2642results about How to "Large diameter" patented technology

Methods, devices and systems facilitate diagnosis, and in some cases treatment, of back pain originationg in intervertebral discs. Methods generally involve introducing one or more substances into one or more discs using a catheter device. In one embodiments, a patient assumes a position that causes back pain, and a substance such as an anesthetic or analgesic is introduced into the disc to determine whether the substance relieves the pain. Injections into multiple discs may optionally be performed, to help pinpoint a disc as a sources of the patient's pain. In some embodiments, the catheter device is left in place, and possibly coupled with another implantable device, to provide treatment of one or more discs. A catheter device includes at least one anchoring member for maintaining a distal portion of the catheter within a disc.

The ventilation interface for sleep apnea therapy interfaces a ventilation device to the patient's airways. The ventilation interface includes a pair of nasal inserts made from flexible, resilient silicone which are oval shaped in cross-section and slightly tapered from a base proximal the ventilation supply to the distal tip end. A bead flange is disposed about the exterior of each insert at the distal end of the insert. A bleed port for release of exhaled air is defined through a conical vent projecting normally to the path of the incoming air flow, and continues through a nipple extending to the exterior of the air conduit. In one embodiment, a pair of nasal inserts are integral with a nasal cannula body, with bleed ports axially aligned with each insert. In another embodiment, each insert is independently connected to a separate, thin-walled, flexible supply line.

The ventilation interface for sleep apnea therapy interfaces a ventilation device to the patient's airways. The ventilation interface includes a pair of nasal inserts made from flexible, resilient silicone which are oval shaped in cross-section and slightly tapered from a base proximal the ventilation supply to the distal tip end. A bead flange is disposed about the exterior of each insert at the distal end of the insert. In one embodiment, a valve is disposed between the nasal inserts and a source of positive airway pressure, the valve having a rim with a one-way diaphragm pivotally attached to the valve body with an inflatable bladder depending from the rim which seals against an exit port during inspiration and deflates to uncover the exit port on expiration. Another embodiment has nasal inserts without positive airway pressure but with a removable filter in the inserts for filtering inspired air.

The invention relates to an optical device (50) for manipulating a light wave (λ) using a diffractive grating structure (G). According to the basic idea behind the invention a prior art type diffractive grating structure having a permanently shaped surface relief is substituted with an electrically deformable diffractive grating structure (G), where a preformed, basic surface relief of the grating is composed of dielectric and deformable viscoelastic material, which can be electrically and sequentially fine tuned in shape to adjust the diffraction properties of said grating individually for different wavelengths. The invention permits manufacture of virtual display devices with a significantly larger exit pupil diameter than prior art solutions without degrading the color uniformity of the display device.

Novel catheter constructions comprising thin covering or wrapping materials such as polymer films. A catheter provided with a guidewire catheter lumen having a thin covering that is easily punctured by a guidewire at virtually any desired point along the catheter length. The thin covering may be integral with the catheter shaft, or may be a separate component that covers only the portion of the catheter shaft immediately adjacent the outer portion of the guidewire lumen, or may be a thin tubular construct that surrounds the entire catheter shaft. Moreover, polymer film can be used in combination with one or more elements to produce novel catheter constructions.

A sustained-release biodegradable polymeric drug-eluting fiber is disclosed. In some embodiments, the therapeutic drug is complexed with cyclodextrin. In certain embodiments, the polymeric component of the fiber comprises cyclodextrin. The fiber may be fabricated to provide a thread and/or suture. The fiber may be used for treatment of ocular diseases or disorders.

A catheter assembly including a tapered steering spine having a varying stiffness along an axial length. The tapered steering spine is tailored to provide increasing flexibility from proximal to distal in a way that makes the bend radius more uniform along the length of the steering section. In one embodiment, the tapered steering spine includes structures on adjacent rings that engage with each other when the steering section is flexed to limit the minimum bend radius to a predetermined minimum and which enhances the torsional rigidity of the steering section regardless of the degree of flexure of the steering section. The limited bend radius can prevent excessive bending of components such as fiber optics. The enhanced torsional rigidity can negate the need for torque braid in the section of the catheter shaft that surrounds the tapered steering spine.

Disclosed is an expandable transluminal sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion of at least a part of the distal end of the sheath to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is configured for use in the vascular system and has utility in the introduction and removal of balloon counterpulsation catheters. The access route is through the femoral arteries and the iliac arteries into the aorta, where an intra-aortic balloon pump catheter is positioned to provide cardiac support. The distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration during advancement to the arteries into the aorta. The distal end of the sheath is subsequently expanded using a radial dilatation device.

There are disclosed various embodiments of surgical tacks for use in surgical procedures. The tacks generally include a head and a barrel portion extending distally from the head. Preferably the head and the barrel portion define a throughbore for receipt of a drive instrument. A thread on the head is provided to engage threads in the installation tool. A tissue thread is provided on the barrel, portion to engage tissue. Distal and proximal surfaces of the tissue thread may be oriented at various angles relative to the barrel portion. There is also disclosed an insertion instrument to insert one or more tacks as well as a method of use. There is further disclosed a model device for use in explaining the operation of the instrument.

