554 results about "Thumb opposition" patented technology

A fixation band for affixing a prosthetic heart valve to tissue, the fixation band comprising: a structure having a proximal end and a distal end in opposition to one another, and a lateral region between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the prosthetic heart valve is attached to one of the proximal end and the distal end of the structure; a plurality of barbs selectively configurable between a first position and a second position, the barbs being contained within a peripheral boundary of the lateral region of the structure in the first position, and the barbs being extended from the peripheral boundary of the lateral region of the structure in the second position; and an actuator for selectively moving the plurality of barbs between the first position and the second position. A fixation band for affixing a prosthetic heart valve to tissue, the fixation band comprising: a proximal annular portion and a distal annular portion selectively positioned relatively to one another, the proximal annular portion and the distal annular portion each having a proximal side and a distal side, the proximal side of the distal annular portion and the distal side of the proximal annular portion being oriented toward one another, and the prosthetic heart valve being attached to one of the distal side of the distal annular portion and the proximal side of the proximal annular portion; a plurality of staples configured between the distal side of the proximal annular portion and the proximal side of the distal annular portion; and a compression device in attachment to the proximal annular portion and the distal annular portion, the compression device being configured to selectively position the proximal annular member and the distal annular member toward one another so as to compress the plurality of staples therebetween and deploy the plurality of staples into tissue so as to affix the prosthetic heart valve to the tissue.

A surgical incision suturing device particularly suited for minimally invasive surgical procedures integrates an elongated member such as a trocar with a suture deployment device. In one embodiment, the suturing device of the present invention includes an elongated member having a distal end adapted for placement within a surgical site. A pair of needle assemblies is disposed in substantially diametric opposition on the outside surface of the elongated member. Each of the needle assemblies includes a suture anchor coupled to the distal end of a needle shaft. In a further aspect, each of the needle assemblies is detachably coupled to the elongated member and biased to pivot radially outward from the elongated member at the detachable coupling.

Apparatus for holding and feeding product includes a) a tray having a front end, b) a sidewall clip, carried by a first extremity of a sidewall, attached to the front end of the tray, c) a paddle clip attached to the front end of the tray, d) a third elongate abutment clip, carried by an abutment, attached to the first and paddle clips, e) a paddle mounted to the tray for reciprocal movement in opposition to the abutment, and f) a spring coupling the paddle clip to the paddle and biasing the paddle toward the abutment.

A lancing apparatus includes an inner housing, a firing mechanism, a lancing mechanism and a linkage arm. The firing mechanism is configured for producing a firing force in a first direction. The lancing mechanism is configured for delivering a lancing force in a second direction with the second direction being toward a target site and in opposition to the first direction. The linkage arm is pivotably attached to the housing and has first and second ends engaged to the firing and lancing mechanisms, respectively. During use, pivoting of the linkage arm converts the firing force in the first direction into the lancing force in the opposing second direction.

An analyte monitoring system for the determination of an analyte (such as glucose) in a bodily fluid sample (e.g., blood) includes an external system housing, a lancing apparatus and a meter for determination of the analyte. The lancing apparatus is integrated with the external system housing and includes an inner housing, a firing mechanism, a lancing mechanism and a linkage arm. The firing mechanism is configured for producing a firing force in a first direction. The lancing mechanism is configured for delivering a lancing force in a second direction with the second direction being toward a target site and in opposition to the first direction. The linkage arm is pivotably attached to the housing and has first and second ends engaged to the firing and lancing mechanisms, respectively. During use, pivoting of the linkage arm converts the firing force in the first direction into the lancing force in the opposing second direction.

A bone fastener assembly, comprising a bone fastener, an adjusting member and a securing fastener is provided for fastening an appliance to a bone body so that a plurality of the bone fastener assemblies and the appliance constitute an apparatus that acts to retain a plurality of bone bodies in a desired spatial relationship. Each bone fastener has an attaching portion for attaching the bone fastener to a bone or bone part, a supporting portion for supporting the adjusting member for universal movement relative to the supporting portion, and a securing portion for securing the bone fastener to the securing fastener. The securing fastener has a first end that passes through an aperture in the appliance and an opening in the adjusting member and is secured to the securing portion of the bone fastener. A second end of the securing fastener has a bearing surface that adjustably bears against the appliance in opposition to an engaging surface of the adjusting member that engages the appliance.

