70 results about "Volume displacement" patented technology

Methods and apparatus are provided for treating congestive heart by actively or passively enhancing perfusion to the renal arteries. A first embodiment comprises a specially configured balloon catheter and extracorporeal pump, wherein the pump operates in a “once-through” fashion or alternating volume displacement mode. In another embodiment the catheter includes a pair of balloons to isolate a region of the aorta, and a third balloon that directs flow into the renal arteries. In still further embodiments, a stent or cuff having a constricted region is deployed in or around the aorta, respectively, to create a backpressure upstream of the stent or cuff. Methods of enhancing renal perfusion also are provided.

Procedures for the fusion of the sacroiliac joint advantageously make use of an implant selected to distract the joint upon insertion and to maintain or increase tension upon insertion. The implant can have a varying structure along its length. In some method described herein for fusing the sacroiliac joint using an implant, an implant is screwed into the sacroiliac joint between the sacrum bone and the iliac bone. The implant comprises a shaft, a tool engagement flange at top end of the shaft, a pointed tip comprising no more than about 20 percent of the length of the screw, and threads spiraling around the shaft. For screws of particular interest, the volume displacement perpendicular to the shaft increases at least about 5 percent from a point adjacent the tip to a point near the top of the shaft. Some of the desirable screw designs can be used in other orthopedic application, especially situations involving varying bone hardness. Useful filler material can be formed from a blend of bone powder and bioactive agents.

A penile prosthesis is provided, which includes a generally cylindrical body portion comprising a cavity with an inner wall, a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one volume-displacing member occupying at least a portion of the cavity, wherein the at least one volume-displacing member is smaller in at least one dimension than the dimensions of the cavity to provide an internal chamber at least partially surrounding the at least one volume-displacing member and adjacent to the inner wall of the cavity. The prosthesis further includes a fluid transfer tube extending from the body portion for transferring fluid to and from the internal chamber, wherein the device is convertible from a flaccid condition to a rigid condition when a sufficient volume of fluid is transferred into the internal chamber to substantially fill the internal chamber.

An intragastric device and method of use thereof are provided. The device is actuated to change its volume based on one or parameters detected in the gastric lumen. The device comprises an expandable reservoir that is adapted to distend one or more walls of the gastric lumen for a predetermined time. The device may also be actuated based on a pressure control system in which the reservoir maintains a constant pressure against the walls of the gastric lumen.

A square speaker is disclosed having a novel surround with a novel rounded corner design and with a magnet assembly and former sized, shaped, and arranged to exploit the increased excursions enabled by the novel surround. The arcuate portion of the rounded corner features smoothed trapezoidal circumferential undulations of the radially outer portion and an extension pad forms the arcuate portion of the radially inner portion of the rounded corner. An apex groove separates the inner portion from the outer portion. Tapered protrusions of the outer portion flank the smoothed trapezoidal circumferential undulations. The rounded corner is bounded by edges making angles of between 20 degrees and 40 degrees (preferably about 35 degrees) with straight sides of the square surround. Most of the outer perimeter of the entire inner flange adjoins the inner portions of the rounded corners. Significant increases in volume displacement per speaker size are achieved.

A volumetric displacement device, especially good for preserving and dispensing carbonated beverages has been constructed that is extremely light, small, safe, attractive, easy to use, energy efficient and inexpensive. It can use battery power, has an ovaloid shape, can be constructed of thin flexible plastics, and operates in various positions that eliminate the need for a pickup tube. A consistent problem with soda savers, in that they destroy carbonated beverages by delivering them in a violent manner, has been solved by utilizing a low pressure delivery mode. The can operate in a conventional refrigerator.

A novel connection device, and method for its use, for connecting a volume displacement detection device and a gas composition detection device in line with an intubation tube is disclosed. The connection device allows a user to combine two systems commonly employed by medical personnel to assess the location of an intubation tube placed into a patient. The two systems have alternate means of assessing the location of an intubation tube in a patient and therefore, when combined into a single unit via the connection device, improve the accuracy of placing a tube in a desired location while reducing or eliminating complications associated with misplacement. A kit comprising components that may be assembled to provide a device for assessing the proper placement of an intubation tube in a patient is also disclosed. The kit may be used in any environment, but is particularly well suited for emergency, pre-hospital settings requiring intubation where quick assembly of the components is essential.

