5397results about How to "Increase spacing" patented technology

A steerable, tendon-driven endoscope is described herein. The endoscope has an elongated body with a manually or selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled, segmented proximal portion. The steerable distal portion and the segment of the controllable portion are actuated by at least two tendons. As the endoscope is advanced, the user maneuvers the distal portion, and a motion controller actuates tendons in the segmented proximal portion so that the proximal portion assumes the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. By this method the selected curves are propagated along the endoscope body so that the endoscope largely conforms to the pathway selected. When the endoscope is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves can propagate distally along the endoscope body. This allows the endoscope to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body.

A touch screen interface including a display screen, a touch sensor device, and a processor coupled to the display screen and the touch sensor is described. The touch sensor device is adapted to sense object motion in a sensing region that overlaps at least part of the display screen. The processor is adapted to cause a scroll wheel that indicates a scrolling path to appear on the display screen selectively, such as in response to the touch sensor sensing object motion that corresponds to a scrolling initiation gesture. The processor is further adapted to cause scrolling on a display screen selectively, such as in response to the touch sensor sensing subsequent object motion along the scrolling path after the touch sensor has sensed the object motion corresponding to the scrolling initiation gesture.

A tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) may be outfitted with a sensor payload for data gathering. The tethered UAV may be tethered to a ground station for constricting the flight space of the UAV while also providing the option for power delivery and / or bidirectional communications. The tethered UAV's flight path may be extended by introducing one or more secondary UAVs that cooperate to extend the horizontal flight path of a primary UAV. The ground station, which may be coupled with the tethered aerial vehicle, may comprise a listening switch configured to determine a condition of the tether such that the supply of power to the tether may be terminated when tether damage or a tether severance is detected.

Medical devices and methods for accessing an anatomical space of the body and particularly for penetrating the epicardium to access pericardial space and the epicardial surface of the heart in a minimally invasive manner employing suction are disclosed. The distal end of a tubular access sleeve having a sleeve wall surrounding a sleeve access lumen and extending between a sleeve proximal end and a sleeve distal end having a plurality of suction ports arrayed around the sleeve access lumen distal end opening is applied against an outer tissue layer. Suction is applied through the plurality of suction ports to a plurality of portions of the outer tissue layer. A perforation instrument is introduced through the sleeve access lumen to perforate the outer tissue layer to form an access perforation into the anatomic space while the applied suction stabilizes the outer tissue layer, whereby further treatment drugs and devices can be introduced into the anatomic space.

A system for dynamic stabilization of the spine includes a bone engaging fastener configured to be anchored in a vertebra and a deflectable element mounted on the fastener. The deflectable element or bumper is configured and arranged to contact a portion of an adjacent vertebra, such as the facet, during extension of the spine, while offering no resistance during flexion. In certain embodiments, a cable may be fastened to the bone engaging fastener and arranged to contact a portion of the adjacent vertebra, such as the spinous process, during flexion of the spine. In one surgical technique of the invention, a contralateral approach is used to introduce the bone engaging fastener through the deflectable element and into the vertebra.

A system includes a storage engine node that includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores a protocol mapper executable by the processor to convert storage access requests from a local storage protocol to a cloud storage protocol.

A bitmap of a shape, such as a font, can be subpixel optimized by producing for each of a display's subpixels a coverage value representing the percent of its area covered by the shape being represented and by distributing, to prevent color imbalance, an amount of a given subpixel's coverage value to nearby subpixels of different colors as a function of the percent of the given subpixel's coverage value that causes color imbalance. Web pages can be displayed with scaled-down and subpixel optimized images. A given layout of a Web page can be displayed at each of at least two different selected scale factors, with the font bitmaps used to represent characters in the display at each scale factor having their shape and pixel alignment selected to improve readability for the particular pixel size at which they are displayed at each such scale factor.

There are provided methods and systems for providing viewers of a digital image with information about identifiable and scenes within the image. In an embodiment, digital images, uploaded to a host website, are customized through the incorporation of some number of selectable informational links and other text based information to provide viewers of the image real-time access to social and advertising related information regarding certain identifiable objects and scenes in the image. The selectable information links are incorporated within and around the digital image in a process referred to herein as image tagging.

