141results about How to "Reduce and prevent likelihood" patented technology

A flexible endoscope includes a handle, a flexible shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, a coupling mechanism releasably attaching the handle to the distal end of the flexible shaft, an illumination unit disposed in the flexible shaft, the illumination unit providing light to an area in front of the distal end of the flexible shaft, and an imaging unit disposed in the flexible shaft, the imaging unit generating image data of the area in front of the distal end of the flexible shaft, wherein the coupling mechanism includes an electrical channel for transmitting electrical power to the illumination unit and the imaging unit, and a data channel for transmitting the image data from the imaging unit.

The non-volatile random access memory (RAM) includes a non-volatile RAM array, a buffer configured to buffer data to be programmed in the non-volatile RAM array and configured to buffer data read from the non-volatile RAM array, and a control block configured to read data from at least one of the non-volatile RAM array and the buffer based on whether the data to be read has been stored in the buffer, a temperature when the data was programmed, and a time lapse since the programming of the data.

A stent is formed by encasing or encapsulating metallic rings in an inner polymeric layer and an outer polymeric layer. At least one polymer link connects adjacent metallic rings. The stent is drug loaded with one or more therapeutic agent or drug, for example, to reduce the likelihood of the development of restenosis in the coronary arteries. The inner and outer polymeric materials can be of the same polymer or different polymer to achieve different results, such as enhancing flexibility and providing a stent that is visible under MRI, computer tomography and x-ray fluoroscopy.

The present invention provides a dialysis catheter that is designed to function in reverse-flow, having a dual lumen configuration. An embodiment of the present invention includes two lumen cooperatively configured in a co-axial design. The arterial lumen is circular or oval and extends beyond the termination of the venous lumen. The arterial lumen extracts the blood from the blood vessel for hemodialysis treatment. The venous lumen is also circular or oval. Terminating at a proximal point to the distal end of the arterial lumen, this configuration of the venous lumen aids in preventing recirculation. The venous lumen returns dialyzed blood back into the patient. The venous lumen can further include a plurality of apertures to aid in reducing the risk of fibrin sheath growth. In a method of use, the arterial lumen of the invention preferably resides within the right atrium with the venous lumen positioned within the superior vena cava.

The present invention relates to a method and transdermal pharmaceutical composition for preventing or reducing the likelihood of calcium deficiency or imbalances caused by calcium deficiency. The transdermal pharmaceutical composition includes a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of calcium and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier constituting a pluronic lecithin organogel. In addition to calcium, the transdermal pharmaceutical composition may also contain a therapeutically effective amount of: (1) a pharmaceutically acceptably salt of other minerals such as magnesium, zinc, selenium, manganese, or chromium; (2) a vitamin such as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E or B-complex vitamins, choline, lecithin, inositol, PABA, biotin, or bioflavomoids; (3) a carotenoid such as lycopene or lutein; (4) a hormone such as dehydroepiandrosterone, progesterone, pregnenolone, or melatonin; (5) an amino acid such as arginine, glutamine, lysine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, GABA, tryptophan, carnitine, or acetyl-l-carnitine; (6) a fatty acid such as a fish oil or flax seed oil; (7) a vita-nutrient such as coenzyme Q10; (8) a cartilage building nutrient such as glucosamine, chondroitin, or MSM, (9) a herb such as ginkgo biloba, echinacea, 5-HTP, St. John's wort, or saw palmetto; or (9) any combination thereof. The transdermal pharmaceutical composition may be topically administered to a human to prevent or reduce the likelihood of calcium deficiency or imbalances caused by calcium deficiency such as hypertension, high cholesterol, colon and rectal cancer, osteomalacia, rickets, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, preeclampsia, tooth decay, and premenstrual syndrome.

A head up display signal processing system is disclosed. The system comprises an image projector for projecting an image onto a screen, the screen being partially reflective and partially transmissive. The system is operable to provide a separate optical element at a plurality of locations upon the screen, wherein each element comprises an optical phase representative of the location of the element upon the screen, such that the combination of optical elements is arranged to produce an optical hologram upon the screen.

Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for the cleaning of an endotracheal tube while a patient is being supported by a ventilator connected to the endotracheal tube for the purpose of increasing the available space for airflow or to prevent the build up of materials that may constrict airflow or be a potential nidus for infection. In one embodiment, a mechanically-actuated endotracheal tube cleaning device is configured to removably receive a visualization member to provide cleaning of the endotracheal tube under direct visualization.

Variant immunoglobulins with one or more amino acid modifications in the Fc region that have increased in vivo half-lives, and methods of using the same are provided.

