7688results about How to "Smooth connection" patented technology

An ultrasonic surgical instrument for dissection and coaguation of tissue is provided. The surgical instrument includes a vibration coupler supported within a housing and operably connected to an ultrasonic generator. An angled blade member is connected to the distal end of the vibration coupler to conduct high frequency vibration from the ultrasonic generator to the blade member. A clamp member is positioned adjacent to the blade member and is movable from a first position to a second approximated position. The clamp member and angled blade member combine to enhance contact between the tissue and the blade member during operation of the instrument to improve the performance of the instrument.

According to the present invention, a catheter having at least one multi-purpose lumen formed through the catheter terminates proximal a relatively complex-shaped distal portion thereof. In one form of this embodiment, the relatively complex-shaped distal portion comprises a looped portion having diagnostic- and / or ablation-type electrodes coupled thereto and an elongated diameter-adjusting member coupled proximal the distal end of the looped portion. The multi-purpose lumen may be used to alternately accommodate a variety of dedicated materials; such as, (i) a guide wire for initial deployment or later repositioning of the catheter, (ii) a volume or flow of a contrast media and the like, (iii) a deployable hollow needle or tube and the like used to biopsy adjacent tissue or dispense a therapeutic agent into a volume of tissue, and (iv) a cooling fluid, such as saline solution and the like dispensed at least during therapeutic tissue ablation procedures.

Provided are a thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing the same. The thin film transistor may include a gate; a channel layer; a source and a drain, the source and the drain being formed of metal; and a metal oxide layer, the metal oxide layer being formed between the channel layer and the source and the drain. The metal oxide layer may have a gradually changing metal content between the channel layer and the source and the drain.

A spinal implant may be used to stabilize a portion of a spine. The implant may promote bone growth between adjacent vertebrae that fuses the vertebrae together. An implant may include an opening through a height of a body of the implant. The body of the implant may include curved sides. A top and / or a bottom of the implant may include protrusions that contact and / or engage vertebral surfaces to prevent backout of the implant from the disc space. A variety of instruments may be used to prepare a disc space and insert an implant. The instruments may include, but are not limited to, a distractor, a rasp, and one or more guides. The implant and instruments may be supplied in an instrument kit.

The present invention is directed to an expandable spinal fusion intervertebral implant that provides for maintaining and creating lordosis in the human spine that can be filled with biologics while in situ to encourage spinal fusion. A threaded rod that traverses an insertion / injection handle can be rotated to operate a screw within the interbody cage that displaces opposing vertical tapped sliding wedges, causing them to converge towards each other. Such contact causes the operation of a horizontal wedge that acts as a lift to expand the interbody cage to one of various dimensions in a preferred range. At its desired expansion, the spinal fusion implant of the present invention is sized to fit within the disc space between two vertebral bodies and fill all voids left while the vertical and horizontal wedges operate within, due to the biologics being contained within the interbody cage.

A heart valve assembly includes an annular prosthesis and a valve prosthesis. The annular prosthesis includes an annular ring for dilating tissue within a biological annulus and a conformable sewing cuff extending radially from the annular member. The valve prosthesis includes a frame and a valve component. The annular ring is introduced into the biological annulus to dilate tissue surrounding the biological annulus and the sewing cuff conforms to tissue above the biological annulus. Fasteners are directed through the sewing cuff to secure the annular prosthesis to the biological annulus. The annular prosthesis may include a baleen element for biasing fabric on the annular ring outwardly to enhance sealing against the biological annulus. A valve prosthesis is then advanced into the sinus cavity, and secured relative to the annular prosthesis. The sewing cuff may enhance a seal between the valve prosthesis and annular prosthesis.

A piezoelectric device for an ink jet print head that has a greater displacement at a low drive voltage. The ink-jet recording head includes a vibration plate, on which is mounted one or more piezoelectric devices that change the volumes of pressure chambers upon application of a voltage. The device is mounted at least on one face of a pressure chamber substrate that is to be filled with ink. Such piezoelectric device includes a second piezoelectric layer having a piezoelectric constant g of a constant value or higher; and a first piezoelectric layer having a dielectric constant of a specific value or higher. Since the piezoelectric constant d of the piezoelectric device correlates with the product of the largest piezoelectric constant g and the largest dielectric device of the piezoelectric devices, a piezoelectric constant d larger than in the conventional case, i.e., having a greater displacement, can be obtained.