Apparatus is provided for diagnosing or treating an organ or vessel, wherein a device having at least two optical fiber sensors disposed in a distal extremity thereof is coupled to processing logic programmed to compute a multi-dimensional force vector responsive to detected changes in the optical characteristics of the optical fiber sensors arising from deflection of the distal extremity resulting from contact with the tissue of the wall of the organ or vessel. The force vector may be used to facilitate manipulation of the catheter either directly or automatically using a robotic system.

Several alternative spinal access devices are described. A number of alternative methods for performing therapies in the spinal region using the described spinal access devices are also described.

An intra-vertebral body height restoring device includes a body for insertion into an intra-vertebral space. The body includes top and bottom surfaces for engaging opposing vertebral surfaces defining the intra-vertebral space. The body includes at least two layers extending along a width of the body and having a fully expanded and fully collapsed height relative thereto. A reversible expansion mechanism selectively and reversely expands and collapse the height of the layers and including the fully expanded and collapsed heights to restore a selected height to the intra-vertebral space.

The present invention provides an improved antenna system that, in one embodiment, includes an antenna array comprised of a plurality of elements, each of which is capable of providing a signal. Also included in the improved antenna system is a multi-beam beamformer for producing two spatially independent overlapping beams from the signals provided by two different subsets of the antenna array. The phase of the two beams is compared to realize an interferometer that can provide high or fine resolution data on the position of an object relative to the antenna system. The amplitude of the two beams can also be compared to obtain coarse data on the position of the object. The beamformer includes a switching network for selecting which elements of the antenna array form the two subsets. This permits, for example, the position of the beams to moved, the baseline of the two beams to be varied, and / or the beam width of the beams to be altered. To reduce adverse aerodynamic effects in certain applications, the antenna array is located conformal to the exterior surface of the body on which the array is mounted. Further, to reduce temperature related problems associated with high speed movement of the body on which the array is located, the array is located on the side of the body, as opposed to the front of the body. The side location also provides space for other types of sensors that are preferably located adjacent to the front surface of the body.

A graphical user interface in which object thumbnails are rendered on a simulated three-dimensional surface which (i) exploits spatial memory and (ii) allows more objects to be rendered on a given screen. The objects may be moved, continuously, on the surface with a two-dimensional input device.

A system and method for increasing space or time resolution of an image sequence by combination of a plurality input sources with different space-time resolutions such that the single output displays increased accuracy and clarity without the calculation of motion vectors. This system of enhancement may be used on any optical recording device, including but not limited to digital video, analog video, still pictures of any format and so forth. The present invention includes support for example for such features as single frame resolution increase, combination of a number of still pictures, the option to calibrate spatial or temporal enhancement or any combination thereof, increased video resolution by using high-resolution still cameras as enhancement additions and may optionally be implemented using a camera synchronization method.

An apparatus configured for connection to a mixer for receiving a slurry and altering the flow characteristics of the slurry includes a conduit having a main inlet in slurry receiving communication with the mixer outlet and extending to a spout for discharging the slurry, at least one conduit restrictor associated with the conduit for creating back-pressure between the conduit restrictor and the mixer outlet for keeping the mixer full, and at least one pressure reducer associated with the discharge spout and configured for reducing the pressure of the slurry dispensed from the discharge spout. The apparatus is configured for maintaining a generally laminar flow from the mixer outlet to the discharge spout.

Tomography limitations in vivo due to incomplete, inconsistent and intricate measurements require solution of inverse problems. The new strategies disclosed in this application are capable of providing faster data acquisition, higher image quality, lower radiation dose, greater flexibility, and lower system cost. Such benefits can be used to advance research in cardiovascular diseases, regenerative medicine, inflammation, and nanotechnology. The present invention relates to the field of medical imaging. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to methods, systems, and devices for imaging, including tomography-based and MRI-based applications. For example, included in embodiments of the invention are compressive sampling based tomosynthesis methods, which have great potential to reduce the overall x-ray radiation dose for a patient. To name a few, compressive sensing based carbon nano-tube based interior tomosynthesis systems, tomography-based dynamic cardiac elastography systems, cardiac elastodynamic biomarkers from interior MR imaging, exact and stable interior ROI reconstructions for radial MRI, and interior reconstruction based ultrafast tomography systems are provided.