The present invention relates to an LED light bulb utilizing LED light sheets with illuminated curved surfaces and can be used as a replacement bulb. The LED light bulb comprises an LED light engine having first and second LED modules with first and second illuminated curved surfaces facing toward different illumination zones I1, I2 respectively and attached to a thermally conducive support block with an increased curved surface area for heat dissipation. Said first and second illuminated curved surfaces are curved about first and second axes A, B respectively and are arranged to be offset from each other with said axes A and B substantially perpendicular to each other such that an improved illumination with direct lights shone to at least six different sides of the light bulb and subsequently a substantially spherical illumination of dispersed lights may be obtained along with an enhanced cooling of the light bulb.

There is provided a method of treating a patient comprising: screening a patient suffering from signs and / or symptoms of at least one medical condition secondary to increased sympathetic tone; selecting the patient for treatment by ablation of at least one neural structure containing sympathetic nerves to reduce the sympathetic tone, the neural structure comprises one or more of: celiac ganglion, superior mesenteric ganglion, inferior mesenteric ganglion, aorticorenal ganglion; selecting a target of at least one measurable parameter affected by the sympathetic tone; ablating at least a portion of the neural structure to deactivate the portion of the neural structure; monitoring changes in the at least one measurable parameter; comparing the at least one measurable parameter to the selected target; and performing another ablation of the same neural structure, and / or another neural structure, based on the comparison.

Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for the cleaning of an endotracheal tube while a patient is being supported by a ventilator connected to the endotracheal tube for the purpose of increasing the available space for airflow or to prevent the build up of materials that may constrict airflow or be a potential nidus for infection. In one embodiment, a mechanically-actuated endotracheal tube cleaning device is configured to removably receive a visualization member to provide cleaning of the endotracheal tube under direct visualization.

A flexible endoscope includes a handle, a flexible shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, a coupling mechanism releasably attaching the handle to the distal end of the flexible shaft, an illumination unit disposed in the flexible shaft, the illumination unit providing light to an area in front of the distal end of the flexible shaft, and an imaging unit disposed in the flexible shaft, the imaging unit generating image data of the area in front of the distal end of the flexible shaft, wherein the coupling mechanism includes an electrical channel for transmitting electrical power to the illumination unit and the imaging unit, and a data channel for transmitting the image data from the imaging unit.

This application relates generally to impactors. More specifically, this application relates to impactors used in medical procedures such as bone fixation or fusion. In some embodiments, the impactors include features that prevent or reduce the likelihood of over-insertion of an implant within a bone cavity.

A touch screen panel for an image display device and a method of fabricating the same. The touch screen panel includes: a transparent substrate; a plurality of first and second sensing patterns on one side of the transparent substrate, the first sensing patterns coupled to one another along a first direction, and the second sensing patterns positioned between the first sensing patterns including patterns separated from one another; a first insulating layer on the first and second sensing patterns, the first insulating layer having a plurality of contact holes, and the contact holes exposing portions of the second sensing patterns; and connecting patterns on the first insulating layer, the connecting patterns coupling the second sensing patterns to one another along the second direction through the contact holes. In the touch screen panel, the first insulating layer is formed of a transparent photoresist.

Disclosed herein are methods and compostions comprising anti-VEGF antibodies for use in adjuvant cancer therapy.

The present invention relates to an improved system for use in rehabilitation and / or physical therapy for the treatment of injury or disease to the lower limbs or extremities. The system can enable an amputee to proceed over any inclined or declined surface without overbalancing. The system is mechanically passive in that it does not utilize motors, force generating devices, batteries, or powered sources that may add undesirable weight or mass and that may require recharging. In particular the system is self-adapting to adjust the torque moment depending upon the motion, the extent of inclination, and the surface topography. An additional advantage of the improvement is that the system can be light and may also be simple to manufacture.

Disclosed herein are methods of treating benign, pre-cancerous, or non-metastatic tumors using an anti-VEGF-specific antagonist. Also disclosed are methods of treating a subject at risk of developing benign, pre-cancerous, or non-metastatic tumors using an anti-VEGF-specific antagonist. Also disclosed are methods of treating or preventing recurrence of a tumor using an anti-VEGF-specific antagonist as well as use of VEGF-specific antagonists in neoadjuvant and adjuvant cancer therapy.