A puncture device with a flexible catheter tube for connecting to a medical infusion line, wherein the device includes a catheter connecting piece or hub attachable at the puncture site on the skin surface of a patient, wherein the catheter hub has a connector for connecting the infusion line and an outlet for the flexible catheter tube; and a needle holder having a puncture needle (stylet), wherein the flexible catheter tube is arranged in the interior of the catheter hub and extends out of the outlet with an output end. The end of the flexible catheter tube opposing the output end is located in the interior of the catheter hub in the area of the connector and is separated from the surrounding area by a septum, wherein the needle holder securely fastens the puncture needle insertable into a passage channel of the catheter tube at the end opposing the pointed or sharp puncture tip. The outlet is located at the bottom side of the catheter hub resting on the surface of the patient in the position of use and the puncture needle is made without a duct.

A pump for processing molten metal having an enlarged tubular body which houses a centrifugal pump at its bottom end. The bottom end has a parabolic shape which receives the ejected molten metal from the impeller and forms a vortex within the tubular body. The pump is controlled to cause the vortex to climb up the inner wall of the body up to and out of an outlet formed in the upper end of the body. A radial vane impeller is formed in the back plate of the impeller. When the impeller is rotated, solid particles introduced into the body are accelerated radially by the back plate impeller into the vortex.

The present invention provides a stent delivery catheter that can place a stent in a tortuous narrowed area with good maneuverability while preventing falling or displacement of the stent. The present invention provides a stent delivery catheter for delivering a stent for treating stenosis in a body to a narrowed area. A distal end of the catheter includes a collapsible balloon in a collapsed state and the stent in an undeployed state, the stent being mounted on the outer surface of the collapsed balloon, the balloon having frustoconical tapered segments and a cylindrical straight tubular segment. An inner tube for defining a guidewire lumen extends into the interior of the balloon, and displacement prevention mechanisms for preventing the stent from moving in the longitudinal direction of the stent delivery catheter are affixed to the inner surface of the balloon only. Another aspect of the present invention provides a stent delivery catheter that can prevent the stent from moving in the axis direction of the catheter without requiring additional components or additional steps that complicate the manufacturing process. In this catheter, the thickness T1 of a near-center portion of the distal-end tapered segment and the thickness T2 of a near-center portion of the straight tubular segment satisfy a predetermined relationship, and the thickness T3 of a near-center portion of the proximal-end tapered segment and the thickness T2 of the near-center portion of the straight tubular segment satisfy a predetermined relationship. In this manner, the distal-end and proximal-end tapered segments in the collapsed state prevent the movement of the stent. The present invention also provides a preferable RX balloon catheter, i.e., a stent delivery catheter, having improved maneuverability and enhanced responsiveness for expansion and contraction of the balloon without complicating the manufacturing process or increasing the cost.

A cardiac rhythm management apparatus includes a proximal housing, a distal housing and a lead. The proximal housing includes a first energy storage device. The distal module is implantable within a patient's heart, and includes a second energy storage device, at least one electrode, and a control module. The control module controls the delivery of at least one electrical stimulus from the second energy storage device to a location in communication with the patient's heart. The lead connects the proximal housing to the distal module and is configured to communicate one or more digital signals between the proximal housing and the distal module.

A means of effectively applying an organic EL material application liquid with good application liquid cut-off is provided. A heater and an ultrasonic oscillator are formed in a thin film formation apparatus when applying the application liquid, and heat and ultrasonic oscillations are imparted to the application liquid. Defective application liquid cut-off and liquid clogging can thus be resolved.

An FCC process and apparatus may include injecting hydrocarbon feedstock at different radial positions inside a riser. Multiple distributors may be used to position the openings for injecting feedstock at multiple radial positions. In addition, the openings may be away from riser peripheral wall and at different elevations along the riser wall or extending up from the riser bottom. The different opening positions introduce the feedstock across a larger area of the cross-section of the riser, which may improve the feedstock dispersion and mixing with catalyst. Improved mixing may increase conversion of the feedstock. Larger FCC units generally have greater riser diameters that may cause problems for feedstock dispersion and decrease the ability for the feedstock to mix with catalyst. Injecting the feedstock at multiple radial positions may improve feedstock dispersion in larger FCC units and increase mixing.

An electronic cigarette comprises a main body. A smoking end, an atomization assembly for atomizing tobacco oil, and a battery assembly for powering the atomization assembly are arranged on the main body. A bottle for storing the tobacco oil is arranged at one end of the main body, away from the smoking end. The atomization assembly is arranged between the smoking end and the bottle. The bottle and the battery assembly are in parallel. An electrical connection component is arranged between the battery assembly and the atomization assembly. One end of the electrical connection component is connected to the battery assembly while the other end of the electrical connection component is resiliently abutted against a side wall of the atomization assembly. Easy assembly, stable and reliable electrical connection, and a great reduction to the possibility that the user sucks the tobacco oil are realized in the electronic cigarette.

Electrical connectors and contacts are disclosed. An electrical connector may include a housing having a contact receiving well that extends along a contact receiving direction, the contact receiving well having a generally T-shaped cross-section along a direction transverse to the contact receiving direction. An electrical contact may be received in the contact receiving well. The contact may include a generally planar body portion, a first contact portion extending from a first end of the body portion, and a second contact portion extending from a second end of the body portion. The contact is adapted to be received into a generally T-shaped contact receiving well such that the contact receiving well prevents movement of the electrical contact within the contact receiving well.