89 results about "Minimal risk" patented technology

The present invention involves new interventional methods and devices for reducing gastric volume, and thereby treating obesity. The procedures are generally performed laparoscopically and may generally be described as laparoscopic plication gastroplasty (LPG) in which, after obtaining abdominal access, spaced apart sites on a gastric wall are engaged and approximated to create one or more tissue folds that are then secured by placing one or more tissue fasteners to produce one or more plications projecting into the gastrointestinal space. The serosal tissue may optionally be treated during the procedure to promote the formation of a strong serosa-to-serosa bond that ensures the long-term stability of the tissue plication. These procedures are preferably carried out entirely extragastrically (i.e. without penetrating through the gastrointestinal wall), thereby minimizing the risks of serious complications. Minimally invasive devices for approximating and fastening soft tissues are disclosed that enable these new interventional methods to be carried out safely, efficiently and quickly. Methods for reversing the procedure are also disclosed.

This invention relates generally to a design of lung devices for safely performing a transthoracic procedure. In particular, the invention provides devices and methods of using these devices to access the thoracic cavity with minimal risk of causing pneumothorax or hemothorax. More specifically, the invention enables diagnostic and therapeutic access to a thoracic cavity using large bore instruments. This invention also provides a method for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using a device capable of sealing the wound upon withdrawal of the device. The invention includes a device comprising an elongated body adapted to make contact with a tissue of a subject through an access hole, and a sealant delivery element. The invention also includes a method of performing tissue treatment or diagnosis in a subject.

A bone fusion method, apparatus and device for insertion between bones that are to be fused together and / or in place of one or more of the bones, such as, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device comprises one or more extendable plates having a central rib. The bone fusion device includes one or more support channels configured to receive an insertion instrument that is then secured to the bone fusion device via a coupling mechanism. As a result, the coupled device is able to be securely positioned between vertebrae using the insertion instrument with minimal risk of slippage.

The subject invention pertains to an elastic sheath, device, and methods for disrupting and / or removing occlusive material from lumens, particularly biological lumens, such as the vasculature, ureter, urethra, fallopian tubes, bile duct, intestines, and the like. The subject invention provides for effective disruption and removal of occlusive material, such as a thrombus, from the body lumen with minimal risk of injury to the lumen wall. Advantageously, the invention can be used to achieve a high degree of removal while minimizing the amount of occlusive material that is released into the body lumen. The subject invention further pertains to methods for disrupting and removing occlusive material from a biological lumen. In another aspect, the present invention concerns a device useful as an in vitro model of luminal occlusion and methods for using the device to test the efficacy of devices and methods for treating luminal occlusions.

Disclosed are systems and methods which provide techniques providing account setup, management and transaction authorization determinations in real-time using transaction interrupt messaging. Embodiments preferably take into consideration the quality of one or more parties to the transaction and the means by which charges may be rendered to them when making account setup, management, and / or transaction authorization determinations. Accordingly, transactions, such as collect calls, meeting at least some minimal risk threshold may be completed on a first call attempt, even where a pre-arranged billing agreement or other business relationship is not previously in place.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for increasing virtual storage capacity in on-demand storage systems. The method utilizes data compression to selectively compress data stored in a storage resource to reduce the utilization of physical storage space whenever such physical resources have been over committed and the demand for physical storage exceeds its availability. In one exemplary embodiment, the utilization of the capacity of a shared storage resource is monitored and data is selected for compression based on the utilization. The compression of the selected data is triggered in response to the monitoring results. In addition, policies and rules are defined that determine which data is selected for compression. For example, the selection of data may be based on one or more of the following: a degree of utilization of said capacity of said shared storage resource, a volume size of said data, an indicator of compressibility of said data, a frequency of use of said data, a manual selection of said data, and a predefined priority of said data. The disclosed methods improve the operation of virtual allocation by further enhancing the availability of physical space through data compression. Virtual allocation and block-based data compression techniques are utilized to improve storage efficiency with a minimal risk to system availability and reliability and with a minimal impact to performance (access time and latency).

A trigger point massage therapy device for well-controlled trigger point therapy, suitable for long-term use by a health practitioner with minimal risk of pain or injury, can include a main body with a handle, rubberized grips, a connection pin, that can connect to a pressure point base with a pressure point tip, whereon can further be installed additional pressure point tips in different sizes; a pressure sensor, a step-vibration component, an electro-motor; and additionally heating, ultra sound, electrical stimulation, infrared, and cold laser light components. The device can further include a control unit, which can be used for programming and controlling the functions of the device. Also described is a method for trigger point massage therapy, including measuring a pressure, adjusting the pressure, holding the pressure, rotating / unwinding, vibrating, and increasing the pressure.

