Surgery inventions

20080103349 - Therapeutic benefits of magnetic essential oil use: The use of essential oils and biocompatible magnets is described. The combination of these two treatments can result in weight loss experiences, reduced stress and other wellness feelings and experiences. Placing small powerful magnets on various places on the body and essential oils onto the body effects that improve wellness... Agent: Victoria Richards

20080103350 - Method and morphologically adaptable apparatus for altering the charge distribution upon living membranes with functional stabilization of the membrane physical electrical integrity: A method and morphologically adaptable apparatus for altering the charge distribution upon living membranes with functional stabilization of the membrane physical electrical integrity further comprising a method for using quadripolar, circular, center charged, energy balanced magnetic device in a four (4) magnet array of alternating polarity in which the magnetic... Agent: Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP

20080103351 - Pelvic health implants and methods: Surgical articles, implants and components suitable for female pelvic health procedures are described.... Agent: Ams Research Corporation

20080103352 - Implantable medical devices having recesses: In general, the invention is directed to devices and methods that are useful for surface preparation of implantable medical devices. In the case of a vascular graft, the invention presents devices and methods that enhance endothelial cell seeding by providing recesses in the luminal surface that can receive endothelial cells.... Agent: Haugen Law Firm

20080103353 - Implantable malleable penile prosthetic device: A prosthetic device comprises stacked column segments. A first one of the column segments comprises a ball surface facing along a column axis. The ball surface has a generally convex shape that is articulable in a mating socket of a second one of the column segments. The first one of... Agent: Ams Research Corporation

20080103356 - Capsule medical apparatus: The capsule medical apparatus of the present invention is disposed in a test subject and acquires information on the inside of the test subject. The capsule medical apparatus comprises a plurality of communication electrodes that are disposed on the surface of the capsule medical apparatus and capable of communication for... Agent: Scully Scott Murphy & Presser, PC

20080103354 - Monitering apparatus for laparoscopice surgery and display method thereof: A monitor apparatus for a laparoscopic surgery rotates images captured by a laparoscope as an endoscope and displayed on monitors for the laparoscopic surgery clockwise or counter-clockwise according to commands for rotating the images by surgeons who use image rotation manipulation parts such that the images of surgical devices displayed... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080103355 - Autofluorescent imaging and target ablation: Apparatus, devices, methods, systems, computer programs and computing devices related to autofluorescent imaging and ablation are disclosed.... Agent: Searete LLC Clarence T. Tegreene

20080103357 - Attachment apparatus for an endoscope: An endoscopic attachment apparatus for coupling an endoscope with an endoscopic instrument includes an attachment ring having a ring body with first and second apertures respectively shaped and dimensioned for the receipt of an endoscope and an endoscopic instrument. The attachment ring includes an annular body defining the first aperture... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20080103358 - Endoscope system: An endoscope system has an driving-section for driving an insertion-section having an instrument. The driving-section is supported by a pivoting section rotatively. The driving-section has two rollers facing each other. The insertion-section is disposed between the rollers. The insertion-section is extended or retracted by rotating the rollers if the rollers... Agent: Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen

20080103359 - Capsule-type endoscopic system with real-time image display: The present invention relates to a capsule-type endoscopic system with real-time image display, which includes a capsule-type endoscope and a display apparatus. The capsule-type endoscope extracts an endoscopic image inside of a human body, produces endoscopic image data, and transmits the endoscopic image data to the display apparatus. The display... Agent: Rosenberg, Klein & Lee

20080103360 - Endoscopic device insertable into a body cavity and movable in a predetermined direction, and method of moving the endoscopic device in the body cavity: In an endoscopic device insertable into a body cavity attachable elements are moved over one another to move forwardly of each other and to leave each other behind, and to move along different paths so as not to be attached to the same areas of a wall of the body... Agent: Ilya Zborovsky

20080103361 - Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear nose and throat: Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, including methods and apparatus for dilating ostia, passageways and other anatomical structures, endoscopic methods and apparatus for endoscopic visualization of structures within the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, navigation devices for use in conjunction with... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson - Acclarent, Inc.

20080103362 - Programmable brake control system for use in a medical device: A system and method for providing programmable brake control in a fly-by-wire medical instrument system are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides a brake control system that includes a brake control algorithm that provides temporal and spatial control of the motion of a medical instrument.... Agent: Klarquist Sparkman, L.L.P. Michael P. Girard

20080103363 - Device, system, and method for programmable in vivo imaging: Some embodiments of the present invention may relate to devices, systems, and methods for programmable in vivo imaging, for example, a programmable in vivo imager (46), and a method and system for using the programmable in-vivo imager.... Agent: Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer, LLP

20080103364 - Apparatus for orotracheal intubation: This invention provides a laryngoscope blade, wherein the blade comprises a tube having an opening along one side. This invention further provides a laryngoscope blade comprising at its front portion a first surface for lifting the epiglottis of a patient and a second surface for fixing the portion of the... Agent: Cooper & Dunham, LLP

20080103365 - Vessel retractor: A retractor and a surgical tool are positioned within a cannula, and a dissection cradle of the retractor is positioned at the distal end of the cannula. The retractor includes a first portion with an axis approximately parallel to the axis of the cannula and a second portion with an... Agent: Fenwick & West LLP

20080103366 - Atraumatic tissue retraction device: Methods and apparatus for a surgical retractor include a ring, a plurality of flexible straps connected to the ring, a patch of hook or loop material connected to each strap, a coordinating patch of hook or loop material connectable to the patient's skin or the surgical drape. The flexible straps... Agent: Gregory Smith & Associates

20080103367 - Eye positioner: Self-contained eye positioner having an annular vacuum ring composed of a channeled support ring and an overmolded flexible sealing ring having an attached rigid hollow tube secured to a syringe by use of an attachment fixture. The syringe, which also functions as a handle, provides a vacuum source, the vacuum... Agent: Hugh D Jaeger, P.A.

20080103371 - Interactive method for facilitating patient compliance during a healthcare protocol: A health care insurance plan, healthcare professional, or other entity may recognize that a patient or member is not in compliance with a treatment protocol, best practices, or guidelines. Entities may desire to communicate this fact along with an action needed to be performed to comply with the protocol, and,... Agent: Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP

20080103368 - Methods, devices, and computer program products for detecting syndromes: A method of detecting syndromes can include receiving, at a mobile personal medical device, a measurement of a parameter associated with a body and comparing, at the mobile personal medical device, the measurement of the parameter to stored data associated the body to provide a syndrome associated with the body.... Agent: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec, P.A.

20080103369 - System and method for a lifestyle management system: An apparatus, method, and system for the design, administration and implementation of a lifestyle management program. The lifestyle management system maximizes contact and enrollment rates of traditional lifestyle management. This is accomplished through the creation of a system that combines telephonic-delivered lifestyle management (i.e. traditional lifestyle management) with work-site based... Agent: Morgan & Finnegan, L.L.P.

