Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application inventions 12/06

20060293712 - External baroreflex activation: Methods and systems for external baroreflex activation allow a physician to characterize a patient's response to baroreflex activation prior to providing baroreflex activation therapy. Methods generally include applying a baroreflex activation stimulus to a patient, measuring one or more physiological parameters of the patient, and determining the extent to which... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20060293713 - Methods and systems for treating bph using electroporation: A system for treating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) of a prostate. At least first and second mono-polar electrodes are configured to be introduced at or near a BPH tissue site of the prostate gland of the patient. A voltage pulse generator is coupled to the first and second mono-polar electrodes.... Agent: Heller Ehrman LLP

20060293715 - Active implantable medical device with biventricular pacing and automatic optimization of pacing configuration: An active implantable medical device with biventricular pacing and automatic optimization of pacing configuration. The device collects and analyzes an endocardial acceleration signal (EA), and searches for an optimal pacing configuration based upon a performance index derived from at least one value relating to one and/or the other of the... Agent: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLPIPProsecution Department

20060293714 - Method and apparatus for controlling cardiac therapy based on electromechanical timing: Devices and methods for therapy control based on electromechanical timing involve detecting electrical activation of a patient's heart, and detecting mechanical cardiac activity resulting from the electrical activation. A timing relationship is determined between the electrical activation and the mechanical activity. A therapy is controlled based on the timing relationship.... Agent: Crawford Maunu PLLC

20060293716 - Apparatus and method for reversal of myocardial remodeling with electrical stimulation: An apparatus and method for reversing ventricular remodeling with electro-stimulatory therapy. A ventricle is paced by delivering one or more stimulatory pulses in a manner such that a stressed region of the myocardium is pre-excited relative to other regions in order to subject the stressed region to a lessened preload... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20060293717 - Methods and systems for selecting capture verification modes: Methods and systems are directed to selecting from a variety of capture verification modes. A plurality of capture verification modes, including a beat by beat capture detection mode and a capture threshold testing mode without intervening beat by beat capture detection is provided. An efficacy of at least one of... Agent: Crawford Maunu PLLC

20060293718 - Double helical antenna assembly for a wireless intravascular medical device: A medical device, such as a cardiac pacing device for an animal, includes an intravascular antenna that has a first coil for engaging a wall of a first blood vessel to receive a radio frequency signal. The first coil includes a first winding wound helically in a rotational direction along... Agent: Quarles & Brady LLP

20060293719 - Non-invasive modulation of the autonomic nervous system: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for modulation of the sympathetic-parasympathetic balance by application of heat, carotid and/or ocular message to reduce sympathetic tone or increase parasympathetic tone in a target muscle system to relieve a symptom of urinary hesitancy, shy bladder syndrome, DESD, urinary retention, or... Agent: Wong, Cabello, Lutsch, Rutherford & Brucculeri, L.L.P.

20060293720 - Closed-loop feedback-driven neuromodulation: A neurological control system for modulating activity of any component or structure comprising the entirety or portion of the nervous system, or any structure interfaced thereto, generally referred to herein as a “nervous system component.” The neurological control system generates neural modulation signals delivered to a nervous system component through... Agent: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

20060293721 - Vagus nerve stimulation for treatment of depression with therapeutically beneficial parameter settings: Method and apparatus for treating a patient with depression comprising continuously providing a therapy to treat the patient's depression. The therapy, in one embodiment, comprises stimulating a patient's vagus nerve for about 30 seconds at a current of about 0.75 mA followed by a cessation of vagus nerve stimulation of... Agent: Cyberonics, Inc.

20060293722 - Apparatus and method for inhibiting pain signals transmitted during a skin related medical treatment: An apparatus adapted to inhibit pain signals generated by pain receptors in the skin during a skin related medical treatment such as an injection. An evacuation chamber is provided with an essentially rigid interface element larger than a threshold surface area through which a medical treatment can be administered to... Agent: Kevin D. Mccarthy Roach Brown Mccarthy & Gruber, P.C.