Systems and methods are providing for aligning an accessory to an electronic device interface. In particular, some accessories such as optical filters and lens require specific alignment to operative properly. Using a first magnet array positioned around the periphery of the interface and a second magnet array positioned within the accessory, a user can position an accessory on the electronic device and rotate the accessory until the magnets of each array exert a force on an opposing magnet of the other array. By distributing the magnets in a manner that includes no repeating segments, only a single alignment of the accessory relative to the interface can allow the magnet arrays to be properly in opposition.

Electromagnetic motor with a slider that moves linearly with respect to the stator in either direction. Embodiments include slider internal or external the stator. Slider includes one magnetic flux producing element in all embodiments. Internal slider embodiments stator includes a minimum of three magnetic flux producing elements and a maximum of four such elements. External slider embodiments stator includes two magnetic flux producing elements. All embodiments provide positive slider return to center at rest position. In internal slider embodiments the slider is centered within the stator resulting from either: a combination of a repelling force from a single magnetic flux producing element in opposition to gravitational pull on the slider due to its weight; or equal and opposite repelling forces on opposite sides of the stator from a magnetic flux producing element on opposite sides of the stator all three elements in longitudinal alignment with each other.

An anthropomorphic artificial hand having a mechanical system that allows for the digits to be compliant to pressure that tends to flex the digits, and provides for the digits to be self biasing to conform to the shape of the object being grasped. The hand comprises one to four fingers, with the fingers having up to three joints each. The hand may also comprise a thumb that can be rotated into and out of opposition of the fingers. The joints of the thumb are also self biasing to allow conformance to the object being grasped. The hand is of the voluntary closing operation, with all digits being self extending. This allows the hand to use two cables to operate if body powered (one for the fingers, one for the thumb). The hand may also be electronically powered using two channels for operating the fingers and thumb simultaneously.

A new approach for reconstructing a ligament, the new approach comprising: creating a bone tunnel within a host bone, the bone tunnel having a proximal end and a distal end, and defining a central axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end; creating an intervening layer of bone between the central axis of the bone tunnel and a rigid portion of the host bone, the intervening layer having a first side and a second side in opposition to one another, the first side of the intervening layer facing toward the central axis of the bone tunnel and the second side of the intervening layer facing toward the rigid portion of the surrounding host bone; and compressing the intervening layer of bone against a graft ligament positioned within the bone tunnel.

Provided is a device and method for replacing a diseased or damaged intervertebral disc in the spine of a patient. The device provided having at least two units, each of the units having an articulation surface and a bone contacting surface, the articulation surfaces of each of the at least two being in articulating opposition one to the other, one of which having a convex articulation surface and the other having a complementary concave articulation surface. The bone contacting surfaces being provided with bone implantation securing elements such as keel type or spike type protrusions. Also provided is a method of implanting the device into an intervertebral space from a posterior approach.

An exercise device comprising a foot carriage slideably mounted on tracks, the tracks are held together parallel to one another and resistance elements provide opposition against the relative motion of the foot carriage. The foot carriage can be a frame carrying wheels and a foot support.

A prosthetic device (12) and liner (14) form a prosthetic system (10) that can substantially mimic the cosmetic and functional qualities of a human hand. A harness (22) is adapted to fit about a remnant portion (16) of a hand (18). The harness has an opening (26) for accommodating the liner (14). A moveably mounted opposition member (24) is supported by the harness (22) and sensors (60, 62) positioned about the harness (22) detect a force exerted by an area (40) in proximity to the hypothenar eminence of remnant portion. Once a force is detected by either sensor (60, 62) a signal is communicated to a controller (70) which activates a motor (100) causing motion of the opposition member (24).