An ultrasound system has a catheter including an elongate flexible catheter body having at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. The catheter further includes an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device and a distal end coupled to the distal end of the catheter body. The distal end of the catheter body is deflectable. The ultrasound system also includes a sonic connector that connects the ultrasound transmission member to an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound system also provides a method for reverse irrigation and removal of particles.

A delivery system and kit for endovascularly delivering a prosthesis along a guidewire to an curved implantation site includes a control handle having a handle body with a prosthesis movement control assembly movably disposed thereto. A proximal end of a catheter is connected to the control handle. A prosthesis delivery assembly is movably disposed in the catheter. The delivery assembly has a guidewire lumen slidably receiving therein the guidewire and having a curved distal end orienting the delivery assembly when passing through a curved vessel portion. A method for automatic endovascular alignment of the prosthesis includes loading it in the distal delivery assembly, positioning the guidewire into the curved implantation site, and threading the guidewire lumen over the guidewire with the delivery assembly and into the implantation site to at least approximately align the curved distal portion to a curve of the curved implantation site and, thereby, orient the prosthesis.

Reinforcing lumen rings are configured and adapted for use in conjunction with a circular endoscopic stapling instrument having a staple cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly. The reinforcing lumen rings maintain anastomotic lumen, e.g. as formed by the circular endoscopic stapling apparatus, in an open condition. The reinforcing lumen rings can include an annular ring having an outer terminal edge and an inner terminal edge, the outer terminal edge having a diameter which is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the staple cartridge assembly and the inner terminal edge having a diameter which is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the staple cartridge assembly.

Methods and systems are provided for routing callers to agents in a call-center routing environment. An exemplary method includes identifying caller data for a caller in a queue of callers, and jumping or moving the caller to a different position within the queue based on the caller data. The caller data may include one or both of demographic data and psychographic data. The caller can be jumped forward or backward in the queue relative to at least one other caller. Jumping the caller may further be based on comparing the caller data with agent data via a pattern matching algorithm and / or computer model for predicting a caller-agent pair outcome. Additionally, if a caller is held beyond a hold threshold (e.g., a time, “cost” function, or the like) the caller may be routed to the next available agent.

Methods and systems are disclosed for routing callers to agents in a contact center, along with an intelligent routing system. A method for routing callers includes routing a caller, if agents are available, to an agent based on a pattern matching algorithm (which may include performance based matching, pattern matching based on agent and caller data, computer models for predicting outcomes of agent-caller pairs, and so on). Further, if no agents are available for the incoming caller, the method includes holding the caller in a shadow queue, e.g., a set of callers. When an agent becomes available the method includes scanning all of the callers in the shadow queue and matching the agent to the best matching caller within shadow queue.

Methods and systems are provided for routing callers to agents in a call-center routing environment. An exemplary method includes routing a caller from a pool of callers based on at least one caller data associated with the caller, where a pool of callers includes, e.g., a set of callers that are not chronologically ordered and routed based on a chronological order or hold time of the callers. The caller may be routed from the pool of callers to an agent, placed in another pool of callers, or placed in a queue of callers. The caller data may include demographic or psychographic data. The caller may be routed from the pool of callers based on comparing the caller data with agent data associated with an agent via a pattern matching algorithm and / or computer model for predicting a caller-agent pair outcome. Additionally, if a caller is held beyond a hold threshold (e.g., a time, “cost” function, or the like) the caller may be routed to the next available agent.