20080103370 - Systems and methods for medical data interchange activation: A method according to an aspect of the present invention includes activating a first device in response to an event, receiving data through a wired connection from a medical device by the first device, transmitting the data to a second device by the first device, and transmitting the data from... Agent: Squire Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080103372 - Power-supply starter apparatus for capsule-type medical device, start method of capsule-type medical device, and stop method of power supply for capsule-type medical device: A power-supply starter apparatus for a capsule-type medical device that includes a container case internally retaining a capsule-type medical device having at least a intra-subject information acquiring unit and a power switch for switching power supply to each unit including the intra-subject information acquiring unit, and a starter that has... Agent: Scully Scott Murphy & Presser, PC

20080103373 - Method and apparatus to compensate for melanin and hemoglobin variation in determination of a measure of a glycation end-product or disease state using tissue fluorescence: A method of determining a measure of a tissue state (e.g., glycation end-product or disease state) in an individual is disclosed. A portion of the skin of the individual is illuminated with excitation light, then light emitted by the tissue due to fluorescence of a chemical with the tissue responsive... Agent: V. Gerald Grafe, Esq.

20080103374 - Analyzer and cartridge for extracting analyte: An analyzer (a blood glucose meter), which shows minor measurement errors even in the case of conducting the extraction and detection of an analyte in parallel, can be obtained. This blood glucose meter (100) comprises a sensor unit (26) having a measurement face (26a) to which glucose extracted from a... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

20080103375 - Patient monitor user interface: A patient monitor is configured as a handheld device including a color display, a plurality of user activated soft keys adjacent the color display and a plurality of icons provided on the color display proximate and corresponding to the soft keys. The color display has multiple modes that provide multiple... Agent: Law Office Of Glenn R. Smith

20080103376 - Microelectronic biosensor plug: A plug capable of providing information relating to a physical or chemical property of a body fluid, or the presence or amount of a molecular component therein in a living organism is disclosed. Specifically, one embodiment plug is capable of being inserted into a portion of a human eyelid in... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20080103377 - System for performing diabetes self-care: A system for performing diabetes self-care using at least two devices in communication with one another, comprising (a) a blood glucose monitoring device, including (i) a receptacle for receiving an amount of blood sufficient for the monitoring device to run a blood glucose test sequence, (ii) processing circuitry for controlling... Agent: Health Hero Network, Inc.

20080103378 - Device for assessing perfusion failure in a patient by measurement of blood flow: A device is provided for assessing impairment of blood circulation in a patient, such as that in perfusion failure, by measurement of blood flow adjacent a mucosal surface accessible by a mouth or nose and connecting with the gastrointestinal tract or upper respiratory/digestive tract of a patient. The device includes... Agent: Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP

20080103380 - Diabetes care management system: A diabetes care management system for managing blood glucose levels associated with diabetes comprising a computing device and an insulin delivery device. The computing device generally includes (i) a memory comprising one or more optimal blood glucose values, one or more self care values of a patient, one or more... Agent: Health Hero Network, Inc.

20080103379 - Diabetes management system: A diabetes management system, comprising a glucose meter measuring blood glucose level data and a portable microprocessor-based unit in communication with the blood glucose meter such as to be capable of accessing the blood glucose level data. Input data corresponding to the blood glucose level data is used in a... Agent: Health Hero Network, Inc.

20080103381 - Method for measuring intraocular pressure: An intraocular pressure is measured by an apparatus, which includes a probe supported in the case, one coil (50) around the probe for giving the probe a specific velocity in order to bring the probe in contact with the surface of the eye, and another coil (60) for performing measurement... Agent: Fasth Law Offices (rolf Fasth)

20080103382 - Image display apparatus: An object of the present invention is to realize an image display apparatus which is capable of realizing a real-time display of an image based on a radio signal, and of coping with a case where a viewer such as a doctor overlooks an image. The image display apparatus includes... Agent: Scully, Scott, Murphy & Presser, P.C.

20080103383 - Selective mr imaging of segmented anatomy: A system and method for performing an MRI or MRS scan that is optimized for a particular target structure. A prescan is conducted during a first session in which an image that is optimized for segmentation is acquired along with an alignment scout image or a 2D or 3D navigator... Agent: Quarles & Brady LLP

20080103384 - Medical instrument and device for creating sectional tissue images: A medical instrument for introduction into the body of a living being is provided. The instrument including a first signal line and is connected for signal transmission to a signal detection device for generating sectional tissue images. Additionally, the instrument includes a second signal line for detection of fluorescence light.... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080103385 - Method and system for liver lobe segmentation and pre-operative surgical planning: A method and system is provided for image segmentation for liver objects. Segmentation is performed to obtain a first set of objects relating to liver. More than one types in association with one of the first set of objects are identified. Landmarks are identified based on the segmented first set... Agent: Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20080103386 - Method for generation of an image in contrast agent-supported mr angiography and magnetic resonance apparatus: In a method and apparatus for generation of an image in contrast agent-supported magnetic resonance angiography, a first data set is generated during an arterial phase of a distribution of a contrast agent in a vessel system by scanning of a first central k-space region, a second data set is... Agent: Schiff Hardin, LLP Patent Department

20080103387 - Breast cancer detection and biopsy:

20080103388 - Medical examination and/or treatment apparatus: There is described a medical examination and/or treatment apparatus with an electromagnet for generating a magnetic field for navigating a medical instrument and an x-ray device having an x-ray source and an x-ray detector attached to a bracket for visual control during the navigation, with the x-ray source and the... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080103389 - Method and system for automatic analysis of blood vessel structures to identify pathologies: A method of identifying a calcium and/or a soft plaque deposit in a blood vessel using imaging data of the blood vessel is provided. A first threshold is applied to a slice of three-dimensional imaging data of a blood vessel to define voxels above the first threshold. A maximum intensity... Agent: Foley & Lardner LLP

20080103390 - Apparatus and methods for fluorescence guided surgery: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for quantifying fluorescent distribution within a surgery site of a patient in an operating room, wherein the surgery site has been exposed for a surgery procedure. Excitation light is provided at each of a plurality of positions at the surgery site in a method embodiment.... Agent: Beyer Weaver LLP

20080103391 - Tomography by emission of positrons (pet) system: Tomography by emission of positrons (pet) system dedicated to examinations of human body parts such as the breast, axilla, head, neck, liver, heart, lungs, prostate region and other body extremities which is composed of at least two detecting plates (detector heads) with dimensions that are optimized for the breast, axilla... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20080103393 - Method and apparatus to produce ultrasonic images using multiple apertures: A combination of an ultrasonic scanner and an omnidirectional receive transducer for producing a two-dimensional image from the echoes received by the single omnidirectional transducer is described. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by additional transducers. These can be combined to produce images... Agent: Stainbrook & Stainbrook, LLP

20080103392 - Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes: a transmitting section, which drives a probe that transmits an ultrasonic wave toward a subject; a receiving section, which receives an ultrasonic echo, produced by getting the ultrasonic wave reflected by the subject, through the probe, thereby generating a received... Agent: Mark D. Saralino (mei) Renner, Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP

20080103394 - Phase inversion ultrasonic imaging: degrees providing for constructive interference of the kth order harmonic pulse, while an amplitude modulation of each transmit profile is constant between sets. These sets of pulses are transmitted into media of interest and received echoes from these pulses are combined to form an averaged signal. The averaged pulses represent... Agent: Carr & Ferrell LLP

20080103395 - Array type ultrasound probe, manufacturing method and driving method of array type ultrasound probe: An multi-channel array type ultrasound probe (search unit) disposed at least one-dimensionally, having: a plurality of sheet-shaped piezoelectric elements as transmission reception separation type complex piezoelectric element, wherein a material configuring a transmission piezoelectric element of the complex type piezoelectric element has an elastic coefficient of 10 Gpa to 100... Agent: Frishauf, Holtz, Goodman & Chick, PC

20080103396 - Method and apparatus for determination of a measure of a glycation end-product or disease state using tissue fluorescence: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus suitable for determining properties of in vivo tissue from spectral information collected from the tissue. An illumination system provides light at a plurality of broadband ranges, which are communicated to an optical probe. The optical probe receives light from the illumination system... Agent: V. Gerald Grafe, Esq.