Methods and apparatuses for measuring parameters based on the presence or absence of fluid at a plurality of fluid sensing zones in a disposable cassette are described herein. In an embodiment, a fluidic device includes a disposable cartridge including a fluid channel, an instrument configured to receive the disposable cartridge, the instrument including at least one sensor having a plurality of fluid sensing zones spaced along the fluid channel when the disposable cartridge is received by the disposable cartridge, each fluid sensing zone configured to determine a presence or absence of fluid at a respective portion of the fluid channel, and a control unit configured to determine at least one of a fluid volume, a volume displacement, a flow rate, a flow velocity or a volume ratio of gas bubbles of the fluid based on the presence or absence of the fluid at each of the fluid sensing zones.

A slotted waveguide for use with an electrodynamic transducer is described. The slotted waveguide has a transducer front surface for radiating acoustic energy from the electrodynamic transducer. The transducer front surface is concave and the electrodynamic transducer is operable to a desired high frequency. The slotted waveguide may include a body and a volume displacement element. The slotted opening has a width not substantially greater than a wavelength corresponding to the desired high frequency and the volume displacement element has a displacement surface that extends inward into the electrodynamic transducer and complements in shape the transducer front surface.

This invention provides a radiation boundary integrator (“RBI”) for integrating sound radiation from mid-range and high-frequency sources in multi-way loudspeakers. The RBI is a substantially solid boundary that is placed over the mid-range speakers to provide smooth, wave-guiding side walls to control the angular radiation of the high-frequency sound waves emanating from the high-frequency sound sources. To allow the mid-range frequency sound waves generated from mid-range sound sources to pass through the RBI, the RBI is designed with openings. To further prevent the possibility of having high-frequency sound radiate through the openings in the RBI, the RBI may be designed with porous material in the openings of the RBI. The porous material would be transparent to the mid-range sound radiation, but would prevent the high-frequency sound radiation from being disturbed by the openings in the RBI. As such, the RBI provides an outer or front surface area that forms an acoustical barrier to high frequencies radiating across the front surface, yet is acoustically transparent to mid-range frequencies radiating through openings in the RBI. The RBI may also serve as a volume displacement device to compression-load the mid-range sound sources by contouring the back side of the RBI to the shape of the mid-range sound sources thus reducing the space between the RBI and the mid-range sound sources and loading the mid-range sound sources to generate greater mid-range sound energy.

A method for mechanically assisting the pumping action of the heart. A catheter is provided comprising an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal region, an expandable member attached in the distal region, and an inflatable member in the distal region and attached distal the expandable member. The catheter is advanced into the aorta. The expandable member is expanded to at least partially obstruct the aorta. The inflatable member is inflated during diastole. The inflatable member is then deflated during the ejection phase of the left ventricle while expansion of the expandable member is maintained. The pumping action of the heart is thereby mechanically assisted. Cerebral perfusion augmentation may also be achieved by use of combined coarctation-counterpulsation devices and methods. Devices for practicing methods with increased volume-displacement efficiency are also described.

An electroacoustic transducer employing a polymer connection for maximizing volume displacement. The transducer includes a diaphragm in a case and means for converting. The diaphragm includes a central portion. The means for converting converts between an electric signal and a vibration of the central portion of the diaphragm or vice versa while the diaphragm is coupled to the case. The central diaphragm has an outer edge, and between the outer edge and the inner wall of the transducer case a capillary space is present in which a polymer is provided as a coupling between the outer edge and the inner wall of the case.

A vaporizer device for the administration of a substance to a user as a vapor comprises a housing and a mechanism for delivering a vapor. The mechanism is located within the housing. The housing comprises one or more air intake openings, at least one air exit opening, at least one control button and a display screen. The mechanism for delivering a vapor comprises a translational screw in contact with a micro motor, a cavity adapted to engage a liquid-containing cartridge, a heating chamber adapted to receive a liquid from the liquid-containing cartridge, a heating element adapted to provide heat to the heating chamber, a first air channel in communication with the one or more air intake openings and the heating chamber, and a second air channel in communication with the heating chamber and the at least one air exit opening. A method of administering a vapor to an individual includes use of the vaporizer device where the vaporizer device is adapted to receive control instructions. A liquid-filled cartridge is provided which is adapted to be inserted into the cavity such that the cartridge can be placed in contact with the translational screw. The liquid-filled cartridge is inserted into the vaporizer; and a vapor provided by the vaporizer device is inhaled. The vaporizer device accurately determines the dosage that a patient is inhaling while also regulating their use of the device. This Volume Displacement Dosage Vaporizer is a reusable device with replaceable liquid cartridges. These cartridges can contain multiple dosages of a specific liquid, which is more convenient for the patient and reduces cost. Since the dosage is pre-measured while in liquid form, the air flow/suction force of the vapor does not affect the dosage. The device can also have locking mechanisms and wireless communication capabilities. The device will not allow patients take over the maximum doctor recommended dosage, and regulates the time interval of those dosages based on doctor recommendation. wireless communication can be used to communicate with other devices to ensure that the patient is not overlapping their dosages while using other devices. Wireless communication can also be used to sync the device to a smartphone, tablet, or computer app to track patient data, usage, and the patient can also set a timer/alarm.

