Surgery inventions 01/06

20060020156 - Therapeutic device: The present invention relates generally to methods and devices for the treatment of cancers in viscous organs such as the bladder by brachytherapy, such as high dose rate brachytherapy. The invention provides a brachytherapy device consisting of a double balloon system in which a smaller dosing balloon is present within...

20060020157 - Internal radiation therapy for low lying lesions: The present invention presents a novel approach to radiation therapy of the distal rectum. The novel idea is the combination of this device plus the treatment regimen to compress the time required to administer radiotherapy to this area to make radiotherapy more acceptable and available as well as to possibly...

20060020158 - Method of drug delivery to interstitial regions of the myocardium: A method of treating the heart and other body tissues by injecting a compound comprised of microsphere encapsulated macromolecule therapeutic agents into the myocardium, such that the microsphere size inhibits capillary transport of the compound but may permit lymphatic transport of the compound, and the compound releases therapeutic agents upon...

20060020159 - Portable isolation enclosure: An isolation enclosure is provided for isolating a person to an area about a bed, wherein the bed is adapted to support the person and includes a frame and a mattress overlying the frame. The isolation enclosure comprises a frame adapted to surround the bed; and a canopy connectable to...

20060020161 - Method and device for auditory stimulation for therapeutic application: A system to deliver a sound of based therapy having a waveform generator device which is configured to generate signals which are therapeutic to a patient, and a sound delivery system configured to receive signals from the waveform generator device and transmit the signals to the patient, wherein the waveform...

20060020160 - Sound generation method, computer-readable storage medium, stand-alone sound generation and playback apparatus, and network-communicative sound generation and playback system: An object is to provide a sound generation method for basic information having chaos and fractal, so that a sound is generated by converting basic information having chaos and fractal into data that are numerically operable, by calculating characteristics of chaos and fractal from the basic information, which has chaos...

20060020162 - Methods and system for tissue cavity closure: Surgical systems for less invasive access to and isolation of an atrial appendage are provided. A suturing grasper compresses soft tissue structures and deploys one or more sutures through complimentary pledget(s) carried by the grasper. The pledgets are reinforced, containing support members that define the profile of the stitch and...

20060020163 - Medical examination apparatus: Apparatus for effecting or controlling instrumentation insertible into the human body, as for example into the uterus, comprising in combination a first suspension for adjustably suspending the instrumentation generally vertically; a second suspension operatively connected with the first suspension for adjustably suspending the instrumentation for generally horizontal movement; a third...

20060020164 - Evertable insertion tube for colonoscope: An evertable tube having a lumen therethrough, an inflation port for inflating the tube, and a self-closing valve at the inflation port. The tube has an inflation port for inflating the tube to grip a member, such as a probe, in the lumen. Advancement of the member, for example through...

20060020165 - Disposable endoscope sheath having adjustable length: A disposable endoscope sheath includes an extendable sleeve sized to accommodate an endoscope shaft having a viewing end. The extendable sleeve has a variable length. A distal portion of the sleeve is configured to direct irrigation fluid onto the viewing end of the endoscope to flush surgical debris from the...

20060020166 - Protection of sensitive instruments: This patent will describe a method whereby sensitive instruments can be protected from damage and contamination. Sensitive instruments that need to be sterilized after use is a major problem for the medical field. Most camera systems fall into that category, limiting their use and denying the public the benefit of...

20060020167 - Medical devices for minimally invasive surgeries and other internal procedures: Minimally invasive surgical devices and related tools are provided. The devices include image acquisition devices and forceps, scissors, clamps, ultrasound probes, lasers, cautery devices, staplers, knives, suturing devices, rivet drivers, ligation devices, aspiration devices, injection devices, biopsy devices, radiotherapy devices; and radioactive emitter loading devices. Other devices useful for internal...

20060020168 - Electronic endoscope system: An electronic endoscope system with high operability and high observing performance capable of driving properly and automatically the light-emitting elements without the size increase in system is provided, even in the case of using a plurality of interchangeable optical adaptors having varied numbers of light-emitting elements. A plurality of optical...

20060020169 - Electronic endoscope system for fluorescence observation: An electronic endoscope system, which is adapted to observe a fluorescence image of autofluorescence emitted from a body cavity wall irradiated with excitation light as well as a normal image of the body cavity wall illuminated with white light on a display device, includes a brightness control system configured to...

20060020170 - Appliance for use with apparatus providing therapy: An appliance for use in delivering x-ray radiation therapy internally at desired locations in a body is disclosed. The appliance may be inserted into the tissue to receive radiation and expanded to a desired shape, thereby providing a predetermined configuration to the tissue surrounding the appliance. The appliance can be...

20060020171 - Intubation and imaging device and system: An intubation tool may include an imaging unit. The imaging unit may be, for example, self contained, autonomous and/or single use. Images may be transmitted to, for example, an external receiving system....

20060020172 - Oct laryngoscope: The invention relates to a laryngoscope with a light guiding portion for insertion into a patient's oral cavity and an observation device for diagnostics with visible light, comprising an illumination beam path for illuminating an examination area with a visible observation beam, and an imaging beam path for guiding the...

20060020173 - Rib cage retractor and pads thereof: A rib cage retractor for game hunters comprises a bar clamp/spreader as is known in the art, such a tool has an end piece which is removable and that, when placed on the opposite end of the bar, acts as a spreader. Since the typical bar clamp is generally aimed...

20060020177 - Apparatus and method for measuring quantity of physical exercise using acceleration sensor: Disclosed are a method for measuring quantity of exercise and an apparatus comprising an acceleration sensor for generating acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to user movement, sensor control unit for supplying power to the acceleration sensor and sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor,...

20060020175 - Method for managing deselection of medicine: A method for managing the treatment regimen of a human patient using an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine is provided. The method comprises providing to the patient an interactive therapy managing system for de-selecting himself from the treatment regimen. The interactive therapy managing system may comprise, for example, an in person contact,...

20060020174 - Physical activity measuring system: A physical activity measuring system analyzes analyzing body motions of a user to accurately determine the exercise intensity. The system includes a portable device which is adapted to be carried by the user and is equipped with a body sensor and an indicator for indication of the exercise intensity. The...

20060020176 - Portable handheld medical diagnostic tool ''camcorder handle'': The portable handheld medical diagnostic tool incorporates camcorder technology and combines multiple diagnostic attachments commonly use by physicians and medical personnel. When attached with various portable instruments, it can be a powerful tool for teaching, diagnostics, therapy of illnesses by virtue of real-time video, audio and other sensory feed on...

20060020178 - System and method for assessing sleep quality: A method for improved visualization of information related to the physiology of a sleeping patient is disclosed. Physiological information from the patient is obtained by a device, converted to digital format, and processed to yield epochs of time based on whether the patient was in a physiologically desirable or undesirable...

20060020179 - Noninvasive detection of a physiologic parameter with a probe: The invention provides a device for contacting a surface of a patient's body to determine a physiologic parameter in a measurement region of a tissue of the patient. The device typically comprises a sensor responsive to the physiologic parameter and a probe housing the sensor. The probe is constructed to...

20060020181 - Device and method for monitoring body fluid and electrolyte disorders: A device and a method for measuring body fluid-related metrics using spectrophotometry to facilitate therapeutic interventions aimed at restoring body fluid balance. The specific body fluid-related metrics include the absolute volume fraction of water in the extravascular and intravascular tissue compartments, as well as the shifts of water between these...

20060020180 - Isolation and communication element for a resposable pulse oximetry sensor: A sensor has a connector adapted to electrically communicate with a physiological measurement instrument. A breakable conductor incorporated by the sensor transitions from a continuity state to a discontinuity state as the result of sensor wear. An isolation and communications element (ICE) has an instrument port and an electrically isolated...