A system for tissue dissection and retraction is disclosed herein. A tissue dissection assembly generally comprises an elongate body shaft, an actuation member movable relative to the elongate body shaft, and at least one dissector arm member having at least a first end attached to the elongate body shaft, wherein the at least one dissector arm member is adapted to reconfigure within a plane from a low profile to an expanded profile when urged via the actuation member, and wherein the at least one dissector arm is further adapted to dissect tissue within the plane. In use, the assembly dissects tissue within the plane typically by advancing the elongate body shaft into the tissue region where the dissector arm member or members are then reconfigured within the plane from its low profile to its expanded profile to thereby dissect the tissue region along the plane.

A touch screen panel including an insulative substrate; a resistive layer disposed on the insulative substrate; and a plurality of spaced conductive segments on the resistive layer along the border thereof. The conductive segments are disposed in rows, and every row has at least two segments which face at least a portion of three segments in the next inner row for optimizing the linearity of the touch screen panel and at the same time reducing the space occupied on the touch screen panel by the conductive segments.

A fastener (1) includes a screw (2) and a supporting element (3). The screw (2) includes a head (4), a shank (8) and a threaded portion (12). The threaded portion (12) is located on the shank (8). The threaded portion (12) includes a thread having an outer diameter (14). The threaded portion (12) includes a thread runout (25) facing the head (4) of the screw (2). The shank (8) includes a shank portion (10) having a diameter (11) which is smaller than the outer diameter (14) of the thread. The supporting element (3) is captively connected to the screw (2), and it includes at least one narrow location (27). The narrow location (27) has a diameter (28) which is smaller than the outer diameter (14) of the thread. The narrow location (27) includes at least one surface element (30, 35) facing the thread runout (25) and forming an enveloping cone (31) enveloping the thread runout (25) to prevent the supporting element (3) from getting clamped at the thread runout (25) of the screw (2).

An indoor or outdoor cooking system with integrated downdraft or elevating ventilator uses cross-flow or centrifugal blower technology. The system is controlled by an electronic or mechanical controller through a touch device, a slide, or knob. These provide precise control and an efficient way of removal of gases / fumes. A cook top incorporates the heating elements and a downdraft. The ventilator's blower assembly has a fan and a filter. The system may use sensors to detect temperature, fire, effluent, filter change requirements, fan speed, power, and voltage. The system has programmable operations and numerous set points.

A method of repairing a defect in an annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc, without excising the entire nucleus pulposus of the disc. The method includes inserting an introducer needle through the annulus fibrosus by puncturing the annulus fibrosus with the introducer needle, injecting an in situ curable, bio-compatible polymerizable or polymeric material composition into the disc through the introducer needle directly or indirectly so that the in situ curable composition contacts a defect in the annulus fibrosus; and curing said material in situ.

The invention provides instruments and methods for prophylactic treatment of an osteoporotic vertebral body or for treating a vertebral compression fracture (VCF). In one exemplary method, a probe system uses a high speed rotational elastomeric cutter having an optional expandable abrasive surface for abrading or cutting at least one path or region within vertebral cancellous bone. Irrigation and aspiration sources are included in the probe system for removing abraded bone debris. In one embodiment, the high speed rotational abrader uses a tissue-selective abrading surface that abrades or cuts bone but does not cut soft tissue. In another embodiment, an expandable abrading surface allows the treatment of bone with low pressures to create paths or spaces without explosive expansion forces known in prior art balloon procedures that are designed to crush and compact cancellous bone in a vertebra. After the creation of a path or space, an in-situ hardenable bone cement volume is introduced into each path or space to support the vertebra.

A macro pixel is provided. The macro pixel includes at least two color pixel elements. Each color pixel element includes a photoreceptor that in response to receiving light, generates an output signal that is indicative of the quantity of light photons of a color are received. Each of the color pixel elements are configured to receive a corresponding color. The photoreceptor of each color pixel element has a geometry and a responsivity to light that is a function of the geometry of the photoreceptor such that the responsivity of the output signal of the photoreceptor to the corresponding color is controllable by changing the geometry. The geometries of the photoreceptors are selected so that a predetermined relative sensitivity to each color is obtained

Systems and methods are described that provide not only time but also phase synchronization, thus enabling distributed multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) architectures and techniques, such as supported by the IEEE 802.11n standard, where several access points are connected to a central server and operate as a large distributed multi-antenna access point. The systems and methods can lock the phase of all access points using a common reference (e.g., a synchronization tone) broadcasted over the air in conjunction with a predictive filter (e.g., a Kalman filter) which closely tracks the phase drift for each subcarrier channel.