20080103397 - System and method for deep vein thrombosis prevention and diagnosis: A system and method prevents and diagnoses deep vein thrombosis in a body limb by providing a pressure sleeve having a plurality of individually fillable cells, the pressure sleeve being configurable to be placed around a body limb. A source fills each fillable cell individually, and a pressure sensor measures... Agent: Gauthier & Connors, LLP

20080103398 - Pulse taking and spectral analysis and display instrument: A pulse taking and spectral analysis and display instrument comprises a movable device, a sensing device, a signal processing device, and a computer. The position of the sensing device in the Z-axis, Y-axis and X-axis directions can be adjusted by the moveable device, thus improving the degree of sensitivity and... Agent: Dr. Banger Shia

20080103399 - System and method for systolic interval analysis: A system and method provide for systolic interval analysis. In an example, an implantable device measures a cardiac impedance signal. A transformation of the cardiac impedance interval is generated. The device also measures a heart sound signal. A time interval between a point on the transformed signal of the cardiac... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080103400 - Method and apparatus for locating the fossa ovalis and performing transseptal puncture: A method of identifying the fossa ovalis in a patient by positioning one or more electrodes against the tissue of the interatrial septum of the patient and acquiring unipolar and/or bipolar electrograms of the tissue of the interatrial septum while moving the electrodes to a plurality of positions against the... Agent: Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP

20080103401 - Form parameter forecaster for analyzing signals distorted by noise: Waveform analysis is used to identify and distinguish components of a sensed input signal, such as P-wave and Far Field R-wave signal components present in a sensed cardiac signal, even when the components are so closely spaced in time that the overlap to create a distorted input signal. A set... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080103403 - Method and system for diagnosis of cardiac diseases utilizing neural networks: The present invention is directed to a method for diagnosing silent and/or symptomatic cardiac diseases in human patients, based on extracting and analyzing hidden factors or a combination of hidden and known factors of ECG signals. The diagnosis method employs rest-ECG signals of a group of diagnosed patients, the group... Agent: Alston & Bird LLP

20080103402 - Motion detection system for an external defibrillator: A medical device capable of analyzing a patient's ECG, such as an external defibrillator, may be operated according to a method including the steps of: (a) determining if the patient is undergoing motion; (b) if it is determined that the patient is undergoing motion, providing an indication of patient motion;... Agent: Mary Y. Redman Medtronic, Inc.

20080103404 - System and method for arrhythmia discrimination with atrial-ventricular dissociation: Ventricular arrhythmias are monitored and classified based upon various criteria. One criterion is PR dissociation which is determined by comparing the PR interval in a current RR cycle to a median PR value. If the current PR interval varies too far from the median, then dissociation is indicated. Often, there... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080103405 - Wireless, internet-based, medical diagnostic system: A system for monitoring a patient, including: a body-worn monitor having an electrical sensor that measures an electrical waveform from the patient and a wireless transmitter configured to receive the electrical waveform and transmit it over a wireless interface; a computer-based system configured to receive the electrical waveform from the... Agent: Wilmerhale/boston

20080103406 - Integrated system for managing patients with heart failure: An external heart sound sensor externally detects at least one heart sound from a patient, which information is used to automatically adjust one or more cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) or other control parameters of an implantable medical device, such as an implantable cardiac rhythm management device. An external telemetry circuit... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080103407 - Obstructive sleep apnea treatment devices, systems and methods: Devices, systems and methods for nerve stimulation for OSA therapy.... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20080103408 - Continuous intra-abdominal pressure monitoring urinary catheter with optional core temperature sensor: A device structured to generate an input signal to a monitor (201) to visually indicate a value for one or more physiological state variables measured by one or more transducers (203) associated with a medical patient. Preferred embodiments include a pressure transducer (195) placed in fluid communication with the patient's... Agent: Trask Britt

20080103409 - Methodology for developing a new approach for visual information cognition: A system and method defining a new approach to visual information cognition, and methodology for teaching individuals to use this information to attain vision and increase brain usage by bypassing the sensory organs typically used like eyesight for processing this information. The system and method enables individuals to develop a... Agent: Cooper & Dunham, LLP

20080103410 - Biopsy collection device: A method and device for removing tissue from a patient during a biopsy procedure utilizing a biopsy collection device are provided. The biopsy collection device includes a body portion configured for attachment to an endoscope and a receptacle portion configured to retain a portion of tissue removed from a target... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20080103411 - Device for biopsy of tumors: A device and method of use for securing and coring of tumors within the body during a biopsy of the tumor, specifically breast tumors. An adhesion probe for securing the tumor is described. The probe secures the tumor by piercing the tumor and providing a coolant to the distal tip... Agent: Crockett & Crockett

20080103412 - Removing tissue: Tissue can be removed from a patient with a catheter or other medical device having a cutting member. A source of suction can be coupled to the device for suctioning removed tissue through a lumen in the device and out of the patient's body.... Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group

20080103413 - Method for operating a biopsy device: A biopsy device is provided. The biopsy device can include a cutter which is advanced through a first portion of its stroke by a differential fluid pressure acting on a piston. A mechanical drive can be used to translate and rotate the cutter during tissue severing.... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080103414 - Absorbent article containing lateral flow assay device: An absorbent article that contains a lateral flow assay device for testing a bodily fluid, such as urine, blood, mucous, saliva, etc., is provided. The lateral flow assay device includes a chromatographic medium (e.g., porous membrane) that defines a detection zone that provides a signal indicative of the presence or... Agent: Dority & Manning, P.A.

20080103415 - Tape transport lance sampler: A lancet-sampler system is configured to automatically remove a protective cover from a lancet and automatically unpack a test pad just prior to use. This minimizes the risk of injury and reduces the chance of cross-contamination between the lancet and the test pad. The lancet defines a capillary groove for... Agent: Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, Mcnett & Henry LLP

20080103416 - Method of preventing nerve damage positional injury during surgery: A method of preventing nerve damage positional injury during surgery includes providing a nerve damage positional injury pressure monitoring system including a site sensor with a transducer in the form of a transducer element and a ring extending outward from the transducer element, and a monitor connected to the site... Agent: Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

20080097139 - Systems and methods for treating lung tissue: A system for treating lung tissue includes a tube having a distal end, an anchoring device secured to the tube, the anchoring device configured to anchor at least a portion of the tube against an esophagus, a trachea, or a bronchus; and an ablation device carried within a lumen of... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20080097141 - K-ring electromagnetic treatment apparatus, system and method for tumors, arthritis and other ailments: A magnetic field therapy apparatus for treating biological subjects including a first bobbin and first coil, a second bobbin and second coil, wherein said second bobbin is concentrically confined by the first bobbin, where the second bobbin has a hollow interior region adapted for receipt therein of a portion of... Agent: Morgan & Finnegan, L.L.P.

