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Surgery September archived by title and patent number 09/08

20080234531 - Bi-polar treatment facility for treating target cells with both positive and negative ions: A system for treating target cells with both positive and negative ions comprises a bi-polar beam delivery system configured to create and deliver both positive ion beams and negative ion beams. The bi-polar beam delivery system comprises a bi-polar accelerator configured to accelerate positive and negative ions in the same... Agent: Baker & Mckenzie LLP Patent Department

20080234532 - Fiducial marker: A fiducial marker which is visible to a wide range of imaging techniques, comprises a radiopaque material, such as barium sulphate or a metal wire, encapsulated in a biocompatible polymeric material, for example a polyaryletherketone such as polyetheretherketone.... Agent: Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

20080234533 - System for evaluating an environment: An environmental evaluation device and system enables determination of the ambit and orientation of an environment and the favorability of the environment for an individual according to principles of feng shui.... Agent: Chernoff, Vilhauer, Mcclung & Stenzel

20080234534 - Magnetic therapeutic appliance and method for operating same: The invention relates to a therapeutic appliance for treating a patient with an electric field or a magnetic field. In known therapeutic appliances, resistance losses in the coils needed for the magnetic field lead to undesired warming of the therapeutic appliance. According to the invention, the energy of the coil... Agent: Brooks Kushman P.C.

20080234535 - Device and method for thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: This disclosure describes novel therapeutic devices and methods for thrombosis or pulmonary embolism at physiological temperature that are based upon electromagnetic pulsed energy sources of Near Infrared (NIR) and Far Infrared (FIR) that pulsed radiations are exposed to the human body for prevention and treatment. The pulsed sources may work... Agent: Henryk Malak

20080234537 - Extracardiac blood flow amplification device: Apparatus (10) is provided including a first chamber (20) and a second chamber (22), adapted to be in fluid communication with a first volume and a second volume of oxygenated blood of a subject, respectively, the first chamber (20) and the second chamber (22) having a first surface (34) and... Agent: Martin P Hoffman Hoffman Wasson & Gitler

20080234536 - Implantable peristaltic pump to treat erectile dysfunction: A method is provided for controlling blood flow through a blood vessel of a subject. The method includes implanting a pump outside of the blood vessel and placing within the blood vessel an expansion element that is capable of expanding the blood vessel subsequent to compression of the blood vessel... Agent: Abelman, Frayne & Schwab

20080234538 - Device and method for thermotherapy: A thermotherapy device, in particular for babies, has a lying surface limited by longitudinal sides, a head side and a foot side. The thermotherapy device ensures a simple and safe access of a new-born without producing a detrimental psychological effect on parents. For this purpose, an upwardly oriented feeding device... Agent: Roberts Mlotkowski Safran & Cole, P.C.

20080234539 - Soft tissue placement of implantable microphone: Provided herein are systems and methods where an implantable microphone of an implantable hearing system is positioned at a location spaced from the surface of the patient's skull. More specifically, the microphone is mounted to soft tissue of the patient to at least partially isolate the microphone from skull-borne vibrations.... Agent: Marsh, Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP

20080234540 - Osteochondral implant procedure: A surgical procedure according to which a moldable material is positioned over a defect and over an area of the anatomy surrounding the defect so that the moldable material takes the shape of the area. After the moldable material forms a mold, a graft is placed on the mold; and... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20080234542 - Systems and methods of coating a hybrid lower limb artery bypass vascular graft in a mammal: Hybrid synthetic grafts and embodiments of systems and methods for producing hybrid vascular grafts that can yield implantable grafts that combine synthetic grafts with living cells. Embodiments of systems can include a pressure/flow loop subsystem having an external flow loop system coupled to a specimen holder, where the pressure/flow loop... Agent: Rene A. Vazquez

20080234541 - Systems and methods of promoting endothelialization of a hybrid carotid bypass vascular graft in a mammal: Hybrid synthetic grafts and embodiments of systems and methods for producing hybrid vascular grafts that can yield implantable grafts that combine synthetic grafts with living cells. Embodiments of systems can include a pressure/flow loop subsystem having an external flow loop system coupled to a specimen holder, where the pressure/flow loop... Agent: Rene A. Vazquez

20080234543 - Surgical devices and method for vaginal prolapse repair: In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, a vaginal prolapse repair procedure can use a perirectal pass in placing an anterior graph arm. For example, the superficial straps of an anterior graft can be place via the transobturator path. The deep straps can be placed via perirectal passes. An... Agent: Mark Young, P.A.

20080234544 - Displaying images interior and exterior to a body lumen of a patient: A medical system includes a display monitor, a catheter, non-light-obtained image data of a patient, and a computer. The catheter has a distal end insertable into a body lumen of the patient. The catheter is adapted to provide light-obtained image data. The computer is adapted to create a first image... Agent: Thompson Hine L.L.P. Intellectual Property Group

20080234546 - In vivo observation device: This in vivo device is provided with a capsular casing and a foreign object removing device. The capsular casing is taken into a living body. The foreign object removing device removes a foreign object between a surface of a body tissue and the casing.... Agent: Scully Scott Murphy & Presser, PC

20080234545 - Instrument for fine-mechanical or surgical applications: The invention relates to an instrument for high-precision or surgical applications of a minimally invasive nature, comprising a distally positioned directable head, a shaft upon which the head is positioned, and a proximally positioned handgrip for operating the head, wherein a ring of cables comprising longitudinally extending cables connects to... Agent: Akerman Senterfitt

20080234547 - Deflectable autoclavable endoscope: An endoscope has a shaft housing a lighting and an image transmission system and said endoscope being designed to be autoclavable. The shaft has a distal end portion which is made deflectable. An outer part is provided which is attached to said shaft. The outer part has a deflector mechanism... Agent: St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens, LLC

20080234548 - Narrow band in-vivo imaging device: An in-vivo imaging device for capturing one or more narrow band images of the gastrointestinal tract, or other body lumens or cavities of a patient, using one or more narrow band illumination sources and an imager having an array of light sensitive elements.... Agent: Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer, LLP

20080234549 - Laryngoscope blade: A laryngoscope blade comprising a blade portion, a base portion and an optic light pipe, the blade portion including a proximal end and a distal end provided with an optic window, the base portion including two base halves mounted to each other and to the proximal end of the blade... Agent: R. Gale Rhodes, Esq. / MoserIPLaw Group

20080234550 - Minimally traumatic portal: A less invasive access port for use in minimally invasive surgery allows for manipulation of the viewing angle into the working site in a transverse plane. According to one exemplary embodiment, the less invasive access port is designed to minimize the need for muscle retraction. Additionally, the less invasive access... Agent: Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC

20080234551 - Gasless laparoscopic retractor structure: Abdominal annular pack structure for gasless laparotory operation comprises an annular ring, a plurality of hooks and adjusting devices, a fixation ring and a stationary pole with an adjusting rod. The stationary pole is erected on one side of the operation table to settle the adjusting rod thereon in position.... Agent: Wpat, PC Intellectual Property Attorneys

20080234552 - Bmi ruler: A device for measuring the Body Mass Index (BMI) of an adult, providing a measure of weight for height. The device allows for an easy and quick determination of BMI or the adult weight status. The device consists of a hand held slide ruler instrument on which a combination of... Agent: Vladimir Averbach

20080234554 - Computer-aided system for limb lengthening: An apparatus for lengthening of extremities includes at least two supporting rings, a plurality of spikes mounted in each of the at least two supporting rings by spike-fixating elements, the at least two supporting rings connected with one another by threaded rods, which are displaced into rectilinear movement by automated... Agent: United States Department Of Energy

20080234553 - Non-invasive human-health-measurement system and method: Methods and hand-held devices non-invasively measure a health parameter in an individual or a plurality of individuals. Plural hand-held devices may be provided to plural individuals. Each device may compute a score based on the assayed health parameter in the individual. A server on a computer network may receive the... Agent: Kolisch Hartwell, P.C.

20080234555 - Patient care system: A patient care system includes a support, with a lower portion and an upper portion, and a controller. The upper portion is removably mounted to the lower portion wherein the upper portion may be removed from the lower portion. The lower portion of the support is adapted for being supported... Agent: Van Dyke, Gardner, Linn & Burkhart, LLP

20080234556 - Method and apparatus for sensing respiratory activities using sensor in lymphatic system: A respiratory monitoring system includes an implantable lymphatic sensor configured to be placed in a lymphatic vessel, such as the thoracic duct or a vessel branching from the thoracic duct, near the diaphragm. The implantable lymphatic sensor senses a signal indicative of respiratory activities. Examples of the signal include a... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080234557 - Mobile radio transmission unit: The invention relates to a mobile radio transmission unit for transferring data to a control and/or signal processing unit. According to the invention, provision is made for a mobile radio transmission unit for transferring data to a control or a signal processing unit, comprising a sensor arrangement for determining at... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080234558 - Methods and systems for performing a clinical assessment: The invention provides method and systems for performing clinical assessment of a patient that includes determining of a base clinical assessment for the patient by generating information on a clinical rating scale. At least one objective signal is recorded, and each objective signal involves an indicator corresponding to the state... Agent: Occhiuti Rohlicek & Tsao, LLP

20080234559 - Analyte meter protectors and methods: Analyte meter protectors, meters that include the same, and methods.... Agent: Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP

20080234560 - Optical measurement instrument for living body semiconductor laser installation for living body light measuring device: A living body measuring instrument having a sub-mount on which plural light-emitting devices oscillating at different wavelengths are mounted in proximity, one optical output monitoring device that detects the optical outputs of these light-emitting devices and a light source mounted on the same heat sink which are housed in one... Agent: Stanley P. Fisher Reed Smith LLP

20080234561 - System for in-vivo measurement of an analyte concentration: Human or animal body fluids can be measured in-vivo to determine analyte concentrations, such as glucose. The measurement system comprises an exchangeable sensor for in-vivo placement, a data carrier with calibration data for the sensor, a housing having a first chamber for receiving a sterile sensor and a second chamber... Agent: Roche Diagnostics Operations Inc.

20080234562 - Continuous analyte monitor with multi-point self-calibration: Analyte monitors and their methods of use. The analyte monitors include multiple calibration fluids which may have different known concentrations of an analyte, such as glucose. The analyte monitors may also include sensing or washing fluids. The analyte monitors are configured to be calibrated with the multiple calibration fluids to... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080234563 - Device for and method of delivery and removal of substances in and from a tissue or vessel: The invention relates to a device (5) for delivery of substances (9) to and removal of bodily substances (22) from a tissue (2) or vessel (25) of a body using an element (6) to be positioned in the tissue (2) or vessel (25). To provide a device of this type... Agent: Smith Frohwein Tempel Greenlee Blaha, LLC

20080234564 - Electrophysiology therapy catheter: A mapping catheter is positioned in a heart chamber, and active electrode sites are activated to impose an electric field within the chamber. The blood volume and wall motion modulates the electric field, which is detected by passive electrode sites on the preferred catheter. Electrophysiology measurements, as well as geometry... Agent: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division

20080234565 - Ambulatory physiological monitor having a patient-activated emergency alert cancellation feature: An ambulatory physiological monitor (10) is provided. The monitor includes at least one sensor for detecting at least one physiological parameter of a patient and a housing (42) adapted to be secured to the patient. A circuit (50) is located in the housing for receiving and processing a signal representative... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080234567 - Apparatus and method for providing a noninvasive diagnosis of internal bleeding: Exemplary apparatus and process can be provided for determining at least one characteristic of an anatomical structure. For example, it is possible to generate an acoustic wave in the anatomical structure using an opto-accoustic arrangement It is then possible to detect the acoustic wave and determine whether at least one... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney LLP Intellectual Property Department

20080234568 - Biological information monitoring apparatus: A biological information monitoring apparatus highly precisely observes a clothed subject who is taking any desired posture. The apparatus acquires information on positional displacements of the surface of a living body, by generating a high-frequency electromagnetic wave to radiate it into air, detecting the electromagnetic wave scattered by the surface... Agent: Fitzpatrick Cella Harper & Scinto

20080234566 - Recognizing a real world fiducial in a patient image data: Medical apparatus is described including a fiducial component and a position sensor. The component is recognizable as at least a part of a fiducial when appearing in image data of a patient. The component is attachable to the patient. The sensor is attachable to the component at a predetermined location... Agent: Thompson Hine L.L.P. Intellectual Property Group

20080234569 - Mri probe for prostate imaging: A rectal probe adapted for ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate, comprising: a) an ultrasound imaging probe; b) an MRI probe comprising a first magnetic field source for creating a static magnetic field in an MRI imaging region outside the rectal probe, a second magnetic field source for... Agent: Martin D. Moynihan D/b/a Prtsi, Inc.

20080234570 - System for guiding a medical instrument in a patient body: The present invention relates to a medical system comprising a medical instrument to be guided in a patient body, ultrasound acquisition means using an ultrasound probe for acquiring a 3D ultrasound data set and X-ray acquisition means for acquiring a 2D X-Ray image, which comprises a projection of said medical... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080234571 - Method and apparatus for generating multiple studies: Information indicative of multiple regions of the anatomy of a patient (602, 604, 606), such as one or more of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis, is obtained in a single scan. A plurality of studies (32) are generated. Each study definition includes a region of the patient's anatomy... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080234572 - Fiducial marker with absorbable connecting sleeve and absorbable spacer for imaging localization: A fiducial marker for use in the body of a living being to enable the localization of targeted internal tissue. The implant is in the form of an elongated, e.g., rod-like, spacer located between pair of end members, e.g., gold cylinders, and held together by an elongated sleeve, e.g., a... Agent: Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein, Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd.