Interposition and augmentation devices for tendon and ligament repair, including rotator cuff repair, have been developed as well as methods for their delivery using arthroscopic methods. The devices are preferably derived from biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoates, and preferably from copolymers or homopolymers of 4-hydroxybutyrate. The devices may be delivered arthroscopically, and offer additional benefits such as support for the surgical repair, high initial strength, prolonged strength retention in vivo, flexibility, anti-adhesion properties, improved biocompatibility, an ability to remodel in vivo to healthy tissue, minimal risk for disease transmission or to potentiate infection, options for fixation including sufficiently high strength to prevent suture pull out or other detachment of the implanted device, eventual absorption eliminating future risk of foreign body reactions or interference with subsequent procedures, competitive cost, and long-term mechanical stability. The devices are also particularly suitable for use in pediatric populations where their eventual absorption should not hinder growth.

A delivery system and method for percutaneous aortic valve (PAV) replacement and apparatus used therein. A temporary aortic valve comprised of a reversibly expandable occluding means, such as balloons, surrounds a central catheter mechanism. The temporary valve is positioned within the ascending aorta, just above and downstream from the coronary ostia. The occluding means is configured such that, when fully expanded against the aortic wall, gaps are left that promote continuous coronary perfusion during the cardiac cycle. The temporary valve with occluding means substitutes for the function of the native aortic valve during its replacement. The native aortic valve is next dilated, and then ablated through deployment of low profile, elongated, sequentially delivered stents. The ablation stent(s) displace the native valve tissues and remain within the aortic annulus to receive and provide a structure for retaining the PAV. The PAV is delivered, positioned and deployed within the ablation stent(s) at the aortic annulus with precision and relative ease. Ablation of the native aortic valve removes the structural obstacles to precise PAV placement. The temporary aortic valve mediates the hemodynamic forces upon the devices as encountered by the surgeon following native valve ablation. The temporary valve also promotes patient stability through continuous coronary perfusion and a moderated transvalvular pressure gradient and regurgitation. Sequential delivery of low profile PAV components minimize the risk of trauma and injury to vascular tissues. Mathematical considerations for determining the optimum cross-sectional area for the temporary valve blood perfusion gaps are also described.

Disclosed are systems and methods which provide techniques providing account setup, management and transaction authorization determinations in real-time using transaction interrupt messaging. Embodiments preferably take into consideration the quality of one or more parties to the transaction and the means by which charges may be rendered to them when making account setup, management, and / or transaction authorization determinations. Accordingly, transactions, such as collect calls, meeting at least some minimal risk threshold may be completed on a first call attempt, even where a pre-arranged billing agreement or other business relationship is not previously in place.

This invention relates generally to a design of lung devices for safely performing a transthoracic procedure. In particular, the invention provides devices and methods of using these devices to access the thoracic cavity with minimal risk of causing pneumothorax or hemothorax. More specifically, the invention enables diagnostic and therapeutic access to a thoracic cavity using large bore instruments. This invention also provides a method for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using a device capable of sealing the wound upon withdrawal of the device. The invention includes a device comprising an elongated body adapted to make contact with a tissue of a subject through an access hole, and a sealant delivery element. The invention also includes a method of performing tissue treatment or diagnosis in a subject.

A risk classification technique that exploits the existing risk structure of the decision problem in order to produce risk categorizations for new candidates is described. The technique makes use of a set of candidates for which risk categories have already been assigned (in the case of insurance underwriting, for example, this would pertain to the premium class assigned to an application). Using this set of labeled candidates, the technique produces two subsets for each risk category: the Pareto-best subset and the Pareto-worst subset by using Dominance. These two subsets can be seen as representing the least risky and the most risky candidates within a given risk category. If there are a sufficient number of candidates in these two subsets, then the candidates in these two subsets can be seen as samples from the two hypothetical risk surfaces in the feature space that bound the risk category from above and below respectively. A new candidate is assigned a risk category by verifying if the candidate lies within these two bounding risk surfaces.

Compositions and methods for prevention and treatment of uncontrolled formation of intravascular fibrin clots, which are capable of selective dissolution of pathological nascent clots formed intravascularly, with minimal risk of unwanted dissolution of pre-existing hemostatic clots, are provided wherein fibrinolytic or anticoagulant drugs are biocompatibly coupled to red blood cell carriers.