20080097142 - Magnetic field generator, method of generating a pulsed sinusoidal magnetic wave and magnetic field generator system: The invention generally relates to a magnetic field generator. The magnetic field generator has a power source and a microcontroller in electrical communication with the power source. A coil is also provided that is in electrical communication with the microcontroller. The coil generates a pulsed magnetic wave of an alternating... Agent: Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott

20080097144 - Apparatus for collection of oocytes: An oocyte aspirator assembly for use in in vitro fertilization procedures includes a vacuum source for creating a vacuum in the assembly. The assembly also includes valve mechanisms to selectively vary the intensity of the vacuum created in the assembly between at least two levels, one of which is at... Agent: William W. Jones

20080097146 - Cardiac support device with low friction delivery structures: A cardiac support device that can be efficiently implanted on a patient's heart. The cardiac support device includes a jacket for constraining cardiac expansion and one or more lubricious elements releasably secured with respect to an inside surface of the jacket.... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080097140 - Products and methods for brachytherapy: A radioactive member for use in brachytherapy comprising a hollow elongate bioabsorbable suture member with radioactive seeds and spacer members without different coloration and diameter from the radioactive seeds alternately disposed therein, and methods for the manufacture and the use thereof. The radioactive members may be used in the treatment... Agent: Ge Healthcare, Inc.

20080097143 - Side-vented microcradle for prenidial incubator: The invention relates to an incubator for babies. It is of special value for the treatment of premature infants as an intensive care unit at any time during life from creation to implantation. A cradle is sided with ports to enable fluidic ventilation. Advantageously the incubator includes an optical path... Agent: E Califorrniaa

20080097145 - Heatless blood vessel harvesting device: A method and device are disclosed directed at harvesting of vessels, such as arteries and veins, especially as required in vessel grafting procedures. The device and method discloses a cannula-like device that provides, identification, capture, manipulation, hemostasis and cleavage of branch vessels from the harvested vessel without need for further... Agent: Richard L. Strauss, Esq.

20080097148 - Method and device for percutaneous left ventricular reconstruction: A method for reducing left ventricular volume, which comprises identifying infarcted tissue during open chest surgery; reducing left ventricle volume while preserving the ventricular apex; and realigning the ventricular apex, such that the realigning step comprises closing the lower or apical portion of said ventricle to achieve appropriate functional contractile... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080097147 - Method for making an interior ventricular patch: A method for making an inferior ventricular patch includes the steps of providing a piece of sheet material having a central area and a circumferential area surrounding the central area, the sheet material made of at least one of pericardium, dacron, fascia, and a mammalium tissue; providing a ring with... Agent: Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

20080097151 - Endoscope processor and endoscope system: An endoscope processor comprising a touch-panel monitor, a location detector, a touch-panel image generator, and a location-changer, is provided. The endoscope processor displays an image of a target area with enlargement on a monitor. The target area is a part of a captured entire image. The location detector detects an... Agent: Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C

20080097149 - Method for in vivo sensing: A method for in vivo sensing of a body lumen such as a lumen in the upper GI tract is provided. The method may include, for example, inserting a sensing device into a subject's body lumen, positioning the subject in a horizontal or other suitable position, and receiving data transmitted... Agent: Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer, LLP

20080097150 - Medical image processing apparatus and medical image processing method: An image conversion section performs geometric conversion on a medical image resulting from the pickup of a tubular part in vivo, and a developed-view output section outputs the converted image obtained by the image conversion section to a display device as an image of a developed view.... Agent: Thomas Spinelli Scully, Scott, Murphy & Presser

20080097152 - Braided endoscope accessories: A braided device for use with an endoscope having a selectively lockable braided flexible tube. The braided device may have cables disposed along side the braided flexible tube and capable, upon their retraction, of bending the braided device at a region along its length and holding it at a desired... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080097153 - Method and apparatus for grasping an abdominal wall: A method of delivering a tool to a peritoneal cavity including the following steps: inserting a guidewire percutaneously through an abdominal wall into a stomach; pulling the abdominal wall away from the stomach; and guiding a distal end of an endoscope with the guidewire through a wall of the stomach... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080097154 - Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear nose and throat: Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, including methods and apparatus for dilating ostia, passageways and other anatomical structures, endoscopic methods and apparatus for endoscopic visualization of structures within the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, navigation devices for use in conjunction with... Agent: Stout, Uxa, Buyan & Mullins LLP

20080097156 - Camera calibration for endoscope navigation system: A scope navigation apparatus, method and a program embodied computer readable medium for navigating a scope end that is to be inserted into an object. The scope end includes at least one sensor that senses a spatial location of the scope end. An image pickup device records one or more... Agent: Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C

20080097155 - Surgical instrument path computation and display for endoluminal surgery: An endoscopic surgical navigation system comprises a path correlation module that can compute the path taken by an endoscope scope or other medical instrument during endoscopic medical procedure and various related attributes and parameters, and can compute and display a correlation between two paths.... Agent: Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman

20080097157 - Sterile transcolonic access device: Devices and methods useful for transluminally accessing a body cavity are disclosed. In one embodiment, a transluminal access device adapted to be inserted through a body lumen is provided and can include an inner shaft having an opening at its distal end and adapted to be positioned adjacent to an... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20080097158 - Noise suppression system and method in catheter pullback and rotation system: An optical catheter system comprising an intraluminal catheter that provides optical signals to a patient and carries optical signals from the patient, an outer housing, and an inner carriage that moves longitudinally relative to the outer housing and rotates relative to the outer housing during operation when the catheter system... Agent: Houston Eliseeva

20080097159 - Endoscopic treatment instrument and treatment instrument apparatus for endoscope: An endoscopic treatment instrument includes: a long tube body to be inserted into a body cavity, including a flexible member; a first bending portion provided to a distal end part of the tube body, for bending the tube body with respect to an axial direction; a second bending portion provided... Agent: Scully Scott Murphy & Presser, PC

20080097160 - Method for producing an endoscope, and such an endoscope: A method for producing an endoscope that comprises an endoscope head and an optic tube, comprises the steps of providing the endoscope head, providing the optic tube, and pushing a proximal end area of the optic tube into a distal end area of the endoscope head. The distal end area... Agent: St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens, LLC

20080097161 - Semi-flexible electronic laryngoscope bendable upwardly and downwardly: Disclosed herein is a semi-flexible electronic laryngoscope comprising in one body a photographing part which can observe the larynx inside the oral cavity with a self-lamination, a flexure part which bends the photographing part upwardly and downwardly by a rotation member that is connected to the photographing part and located... Agent: The Webb Law Firm, P.C.

20080097163 - Retractor: A retractor (101) for retracting the margins of a wound opening (103) comprises an inner anchoring O-ring (105) attached to a cylindrical sleeve (106) at a distal end and a reinforcing O-ring (109) attached to a proximal end of the sleeve (106). The sleeve (106) is led between an inner... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20080097162 - Surgical device for retracting and/or sealing an incision: A wound protector retractor comprises an inner O-ring for insertion through a wound opening and a connecting sleeve extending between the O-ring and outer mounting means. The outer means are provided by rings between which the sleeve is led. The rings are rotated relative to each other and the inner... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20080097164 - Surgical access system and related methods: A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative... Agent: Jonathan Spangler Nu Vasive, Inc.

20080097168 - Medical workstation with a therapy module: A medical workstation has a control and display unit (1) connected to a patient monitor module (2) via a communications line (5). The medical workstation has an interface accessible to the user for connecting a therapy module (3). The control and display unit (1) has a microprocessor and the therapy... Agent: Mcglew & Tuttle, PC

20080097165 - System and method for determining an optimal surgical trajectory: A method and corresponding system for calculating an optimum surgical trajectory or path for displacing a surgical instrument through the interior of the body of a patient. Upon obtaining a volumetric scan of a patient, such as a CT scan, the surgeon can identify and assign weight values indicating a... Agent: Flynn, Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C.

