structure of tissue targeted for treatment. In one aspect, a dura mater and spinal cord are insulated from the electrical energy by an insulator positioned on a non-active side of the probe. In another aspect, a plasma is aggressively formed in the electrically conductive fluid by delivering a conductive fluid to a distal end portion of the probe and aspirating the fluid from a location proximal of the return electrode. In another aspect, a distal end of an electrosurgical probe having at least one electrode on a biased, curved, bent, or steerable shaft is guided or steered to a target site within an intervertebral disc having a disc defect for treatment of tissue to be treated at the target site by the selective application of electrical energy thereto.

Systems and methods are provided for applying a high frequency voltage in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid to create a relatively low-temperature plasma for ablation of tissue adjacent to, or in contact with, the plasma. In one embodiment, an electrosurgical probe or catheter is positioned adjacent the target site so that one or more active electrode(s) are brought into contact with, or close proximity to, a target tissue in the presence of electrically conductive fluid. High frequency voltage is then applied between the electrode terminal(s) and one or more return electrode(s) to generate a plasma adjacent to the active electrode(s), and to volumetrically remove or ablate at least a portion of the target tissue. The high frequency voltage generates electric fields around the active electrode(s) with sufficient energy to ionize the conductive fluid adjacent to the active electrode(s). Within the ionized gas or plasma, free electrons are accelerated, and electron-atoms collisions liberate more electrons, and the process cascades until the plasma contains sufficient energy to break apart the tissue molecules, causing molecular dissociation and ablation of the target tissue.

A method for treating at least one of a plurality of disorders characterized at least in part by vagal activity includes positioning an electrode at a body organ innervated by the vagus. An electrical signal is applied to the electrode to modulate vagal activity. The electrical signal is applied at a frequency in excess of 3,000 Hz for the signal to create a neural conduction block to the vagus with the neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on the vagus.

A radio frequency chip package is formed by assembling a connecting element such as a circuit board or flexible circuit tape having chips thereon with a bottom plane element such as a lead frame incorporating a large thermally-conductive plate and leads projecting upwardly from the plane of the plate. The assembly step places the rear surfaces of the chips on the bottom side of the connecting element into proximity with the thermal conductor and joins the conductive traces on the connecting element with the leads. The resulting assembly is encapsulated, leaving terminals at the bottom ends of the leads exposed. The encapsulated assembly may be surface-mounted to a circuit board. The leads provide robust electrical connections between the connecting element and the circuit board.

An audio signal decorrelator for deriving an output audio signal from an input audio signal has a frequency analyzer for extracting from the input audio signal a first partial signal descriptive of an audio content in a first audio frequency range and a second partial signal descriptive of an audio content in a second audio frequency range having higher frequencies compared to the second audio frequency range. A partial signal modifier for modifies the first and second partial signals, to obtain first and second processed partial signals, so that a modulation amplitude of a time variant phase shift or time variant delay applied to the first partial signal is higher than that applied to the second partial signal, or for modifying only the first partial signal. A signal combiner combines the first and second processed partial signals, or combines the first processed partial signal and the second partial signal, to obtain an output audio signal.

An ultrasound transducer having multiple focal zones is described. In one embodiment there is an ultrasound transducer manufactured as a single piece but having two or more focal zones. In a second embodiment there is a transducer assembly combining a high frequency and low frequency transducer. In a third embodiment there is an interchangeable assembly allowing for different ultrasound transducers to be used based on procedural needs. Variations of each embodiment are also disclosed.

The present invention describes a novel methodology for adjusting a bandwidth extension algorithm by adapting one or more of enhancing perception parameters (e.g., a signal level, a signal energy and/or a gain) of a high-band encoded signal based on the characteristics of the input signal and an encoding performance in a low band with a codec utilizing audio-band-split coding by separate encoders and decoders for each audio band. The adaptation is based on the low-band coding algorithm. It can be at least two types of such an algorithm: e.g., an algebraic code excitation linear prediction (ACELP) algorithm for a speech-like input signal and a transform algorithm of a non-speech-like input signal, such that when the ACELP coding is selected, the corresponding enhancing perception parameter is gradually tuned down and when the encoding algorithm is changed to the transform coding, the corresponding enhancing perception parameter is gradually tuned up.