20080234573 - System and methods for determining the orientation and position of a bone-implanted anchor: In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for determining the position and orientation of an anchor attached to the skull of a patient from a topographic image of the anchor acquired therefrom. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of simulating an image of the anchor... Agent: Morris Manning Martin LLP

20080234574 - Tissue detection and ablation apparatus and apparatus and method for actuating a tuner: The present invention relates to an apparatus for classifying and/or ablating tissue. By directing microwave radiation through a probe (5) into tissue (6) and detecting the amplitude and phase of radiation reflected back through the probe and a reference signal, the tissue type can be classified. An impedance tuner which... Agent: Stites & Harbison PLLC

20080234575 - Method and device for making correction information available: The invention relates to a method and a device for making correction information for correcting a guidance direction of an instrument. Based on a current position of the tip of the instrument and the current guidance direction of the instrument and the position of a target point in an object,... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080234576 - System and method to track movement of a tool in percutaneous replacement of a heart valve: A system and method to track movement of a tool in percutaneous replacement of a heart valve of a subject is provided. The system includes an imaging system, a navigation system operable to track movement of the tool through the patient and to illustrate a representation of a position the... Agent: Peter Vogel Ge Healthcare

20080234577 - Diagnostic ultrasound system with articulating flat panel display: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system includes a flat panel display for viewing images produced by the ultrasound system. The flat panel display is mounted to the ultrasound system by an articulating arm assembly having a lower arm with a fixed elevation pivotally connected to the ultrasound system and an upper... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080234578 - Multi-modality mammography reconstruction method and system: A method, system, and software are provided for joint reconstruction of three-dimensional images using multiple imaging modalities. In an exemplary embodiment, the present approach includes providing a first dataset acquired via a first imaging technique or a first image generated from the first dataset, providing a second dataset acquired via... Agent: General Electric Company (pcpi) C/o Fletcher Yoder

20080234579 - Interactive ultrasound-based depth measurement for medical applications: A device for determining the internal structure of a bone along a path directed into the bone (or other tissue) is disclosed. The device comprises a nozzle fluidically connected to a liquid reservoir for providing a liquid jet directed at the bone in the direction of the path; an ultrasonic... Agent: Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer, LLP

20080234580 - Ultrasonic imaging of perfusion and blood flow with harmonic contrast agents: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging method and system produce diagnostic contrast images depicting both tissue perfusion and flow velocity in larger vessels by utilizing both linear and nonlinear imaging techniques. A sequence of echoes from differently modulated transmit pulses is received and processed in different ways to detect nonlinear signals from... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080234581 - Performing tasks with sensors: A method wherein a location or position sensor cooperates with a controller or other operating system such that a predefined motion pattern (circular motion, double click, translatory motion, reciprocal motion, and the like, and any combination thereof) of the sensor performs one or more specific tasks, which are not necessary... Agent: Dekel Patent Ltd., David Klein

20080234582 - Plaque characterization using multiple intravascular ultrasound datasets having distinct filter bands: A system and method are disclosed that facilitate generating visual representations of characterized tissue based upon ultrasound echo information obtained from a portion of an imaged body. The system includes a first filter having a first filter band that is applied to a near range portion of the ultrasound echo... Agent: Leydig, Voit & Mayer, Ltd

20080234583 - Ultrasound system and method for forming an ultrasound image: The present invention is directed to an ultrasound system and a method for reformatting a planar image. The ultrasound system includes a volume data acquiring unit and an image processing unit. The volume data acquiring unit may acquire volume data by transmitting/receiving ultrasound signals to/from a target object of an... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080234584 - Method and system for ultrasonic imaging of an organ in a patient's body through a part of the patient's respiratory tract: The invention relates to a method for ultrasonic imaging of an organ in a patient's body through a part of the patient's respiratory tract, including: arranging an ultrasonic imaging device in or on the patient's body; introducing a flexible catheter carrying at least one inflatable member into the respiratory tract;... Agent: The Webb Law Firm, P.C.

20080234585 - Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method for acquiring ultrasound data: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including oscillation elements configured to transmit toward and receive from a region of a subject, a receiving delay setting unit configured to divide the oscillation elements into oscillation element groups and set a common delay to oscillation elements included in each of the oscillation element groups... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080234586 - System and method for providing noninvasive diagnosis of compartment syndrome using exemplary laser speckle imaging procedure: Exemplary systems and methods can be provided for providing information associated with tissue. For example, it is possible to illuminate the tissue with at least one electromagnetic radiation which is a coherent light and/or a partially coherent light. The electromagnetic radiation reflected from the tissue can be received and speckle... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney LLP Intellectual Property Department

20080234587 - Ambulatory patient monitoring apparatus, system and method: A patient monitoring device that combines physiological data collection with actigraphy data collection and associates the physiological data with synchronous actigraphy data. A method for processing actigraphy data by calculating absolute difference vectors of actigraphy signal vectors.... Agent: Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP/seattle

20080234588 - Method and apparatus for determining cardiac performance in a patient with a conductance catheter: An apparatus for determining cardiac performance in the patient involving a conductance catheter (12) for measuring conductance and blood volume in a heart chamber of the patient. The apparatus includes a processor (14) for determining instantaneous volume of the ventricle by applying a non-linear relationship between the measured conductance and... Agent: Ansel M. Schwartz Attorney At Law

20080234589 - Blood pressure algorithm: A apparatus and method for non-invasively measuring blood pressure. Cuff pressure and oscillometric signals are generated. The signals are conditioned by a plurality of linear filters to remove artifacts and local trends. Rank-order filters are applied to the conditioned oscillometric signal to detect upper and lower envelops. The systolic blood... Agent: Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP/seattle

20080234590 - Apparatus and method for detecting blood flow: A method and apparatus for detecting blood flow in or at a subject's fingertip (20) or other body part, in which Doppler-shifted measuring beam radiation (18) is reflected by the red blood cells and re-enters the laser cavity of the laser diode (10), so as to effect changes in operation... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080234593 - Method and apparatus for detecting heartbeats: A security system for detecting heartbeats. The system monitors vibrations and detects in these vibrations signals representative of a heartbeat based on a library of heartbeat signatures. The system library may have signatures representing multiple heartbeat patterns such that the system can detect the heartbeat of a human or other... Agent: Bracewell & Giuliani LLP

20080234592 - Method and apparatus for generating an electrocardiogram: s

20080234591 - Methods and apparatus for patient notification of physiologic events and device function: Apparatus and method according to the disclosure relate to a resilient shroud member mechanically and electrically coupled to an implantable medical device (IMD). The assembly is used to provide a subcutaneous cardiac activity sensing device via at least a pair of electrodes mechanically coupled to the shroud member. In the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080234594 - Methods and apparatus for enhanced fiducial point determination and non-invasive hemodynamic parameter determination: Methods and apparatus for utilizing multiple sources of physiologic data to enhance measurement robustness and accuracy. In one embodiment, phonocardiography or “heart sounds” data is used in combination with one or more other techniques (for example, impedance cardiography or ICG waveforms, and/or electrocardiography or ECG waveforms) to provide more accurate... Agent: Gazdzinski & Associates

20080234595 - Method for determining the resistance of the respiratory system of a patient: A method for automatically determining the resistance of the respiratory system of a spontaneously breathing intubated patient. The method includes measuring flow (V′) and airway pressure (Paw) as a function of time; determining the airway pressure at the end of the occlusion period as end of occlusion airway pressure Paw(tc)=Poccl;... Agent: Mcglew & Tuttle, PC

20080234596 - Brain wave measuring method, apparatus and computer readable recording medium implemented with program for executing the method: A method for measuring a brain wave comprises extracting positive and negative peaks from an electrocardiogram (EKG) signal reflecting heartbeat information, and positive peaks from an electroencephalogram (EEG) signal reflecting heartbeat-caused noise information and brain wave information. The positive peaks of the EEG signal are classified into a first peak... Agent: Wolf, Block, Shorr And Solis-cohen LLP

20080234597 - Monitoring neuronal signals: A monitoring device for monitoring an individual under investigation comprises a recording device for recording a neuronal signal from the individual, and a calculating device for calculating a parameter representing a quantitative measure of an anaesthesia or coma condition of the individual and being derived from the neuronal signal, wherein... Agent: Ip Group Of Dla Piper US LLP

20080234598 - Implantable systems and methods for identifying a contra-ictal condition in a subject: Systems and methods of monitoring a subject's neurological condition are provided. In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of analyzing a physiological signal (such as an EEG) from a subject to determine if the subject is in a contra-ictal condition; and if the subject is in a contra-ictal condition,... Agent: Neurovista / Shay Glenn

20080234599 - Passive wireless gastroesophageal sensor: A passive wireless gastroesophageal sensor includes a LC resonance circuit, two or more electrodes and a passive batteryless Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) circuit connected to the LC resonance circuit and the one or more electrodes. The electrodes are configured to measure an impedance within a gastroesophageal tract. The passive batteryless... Agent: Chalker Flores, LLP

20080234600 - Hydration monitor: A hydration monitor includes a temperature sensor (20; 65) for measuring a subject's core body temperature and a processor (30). The processor is arranged to accept measurements from the temperature sensor (20; 65) and calculate a hydration level in dependence on changes in the measured core body temperature.... Agent: Intellectual Property Dept. Dewitt Ross & Stevens Sc

20080234601 - Visual stimulation method using levels of eye contact for diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders: A method for mental health diagnosis and treatment using visual stimulation techniques. Eye to eye contact, face to face contact, looking up, looking to the side, back turned, finger movement in front of the eyes, and viewing multiple images of the patient are employed in the method. The method is... Agent: Donald W. Meeker

20080234602 - Biological unit removal tools with retention mechanism: Tools and methods are provided for removing biological units from a body surface utilizing a removal tool. The tools may incorporate retention members and mechanisms configured to impede movement of the biological unit in the direction of a distal end of the tool and to improve retention of the biological... Agent: Restoration Robotics, Inc.

20080234603 - Electrode dome and method of use: Methods and devices are provided for dissecting tissue. In one embodiment, an electro-surgical device is provided having a housing with a hollow interior adapted to receive tissue, such as an organ. The housing can be adapted to couple to a pressure source for suctioning tissue into the housing, and to... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20080234604 - Method and apparatus for simulating taste sensations in a taste simulation system: A tongue plate apparatus (10) configured to lie on top of a human tongue (100). The tongue plate (10) having a lower surface configured to lie on top of a human tongue (100), the lower surface including a plurality of electronic stimulation nodes (13) operable to transmit externally generated electrical... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080234605 - Catheter guide wire: A catheter guidewire for facilitating introduction of a flexible catheter into the human body (e.g., into the bladder) has a proximal end having a first stiffness which is sufficient to facilitate guidance of a stiff plastic expansion sheath through the tissue. A distal end of the guide wire has a... Agent: Renner Otto Boisselle & Sklar, LLP

20080234606 - Guide wire: A guide wire includes a wire body having a plate-shaped reshapeable section at a distal part thereof, wherein the reshapeable section is provided along the longitudinal direction thereof with a plurality of bent parts bent in opposite directions. At least one of the bent parts is more susceptible to plastic... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20080234607 - Skin elasticity measurement: A method of measuring a characteristic of a skin, including varying an air pressure in a chamber positioned adjacent to a skin, in which the chamber has an opening that exposes the skin to changes in the air pressure in the chamber. A plurality of measurements of surface profiles of... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20080228023 - Soft body catheter with low friction lumen: The disclosure is directed to radiation catheter devices, methods for controlled application of irradiation to tissue at a body site, such as a cavity formed after removal of tissue, e.g. cancer, using such radiation catheter devices, solutions for forming a more lubricious luminal surface and method for lining lumens of... Agent: Edward J. Lynch Edward J. Lynch

20080228024 - Soft body catheter with low friction lumen: The disclosure is directed to radiation catheter devices, methods for controlled application of irradiation to tissue at a body site, such as a cavity formed after removal of tissue, e.g. cancer, using such radiation catheter devices, solutions for forming a more lubricious luminal surface and method for lining lumens of... Agent: Edward J. Lynch Edward J. Lynch

20080228025 - Radiation catheter with multilayered balloon: The disclosure is directed to catheter devices and methods for controlled application of irradiation to tissue adjacent a body site, such as cavity after removal of tissue, e.g. cancer. The catheter device includes an inflatable balloon having at least two layers. The inflatable balloon has an expansion of more than... Agent: Edward J. Lynch Duane Morris LLP

20080228026 - Method and apparatus for image enhanced external counterpulsation: An image enhanced external counterpulsation system may be used to monitor a continuous real-time ultrasound image of the patient's heart during ECP therapy.... Agent: Crockett & Crockett

20080228027 - Device and process for preventing female stress urinary incontinence: The invention concerns a device for preventing female stress incontinence designed to be arranged in the vagina, comprising a proximal part (12) extending between a free end and a second end, configured to be undeformable under pressure and to be placed in the suburethral region of the vagina, and a... Agent: Young & Thompson

20080228028 - Woven fabric with shape memory element strands: The disclosure relates to a woven fabric for use in an implantable medical device. The woven fabric comprises shape memory element strands woven with textile strands. At least one of the shape memory element strands has at least one float of at least five textile strands between binding points.... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20080228029 - Over-tube, method of manufacturing over-tube, method of disposing over-tube, and method of treatment in abdominal cavity: An over-tube for use in an endoscopic treatment in an abdominal cavity using an endoscope includes an over-tube main body which is inserted from a distal portion thereof via a natural opening in a patient's body to access the inside of the abdominal cavity from the distal portion through a... Agent: Scully Scott Murphy & Presser, PC

20080228030 - Article, system, and method for securing medical devices to treat obesity, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (gerd) and irritable bowel syndrome (ibs) reversibly: A medical staple formed from a nitinol wire, the staple having two elongated arms which extend upwardly and outwardly from a central loop in two opposing generally semicircular courses forming an arc extending upwardly and outwardly and an end second comprising a sharpened endpoint, the endpoint being the arms bendable... Agent: Cozen O'connor, P.C.

20080228032 - Cardiac visualization devices and methods: Devices and methods for facilitating transvascular, minimally invasive and other “less invasive” surgical procedures generally include a sheath with an expandable balloon at the distal end, an inflation lumen for expanding the balloon, and a device passage lumen for allowing passage of one or more surgical instruments. The sheath is... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20080228031 - System and method for an illumination-quality test: An endoscopic illumination tester is provided for testing illumination quality of a lightsource. The endoscopic illumination tester includes an optical bridge that is removably interlockable with the lightsource. The endoscopic illumination tester includes an integrating sphere that is removably interlockable with the optical bridge. The endoscopic illumination tester may further... Agent: Hayes, Soloway P.C.