20080097167 - System and method for displaying a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug model: A system and method for displaying a pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics drug model for a patient is provided. A monitor is arranged to detect a quantity of anesthetic agent provided to a patient by an anesthesia machine. A display is provided for displaying real-time pharmacokinetics data associated with the quantity of anesthetic agent... Agent: Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall, LLP

20080097166 - System and method of safely displaying pk/pd anesthetic drug models: The system and method includes a treatment device such as an anesthetic machine or IV, a monitor and a display configured to display real-time PK/PD data associated with an anesthetic agent administered to the patient. The system and method further includes a safety control means configured to control the display... Agent: Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall, LLP

20080097169 - Breast feeding quantification: Presented is a method for quantifying breastfeeding between a mother and a baby, the method including measuring a physiological volume indicative of stomach fullness volume for the baby; setting a signal threshold value of the physiological volume to correspond to a stomach level that is less than or equal to... Agent: Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc. Catherine E. Wolf

20080097170 - Blood glucose monitoring system: A blood glucose monitoring system, comprising (i) a blood glucose monitor for monitoring a blood glucose level and for producing digitally encoded blood glucose level signals representative of the blood glucose level, (ii) a programmable microprocessor-based portable unit, (iii) digital data storage media tangibly embodying therein processor-executable program instructions to... Agent: Health Hero Network, Inc.

20080097171 - Silicon microprobe with integrated biosensor: Microprobe device 10 provides an analyte signal from biosensor 12 to an external analyte meter indicating analyte presence in an analyte-containing bodily fluid of a subject (not shown).... Agent: Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman

20080097173 - Measuring tissue oxygenation: Methods and systems for calculating tissue oxygenation, e.g., oxygen saturation, in a target tissue are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include: (a) directing incident radiation to a target tissue and determining reflectance spectra of the target tissue by measuring intensities of reflected radiation from the target tissue at a... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20080097172 - Sensor unit and biosensor: A highly miniaturized biosensor and a sensor unit, which can meet a demand for further miniaturization. With this invention, miniaturization is possible, and the number of production steps including those for assembling individual parts can be reduced. Accordingly, mass production will be possible, and cost reduction and high reliability will... Agent: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.

20080097174 - Determination of a measure of a glycation end-product or disease state using tissue fluorescence lifetime: A method of determining a measure of a tissue state (e.g., glycation end-product or disease state) in an individual. A portion of the tissue of the individual is illuminated with excitation light, then light emitted by the tissue due to fluorescence of a chemical with the tissue responsive to the... Agent: V. Gerald Grafe, Esq.

20080097175 - System and method for display control of patient monitor: Embodiments of the present invention relate to monitoring systems. One embodiment includes a monitoring system comprising a monitor configured to receive input relating to patient physiological parameters and to store historical data related to the parameters. Further, the system comprises a screen configured to display the historical data corresponding to... Agent: CovidienIPCounsel - Respiratory & Monitoring Solutions

20080097177 - System and method for user interface and identification in a medical device: There are provided systems and methods for user interface and identification in a medical device. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a pulse oximeter comprising a main unit configured to perform a medical function, and a display coupled to the main unit, the display configured to detect external... Agent: CovidienIPCounsel - Respiratory & Monitoring Solutions

20080097176 - User interface and identification in a medical device systems and methods: There are provided systems and methods for user interface and identification in a medical device. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided medical system comprising a main unit configured to perform a medical function, the main unit comprising a wireless receiver, wherein the main unit is configured to execute... Agent: CovidienIPCounsel - Respiratory & Monitoring Solutions

20080097178 - Wireless, internet-based, medical diagnostic system: A system for monitoring a patient's vital signs that features a vital-sign monitor including sensors for measuring from the patient at least one of the following vital-sign data: O2 saturation, blood pressure, electro-cardiogram, respirator rate, and blood glucose level. The system also includes a global positioning system that determines location-based... Agent: Wilmerhale/boston

20080097179 - Feeding tube system with reflux fluid sensing: Embodiments of a feeding tube system of the present invention provide a feeding tube that provides for monitoring whether it has detected reflux fluid which could potentially lead to serious medical conditions, such as, in the case of a nasogastric tube used for enteral feeding, aspiration of tube feeding into... Agent: Paul J. Fordenbacher Silicon Forest Patent Group

20080097180 - Diabetes care management system: A medical device for diabetes management, comprising (a) a memory comprising one or more optimal blood glucose values, one or more insulin dose values of a patient, one or more measured blood glucose values, and one or more scaling factors for weighting the impact on a future blood glucose value... Agent: Health Hero Network, Inc.

20080097181 - Diabetes management system: A method of diabetes management, comprising (a) providing a remote communications unit in communication with a portable microprocessor-based unit; (b) transmitting blood glucose level data into the portable microprocessor-based unit or the remote unit, or both; (c) running a program of instructions on the portable microprocessor-based unit or on the... Agent: Health Hero Network, Inc.

20080097182 - Device for hemorrhage detection: A device for hemorrhage detection comprising a detecting means for detecting the presence of blood, said detecting means being connected to a fixing means. The fixing means is fixed to the inner wall of a hollow organ. The device further has a transmitting unit by which the data transmitted by... Agent: Calfee Halter & Griswold, LLP

20080097185 - Hemoglobin contrast in ultrasound and optical coherence tomography for diagnosing diseased tissue, cancers, and the like: A novel contrast mechanism for diagnosing diseased tissue using Ultrasound, Doppler Ultrasonography, Optical Coherence Tomography, or optical Doppler tomography coupled with an externally applied temporally oscillating high-strength magnetic field.... Agent: Needle & Rosenberg, P.C.

20080097184 - Magnetically driven dynamic phantom: A phantom according to the invention features a radiotransmissive vessel and a removable closure member, which together define a sealed chamber. A non-magnetic support member extends through a wall of the chamber—preferably through the closure member—and supports a hollow container within the sealed chamber. The support member is pivotally supported... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080097183 - Passive in vivo substance spectroscopy: Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, systems and/or devices for passive in vivo substance spectroscopy are disclosed.... Agent: Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.l.l.c.

