94 results about "Thoracic region" patented technology

Devices and methods for achieving hemostasis and leakage control in hollow body vessels such as the small and large intestines, arteries and veins as well as ducts leading to the gall bladder and other organs. The devices and methods disclosed herein are especially useful in the emergency, trauma surgery or military setting, and most especially during damage control procedures. In such cases, the patient may have received trauma to the abdomen, extremities, neck or thoracic region. The devices utilize removable or permanently implanted, broad, soft, parallel jaw clips with minimal projections to maintain vessel contents without damage to the tissue comprising the vessel. These clips are applied using either standard instruments or custom devices that are subsequently removed leaving the clips implanted, on a temporary or permanent basis, to provide for hemostasis or leakage prevention, or both. These clips overcome the limitations of clips and sutures that are currently used for the same purposes. The clips come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The clips may be placed and removed by open surgery or laparoscopic access.

Methods and systems for transvenously accessing the pericardial space via the vascular system and atrial wall, particularly through the superior vena cava and right atrial wall, to deliver treatment in the pericardial space are disclosed. A steerable instrument is advanced transvenously into the right atrium of the heart, and a distal segment is deflected into the right atrial appendage. A fixation catheter is advanced employing the steerable instrument to affix a distal fixation mechanism to the atrial wall. A distal segment of an elongated medical device, e.g., a therapeutic catheter or an electrical medical lead, is advanced through the fixation catheter lumen, through the atrial wall, and into the pericardial space. The steerable guide catheter is removed, and the elongated medical device is coupled to an implantable medical device subcutaneously implanted in the thoracic region. The fixation catheter may be left in place.

Devices and methods for achieving hemostasis and leakage control in hollow body vessels such as the small and large intestines, arteries and veins as well as ducts leading to the gall bladder and other organs. The devices and methods disclosed herein are especially useful in the emergency, trauma surgery or military setting, and most especially during damage control procedures. In such cases, the patient may have received trauma to the abdomen, extremities, neck or thoracic region. The devices utilize removable or permanently implanted, broad, soft, parallel jaw clips with minimal projections to maintain vessel contents without damage to the tissue comprising the vessel. These clips are applied using either standard instruments or custom devices that are subsequently removed leaving the clips implanted, on a temporary or permanent basis, to provide for hemostasis or leakage prevention, or both. These clips overcome the limitations of clips and sutures that are currently used for the same purposes. The clips come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The clips may be placed and removed by open surgery or laparoscopic access.

A method is disclosed for the treatment of a thoracic region of a patient's body. Embodiments of the method comprise positioning an energy delivery portion of an electrosurgical device to face a segment of a thoracic vertebra at a distance from the segment; and cooling the energy delivery portion and delivering energy through the energy delivery portion.

An electrical stimulation device and method for the treatment of dysphagia is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical stimulation device includes one or more channels of electrodes each of which includes a first electrode positioned in electrical contact with tissue of a target region of a patient and a second electrode positioned in electrical contact with tissue of a posterior neck region or a posterior thoracic region of the patient. A series of electrical pulses are then applied to the patient through the one or more channels of electrodes in accordance with a procedure for treating dysphagia. The series of electrical pulses may comprise: a plurality of cycles of a biphasic sequential pulse train pattern; a plurality of cycles of a biphasic overlapping pulse train pattern; a plurality of cycles of a triphasic sequential pulse train pattern; a plurality of cycles of a triphasic overlapping pulse train pattern; a functional pulse train pattern; a low-frequency pulse train pattern; or a frequency-sequenced pulse burst train pattern. Various exemplary embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

A cardiac event microrecorder comprising a hermetically sealed housing is shaped and dimensioned to facilitate the subcutaneous implantation of the microrecorder in a human patient by injection through the lumen of a hypodermic needle. The housing comprises a tubular central section of an electrically insulating material, the central section having spaced apart extremities. An electrically conductive sense electrode is secured to and seals each extremity. The housing may have an interior enclosing (1) electrical circuitry for processing, storing and telemetering data representing physiologic information detected by the sense electrodes; (2) a primary cell or rechargeable battery for electrically powering the electrical circuitry; and (3) an inductively couplable charger where a rechargeable battery is used. Also disclosed are a method of subcutaneously implanting a cardiac event recorder in a patient's thoracic region, and a handheld mapping device for determining an optimum location and orientation for the cardiac event microrecorder to be implanted.