Hypotonic formulations were evaluated for delivering water-soluble drugs and for drug delivery with muco-inert (that is, non-adhesive) mucus-penetrating nanoparticles (MPP). Hypotonic formulations markedly increased the rate at which drugs and MPP reached the epithelial surface, including deep into the vaginal folds. Minimally hypotonic formulations, preferably ranging from 20-220 mOsm / kg, provided rapid and uniform delivery of MPP to the entire vaginal surface, with minimal risk of epithelial toxicity. Data also show that there is a higher osmolality in the colon, such that vehicles with an osmolality above that of blood plasma (generally considered isotonic at ˜300 mOsm / kg), still lead to improvements in distribution in the colon due to rapid, osmotically-induced fluid absorption. The range for improved colon distribution with a hypotonic vehicle in the colon is ˜20 mOsm / kg-450 mOsm / kg.

Interposition and augmentation devices for tendon and ligament repair, including rotator cuff repair, have been developed as well as methods for their delivery using arthroscopic methods. The devices are preferably derived from biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoates, and preferably from copolymers or homopolymers of 4-hydroxybutyrate. The devices may be delivered arthroscipiclly, and offer additional benefits such as support for the surgical repair, high initial strength, prolonged strength retention in vivo, flexibility, anti-adhesion properties, improved biocompatibility, an ability to remodel in vivo to healthy tissue, minimal risk for disease transmission or to potentiate infection, options for fixation including sufficiently high strength to prevent suture pull out or other detachment of the implanted device, eventual absorption eliminating future risk of foreign body reactions or interference with subsequent procedures, competitive cost, and long-term mechanical stability. The device are also particularly suitable for use in pediatric populations where their eventual absorption should not hinder growth.

Methods and a circuit for writing to an SRAM memory cell of an array are discussed that provide improved static noise margin, and minimal risk of data upsets during write operations. The write method first rapidly raises the wordline to a lower read voltage level for access, then after a time delay that allows the cells in the selected row to establish a stabilizing differential voltage on the associated bitlines, raises the wordline voltage to a boosted or higher write voltage level. An SRAM bitline enhancement circuit may also be utilized in association with the SRAM memory array and writing method, for enhancing the differential voltage produced by an SRAM memory cell of the array on associated first and second bitlines of the array of conventional SRAM cells (e.g., a conventional 6T differential cell). In one implementation, the SRAM bitline enhancement circuit comprises a half-latch or a sense amplifier connected to associated bitline pairs of the array for amplifying the differential voltage.

Technical solutions are described for controlling an automated driving system of a vehicle. An example method includes computing a complexity metric of an upcoming region along a route that the vehicle is traveling along. The method further includes, in response to the complexity metric being below a predetermined low-complexity threshold, determining a trajectory for the vehicle to travel in the upcoming region using a computing system of the vehicle. Further, the method includes in response to the complexity metric being above a predetermined high-complexity threshold, instructing an external computing system to determine the trajectory for the vehicle to travel in the upcoming region. If the trajectory cannot be determined by the external computing system a minimal risk condition maneuver of the vehicle is performed.

Hypotonic formulations were evaluated for delivering water-soluble drugs and for drug delivery with muco-inert (that is, non-adhesive) mucus-penetrating nanoparticles (MPP). Hypotonic formulations markedly increased the rate at which drugs and MPP reached the epithelial surface, including deep into the vaginal folds. Minimally hypotonic formulations, preferably ranging from 20-220 mOsm / kg, provided rapid and uniform delivery of MPP to the entire vaginal surface, with minimal risk of epithelial toxicity. Data also show that there is a higher osmolality in the colon, such that vehicles with an osmolality above that of blood plasma (generally considered isotonic at ˜300 mOsm / kg), still lead to improvements in distribution in the colon due to rapid, osmotically-induced fluid absorption. The range for improved colon distribution with a hypotonic vehicle in the colon is ˜20 mOsm / kg-450 mOsm / kg.

The present invention is directed to a buprenorphine sustained release delivery system capable of delivering buprenorphine, a metabolite, or a prodrug thereof for a duration of about 14 days to about 3 months. The buprenorphine sustained release delivery system includes a flowable composition and a solid implant for the sustained release of buprenorphine, a metabolite, or a prodrug thereof. The implant is produced from the flowable composition. The buprenorphine sustained release delivery system provides in situ 1-month and 3-month release profiles characterized by an exceptionally high bioavailability and minimal risk of permanent tissue damage and typically no risk of muscle necrosis.