20080228033 - Optical coherence tomography probe device: Optical coherence tomograph (OCT) probe device (1) comprising an endoscope (6) which is adapted to be coupled to a light source (2) and has a distal tip portion (6.2), the tip portion (6.2) including focussing lens means (11) and a window (5) for directing light to a subject (7) to... Agent: Lerner Greenberg Stemer LLP

20080228034 - Endoscope apparatus: An endoscope apparatus comprises: an endoscope including an insertion section; a cylindrical insertion assisting tool that allows the insertion section to be inserted to assist insertion of the insertion section into a body cavity; and a ring-shaped seal member that is supported so as to slide on the insertion section... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080228035 - Endoscope and hydrophilic cap: An endoscope includes: an insertion portion including a distal end portion, to be inserted into a subject; an observation optical system disposed in the insertion portion; an optical member configuring a part of an outer surface of the distal end portion, through which a photographing light to be incident into... Agent: Scully Scott Murphy & Presser, PC

20080228036 - Endoscope apparatus: An endoscope apparatus includes an apparatus main body having a housing with a concave portion formed in one surface, and an endoscope unit including a detachable connector portion in the concave portion, wherein, when the connector portion is mounted to the concave portion, the connector portion constitutes a part of... Agent: Scully Scott Murphy & Presser, PC

20080228037 - Compact fluorescence endoscopy video system: A fluorescence endoscopy video system includes a multimode light source that produces light for color and fluorescence imaging modes. Light from the light source is transmitted through an endoscope to the tissue under observation. The system also includes a compact camera for color and fluorescence imaging. Images obtained through the... Agent: Rissman Jobse Hendricks & Oliverio, LLP

20080228038 - Illumination assembly for use with vaginal speculum apparatus: An illumination assembly for use with a vaginal speculum includes an assembly housing containing a light source, such as at least one LED or incandescent lamp. The illumination assembly, which can be battery powered or powered by means of a dedicated power supply, such as an AC power supply, is... Agent: Hiscock & Barclay, LLP

20080228042 - Device for communication: In a device, a method and a system for communication between a control module that can be associated with a local console of a medical modality, an examination module that can be associated with the medical modality, and an administration module that can be associated with an administration entity remote... Agent: Schiff Hardin, LLP Patent Department

20080228043 - Diagnosis determination and strength and weakness analysis: A method, software, database and system for diagnosing various phenotypes including illnesses, conditions, physical traits and features, and characteristics such as strengths and weaknesses of an individual are presented in which an attribute profile containing genetic and non-genetic attributes associated with an individual can be compared against a database containing... Agent: Charles A. Eldering

20080228044 - Individually activated sensors for implantable sensors: An apparatus for managing and monitoring a sensing device encapsulated in a compartment formed within a medium is disclosed. The medium compartment includes a release mechanism (210) suitable for exposing the sensing device (310). The apparatus comprises an active component (510) connected to the encapsulated sensing device, the active component... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080228040 - International medical expert diagnosis: Use of intelligent agent technology will provide a leveraging of existing resource to a vast number of people. Expert systems in coalition with the internet technology will provide search resources internationally to make health research accessible with the possibility of identifying agencies that have resources to help. The patent discusses... Agent: Arthur Solomon Thompson

20080228041 - Method and system for remote diagnosis and supervision of complex procedures: A network enabled method and system for better utilizing expert or licensed individuals to address or treat a greater quantity of situations at a lower cost and at greater convenience allowing numerous companies to have access to such expert or liscensed resources. This business model involves a trained assistant gathering... Agent: Horrigan Corporation

20080228039 - Semi-passive method and system for monitoring and determining the status of an unattended person: A method and system for determining the status and monitoring an unattended individual. A radio beacon device can be associated with one or more individuals (e.g., an unattended person). Behavioral information about the individual(s) can be collected by tracking the location of the individual within a particular area (e.g., home,... Agent: Kris T. Fredrick Honeywell International Inc.

20080228046 - Health care support system: At first step, whether a driver is seated is checked using a signal from a pressure sensor. At second step, whether the driver is in a resting state is checked using heart rate and the like. At third step, physical information is acquired. At forth step, a health status is... Agent: Posz Law Group, PLC

20080228045 - Multiprotocol wireless medical monitors and systems: A wireless medical monitoring system and medical monitoring devices adapted to communicate using a plurality of wireless protocols and networks. For each transmission of data, a wireless protocol or network is selected based on the properties of the available protocols and networks and the nature of the data that is... Agent: Patentbest

20080228047 - Micro-remote gastrointestinal physiological measurement device: A physiological sensor-transmitter assembly for measuring a physiological property at an internal body location of a subject over time is described. An instrument for inserting the assembly in the subject and a method of monitoring a physiological property measured at the internal body location over time are also described. The... Agent: Wolf Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

20080228048 - Physiological sensors with telemonitor and notification systems: Systems and methods are provided which enable communications to be initiated locally relative to an individual's developing physiological condition and remotely as the condition requires. Physiological sensors and associated medical delivery systems can be coupled to a unit wearable by an individual which can provide various audible or visual outputs... Agent: Honeywell International Inc.

20080228049 - Systems, circuits and apparatus for in vivo detection of biomolecule concentrations using fluorescent tags: Systems are disclosed wherein labeled binding molecules can be provided in vivo to tissue having biomolecules that specifically bind the labeled binding molecule. A first optical radiation is emitted into the tissue in vivo to excite the labeled binding molecule bound to the biomolecule in vivo. A second optical radiation... Agent: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec

20080228051 - Analyte measuring device: An implantable analyte-measuring device including a membrane adapted to promote vascularization and/or interfere with barrier cell layer formation. The membrane includes any combination of materials, architecture, and bioactive agents that facilitate analyte transport to provide long-term in vivo performance of the implantable analyte-measuring device.... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080228050 - Noninvasive in vivo measuring system and noninvasive in vivo measuring method by correcting influence of hemoglobin: A noninvasive in vivo measuring system and a noninvasive in vivo measuring method are provided. In the noninvasive in vivo measuring system, a Raman-fluorescence measuring unit measures blood sugar concentration, which is measured using Raman spectra before and after applying a pressure on a finger, and outputs a final blood... Agent: Staas & Halsey LLP

20080228052 - Physiological trend monitor: A physiological trend monitor has a sensor signal responsive to multiple wavelengths of light transmitted into a tissue site. The transmitted light is detected after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site. A processor has an input responsive to the sensor signal and a physiological parameter output. Features... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080228053 - Method and system for cerebral oxygenation level monitoring: Methods, systems, and related computer program products are provided for the reliable measurement of absolute chromophore concentrations in biological tissue, such as those indicative of blood oxygenation levels in the brain, based on infrared optical scanning. A plurality of probe patches is positioned at a respective plurality of locations around... Agent: Cooper & Dunham, LLP

20080228054 - Analyte measuring device: An implantable analyte-measuring device including a membrane adapted to promote vascularization and/or interfere with barrier cell layer formation. The membrane includes any combination of materials, architecture, and bioactive agents that facilitate analyte transport to provide long-term in vivo performance of the implantable analyte-measuring device.... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080228056 - Basal rate testing using frequent blood glucose input: An apparatus comprising a user interface configured to generate an electrical signal to start a basal insulin rate test when prompted by a user, an input configured to receive sampled blood glucose data of a patient that is obtained during a specified time duration, including a time duration during delivery... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080228055 - Fluctuating blood glucose notification threshold profiles and methods of use: Embodiments of the present invention provide a new system and methods for monitoring blood glucose concentration. A user of a continuous glucose monitor may program upper and lower blood glucose notification thresholds to fluctuate over time in order to facilitate management of the short-term effects of food consumption, insulin delivery... Agent: Altimatia, L.L.C.

20080228057 - Method and system for controlling data information between two portable apparatuses: Disclosed is a method and system of controlling data information between two portable handheld apparatuses where the portable apparatuses include a first apparatus for performing a first operation and a second operation, and a second apparatus including a drug administration device. Each apparatus is capable one or more of the... Agent: Novo Nordisk, Inc. Intellectual Property Department

20080228058 - Apparatus and method for detecting the reproductive status, in particular the oestrus cycle, of a mammal: An apparatus for detecting the reproductive status, in particular the oestrus cycle, of a mammal, comprising detecting means (10) to detect a blood amount perfused in a predetermined region of the vagina canal of a mammal, and generating a corresponding main signal (20); the apparatus (1) further comprises a processing... Agent: Pearne & Gordon LLP

20080228059 - Electrical connector for an in-body multi-contact medical electrode device: An improved electrical connector for connecting a multi-contact medical electrode device with a plural-contact tail. Having a tail-receiving first elongate member with a tail-receiving void and a second elongate member. The second elongate member has a nesting surface and an array of electrical conductors which are spring-loaded pin plunger devices.... Agent: Jansson Shupe & Munger Ltd.

20080228060 - High density mapping catheter: The present invention is directed to a high density mapping catheter including a number of shape memory electrode fibers and associated methods of construction ad operation. The invention ensures good electrical contact between a large number of mapping electrodes and cardiac tissue in relation to a number of cardiac tissue... Agent: Sjm/afd - Marsh

20080228062 - High resolution radio frequency medical imaging and therapy system: A method for imaging includes directing a plurality of radio frequency (RF) beams (206, 207) toward a target organ from a plurality of angles. The RF beams include one or more first pairs of the RF beams, each first pair including two of the RF beams that impinge on the... Agent: Fleit Gibbons Gutman Bongini & Bianco Pl

20080228061 - Method and apparatus providing flexible measurement functionality for medical images: In a medical imaging system the flexibility and power of measurement tools is improved by making the measurements objects themselves, whereby flexible interaction is provided. The measurement objects (52) are aware of their position relative to other graphical objects (50, 51), in the image. A user of a medical imaging... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080228063 - System and method for irradiating a target with electromagnetic radiation to produce a heated region: A system and corresponding method for irradiating a target with electromagnetic radiation to produce a heated region. The system comprises a coupling device operable to couple electromagnetic radiation from a magnetic resonance imaging system. A plurality of energy radiator applicators are connected to the coupling device to receive electromagnetic radiation... Agent: Thorpe North & Western, LLP.

20080228064 - Marker tracking for interventional magnetic resonance: A fiducial marker assembly (30) is tracked using a magnetic resonance scanner (10). At the tracked position of the fiducial marker assembly, local B0 magnetic field inhomogeneity is measured. A warning is issued if the measured local B0 magnetic field inhomogeneity satisfies a warning criterion. A noise figure of merit... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080228066 - Methods and systems for locating a feeding tube inside of a patient: Systems and methods are provided for detecting the position of a feeding tube in a patient's body. A feeding tube having a light source sensor is inserted into a patient. A light is generated over the body of a patient. When the light source sensor detects the presence of the... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20080228065 - System and method for registration of localization and imaging systems for navigational control of medical devices: A system and method are provided for obtaining registration of a localization system's three-dimensional coordinates for a plurality of markers having known locations to the two-dimensional coordinates for the plurality of reference markers obtained from a single X-ray image. The method for registering a navigational system with a localization system... Agent: Harness, Dickey, & Pierce, P.l.c

20080228067 - Rendering method and apparatus: A rendering method uses volumetric data (202) indicative of the interior of an object to render a surface (102). Locations in the volumetric data (202) having a first parameter are identified. Regions on the rendered surface (102) which are located in proximity to the identified locations are highlighted, for example... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080228068 - Automated surgical navigation with electro-anatomical and pre-operative image data: A method for navigating a medical device to an anatomical surface within a subject to perform electro-anatomical mapping using a magnetic navigation system is provided that includes importing a pre-operative image data set of an anatomical surface in the subject's body into a localization system. One or more control parameters... Agent: Harness, Dickey, & Pierce, P.l.c

20080228070 - Adaptive contrast agent medical imaging: System parameters for contrast agent medical imaging are conveniently set. A simplified contrast agent configuration is provided where an appropriate contrast agent detection technique and/or contrast agent imaging parameters are achieved consistently and more often then exists with current methods. Examination workflow is improved for contrast agent studies by offering... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080228069 - Novel differential imaging method: The present invention relates to an improved method of imaging cardiac neurotransmission in vivo in a human subject using adrenergic imaging agents. The method comprises obtaining two separate images with the same adrenergic imaging agent. One of the images is obtained in conjunction with the administration of a compound known... Agent: Ge Healthcare, Inc.

20080228071 - Diagnostic ultrasound system with grippable articulating flat panel display: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system includes an articulating flat panel display for viewing images produced by the ultrasound system. The flat panel display is articulated to a desired viewing position by gripping the periphery of the display screen and moving the display screen to the desired viewing position with one... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080228072 - Foreign body identifier: A surgical instrument for the presence and/or location of a foreign body is disclosed. The surgical instrument is hand-held. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument includes transducers adapted for emitting and/or receiving signals. In such embodiments, the surgical instrument utilizes pulse-echo measurements to determine characteristics and/or location of the foreign... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP Suite 3100

20080228073 - System and method for optoacoustic imaging of peripheral tissues: The system and method for optoacoustic imaging of peripheral tissues provides an assembly for emitting radiation on a tissue and an OCT system coupled to said assembly. The OCT system images tissue concurrent with the emission of radiation on the tissue.... Agent: Keith D. Nowak

20080228074 - System and method for measuring acoustic pressure at multiple locations simultaneously: The present invention provides a system and method for measuring acoustic pressure at multiple locations simultaneously. An array transducer device is prepared where a polyimide film is bonded to a piezopolymer membrane using a non-conductive epoxy. The polyimide is etched with a linear array pattern having array elements, connection pads... Agent: Keith D. Nowak

20080228075 - Combination imaging and therapy transducer with therapy transducer amplifier: A combined ultrasound imaging and therapy transducer (10) includes a linear array of imaging transducer elements (14). First and second linear arrays of therapy transducer elements (18, 20) extend longitudinally along respective first and second sides of the imaging transducer elements and are canted inwardly toward each other. The imaging... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080228076 - Ultrasonic imaging device: This invention provides an ultrasonic imaging system that implements imaging by distinguishing sharply and definitely the echo components generated by scattering in a microbubble contrast medium, from the tissue harmonic components generated by nonlinear propagation of a transmitted pulse. This ultrasonic imaging system, constructed to transmit/receive ultrasonic pulses to/from a... Agent: Antonelli, Terry, Stout & Kraus, LLP

20080228077 - Ultrasonic medical device and associated method: A medical system includes a carrier and a multiplicity of electromechanical transducers mounted to the carrier, the transducers being disposable in effective pressure-wave-transmitting contact with a patient. Energization componentry is operatively connected to a first plurality of the transducers for supplying the same with electrical signals of at least one... Agent: Coleman Sudol Sapone, P.C.