An injection and aspiration syringe is designed for operation in either mode with the same finger grip. The syringe has a barrel with wings located at a proximal end region and a central passage, a plunger assembly having a plunger stem terminating in a plunger free end and a plunger head which slidably engages the central passage, and a barrel attachment which engages the barrel and has an associated attachment stem. The barrel attachment can be affixed to the barrel, with the attachment stem slidably engaging the barrel attachment. Alternatively, the barrel attachment can slidably engage the barrel and have the attachment stem affixed thereto. The plunger stem and the attachment stem are interlinked to move in opposition to each other, such that the plunger stem is raised by depressing the attachment stem. A flexible filament attached to the plunger stem, passing along the central passage, over the proximal end region of the barrel, and down the barrel to the attachment stem can be employed to provide a pulley-like action between the plunger stem and the attachment stem. Alternatively, a pinion gear can be mounted in the proximal end region of the barrel to engage racks on the plunger stem and the attachment stem.

A device adapted to be circumferentially fitted around the forearm to alleviate symptoms of overuse injuries, such as tennis elbow. The device is an elongate band composed of two elongate arcuate compression plates detachably and adjustably linked end to end by flexible straps. Each of the compression plates has an inwardly concave skin contacting surface which, in operation, are in circumferent opposition on the forearm to compress the skin overlying the radial extensor and flexor muscles within the forearm transaxially disposed therebetween. When the band is circumferentially tensioned and fastened to encircle the forearm, only the discrete, anatomically opposed skin contacting surfaces of the compression plates press against the skin. The skin contacting surfaces of the two compression plates are positioned by the user to immediately overlie the extensor and flexor muscle mass respectively. Only the skin underlying the skin-contacting surface of the compression plates and the intervening tissue transaxially disposed therebetween is compressed. Other circumferential portions of the forearm underlying the band are not compressed and the venous blood return is substantially unimpaired by the band.

A prosthetic system for heart valve replacement comprises an annular support structure within which a valved prosthetic body can be expanded until it meet opposition. The annular support is provided in two or more ring segments having terminal connection means for forming, in the condition of use of the prosthetic system, a stable and durable annular structural continuity capable of withstanding the opposition exerted by the valved prosthetic body. The prosthetic system is deployed using guide wires within a cardiac chamber guided through an introducer catheter having two or more through lumens, within which at least two first guide catheters are positioned. These guide catheters have respective deflected or deflectable distal ends adapted to emerge from the distal end of the introducer catheter to convey and direct the distal ends of respective guide wires, placed within the guide catheters, towards a capture member of a capture system which is provided within the introducer catheter.

An apparatus for anchoring at least two graft ligaments within a longitudinal bone tunnel includes a longitudinal sleeve having at least two radially spaced ligament-contacting surfaces located in lateral opposition to a sleeve inner lumen. The sleeve is configured for at least partial insertion into the bone tunnel with each graft ligament positioned laterally adjacent a different ligament-contacting surface. The graft ligaments are at least partially located between the bone tunnel and the sleeve. An actuating member has longitudinally separated proximal and distal actuating member ends. An asymmetrically offset profile is defined by at least one of the sleeve and the actuating member. The asymmetrically offset profile has a plurality of longitudinally spaced engagement thresholds. The actuating member is inserted longitudinally into the sleeve to cause frictional engagement of each graft ligament with both the bone tunnel and at least one ligament-contacting surface. The frictional engagement of each graft ligament is temporally spaced apart from the frictional engagement of at least one other graft ligament. The temporal spacing is provided by the plurality of engagement thresholds. A method of anchoring at least two longitudinally extending graft ligaments within a bone tunnel is also provided.

In an opposed piston engine, a pair of pistons are disposed in opposition in the bore of a cylinder. The cylinder includes first liquid coolant grooves having a first cooling capacity to cool a portion of the cylinder extending from a central portion toward an exhaust port, and second liquid coolant grooves having a second cooling capacity, less than the first cooling capacity, to cool a portion of the cylinder extending from the central portion toward an inlet port. Each piston includes a cylindrical skirt with a crown and an open end opposite the crown, a piston rod with a bore, a first end attached to a back surface of the crown, and a second end extending through the open end of the skirt, a radial array of liquid coolant flow passages in communication with the bore and disposed between the first end and the back surface of the crown, and a single wristpin retained on the second end section of the piston rod and positioned externally to the piston.