20080097186 - System for determining diagnostic indications: System for determining diagnostic indications which system comprises: at least an apparatus for acquiring diagnostic images; and image processing means for recognizing and measuring qualitative, quantitative, morphologic and/or dynamic characteristics of one or more objects reproduced in acquired images by pixels, or voxels or image data thereof characterized in that... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20080097188 - External sensing systems and methods for gastric restriction devices: Methods and apparatus for quantifying the amount or rate of magnetically susceptible fluid within a gastric lumen are described. In one aspect, a magnetic sensor located external to the patient is configured to detect a quantity of fluid disposed within the gastric lumen. The quantity of fluid may include fluid... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20080097187 - System for navigating a planned procedure within a body: An apparatus can be used to navigate a planned procedure. The plan for the procedure can be based on various elements, such as anatomical landmarks that can be used to determine anatomical targets of a patient.... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080097189 - Combined mr imaging and tracking: A novel method and system for employing device tracking with a magnetic resonance imaging system. In accordance with one aspect of the present technique, a method for tracking the location of a device and generating an image using magnetic resonance imaging includes applying a combined imaging and tracking pulse sequence,... Agent: General Electric Company (pcpi) C/o Fletcher Yoder

20080097190 - Slitted marker: A surgical instrument, in particular a marking instrument for marking body tissue, in particular tumor tissue, comprising a hollow needle for insertion into body tissue which encloses a lumen which is radially delimited by an inside wall of the hollow needle and which has an open mouth at the distal... Agent: Ware Fressola Van Der Sluys & Adolphson, LLP

20080097191 - Method for multiplexed mr tracking: The present technique provides a novel method and apparatus for magnetic resonance device tracking. In one aspect of the present technique, a plurality of magnetic resonance tracking signals are acquired in response to a corresponding plurality of pulse sequences, wherein the plurality of magnetic resonance tracking signals are acquired from... Agent: Patrick S. Yoder Fletcher Yoder

20080097192 - Mr head coil: An MR head coil has a helmet-shaped coil housing and an arrangement of a number of first antenna elements mounted on the coil housing. The helmet-shaped coil housing is shaped such that it completely frees the field of view of a patient, and second antenna elements or antenna element parts... Agent: Schiff Hardin, LLP Patent Department

20080097193 - Mri systems having mri compatible universal delivery cannulas with cooperating mri antenna probes and related systems and methods: In vivio deep brain medical probe systems include: (a) an NMRI compatible cannula comprising a plurality of concentric axially extending tubes with a receiving bore; and (b) an elongate antenna member with a conductor and an insulating layer configured to slidably advance through cannula bore to define an MRI receive... Agent: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec

20080097194 - Hemoglobin contrast in magneto-motive optical doppler tomography, optical coherence tomography, and ultrasound imaging methods and apparatus: A novel contrast mechanism for imaging blood flow using magneto-motive optical Doppler tomography (MM-ODT), Optical Coherence Tomography, and Ultrasound. MM-ODT, OCT, and ultrasound combined with an externally applied temporally oscillating high-strength magnetic field detects erythrocytes moving according to the field gradient.... Agent: Rosenbaum & Associates, P.C.

20080097195 - Method and apparatus for performing stereotactic surgery: A stereotactic navigation system for navigating an instrument to a target within a patient may include a stereotactic head frame, an imaging device, a tracking device, a controller and a display. The stereotactic head frame is coupled to the patient and is used to assist in guiding the instrument to... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080097196 - Prediction methods and apparatus: A method includes predicting a contrast bolus arrival time, and performing at least one of the following: a) automatically switching from a monitor phase to a scan phase at the predicted arrival time; and b) prompting a user to began a scan at the predicted arrival time.... Agent: Fisher Patent Group, LLC

20080097200 - Location and display of occluded portions of vessels on 3-d angiographic images: A method of finding the location of an occluded portion of a blood vessel relative to a three-dimensional angiographic image of a subject's vasculature includes identifying the location of the occluded portion of the blood vessel on each of a series of displayed two dimensional images derived from the three... Agent: Bryan K. Wheelock

20080097198 - Lymph node detector: A sentinel lymph node detecting apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a light source unit 2, illuminating an excitation light 10 and an illumination light 11 onto a biological observation location 20 that includes a sentinel lymph node 21 near a tumor, into which a... Agent: Drinker Biddle & Reath (dc)

20080097197 - Modeling of pharmaceutical propagation: A method of modeling propagation of a pharmaceutical fluid in a patient, includes: collecting data corresponding to a time response curve resulting from injection of the fluid; and determining at least one mathematical model describing the data. The mathematical model can, for example, be a model which is not determined... Agent: Gregory L Bradley Medrad Inc

20080097199 - Tissue marking devices and systems: A marker for marking a site within the body of a mammalian patient is positioned within the tissue of a patient. The marker may be placed in the first instance by a needle or the like or placed where a tissue sample has been removed. The marker has a plurality... Agent: Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20080097204 - Method and system for generating 3d ultrasound image data and viewing media: According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of providing 3D data sets for stand-alone use includes providing a 3D viewing program on a computer readable media and providing at least one 3D data set on the same computer readable media, wherein responsive to a computer activation of... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080097202 - Method for performing elastography: A method for performing elastography is provided, comprising the following steps. First, emitting a first coded signal towards tissue and recording an echoed signal in response. Next, applying a strain on the tissue, such as a compression or an expansion. Then, emitting a second coded signal towards the tissue under... Agent: Marsh, Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP

20080097203 - Standardized digital image viewing with ambient light control: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which produces images in accordance with a display standard such as the DICOM standard. The DICOM standard images may be exported and reproduced on other display devices such as workstations and film or image printers. The standardized images produced by the system are... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080097201 - System and method for amplifying transmit waveforms generated by an ultrasonic system: An ultrasonic imaging system (100) having an ultrasonic probe (110) which improves poor harmonic performance of existing transmit circuits through the use of a linear high-voltage transmit amplifier (129) on each sub-channel to amplify low-voltage arbitrary shape transmit waveforms generated by the ultrasonic system (100) is presented. The linear high-voltage... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080097205 - Medical diagnostic imaging system, information processing method for medical diagnostic imaging system, ultrasonic imaging diagnostic apparatus, and operation device: Provided is a medical diagnostic imaging system in which user information can be easily and efficiently moved (transferred) among a plurality of ultrasonic imaging diagnostic apparatuses. The medical diagnostic imaging system includes: a plurality of ultrasonic imaging diagnostic apparatuses each including a recording unit for recording user information registered by... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080097206 - Enhanced contrast agent augmented ultrasound thrombus treatment: Contrast agents may more effectively clear a clot if they are as close to the clot as possible. Radiation force may effectively push and/or pull the contrast agents next to the clot and away from the middle of any flow channels. By transmitting driving acoustic energy, the contrast agents may... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080097207 - Ultrasound therapy monitoring with diagnostic ultrasound: The therapeutic ultrasound waveform is used as a source of stress or ARFI pushing pulse. When the therapeutic ultrasound waveform ceases, diagnostic ultrasound is used to measure the strain, such as measuring tissue displacement. The displacement over time after release of the stress indicates tissue characteristics. The tissue characteristics may... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080097208 - Ultrasonic observing apparatus, control method for ultrasonic observing apparatus, ultrasonic observing system and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus: An ultrasonic observing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a machine-side connector receptacle, an electronics-side connector receptacle, a mechanical echo signal detecting unit for detecting an echo signal obtained by receiving waves in a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe connecting to the machine-side connector receptacle, an electronic echo signal detecting... Agent: Thomas Spinelli Scully, Scott, Murphy & Presser

20080097209 - Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method for measuring a size of a target object: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus for providing on a display an ultrasound image including a target object and a pointer movable on the ultrasound image, comprises: an ultrasound image providing unit configured to provide an ultrasound image including a target object; a contour line extracting unit configured to extract a contour... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080097210 - Ultrasonic diagnosis of ischemic cardiodisease: A diagnostic imaging method and ultrasound system are described for detecting abnormalities of the left ventricle of the heart. A sequence of images including the mitral valve is acquired and processed to identify the location of the mitral valve in each of the images in the sequence. A graphic is... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080097211 - Ultrasonic method and apparatus for assessment of bone: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for non-invasive bone evaluation based on a broadband ultrasonic transducer emitting a train of ultrasonic wave packets of multiple carrier frequencies ranging from about 50 kHz to about 2 MHz. Receiving broadband ultrasonic transducer accepts broadband ultrasonic signal propagated through the bone. Computer processing means... Agent: Boris Leschinsky