The invention relates to estimation of a patient's propensity to suffer from symptomatic hypotension during extracorporeal blood treatment. An electromagnetic test signal, which is applied over a thoracic region of the patient via at least one transmitter electrode. A result signal produced in response to the test signal is received via at least one receiver electrode on the patient. A test parameter is derived based on the result signal. The test parameter expresses a fluid status of the thoracic region of the patient, and it is determined whether the test parameter fulfills an alarm criterion. If the test parameter fulfills an alarm criteria, an alarm signal is generated. This signal indicates that the patient is hypotension prone, and that appropriate measures should be taken.

A seat mounted side impact airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle has an airbag with a first inflation chamber for engaging the pelvic region of the vehicle occupant and a second inflation chamber for engaging the thoracic region of the vehicle occupant. The inflation chambers are separated by a chamber separator. An inflator provides inflation gas to fill the airbag housed in a tubular housing manifold having a first aperture and a second aperture. The housing manifold is shaped to retain the inflator and create two discrete flows of inflation gas. A first flow of inflation gas goes into the first inflation chamber via the first aperture and a second flow of inflation gas goes into the second inflation chamber via the second aperture. The chamber separator is tightly sealed around the housing manifold to prevent the first flow and second flow to pass into the other inflation chamber. The chamber separator may be rubber coated with the housing manifold having a recess adapted to accept and hold the chamber separator sealed in a gas tight manner around the exterior of the housing manifold.

What is disclosed is a system and method for estimating minute ventilation by analyzing distortions in reflections of structured illumination patterns captured in a video of a thoracic region of a subject of interest being monitored for respiratory function. Measurement readings can be acquired in a few seconds under a diverse set of lighting conditions and provide a non-contact approach to patient respiratory function that is particularly useful for infant care in an intensive care unit (ICU), sleep studies, and can aid in the early detection of sudden deterioration of physiological conditions due to detectable changes in chest volume. The systems and methods disclosed herein provide an effective tool for non-contact minute ventilation estimation and respiratory function analysis.

What is disclosed is a system and method for processing a video acquired using a 2D monocular video camera system to assess respiratory function of a subject of interest. In various embodiments hereof, respiration-related video signals are obtained from a temporal sequence of 3D surface maps that have been reconstructed based on an amount of distortion detected in a pattern placed over the subject's thoracic region (chest area) during video acquisition relative to known spatial characteristics of an undistorted reference pattern. Volume data and frequency information are obtained from the processed video signals to estimate chest volume and respiration rate. Other respiratory function estimations of the subject in the video can also be derived. The obtained estimations are communicated to a medical professional for assessment. The teachings hereof find their uses in settings where it is desirable to assess patient respiratory function in a non-contact, remote sensing environment.

A system and method for spinal fusion comprising a spinal fusion implant of non-bone construction releasably coupled to an insertion instrument dimensioned to introduce the spinal fusion implant into any of a variety of spinal target sites, in particular into the thoracic region of the spine.