20060020182 - Saccharide-measuring fluorescent monomer, saccharide-measuring fluorescent sensor substance, and implantable, saccharide-measuring sensor: wherein Q, Q′ and D3 may be the same or different, may be combined together into a fused ring, and are each a substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, and substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, acyl, oxyalkyl, carboxyl, carboxylate ester, carboxamido,...

20060020184 - Non-invasive measurement of blood glucose using retinal imaging: An apparatus carries out measurements of blood glucose in a repeatable, non-invasive manner by measurement of the rate of regeneration of retinal visual pigments, such as cone visual pigments. The rate of regeneration of visual pigments is dependent upon the blood glucose concentration, and by measuring the visual pigment regeneration...

20060020183 - Skin type assessment and nevi screening for skin cancer with a noninvasive, portable reflectance spectrophotometer: The invention relates to a method for objectively measuring skin phototype by reflectance spectrophotometry. The improved method correlates well with clinician-based assessments and is non-invasive, rapid and accurate....

20060020185 - Cyanotic infant sensor: A pulse oximetry sensor comprises emitters configured to transmit light having a plurality of wavelengths into a fleshy medium. A detector is responsive to the emitted light after absorption by constituents of pulsatile blood flowing within the medium so as to generate intensity signals. A sensor head has a light...

20060020186 - Transcutaneous analyte sensor: p

20060020187 - Transcutaneous analyte sensor:

20060020188 - Transcutaneous analyte sensor:

20060020189 - Transcutaneous analyte sensor:

20060020190 - Transcutaneous analyte sensor:

20060020191 - Transcutaneous analyte sensor:

20060020192 - Transcutaneous analyte sensor:

20060020193 - Non-invasive blood glucose sensors using a magneto-resonance absorption method and measurement methods thereof: A non-invasive blood glucose measurement method using a magneto-resonance absorption method. A constant magnetic field is applied using a pair of permanent magnets, the magnetic field having a uniform strength. A triangular waveform low frequency modulation magnetic field is applied using a low frequency generator and a pair of low...

20060020194 - Tonometer & method of use: A device used to measure intraocular pressure within a patient's eye includes a probe typically having an end to which is attached a resilient member with a hollow interior that decreases in volume as the member is pressed against the eye. The greater the intraocular pressure within an eye, the...

20060020196 - Diagnosis device: A diagnosis device having a device for producing a series of images, such as a computer tomography device or an ultrasound device. There is also a device for the passive movement of an object and a device that can be stereotactically moved independent of the passive movement object, wherein this...

20060020195 - Verifying lesion characteristics using beam shapes: A patient's lesion is localized for the purpose of administering radiation treatment by obtaining a beam shape representation along one or more beam directions of a radiation treatment device. An image corresponding to the lesion is obtained from each beam direction, and the beam shape and image are fixed to...

20060020198 - Method for acquiring mri data from variable fields of view during continuous table motion: MRA data is acquired from a large region of interest by translating the patient through the bore of the MRI system as a three-dimensional MRA data set are acquired. The pulse sequence is altered during the scan to change the lateral FOVL of the acquired image to better match the...

20060020197 - Method for differentiating tissues in magnetic resonance imaging: A method of differentiating tissues in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) comprising applying a Magnetization Transfer (MT) pre-pulse in combination with the Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) pulse sequence to obtain an image of the tissue under evaluation. Analysis maps and/or measurements are generated from the obtained image, from which values representative...

20060020199 - Urethral radiation treatment system and method: Provided herein is an applicator system and method for treating tissue via a body lumen. The applicator can include a graduated member having an anchor configured to position the graduated member in a predetermined relationship relative to an anatomical feature and at least one visualizable marker. The system can also...

20060020200 - Artifact-free ct angiogram: A helical scan is performed with a fan beam or cone beam CT system to acquire a first set of sinogram data sets. The subject is injected with a contrast agent and the identical helical scan is performed to acquire a second set of sinogram data sets. Corresponding projection views...

20060020201 - Collimator storage apparatus integrated with patient support: According to some embodiments, a patient support system for a nuclear medical imaging system is provided that includes: a patient support; a collimator storage unit located under the patient support; a first support means for supporting substantially all of the weight of the collimator storage unit; and a second support...

20060020203 - Method and apparatus of image processing to detect and enhance edges: A method for detecting and enhancing edges in an ultrasound image includes the steps of applying an edge detection filter to at least one of a plurality of pixels of an ultrasound image to compute an edge detection value having a magnitude and a direction; and applying either a directional...

20060020202 - Method and appartus for controlling ultrasound system display: A method for operating a medical imaging system is provided. The method includes receiving an image data set of a region of interest in a first dimensional representation, reducing the dimensionality of the image data set to a second dimensional representation, selecting a feature of interest in the second dimensional...

20060020204 - System and method for three-dimensional space management and visualization of ultrasound data (\"sonodex\"): A system and method for the imaging management of a 3D space where various substantially real-time scan images have been acquired is presented. In exemplary embodiments according to the present invention, a user can visualize images of a portion of a body or object obtained from a substantially real-time scanner...

20060020205 - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, image processing apparatus and image processing method: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a unit for generating image data, an image reconstructing unit and an image synthesizing unit. The unit for generating image data generates image data for displaying a tomogram of a subject by luminance according to signal intensities of echo signals obtained through ultrasonic waves transmitted...

20060020206 - System and method for a virtual interface for ultrasound scanners: A virtual control system for substantially real-time imaging machines, such as, for example, ultrasound, is presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a virtual control system comprises a physical interface communicably connected to a scanner/imager, such as, for example, an ultrasound machine. The scanner/imager has, or is communicably connected...

20060020207 - Volume rendering quality adaptations for ultrasound imaging: Rendering quality parameter values are automatically set or adjusted as a function of acquisition ultrasound parameter values. The rendering quality is automatically selected based on the acquisition quality, such as providing for a higher quality or quality rendering for slower acquisitions. More than two rendering states are provided for a...

20060020208 - Sensing gas bubbles in a living body: A method of detecting gas bubbles in a living body, comprising: transmitting at least one original electromagnetic signal to a body portion; detecting a signal modulated by a flow of blood in said body portion; and analyzing a perturbation in said signal to determine at least one of an existence...

20060020209 - Ultrasonic imaging apparatus: A method for reducing a burden on an operator at the time of administration of a contrast agent and thereby performing a stable contrast inspection, a time up to a contrast-agent administration start time is counted down by a contrast timer. The countdown is notified by a voice output unit...

20060020210 - Ultrasonic transmission films and devices for hygienic transducer surfaces: The present invention provides for methods and devices for reducing medical probe contamination by providing rigid probe holders....

20060020211 - Puncture adapter for use in ultrasonic diagnosis: An adapter for use in puncture (a puncture adapter) for performing puncture while an ultrasonic image is being observed. The puncture adapter is composed of a holder for holding a probe which transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave, and a base unit for movably supporting the holder. A guide mechanism...

20060020212 - Portable vein locating device: A portable vein locating device includes one or more infrared illuminators for transmission through a patient's skin of infrared light and a vein imaging module for determining the location of a vein beneath the skin by detecting the absence of backscattered infrared light. As the device is passed over a...

20060020214 - Intra-subject device and related medical device: An intra-subject device is introduced into a subject to acquire information of the interior of the subject and has a lighting member to output an illuminating light for illuminating the interior of the subject and an imaging member to acquire an image of the interior of the subject. The intra-subject...

