1550 results about "Non targeted" patented technology

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.

This invention relates to methods, kits and compositions suitable for the improved detection, analysis and quantitation of nucleic acid target sequences using probe based hybridization assays. The invention is more specifically directed to methods, kits and compositions suitable for suppressing the binding of detectable nucleic acid probes or detectable PNA probes to non-target nucleic acid sequences in an assay for a target nucleic acid sequence to thereby improve the reliability, sensitivity and specificity of the assay. The methods, kits and compositions of this invention are particularly well suited to the detection and analysis of nucleic acid point mutations.

The present invention provides systems, apparatus and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to body tissue in order to incise, dissect, harvest or transect tissues or an organ of a patient. The electrosurgical systems and methods are useful, inter alia, for accessing, dissecting, and transecting a graft blood vessel, such as the internal mammary arteries (IMA) or the saphenous vein, for use in a by-pass procedure. A method of the present invention comprises positioning an electrosurgical probe adjacent the target tissue so that one or more active electrode(s) are brought into at least partial contact or close proximity with a target site in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid. A high frequency voltage is then applied between the active electrode and one or more return electrode(s). During application of the high frequency voltage, the electrosurgical probe may be translated, reciprocated, or otherwise manipulated such that the active electrode is moved with respect to the tissue. The present invention volumetrically removes the tissue at the point of incision, dissection, or transection in a cool ablation process that minimizes thermal damage to surrounding, non-target tissue.

The invention provides a method of sensitising target cells to ultrasound energy using a stimulus such as an electric field. This "electrosensitisation" enables target cells to be disrupted by ultrasound at frequencies and energies of ultrasound which do not cause disruption of non-sensitised (i.e., non-target) cells. As a consequence, the method increases the selectivity of ultrasound therapy, providing a way to ablate undesired cells, such as diseased cells (e.g., tumor cells) while minimising harm to neighboring cells. In another aspect, however, ultrasound can be used to sensitise cells while the electrical field is used to disrupt cells. The invention also provides an apparatus for performing the method and assays for identifying gene products and other molecules involved in apoptosis.

An ablation system is provided that includes an ablating device and a probe. The probe is configured to be positioned in close proximity to a region of non-targeted tissue proximate an ablation site of targeted tissue. The probe includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle disposed at the proximal end thereof and a tissue protecting apparatus disposed at the distal end thereof. The ablating device includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle mounted at the proximal end thereof and an ablation element mounted at the distal end thereof. The ablation element includes an ultrasound transducer and an inflatable balloon surrounding the ultrasound transducer. The balloon includes a layer of gel disposed on its outer surface.

The present invention provides method and apparatus for treating tissue in a region at depth while protecting non-targeted tissue by cyclically applying cooling to the patients skin, and preferably to the region, and by applying radiation to the patient's skin above the region to selectively heat tissue during and/or after cooling is applied. At least one of cooling and radiation my be applied by successivly passing a continuous output applicator over the patient's skin. Treatment may also be enhanced by applying mechanical, acoustic or electrical stimulation to the region.

A probe and method for removing tissue is provided. The probe comprises an elongated member, a window laterally formed on the distal end of the member, a drive shaft rotatably disposed within the lumen of the member, and a rotatable and longitudinally slidable tissue removal element disposed on the drive shaft. The probe can be used to remove tissue along the window of the probe. In one method, target tissue along the window, e.g., bone tissue, can be removed without removing non-target tissue, e.g., nerve tissue, by rotating and longitudinally sliding the tissue removal element relative to the window.

There are provided a vascular information acquisition device, an endoscope system, and a vascular information acquisition method that can accurately acquire vascular information on a blood vessel of a target layer that is an object to be measured of a subject. A first blood vessel extraction unit (82) analyzes the image of a target layer to be measured and extracts a blood vessel (first blood vessel) from the image of a target layer. A blood vessel specification unit (84) specifies a blood vessel (second blood vessel) extending to a non-target layer from the target layer. In a case in which the second blood vessel is specified, a second blood vessel extraction unit (83) analyzes the image of the non-target layer in which the second blood vessel is present and extracts the specified second blood vessel from the image of the non-target layer.

A system and method can be used to denervate at least a portion of a bronchial tree. An energy emitter of an instrument is percutaneously delivered to a treatment site and outputs energy to damage nerve tissue of the bronchial tree. The denervation procedure can be performed without damaging non-targeted tissue. Minimally invasive methods can be used to open airways to improve lung function in subjects with COPD, asthma, or the like. Different sections of the bronchial tree can be denervated while leaving airways intact to reduce recovery times.

A medical system comprises a plurality of electrodes; at least one sensor configured to output at least one signal based on at least one physiological parameter of a patient; and a processor. The processor is configured to control delivery of stimulation to the patient using a plurality of electrode configurations. Each of the electrode configurations comprises at least one of the plurality of electrodes. For each of the electrode configurations, the processor is configured to determine a first response of target tissue to the stimulation based on the signals, and a second response of non-target tissue to the stimulation based on the signals. The processor is also configured to select at least one of the electrode configurations for delivery of stimulation to the patient based on the first and second responses for the electrode configurations. As examples, the target tissue may be a left ventricle or vagus nerve.