20080097212 - Automatic identification of orientation in medical diagnostic ultrasound: Orientation is automatically identified in medical diagnostic ultrasound image. An area or volume based process, such as region shrinking or using locations associated with flow or tissue structure, determines a direction or orientation. Real-time imaging in B-mode and/or flow mode may be enhanced based on the direction or orientation.... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20080097213 - Echogenic medical device and method of forming echogenic surface: Medical devices are made visible under ultrasonic or magnetic imaging techniques by adding a series of features on their surfaces. The features are desirably placed at more than one angle to the surface in order to enhance the visibility of the surface. Laser-machining can make a series of depressions or... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20080097214 - Ophthalmic ultrasound probe assembly: An ultrasonic probe assembly comprises a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a linear motor assembly, a swivel base, and an extension arm disposed therewithin. An imaging transducer is mounted on a free end of the extension arm and is specifically adapted to be moved along an arcuate path... Agent: Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker

20080097216 - Transducer with shield: A physical shield placed on the face of a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer for medical applications is described. The shield may be shaped or angled to match a particular pattern of mechanical or acoustic energy that may damage the transducer during operation. The shield may be ablative, replaceable or... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew LLP Liposonix, Inc.

20080097215 - Ultrasonic probe with finger shelf: A cuff fitting around an ultrasonic probe provides a shelf that may receive forces from the sonographer's fingers without requiring increased gripping by the sonographer.... Agent: Boyle Fredrickson S.c.

20080097217 - Ultrasound, probe, ultraonograph, and ultrasonigraphy: A non-invasive (having sufficiently small diameter so as not to give much pain to a subject) ultrasonic ultrasound probe of high spatial resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio, an ultrasonograph using the probe, and an ultrasonography are provided. The ultrasound probe is inserted into the tissue under examination and transmits an... Agent: Lowe Hauptman Ham & Berner, LLP

20080097218 - Blood vessel puncture locating apparatus and method: An apparatus is disclosed for accurately locating a puncture in a blood vessel, the puncture being below a skin surface of a patient and accessible via an incision. The apparatus includes a probe sized for insertion through the incision and having a proximal portion including a proximal end and a... Agent: Miller, Matthias & Hull

20080097219 - Thermographic assessment of clostridial toxin applications: The present specification relates to methods for assessing the physiological activity of a target site being evaluated for potential administration of a Clostridial toxin, methods for administering a Clostridial toxin to a particular target site, methods for assessing the effect of an administration of a Clostridial toxin in a mammal... Agent: Allergan, Inc.

20080097220 - Apparatus and method for monitoring early formation of steam pop during ablation: A system and method that enable real-time optical measurements of tissue reflection spectral characteristics while performing ablation, involves the radiation of tissue and recapturing of light from the tissue to monitor changes in the reflected optical intensity as an indicator of steam formation in the tissue for prevention of steam... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20080097222 - Composition, method, system, and kit for optical electrophysiology: The present invention provides a method of optical electrophysiological probing, including: providing a fluorescing chemical probe; contacting a thick portion of tissue with the fluorescing chemical probe to create a thick portion of treated tissue; applying a first range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to the treated portion of tissue;... Agent: Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts

20080097221 - Optical in-vivo monitoring systems: Systems for highly efficient, in-vivo collection of modulated infra-red light are presented. Specifically, these devices are arranged in an important format with a view to integration with a wristwatch or other wearable device. An optical aperture of large surface area, specially distributed in an annular ring, receives radiation having been... Agent: Integrity Ip

20080097225 - Apparatus and method for obtaining and providing imaging information associated with at least one portion of a sample, and effecting such portion(s): Exemplary apparatus and process can be provided for imaging information associated with at least one portion of a sample. For example, (i) at least two first different wavelengths of at least one first electro-magnetic radiation can be provided within a first wavelength range provided on the portion of the sample... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney LLP Intellectual Property Department

20080097224 - Manual and motor driven optical pullback and rotation system and method: An optical catheter system comprising an intraluminal catheter that provides optical signals to a patient and carries optical signals from the patient, an outer housing, and an inner carriage that moves longitudinally relative to the outer housing and rotates relative to the outer housing during operation when the catheter system... Agent: Houston Eliseeva

20080097223 - Optical catheter carriage interlock system and method: An optical catheter system comprising an intraluminal catheter that provides optical signals to a patient and carries optical signals from the patient, an outer housing, and an inner carriage that moves longitudinally relative to the outer housing and rotates relative to the outer housing during operation when the catheter system... Agent: Houston Eliseeva

20080097226 - Evaluation of cardiac function using left ventricular pressure during lvad support: A method and apparatus for determination of cardiac function by monitoring left ventricular (LV) pressure and varying ventricular assist device (VAD) speed, utilizes a relationship of the end-diastolic LV pressure (LVEDP) to an estimate of LV work calculated from the LV pressure signal by the triple product (TP): dp/dtmax*HR*LVSP, wherein... Agent: Roetzel & Andress

20080097227 - Method and system for remote hemodynamic monitoring: A cardiac sensor system includes implanted cardiac sensor assemblies and an external controller which receives information from the implanted sensors. The sensors permit direct measurement of a number of physiologic parameters. The external controller permits calculation of a variety of performance values based on the measured physiological parameters. Optionally, patient... Agent: Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP (proteus Biomedical, Inc)

20080097228 - Blood pressure meter: A blood-pressure meter having storing means for storing a blood pressure measurement result, and time measurement means for measuring a time is disclosed. The blood-pressure meter includes: input means for entering behavior history; means for storing the blood pressure measurement result into the storing means while associating the blood pressure... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080097229 - Hygroscopic treatment for degenerating discs: Early treatment for a degenerated disc includes identifying a non-ruptured, dehydrated disc. A hygroscopic agent is then selected. This agent should pull water towards itself and have a hygroscopic compound with a molecular weight of at least 400 Daltons. Additionally, it may be desirable to selected hygroscopic compounds that are... Agent: Fox Rothschild, LLP

20080097230 - Methods of diagnosis using pulse volume measurement: The utility of pulse volume measurement is expanded to detection of many conditions which have previously not been detected or have been detected using more complicated techniques. Such conditions include blood loss, septic shock, cardiogenic shock, neonatal sepsis, patent ductus arteriosus, limb ischemia, intra-aortic balloon pump performance, peripheral vascular disease,... Agent: Blank Rome LLP

20080097231 - Cardiac event monitoring system: A cardiac event monitoring system includes a base unit including a base connector, a wearable electrode system, and a plug-in adapter. The wearable electrode system includes a cable, an electrode at one end of the cable, and a cable connector at the other end of the cable. The cable connector... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20080097232 - Method of locating the tip of a central venous catheter: The invention includes a method of locating a tip of a central venous catheter (“CVC”) having a distal and proximal pair of electrodes disposed within the superior vena cava, right atrium, and/or right ventricle. The method includes obtaining a distal and proximal electrical signal from the distal and proximal pair... Agent: Davis Wright Tremaine LLP/los Angeles

20080097233 - Method and apparatus for estimating a paco2 value for a patient subject to extra corporeal circulation: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for estimating a PaCO2 value for a patient subject to extracorporeal circulation by means of an oxygenator. The method comprises the steps of measuring a PexCO2 value in the exhaust gas of the oxygenator and the patient's arterial blood temperature value... Agent: Christian D. Abel