20080228078 - Ultrasound diagnostic system and method for displaying a doppler spectrum image: The present invention is directed to an ultrasound diagnostic system for displaying an enhanced Doppler spectrum image. The ultrasound diagnostic system includes: a period setting unit operable to set a period for computing spectral Doppler components from ultrasound data obtained by transmitting/receiving ultrasound signals to/from a target object; a Doppler... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080228079 - Clinical utilization of contrast agents to define specific areas within the myocardial wall to provide guidance and localization for ablation, cyroablation, or other techniques in patients with post myocardial infarction: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for ablating non-viable cardiac tissue. In an embodiment, the method may include locating non-viable cardiac tissue utilizing an electronic medical image. The method may also include locating non-viable cardiac tissue utilizing an ultrasound unit, wherein a contrast agent is used... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20080228080 - Perfusion assessment method and system based on bolus administration: A perfusion assessment system is proposed. The system includes means for providing an echo-power signal indicative of a perfusion of a contrast agent in a body-part under analysis, the contrast agent being administered as a bolus and undergoing a significant destruction during a passage of the contrast agent in the... Agent: Bryan A. Santarelli Graybeal Jackson Haley LLP

20080228082 - Intracavity probe with continuous shielding of acoustic window: An ultrasound probe has a transducer array which is moved to scan a patient with ultrasonic energy. The array is located in a fluid chamber (42) which is enclosed by an acoustic window end cap (34). The acoustic window cap is coated with a thin conductive layer (38) which shields... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080228081 - Ultrasonic intracavity probe for 3d imaging: An intracavity ultrasound probe includes a pivotally mounted array transducer which is oscillated to scan a volumetric region from within the body. The transducer is oscillated by a motor located in the probe handle. The array transducer is immersed in a liquid which acoustically couples ultrasonic energy between the elements... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080228083 - Non-evasive method and apparatus of detection of organism tissues: The invention relates to a non-invasive method to diagnose the changes of molecular structures of organism tissues from body surface and a dedicated apparatus. The apparatus is comprised of a Fourier Transform infrared spectrometer and a set of additional accessories. Said additional accessories include a mid-IR fiber optics sampling attachment,... Agent: Westman Champlin & Kelly, P.A.

20080228084 - Method and apparatus for reduction of spurious effects on physiological measurements: A method and apparatus for reducing motion artifact and spurious noise effects when computing estimates of values representative of at least one physiological parameter of a subject. For motion, measured motion values are compared with a motion threshold and the taking of physiological measurements used for computing the physiological parameter... Agent: Seyfarth Shaw LLP

20080228085 - Sinus illumination lightwire device: An illuminating wire medical device may include an elongate flexible housing and an illuminating fiber and a core wire extending through at least part of the housing, the core wire providing desired pushability and torquability. The illuminating device may further include a connector assembly cooperating with the illuminating fiber to... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson - Acclarent, Inc.

20080228086 - Systems and methods for evaluating vessels: Disclosed are systems and methods for evaluating body vessels. Images of the vessel are captured, analyzing to generate a three-dimensional model of the vessel, and the data associated with the three-dimensional model is analyzed. In cases in which the vessel is a coronary artery, the vessel model can be analyzed... Agent: Thomas, Kayden, Horstemeyer & Risley, LLP

20080228089 - method and apparatus for cufflessly and non-invasively measuring wrist blood pressure in association with communication device: A method of cufflessly and non-invasively measuring blood pressure in a wrist region of a patient in association with a communication device that relays the information being measured includes: detecting a magnitude difference between a plurality of pulse wave signals detected from a wrist of a user; detecting feature points... Agent: Cha & Reiter, LLC

20080228087 - Pressure measurement device: A pressure measurement device isolates liquid, such as blood, from an intermediate fluid, such as air, by means of a diaphragm. The diaphragm is arranged between first and second chambers of respective first and second shells of a pressure pod body. The first shell has first and second ports, which... Agent: Miles & Stockbridge PC

20080228088 - System and method for detecting and predicting a syncope event: The present invention relates to a system (1) and method for detecting and predicting a syncope event. Furthermore the invention relates to a computer program (13) to be executed in a computer (5, 17), said computer (5, 17) being part of a system (1) for detecting and predicting a syncope... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080228090 - Method and apparatus for management of heart failure hospitalization: A hospitalization management system including a heart failure analyzer that receives diagnostic data including at least sensor data representative of one or more physiological signals sensed from a hospitalized patient using one or more sensors and assesses risk of rehospitalization for the patient using the diagnostic data. The outcome of... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080228092 - Cardiac sensing by implantable medical devices during magnetic resonance imaging: Embodiments of the invention can include a method for reducing MRI interference from a physiological electrical signal received in an implantable medical device. The method can include the steps of amplifying the physiological electrical signal with a high bandwidth amplifier and sampling the amplified physiological electrical signal at a sampling... Agent: Pauly, Devries Smith & Deffner, L.L.C.

20080228091 - Method and system for patient evaluation: A method for evaluating a patient is disclosed herein. The method includes performing an exercise test on a patient, obtaining an electrocardiogram during the exercise test, converting the electrocardiogram to an audio file, and analyzing the audio file in order to evaluate the patient. A corresponding system for evaluating a... Agent: Peter Vogel Ge Healthcare

20080228093 - Systems and methods for enhancing cardiac signal features used in morphology discrimination: Methods and devices used to classify cardiac events based on morphological analysis of sensed signals are described. A signal comprising a cardiac signal component and a noise signal component is sensed. The sensed signal is processed to preferentially alter morphology of the cardiac signal component. The altered morphology of the... Agent: Hollingsworth & Funk, LLC

20080228094 - Heart monitoring systems, apparatus and methods adapted to detect myocardial ischemia: Embodiments include heart monitoring systems, apparatus, and methods adapted to detect myocardial ischemia. An apparatus includes at least one first-tier sensor/analyzer adapted to sense a first input related to cardiac function, and to produce a first-tier trigger signal when the first input indicates myocardial ischemia. In an embodiment, a first-tier... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080228095 - Medical device: A multi-functional, hand-held medical device for measuring bodily functions and physiological parameters and for medical screening and diagnosis by dual sound detection. A multi-functional, hand-held medical device capable of accurate, automatic and instantaneous readings of data received from the patient's different bodily functions, enhances productivity of the user, allows for... Agent: Garvey Smith Nehrbass & North, LLC

20080228096 - End-tidal gas estimation system and method: An apparatus and method of indicating the reliability of an end-tidal gas value that includes measuring a plurality of gas concentration values, measuring a plurality of ventilation values, determining an end-tidal gas value from the gas concentration values, determining the degree of ventilatory stability from the ventilation values, and providing... Agent: Michael W. Haas Respironics, Inc.

20080228097 - Respiration monitoring system: The present invention provides a sleep respiration monitoring system for monitoring sleep quality of a user. The sleep respiration monitoring system has a sensing fabric, a detecting circuit and a judging and analysis circuit. The electrical characteristics of the sensing fabric vary with respiration status or extent of body movement... Agent: Jianq Chyun Intellectual Property Office

20080228098 - Method and device for measurement of exhaled respiratory gas temperature: An apparatus for the measurement of exhaled respiratory gas temperature during free voluntary tidal breathing, comprises a housing 1 defining a chamber, an air inlet 2 for receiving a stream of exhaled respiratory gas and an air outlet 4 for permitting escape of exhaled respiratory gas from the chamber to... Agent: Gomez International Patent Office, LLC

20080228099 - Adaptors for inhalers to improve performance: A child-sized adaptor for a DPI or MDI is provided. Also provided is a patient feedback mechanism for signaling and/or teaching proper inhaler use.... Agent: Hayes Soloway P.C.

20080228100 - Eeg seizure analysis: Automated seizure detection from within an electroencephalogram (EEG) by instrumental means employs novel algorithms within software, using specific measurements of individual waves in trains, rather than any “bulk” process. The acquired signal is filtered, the wave shapes are individually described within a number of parallel runs using a variety of... Agent: Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman LLP

20080228101 - System and method for calibrating and determining hearing status: t

20080228102 - System and method for pathological mapping of targeted tissue: A system and method for collecting specimens removed from different regions of targeted tissue, e.g., the prostate gland. The system is made up a plurality of templates for receipt of respective ones of the specimens and a plurality of specimen identifiers. The templates include respective areas representing corresponding to respective... Agent: Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein, Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd.

20080228103 - Vacuum timing algorithm for biopsy device: A biopsy system has a cutter defining a cutter lumen along an axis. One conduit in the system is configured to provide fluid communication along the cutter lumen axis; while another conduit in the system is configured to provide fluid communication lateral to the cutter lumen axis. The system may... Agent: Frost Brown Todd, LLC

20080228104 - Energy assisted medical devices, systems and methods: A device for penetrating tissue and removing a biological sample includes a biological sampling element to remove a biological sample. The biological sampling element includes a passage therethrough. The device further includes a penetrator positioned within the passage. The penetrator is energized in a repetitive manner to assist in penetrating... Agent: Gregory L Bradley Medrad Inc

20080228105 - Sampling means: Sampling Means A sampling means for obtaining an organic sample (85) from an animal. The sampling means includes a punch means (18) adapted to be securable in use with a first part (70) of an applicator (100). A housing means (8) is adapted in use to be accommodated, or provided,... Agent: Henricks Slavin And Holmes LLP Suite 200

20080228106 - Urine collection device: A urine collection device comprises a collector to collect urine voided by a user; first and second outlets adapted to allow urine collected by the collector to drain from the device and a transfer passage adapted to transfer urine collected by the collector to a receptacle. The first outlet includes... Agent: Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP

20080228107 - Bio-testing booth: In one embodiment of the invention, a booth for bio-testing is provided. The booth comprises a specimen collection mechanism for collecting a biological specimen; and a storage mechanism to store the collected specimen for analysis.... Agent: Hahn And Moodley, LLP

20080228108 - Composite radiopaque intracorporeal product: The invention is directed to a guidewire having a distal flexible member, such as a helical coil, which is formed with at least one highly radiopaque component and at least one high strength component. In a presently preferred embodiment, the highly radiopaque component is at least 10% and less than... Agent: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc./ Finnegan Henderson L.L.P.

20080228109 - Guide wire: A guide wire includes a member with a core wire. The guide wire may have a marker-forming layer which partly encircles the outer surface of the member and differs in color from the member, and a coating layer which covers the marker-forming layer and the member at least in the... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20080228110 - Device for computerized dynamic posturography and a method for balance assessment: A device for balance training and assessing dynamic balance by measuring a subject's ability to react to perturbations. A universal joint assembly is translated at the base of a support plate while a top plate on which the subject stands is fixed against translation. The universal joint permits the attached... Agent: Kremblas, Foster, Phillips & Pollick

20080221381 - Recharge device for brachytherapy of tumors: A reloading device for brachytherapy of tumors is to be simplified in terms of the replacement of the radiation source at the irradiation site. At least two tubes are provided for receiving a longitudinally displaceable cable at the end of which a radiation source can be applied. The tubes can... Agent: Jordan And Hamburg LLP

20080221382 - Method and system of radiotherapy enhancement through cellular perturbation using ultrasound and microbubbles: An embodiment of the invention is related to a system for providing radiotherapy to a treatment region. The system includes a radiation source and a sound source. The radiation source is positioned to irradiate the treatment region. The sound source is positioned to provide ultrasound to the treatment region so... Agent: Edward W. Bulchis, Esq. Dorsey & Whitney LLP

20080221383 - Tissue excision devices and methods: A tissue excision device comprises a handle. In addition, the tissue excision device comprises an elongate tissue capture member extending from the handle. The tissue capture member has a longitudinal axis and comprises a free end distal the handle. Further, the free end of the tissue capture member includes a... Agent: Conley Rose, P.c. David A. Rose

20080221384 - Expandable brachytherapy apparatus and methods for using them: Apparatus for delivering brachytherapy to a target tissue region includes an elongate body including a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a tissue tract and carrying a plurality of elongate members including pathways for receiving a source of radiation. The elongate members are movable between collapsed and... Agent: Vista Ip Law Group LLP

20080221385 - Hyperthermia treatment device with x-ray computed tomography imaging: A medical technology device has an x-ray CT imaging system and a magnet system for generation of a radio-frequency alternating magnetic field for treatment of a tumor injected with ferrite nanoparticles, the x-ray CT system and the magnet system being combined to form a unitary structure. Imaging and tumor therapy... Agent: Schiff Hardin, LLP Patent Department

20080221386 - Devices for minimally invasive pelvic surgery: The present invention relates to prefabricated urethral suspension slings, methods of making the slings, methods of attaching suture to the slings, kits comprising the slings, and methods of using the slings to treat urinary incontinence. The slings comprise a biocompatible material having an elongate shape adapted for urethral suspension. The... Agent: Ropes & Gray LLP

20080221387 - Vibrating toothbrush attachment: An attachment comprised of a tip member, head and wand for attachment to an electric toothbrush for use as a sexual aid or muscular stimulation. The preferred embodiment of the attachment includes an oscillating tip member with knob-like protrusions, a head and a wand provided in a single, integrated unit... Agent: Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar, P.a.