20060293723 - Skull-mounted electrical stimulation system and method for treating patients: A system and method for applying electrical stimulation or drug infusion to nervous tissue of a patient to treat epilepsy, movement disorders, and other indications uses at least one implantable system control unit (SCU) (110), including an implantable signal/pulse generator (IPG) and one or more electrodes (152, 152′). The IPG... Agent: Bryant R Gold Advanced Bionics Corporation

20060293724 - Methods for modulating osteochondral development using bioelectrical stimulation: Compositions and methods are provided for modulating the growth, development and repair of bone, cartilage or other connective tissue. Devices and stimulus waveforms are provided to differentially modulate the behavior of osteoblasts, chondrocytes and other connective tissue cells to promote proliferation, differentiation, matrix formation or mineralization for in vitro or... Agent: John S. Pratt, Esq Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP

20060293725 - Methods and systems for treating fatty tissue sites using electroporation: A system is provided for treating fatty tissue sites of a patient. At least first and second mono-polar electrodes are configured to be introduced at or near the fatty tissue site of the patient. A voltage pulse generator is coupled to the first and second mono-polar electrodes. The voltage pulse... Agent: Heller Ehrman LLP

20060293726 - Electromagnetic delivery system to influence a biological system: A wearable device for transmitting the resonant frequency of a solution to a biological system with the purpose of having a positive health influence on the biological system. Electrodes capable of conducting a small electrical current are placed in contact with the skin of an animal or human. These electrodes... Agent: Thomas M. Freiburger

20060293728 - Device and method for low intensity optical hair growth control: The present invention discloses a device and a method for controlling growth of hair on human skin with low doses of electromagnetic radiation, and a device for carrying out the method. In the method, radiation of a suitable spectrum is applied to the skin, in one or more pulses of... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20060293727 - System and method for treating exposed tissue with light emitting diodes: The invention comprises a system and method for treating an exposed tissue of a patient with a light energy. A plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed over an area of a supporting structure. The light emitting diodes emit light energy. The light energy comprises a substantial band of wavelengths... Agent: Stallman & Pollock LLP

20060293729 - Ferroelectric hyperthermia method for cancer treatment: A method of localized cell heating introduces a plurality of ferroelectric comprising particles into a target region of a patient, and applies a time varying electrical field to the target region. The ferroelectric particles absorb energy from the electrical field and heat the target region in response, such as to... Agent: Akerman Senterfitt

20060293730 - Methods and systems for treating restenosis sites using electroporation: A system is provided for reducing restenosis. A catheter apparatus is provided with at least first and second mono-polar electrodes positioned at an inflatable balloon. The balloon is sized to be positioned and expanded at a restenosis site. A voltage pulse generator is coupled to the first and second mono-polar... Agent: Heller Ehrman LLP

20060293731 - Methods and systems for treating tumors using electroporation: A system is provided for treating tumor tissue sites of a patient. At least first and second mono-polar electrodes are configured to be introduced at or near the tumor tissue site of the patient. A voltage pulse generator is coupled to the first and second mono-polar electrodes. The voltage pulse... Agent: Heller Ehrman LLP

20060293732 - Thermoelectric cooler (tec) heat exchanger for intravascular heat exchange catheter: A patient temperature control catheter or pad is warmed or cooled by coolant circulating through it. The coolant in turn is warmed or cooled as it flows through a cartridge that is placed against a control system TEC. For cooling, heat is removed from the TEC by tap water flowing... Agent: Rogitz & Associates

20060293734 - Apparatus and method for providing enhanced heat transfer from a body: Methods and apparatuses for temperature modification of a patient, or selected regions thereof, including an induced state of hypothermia. The temperature modification is accomplished using an in-dwelling heat exchange catheter within which a fluid heat exchange medium circulates. A heat exchange cassette is attached to the circulatory conduits of the... Agent: Fulwider Patton

20060293733 - Method of making selective organ cooling catheter: A heat transfer device has first and second elongated, articulated segments, each having a turbulence-inducing exterior surface. A flexible joint connects the first and second elongated, articulated segments. An inner coaxial lumen is disposed within the first and second elongated, articulated segments. The inner coaxial lumen is capable of transporting... Agent: Mayer & Williams PC

20060293735 - Surgical barrier device incorporating an inflatable thermal blanket with an attached surgical drape: A surgical barrier device includes an inflatable thermal blanket with an attached surgical drape. The inflatable thermal blanket is inflatable through an inlet by a thermally-controlled inflating medium. An aperture array on the undersurface of the inflatable thermal blanket exhausts the thermally controlled inflating medium from the inflatable thermal blanket.... Agent: Terrance A. Meador Incaplaw

20060293736 - Compression bandage: A compression bandage including a bonded web bandage having a predetermined size and shape and a cooling liquid in contact with the bonded web having an acid pH which is safe for external use on the human body. Also, a method of treating a contusion on a body part. The... Agent: Devine, Millimet & Branch, P.A.

