1330results about How to "Avoid structure" patented technology

The present invention provides an aortic valvuloplasty catheter which, in one preferred embodiment, has a tapered distal balloon segment that anchors within the left ventricle outflow track of the patient's heart and a rounded proximal segment which conforms to the aortic sinuses forcing the valve leaflets open. In addition, this embodiment of the valvuloplasty catheter includes a fiber-based balloon membrane, a distal pigtail end hole catheter tip, and a catheter sheath.

Visualization apparatus and methods for transseptal access are described herein where intravascular access across a septal wall is facilitated via devices which provide for direct visual viewing of tissue area. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to the tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. Any number of therapeutic tools or a guidewire can be passed through the catheter and into the imaging hood for crossing the septal wall and passing the guidewire or instruments therethrough.

This invention is a self-locking, surgical instrument designed to be utilized in surgical procedures where total and / or partial vascular occlusion of large blood vessels, or other structures, is needed, thus providing secure stanching of the vessels and structures due to its curved lateral design. This innovative design not only allows for a clear view of the entire extension of the clip, but also has a “male-to -female” self-locking system, which stays clear of the area being clipped, thus constituting an improvement upon the existing traditional straight clips.

A method and system for ultrasound treatment of acne and sebaceous glands are provided. An exemplary method and system are configured for targeted treatment of sebaceous glands in various manners, such as through use of therapy only, therapy and monitoring, imaging and therapy, or therapy, imaging, and monitoring, and / or through use of focused, unfocused, or defocused ultrasound at various spatial and temporal energy settings. An exemplary method and system can be configured to produce regions of heating and damage by destroying the function of sebaceous glands within a user-specified treatment layer depth associated with the glands to be treated. In addition, an exemplary method and system can be configured to produce regions of heating and damage within the treatment layer in spatially defined patterns, rather than heating and destroying the entire volume of the target layer of tissue. Further, an exemplary method and system can be configured to specifically aim such regions of heating and damage within the treatment layer, to occur at the same location as the secretory portion of sebaceous glands.

The present invention provides a novel method of contoured-anatomy dose repositioning (CADR) as a means to automatically reposition a patient to better recover the planned dose distribution without reoptimize the treatment plan. Specifically, CADR utilizes planning CT images, the planned dose distribution, and on-line images for repositioning dose distribution on a given day. Contours are also placed upon the images using manual, automatic, template-based, or other techniques. CADR then optimizes the rigid-body repositioning of the patient so that the daily dose distribution closely matches the planned dose distribution. The present invention also provides a method of multiple-margin optimization with daily selection (MMODS) to improve radiation delivery without reoptimization. During the initial optimization procedure, plans are optimized for several margins of various contours (e.g., tight, medium, loose, etc.), or with different objectives (e.g., aggressive treatment, sensitive structure sparing, etc.). Similarly, if multiple patient image sets are available, plans can be optimized for the different anatomical layouts, either using current information, or accumulated information regarding the superposition of organ locations in the combination of images. A user can then choose in real time from a variety of optimized plans, generally with different margins, during the treatment process, and thereby compensate for a recognized change in size or position of the tumor or neighboring tissue.

The invention relates to an aerogel composite material, in particular to a glass fiber reinforced silicon dioxide aerogel composite material and a preparation method thereof. The excellent properties of aerogel are maintained, the mechanical properties of the aerogel are reinforced, and the glass fiber reinforced silicon dioxide aerogel composite material has good integrity and certain strength. The glass fiber reinforced silicon dioxide aerogel composite material is prepared by compounding glass fiber and silicon dioxide aerogel, wherein the glass fiber is a reinforcement, and the content ofthe glass fiber accounts for 1-15% total mass of a sample; the silicon dioxide aerogel is a matrix, tetraethoxysilane is a silicon source material, and methyltrimethoxysilane or methyltriethoxysilaneis used as a silicon source co-precursor. The preparation method comprises the following steps of: firstly, pretreating the glass fiber; then, preparing glass fiber reinforced silicon dioxide composite wet gel; and finally, aging, secondarily modifying and drying the silicon dioxide composite wet gel.