The present invention provides systems, apparatus and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to body tissue in order to ablate, contract, coagulate, or otherwise modify a target tissue or organ of a patients. An electrosurgical apparatus of the invention includes a shaft having a shaft distal end bearing an active electrode and a return electrode. At least one of the active electrode and the return electrode is moveable such that the shaft distal end can adopt a closed configuration or an open configuration. The apparatus can operate in an ablation mode or a sub-ablation mode. The closed configuration is adapted for clamping and coagulating a target tissue while the apparatus is operating in the sub-ablation mode, while the open configuration is adapted for ablating the target tissue via molecular dissociation of tissue components. A method of the present invention comprises clamping a target tissue or organ with an electrosurgical probe. A first high frequency voltage is applied between the active electrode and the return electrode to effect coagulation of the clamped tissue. Thereafter, a second high frequency voltage is applied to effect localized molecular dissociation of the coagulated tissue. The present invention allows the ablation or modification of the target tissue with minimal or no damage to surrounding, non-target tissue.

A technique for enhancing audio signals generated from compressed digital audio files is described. The technique uses a Bass Maximizer module, a Harmonic Exciter module and a Quasi Stereo module. The Bass Exciter module enhances the intensity, depth and punch of the bass audio content by creating harmonic sequences from low frequency components contained in the original input signal. The Harmonic Exciter module adds to the treble audio content of the original input signal by generating harmonic series from the high frequency components contained in the input signal. The Quasi Stereo Module creates a stereo image of the enhanced input signal by adding and subtracting delayed and filtered versions of the enhanced input signal with itself to create left and right channeled stereo-like outputs. The technique provides a useful tool to regenerate from an audio signal more pleasant and joyful sounds.

A relay device relays signals between a single switch unit and each of an ultrasonic surgical device that supplies an ultrasonic signal and an electrosurgical device that supplies a high-frequency signal, the switch unit being used for on/off control of outputs of the ultrasonic surgical device and the electrosurgical device, the ultrasonic surgical device and the electrosurgical device being connected to an ultrasonic/high-frequency treatment instrument capable of performing an ultrasonic treatment using ultrasonic vibration in accordance with the supplied ultrasonic signal and performing a high-frequency treatment in accordance with the supplied high-frequency signal. The relay device includes a switch detection unit for detecting the turn-on/off of the switch unit, a switch element for outputting a switch signal, which is used for on/off control of outputs of the ultrasonic signal and the high-frequency signal, to each of the ultrasonic surgical device and the electrosurgical device in accordance with a detection output of the switch detection unit, and a control unit for performing on/off control of the switch signal of the switch element in accordance with the detection output to control at least one of an output timing and an output mode of each of the ultrasonic signal and the high-frequency signal.

A millimeter-wave transmitter-receiver uses an NRD guide as a fundamental configuration and includes a millimeter-wave signal oscillator, a pulse modulator, a circulator, an antenna and a mixer. In the millimeter-wave transmitter-receiver, a line length of a third dielectric guide is set so that δ=±π in which δ is a phase difference at a center frequency between a portion of a transmission millimeter-wave signal, which is reflected via a third dielectric guide on the leading end portion of the third dielectric guide and returned to leak to a third connecting portion of the circulator, and another portion of the millimeter-wave signal, which leaks from a first connecting portion to the third connecting portion of the circulator. It is possible to reduce the change in the mixer output and enhance the millimeter-wave transmission/reception performance.