20080221388 - Side viewing optical fiber endoscope: An optical fiber conveys light from a source at a proximal end, to a distal end, where a piezoelectric material tube applies a force that causes the distal end of the optical fiber to scan in a desired pattern. Light from the distal end of the optical fiber passes through... Agent: Law Offices Of Ronald M Anderson

20080221389 - Hand assisted laparoscopic seal assembly with deflection feature: A seal assembly for permitting hand assisted laparoscopic procedures is disclosed. The seal assembly includes a seal cap having a seal positioned within a housing. The housing includes a lower seal ring having a track which supports an upper seal ring for relative rotational motion. The seal is supported between... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman Llc

20080221390 - Medico-technical device comprising a self-lubricating element: The invention describes a medico-technical device adapted to be engaged with a human or animal body and comprising a self-lubricating element exposed to internal friction in the device.... Agent: Standley Law Group LLP

20080221391 - Direct drive instruments and methods of use: Disclosed herein are various instruments, systems, and methods of use. The instruments can have various control members and/or handles for controlling various degrees of freedom. In addition, the control members can include various control mechanisms for transferring user inputs from a handle to a distal portion of the instrument. In... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20080221392 - Method and devices for minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures: A device with a flexible member configured to take on a curvilinear profile can be used to perform arthroscopic procedures. The device can be used to perform such procedures through two access ports, providing visualization and access to the entire site of the procedure, e.g. hip joint, without switching cannulated... Agent: Hunton & Williams LLP Intellectual Property Department

20080221393 - Medical device with articulating shaft: A medical device (10) includes an articulating shaft (20, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, or 20f) with a pair of slat assemblies (31, 33). By moving an articulator (37), the slat assemblies (31, 33) are configured to concurrently push while the other pulls in order to bend the articulating shaft... Agent: Myers Dawes Andras & Sherman, LLP

20080221394 - Tissue retractor: Methods and devices for minimally invasive surgery in a patient. A tubular body is disclosed which includes in its side wall a plurality of longitudinal passages. Elongated blocking members are also disclosed which are inserted into the passages. The elongated blocking members block deflected interfering tissue during the surgery.... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20080221396 - Method and system for monitoring medical treatment: An electronic network is disclosed for effectively providing a technique to administer medical treatment. The technique pertains to at least one patient and at least one unit for medical treatment. The technique involves receiving patient data and unit data and evaluating at least the patient data and/or unit data to... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080221395 - Self-organizing maps in clinical diagnostics: The present invention provides methods for the diagnosis of a disease or condition in an individual. The methods employ a primary self-organizing map trained with biological marker profiles from tissues having known diseases or conditions, in combination with a secondary self-organizing map which displays a representation of a subset of... Agent: Foley & Lardner LLP

20080221398 - Apparatus and method for monitoring and/or load applied to a mammal: Apparatus is disclosed for monitoring strain and/or load applied to the body of a vertebral mammal. The apparatus includes means (10, 11) for measuring position of the body relative to an inertial frame of reference and for providing first data indicative of the position, wherein the means for measuring position... Agent: Lowe Hauptman Ham & Berner, LLP

20080221397 - Defibrillator patient monitoring pod: A patient parameter monitoring pod in embodiments of the teachings may include one or more the following features: (a) portable housing containing a power supply, (b) a patient parameter module connectable to a patient via lead cables to collect patient data, the patient data including at least one vital sign,... Agent: Intellectual Property Group Fredrikson & Byron, P.a.

20080221401 - Identification of emotional states using physiological responses: The invention provides a method for automatically identifying emotional states of a person in real-time based on physiological responses by exposing a person to a stimulus, measuring the person's physiological response to the stimulus, and comparing the measured physiological response to a known baseline physiological. The deviation of the measured... Agent: Winston & Strawn LLP Patent Department

20080221402 - Integrated patient diagnostic and identification system: A small integrated diagnostic and identification system is disclosed that solves several problems associated with current sensory systems. The diagnostic and identification system comprises a bracelet with an identification mechanism that is difficult to remove and has a lock. Further, the diagnostic and identification bracelet comprises a microprocessor which communicates... Agent: Todd S. Parkhurst Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym Ltd.

20080221400 - Method and system for measuring and ranking an \"engagement\" response to audiovisual or interactive media, products, or activities using physiological signals: A system and method for calculating an engagement value by quantifying an amount that a user is acting without thinking considering brainwaves and a heart rate can be used to compare media based on an individual or a group of individuals. Events of the media can be contrasted and compared... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP

20080221399 - Monitor for measuring vital signs and rendering video images: The invention features a vital sign monitor that includes: 1) a sensor component that attaches to the patient and features an optical sensor and an electrical sensor that measure, respectively a first and second signal: and 2) a control component. The control component features: 1) an analog-to-digital converter configured to... Agent: Triage Wireless, Inc. Matthew John Banet

20080221404 - Multifunction health apparatus: The present invention provides a multifunction health device, which comprises a meter and a platform. The meter has two electrodes arranged separately at its two sides or both arranged at its one side, and the meter has another electrode arranged in its bottom. The platform has four electrodes arranged in... Agent: Stout, Uxa, Buyan & Mullins LLP

20080221403 - Reconfigurable garment definition and production method: Computer-aided design and manufacture software and hardware automate garment and fashion definition and production. Configurable garment includes ornamental element, pattern display, and personal identifier and wireless sensor electronics.... Agent: Fernandez & Associates LLP

20080221406 - Method and apparatus for estimating water reserves: A system and method are provided for a water reserve index. The method includes determining a lean water fraction of tissue for at least one tissue site and determining skin thickness for the at least one tissue site. The lean water fraction and skin thickness are combined to produce a... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221405 - Method for assessing subsurface irritation of skin: A method for determining skin irritation is provided. The method uses a source of cross-polarized light to illuminate and area of skin. The cross-polarized light is used to detect subsurface indicators of skin irritation such as erythema, inflammation, dryness, or innervation. The subsurface indicator is then assigned a score.... Agent: The Procter & Gamble Company Intellectual Property Division - West Bldg.

20080221407 - Method for evaluating skin hydration and fluid compartmentalization: There is provided a system and method for evaluating skin hydration and fluid compartmentalization. The system includes a microneedle array configured to extract fluid from an interstitial space and a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure differential between the interstitial space and ambient pressure during extraction of the fluid.... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221412 - Method and apparatus for spectroscopic tissue analyte measurement: Methods and systems for calculating body fluid metrics are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technique, there is provided a method for calculating body fluid metrics by acquiring an absorbance spectrum of a subject's tissue over a range of near-infrared light, performing a multi-linear regression of... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221414 - Method for detection of aberrant tissue spectra: A method is provided for determining contact of a sensor with a patient's tissue. The method comprises comparing the intensity of detected light at a first wavelength to a threshold, wherein the first wavelength is not used to determine a physiological characteristic of the patient, and determining if the sensor... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221410 - Method for identification of sensor site by local skin spectrum data: A method is provided for determining the location of the sensor. The method comprises determining a physiological parameter based on detected light and determining the location of the sensor based on the physiological parameter. In addition, a method is provided for operating a sensor that includes calibrating a sensor based... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221413 - Multiple configuration medical sensor and technique for using the same: A sensor may be adapted to be placed on multiple tissue sites. A sensor is provided that may have one configuration associated with use on a digit and a second configuration associated with use on another tissue site, such as a forehead. Further, a sensor may be adapted to be... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221409 - System and method for controlling tissue treatment: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for controlling a tissue treatment device using results from a spectroscopic tissue analyzer. One embodiment provides a system that uses a direct signal from a spectroscopic tissue analyzer to control the tissue treatment device. Alternatively, the system may provide... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221411 - System and method for tissue hydration estimation: A system and method are provided for determining tissue hydration. The method includes transmitting electromagnetic radiation at tissue and detecting the absorption spectrum of the tissue using a spectrum analyzer located in a sensor. Further, the method includes providing a signal correlative to the absorption spectrum from the spectrum analyzer... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221408 - System and methods for optical sensing and drug delivery using microneedles: The current techniques provide a system for monitoring a physiological parameter of a patient using microneedles that are coupled to an optical system, allowing spectroscopic measurements to be made immediately below the outer layer of the epidermis. In embodiments of the present invention, the results of the spectroscopic measurements are... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221415 - Systems and methods for measuring and improving blood chemistry: Measurement systems provide a determination of relative concentrations of biological analytes based on transmission or reflection of near-infrared radiation by an in vivo specimen. Concentration and concentrations ratios associated with (ω-3, ω-6, and ω-9 fatty acids, lipids, glycosylated proteins, blood glucose, and cholesterol can be determined, and based on the... Agent: Klarquist Sparkman, LLP

20080221416 - System and method for detection of macular degeneration using spectrophotometry: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method of detecting or monitoring macular degeneration in a patient. One embodiment of the present invention includes emitting a first light into the patient's retinal tissue at a first wavelength, emitting a second light into the patient's retinal tissue at... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221419 - Method and system for monitoring a health condition: A system and method for monitoring a health condition are disclosed. The system includes a patient management application, a data store and a monitoring device. The monitoring device includes an optical sensor, a Doppler sensor, and a computing device adapted to provide health parameter values including oxygen saturation of the... Agent: Baker & Daniels LLP

20080221418 - Noninvasive multi-parameter patient monitor: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a handheld multi-parameter patient monitor capable of determining multiple physiological parameters from the output of a light sensitive detector capable of detecting light attenuated by body tissue. For example, in an embodiment, the monitor is capable of advantageously and accurately displaying one or more... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080221417 - System and method for detection of venous pulsation: In accordance with an embodiment of the present technique, there is provided methods and systems for detecting the presence of venous pulsation by adjusting the sensitivity of a detection algorithm based on a sensor characteristic and/or notifying a caregiver of the presence of venous pulsation by ceasing display of physiological... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221420 - Fetal pulse oximetry and ecg sensor: A medical device configured to be temporarily secured at a tissue field, such as a fetal skull, via a spiral probe. The spiral probe functions to both secure the sensor in place and provide an electrode for ECG purposes. The spiral probe is non-uniform and includes one or more of... Agent: Fulbright & Jaworski L.l.p.

20080221421 - Apparatus for measuring perfusion rate of legs: The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the perfusion rate of legs. The measurement apparatus of the present invention includes a light leakage prevention unit including a light emitting device for radiating light having a certain wavelength onto a living body injected with Indocyanine Green (ICG), and a... Agent: Lucas & Mercanti, LLP

20080221422 - Sensor measurement system having a modular electrode array and method therefor: A method for implementing a sensor measurement system is disclosed herein. The method includes providing a plurality of generally identical modular sensor arrays each having a single array connector, applying two of the plurality of modular sensor arrays to a patient such that the two modular sensor arrays can receive... Agent: Peter Vogel Ge Healthcare

20080221423 - Cardiac catheter imaging system: Systems and methods for measuring electrical potentials and other data associated with body tissue and generating electrograms of the tissue based on the data. In one embodiment, a device for measuring parameters of human tissue includes a multielectrode catheter for taking multiple measurements of the electrical characteristics of the human... Agent: Law Offices Of Mark L. Berrier

20080221424 - Methods of detecting signals from subjects using hydro-insensitive alternating current responsive composites: An alternating current responsive composite is disclosed. The composite includes a polymeric material and a polar material that is substantially dispersed within the polymeric material. The polar material is responsive to the presence of an alternating current.... Agent: Gauthier & Connors, LLP

20080221427 - Cancellation of light shunting: There is provided a system and method for canceling shunted light. The method includes transmitting electromagnetic radiation at tissue of interest and generating a signal representative of detected electromagnetic radiation. A portion of the generated signal representing shunted light is canceled from the generated signal and the remaining portion of... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221426 - Methods and apparatus for detecting misapplied optical sensors: Methods and apparatus are described for sensing misplacement of an optical sensor on a patient. A wavelength of light which is particularly subject to absorption by a physiological characteristic of interest is used to compare to a reference to determine if the sensor placement is appropriate, such as to generate... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221425 - System and method for local deformable registration of a catheter navigation system to image data or a model: A method for registering a catheter navigation system to a three-dimensional image generally includes obtaining a three-dimensional image including position information for a plurality of surface points on a part of a patient's body, using a catheter navigation system to place a tool at a location on the surface of... Agent: Sjm/afd-wiley

20080221428 - Chemical shift markers for improved wireless fiducial marker tracking: A new and improved method for tracking and/or spatial localization of an invasive device in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is provided. The invention includes providing an invasive device including a marker having a chemically shifted signal source with a resonant frequency different from the chemical species of the subject to... Agent: Renner Otto Boisselle & Sklar, LLP

20080221429 - Magnetic resonance imaging of coronary venous structures: A method and system for magnetic resonance imaging comprises applying at least one radiofrequency magnetization transfer (MT) pulse to a coronary venous region of a subject positioned within a magnetic field, and acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data from the coronary venous region to produce an image of a coronary venous... Agent: Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds, P.c.