20060293739 - Cardiac ventricular geometry restoration device and treatment for heart failure: Methods for cardiac ventricular restoration include delivering an implantable expandable device into the ventricle via a catheter. The expandable device is anchored either to the wall of the left ventricle or to the inter-ventricular septum and then expanded. When expanded, the device assumes a size and shape which fills the... Agent: Gordon & Jacobson, P.C.

20060293737 - Multiple electrode implantable lead: This document discusses, among other things, a lead assembly including a lead body, a first conductor extending through the lead body and coupled to a first electrode, a second conductor extending through the lead body and coupled to a second electrode, and a multi-filar coil extending through the lead body.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20060293738 - Systems and methods for creating a lesion using transjugular approach: A method of treating a tissue region includes inserting a flexible sheath within a vessel, the vessel leading to a tissue region, placing a distal end of the sheath through a wall of the vessel to thereby position the distal end is at or adjacent the tissue region, deploying a... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20060293740 - Epicardial lead fixation system: A cardiac pacing lead for electrically communicating with a human heart is attached to the heart using an adhesive. The lead includes a flexible, elongated lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, a pad having an interface surface coupled to the lead body at the distal end.... Agent: Guidant Patent Docketing Faegre & Benson, LLP

20060287678 - Device and method for inhibiting release of pro-inflammatory mediator: Stimulation of one or more neurons of the sympathetic nervous system, including the splenic nerve, to attenuate an immune response, including an inflammatory immune response, is discussed. Devices and systems to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system to attenuate an immune response are also discussed. Devices discussed include pulse generators and... Agent: Campbell Nelson Whipps, LLC

20060287679 - Method and system to control respiration by means of confounding neuro-electrical signals: A method to control respiration generally comprising generating a confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to confound or (suppress) at least one interneuron that induces a reflex action and transmitting the confounding neuro-electrical signal to the subject, whereby the reflex action is abated. In one embodiment, the confounding neuro-electrical signal... Agent: Ralph C. Francis Francis Law Group

20060287677 - Spg stimulation via the greater palatine canal: Apparatus for application to a subject is provided, including an elongated support element having a length of between 1.8 cm and 4 cm, and having proximal and distal ends; and one or more electrodes fixed to the support element in a vicinity of the distal end thereof, and adapted to... Agent: Ratnerprestia

20060287681 - Post-shock management of implantable cardiac device features: Systems and methods of managing features or functions of an implantable cardiac device involve forming a baseline evoked response template prior to delivery of defibrillation therapy to a patient's heart, and acquiring a post-shock evoked response signal subsequent to defibrillation therapy delivery. The baseline evoked response template is compared to... Agent: Crawford Maunu PLLC

20060287680 - Ready-to-install electrode system for cardioversion and assembly of said system and an endoscope: A ready-to-install electrode system designed for use with an endoscope for performing cardioversion through the esophagus, and an assembly of the system and an endoscope. The system is characterized in that it includes a globally tubular protective cover (3) designed to be fitted on the endoscope (40) to cover at... Agent: Young & Thompson

20060287684 - Method and apparatus for initiating and delivering cardiac protection pacing: A pacing system delivers cardiac protection pacing to protect the heart from injuries associated with ischemic events. The pacing system detects an ischemic event and, in response, initiates one or more cardiac protection pacing sequences each including alternative pacing and non-pacing periods. In one embodiment, the pacing system initiates a... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20060287683 - Minimizing hemodynamic compromise during post-mi remodeling control pacing: A method and device for delivering pre-excitation pacing to prevent or reduce cardiac remodeling following a myocardial infarction is described. The pre-excitation pacing is modulated in accordance with an assessment of cardiac function in order to balance the beneficial effects of stress reduction with hemodynamic compromise.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20060287682 - Multi-site pacemaker with slaved eletrodes network: The invention relates to an implantable pacemaker. This pacemaker comprises at least one conducting cable (11) electrically connecting a control box (10) to at least one electrode placed at a point in the patient's heart, the said control box (10) comprising a power supply system and an electronic system, and... Agent: Robert E. Krebs Thelen Reid & Priest LLP

20060287685 - Multi-chamber cardiac capture detection using cross chamber sensing: Methods and systems involve multi-chamber cardiac capture detection utilizing sensing during a cross-chamber refractory period. First and second pacing pulses are delivered to first and second heart chamber. Capture or non-capture of the second heart chamber is determined. Sensing in the first heart chamber is performed to sense for cross-chamber... Agent: Crawford Maunu PLLC