A method of manufacturing a vertical GaN-based LED comprises forming a light emission structure in which an n-type GaN-based semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a p-type GaN-based semiconductor layer are sequentially laminated on a substrate; etching the light emission structure such that the light emission structure is divided into units of LED; forming a p-electrode on each of the divided light emission structures; filling a non-conductive material between the divided light emission structures; forming a metal seed layer on the resulting structure; forming a first plated layer on the metal seed layer excluding a region between the light emission structures; forming a second plated layer on the metal seed layer between the first plated layers; separating the substrate from the light emission structures; removing the non-conductive material between the light emission structures exposed by separating the substrate; forming an n-electrode on the n-type GaN-based semiconductor layer; and removing portions of the metal seed layer and the second plated layer between the light emission structures.

The invention provides intrafallopian devices and non-surgical methods for their placement to prevent conception. The efficacy of the device is enhanced by forming the structure at least in part from copper or a copper alloy. The device is anchored within the fallopian tube by imposing a secondary shape on a resilient structure, the secondary shape having a larger cross-section than the fallopian tube. The resilient structure is restrained in a straight configuration and transcervically inserted within the fallopian tube, where it is released. The resilient structure is then restrained by the walls of the fallopian tube, imposing anchoring forces as it tries to resume the secondary shape.

The invention comprises a surgically implantable hearing aid for hearing impaired persons. The hearing aid includes a vibrational element which is vibrated by sound waves and attached to the skull of the person, and a connector which crosses the mastoid cavity and delivers the sound waves to the dura mater of the human being thereby vibrating the dura mater, the cerebrospinal fluids, and the brain to create a hearing percept. The invention can also be adapted to act as a tinnitus masker or used in conjunction with a cochlear implant. It can also be used in a modified form to connect directly through the skull of the human being.

A spinal plate system and method for fixation of the human spine is provided. In an embodiment, the system includes a bone plate, a bone screw and a ring. The bone screw preferably connects the bone plate to a bone, and the ring preferably fixes the bone screw into a borehole of the bone plate such that the bone screw extends from the bone plate at a selected angle. The ring is preferably capable of swiveling within the borehole to allow the bone screw to be angulated at a plurality of angles oblique to the plate. The bone screw may have a head having a tapered, threaded surface for engaging the ring. The ring preferably has threading on its inner surface for mating with the threading on the head. The inner surface of the ring may be tapered. Movement of the head through the ring preferably expands the ring against the bone plate to fix the bone screw at a selected angle relative to the bone plate.

A lighting assembly for a recessed luminaire includes a plaster frame for supporting the recessed luminaire and a pair of telescoping bars for attaching the plaster frame to framing support members. The telescoping bars include a first bar and a second bar, each of the bars having a generally S-shaped cross-sectional profile that is defined by a center curve joining a first area and a second area, which are generally hook-shaped and extend perpendicularly from the center curve in opposing directions. The first area of the first bar is overlappingly positioned at least in part within the second area of the second bar, and the first area of the second bar is overlappingly positioned at least in part within the second area of the second bar whereby the first and second bars are mated in an inverted and opposed adjacent relationship allowing sliding extension of the bars.

A knee protection airbag for protecting the knees of a vehicular occupant. The airbag is inflated from a storage position to a deployed position to substantially fill a space between the knees of the occupant when seated on a front seat and an instrument panel. By filling the space between the knees and the instrument panel, injury to the knees, and other body parts, is prevented. Inflation of the airbag is caused by a determination by a crash sensor system of a pending or actual crash involving the vehicle and may include an anticipatory crash sensor which forecasts a crash between the vehicle and another object prior to impact of the vehicle by the other object. In this manner, the airbag is inflated prior to the crash.