20060020213 - Surgical imaging device: A surgical imaging device includes at least one light source for illuminating an object, at least two image sensors configured to generate image data corresponding to the object in the form of an image frame, and a video processor configured to receive from each image sensor the image data corresponding...

20060020215 - Systems and methods for health screening for vascular disease: An angiography system and method comprising of an imaging system for imaging arteries, a processor for processing image data for at least one artery of a participant and an output comprising the image of the artery, a reference image for the artery and physiological data and indexes of the participant....

20060020216 - Medical information detection apparatus and health management system using the medical information detection apparatus: A portable-type health management terminal 100 provided with a communication function and a management device 200 installed in a health management center are connected via a communication network N, wherein the health management terminal 100 is provided with a sensing unit that can sense medical information or an input device...

20060020218 - Method and apparatus for continuous electrode impedance monitoring: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a test signal generator capable of producing an impedance test signal comprising of a sine wave having a known frequency. The test signal generator may include a crystal oscillator, a counter, and a lookup table. The lookup table output is applied to a...

20060020217 - Wireless self-adhesive heartbeat detector: A wireless self-adhesive heartbeat detector includes two terminals with one positive pole and one negative pole. The detector comprises a glue layer to attach to a human body so as to measure the heartbeat of the person. This design does not use any traditional string or tape, thus the user...

20060020219 - Method and system for detecting pace pulses: The present technique provides for the detection of pace pulses in electrocardiogram data. The technique provides for processing one or more sets of electrocardiogram data via a non-linear algorithm. Furthermore, the technique provides for detecting one or more pace pulses in the one or more sets of electrocardiogram data via...

20060020220 - Method and system for modeling cardiovascular disease using a probability regession model: A method and system for modeling cardiovascular disease using a probability regression model is provided. A parameter estimate of a probability regression model for cardiovascular disease can be generated using predictors derived from cardiovascular sound signals and disease status information. A probability of cardiovascular disease can be generated using a...

20060020221 - Infant respiratory monitoring system: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring infant respiration during sleep. More specifically, the present invention alerts the caregiver when an infant has ceased to breathe during sleep. The usefulness of such device applies to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and prolonged apnea leading to a life...

20060020222 - Method for automated detection of a-waves: In one form of the present invention, there is provided a method for detecting an A-wave, the method comprising: applying a series of stimuli to a nerve; recording a series of late responses; creation of a feature space map from an ensemble of late responses; identification of clusters within the...

20060020223 - Systems and methods of utilizing electrical readings in the determination of treatment: The present invention relates to a system for determining treatment options from at least two electrical readings. The electrical readings are conductivity measurements of a particular region on the human body. The system utilizes a correlation algorithm to determine the diagnosis which can easily be correlated with appropriate treatments. The...

20060020224 - Intracranial pressure monitoring system: The disclosure is directed to a system and method for monitoring ICP within a patient on a continuous or periodic basis over an extended period of time. In some situations, a care-giver may want to record ICP measurements over a longer period of time to obtain trend data. A system...

20060020225 - Wireless urodynamic monitoring system with automated voiding diary: The disclosure describes a wireless urodynamic monitoring system with an automated voiding diary feature. The system senses and records urodynamic information in response to a user command or in response to detection of the onset of a voiding event. The urodynamic information obtained over a series of voiding events forms...

20060020226 - Self laminating specimen capture and containment assembly and recordation form combination: The present invention is a specimen capture and collection form that utilizes a self laminating form assembly having first and second separable parts one of which is used in the collection, capture and retention of a sample of material to be analyzed and the other of which is used for...

20060020227 - Collection means and a method for collecting cord blood: The invention provided herein comprises a kit, where the kit includes at least one collecting receptacle for collecting cord blood, and a pre-measured non-liquid anticoagulant which is optionally pre-loaded into the receptacle. The anticoagulant is preferably selected from the group consisting of heparin or heparin type additives, citrates, EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic...

20060020228 - Lancet, lancet assembly and lancet-sensor combination: A lancet assembly has a lancet body with a needle end, a sinuous portion end, and a slot, a lancet tip connected to the needle end, a sinuous portion connected to the sinuous portion end, an anchor structure connected to the sinuous portion. The lancet assembly may also include a...

20060020229 - Apparatus and method for steering a guidewire and connecting to an extension guidewire: An apparatus for steering a guidewire and for connecting the guidewire to an extension guidewire. The apparatus includes a steering device for gripping an exterior of the guidewire, the steering device defining a passageway therein through which the guidewire may pass; and a connecting device for connecting the guidewire to...

20060020230 - Devices and methods for cervix measurement: The present invention provides several devices and methods for determining dimensions of female reproductive organs. In one embodiment, a device for determining a dimension of a female reproductive organ includes a hollow member having a lumen, a measurement member insertable into the lumen of the hollow member and having a...

20060014997 - Device for radiation treatment of proliferative tissue surrounding a cavity in an animal body as well as a method for controlling the performance of radiation treatment of proliferative tissue surrounding a cavity in an animal body: The invention relates to a device for radiation treatment of proliferative tissue surrounding a cavity in an animal body comprising at least an inflatable balloon system having a balloon wall for placement in said cavity; a supportive probe having an elongated body with a distal end connected with said inflatable...

20060014999 - Devices, systems and methods for assisting blood flow: A pump includes a flexible conduit, at least one valve attached to the flexible conduit about the perimeter of the valve; and a drive mechanism to move the valve to pump blood within the conduit. The drive mechanism can, for example, be adapted to complete a single stroke during each...

20060014998 - Multiple partitioning devices for heart treatment: This invention is directed to a system and method for partitioning a patient's heart chamber into a productive portion and a non-productive portion which are particularly suitable for treating patients with congestive heart failure. The partitioning system has a plurality of partitioning devices with reinforced, expandable membranes which separate the...

20060015000 - System, method and apparatus for preventing motion sickness: A system, method and apparatus for preventing motion sickness from afflicting a passenger in a moving vehicle which includes a means for capturing and substantially simultaneously displaying video images collected from a frontal view to a passenger having an obstructed view of the environment in front of the moving vehicle....

20060015001 - Sling delivery system and method of use: An apparatus and method of use are disclosed to treat urological disorders. The biocompatible device includes a handle, needle, dilator and sling assembly configured to be minimally invasive and provide sufficient support to the target site. In addition, the configuration of the sling assembly also allows the sling to be...

20060015004 - Hemostatic device and methods: Methods and devices for hemostatic control of an injured internal organ. In one embodiment, a container is provided for at least partially surrounding an injured organ and exerting a compressive force upon the organ. Methods of treatment utilizing such devices are also provided....

20060015003 - Magnetic devices and methods for reshaping heart anatomy: Systems, methods and devices are provided for treating heart failure patients suffering from various levels of heart dilation. Heart dilation treated by reshaping the heart anatomy with the use of magnetic forces. Such reshaping changes the geometry of portions of the heart, particularly the right or left ventricles, to increase...

20060015002 - Shape memory devices and methods for reshaping heart anatomy: Systems, methods and devices are provided for treating heart failure patients suffering from various levels of heart dilation. Such heart dilation is treated by reshaping the heart anatomy with the use of shape memory elements. Such reshaping changes the geometry of portions of the heart, particularly the right or left...

20060015005 - Sling assemblies for treating urinary incontinence and methods related thereto: A surgical fastener for use in surgical procedures comprises a first member, a second member, and an anchor. Surgical materials may be secured within the surgical fastener. Methods of securing the surgical fastener to an anatomical structure are disclosed herein....