20060287686 - System and method for implantable device with one or more stored treatment protocols and transmission to external device: A system, method, and implantable pulse generator (IPG) device that stores, on the implantable device, two or more treatment-protocol stimulus programs, each preferably having one or more stimsets, preferably as prescribed by a physician. The IPG communicates with an external patient programmer (EPP) to determine which of the stimulus programs... Agent: Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. (ans)

20060287687 - Use of stellate ganglion block for the treatment of post partum depression: The present invention is directed to a method for the treatment of a patient suffering from post partum depression and other symptoms comprising the step of administering a stellate ganglion block to the patient to alleviate the symptoms. The stellate ganglion block may be followed by a sympathectomy to provide... Agent: Brian J. Lum Ice Miller LLP

20060287688 - Vision regeneration assisting apparatus: Provided is a vision regeneration assisting apparatus including a plurality of electrodes which are placed in a human body to apply an electrostimulation pulse signal to a cell for forming a retina; and a controller which outputs the electrostimulation pulse signal having bipolarity from the electrodes, wherein the controller comprises... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20060287689 - Cochlear implant drug delivery device: Devices for the delivery of a bioactive substance to a cochlea and methods of delivery thereof. The devices include means to allow the release of the bioactive substance within a cochlea.... Agent: Jagtiani + Guttag

20060287690 - Simultaneous delivery of electrical and acoustical stimulation in a hearing prosthesis: A bimodal hearing prosthesis configured to deliver electrical and acoustic stimulation to a recipient such that a frequency range of a received sound that is represented by the electrical stimulation is perceived simultaneously with the frequency range of the received sound that is represented by the acoustic stimulation.... Agent: Jagtiani + Guttag

20060287691 - Methods for data retention in an implantable medical device: Methods for storing data records associated with a medical monitoring event in a data structure. An implanted device obtains data and stores the data in the data record in a first data structure that is age-based. Before an oldest data record is lost, the oldest data record may be stored... Agent: Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.

20060287692 - Recordable macros for pacemaker follow-up: A device and method for programming an implantable pulse generator. In one embodiment, commands are entered designating implantable pulse generator programming variables into programmer memory. At least some of the commands are transformed into an executable macro. The macro is stored in the programmer memory. The macro is executed to... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth/ Guidant/cpi

20060287694 - Implantable medical device telemetry processor: An implantable medical device with a main processor also has a telemetry processor to perform some telemetry processing functions resulting under some circumstances in reducing demands on the main processor, conserving energy, increasing telemetry processing speed, and many other advantages. A wide variety of implantable medical devices can be configured... Agent: Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.

20060287693 - Implanted telephone system: An wireless telephone microchip can be implanted into a human or animal to allow telephone calling, location and control of implanted medical devices. A chip can contain complete telephone circuitry, GPS and local RF communication to an earphone/microphone for telephony and for controlling or modifying a medical device. Wideband local... Agent: Clifford Kraft

20060287696 - Heat and light therapy treatment device and method: Heat and light is generated and applied to the skin of a user with multiple arrays of light emitting devices. The amount of heat and light energy delivered from each array is separately controlled relative to a predetermined dose of light energy and a temperature of the skin adjacent to... Agent: John R Ley, LLC

20060287695 - Intranasal red light probe for treating alzheimer's disease: A method of treating Alzheimer's Disease in which intranasal red light devices are used to shine red light upon the brain structures.... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20060287697 - Methods and apparatus for thermally activating a console of a thermal delivery system: A thermal delivery system includes a base unit having a thermal regulation source and a console configured to deliver cooling fluid to a body-cooling device to induce hypothermia and aid in resuscitation of a patient. When a user docks the console with the base station, the console thermally contacts the... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20060287698 - Wave generating device with inner reflector: A wave generating device including a reflective surface adapted to reflect energy waves to a focus, and an energy wave transducer positioned at least partially around and outwards from the reflective surface, and adapted to generate an energy wave inwards towards the reflective surface through a wave propagating medium disposed... Agent: Dekel Patent Ltd., David Klein

20060287699 - Nose ice pack assembly: A nose ice pack is disclosed for promoting clotting to stop a bleeding nose. A flexible cover sheaths three adjacent coolant pockets, with two spaces between the pockets. A back flap is provided that is hinged over the back of the flexible cover to provide extra protection and space for... Agent: Botkin & Hall, LLP

20060287700 - Method and apparatus for delivering an implantable wireless sensor for in vivo pressure measurement: An apparatus for implanting an implant device having a corkscrew-type anchor associated therewith into a patient includes an elongated, flexible shaft. A retention mechanism is located at the distal end of the shaft for retaining the device at the distal end of the shaft. The apparatus includes means selectively operable... Agent: John S. Pratt, Esq Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP

20060282120 - Neurotoxic agents and devices to treat atrial fibrillation: Devices and methods to treat atrial fibrillation via inhibition of nerves which innervate the pulmonary vein are provided.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20060282122 - Treating cancer with electric fields that are guided to desired locations within a body: Electric fields with certain characteristics have been shown to be effective at inhibiting the growth of cancer cells (and other rapidly dividing cells). However, when the cancer is located in a target region beneath the surface of a body, it can be difficult to deliver the beneficial fields to the... Agent: Proskauer Rose LLP Patent Department

20060282121 - Vagus nerve stimulation for chronic intractable hiccups: Intractable hiccups are debilitating and are usually a result of underlying disease. A method of treating chronic hiccups is provided, comprising the steps of applying a peripheral nerve stimulator to the vagus nerve at a predetermined frequency, pulse width, amplitude, and duration; monitoring the occurrence of hiccups in response to... Agent: Warner J Delaune Jr Adams And Reese LLP

20060282123 - Electrical devices and anti-scarring agents: Electrical devices (e.g., cardiac rhythm management and neurostimulation devices) for contact with tissue are used in combination with an anti-scarring agent (e.g., a cell cycle inhibitor) in order to inhibit scarring that may otherwise occur when the devices are implanted within an animal.... Agent: Seed Intellectual Property Law Group PLLC

20060282124 - Apparatus and method for cardioversion: The present invention is a system for terminating cardiac arrhythmia using existing defibrillators found in the field in conjunction with a safe junction box. The system is designed to allow the defibrillator to connect to specially designed catheters equipped with specially designed electrodes and external electrodes for coupling energy to... Agent: Charles D. Gunter, Jr. Whitaker, Chalk, Swindle & Sawyer, LLP

20060282125 - Evaluation of cardiac function using only telemetered left ventricular pressure during axial flow lvad support in sheep: comparison to preload recruitable stroke work: Introduction: Emerging technology will soon allow for the chronic assessment of telemetered left ventricular (LV) pressure in patients supported with LVADs; however, specific methods have not been developed for the use of LV pressure during LVAD support. Methods: Adult Suffolk sheep (N=6, 78±3 Kg) underwent placement of axial-flow LVAD. Each... Agent: Roetzel & Andress

20060282126 - Implantable medical device feedthrough assembly having a coated conductor: An electrical feedthrough for an implantable medical device (IMD) is provided that employs a feedthrough conductor having a non-platinum based inner core and one or more layers of a conductive coating to control oxide growth on the surface of the conductor. The coating permits soldering the feedthrough conductor to IMD... Agent: Guidant Patent Docketing Faegre & Benson, LLP

20060282127 - Respiratory triggered, bilateral laryngeal stimulator to restore normal ventilation in vocal fold paralysis: A laryngeal stimulation system including a sensor for detecting an occurrence of a respiratory signal in a subject and a laryngeal stimulator adapted for coupling to a laryngeal muscle and operable to stimulate the laryngeal muscle in response to the sensor detecting the occurrence of the respiratory signal is provided.... Agent: Jenkins, Wilson, Taylor & Hunt, P. A.

20060282128 - Batch-fabricated flexible intraocular retinal prosthesis system and method for manufacturing the same: Intraocular retinal prosthesis systems and methods for fabricating the same are provided. In one aspect, fabrication of all or multiple components of a prosthesis device or system are combined into a single monolithic fabrication process. Also, many such entire systems can be fabricated simultaneously in a single microfabrication processing run.... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20060282129 - Mimicking neural coding in retinal ganglion cells with short pulse electrical stimulation: A method, device and system for stimulating visual tissue, typically in the retina or visual cortex, to achieve an artificial percept of light or image. The method includes providing stimulating electrodes suitable for placement in proximity to the visual tissue and generating a series of short-duration stimulation signals having a... Agent: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20060282130 - Neural stimulation for increased persistence: The present invention is a method of improving the persistence of electrical neural stimulation, and specifically a method of improving the persistence of an image supplied to a retina, or visual cortex, through a visual prosthesis. A continuously stimulated retina, or other neural tissue, will desensitize after a time period... Agent: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20060282131 - System for neural control of respiration: A system, device and method for neural control of respiration are provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an implantable medical device for sensing and controlling respiration during incidence of central respiratory diseases. According to various embodiments, the device includes a sensing circuit to receive sensed signals representative of... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20060282133 - Method of marking biological tissues for enhanced destruction by applied radiant energy: Methods for staining a selected tissue with a dye, stain or pigment that is attuned to absorb the energy from a radiant energy source are disclosed. The radiant energy source can be sufficient to destroy or combust radiated tissues. The dye or stain can enhance absorption of incoming radiant energy,... Agent: Geoffrey E. Dobbin, Patent Attorney