A personal air filter with amplifier and vibrator having a mouthpiece and housing, incorporating filter media, with amplifier and vibrator. Inhaled air flows into the housing through the rearward vent end, past the amplifier and vibrator then through the filter media, and then out the forward end vent mouthpiece for inhalation of cleansed air by the user. The device is held to the mouth by the user's lips for the duration of the inhalation, without using hands or attachments to face. During inhalation and exhalation, the device is retained between the lips with the air flow moving through the housing in either direction past the amplifier producing audible sound for monitoring the duration of inhalation and exhalation facilitating controlled breathing. During vocalized respiration, the air flow moving past the oscillating vibrator produces oscillation vibration for internal massage or communicating said vibration to another person. A method of controlled breathing results from a sequential order and equivalent duration of breathing through abdominal, chest and thoracic regions of lungs, by the user monitoring the duration and rate of audible respiration. The device results in relaxation, rather than contraction, of muscles. Increased proficiency results in longer intervals of inhalation, retention and exhalation. Concentration on breathing cycle is achieved via the audible respiration effected by the resonant device housing. An oscillating membrane also transmits vibration to user's facial and cranial areas and internally massages body, as well as transmitting and communicating said vibration to another person facilitating educational, training leisure, pleasure, health, fitness and therapeutic use. Thus a considerably more versatile personal air filter is invented which can be conveniently, efficiently and effectively placed to the mouth for inhaling air, and is suitable for using during a variety of normal daily activities to filter inhaled air, audibly control breathing and vibrate to stimulate, optimize and enhance circulation.

What is disclosed is a system and method for estimating tidal chest volume using 3D surface reconstruction based on an analysis of captured reflections of structured illumination patterns from the subject with a video camera. The imaging system hereof captures the reflection of the light patterns from a target area of the subject's thoracic region. The captured information produces a depth map and a volume is estimated from the resulting 3D map. The teachings hereof provide a non-contact approach to patient respiration monitoring that is particularly useful for infant care in a neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU), and can aid in the early detection of sudden deterioration of physiological condition due to detectable changes in respiratory function. The systems and methods disclosed herein provide an effective tool for tidal chest volume study and respiratory function analysis.

A method is disclosed for the treatment of a thoracic region of a patient's body. Embodiments of the method comprise positioning an energy delivery portion of an electrosurgical device to face a segment of a thoracic vertebra at a distance from the segment; and cooling the energy delivery portion and delivering energy through the energy delivery portion.

A breast-supportive and breast-positioning brassiere designed to be used postoperatively by patients including obese patients and fuller-sized women who have undergone cardiothoracic surgery that requires a mid-sternal incision (sternotomy). The brassiere is also for other interventions in the thoracic region, when a comfortable and efficient individual positioning and support of the breast(s) would be desirable; an example being to prevent symmastia after breast augmentation surgery. The brassiere prevents gravitation of the breast tissue to the lateral sides, keeps the breast tissue away from the mid center, and supports the weight of the breasts. The brassiere is designed to promote less pain, less wound complications, esthetically improved wound healing, less heat generation, improved wound inspection and access for wound care, while maintaining support and dignity.

A method is disclosed for the treatment of a thoracic region of a patient's body. Embodiments of the method comprise positioning an energy delivery portion of an electrosurgical device to face a segment of a thoracic vertebra at a distance from the segment; and cooling the energy delivery portion and delivering energy through the energy delivery portion.

One embodiment of an orthopedic posture brace comprising a holster strap that forms two arm loops when attached to an axial strap and two abdominal straps. When worn, the holster straps encircle the user's shoulders. The axial strap will rest against the thoracic region of the user's back. After the two abdominal straps pass through a loop at the bottom of the axial strap, the two ends not connected to the holster strap may be fastened together around the front of the user's abdomen. Tightening the ends of the abdominal strap will cause tension in the holster straps urging the user's shoulders rearward to encourage proper spinal alignment and reduced slouching or hunching over. The amount of tension generated by tightening the abdominal straps will determine how far back toward the spinal column the user's shoulders are pulled.

What is disclosed is a system and method for processing a video acquired using a 2D monocular video camera system to assess respiratory function of a subject of interest. In various embodiments hereof, respiration-related video signals are obtained from a temporal sequence of 3D surface maps that have been reconstructed based on an amount of distortion detected in a pattern placed over the subject's thoracic region (chest area) during video acquisition relative to known spatial characteristics of an undistorted reference pattern. Volume data and frequency information are obtained from the processed video signals to estimate chest volume and respiration rate. Other respiratory function estimations of the subject in the video can also be derived. The obtained estimations are communicated to a medical professional for assessment. The teachings hereof find their uses in settings where it is desirable to assess patient respiratory function in a non-contact, remote sensing environment.