Methods and systems are provided for routing callers to agents in a call-center routing environment. An exemplary method includes identifying caller data for a caller of a plurality of callers in a queue, and routing the caller from the queue out of queue order. For example, a caller that is not at the top of the queue may be routed from the queue based on the identified caller data, out of order with respect to the queue order. The caller may be routed to another queue of callers, a pool of callers, or an agent based on the identified caller data, where the caller data may include one or both of demographic and psychographic data. The caller may be routed from the queue based on comparing the caller data with agent data associated with an agent via a pattern matching algorithm and / or computer model for predicting a caller-agent pair outcome. Additionally, if a caller is held beyond a hold threshold (e.g., a time, “cost” function, or the like) the caller may be routed to the next available agent.

A vascular repair device includes a tubular graft body and a structural framework having at least two stents connected to the graft body. Stents of the structural framework can each be respectively connected to graft body adjacent the proximal and ends and the support member is shorter than the separation distance therebetween to form a gimbal at least at one end. A first stent is connected along an entirety thereof and a second stent is connected at distal apices thereof. Distal apices of the second stent have radii of curvature smaller than proximal apices. A curved longitudinal support member can be connected to the graft body, the support member being substantially symmetrical with respect to the centerline. The support member can be connected to the graft body independent of the structural framework. At least one of the ends of the support member can have a curved longitudinal extremity.

Systems and methods are disclosed for routing callers to agents in a contact center, along with an intelligent routing system. An exemplary method includes combining multiple output variables of a pattern matching algorithm (for matching callers and agents) into a single metric for use in the routing system. The pattern matching algorithm may include a neural network architecture, where the exemplary method combines output variables from multiple neural networks. The method may include determining a Z-score of the variable outputs and determining a linear combination of the determined Z-scores for a desired output. Callers may be routed to agents via the pattern matching algorithm to maximize the output value or score of the linear combination. The output variables may include revenue generation, cost, customer satisfaction performance, first call resolution, cancellation, or other variable outputs from the pattern matching algorithm of the system.

Reinforcing lumen rings are configured and adapted for use in conjunction with a circular endoscopic stapling instrument having a staple cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly. The reinforcing lumen rings maintain anastomotic lumen, e.g. as formed by the circular endoscopic stapling apparatus, in an open condition. The reinforcing lumen rings can include an annular ring having an outer terminal edge and an inner terminal edge, the outer terminal edge having a diameter which is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the staple cartridge assembly and the inner terminal edge having a diameter which is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the staple cartridge assembly.

Methods and systems are disclosed for routing callers to agents in a contact center with an intelligent routing system. An exemplary method includes routing callers to agents based on a pattern matching algorithm utilizing caller data and agent data, where the agent data includes agent satisfaction data from past agent-caller pairings. The agent satisfaction data may be obtained via surveys of the agents regarding their satisfaction with past agent-caller contacts. The agent satisfaction data may be used by the pattern matching algorithm in an attempt to increase agent satisfaction for future calls, thereby potentially reducing attrition of agents and cost to the call center, increasing morale of the agents, and so on. The agent satisfaction data and output from past agent-caller pairings may be weighted by the contact center against other agent data and caller data for a desired mixing of output variables.

The present invention relates to lighting strips and more particularly to modular lighting systems comprising lighting devices, for example, lighting strips, physically and electrically connectable with one another by way of a plug and socket integrally formed at opposing ends of the lighting strips. The lighting strip devices can be made of flexible material to allow for applying the lighting devices along flat as well as contoured surfaces. The lighting strips can also be rigid. More particularly, embodiments of the invention include modular lighting strips comprising: a non-conductive substrate strip comprising an electrical circuit; a plurality of light sources operably connected to the electrical circuit; a plug integrally formed at an end of the substrate strip; and a socket integrally formed at an opposing end of the substrate strip; wherein the plug and socket provide for removable, friction-fit, latch or latchless, and electrical interconnection of two or more circuits. Also included in the invention are connector assemblies comprising the inventive socket and plugs integral to PCBs for use in the field of electronics. One or more lighting strip can be combined to form lighting systems, which are useful in many functional and decorative lighting applications. The lighting systems are useful for any residential or commercial application where modular, discrete, low-profile, and / or flexible lighting is desired. The lighting strips of the invention can be used in particular for back lighting, accent lighting, aisle or path lighting, contour lighting, elegant interior decoration, holiday decorations, or landscape lighting.