20080221430 - Apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus for high-speed and high-accuracy detection of cell positions labeled with magnetic nanoparticles. A transmitter coil is controlled to generate amplitude-modulated burst RF pulses as excitation RF pulses whose amplitude is modulated by a function that repeatedly inverts the polarity of multiple high-frequency magnetic field... Agent: Antonelli, Terry, Stout & Kraus, LLP

20080221431 - Method and apparatus for transforming the coordinate system of mri-guided medical equipment to the coordinate system of an mri system: In a method and an apparatus for transforming the coordinate system of MRI-guided medical equipment to the coordinate system of an MRI system MRI imaging is used to determine the rotational and translational values of the coordinate system of MRI-guided medical equipment relative to the coordinate system of an MRI... Agent: Schiff Hardin, LLP Patent Department

20080221432 - Low temperature method to enhance detection of magnetic beads: Detection of magnetic beads at temperature below room temperature can increase the signal level significantly as compared to the same detection when performed at room temperature. Additional improvement is obtained if the beads are below 30 nm in size and if deviations of bead size from the median are small.... Agent: Stephen B. Ackerman

20080221433 - Single coil parallel imaging: An imaging apparatus for an object in change includes an MRI system having a computer, a first channel which produces images of the object in change using alternate lines of k-space applied along each of the two phase encoding directions. The computer combines the individual images into a composite 3D... Agent: Attorney At Law

20080221438 - Automated catalog and system for correction of inhomogeneous fields: A method for providing a localization system with detailed information regarding a catheter's construction, while at the same time preventing operator input errors, for use in a three-dimensional localization field, including providing a catheter having at least one feature, providing a catheter catalog for use by the localization system, wherein... Agent: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division

20080221435 - Catheter navigation system: A method and system for navigation of a medical instrument, including: introducing at least three reference device(s) disposed to at least three reference locations; employing an imaging and guidance system to acquire a plurality of image projections corresponding to a desired anatomy including the reference devices, the plurality of image... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080221434 - Displaying an internal image of a body lumen of a patient: A medical system includes a display monitor, a catheter, a sensor, non-light-obtained image data of a patient, and a computer. The catheter has a distal end insertable into a body lumen of the patient. The sensor is attached to the catheter and is adapted to provide position data. The computer... Agent: Thompson Hine L.l.p. Intellectual Property Group

20080221436 - Electronic valve reader: The invention is directed toward a magnetic valve reader used as an indicator tool. The magnetic valve reader determines a location and an orientation for a magnetic indicator device to indicate a device setting of an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device includes the magnetic indicator device coupled to... Agent: Dicke, Billig & Czaja, Pllc Attn: Md Matters

20080221440 - Imaging and tools for use with moving organs: Apparatus is described for use with a portion of a subject's body that moves as a result of cyclic activity of a body system. An imaging device acquires a plurality of image frames of the portion. A sensor senses a phase of the cyclic activity. A medical tool performs a... Agent: Gerald T. Shekleton 22nd Floor

20080221437 - Steerable snare for use in the colon and method for the same: An apparatus comprises a snare and an actuator. The snare is formed of a material having an opacity complementary to a predetermined imaging system that is positionable external to a patient. The actuator is configured to steer the snare in response to an image of at least a portion of... Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group

20080221439 - Tools for use with moving organs: A sensor senses a phase of cyclic activity of a portion of a subject's body. A control unit, in a first cycle of the cyclic activity, moves a portion of a tool, in a given direction, in response to the sensor sensing that the cyclic activity is at a first... Agent: Gerald T. Shekleton 22nd Floor

20080221442 - Imaging for use with moving organs: Apparatus is described for imaging a portion of a body of a subject that moves as a result of cyclic activity of a body system of the subject and that also undergoes additional motion. An imaging device acquires a plurality of image frames of the portion. A sensor senses a... Agent: Gerald T. Shekleton 22nd Floor

20080221441 - Tumor grading from blood volume maps: An embodiment of the invention is to make possible a non-invasive grading of a tumor based on parameters determined from a frequency distribution (histogram) of values in a map representing cerebral blood volume (CBV) or cellular metabolism in the tumour. The method is especially applicable to brain tumors such as... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080221443 - Integrated imaging and biopsy system with ancillary device authentication: A diagnostic station integrates patient support, imaging, biopsy, and treatment. An illustrative version of a prone mammography table localizes a breast with an imaging modality (e.g., X-ray, etc.) based upon a rotating C-arm that may encircle the localized breast. A biopsy system is integrated into the controls and displays or... Agent: Frost Brown Todd, Llc

20080221444 - Integrated imaging and biopsy system with integrated surgical, therapy, and diagnostic devices: A diagnostic station integrates patient support, imaging, biopsy, and treatment. An illustrative version of a prone mammography table localizes a breast with an imaging modality (e.g., X-ray, etc.) based upon a rotating C-arm that may encircle the localized breast. A biopsy system is integrated into the controls and displays or... Agent: Frost Brown Todd, Llc

20080221445 - Gated optical coherence tomography (oct) environmental chamber: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with gated optical coherence tomography (OCT) are described. One example method includes generating an image control signal to control an OCT apparatus to acquire an image of an embryonic heart at a specified point in time during a cardiac cycle of the embryonic heart.... Agent: Kraguljac & Kalnay

20080221447 - Medical apparatus obtaining information indicative of internal state of an object based on interaction between sound waves and light: A medical apparatus acquires information indicating an internal state of a region being examined of an object based on a modulated component of light caused by interaction with ultrasound waves in the region. In the apparatus, light radiating component have a light radiating member radiating the light toward the region... Agent: Scully Scott Murphy & Presser, Pc

20080221446 - Method and apparatus for tracking points in an ultrasound image: An ultrasound system comprises a position sensing module, an imaging tracking module, a display and a user interface. The position sensing module detects spatial information associated with a volume of data. The display displays first and second images based on the volume of data. The first and second images comprise... Agent: Dean D. Small The Small Patent Law Group LLP

20080221448 - Image-guided delivery of therapeutic tools duing minimally invasive surgeries and interventions: Imaged-guided therapy for minimally invasive surgeries and interventions is provided. An image-guided device includes an elongate tubular member, such as a catheter, an annular array of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (cMUTs) for real-time three-dimensional forward-looking acoustic imaging, and a therapeutic tool. The therapeutic tool is positioned inside an inner lumen... Agent: Lumen Patent Firm, Inc.

20080221449 - Ultrasonic apparatus and ultrasonic diagnostic method: An ultrasonic apparatus has a pulse transmission and reception unit, an envelope curve detection unit, a time difference detection unit, and an attenuation characteristic obtaining unit. The pulse transmission and reception unit transmits a first transmitted pulse that a frequency increases with time and a second transmitted pulse that the... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.c.

20080221450 - Ultrasound system and method of forming ultrasound images: The present invention is directed to an ultrasound system capable of providing a plurality of M-mode images corresponding to M-mode lines without moving a probe. A volume data forming and reconstructing unit of the present invention forms volume data based on the ultrasound echo signals, the volume data forming and... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.c.

20080221451 - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment and control method therefor: Image data of the interior of a sample (S) are sequentially created on the basis of reception signals at the time when ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the sample (S) so as to scan the interior thereof, movements of respective control points set on the image data are tracked so... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.c.

20080221452 - Method for inducing and monitoring long-term potentiation and long-term depression using transcranial doppler ultrasound device in head-down bed rest: The present invention provides a method for monitoring long-term potentiation and long-term depression, comprising placing a subject in head down rest position and monitoring in real-time cerebral mean blood flow velocity using a transcranial Doppler device during psychophysiologic tasks. The method involves using Fourier analysis of mean blood flow velocity... Agent: Philip Chidi Njemanze

20080221454 - Curved 2-d array ultrasound transducer and method for volumetric imaging: An ultrasound imaging system includes an imaging probe having an array of transducer elements that is flat and relatively elongated in the azimuth direction and is curved outwardly in the elevation direction. As a result, when the transducer elements are scanned in a step-wise manner, the acoustic pattern of the... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080221453 - Universal ultrasound holder and rotation device: Provided herein are devices and methods for mounting variously configured medical imaging probes for imaging applications. In one aspect, a holding device allows for interfacing/holding most conventional ultrasound probes such that the probes may be attached to a positioning device using a common interface. As ultrasound probes come in various... Agent: Marsh, Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP

20080221455 - Near-infrared spectroscopic analysis of blood vessel walls: The invention relates to methods and devices for characterizing tissue in vivo, e.g., in walls of blood vessels, to determine whether the tissue is healthy or diseased, and include methods of displaying results with or without thresholds.... Agent: Fish & Richardson Pc

20080221456 - Optical sensor and a method of its use: The invention provides a device 10 for analysis of tissue cells 12 in a living body, the device comprising a stylet 14, the stylet comprising a clad optical fiber senior 18 enveloped in a tubular jacket 20, wherein an unclad area 24 of the fiber and a jacket window 26... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080221457 - Multimodal detection of tissue abnormalities based on raman and background fluorescence spectroscopy: Methods and apparatus for classifying tissue use features of Raman spectra and background fluorescent spectra. The spectra may be acquired in the near-infrared wavelengths. Principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis of reference spectra may be used to obtain a classification function that accepts features of the Raman and background... Agent: Oyen, Wiggs, Green & Mutala LLP 480 - The Station

20080221458 - Catheter and method for diagnosis and treatment of diseased vessels: The present invention provides a catheter for detecting and treating diseased tissue in a blood vessel or other hollow body organ. The catheter comprises an elongated tubular catheter shaft having a distal end comprising a light transmission zone. A first fiber lumen in the catheter shaft contains a diagnostic optical... Agent: Bryan Cave LLP

20080221460 - Methodology and display instrument to noninvasively determine pulmonary characteristics through breath analysis and arterial blood measurement: Disclosed are a method for determining respiratory characteristics of lung-pulmonary circulation system by respiratory blood gas and blood gas data, and a displaying instrument for the same. More particularly, the present invention describes a method for determining respiratory characteristics of the lung-pulmonary circulation system by using respiratory blood gas and... Agent: Nath & Associates

20080221459 - Respiratory-based control of medical procedure: A medical system (100) is disclosed that provides a respiratory-based control of at least one medical procedure. In this regard, the medical system (100) includes one or more appropriate sensors (108) for providing respiratory data on a patient (104). This respiratory data is utilized by respiration assessment logic (116) to... Agent: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division

20080221462 - Detection of oximetry sensor sites based on waveform characteristics: In accordance with an embodiment of the present technique, there is provided methods and systems for detecting the location of a sensor and determining calibration algorithms and/or coefficients for calculation of physiological parameters based on the detected location. An exemplary embodiment includes receiving a signal corresponding to absorption of at... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221461 - Vital sign monitor for cufflessly measuring blood pressure without using an external calibration: The invention provides a method for measuring a patient's blood pressure featuring the following steps: 1) measuring a first time-dependent optical signal with a first optical sensor; 2) measuring a second time-dependent optical signal with a second optical sensor; 3) measuring a time-dependent electrical signal with an electrical sensor; 4)... Agent: Triage Wireless, Inc. Matthew John Banet

20080221464 - Perfusion trend indicator: A perfusion trend indicator inputs a plethysmograph waveform having pulses corresponding to pulsatile blood flow within a tissue site. Perfusion values are derived corresponding to the pulses. Time windows are defined corresponding to the perfusion values. Representative perfusion values are defined corresponding to the time windows. A perfusion trend is... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080221463 - System and method for venous pulsation detection using near infrared wavelengths: Methods and systems for detecting venous pulsation are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technique, there is provided a method for detecting venous pulsation, including acquiring a first signal corresponding to absorption at a first near-infrared wavelength, acquiring a second signal corresponding to absorption at a... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Llc Attn: Ip Legal

20080221465 - Display of target cardiac flow based on cardiac index calculation: User interfaces for medical perfusion systems that provide oxygenation, filtering, and recirculation of blood in connection with various medical procedures are provided. In particular, methods of displaying and communicating a desired target flow rate and cardiac index during cardiopulmonary bypass surgeries are provided.... Agent: Kagan Binder, Pllc

20080221466 - Patient monitoring system: The present invention relates to a patient monitoring system, a patient monitoring method and a computer program. In order to improve the monitoring of patients, particularly for cardiac monitoring and weight monitoring, a patient monitoring system (1) is provided, the system comprising a number of force sensors (2) assigned to... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080221467 - Method and systms for regional assessment of pulmonary function: A method and system for regional assessment in two or more regions of an individual's lungs. The system includes a plurality of transducers configured to be fixed over the thorax. Each transducer generates a signal P(xi,t) indicative of pressure waves at the location of the transducer. The transducers are divided... Agent: Nath & Associates

20080221468 - Prediction of disordered breathing: An approach for predicting disordered breathing involves detecting one or more conditions associated with disordered breathing. The detected conditions are compared to disordered breathing prediction criteria. A prediction of disordered breathing is performed based on the comparison of the detected conditions to the prediction criteria. At least one of comparing... Agent: Hollingsworth & Funk, Llc

20080221469 - Fitting and fluid-conveying device connected thereto: A fitting for a fluid-conveying conduit. The fitting includes integrally-formed clamps that can be used to secure the conduit in a locking relationship so that likelihood of leakage and separation of the fitting and the conduit is reduced. In one form, the fitting and conduit can be used as a... Agent: Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

20080221470 - Respiratory sensor adapters for nasal devices: Described herein are nasal respiratory devices including an attachment site for a sensors and sensor adapters for securing at least a portion of a sensor to a nasal respiratory device. Sensor adapters typically have a body frame having at least two regions: an attachment region for securing the sensor adapter... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080221471 - Apparatus for collection of airway gases: The invention relates to an apparatus for collection of airway gases from a subject comprising a first means for producing closure of the velum of the subject, and a second means for collection of the airway gases, wherein the first and second means need not be integral with each other.... Agent: Proskauer Rose LLP

20080221472 - Method and system for measuring and ranking a positive or negative response to audiovisual or interactive media, products or activities using physiological signals: A system and method for calculating a valence value captures an individual's positive or negative response to a media by considering alpha asymmetry of the individual's brain. This valence value can be used to compare media based on an individual or a group of individuals. Events of the media can... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP

20080221473 - System and methods for performing pedicle integrity assessments of the thoracic spine: The present invention includes a system and methods aimed at surgery, and more particularly to a system and methods for monitoring nervous tissue to assess the integrity of a pedicle wall during or after pilot hole formation and before, during, or after screw implantation, particularly in the thoracic spine. The... Agent: Jonathan Spangler Nu Vasive, Inc.