A sliding type portable terminal includes a first housing and a second housing slidably engaged face-to-face with the first housing. The portable terminal includes a guide member mounted in a first closed area provided on one surface of the first housing and always covered up by the second housing, and a slide member mounted on one surface of the second housing and sliding over the first housing by being guided by the guide member. A wiring passageway for wiring a flexible printed circuit board is formed in the slide member. The flexible printed circuit board is wired through a slit for coupling the guide member to the slide member without providing a slide cover for opening / closing the wiring passageway or forming a separate wiring passageway, thereby preventing the flexible printed circuit board from being exposed to the outside and ensuring elegant appearance of the terminal.

The present invention is a bioreactor or fermenter formed of a container having two or more walled. One or more inlets and one or more outlets are formed in one or more of the walls of the container. At least one of the one or more inlets is formed in the bottom wall of the container and used for the introduction of one or more gases. A gas distribution device is formed within the body of the container adjacent the bottom gas inlet and a hydrophobic filter is mounted to the bottom wall gas inlet, upstream of the gas inlet. The distribution device is formed such as by bonding the two facing wall surfaces of the container together at discrete and spaced apart locations to form a series of gas ports into the remainder of the container. The hydrophobic filter acts to purify the gas entering the container so as to prevent the introduction of contaminants such as microbes into the container. It also acts as a valve, preventing liquid in the bag from passing through its hydrophobic structure thus preventing any back flow when positive pressure from the gas supply is not being imposed upon the bag.

A display device has a light blocking arrangement for selectively blocking light which has or would be emitted at large lateral angles. The display can be configured so that light reaching these elements is either allowed to reach the viewer or is blocked from reaching the viewer. This means that a public viewing mode can be chosen or a private viewing mode. The light blocking elements are controlled optically in order to simplify the construction and control.

A liquid droplet ejection head comprises an ejector, a liquid viscosity-increase prevention structure and a liquid viscosity-increase prevention controller. The ejector includes a nozzle for ejecting a liquid droplet, a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle through a communication path, and an actuator for applying pressure to a liquid in the pressure chamber. The liquid viscosity-increase prevention structure prevents an increase of viscosity of the liquid in the ejector. The liquid viscosity-increase prevention controller changes the operation frequency of the liquid viscosity-increase prevention structure between when the liquid droplet is ejected from the nozzle and when ejection of the liquid droplet is paused and no liquid droplet is being ejected from the nozzle.

A method for stabilizing collagenous eye tissues by nitrite and nitroalcohol treatment. The topical stiffening agent contains sodium nitrite or a nitroalcohol in a buffered balanced salt solution and can be applied to the surface of the eye on a daily basis for a prolonged period. Application of the solution results in progressive stabilization of the corneal and scleral tissues through non-enzymatic cross-linking of collagen fibers. The compounds can penetrate into the corneal stroma without the need to remove the corneal epithelium. In addition, ultraviolet light is not needed to activate the cross-linking process. The resulting stabilization of corneal and scleral tissues can prevent future alterations in corneal curvature and has utility in diseases such as keratoconus, keratectasia, progressive myopia, and glaucoma.

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which prevents deformation of a structural frame caused by external force or weight of the apparatus itself, when set on a surface such as a conventional desk or floor, prevents image defects such as image deformation and the like without reducing the degree of accuracy of positioning support of respective printing devices inside the image forming apparatus, and furthermore also makes precise color matching possible while also being low price, easily assembled, compact, lightweight, highly reliable, and capable of obtaining high quality images. The structural body of the image forming apparatus includes side wall portions made of resin and provided on either side of the apparatus, and at least two connectors formed from metal, for connecting the side wall portions, an image forming unit being supported by the side wall portions, and the connectors joining the side wall portions in substantially perpendicular and substantially horizontal directions.

Embodiments of the invention include a device for placing a stent in a heart wall. The device may include a delivery tool configured to deliver the stent to a location within the heart wall, and a stop mechanism disposed on the delivery tool such that the stop mechanism is proximate at least one end of the stent during delivery of the stent. The stop mechanism may be configured to engage a surface to determine the placement location of the stent within the heart wall.