20060015006 - System and method for accessing a body cavity: A device and method for accessing the interior of a cavity of a patient is described. The transmural access system includes an overtube for use with an endoscope, a safety trocar, suture anchors, and a suture exchanger. The overtube is deployed in conjunction with an endoscope through a selected body...

20060015007 - Resectoscope comprisig positioned optics: A urological resectoscope is disclosed, having a tubular shaft (1), through which an optical system (2) and a longitudinally moveable instrument carrier (5) pass. The optical system (2) is supported with respect to the tubular shaft (1) at a spacing from the proximal end of the tubular shaft (1) with...

20060015008 - Video recording and image capture device: A video recording and image capture device for documenting surgical procedures that includes a main board for executing a plurality of software, a multimedia interface operable to receive a video signal and process it into an MPEG layer stream, the video interface connected on a first bus to the main...

20060015009 - Endoscope having a guide tube: An endoscope having a guide tube is described herein. The assembly has an endoscope which is slidably insertable within the lumen of a guide tube. The guide tube is configured to be rigidizable along its entire length from a relaxed configuration. The endoscope has a steerable distal portion to facilitate...

20060015010 - Endoscope having a guide tube: An endoscope having a guide tube is described herein. The assembly has an endoscope which is slidably insertable within the lumen of a guide tube. The guide tube is configured to be rigidizable along its entire length from a relaxed configuration. The endoscope has a steerable distal portion to facilitate...

20060015011 - Endoscope insertion direction detecting device, endoscope insertion direction detecting system, and endoscope insertion direction detecting method: The present invention comprises: a pixel sampling unit that samples a stated pixel value from each of domains constituting an endoscopic image received by an image input/output control circuit; a shape-of-range estimating unit that estimates the shape of a range within the endoscopic image according to the continuity of the...

20060015012 - Endoscope device: Rotate instructing switches 26, 27, and 28 of an operating remote controller 5 are pressed and then a CPU 12 controls image processing of an image pickup processing portion 8, a direction calculation processing portion 10, and a rotating-image processing portion 9 in accordance with an operating signal to rotate...

20060015013 - Device and method for in vivo illumination: An in vivo sensing device including an illumination sub system. The illumination sub system includes, for example, a conductive ring and/or a conductive step for and an illumination sources positioned at a selected angle....

20060015014 - Miniature endoscope with imaging fiber system: An endoscope has a fiber optic waveguide that transmits an image from a distal end to a proximal end, the waveguide having an outer diameter of less than 3 mm. A lens system is positioned at the distal end of the fiber optic waveguide. An imaging device is optically coupled...

20060015017 - Apparatus and method for monitoring and communicating wellness parameters of ambulatory patients: The monitoring device incorporates transducing devices for converting the desired measured parameters into electrical signals capable of being processed by a local computer or microprocessor system. The device interacts with the ambulatory patient and then, via a modem or other electronic communication device, transmits the measured parameters to a computer...

20060015016 - Caloric balance weight control system and methods of making and using same: A new system and methodology is disclosed for developing interactive weight control and maintenance programs, where an weight control program is developed during a visit to a treating physician or expert based on medical data, medical historical data, and patient profile data. The data and program is then stored in...

20060015015 - Medical data warning notifying system and method: A medical data warning notifying system and method for notifying a hospital only when there is abnormal data in medical data entered by a patient on peritoneal dialysis at home. In the medical data warning notifying system, a patient terminal used by a patient, a server for controlling data exchanged...

20060015018 - Cas modular body reference and limb position measurement system: A surgical bone reference assembly for communication with a CAS system, comprises a bone anchor fastenable to a bone element, an adjustable support and a trackable member that is located and tracked in three dimensional space by the CAS system. The support is removably fastenable to the bone anchor member...

20060015020 - Systems and methods for manufacture of an analyte-measuring device including a membrane system: Systems and methods for manufacture of an analyte-measuring device, including adhering a membrane system that allows the passage of the analyte therethrough to a sensing mechanism. The implantable analyte-measuring device includes a body formed from a material that is substantially similar to the membrane system so as to enable...

20060015019 - Wound fluid collecting and indicating device: An apparatus comprising: a distributed inlet (4) for collecting and mixing wound fluids from a plurality of locations in a wound to provide a wound fluid mixture; and a sensing or indicating device (8) in fluid communication with said distributed inlet for detecting the presence of a wound fluid marker...

20060015021 - Optical apparatus and method of use for non-invasive tomographic scan of biological tissues: The present invention relates to a non-invasive optical system equipped with optical tomographic scanning method and algorithm for quantifying scattering and absorption properties and chromophore concentrations of highly scattering medium such as biological tissues, for 3D mapping and imaging reconstruction of the spatial and temporal variations in such properties. The...

20060015022 - Blood sugar level measuring apparatus: Blood sugar levels are measured non-invasively based on temperature measurement. Non-invasively measured blood sugar level values obtained by a temperature measurement scheme are corrected by blood oxygen saturation and blood flow volume, thereby stabilizing the measurement data....

20060015023 - Preparation kit for noninvasive glucose concentration determination: The invention involves a kit for use in conjunction with a near-infrared, noninvasive glucose concentration analyzer. The preferred kit contains a set of elements used in preparation of a sample site and/or for use in a sampling process. The invention comprises a kit that includes any of a guide, a...

20060015024 - Transcutaneous medical device with variable stiffness: The present invention relates generally to variable stiffness transcutaneous medical devices including a distal portion designed to be more flexible than a proximal portion. The variable stiffness can be provided by a variable pitch in one or more wires of the device, a variable cross-section in one or more wires...

20060015025 - Method and apparatus for determining ischaemia: A method and apparatus for determining information concerning ischaemia using a pH sensor. Embodiments of the invention can be used to determine ischaemia caused by a number of factors, including acute compartment syndrome and vascular disorders, e.g. scepticaemia....

20060015026 - Porous coatings on electrodes for biomedical implants: An implantable electrode has a biomedically compatible, microscopically rough, metal coating that creates a high double-layer capacitance. The coating is applied to the implant by physical vapor deposition. The coating preferably is applied via a generally oblique coating flux or a low energy coating flux. In some embodiments, the coating...

20060015028 - Emg electrode apparatus and positioning system: A system for detecting and analyzing electrical activity in the anatomy of an organism underlying an electrode array provides signals corresponding to electrical activity adjacent each electrode. Such signals are correlated to the underlying anatomy of the organism and representative outputs presented through various types of output devices. Such outputs...

20060015027 - Unobtrusive measurement system for bioelectric signals: A system for unobtrusively measuring bioelectric signals developed by an individual includes multiple sensors, one or more of which constitutes a capacitive sensor, embedded into or otherwise integrated into an object, such as a chair, bed or the like, used to support the individual. The object serves as mounting structure...

20060015029 - Body image analysis system: A method, apparatus and program product provide analysis and data resources by allowing a user to manipulate and track a scanned and/or displayed body image, providing an online self help interface that includes answers to anticipated questions, as well as a back-end statistical database useful in scientific analysis....

20060015030 - Method for placing multiple implants during a surgery using a computer aided surgery system: A method and an apparatus are described for placing multiple implants during a surgery, the apparatus comprising: a display for an image representing a patient's anatomy; a database of virtual implants from which a user selects; a tool for the user to manipulate in order to select the virtual implants...

20060015031 - System and method for tracking progress of insertion of a rod in a bone: A system and method for tracking progress of insertion of a rod in a bone includes a bone fragment including a central canal, a plurality of sensors including first and second sensors, and a computer. The first sensor is attached to the rod and the second sensor is attached to...