20080221476 - Abdominal impedance measurement apparatus and body composition determination apparatus: An abdominal impedance measurement apparatus includes a plurality of electrodes for measuring an abdominal impedance of a human subject, electrode supporting member for supporting the electrodes, and a frame that is disposable around the human subject. A light emitter is supported by the frame for emitting light beams toward the... Agent: Hogan & Hartson LLP Ip Group, Columbia Square

20080221474 - Method and apparatus for inductively measuring the bio-impedance of a user's body: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus (1) for inductively measuring the bio-impedance of a user's body. Furthermore the invention relates to a bed (2) comprising said apparatus (1). In order to provide a method and apparatus for spatially resolved inductively measuring the bio-impedance of a user's body... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080221477 - Method and implantable medical device for measuring an electrical bio-impedance of a patient: In a method and device for measuring an electrical bio-impedance of a patient at least one impedance measurement signal is generated by a current pulse generator, the signal having at least one asymmetric multiphasic impedance measurement waveform that is asymmetric in term of pulse amplitude and/or pulse width relative to... Agent: Schiff Hardin, LLP Patent Department

20080221475 - Method for detecting both pre-cancerous and cancerous tissues: A method for characterizing tissues within a subject as cancerous or non-cancerous includes determining the electrical properties of the subject. The electrical properties of the subject are fit to a model and a characteristic frequency of each tissue is then calculated. Each tissue is finally characterized as cancerous or non-cancerous... Agent: Quarles & Brady LLP

20080221478 - Integrated imaging and biopsy system with integrated control interface: A diagnostic station integrates patient support, imaging, biopsy, and treatment. An illustrative version of a prone mammography table localizes a breast with an imaging modality (e.g., X-ray, etc.) based upon a rotating C-arm that may encircle the localized breast. A biopsy system is integrated into the controls and displays or... Agent: Frost Brown Todd, Llc

20080221479 - Integrated imaging and biopsy system with integrated utilities: A diagnostic station integrates patient support, imaging, biopsy, and treatment. An illustrative version of a prone mammography table localizes a breast with an imaging modality (e.g., X-ray, etc.) based upon a rotating C-arm that may encircle the localized breast. A biopsy system is integrated into the controls and displays or... Agent: Frost Brown Todd, Llc

20080221480 - Biopsy sample storage: A biopsy device may be used to obtain and store multiple tissue samples. The device permits the tissue samples to be stored in a sequenced fashion within a generally transparent tissue storage chamber disposed at a proximal end of the biopsy device. The tissue samples can be stored on flexible... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080221481 - Vacuum assisted biopsy needle set: A needle set for a biopsy device is disclosed. The needle set includes an outer member, a cylinder lumen within said outer member, an inner member having a cannula and an inner lumen. The inner member is slidably disposed within the cylinder lumen. The biopsy device also includes a cylinder... Agent: Rader, Fishman & Grauer Pllc

20080221483 - Hand assisted laparoscopic seal assembly with a ratchet mechansim: A seal assembly for permitting hand assisted laparoscopic procedures includes a seal cap having a seal positioned within a housing. The housing includes a lower seal ring having a track which supports an upper seal ring for relative rotational motion, wherein the seal is supported between the upper seal ring... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman Llc

20080221482 - Steerable tip for flexible rods: Various steerable tips may be used with flexible rods to move the tips through a wide assortment of cavities. In one embodiment, a steerable tip is constructed of a rigid tip body having a proximal end, a distal end and a plurality of radially extending fins. Also, at least one... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080221484 - Method and a dual-array transducer probe for real time mechanical imaging of prostate: The present invention relates to a transrectal probe and method for real time mechanical imaging of a prostate. The probe is equipped with dual-array pressure sensors—one on the probe head and another on the shaft of the probe spaced away from the head with an angular and linear offset forming... Agent: Boris Leschinsky

20080221485 - Device and method for determining at least one characteristic point of joint to be orthopedically measured: The invention relates to a device for determining at least one characteristic point of a joint which joins together two limbs and is to be measured orthopedically, said device comprising a first coupling element which may be positioned on a first limb adjoining the joint, a second coupling element which... Agent: Mccracken & Frank LLP

20080221488 - Method for monitoring living body activities, and optical fiber type flat shaped body sensor, garment styled optical fiber type flat shaped body sensor and human body fitted optical fiber type flat shaped body sensor used for the same: A living body monitoring activity system detects major activities, or feeble living body activities. In a method for monitoring existence of human movements or living body activities in living environments (e.g., sleeping activities involving a bed, a Futon-mat, a pad, or a Tatami-mat), an optical fiber type flat shaped body... Agent: Griffin & Szipl, Pc

20080221487 - Method for real time interactive visualization of muscle forces and joint torques in the human body: A method and system are provided for the visual display of anatomical forces, that system having: a motion capture system; a computer, receiving data from said motion capture system; and a computational pipeline disposed on said computer; that computational pipeline being configured to calculate muscle forces and joint torques in... Agent: Vern Maine & Associates

20080221486 - Self-powered vibration sensor: An apparatus, system, and method for monitoring vibration using a self-powered vibration sensor, a programmable interactive device, and a remote server. The self-powered sensor is capable of transforming vibrations into equivalent RF pulses, which are recorded and manipulated by the programmable interactive device. The programmable interactive device communicates the RF... Agent: Health Hero Network, Inc.

20080214887 - Brachytherapy apparatus and method using off-center radiation source: A brachytherapy applicator and method of use involve source guides that assume a desired curving, non-linear configuration. A flexible source catheter follows the shape of the source guides when inserted therein. Radiation dose received in various tissue areas can be better controlled using the invention, and the ratio of cavity... Agent: Thomas M. Freiburger

20080214888 - Organ assist system and method: An organ assist system having a closed fluid system having a ring-shaped prosthetic contactively surrounding at least a portion of a body part, including bladders adapted for selectable dilation and contraction in response to varying fluid pressure therewithin, a fluid pump, and apparatus for pressurizing the bladders; and a control... Agent: Renner Otto Boisselle & Sklar, LLP

20080214889 - Methods and apparatus for preventing tissue migration: Methods and apparatus for preventing tissue migration or tissue “tenting” during transseptal access procedures are described. The underlying tissue wall may be temporarily engaged via any number of mechanisms, e.g., engaging teeth or projections, threaded needle, vacuum, etc., and one or more instruments may be passed through the tissue wall... Agent: Levine Bagade Han LLP

20080214890 - Therapeutic method and therapeutic system used with steps for approaching to lesion using overtube: A therapeutic system is provided, which is preferable to a treatment of pancreatic duct and biliary duct for Roux-en-Y gastrectomy patient. The therapeutic system is provided with a catheter equipped with an imaging device outputting a signal in reply to imaging, an overtube to be inserted into inside a patient,... Agent: Scully Scott Murphy & Presser, PC

20080214891 - Systems and methods for biofilm removal, including a biofilm removal endoscope for use therewith: Systems and methods of removing bacterial biofilm from a target site using a biofilm removal endoscope. The endoscope has an insertion portion including an imaging channel terminating at a viewing window and an irrigation channel terminating at a nozzle. The imaging and irrigation channels are permanently affixed relative to one... Agent: Dicke, Billig & Czaja, PLLC Attn: Md Matters

20080214892 - Video endoscope: A video endoscope comprises an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, and a handpiece at the proximal end of the shaft, a distal end of the shaft being provided with a lens and, in the proximal direction from the lens, with an electronic image pickup. The image pickup is connected,... Agent: St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens, LLC

20080214893 - Endoscope with adjacently positioned guiding apparatus: An endoscope with guiding apparatus is provided. The endoscope has an elongate body with a steerable distal portion, an automatically controlled portion, a flexible and passively manipulated proximal portion, and an externally controlled and manipulatable guiding apparatus. The guiding apparatus may be positioned within the endoscope or may be positioned... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080214894 - Robotic endoscopy actuator: A robotic endoscopy actuator is provided. The robotic endoscopy actuator includes a function means; and an energy absorption element that is operable to absorb energy from an electromagnetic field. The energy absorption element includes a heat element. The function means is operable to fulfill a function using heat energy.... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

20080214895 - Face tip assembly for an endoscope: A face tip assembly for an endoscope for viewing a visually obscured portion of a body cavity and for surgically treating a portion of a body cavity with an operating tool may include at least one operating tool port located in an outer wall surface of the face tip assembly,... Agent: Greenberg Traurig (hou) Intellectual Property Department

20080214896 - Endoscope with detachable elongation portion: Endoscopes comprising a handle and a detachable elongation portion housing a light source for illuminating the distal end of the elongation portion are provided.... Agent: Proskauer Rose LLP

20080214897 - Flexible tube for endoscope and endoscope device: A flexible tube for an endoscope and an endoscope device are provided. According to the present invention, a flexible tube for an endoscope is included in an insertion portion of the endoscope to be inserted into a body cavity and the flexible tube for the endoscope includes a bending portion... Agent: Scully Scott Murphy & Presser, PC

20080214898 - Retractor system: The present invention provides a surgical retractor system in which first and second retractor blades are maintained in spaced relationship by a third retractor blade engaged with the first and second retractor blades. The retractor system is useful in minimally invasive surgery.... Agent: Holland & Hart, LLP (lanx, Inc.) Intellectual Property Department

20080214899 - Crank retractor handle: The present invention relates to an apparatus for adapting a non-cylindrical serrated surgical retractor blade handle to the cylindrical bore of a universal joint. The apparatus includes an adaptor housing having a retractor handle passageway, at least a portion of the retractor handle passageway being configured to receive the slideable... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20080214900 - Method and apparatus for providing rolling data in communication systems: Methods and systems for providing data communication in medical systems are disclosed.... Agent: Jackson & Co., LLP

20080214902 - Apparatus and method for objectively determining human response to media: An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes a media analysis apparatus and method in which human mental response to media is objectively determined.... Agent: Pritzkau Patent Group, LLC

20080214904 - Apparatus to measure the instantaneous patients' acuity value: In a patient monitoring system (10), shorter interval physiological parameters and longer interval clinical data are collected from a monitored patient (12). A composite acuity score generator (70) generates or updates a composite acuity score indicative of wellbeing of the patient (12) based at least on the sensed physiological parameters... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080214903 - Methods and systems for physiological and psycho-physiological monitoring and uses thereof: The invention provides a system and method for monitoring one or more physiological parameters of a user. The system of the invention includes one or more wearable sensor modules sensing the one or more physiological parameters. One or more transmitters wirelessly transmit signals indicative of values of the one or... Agent: Nath & Associates

20080214906 - Patient monitoring help video system and method: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a patient monitoring help screen system and method. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention include a patient monitoring device with an integral help screen system including display of video. The help screen system may provide context-sensitive help, such that the help screen accessed... Agent: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC Attn:IPLegal

20080214905 - System and method for preventing hypoglycaemia in a human type 1 diabetic patient during physical activity: A method for estimating the amount of carbohydrates needed by a DP-1 during a specific session of physical activity, comprises the following steps: defining of working constants and standard parameters; introducing of patient and therapy specific parameters, calculating of patient specific reference curves for a percentage carbohydrates consumption (% CHO);... Agent: Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle,anderson & Citkowski, P.c

20080214901 - Wearable wireless device for monitoring, analyzing and communicating physiological status: A wearable compact, lightweight, noninvasive, wearable “unified” device or system (10), that does not compromise a user's motion and flexibility, detects, processes, analyzes and reports predetermined physical states of a human body. The system includes at least one pair of sense electrodes (14) and one reference electrode (16), each configured... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080214908 - Method and apparatus for monitoring the sedation level of a sedated patient: A method and an apparatus for monitoring the sedation level of a sedated patient during anaesthesia, in particular during a pre-surgical phase. The method comprises the steps of providing a skin conductance signal measured at an area of the patient's skin, calculating a derivative signal of said conductance signal with... Agent: Christian D. Abel

20080214907 - Quantitative analysis of skin characteristics: Skin characteristics are analyzed. A device acquires a digital image of an area of skin of a user. A processor quantitatively analyzes the digital image to determine a characteristic of all or part of the area of skin which is indicative of a skin condition of interest. Depending on the... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20080214909 - Catheter with microchannels for monitoring the concentration of an analyte in a bodily fluid: Catheter for monitoring the concentration of an analyte in a body fluid having an implantable distal area (7) for the uptake of body fluids and a proximal area (8) with an outlet opening (14), wherein the catheter comprises a catheter casing (1) having microopenings which are permeable to at least... Agent: Baker & Daniels LLP / Roche

20080214910 - System and method for operating an electrochemical analyte sensor: A method of operating an electrochemical analyte sensor having one or more electrodes may comprise applying a time-varying input signal to at least one of the one or more electrodes, monitoring a time-varying output signal produced by the sensor in response to application of the time-varying input signal, determining a... Agent: Barnes & Thornburg LLP (roche)

20080214911 - Method and device for determining blood components using ratiometric absolute pulse spectroscopy: The method and the device according to the invention are used for the non-invasive measurement of concentrations of blood components. At least one light source generates light using spectrophotometry and the light is guided to at least one photodetector through a tissue present at the location of application and supplied... Agent: Friedrich Kueffner

20080214912 - Blood glucose monitoring system and method: An optrode for insertion into a blood vessel can include at least one fiber optic, a sheath enclosing at least part of the fiber optic and sensor material in optical communication with one end of the fiber optic. The sensor material is operative for diffracting electromagnetic waves received from the... Agent: The Webb Law Firm, P.C.

20080214913 - Surface-enhanced spectroscopy with implanted biosensors: The present invention provides a spectroscopic apparatus, a method and a computer program product for determining the concentration of an analyte of a fluid that flows through a capillary vessel of a biological sample. The spectroscopic apparatus makes use of an imaging system for determining the position of at least... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080214914 - Analyte monitoring device and methods of use: An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20080214915 - Transcutaneous analyte sensor: The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.... Agent: Knobbe, Martens, Olsen & Bear, LLP

20080214918 - Dual electrode system for a continuous analyte sensor: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a continuous analyte sensor, such as a continuous glucose sensor. One such system utilizes first and second working electrodes to measure additional analyte or non-analyte related signal. Such measurements may provide a background and/or sensitivity measurement(s) for use in processing sensor data and... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080214916 - Fluid delivery with in vivo electrochemical analyte sensing: One or more therapeutic fluids, such as for example insulin can be delivered to a body. In addition or alternatively, the concentrations of one or more analytes can be measured in vivo. A feedback process can be used to regulate levels of the one or more analytes based on the... Agent: Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky And Popeo, P.c Attn: Patent Intake Customer No. 64046

20080214917 - Method and apparatus for analyte measurement test time: A method is provided for analyte measurement by a user using an analyte measurement device. An analyte measurement is provided with a plurality of penetrating members and analyte sensors. Each analyte sensor is positioned in a sample chamber with a volume no greater than 1 μl. Each sample chamber has... Agent: Goodwin Procter LLP Attn: Patent Administrator

20080214919 - System and method for implementation of glycemic control protocols: A system for implementing a wide-range of glycemic control protocols (e.g., Tight Glycemic Control protocols) in an automated, semi-closed or closed loop manner thereby eliminating common sources of system error is provided herein. More specifically, the system can include a blood glucose measuring device in communication with a wide-range of... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20080214920 - Apparatus and method for coupling implanted electrodes to nervous tissue: An apparatus and method for improving electrical contact between an implanted device (10) for recording or stimulating neuronal activity and surrounding tissue (12) (e.g., brain tissue, nerve fibers, etc.). In an exemplary embodiment, a nanometer sized topographic structure (36, 136) (e.g., a nanometer scale pillar) is processed for electrical connection... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080214921 - Attachable surface electrode for laryngeal electromyography: An electrode for laryngeal electromyography that is adhesively secured to an insert device, endotracheal tube or other similar device. The attachable surface electrode of this invention consists of a flexible substrate having an anterior and a posterior surface specifically for insertion along the human laryngopharynx and adjacent to the cricothyroideus... Agent: Koppel, Patrick & Heybl

20080214922 - Method for localizing an imaging device with a surgical navigation system: The position of an imaging device can be determined at least in part with a movement portion of the imaging device. The imaging device can be moved relative to the patient to obtain image data of the patient at different perspectives or angles. The image data obtained of the patient... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080214925 - Device for precision positioning of instruments at a mri scanner: A device in the form of an elongated articulating arm having a base for mounting it on or at the MRI apparatus. The free end of the arm is arranged to releasably mount any type of device, e.g., a clamp, a bracket, a biopsy needle guide, etc. The arm includes... Agent: Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein, Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd.