20080097234 - System and method for detecting respiratory events: A method for determining the respiratory flow of a patient receiving bi-level respiratory therapy is provided. The method may include measuring the total air flow through a breathing area at a time approximately when the patient has completed exhalation, measuring the pressure in the breathing area, determining a constant representing... Agent: Baker Botts L.L.P. Patent Department

20080097235 - Subjective significance evaluation tool, brain activity based: A method and system for determining the subjective state of mind of a human subject presented with a test audible or visual stimulus. An electroencephalogram (EEG) recording unit is connected to the human subject, recording the subject's EEG when presented with one or more test stimuli. The recorded EEG signal... Agent: Browdy And Neimark, P.l.l.c. 624 Ninth Street, Nw

20080097236 - Apparatus for detecting tactile sensitivity: An apparatus for helping to determine tactile sensitivity of a patient includes a housing and a probe supported by the housing and having a probe tip. The probe is adapted for selective longitudinal movement relative to the housing between a first probe position, wherein the probe tip is substantially extended... Agent: Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.L.P.

20080097237 - Method and system for detection of a cerebrovascular accident: An embodiment of the invention relates to a wireless attachment device, having an attachment section configured for attachment to a patient; an audio device configured to pick up pressure waves from the patient's brain and output data represention of the pressure waves; and a wireless transmitter connected to the audio... Agent: Intel Corporation C/o Darby & Darby P.C.

20080097238 - Colorectal cell sampling device: The present invention relates to a device for collecting a sample of exfoliated cells from a colorectal mucosal surface of a human subject which comprises a colorectal insertion member (1) having a distal, insertion end (2), a proximal end (34) and a closable interior cavity (3), a flexible membrane having... Agent: Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.c.

20080097239 - Devices, systems and methods for treating disorders of the ear, nose and throat: Sinusitis, mucocysts, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, choanal atresia, fractures and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, Eustachian tubes, Lachrymal ducts and other ear, nose, throat and mouth structures are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson - Acclarent, Inc.

20080097240 - Method of determining the concentration of an analyte in a body fluid and system therefor: A method of obtaining a body fluid sample for determining the concentration of an analyte in the body fluid sample comprises applying pressure to the skin of the user. The skin is stretched so as to create a tear in the skin such that the applied pressure causes the body... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20080097241 - Sampling device: This invention provides devices and methods for obtaining a sample.... Agent: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

20080097242 - Disposable blood sampling device: A disposable blood sampling device is disclosed herein, which includes a plunger, a rubber stopper, a barrel, a sealing member, a needle holder, a protection sleeve, an anticoagulant storing tube and a needle sheath. In use, the disposable blood sampling device is deconstructed by removing each component therefrom and is... Agent: Lin & Associates Intellectual Property, Inc.

20080097243 - Hollow needle assembly: Some embodiments of the invention provide a needle with a sharp open end and a blunt open end, housed in a barrel with an open anterior end and an open posterior end. The barrel can travel along the hub of the needle, for extending the needle for insertion into a... Agent: Bereskin And Parr

20080097245 - Apparatus for fetal scalp blood sampling: The invention relates to an apparatus for fetal scalp blood sampling, having a shaft, a blade that is mounted removably in the distal end of the shaft and that can be slid by means of a positioning mechanism between a starting position mounted in the and a working position extending... Agent: St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens, LLC

20080097244 - Test unit for carrying out a one-time testing of a body fluid: The invention concerns a test unit for carrying out blood analyses comprising a lancing element that can be pricked into a body part which has a capillary channel for transporting the body fluid that leads from a lancing member to a target site. According to the invention a pretensioned distal... Agent: Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, Mcnett & Henry LLP

20080097246 - Method and system for providing an integrated analyte sensor insertion device and data processing unit: Method and apparatus for providing an integrated analyte sensor and data processing unit assembly is provided.... Agent: Jackson & Co., LLP

20080097248 - Mechanical honing of metallic tubing for soldering in a medical device construction: Medical devices and methods for manufacturing medical devices. An example manufacturing method includes providing a metallic tubular member having a inner surface with a metal oxide layer disposed thereon, mechanically scoring and/or removing a portion of the metal oxide layer to create a bonding zone along the inner surface, and... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20080097247 - Medical device including structure for crossing an occlusion in a vessel: Medical devices comprising a tubular member are disclosed, where the tubular member can have thread members disposed on a distal portion of the tubular member. If the medical device encounters an occlusion, the medical device can be rotated, which can allow the thread members to engage and penetrate the occlusion,... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20080097249 - External sensing system for gastric restriction devices: Methods and apparatus useful for monitoring fluid flow past a gastric restriction device using noninvasive means are described. Some methods involve the use of acoustic energy, e.g., Doppler ultrasound, to monitor the passage of fluid past the restriction device, and apparatus to detect the acoustic energy. In some embodiments the... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20080097250 - Biological information measuring panel, and biological information measuring device: A biological information measuring panel 1 has an elastically flexible laying plate portion 2 to be disposed below a subject. A strain detecting sensor D is attached to the laying plate portion 2. Strain changes of the laying plate portion 2 generated in accordance with biological activities of the subject... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080091057 - Method and apparatus for passive left atrial support: One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a patch for attachment to a heart having a left atrium which includes a coronary sulcus, a line of reflection between the oblique and transverse pericardial sinuses, and left and right pulmonary veins, the patch sized to have a first edge portion... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080091058 - Urethral sling implantation using needle sheaths: Instruments for implanting a urethral sling in female patients, and a better technique for implanting the sling, are disclosed. Porcine small intestine submucosa is processed into a sturdy yet assimilable sling for supporting a urethra of a female patient. The sling is implanted using ligature carriers and sheaths to minimize... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20080091055 - 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: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20080091056 - Deflectable implantation device and method for use: Systems, apparatus, components and methods are disclosed that allow the clinician to circumvent the pubic arch in instances where it interferes with insertion of instrumentation into the prostate or periprostatic tissue. The systems, apparatus and components disclosed herein employ structures, such as needles and trocars, of shape memory alloys, such... Agent: Patrea L. Pabst Pabst Patent Group LLP

20080091059 - Devices, systems, and methods for reshaping a heart valve annulus, including the use of a bridge implant having an adjustable bridge stop: Implants or systems of implants and methods apply a selected force vector or a selected combination of force vectors within or across the left atrium, which allow mitral valve leaflets to better coapt. The implants or systems of implants and methods make possible rapid deployment, facile endovascular delivery, and full... Agent: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080091060 - Feminine hydro-therapeutic massage device: A portable hydro massage device for submersion in a body of water containing a female user, i.e. a bathtub, provides a local massage to the labium region and a focused stimulant to the female user's clitoris thereby resulting in a superior sensation to the entire body promoting an overall euphoric... Agent: Law Office Of Jay R. Hamilton, PLC.

20080091061 - Efficient continuous flow irrigation system: A continuous flow irrigation endoscope and a continuous flow irrigation fluid management system, both designed to be compatible to each other and meant to function as a single system. The endoscope and the fluid management system are synergistic to each other such that both enhance the efficiency of each other.... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20080091062 - Endoscope assembly: A locomotive endoscope assembly including a locomotive endoscope head, including a main portion extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first selectably inflatable balloon associated therewith and a selectably positionable portion, selectably axially positionabl