20060015032 - Non-invasive method for measuring changes in vascular reactivity: A method is disclosed for measuring changes in vascular reactivity that seeks to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings. The method is non-invasive and allows for continuous or sustained monitoring of blood vessels. By measuring changes in vascular reactivity, information on endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation may be provided. Parameters such as skin temperature, heat...

20060015033 - Ecg electrode characterization and compensation: Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with electrocardiogram electrode characterization and compensation are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes a characterization logic configured to generate signals designed to facilitate characterizing an electrocardiogram electrode. The characterization logic may also be configured to analyze signals produced in response to introducing the...

20060015034 - Analysis method and real time medical or cognitive monitoring device based on the analysis of a subject's cerebral electromagnetic use of said method for characterizing and differenting physiological and pathological states: A method for analyzing synchronizations of the electroencephalography of an individual using a set of sensors starting from cerebral electromagnetic analysis of the individual. The method creates a database by acquisition and digitization of electrophysiological signals output from the sensors, and calculates the degree of synchronization existing between all pairs...

20060015035 - Impedance spectroscopy system for ischemic mucosal damage monitoring in hollow viscous organs: Alternate embodiments of an impedance spectroscopy method are disclosed for monitoring ischemic mucosal damage in hollow viscous organs. In each embodiment, a sensor catheter is placed inside a patient's hollow viscous organ. Afterwards, the catheter is electrically driven to obtain a complex impedance spectrum by causing two electrodes in the...

20060015036 - Method and apparatus for monitoring the progress of labor: A method of monitoring the progress of labor in a mother during childbirth, by using a position sensor to measure a predetermined point on the mother, monitoring the location of the position sensor in three-dimensional space; and monitoring the location of the fetal presenting part with respect to the predetermined...

20060015037 - Holding device for a medical device: The invention describes a holding device (1) for assembling a medical device with a receiving vessel (2) for a front end of a sample tube, closed by a closure device, incorporating a needle holder (3). Mounted in the holder (3) is a cannula (11), directed towards an open front end...

20060015038 - Guide device in particular for positioning of catheters in a body duct: The invention relates to a guide device (1), in particular for positioning catheters in a body duct. The guide device (1) has an extended first thread (2) and at least one extended second thread (3) made from wire, which runs close to the first thread (2). According to the invention,...

20060015040 - Guide wire: This invention provides a guide wire whose structural features can be determined through an endoscope. The guide wire is inserted into a patient's body and used in the lumer. It has markings at the positions where the structural features change....

20060015039 - Guidewire bearing markings simplifying catheter selection: A guidewire for use in guiding the insertion of catheters bears a plurality of unique identifiers. These unique identifiers are used to choose the appropriate length of catheter to be inserted into the patient. Many of the steps of marking and measuring a guidewire and calculations utilizing the measurements are...

20060015041 - Periodontal pocket depth recorder: A dental depth locating device comprised of an integrated base unit and software, three pedal position foot controls, standard printer, and a re-printable template capable of providing an economical means of performing periodontal depth charting quickly and easily by one person with minimal risk of contamination....

20060015042 - Method and apparatus for detection and measurement of scoliosis of the spine: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for measuring the lateral curvature of the human spine to indicate the presence and degree of scoliosis and is useable by non-medical personnel and medical practitioners, including doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, nurses and the like. The system includes a low...

20060009672 - Atrial fibrillation treatment and method: An apparatus is provided for compressing and permitting relaxation of a body organ in a body. In general, the apparatus includes organ compression means attached to a portion of the body organ for compressing the body organ, and compression activation means are connected to the organ compression means for controlling...

20060009673 - Ligature weaved mesh tape: A surgical mesh tape sling is provided in the present invention. The surgical mesh tape sling includes a mesh and a holding ligature freely passing through the mesh. The holding ligature is weaved into the mesh without any affixed knot on the mesh and is capable of moving in body's...

20060009674 - Active tissue augmentation materials and method: Active tissue augmenting agents, compositions and methods for use are disclosed. In a typical embodiment, the active augmenting agents of the invention can be used to form an artificial sphincter around a lumen of a human or animal body. In one embodiment, the active augmenting agent comprises magnitizable particles which...

20060009676 - Protective sheath apparatus and method for use with a heart wall actuation system for the natural heart: An actuation system for assisting the operation of the natural heart includes a framework for interfacing with a natural heart and which is coupled with tissue of the heart. An actuator element is adapted to be coupled to the framework and is configured for extending along a portion of a...

20060009675 - Self-anchoring cardiac harness for treating the heart and for defibrillating and/or pacing/sensing: A self-anchoring cardiac harness is configured to fit at least a portion of a patient's heart and includes a tissue engaging element for frictionally engaging an outer surface of a heart. The engaging element produces sufficient friction relative to the outer surface of the heart, so that the harness does...

20060009677 - Medical instrument: The invention relates to a medical instrument consisting of at least two instrument parts, which is provided with a coupling for releasably connecting the two instrument parts, wherein the coupling having a locking element which may be moved between a released and a locked position, as well as at least...

20060009678 - Endoscope having a guide tube: An endoscope having a guide tube is described herein. The assembly has an endoscope which is slidably insertable within the lumen of a guide tube. The guide tube is configured to be rigidizable along its entire length from a relaxed configuration. The endoscope has a steerable distal portion to facilitate...

20060009679 - Electronic endoscope system capable of detecting inserted length: An endoscope system includes an endoscope having an insertion section to be inserted into a body cavity, a plurality of sensors that detects environmental condition thereof, the plurality of sensors being arranged along a longitudinal axis of the insertion section, a processor that obtains information related to an inserted amount...

20060009680 - Endoscope valve assembly and method: An endoscope valve assembly comprises a housing comprising an inlet port, an outlet port, and a valve carried by the housing. The valve comprises a manually-controlled actuator movable between a first position, in which the valve blocks flow between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second position,...

20060009681 - Ultrasonic endoscope: An ultrasonic endoscope comprises an insertion portion comprising a distal hard portion which has: an endoscopic observation unit; and an ultrasonic observation unit having ultrasonic transducers arranged circumferentially on an outer circumferential section of the distal hard portion, wherein the ultrasonic observation unit comprises an ultrasonic-wave transmission/reception unit having an...

20060009682 - In-vivo examination apparatus: The invention provides an in-vivo examination apparatus that can examine a minute examination site in a living organism with a simple configuration. The invention provides an in-vivo examination apparatus comprising a light source; a flexible light-conveying member that transmits light from the light source to irradiate the light from an...

20060009683 - Diagnostic system and method: A diagnostic system and method. In one embodiment, the invention is a diagnostic system comprising: a form comprising one or more diagnostic questions and one or more possible answers to each diagnostic question; a first overlay comprising one or more windows and one or more diagnostic fields, wherein when the...

20060009684 - System for monitoring compliance to a healthcare regiment of testing: A system for monitoring compliance to a health care regiment of testing includes a wireless communication device for sending and receiving communication signals, at least one bio-sensor within the wireless communication device for providing a medical test of an individual in accordance with the health care regiment, a memory within...

20060009685 - Device and method for non-invasive optical measurements: An optical measurement device and method are presented for use in non-invasive measurements on a patient's body. The device comprises an illumination assembly configured and operable to generate illuminating light of a predetermined wavelength range; a detection assembly; and a light directing assembly. The detection assembly comprises a first detector...

20060009686 - Dermatoscopy positioning apparatus for the head: An apparatus for examining patients for nevi is described. The apparatus includes a head piece having at least one positioning means for positioning a patient's head in a reproducible position from one examination to another. The head piece further includes a camera that is connected to the head piece that...