An airbag assembly may include an airbag with a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel attached to the first fabric panel, and a third fabric panel attached to the second fabric panel. The first and second fabric panels may define a first inflatable cushion and the second and third fabric panels may define a C-shaped second inflatable cushion. Upon deployment, the first inflatable cushion may have a first pressure and the second inflatable cushion may have a second pressure greater than the first pressure. Further, the first inflatable cushion may be positioned directly outboard of the thoracic region and the second inflatable cushion may be positioned directly outboard of the acromial region and the coxal region, but not the thoracic region, to provide gentler cushioning for the thoracic region.

What is disclosed is a system and method for estimating tidal chest volume using 3D surface reconstruction based on an analysis of captured reflections of structured illumination patterns from the subject with a video camera. The imaging system hereof captures the reflection of the light patterns from a target area of the subject's thoracic region. The captured information produces a depth map and a volume is estimated from the resulting 3D map. The teachings hereof provide a non-contact approach to patient respiration monitoring that is particularly useful for infant care in a neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU), and can aid in the early detection of sudden deterioration of physiological condition due to detectable changes in respiratory function. The systems and methods disclosed herein provide an effective tool for tidal chest volume study and respiratory function analysis.

A method and device for treating human intervertebral disc herniations using an endoscopic procedure. An access port is opened into and through the annulus of a disc to remove nucleus pulposus. Subsequent treatment, a balloon device having a valve structure is positioned via an endoscopic procedure into the disc space. The balloon device is filled with a physiological fluid to occupy the disc interspace or to maintain some degree of distraction of the created disc space. Post surgery, after fibrocollagenous tissue has grown into the disc space, a second endoscopic procedure is performed to remove the balloon device. Fluid is removed to collapse the balloon structure and then removed via the guide tube. The ingrowth of fibrocollagenous tissue will continue to fill the void formerly occupied by the balloon device. The balloon device has a rigid valve body and a flexible balloon member. The valve body has an end plug, a valve chamber holding a valve member and a cooperating biasing structure. The balloon member of the device is inserted into a vacated nucleus space of a herniated disc and then inflated with a physiological fluid using a fill tube. The balloon member, valve body, and fill tube or portions thereof may be constructed of a radiolucent material to provide visibility during implantation, surveillance and removal. The balloon device may be used in the cervical, lumbar or thoracic region of the spine.

A pillow used with a mattress that efficiently provides low pressure and alignment to achieve restful and less fragmented sleep. The mattress supports a recumbent body. The pillow aligns the head and neck and acts with the mattress for body alignment. The mattress comprises a composite and a cover encapsulating the composite. The composite includes a performance layer and a core layer. The performance layer includes a shoulder section, a thoracic section and a hip section for location at different longitudinal positions corresponding to the shoulder region, the thoracic region and the hip region of the recumbent body. The shoulder section, the thoracic section and the hip section have different displacement parameters to match the body displacements in the shoulder region, the thoracic region, and the hip region for alignment of the body with low body pressure. A core layer supports the performance layer.

This trunk rotation device uses dynamic movement of one's body such as, shoulder, hip, knee, back, thigh, and abdominal musculature. The device provides a method for exercising the spinal column and the muscles of the torso, including those in the abdominal lumbar and thoracic regions involving rotational torque. In a preferred embodiment, the device is a golf exercise and flexibility apparatus. The golf exercise apparatus provides resistance to a golfer during a golf swing to strengthen and condition the muscles of the axial skeleton of the golfer in a functional posture.

Graft delivery systems and methods for performing a cardiac by-pass procedure using a graft or a mammary artery are described. A combination of catheters and guide devices through the aorta, coronary artery, and the thoracic region can be used to accomplish these procedures.