20060282134 - Photo-thermal therapeutic device: A photo-thermal therapeutic device having an outer housing that can be used to treat patients. A plurality of light emitting diodes and resistors are resiliently mounted in the housing. The resilient mounting of the diodes and resistors allow the device to conform and provide effective treatment of almost any surface... Agent: Emch, Schaffer, Schaub & Porcello Co

20060282132 - Photodynamic therapy equipment, method for controlling photodynamic therapy equipment and method of photodynamic method: Photodynamic therapy equipment 1 for treating lesioned part by using a photosensitive substance, which is activated by the light having a peak intensity of a predetermined range but is almost not activated by the light having the peak intensity out of the predetermined range, equipped with an irradiation means 13... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20060282135 - Radiation separating shield for skin treatment: A process utilizing a separating shield to produce tissue damage in small regions of skin without damage to neighboring tissue. This permits healthy physiological responses originating in the neighboring tissue to repair the damaged tissue or to produce new healthy tissue to replace the damaged tissue. In preferred embodiments a... Agent: John R. Ross

20060282136 - Switched photodynamic therapy apparatus and method: A photodynamic therapy apparatus and method in which (1) phototoxic drug is supplied to a target tissue, (2) delivery of drug activating light to the target tissue through probes is controlled by sequential selection of operation of the probes, (3) an automatic radiance probe is used for efficient optical characterization... Agent: Christensen, O'connor, Johnson, Kindness, PLLC

20060282137 - System and method utilizing guided fluorescence for high intensity applications: A fluorescence concentrator system that provides for high brightness light source. The system can include a host doped with fluorescent material, which is optically pumped by an adjacent illumination source. The fluorescence concentrator captures a portion of the isotropically emitted fluorescent light and guides it to an output surface. The... Agent: Stallman & Pollock LLP

20060282139 - Devices and methodologies useful in non invasive termination of pregnancy: A method and apparatus for termination of pregnancy, the method including imaging a gestational sac in a body and applying energy through non-gestational sac body tissue to the gestational sac, which is sufficient to effect termination of pregnancy and the apparatus including a radiant energy source and a gestational sac... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20060282138 - Exothermic structure that is directly applied to skin: An exothermic structure that is directly applied to skin comprising an air-permeable sheet layer, an exothermic composition layer, an air-impermeable sheet layer, a layer of a non-woven fabric, and an adhesive layer in this order wherein the exothermic composition layer is put into a pouch that is made of the... Agent: Osha Liang L.L.P.

20060282140 - Apparatus for altering the body temperature of a patient: A method of performing CPR on the patient while altering the body temperature of a patient comprises covering at least a thoracic region of the patient with a cover. A heat transfer liquid is directed to flow through liquid passages in the cover for contact with the thoracic region of... Agent: Senniger Powers

20060282141 - Apparatus for altering the body temperature of a patient: Apparatus for altering the body temperature of a patient comprises an inflatable mattress defining an interior space for receiving at least a portion of a patient's body therein. The inflatable mattress is constructed to conduct a heat transfer liquid into direct contact with the portion of the patient's body. The... Agent: Senniger Powers

20060282142 - Apparatus for altering the body temperature of a patient: Apparatus for altering the body temperature of a patient comprises an enclosure defining an interior space for receiving at least a portion of a patient's body therein. The enclosure is constructed for transferring a heat transfer liquid into direct contact with the portion of the patient's body received in the... Agent: Senniger Powers

20060282143 - Therapy pack holding device: A therapy pack holding device (1) comprising a rear panel (5) and a front panel (7) secured together to form a pillowcase and a flap (8) having at least one pocket (2). The flap (8) is secured to the front panel (7) so as to permit a person to place... Agent: Cindy D. Nunn