20060009688 - Multi-wavelength physiological monitor: A physiological monitor for determining blood oxygen saturation of a medical patient includes a sensor, a signal processor and a display. The sensor includes at least three light emitting diodes. Each light emitting diode is adapted to emit light of a different wavelength. The sensor also includes a detector, where...

20060009687 - Physiological assessment system: A physiological assessment system comprises a sensor and first and second processors. The sensor is adapted to generate a signal responsive to a living organism. The first processor is configured to derive a measured parameter from the sensor signal. The second processor is configured to analyze nonlinear dynamics of the...

20060009690 - Basket catheter with improved expansion mechanism: A catheter is provided that has a basket-shaped electrode assembly with an improved mechanism for expanding and contracting the electrode array. The expansion mechanism is designed to permit reproducible reintroduction of the catheter into the heart. The catheter comprises an elongated catheter body having at least one lumen therethrough. A...

20060009689 - Basket catheter with multiple location sensors: An improved basket catheter is provided that is particularly useful for mapping the heart. The catheter comprises an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough. A basket-shaped electrode assembly is mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. The basket assembly has...

20060009691 - Method, medium, and apparatus measuring biological signals using multi-electrode module, with a lead search: A method, medium, and apparatus measuring biological signals using a multi-electrode module, with a lead search method. An apparatus for measuring biological signals by using a multi-electrode module, includes a multi-electrode module having a non-conductive patch and a sensor array including a ground electrode and a plurality of individual electrodes,...

20060009693 - Apparatus for imaging and treating a breast: A system for imaging and treating a breast of a patient includes a table configured to receive the patient thereon, having an aperture formed therein configured to receive the breast of the patient pendent therethrough and positionable over a bath configured to contain a medium. Means for transmitting and receiving...

20060009692 - Medical image storage apparatus protectable of personal information: A medical image storage apparatus includes a receiving unit, a table preparation unit, the first storage unit, the second storage unit, the first unit, the second unit, and an output unit. The receiving unit is configured to receive medical image information resulting from a medical imaging apparatus. The table preparation...

20060009694 - Methods of attenuating internal radiation exposure: Various radiation-attenuating agents can be administered within a patient body cavity in combination with therapeutic irradiation of the patient body cavity, such as during radiographic diagnostic imaging procedures, to attenuate the radiation incident on certain portions of the patient body cavity believed to be susceptible to harm from the incident...

20060009696 - Method for imaging and treating a breast: A method for imaging and treating a breast of a patient includes: disposing the breast into a bath of medium; physically securing the breast and maintaining the breast in a repeatable position and in a repeatable shape with respect to a chest wall of the patient; scanning the breast with...

20060009695 - System and method for providing communication between ultrasound scanners: System and method for ganged ultrasound scanners is described. The described system includes a plurality of ultrasound scanners configured as a network and at least one connector for connecting a single ultrasound probe to the plurality of ultrasound scanners. The connector is configured to provide communication between the plurality of...

20060009698 - Hand-held monitor for measuring vital signs: The invention provides a monitor for measuring blood pressure and other vital signs from a patient without using a cuff. The monitor features a housing with a first surface that, in turn, supports a first sensor. The first sensor features: i) an optical system with one or more light sources...

20060009697 - Wireless, internet-based system for measuring vital signs from a plurality of patients in a hospital or medical clinic: The invention provides system for measuring vital signs from multiple patients, typically in an in-hospital setting. The system features a body-worn vital sign monitor that includes: i) a sensor configured as a patch that measures electrical and optical signals from a patient; ii) a controller featuring a microprocessor that receives...

20060009699 - Disposable blood pressure transducer and monitor interface: A medical blood pressure transducer that provides an identifier to a monitor that conveys characteristics of the transducer. The monitor can use the information to decide whether to function, or in calibration of the system. The transducer may be part of a disposable blood pressure monitoring system, and may include...

20060009700 - Apparatus and method for assessing peripheral circulation to evaluate a physiological condition: Peripheral blood flow signals of a feature can be acquired and analyzed to determine blood flow characteristics for evaluating a physiological condition. Paradigmatic characteristics of blood flow of the feature can be used to associate a physiological condition with a subject. Upon determination that a blood flow characteristic is associated...

20060009701 - Method of monitoring human relaxation level, and user-operated heart rate monitor: A method of monitoring a human relaxation level and a user-operated heart rate monitor are provided. The user-operated heart rate monitor comprises a timing instant determining means for determining a plurality of heart beat timing instants from a user's electrocardiogram; a relaxation calculating means for calculating an instantaneous relaxation measure...

20060009702 - User support apparatus: A user support apparatus comprises a user information acquisition unit configured to obtain information regarding a user, a user state estimation unit configured to judge at least one of user's position information, posture information, physical sate, and mental state as a user state based on the information obtained by the...

20060009704 - Sleep state estimating device and program product: A sleep state of a subject is estimated from respiration signals that are readily detected without restraining the subject. From a voltage waveform based on respiratory movement of a person, positive peak values and the (time) interval between adjacent peaks are calculated. Also obtained is the area of a region...

20060009703 - System and method for monitoring a respiration rate of an occupant of a predetermined volume: An ultrasonic sensing system includes an ultrasonic transmitter, an ultrasonic receiver, a processor and a memory subsystem. The transmitter is positioned to transmit an ultrasonic signal into a predetermined volume. The receiver is positioned to receive a composite signal from the predetermined volume. The processor is coupled to the transmitter,...

20060009705 - System and method for monitoring air flow from a person: Monitoring airflow from a person is accomplished by using a central server arranged to receive and communicate data together with at least one microprocessor-based subsystem. The subsystem includes a microprocessor, a display and a memory. It presents information to the person on the display and processes a digital signal representing...

20060009706 - System and method for monitoring air flow from a person: Monitoring airflow from a person is accomplished by using a central server arranged to receive and communicate data together with at least one microprocessor-based subsystem. The subsystem includes a microprocessor, a display and a memory. It presents information to the person on the display and processes a digital signal representing...

20060009707 - Gas measurement system: A gas measurement system of this invention includes a detector assembly having a beamsplitter adapted to separate infrared radiation into a first beam and a second beam and a mirror adapted to receive the first beam from the beamsplitter. The first and second beams are directed to first and second...

20060009708 - Positive airway pressure system and method for treatment of sleeping disorder in patient: Described are a positive airway pressure system and method for treatment of a sleeping disorder in a patient. The system includes a generator, a sensor and a processing arrangement. The generator supplies airflow and applies a pressure at to an airway of a patient. The sensor measures data corresponding to...

20060009709 - Detection of encephalopathy: The invention relates to detection of encephalopathy based on EEG signal data obtained from a patient. A first signal component is derived from the EEG signal data, the first signal component representing low frequencies of the EEG signal data. A first parameter indicative of disorder in the first signal component...

20060009710 - Apparatus and method for determination of stroke volume using the brachial artery: Provided herein are methods and apparatus for stroke volume determination by bioimpedance from a patient's upper arm, or brachium, or a patient's thorax, utilizing pulsations of the arteries contained therein. The apparatus includes two or more spaced apart alternating current flow electrodes positioned on the patient's arm or thorax and...

20060009711 - End effector assembly cap and tissue removal device and related methods: Embodiments of the invention include a cap for a medical device. The cap includes a body defining a cavity configured to accommodate at least a portion of an end effector assembly of the medical device, and a tissue removal portion attached to the body and configured to remove a tissue...

20060009712 - Dual lumen device for biopsy and treatment of breast tumors and method for use: A device for diagnosis and treatment of tumors and lesions within the body. A cannula adapted to apply suction through the lumen of the catheter to the tumor or lesion is described. The lumen has a self sealing valve through which a cryoprobe is inserted while the suction is being...