20080214926 - Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a setting unit which sets a section position, a first image creating unit which creates a first image at the set section position by a multi planar reformat on the basis of a magnetic resonance signal collected from a subject by a first imaging... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080214924 - Magnetic resonance spectroscopy: A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (MRI) system (101) comprising a magnet system (102) for acquiring MR spectroscopic data from an object of interest (103) comprised within a polarizing magnetic field is described, wherein the MRI system (101) comprises multiple pole faces (104) for generating the polarizing magnetic field. The multiple... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080214923 - Method and magnetic resonance apparatus for determination of patient movement during data acquisition: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for determination of movement of an examination subject during the acquisition of (MR) measurement data using at least two antenna elements that exhibit respectively different spatial positions, after each radiated excitation pulse a navigator signal is acquired in the measurement data and... Agent: Schiff Hardin, LLP Patent Department

20080214927 - Integrated pet-mri scanner: One embodiment of the present invention provides an integrated PET-MRI scanner. This integrated scanner includes a main magnet that generates a magnetic field, wherein images of the subject is generated in a central region of the magnetic field. It also includes a PET scanner which is enclosed by the main... Agent: Park, Vaughan & Fleming LLP

20080214929 - Method and device for imaging objects: A method for imaging objects is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes using a first and a second imaging method which differ at least in regard to the spatial resolution or sensitivity. Furthermore, in at least one embodiment, the method includes generating an overview image at least... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080214928 - Method for guiding differential diagnosis through information maximization: A system and method for diagnosis and treatment decisions based on information maximization is disclosed. Utilizing patient information as well as clinical records from other patients can reduce the uncertainty in both diagnosis and treatment options. The information maximization may consider additional data such as risk, cost, and comfort in... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080214930 - Method for improving magnetic resonance imaging of the breast: The present invention provides a fat saturation device to be used in conjunction with a magnetice resonance imaging (MRI) breast coil, which provides padding for the comfort of the patient being imaged while eliminating the skin-air interface, thereby reducing the level of artefacts in the image. The device comprises a... Agent: Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti PC

20080214931 - Method and system for guiding a probe in a patient for a medical procedure: Techniques for using a probe in a patient for a medical procedure based on different modes of operating sensor systems than currently a used includes receiving first volume data based on a first mode of operating a first sensing system. In addition, different second volume data is received based on... Agent: Evans & Molinelli, PLLC

20080214932 - Method and surgical navigation system for creating a recess to receive an acetabulum: To facilitate assistance of the operating surgeon when determining the disposition of a receiving cavity in the case of a method and a navigation system for creating a cavity to receive an acetabulum in a navigated pelvic bone with the aid of a navigated tool, it is proposed that the... Agent: Lipsitz & Mcallister, LLC

20080214933 - Image-based planning methods and apparatus for targeted therapy: The present invention relates generally to biomedical devices. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for delivering a patient-specifically optimized treatment plan for targeted drug therapy that takes into account the individual 4-D biodistribution of the given targeted agent. An improvement in clinical outcome can be achieved... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080214934 - Inter-frame processing for contrast agent enhanced medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging: Contrast agent enhanced medical diagnostic imaging is improved by selecting particular frames of data. Frames of data are acquired over time. Information from the frames of data are combined, such as for a time intensity curve or maximum intensity processing. Rather than combining information from each of the frames, information... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080214935 - Method and apparatus for assessment of bone age using ultrasound: A method and apparatus for controlling access of individuals to a service, device or location in order to restrict access to members of a particular age and/or gender category, by machine-sensing a predetermined biometric characteristic of the individual indicative of the particular age and/or gender category, and utilizing the machine-sensed... Agent: Ratnerprestia

20080214936 - Phantom device: A phantom device for mimicking anatomical structures, comprising: at least one electronic device layer comprising segmented areas of liquid crystals for forming a graphic layout of an anatomical structure; the segments comprising dyes of various absorbing characteristics for mimicking anatomical structures such as blood vessels; the areas further comprising electrically... Agent: Leydig Voit & Mayer, Ltd

20080214937 - Device for rotating a transducer of an ultrasonic probe: Embodiments of the present invention may provide a device for rotating a transducer of an ultrasonic probe using a rod. The device of the present invention comprises: a drive motor; a drive disk driven by the drive motor; a transducer including a plurality of ultrasonic elements and having a rotating... Agent: Jones Day

20080214938 - Optimized temperature measurement in an ultrasound transducer: There is provided a medical ultrasound transducer (130) and a medical ultrasound imaging system including the transducer (110, 130, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350), comprising an acoustic window (120) for contacting a patient at a patient contact surface for imaging the patient; and at least one temperature sensor (110, 110A,... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080214939 - Probe for transesophageal echocardiography with ergonomic controls: A connectorized ultrasound probe includes a distal section that is configured for insertion into a patient's body and a proximal section configured to interface the distal section with an ultrasound system. The distal section is easily attachable and detachable from the proximal section using at least one set of connectors.... Agent: Proskauer Rose LLP Patent Department

20080214940 - Medical imaging lens system, and method with high-efficiency light collection and collinear illumination: We have discovered an improved lens system for biomedical optical imaging applications for collecting light from tissue with an improved efficiency and geometry, and for delivering collinear, pre-aligned illumination to a the sample, for the purpose of enabling imaging applications in which a catadioptric lens and mirror system (103) is... Agent: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP.

20080214942 - Apparatus and method for measuring blood pressure: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for measuring a blood pressure capable of enhancing accuracy and reliability for a blood pressure. According to the apparatus and method, a blood pressure is obtained by using a pulse transit time (PTT) calculated based on a pulse wave measured with a minimized error,... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080214941 - Blood pressure measuring device and a method for operating a blood pressure measuring device: A blood pressure self-monitoring device includes an alarm generator to remind the patient to carry out blood pressure measurements according to a predetermined schedule. The device performs a specific phase of measuring blood pressure according to a clinically validated criterion, and calculates an accurate blood pressure reading on the basis... Agent: Shoemaker And Mattare, Ltd

20080214943 - Detection of blood flow using emitted light absorption: Perfused tissue is illuminated and light passing through the tissue or reflected from it is detected to produce an electrical signal. Amplitude pulses corresponding to the subject's heart beat are detected in the electrical signal and the areas of these pulses are calculated to produce blood flow values indicative of... Agent: Quarles & Brady LLP

20080214944 - System, apparatus and method for mobile real-time feedback based on changes in the heart to enhance cognitive behavioral therapy for anger or stress reduction: A system, apparatus and method for mobile real-time feedback based on changes in the heart to enhance cognitive behavioral therapy for anger or stress reduction. In an embodiment, an apparatus receives data relating to a heart of an individual from at least one input device. The apparatus provides a mobile... Agent: Intel Corporation C/o Intellevate, LLC

20080214945 - Method and system for atrial fibrillation analysis, characterization, and mapping: A method and system for atrial fibrillation analysis, characterization, and mapping is disclosed. A finite element model (FEM) representing a physical structure of a heart is generated. Electrogram data can be sensed at various locations in the heart using an electrophysiology catheter, and the electrogram data is mapped to the... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080214946 - Monitoring method and apparatus: Apparatus for monitoring an ECG signal comprises a first body wearable part 1 for receiving a physiological signal and comprising processing means, a memory, and a wireless transceiver, the memory storing a plurality of signal segment templates. The processing means is arranged to compare and match segments of the physiological... Agent: Patterson & Sheridan L.L.P. Nj Office

20080214947 - Exhaled breath condensate collection and assay system and method: A method and system that provides for minute-to-minute EBC pH monitoring (or for other EBC characteristic monitoring) of a subject that greatly assists in determining the time-course of airway pH changes (or other characteristic changes) in evolving disease processes, and may assist in determining the predictive ability of these tests,... Agent: University Of Virginia Patent Foundation

20080214948 - Method and apparatus for monitoring respiration: A device for monitoring respiration comprises a duct, a flow restricting element in the duct, and a pressure sensor arranged in the duct. The pressure sensor measures a pressure drop across the flow restricting element as a pressure difference between a pressure at a location in the duct on a... Agent: Karen Lenaburg, Esq. Dorsey & Whitney LLP

20080214951 - Cerebrospinal fluid evaluation systems: Methods and devices for testing for the presence, absence and/or rate of flow in a shunt tubing implanted under the skin by using a measurement pad having a plurality of temperature sensor configurations, or by using other temperature sensor arrangements, or by using a temperature sensitive material, which are positioned... Agent: Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein, Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd.

20080214950 - Prostate cancer detection apparatus: A prostrate cancer detection apparatus has a measurement sensor for detection of at least one prostate cancer-specific biomarker, an evaluation unit for determination of at least one risk value from at least one prostate cancer-specific biomarker detected by the measurement sensor, and a display unit to display the at least... Agent: Schiff Hardin, LLP Patent Department

20080214949 - Systems, methods, and devices to determine and predict physilogical states of individuals and to administer therapy, reports, notifications, and the like therefor: The invention comprises systems, methods, and devices capable of deriving and predicting the occurrence of a number of physiological and conditional states and events based on sensed data. The systems, methods, and devices utilize the predicted and derived states for a number of health and wellness related applications including the... Agent: Strategic Patents P.C..

20080214952 - Replaceable cartridge for allergy testing system: A replaceable cartridge for use in a minimally invasive allergy testing system includes a microneedle array; encapsulated allergens, and packaging to hold the array in alignment with the allergens. A method of manufacturing a replaceable cartridge is disclosed. A formable layer is placed on a mold having cavities and vacuum... Agent: Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP

20080214953 - Tissue-characterization system and method: A measurement system and method are provided for use in characterizing a tissue. The system comprises a probe adapted for operating in either a scan mode or a measure mode, and a control unit for operating the probe. The probe comprises a sensing module for measuring one or more parameters... Agent: Browdy And Neimark, P.l.l.c. 624 Ninth Street, Nw

20080214954 - Biopsy device: A biopsy device comprising a body, a mandrel provided with housing intended to receive a sample of organic tissue, a concentric hollow needle outside the mandrel, said mandrel and said hollow needle being slidingly coupled with said body and being movable in a direction parallel to the respective longitudinal axes... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080214955 - Presentation of biopsy sample by biopsy device: A biopsy device includes a cutter defining a cutter lumen and a tissue sample holder for collecting tissue samples. In one example, the tissue sample holder includes a rotatable manifold, and has a plurality of chambers that are each configured to separately hold tissue samples. A tissue sample holder rotation... Agent: Frost Brown Todd, LLC

20080214956 - Methods and apparatus for lancet actuation: A lancet driver is provided wherein the driver exerts a driving force on a lancet during a lancing cycle and is used on a tissue site. The driver comprises of a drive force generator for advancing the lancet and a processor coupled to the drive force generator capable of changing... Agent: Heller Ehrman LLP

20080214957 - Bone marrow aspiration trocar: The invention relates to a bone marrow aspiration trocar comprising an element in the form of a hollow needle, the end of said element being provided with a prehension body (20) having a handle with lugs (4), and an insertion end (22). According to the invention, said insertion end (22)... Agent: William J. Sapone Coleman Sudol Sapone P.C.

20080214958 - Blood collection apparatus: A blood collection apparatus for collecting a blood sample from a foetal scalp includes an amnioscope and a foetal scalp blood collection device. The amnioscope comprises an elongate tubular body for insertion into a vaginal canal, the elongate tubular body including guide means for guiding the foetal scalp blood collection... Agent: Smith-hill And Bedell, P.C.

20080214959 - Medical guide wire: In a guide wire (1), a core line (2) has a proximal side wire (4) and a distal side wire (5), the latter of which is to be connected to a front end of the proximal side wire (4). The distal wire (5) is smaller in rigidity and superior in... Agent: Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

20080214961 - Biological luminal body evaluating apparatus: In a process of varying pressure of a pressure container (24) accommodating a forearm (22) of a subject (20) in a pressure range including negative pressure, a diameter (cross-sectional shape value) (D) of an artery 44 in the forearm (22) accommodated in the pressure container (24) is measured non-invasively by... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20080214960 - Method and apparatus for computer-assisted femoral head resurfacing: A method for locating a guide wire axis on a femoral neck comprises the steps of tracking a position and orientation of a femur; registering a frame of reference with respect to the position and orientation of the femur from a first registration probe mounted onto the femur in a... Agent: Ogilvy Renault LLP

20080214962 - System and method for monitoring plantar temperature of the foot: A console for measuring plantar foot pressure includes a support case and at least two temperature sensitive pads, disposed in the case, configured to allow a user to measure the temperature of the soles of their feet without assistance.... Agent: Sofer & Haroun LLP.

20080214963 - Method for measuring movements of a person wearing a portable detector: A process for detecting activity of a person, in which movements of the person are measured by at least one sensor attached to the person, and respective components of the movements due to external activity and due to physiological activity are separated. The process obtains a signal of the sensor,... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.