The present invention relates to an improved system for use in rehabilitation and / or physical therapy for the treatment of injury or disease to the lower limbs or extremities. The system can enable an amputee to proceed over any inclined or declined surface without overbalancing. The system is mechanically passive in that it does not utilize motors, force generating devices, batteries, or powered sources that may add undesirable weight or mass and that may require recharging. In particular the system is self-adapting to adjust the torque moment depending upon the motion, the extent of inclination, and the surface topography. An additional advantage of the improvement is that the system can be light and may also be simple to manufacture.

Disclosed herein are soluble endoglin compounds and kits, pharmaceutical compositions, and articles of manufacture containing soluble endoglin compounds. Also disclosed herein are methods for treating an angiogenesis disorder, such as cancer, using soluble endoglin compounds, provided alone or in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent, an angiogenesis inhibitor, or an antiproliferative compound.

Vacuum-assisted film laminating and removal systems and methods of using the same. The systems include a vacuum-assisted laminator for applying large format films to substrates where lamination pressure is generated at least partially by a vacuum drawn in a vacuum cavity. The removal apparatus applies tension over the width of the adhesive film, thereby removing the film from the substrate along the release line that extends over the width of the film. The systems and methods can be used to apply and remove large-scale adhesive films from substrates.

The present invention relates to an improved system for use in rehabilitation and / or physical therapy for the treatment of injury or disease to the lower limbs or extremities. The system can enable an amputee to proceed over any inclined or declined surface without overbalancing. The system is mechanically passive in that it does not utilize motors, force generating devices, batteries, or powered sources that may add undesirable weight or mass and that may require recharging. In particular the system is self-adapting to adjust the torque moment depending upon the motion, the extent of inclination, and the surface topography. An additional advantage of the improvement is that the system can be light and may also be simple to manufacture.

An electrically driven membrane process apparatus is provided comprising a first spacer having a perimeter having a surface with an inner peripheral edge defining an opening, and a recess formed on the inner peripheral edge, and an ion exchange membrane having an outer edge fitted within the recess. The spacer can further comprise a plurality of bosses and an ion exchange membrane having a corresponding plurality of apertures for receiving the bosses. The spacer can include a plastic mesh consisting essentially of polypropylene or polyethylene, and a perimeter surrounding the plastic mesh, the perimeter comprising material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic vulcanizates and thermoplastic elastomeric olefins. The spacer can have an upstanding seal member depending therefrom, received by groove within a corresponding frame member. A second spacer is also provided having a continuous flange depending from its surface and surrounding a throughbore, for pinching a portion of the first spacer. A method of injection molding a thin plastic part comprising a perimeter having an inner peripheral edge and a mesh joined to the inner peripheral edge is also provided including the steps of (a) providing first and second mold halves, each of the mold halves having an interior surface and a continuous ridge depending therefrom; and (b) pinching opposite side of the mesh between the ridges to form a flow barrier.

Variant immunoglobulins with one or more amino acid modifications in the Fc region that have increased in vivo half-lives, and methods of using the same are provided.

The present invention provides agents comprising or consisting of a binding moiety with specificity for interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP) for use in inducing cell death and / or inhibiting the growth and / or proliferation of cells associated with a solid tumour, wherein the cells express IL1RAP. A related aspect of the invention provides agents comprising or consisting of a binding moiety with specificity for interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP) for use in detecting pathological cells associated with a solid tumour, wherein the cells express IL1RAP. Further provided are pharmacological compositions comprising the agents of the invention and methods of using the same.

A light emitting device for a display including a first substrate, a first LED sub-unit disposed on the first substrate, a second LED sub-unit disposed on the first LED sub-unit, a third LED sub-unit disposed on the second LED sub-unit, a second substrate disposed on the third LED sub-unit, a first electrode pad, a second electrode pad, a third electrode pad, and a fourth electrode pad disposed on the second substrate, and through-hole vias electrically connecting the second, third, and fourth electrode pads to the first, second, and third LED sub-units, respectively, in which the first electrode pad is electrically connected to the first LED sub-unit without overlapping any through-hole vias.

A dispensing pump (12) for a viscous liquid comprises a cylinder (16), a piston (24) mounted for reciprocation within said cylinder (16), an inlet (50) for admitting liquid to be dispensed into said cylinder (16) and a ball check valve (52) arranged selectively to open and close said inlet opening. The ball valve (52) is retained in position by a spring (58) having a variable diameter. The piston (24) has a dispensing passage (40) in fluid communication with said cylinder (16) and with a self sealing dispensing valve (38). The pump (12) further comprises a sliding cut-off valve (70) arranged selectively to open and close fluid communication between the piston dispensing passage (40) and the cylinder (16) as the piston (24) reciprocates within the cylinder (16).