20060009713 - Blood collecting devices: Blood collecting devices for collecting blood from a patient using a single needle insertion are disclosed. Each blood collecting device typically includes a housing which is removably attached to a test tube or blood reservoir. A blood flow tube is disposed in fluid communication with the housing for distributing blood...

20060009714 - Blood collection needle: A blood collection needle which includes a needle for puncturing a patient's skin; a needle for puncturing a rubber plug which seals a blood collection tube; a hub for securing respective proximal portions of the two needles; a resilient cap fitted to the hub; and a valve member disposed in...

20060009715 - Method and apparatus for accessing the left atrial appendage: Disclosed is an apparatus for facilitating access to the left atrium, and specifically the left atrial appendage. The apparatus may comprise a sheath with first and second curved sections that facilitate location of the fossa ovalis and left atrial appendage. The apparatus may further comprise tissue piercing and dilating structures....

20060004243 - Radioactive pellet injection apparatus: A radioactive pellet injection apparatus includes a console (30) to be disposed beside a bed on which a patient is to be laid. The console (30) and the bed have brackets. An arm (39) is detachably coupled to the bracket of either one of the console (30) and the bed....

20060004244 - Magnetic stimulators and stimulating coils: A stimulating coil for use in the magnetic stimulation of neuro-muscular tissue comprises a self-supporting but flexible conductor in a flexible insulating sheath which can be adjusted by hand to conform the coil to the contours of a selected part of the human body. The coil is provided with a...

20060004245 - High-efficiency external counterpulsation apparatus and method for performing the same: The embodiments of the invention generally provide an external counterpulsation apparatus having an efficient cuff and bladder system. The embodiments generally allow effective treatment at lower pressures and a reduced total body surface area being compressed. An accurate and reliable combination of automatic and preset timing for inflation and deflation...

20060004246 - Surgically implantable perineal urinary incontinence device: An incontinence device for attachment to the inferior ischio-pubic rami in the anterior perineal triangle of a user. The device may include a generally semi-flexible bi-parabolic membrane configured to deflect from an engaged position in which the device exerts pressure upon the user's urethra, or a similar anatomical part. The...

20060004250 - Flexible shaft stabilizing devices with improved actuation: A stabilizing device having a flexible shaft with a terminal connector and surgical tools used therewith. The flexible shaft is responsive to a tension element connected to a distal end of the shaft and in communication with a proximal end of the shaft. An elastic means interfacing between the proximal...

20060004248 - Magnetic capture and placement for cardiac assist device: A system and method for capturing and placing a cardiac assist device on a heart. A cardiac assist device is delivered to a chest cavity of a being through an opening provided in a chest wall. A magnetically charged tether is provided at each corner or extremity of the cardiac...

20060004247 - Systems and methods for assisting cardiac valve coaptation: Systems and methods for reducing distention in designated portions of a heart muscle while assisting cardiac valve alignment and coaptation. Anchoring devices are secured to the heart muscle and a bio-compatible cardiac assist device placed over portions of the heart muscle is separately secured to the anchoring devices. The cardiac...

20060004249 - Systems and methods for sizing cardiac assist device: Systems and methods for sizing a cardiac assist device to a heart. A bio-compatible material placed as a cardiac assist device over portions of the heart as desired, is sized to fit the exterior contours of the heart by gathering excess material using a reduction ring, draw strings, or a...

20060004252 - Beaded bracelet for male genitalia: The beaded bracelet for male genitalia is a series of beads of any practicable size, shape, color, and/or configuration, strung upon a length of thin elastic thread which is secured to form a permanently closed loop. The relaxed diameter of the device is larger than the finger, with the diameter...

20060004251 - Phallic device mount with rotary switch actuator: A phallic device mount for operably securing a conventional hand-held phallic device thereto while still allowing activation of a rotary switch on the phallic device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a ring is operably secured to the rotary switch and slidably received within a recess on the mount to define...

20060004253 - Intrabody introduced device and medical device: In transmitting images picked up by an intrabody introduced device to outside a test body, synchronizing signals of the image signal are set to signal patterns in the same high-frequency band as for the image signal and not used for the image signal. This enables a receiver to stably binarize...

20060004254 - Endoscopic inspection using a flexible sleeve: An endoscopic apparatus including an internal unit, adapted to be advanced into a gastrointestinal tract of a patient so as to enable inspection of the tract, an anchor unit, adapted to be held in a position outside the gastrointestinal tract and a flexible sleeve, having a proximal end fixed to...

20060004258 - Image-type intubation-aiding device: An image-type intubation-aiding device comprises a small-size image sensor and a light source module both placed into an endotracheal tube to help doctors with quick intubation. Light from light emission devices in the light source module passes through a transparent housing and is reflected by a target and then focused....

20060004257 - In vivo device with flexible circuit board and method for assembly thereof: An in vivo imaging device having a flexible circuit board, for example, a one-sheet flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit board may enable folding components attached to the flexible circuit board according to a predefined angle....

20060004255 - In-vivo sensing system: An in-vivo sensing system incorporating a sensing device movably disposed within a housing such that the orientation of the sensing device may be moved or changed in response to substantially small forces. The in-vivo sensing device may bc ingested and may naturally traverse a lumen such as the GI tract...

20060004256 - Reduced size imaging device: A reduced diameter in vivo imaging device, such as a swallowable imaging capsule. The imaging device includes a first circuit board configured for accommodating at least an image sensor, and a second circuit board, which is in electrical communication with the first circuit board and which extends substantially perpendicularly from...

20060004259 - Endoscope with relief of axial loading: A rigid endoscope includes an outer housing subassembly that supports an optics subassembly. The outer housing subassembly includes concentric tubes with optical fiber for providing object illumination. The optics subassembly includes a tubular sheath sealed at both ends for carrying lenses and other optical elements. First and second positioners associated...

20060004260 - Endotracheal video device: An endotracheal device for use with a supra-laryngeal mask including a video display for providing images of the area ahead of the endotracheal device to facilitate insertion without damaging the surrounding tissue; the endotracheal device having a flexible portion and a rigid portion maintaining a light and an image guide...

20060004261 - Low profile surgical retractor: A compact, low-profile surgical retractor (100) avoids the need for a bulky frame. The retractor includes retractor blade components (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) joined pivotally. A cable (170) is guided by each retractor blade component. A winding mechanism (180), such as a spool, is carried by one of...

20060004266 - Bio-information processing apparatus and video/sound reproduction apparatus: A bio-information processing apparatus includes a single bio-information sensor for outputting a biological signal including a plurality of measured bio-information values of a subject, an analyzing circuit for analyzing the biological signal separating the bio-information values, and a circuit for estimating the psychological state and intensity of the psychological state...

20060004262 - Hard disk drive medical monitor with shock-proofing: A medical monitor is disclosed for implantation in a human body for monitoring biological activity and states as detected by implanted sensors. The medical monitor includes at least one hard disk drive. A transmitter and receiver for produces and transmits signals. The medical monitor is in communication with the sensors,...

20060004263 - Hard disk drive medical monitor with sound-proofing: A medical monitor is disclosed for implantation in a human body for monitoring biological activity and states as detected by implanted sensors. The medical monitor includes at least one hard disk drive. A transmitter and receiver for produces and transmits signals. The medical monitor is in communication with the sensors,...

20060004264 - Medical device data management: A system for handling data from medical testing devices ensures the integrity of the data to facilitate accurate handling of the data and to facilitate payment for legitimately needed therapy or medical equipment. A disclosed example includes a communication device that is useful for extracting data from a testing device...