A medical device system and method provide an RF electrosurgical generator coupled to an electrosurgical electrode via a patient box disposed in close proximity to the patient. An RF signal is delivered from the generator to the patient box where signal power is increased and the RF signal delivered to the electrosurgical electrode. The patient box is coupled to the electrosurgical electrode by a short cable capable of carrying an HV, high frequency 5 MHz signal without leakage. An electrical characteristic associated with the electrosurgical electrode is monitored and a desired RF power output and duty cycle maintained by adjusting DC input voltage applied to an RF amplifier, responsive to the monitoring. The system determines when the electrosurgical cutting electrode has started cutting and switches from a start mode to a run mode having a different RF duty cycle and a reduced RF power output controlled by a servo system.

A selective nerve stimulation patch includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, integrated components overlying the top surface of the substrate and being electrically interconnected with one another for generating at least one nerve stimulating signal, electrodes integrated into the substrate and exposed at the bottom surface thereof for applying the at least one nerve stimulating signal to a target nerve, a waterproof, breathable cover overlying the substrate and the integrated components, and a support flange surrounding the substrate and coupling the cover and the substrate together. The support flange has a top surface that slopes downwardly toward an outer perimeter thereof, and at least a portion of the cover conforms to the sloping top surface of the support flange. In one embodiment, the patch generates a high frequency waveform with properties such as amplitude, frequency and the like chosen so as to overcome tissue impedance and the stimulation threshold of the target nerve. The modulated waveform is the waveform obtained by modulating the carrier waveform by a pulse envelope.

Disclosed herein is a dielectric resonator array antenna including one or more series-feed type array elements installed to be arranged in parallel in a multilayer substrate, wherein first high frequency signals having the same or different phases or time delays are adjusted to be applied to the respective series-feed type array elements and respective radiated 1D array beams are individually used or combined to adjust beamforming of 2D array beams. Also, since the series-feed type array element is configured by connecting a plurality of dielectric resonator antennas in series, it can be easily and simply fed in series through coupling generated by the intervals between the feeding lines of the pertinent feeding unit of the plurality of dielectric resonator antennas connected in series. In addition, the broadband characteristics can be obtained by using the plurality of dielectric resonator antennas, whereby the overall antenna performance can be enhanced.

Apparatus and methods for advancing and retracting a medical instrument within an introducer device, wherein the instrument includes a distal tip, a distal linear portion, a first distal curve, a substantially linear inter-curve portion, and a second proximal curve. The length of the distal linear portion and the angle of the first curve determine the position of the distal tip within a lumen of the introducer device, such that the distal tip occupies a substantially central transverse location within the lumen and the distal tip avoids contact with the introducer device. The length of the inter-curve portion and the angle of the second curve determine deflection of the distal tip from a longitudinal axis of the shaft when the second curve is extended distally beyond a distal end of the introducer device. Also, methods and apparatus for treating an intervertebral disc by ablation of disc tissue. A method of the invention includes positioning at least one active electrode within the intervertebral disc, and applying at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s), wherein the volume of the nucleus pulposus is decreased, pressure exerted by the nucleus pulposus on the annulus fibrosus is reduced, and discogenic pain of a patient is alleviated. In other embodiments, a curved or steerable probe is guided to a specific target site within a disc to be treated, and the disc tissue at the target site is ablated by application of at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s). A method of making an electrosurgical probe is also disclosed.

A soft-switched single-phase quasi-single-stage (QSS) bi-directional inverter/charger converts AC-DC or DC-AC. The inverter/charger comprises a push-pull inverter/rectifier on the dc-side, an isolation transformer which provides ohmic isolation and voltage scaling, two full-bridges on the ac side in cascade, a voltage clamp branch comprising a capacitive energy storage element in series with an active switch with its anti-parallel diode, a passive filter at the ac side to smooth out the high frequency switching voltage ripple at the output, and a corresponding PWM scheme to seamlessly control the converter to operate in all four quadrant operation modes in the output voltage and output current plane, and is capable of converting power in both directions.