A medical device includes a vascular access device with an access port having a septum and a slit. The slit is formed on the inner surface of the body of the septum where the access port receives an access device that is separate from the vascular access device through the slit of the septum. A pivoting member in communication with the access port pivots when the port is accessed by an access device. The medical device may be used to control the volume displacement of a chamber within the medical device by decreasing the volume of the chamber by inserting a substance having a mass into the chamber, pivoting a structure associated with the chamber, and increasing the volume of the chamber simultaneously and commensurately with the mass of the substance inserted into the chamber.

A medical device may include a vascular access device with an access port which may include a septum and a slit. The slit may be formed on the inner surface of the body of the septum and the access port may be capable of receiving a separate access device through the slit of the septum. The medical device may also include a flexible member which expands to create an additional volume within the access port when the port is accessed by the access device. A method of controlling volume displacement a chamber of a medical device may include decreasing the volume of a chamber of an extravascular system by inserting a substance having a mass into the chamber and/or increasing the volume of the chamber simultaneously and commensurately with the mass of the substance inserted into the chamber.

Disclosed herein is a volume displacement pipette that includes a channel within the piston. The channel allows for cleaning fluids to be continuously run through the pipette tip for cleaning the tip. One end of the channel may be closed during normal operation of the pipette. Multiple pipettes may be combined into an array pipetter.

A microfluidic chips (1), microfluidic fluid reservoirs (2), microfluidic kits (1,2) comprising a microfluidic chip (1) and a microfluidic fluid reservoir (2), and to methods of operating such microfluidic kits (1,2). According to the invention, at least either the microfluidic chip (1) or the microfluidic fluid reservoir (2) includes a distensible diaphragm (4) or a distensible wall region, respectively, which is distensible into the fluid reservoir (2), with volume displacement taking place, in order to move a fluid (8) out of the fluid reservoir (2) through the fluid channel inlet (6) into a fluid channel (7) of the microfluidic chip (1).

A quick coupling assembly includes a first coupling element (10) and a second coupling element (50) that is inserted into the first coupling element. The first coupling element has a coupling body (12) and a valve (20), which define a volume displacement passage. When the second coupling element (50) is inserted, the second coupling element mechanically acts on the valve (20) to expel contaminants from the quick coupling assembly via the volume displacement passage. The valve includes a poppet (22) and a biasing spring (24), and the volume displacement passage includes a leak path (66) defined between the coupling body and the poppet. The poppet has an inward contour (68) that is spaced apart from the coupling body to define the leak path. The poppet has a widened portion (70) that provides a sealing surface when the assembly is fully coupled. The second coupling element (50) mechanically acts on the poppet (22) during insertion to expel the contaminants via the volume displacement passage.

A pipe span of a mobile irrigation system has an elongated volume displacement body contained within the interior flow passage of the span so as to occupy space that would otherwise be available for liquid flow. The displacement body is of reduced transverse dimension relative to the inside diameter of the span so as to present a flow path around the outside of the body between the latter and the sidewall of the span. The length of the body selected for use depends upon the desired amount of volume to be displaced. Alternative embodiments of the displacement body include a tubular member with closed, opposite ends, a thin-walled tubular member provided with a rigid foam insert for strength, a thin-walled tubular member with internal stiffeners, and a rigid foam member devoid of a surrounding thin-walled tubular member.

The invention discloses an automatic balancing displacement device used for supporting multiple organs. The automatic balancing displacement device is arranged on fluid infusion channels and ultrafiltrate channels; flow balance of the fluid infusion channels and the ultrafiltrate channels are maintained in a volume displacement mode. The automatic balancing displacement device comprises a first rigid cavity, a second rigid cavity, a first electromagnetic valve, a second electromagnetic valve, a third electromagnetic valve and a fourth electromagnetic valve. The first rigid cavity is divided into a first left side cavity and a first right side cavity. The second rigid cavity is divided into a second left side cavity and a second right side cavity. The first electromagnetic valve is connected with the first left side cavity and the second left side cavity. The second electromagnetic valve is connected with the first left side cavity and the second left side cavity. The third electromagnetic valve is connected the first right side cavity and the second right side cavity. The fourth electromagnetic valve is connected with the first right side cavity and the second right side cavity. With the automatic balancing displacement device, the current problems that balancing cavity is big in volume, portability is poor, error signals are generated frequently in the environment of rocking motions, and a portable treatment instrument supporting multiple organs cannot be used in poor environments are solved.