An auxiliary rack for an automatic dishwasher increases an adaptability of racks to accommodate a variety of items to be washed and further increases the adaptability through the use of a single auxiliary rack. An automatic dishwasher can be selectively provided with at least one auxiliary rack, which includes a pivot support; and an auxiliary rack insert, rotatably coupled to the pivot support, having a plurality of rack insert sides, each side providing a specific accommodation of items according to a rotation of the auxiliary rack insert. The auxiliary rack insert is selectively rotatable with respect to the pivot support through an insertion of at least one pivot pin, centrally disposed with respect to the auxiliary rack insert, into at least one pivot hole formed in either the pivot support or the auxiliary rack insert to be disposed in opposition to the pivot pin, thereby enabling a selective rotation of the auxiliary rack insert with respect to the pivot support, to direct upward any one of the rack insert sides. At least one nodule protrudes to a predetermined height from either the pivot support or the auxiliary rack insert, with at least one recess being opposingly formed to receive and seat the nodule in a rotation-checked state, which directs upward one of the plurality of rack insert sides.

A cooling apparatus includes a direct-bonded copper (“DBC”) substrate, the DBC substrate having a plurality of micro-structure tabs formed on a fluid impingement side of the DBC substrate, and a jet head in complementary opposition to the fluid impingement side. The jet head has a first plurality of micro-jets facing the fluid impingement side, each of the first plurality of micro-jets having a nozzle, and a second plurality of micro-jets facing the fluid impingement side so the jet head is configured to deliver a fluid to the plurality of micro-structure tabs through the first and second plurality of micro-jets.

Provided is an LED module which, even when CSP LED devices are arrayed adjacent to each other, emits light at a light emission color of a single LED device and is bright. An LED module includes a module substrate, first LED devices having a lateral surface which is configured of an optically transmissive face, and second LED devices having a lateral surface which is configured of a light blocking face. The first LED devices are mounted upon the module substrate adjacent to the second LED devices such that the translucent faces of the first LED devices and the light blocking faces of the second LED devices are in opposition.

The present invention alters the flow path at the inlet of the sheet glass forming apparatus to improve quality. The bottom of the downcomer pipe is preferably shaped to alter the character of the vortex flow in the quiescent flow zone between the pipes. In another embodiment, a bead guide provides hydraulic stresses that are in opposition to the surface tension stress and thus reduces the influence of surface tension on the formation of thick beads on the edges of the sheet. The present invention also measures the temperature of the glass by immersing thermocouples in the glass, at locations where any defects caused by the immersion are in the glass that forms the unusable edges of the sheet. In another embodiment, the support structure for the trough is altered to substantially reduce the aging of the trough due to thermal creep.

The invention discloses a solar intelligent zebra crossing device. The solar intelligent zebra crossing device comprises a solar power supply system, a pedestrian sensing and detecting system, a PLC (programmable logic controller) control system, a zebra crossing LED indicator light system and a voice warning system. When pedestrians go into a zebra crossing area, pressure sensors transmit sensing signals to the control system, the control system judges that the pedestrians walk out of the zebra crossing or to the opposition direction of the zebra crossing. When the pedestrians walk to the counter road via the zebra crossing, LED lamps embedded on the zebra crossing emit conspicuous red light to prompt passing vehicles of no entry so as to avoid the pedestrians in advance. When the vehicles pass and the pedestrians are detected at a starting line of the zebra crossing, the voice warning system can prompt the pedestrians of no entry. The solar intelligent zebra crossing device is powered by solar energy, energy source is saved, cables are not needed to be paved, mounting of the device is convenient, avoiding of the vehicles and safety passing of the pedestrians are facilitated, and traffic potential hazards are reduced.

A drum-type washing machine, having a plurality of lifts installed on an inner circumferential surface of a drum, enables improved washing performance by providing friction plates on the inclined sides of each lift to increase a frictional force between the lift and laundry. Each lift includes a pair of inclined sides, disposed in opposition to each other to form a shape having a regular trapezoidal cross-section, for lifting laundry; and a pair of friction plates, consisting of a pair of opposing surfaces respectively provided on each inclined side and having a multitude of protuberances formed on both faces, to increase a frictional force with respect to the laundry.