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 tissue or organ of a patient. An electrosurgical apparatus includes an electrode support bearing an active electrode in the form of a plasma blade or hook having an active edge and first and second blade sides. The active edge is adapted for severing a target tissue via localized molecular dissociation of tissue components. The first and second blade sides are adapted for engaging against, and coagulating, the severed tissue. s. A method of the present invention comprises positioning an electrosurgical probe adjacent to the target tissue so that a blade- or hook-like active electrode is brought into at least close proximity to the target tissue in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid. A high frequency voltage is applied between the active electrode and a return electrode to effect cool ablation or other modification of the target tissue. During application of the high frequency voltage, the electrosurgical apparatus may be translated, reciprocated, or otherwise manipulated such that the active edge is moved with respect to the tissue. The present invention volumetrically ablates or otherwise modifies the target tissue with minimal or no damage to surrounding, non-target tissue.

The invention discloses a parallax optimization algorithm-based binocular stereo vision automatic measurement method. The method comprises the steps of 1, obtaining a corrected binocular view; 2, matching by using a stereo matching algorithm and taking a left view as a base map to obtain a preliminary disparity map; 3, for the corrected left view, enabling a target object area to be a colorized master map and other non-target areas to be wholly black; 4, acquiring a complete disparity map of the target object area according to the target object area; 5, for the complete disparity map, obtaining a three-dimensional point cloud according to a projection model; 6, performing coordinate reprojection on the three-dimensional point cloud to compound a coordinate related pixel map; 7, using a morphology method to automatically measure the length and width of a target object. By adopting the method, a binocular measuring operation process is simplified, the influence of specular reflection, foreshortening, perspective distortion, low textures and repeated textures on a smooth surface is reduced, automatic and intelligent measuring is realized, the application range of binocular measuring is widened, and technical support is provided for subsequent robot binocular vision.

Acoustic shielding system and method for protecting and shielding non-targeted regions or tissues that are not intended to be treated by ultrasonic procedures from acoustic energy using a shield. In some embodiments, the shield comprises multiple layers made of one or more materials with one or more acoustic impedances. In some embodiments a multilayered shield includes materials with relatively different acoustic impedance levels. In some embodiments, the shield includes active components such as energy diversion devices, heating, cooling, monitoring, and/or sensing. In some embodiments, the shield is configured to protect an eye, mouth, nose or ear while allowing the ultrasound to treat the surrounding tissue. One embodiment of an eye shield is configured to fit under at least one eyelid and over a portion of the eye.

A test apparatus and method for design verification of at least one microprocessor chip includes a compatible Joint Task Action Group (JTAG) terminal for access to a plurality of computer functional units contained in the chip. A test input terminal included in the JTAG terminal receives a scan string, the string being coupled to each computer functional unit through a first multiplexer. The scan input string is separated by the JTAG terminal under program control into a series of dedicated scan strings, each dedicated scan string being supplied to a selected functional unit through the first multiplexer. Each functional unit includes start and stop scan clocks for testing the functional under program control using the dedicated scan train for the functional unit. A test output terminal included in the JTAG terminal is coupled to each functional unit through a second multiplexer. The test results of the dedicated scan string under control of the scan clock are supplied to the output terminal through the second multiplexer. The compatible JTAG terminal includes further elements for controlling the scan clocks to select a targeted functional unit for testing purposes while the scan strings for non-targeted functional units remain in an inactive state.

A method of assay for target polynucleotides includes steps of isolating target polynucleotides from extraneous non-target polynucleotides, debris, and impurities and amplifying the target polynucleotide.

A communication network supports push-to-talk communications with reduced dispatching delays by eliminating channel grant/request handshaking on the uplink and the downlink. A pool of communication channels can be associated with a group of nets that include one or more mobile terminals. Any terminal can send dispatch traffic immediately on an assigned uplink channel simply by seizing the channel. The network detects such traffic and retransmits it on a downlink channel monitored by the group of nets. Along with the retransmitted traffic, the network sends a net ID and a new downlink channel assignment. Terminals in the targeted net process the retransmitted traffic and non-targeted terminals switch to the new channel. Alternatively, the control channel can be multiplexed to signal traffic channel assignments as needed for all nets, and traffic can be transmitted on the indicated channels for reception by targeted terminals. The reduced delays particularly benefit networks incorporating satellite relays.

Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The system, delivery devices, and methods can damage tissue and manage scarring and stenosis.

The ACSSECR invention is a biometric access control system and methodology that measures cognitive, psychophysiological responses to stimuli to confirm the identity of an individual. As an alternative to “Logging in” with a user ID and password, this cognitive biometric authentication system is used for “Cogging in” to a system with user ID and user-selected “Cogkey”. ACSSECR is designed for strict access control scenarios where significant authentication confidence is required to gain access to controlled information, facilities, systems, vehicles, or devices. The system takes advantage of a behavioral and physiological characteristic of humans that is an unconscious response to a stimulus. The Event Related Potential (ERP) response (specifically the P3 ERP) involuntarily occurs when an individual perceives and reacts to an unexpected, task-relevant event. The task is for the user to recognize their Cogkey which is presented infrequently amidst more frequent non-target stimuli. There is no requirement for extensive enrollment by users, only the recognition of their Cogkey. The basic system does not store biometric data for comparison, but rather measures the user's Cogkey recognition responses in comparison to non-Cogkey stimulus responses. An individual can have multiple personas with different Cog keys.

The present invention provides methods for enhancing discriminatory RNA silencing by RNA silencing agents. In particular, the invention provides methods for generating RNA silencing agents which can discriminate between target and non-target mRNAs that differ in sequence by only one nucleotide. Also provided are improved RNA silencing agents with enhanced discriminatory RNA silencing, e.g., single nucleotide discriminatory RNA silencing. The compositions and methods of the invention are useful in therapeutic strategies for treating genetic disorders associated with dominant, gain-of-function gene mutations.