A bone fusion method, system and device for insertion between bones that are to be fused together and / or in place of one or more of the bones, such as, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device comprises one or more extendable tabs having a central rib. The bone fusion device includes one or more support channels configured to receive an insertion instrument that is then secured to the bone fusion device via a coupling mechanism. As a result, the coupled device is able to be securely positioned between vertebrae using the insertion instrument with minimal risk of slippage.

A patient pull-up system is provided which enables a single operator to reposition a patient situated on a patient support, such as a bed, cart, gurney, or table, from a slumped position to a more upright position nearer the head of the patient support. The repositioning event is accomplished with minimal risk of injury or discomfort to the operator and patient. The patient pull-up system includes a translating device, a frame member, and a clamp adapted to grasp a portion of a sheet situated between a patient and a patient support.

A land grid array (LGA) connector assembly (1) includes a base (11), a stiffener (13) mounted to the base, and a lever (12) and a metal clip (14) pivotally mounted to two opposite ends of the base and engaging with each other. The base has a forewall (116). The stiffener includes two flanges (132) covering two opposite lateral sides of the base. The ends of the flanges and the forewall of the base cooperatively define a channel. Each flange defines a pivot bore (1321) at an end of the channel. The lever is received in the channel, with pivoting in the pivot bores. Thus, when the lever are rotated to firmly attach a CPU in the LGA connector assembly, the base can withstand forces from the clip without any deformation and warpage, and the lever is reliably retained in the channel with minimal risk of breaking out from the channel.

Novel bactericidal antibodies against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (“MenB”) are disclosed. The antibodies either do not cross-react or minimally cross-react with host tissue polysialic acid and hence pose minimal risk of autoimmune activity. The antibodies are used to identify molecular mimetics of unique epitopes found on MenB or E. coli K1. Examples of such peptide mimetics are described that elicit serum antibody capable of activating complement-mediated bacteriolysis of MenB. Vaccine compositions containing such mimetics can be used to prevent MenB or E. coli K1 disease without the risk of evoking autoantibody.

The invention relates to an improved extreme learning machine, particularly relates to an improved extreme learning machine combining learning thought of a least square vector machine, and belongs to the technical field of the artificial intelligence. On the basis of minimizing empirical risk of the traditional extreme learning machine, the improved extreme learning machine provided by the invention is combined with the learning thought of the least square vector machine, and is additionally provided with a structural risk control item, and calculates the result through efficiently adjusting the ratio of two kinds of risks, so that the risk of the overfitting generated by a module is greatly lowered. Three experiments of practically applying the method in the Sinc data set, the Boston Housing data set and the oxygen dissolving forecasting in the aquaculture indicate that compared with the ELM algorithm and the EOS-ELM algorithm, the forecast error of the method is relatively approximate with the training error, so that the problem of the overfitting is efficiently lowered, and the forecast precision is enhanced to a certain extent.

Methods and a circuit for writing to an SRAM memory cell of an array are discussed that provide improved static noise margin, and minimal risk of data upsets during write operations. The write method first rapidly raises the wordline to a lower read voltage level for access, then after a time delay that allows the cells in the selected row to establish a stabilizing differential voltage on the associated bitlines, raises the wordline voltage to a boosted or higher write voltage level. An SRAM bitline enhancement circuit may also be utilized in association with the SRAM memory array and writing method, for enhancing the differential voltage produced by an SRAM memory cell of the array on associated first and second bitlines of the array of conventional SRAM cells (e.g., a conventional 6T differential cell). In one implementation, the SRAM bitline enhancement circuit comprises a half-latch or a sense amplifier connected to associated bitline pairs of the array for amplifying the differential voltage.

A retrieval catheter operable by a single clinician that will neither displace a deployed stent nor cause undue trauma to the vascular lumen or lesion. The retrieval catheter may be sized to accommodate both a guidewire and a balloon wire. The retrieval catheter is easy to navigate through tortuous passageways and will cross a previously deployed stent or stent-graft easily with minimal risk of snagging on the deployed stent or stent graft. The sheath and dilator are adapted to allow a guidewire or balloon wire to pass through the walls of both and to allow the sheath and dilator to move axially with respect to each other.

The present invention is directed to a buprenorphine sustained release delivery system capable of delivering buprenorphine, a metabolite, or a prodrug thereof for a duration of about 14 days to about 3 months. The buprenorphine sustained release delivery system includes a flowable composition and a solid implant for the sustained release of buprenorphine, a metabolite, or a prodrug thereof. The implant is produced from the flowable composition. The buprenorphine sustained release delivery system provides in situ 1-month and 3-month release profiles characterized by an exceptionally high bioavailability and minimal risk of permanent tissue damage and typically no risk of muscle necrosis.