20060004265 - System for monitoring and predicting physiological state under physical exercise: The invention relates to a system for monitoring a cumulative physiological state and for predicting a target state under physical exercise, which system includes means for measuring a variable depicting the intensity of the exercise and for registering it relative to time, the control unit consisting of a user-interface device,...

20060004267 - Layered spectroscopic sample element with microporous membrane: A spectroscopic sample holder comprises a microporous sheet. The microporous sheet has a top surface, a bottom surface substantially parallel to the top surface, and at least one side surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces. The side surface forms an exposed transit opening configured to contact...

20060004268 - Blood sugar level measuring apparatus: Blood sugar levels are measured non-invasively based on temperature measurement. Non-invasively measured blood sugar level values obtained by a temperature measurement scheme are corrected by blood oxygen saturation and blood flow volume, thereby stabilizing the measurement data....

20060004269 - Impedance spectroscopy based systems and methods: One aspect of the invention provides a device that non-invasively determines the concentration of a substance in a target. The device includes a first electrode, a measuring circuit, and a data processor. In one embodiment of the device, the first electrode can be electrically insulated from the target, e.g., a...

20060004270 - Method and apparatus for the monitoring of clinical states: A method and apparatus to monitor clinical states, for example hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia or an ischemic state, and to detect if a user if affected by such a state. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus use a correlation between one or more non-invasive physical measurements of the body of the...

20060004271 - Devices, methods, and kits for non-invasive glucose measurement: Described are devices, methods, and kits for non-invasively measuring glucose. In general, the devices comprise skin patches for placement on a skin surface and measurement devices for measuring glucose collected in the patches. The patches may include an adhesive material, a collection layer, an interface layer, and a sweat-permeable membrane....

20060004272 - Long term analyte sensor array: A long term analyte sensor for measuring at least one analyte in the body of a user and which includes a housing, a plurality of analyte contacting sensor elements and at least one structure for relaying information away from the sensor. This plurality of analyte contacting sensor elements are typically...

20060004273 - Biological signal sensor on a body surface: An electrically conductive fiber and a coupled biomedical sensor are described. An electrically conductive core of the fiber includes a multiplicity of synthetic conductive filaments and an outer nonconductive fiber layer. The sensor area of the electrically conductive fiber is coated by thin film of silver ink and thin film...

20060004274 - Fusing nuclear medical images with a second imaging modality: Co-registration or fusion of nuclear medical images with images of the same region obtained with a different modality, such as Computerized Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound (US) is improved by using the Compton scatter principle to enhance anatomical boundary secondary image information in nuclear image data that...

20060004277 - Initiation of dynamic data acquisition: Provided is a data acquisition system comprising a CPU, radiation detector, buffer, and a storage device in communication with the buffer and which is capable of storing information received from the buffer. The data acquisition system includes a method for sequentially monitoring data from one region of interest based on...

20060004276 - Motor for an in-vivo device: The present invention may provide a system, method and device containing a motor. The motor may propel an in-vivo device by rotating a propeller situated for example outside of an outer shell of such device with an electromagnetic field generated by for example a plurality of electrical coils situated for...

20060004275 - Systems and methods for localized image registration and fusion: Systems and methods are described for co-registering, displaying and quantifying images from numerous different medical modalities, such as CT, MRI and SPECT. In this novel approach co-registration and image fusion is based on multiple user-defined Regions-of-Interest (ROI), which may be subsets of entire image volumes, from multiple modalities, where the...

20060004278 - Method, system, and computer software product for feature-based correlation of lesions from multiple images: A method, system, and computer software product for correlating medical images, comprising: obtaining first image data representative of a first medical image including a first abnormality; obtaining second image data representative of a second medical image including a second abnormality; determining at least one feature value for each of the...

20060004279 - Medical image processing apparatus and method of processing medical image: According to a medical image processing apparatus, a data of a region of the blood vessel is removed from respectives of a plurality of sheets of original image data collected by scanning a subject injected with a contrast medium by a medical modality, thereafter, a pixel value of the region...

20060004280 - Placement information estimating method and information processing device: A method is provided for estimating the placement information of a plurality of types of markers of which the amounts of the placement information differ respectively, detects a plurality of types of markers from multiple images, calculates the position where the detected marker is projected on an image surface based...

20060004281 - Vest-based respiration monitoring system: An apparatus and method to track the movement of a pathological anatomy in real-time during radiation treatment....

20060004282 - Image generation apparatus, image generation method, and program therefor: An artificial image used for comparison with a medical image can be generated efficiently and accurately. A medical image including anatomically characteristic structures obtained by radiography of a predetermined part of a subject such as a human body is classified into segments having similar anatomic characteristics represented by the structures....

20060004283 - Medical image generating system and medical image generating method: A medical image generating system for generating a medical image including a subject image and a marker image indicating information of an image generation by generating an image of a subject and by generating an image of a marker for providing the information of the image generation, includes: a marker...

20060004284 - Method and system for generating three-dimensional model of part of a body from fluoroscopy image data and specific landmarks: A method for generating a three-dimensional model of a part of the body with the aid of a medical and/or surgical navigation system, comprising the steps of identifying to the navigation system landmarks on the part of the body that are characteristic of the model of the part of the...

20060004285 - Method for delivering a device to a target location: An autonomous device that may include for example a camera, a transmitter for transmitting a signal from the camera and a storage compartment for retaining a substance in the device. A method of delivering a medicament to a patient including imaging a gastrointestinal tract with an autonomous device, identifying a...

20060004286 - Methods and devices for performing procedures within the ear, nose, throat and paranasal sinuses: Devices, systems and methods for performing image guided interventional and surgical procedures, including various procedures to treat sinusitis and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, ears, nose or throat....

20060004287 - Time delay estimation method and system for use in ultrasound imaging: A method for correcting a time delay between at least two signals in ultrasound systems is provided. The ultrasound system comprises a beamformer processor comprising a summer coupled to the transducer array and configured for performing a complex operation on a first plurality of receive signals to generate a beamsum...

20060004288 - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and method for controlling the same: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a transmitting section for driving an ultrasonic probe sending out an ultrasonic transmitted wave toward a body tissue of an organism; a receiving section for receiving an ultrasonic reflected wave, produced by getting the transmitted wave reflected by the body tissue, through the probe; a...

20060004289 - High sensitivity capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer: A capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (cMUT) comprises a lower electrode. Furthermore, the cMUT includes a diaphragm disposed adjacent to the lower electrode such that a gap having a first gap width is formed between the diaphragm and the lower electrode. Additionally, the cMUT includes at least one element formed in...

20060004291 - Methods and apparatus for visualization of quantitative data on a model: An ultrasound method for visualization of quantitative data on a surface model is provided. The ultrasound method acquires ultrasound information from an object. The information acquired defines ultrasound images along at least first and second scan planes through the object and is stored in a buffer memory. The method then...

20060004290 - Ultrasound transducer with additional sensors: The present technique provides for the manufacture and/or use of an ultrasound probe configured to acquire non-imaging data in addition to imaging data. In particular, the ultrasound probe includes a micro-machined ultrasound transducer formed on the surface of a substrate using micro-electric mechanical systems techniques or other techniques associated with...

20060004292 - Optical examination method and apparatus particularly useful for real-time discrimination of tumors from normal tissues during surgery: A method and apparatus for enhancing the optical detection of target portions of an object particularly useful in the optical examination of biological tissue to distinguish cancerous tissue from non-cancerous tissue. This is accomplished by exposing the object, e.g., biological tissue, to first and second light sources of different spectral...

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