A heterogeneous composite consisting of near-nano ceramic clusters dispersed within a ductile matrix. The composite is formed through the high temperature compaction of a starting powder consisting of a core of ceramic nanoparticles held together with metallic binder. This core is clad with a ductile metal such that when the final powder is consolidated, the ductile metal forms a tough, near-zero contiguity matrix. The material is consolidated using any means that will maintain its heterogeneous structure.

Frequency standards based on mode-locked fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers and fiber-based ultra-broad bandwidth light sources, and applications of the same.

The invention provides instruments and methods for prophylactic treatment of an osteoporotic vertebral body or for treating a vertebral compression fracture (VCF). In one exemplary method, a probe system uses a high speed rotational elastomeric cutter having an optional expandable abrasive surface for abrading or cutting at least one path or region within vertebral cancellous bone. Irrigation and aspiration sources are included in the probe system for removing abraded bone debris. In one embodiment, the high speed rotational abrader uses a tissue-selective abrading surface that abrades or cuts bone but does not cut soft tissue. In another embodiment, an expandable abrading surface allows the treatment of bone with low pressures to create paths or spaces without explosive expansion forces known in prior art balloon procedures that are designed to crush and compact cancellous bone in a vertebra. After the creation of a path or space, an in-situ hardenable bone cement volume is introduced into each path or space to support the vertebra.

Spinal stabilization devices, systems, and methods are described. In a first aspect, a foramenal spacer includes a rigid member adapted to maintain the integrity of the foramenal space. In a second aspect, facet joint stabilizing members and prosthetic facet joints are provided to augment or replace the native facet joint. In a third aspect, lateral spinal stabilization systems are adapted to be attached to the lateral surfaces of adjacent vertebral bodies. In a fourth aspect, anterior spinal stabilization systems are adapted to be attached to the anterior surfaces of adjacent vertebral bodies. In a fifth aspect, several embodiments of dynamic spinal stabilization devices and systems are described. Each of the foregoing devices, systems, and methods is suitable for use independently, in combination with other devices, systems, and methods described herein, and / or in combination with prosthetic intervertebral discs known in the art.

The present invention relates to microelectode arrays (MEAs), and more particularly to carbon nanotube nanoelectrode arrays (CNT-NEAs) for chemical and biological sensing, and methods of use. A nanoelectrode array includes a carbon nanotube material comprising an array of substantially linear carbon nanotubes each having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the carbon nanotubes are attached to a catalyst substrate material so as to form the array with a pre-determined site density, wherein the carbon nanotubes are aligned with respect to one another within the array; an electrically insulating layer on the surface of the carbon nanotube material, whereby the distal end of the carbon nanotubes extend beyond the electrically insulating layer; a second adhesive electrically insulating layer on the surface of the electrically insulating layer, whereby the distal end of the carbon nanotubes extend beyond the second adhesive electrically insulating layer; and a metal wire attached to the catalyst substrate material.

Implants and methods for bone treatment, preferably minimally invasive treatment, including repositioning of vertebrae may comprise insertion of a bobbin having a wire, string, thread or band, coiled around the bobbin. During coiling, the diameter of the bobbing / band complex may increase. Such increase in diameter can push against the inner side of the endplates of the vertebral body, and augment the vertebral body to its original height. The implant may also take the form of a coiled sleeve which when inserted into the vertebral body is uncoiled. The force of the uncoiling sleeve pushes against the inner side o the endplates of the vertebral body, restoring the vertebral body to its original height. The implant may also take the form of fibrous masses comprised of a thread or other relatively thin structure, for example a fiber or strand, of any biocompatible material having desired characteristics, for example a shape memory alloy, titanium, stainless steel, another metal or metal alloy, a ceramic, a composite or any combination thereof. The, strand, thread or other fiber may be coiled, woven, matted, tangled or otherwise formed into a wool-like mass or body having a desired configuration. Expansion of the expandable member within the vertebral body or other bone may reposition the fractured bone to a desired height and augment the bone to maintain the desired height. A bone cement or other filler can be added to further treat and stabilize the vertebral body or other bone.