20060282144 - Polymer lead covering with varied material properties: This document discusses, among other things, a lead assembly including a lead body, at least one conductor extending through the lead body, and a covering having varied material properties. In an example, the covering is made by forming pieces of material having varied material properties. In another example, the covering... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20060282145 - Vascularly stabilized peripheral nerve cuff assembly: A vascularly stabilized peripheral nerve cuff assembly is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an electrode assembly used in the delivery of neural stimulation therapy. The electrode assembly includes a body adapted to at least partially encompass a blood vessel and a nerve proximate to the blood vessel.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20060282146 - Lead assembly with porous polyethylene cover: This document discusses, among other things, a lead assembly including a porous polyethylene cover. In an example, the cover includes sections that have differing pore sizes. In an example, a section of the cover near a distal end portion of a lead assembly includes pores that are large enough to... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20060276846 - Energy based devices and methods for treatment of patent foramen ovale: Methods and apparatus for treatment of patent foramen ovale (PFO) provide for applying energy to tissues adjacent the PFO with a catheter device to substantially close the PFO acutely. Apparatus generally includes a catheter device having at least one energy transmission member at or near its distal end configured to...

20060276842 - Implantable microstimulator with external electrodes disposed on a film substrate and methods of manufacture and use: An implantable microstimulator includes a housing, an electronic subassembly, conductive vias, and an electrode arrangement. The housing defines an interior and an exterior with the electronic subassembly disposed in the interior of the housing. The conductive vias extend from the interior to the exterior of the housing. The electrode arrangement...

20060276844 - Ingestible device for nitric oxide production in tissue: Apparatus is provided including an ingestible device, which includes two or more electrodes, and a signal controller, configured to drive the electrodes to apply an electrical signal to an inner surface of a wall of a gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject, and to configure the signal to induce local...

20060276843 - Life energy device: A life energy device includes an ore and a life energy unit, wherein the ore can absorb and release an energy ranged in a predetermined frequency band and the life energy unit includes a circuit board mounted in the ore, a chip mounted on the circuit board and having a...

20060276845 - Pulsed electromagnetic energy treatment apparatus and method: An apparatus and method for the treatment of chronic wounds using electromagnetic energy. The apparatus includes a generator and at least one applicator. The generator can produce electromagnetic energy and the applicator can apply the electromagnetic energy produced by the generator. A detector is disposed on the applicator that can...

20060276847 - Method and apparatus for optimizing ventricular synchrony during ddd resynchronization therapy using adjustable atrio-ventricular delays: A pacing system for providing optimal hemodynamic cardiac function for parameters such as ventricular synchorny or contractility (peak left ventricle pressure change during systole or LV+dp/dt), or stroke volume (aortic pulse pressure) using system for calculating atrio-ventricular delays for optimal timing of a ventricular pacing pulse. The system providing an...

20060276848 - Evoked response and impedance measures for monitoring heart failure and respiration: An exemplary method includes acquiring impedance values over one or more respiratory cycles, determining an impedance span based on the impedance values and, based at least in part on the impedance span, determining cardiac condition or respiratory condition. Another exemplary method includes acquiring IEGMs over one or more respiratory cycles,...

20060276849 - Sensing rate of change of pressure in the left ventricle with an implanted device: An implantable device and method for monitoring S1 heart sounds with a remotely located accelerometer. The device includes a transducer that converts heart sounds into an electrical signal. A control circuit is coupled to the transducer. The control circuit is configured to receive the electrical signal, identify an S1 heart...

20060276850 - Detector for magnetic hazards to implanted medical device: A handheld detector gives a warning when a magnetic field exceeds the safety level for a particular medical implant that is magnetically activated. A front surface of the device corresponds approximately to a surface region of a patient's body in a vicinity of an implanted medical device. The magnetic detection...

20060276851 - Implantable medical device with a dual power source: An implantable medical device includes a control circuit for controlling the operation of the device and for obtaining physiological data from a patient in which the medical device is implanted. The implanted device also includes a communication circuit for transmitting the physiological data to an external device. A first power...

20060276852 - Methods and apparatus for treating hypertension: Methods and apparatus are provided for treating hypertension, e.g., via a pulsed electric field, via a stimulation electric field, via localized drug delivery, via high frequency ultrasound, via thermal techniques, etc. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential...

20060276853 - Method and apparatus for desynchronization of neural brain activity: The invention relates to an apparatus for desynchronization of neural, illness-synchronous brain activity in which, according to the invention, the activities in at least two subareas of a brain area or at least two functionally associated brain areas are stimulated by means of at least two electrodes, on the basis...

20060276854 - Method and apparatus for stimulating the sphenopalatine ganglion to modify properties of the bbb and cerebral blood flow: Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient is provided, including one or more electrodes (7), adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) (6) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading...