The present invention is directed at a system and process for allowing a user to treat email addresses as objects. This allows easy manipulation of the email addresses, such as allowing them to be added to a contact list, copied to the computer's clipboard, or double-clicked to open the related contact information for that email address sender. Email addresses are treated as objects in the message preview pane and full message windows of both incoming and outgoing email messages. A small icon is added to the text of each address. In a preferred embodiment, the icons will vary depending on the pedigree of the address. The invention is not limited to single addresses. Rather, an entry denoting a mailing list could also be treated as an object and a unique icon could be employed to indicate the nature of the entry. For outgoing messages, the pedigree of the address or list is determined by monitoring where the user obtained the address. For incoming messages, the message header is parsed and searched to find addresses that match the receiving user's address book. If no match is found, a generic address icon is added before the text of the address, while the system checks the email header against other address sources such as server lists. Once the address is marked with an appropriate icon the user can manipulate the address in various ways allowing the user to readily edit or add email addresses to their contact list. Additionally, the invention may include contextual menus to assist the user in this manipulation.

An implant, in particular an intervertebral prosthesis, which consists of an elongated elastic body which is form-elastic and takes on the form of a spiral S in the force free state. The spiral can be drawn by a reverse winding up into an insertion instrument which is only insubstantially larger in the insertion region than the cross-section of the elongated elastic body in order to reach the inner space of an intervertebral disc through a small opening in the annulus fibrosus and to push in and sever off the self winding spiral when the interior is filled. This has the advantage that inner spaces of differing sizes can be filled with the same spiral.

An IC card includes a plated or protective module including a printed circuit having a plurality of conductive areas, delimited by a network of insulating channels, for covering an integrated circuit chip, a plastic support with a recess intended to host the plated module and the integrated circuit chip, with at least some of the conductive areas connected to corresponding contact points on the integrated circuit chip. A plurality of extended areas are linked to a corresponding conductive areas by one or more bridges. A couple of advanced extended areas form a rounded border of the plated module. Advanced extended areas are linked to conductive areas not connected to contact points. Advanced extended areas wrap around the extended areas and form the opposite rounded sides of the plated module.

Methods and systems are provided for routing callers to agents in a call-center routing environment. An exemplary method includes pooling incoming callers, and causing a caller from the pool of callers to be routed. The caller may be routed from the pool of callers to an agent, placed in another pool of callers, or placed in a queue of callers. The caller data may include demographic or psychographic data. The caller may be routed from the pool of callers based on comparing the caller data with agent data associated with an agent via a pattern matching algorithm and / or computer model for predicting a caller-agent pair outcome. Additionally, if a caller is held beyond a hold threshold (e.g., a time, “cost” function, or the like) the caller may be routed to the next available agent.

A variety of techniques may be employed, alone or in combination, to enhance contact between a processed substrate and applied megasonic energy. In accordance with one embodiment of the new invention, the vibration plate is brought into intimate contact with one surface of the substrate, while cleaning or processing fluid contacts the other. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a reflecting surface may be provided to cause emanated energy to be reflected back into the near field and make it more uniform. In accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention, energy may be transferred across a substrate bounded on both sides by liquid with incidence of megasonic energy that is either normal to the substrate surface or within a critical range of incident angles. In yet another embodiment, generated dilatational waves may be converted to surface waves prior to contacting the substrate.

A crosslink member for securing spinal rods is disclosed having connector ends that include a brace and a locking member, each having an arcuate face resting on and securing a spinal rod. The locking member is secured by a cam member that rotates relative to the locking member and that cams against the connector to displace the cam member. The crosslink includes a male connector with a cylindrical cross rod received by a cavity in a female connector. The cross rod is secured by a pivotable clamp device in the female connector, and the cross rod connector and female connector may pivot, rotate, and telescope relative to each other. To reduce size without sacrificing pivot sweep, the cross rod has beveled edges, and the cavity of the female connector has windows to provide pivot clearance.

An artificial disc device, comprising a plurality of interconnected elements, adapted to be assembled in situ.