20060276855 - Device for muscle stimulation: The invention relates to a device for muscle stimulation, said device comprising a pulse generator unit (9) for producing and sending an electrical stimulation pulse; a control unit (10) for controlling the pulse generator unit (9) in order to adjust the amplitude and the frequency of the stimulation pulses and...

20060276856 - Method and apparatus for measuring the performance of an implantable middle ear hearing aid, and the response of a patient wearing such a hearing aid: A reference transmitter (602) and reference receiver (604) are provided for testing the performance of a semi-implantable hearing aid. In a calibration configuration, an audiometer (606) is used to provide a reference signal via a headphone jack output (608) to the reference transmitter (602). The reference transmitter (602) provides an...

20060276857 - Medical device programmer with infrared communication: In general, the invention is directed to a patient programmer for an implantable medical device. The patient programmer may include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience....

20060276858 - Apparatus and method for preventing the spread of cancerous metastases and for elimination of metastases: AC electric fields at certain frequencies and field strengths disrupt dividing cells, but leave undividing cells substantially unharmed. Since cancer cells divide much more often than normal cells, those AC fields have been shown to be effective at inhibiting tumor growth and shrinking tumors. Because certain body parts (e.g., the...

20060276859 - Photopatterning of skin: Methods and systems for treating skin for aesthetic or health purposes are described. According to various embodiments, photoresponsive materials and light are delivered in a controlled fashion to produce a patterned distribution of a material in the skin....

20060276860 - Skin treatment including patterned light: Methods and systems for treating skin for aesthetic or health purposes are described. According to various embodiments, photoresponsive materials and light are delivered in a controlled fashion to produce a patterned distribution of a material in the skin....

20060276861 - Non-invasive method and system for the treatment of snoring and nasal obstruction: Laser for thermal shrinkage of soft tissue of uvula, soft palate, nasal turbinate or tongue base for the treatment of snoring, nasal obstruction or sleep apnea are disclosed. The preferred laser includes infrared laser about 0.7 to 1.85 micron, pulse duration about 100 microsecond to 5 seconds, spot size of...

20060276862 - Treatment of skin disorders with uv light and cooling: Skin disorders such as, for example, atopic dermatitis, dyshidrosis, eczema, lichen planus, psoriasis, and vitiligo, are treated by applying high doses of ultraviolet light to diseased regions of a patients skin. The dosage employed exceeds 1 MED, an MED being determined for the particular patient being treated, and may range...

20060276863 - Warming tool: A warming article having a heat generating main body (4). The heat generating main body (4) is composed of a heat generating element (2) having water vapor generating capability and an air permeable holder (3) for holding the heat generating element (2). The heat generating main body (4) is configured...

20060276865 - Fever regulation method and apparatus: A device and method for providing body cooling for treating fever. The cooling device applies cooling to blood flowing in a vein or artery, e.g., the vena cavae, that is then distributed throughout the body....

20060276864 - Systems and methods for sensing patient temperature in temperature management system: Various methods are disclosed for measuring patient temperature for input as a feedback signal into a temperature management system....

20060276866 - Microelectrode array for chronic deep-brain microstimulation for recording: The invention relates to a multielectrode probe having a silicon substrate which supports multiple conductive electrodes for deep-brain electrical stimulation or recording of neural responses. The substrate has an upper end with multiple conductive portions for bonding to lead wires, and an elongated shank extends from the upper end. The...

20060276867 - Methods and devices for mapping the ventricle for pacing lead placement and therapy delivery: A method of placing a pacing lead in the heart includes moving an electrode catheter successively to a plurality of possible placement sites. The viability of the tissue at each site is determined. If the tissue at the site is viable, a pacing signal is applied to the tissue at...

20060276868 - Coronary sinus lead for pacing the left atrium: A method of inserting a pacing lead having a preformed shape into a coronary sinus to pace the left atrium includes providing a lead having an elongated body and proximal and tip sections. The sections are configured such that a first angle less than 90 degrees is defined between the...

20060276869 - Coronary sinus lead for pacing the left atrium: A pacing lead for implantation in a coronary sinus having an opening and a wall defining an interior and presenting a diameter dimension. The pacing lead includes an elongated lead body, a resilient fixation element, and at least one electrode on either the lead body or the fixation element. The...

20060276870 - Osseus stimulating electrodes: This invention provides surgical instruments for eliciting motor evoked potentials intraoperatively during surgical procedures such as anterior cervical discectomy and fusions by providing a stimulus directly to an osseus structure such as a vertebral body....