71 results about "Volume displacement" patented technology

Methods and apparatus are provided for treating congestive heart by actively or passively enhancing perfusion to the renal arteries. A first embodiment comprises a specially configured balloon catheter and extracorporeal pump, wherein the pump operates in a “once-through” fashion or alternating volume displacement mode. In another embodiment the catheter includes a pair of balloons to isolate a region of the aorta, and a third balloon that directs flow into the renal arteries. In still further embodiments, a stent or cuff having a constricted region is deployed in or around the aorta, respectively, to create a backpressure upstream of the stent or cuff. Methods of enhancing renal perfusion also are provided.

A penile prosthesis is provided, which includes a generally cylindrical body portion comprising a cavity with an inner wall, a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one volume-displacing member occupying at least a portion of the cavity, wherein the at least one volume-displacing member is smaller in at least one dimension than the dimensions of the cavity to provide an internal chamber at least partially surrounding the at least one volume-displacing member and adjacent to the inner wall of the cavity. The prosthesis further includes a fluid transfer tube extending from the body portion for transferring fluid to and from the internal chamber, wherein the device is convertible from a flaccid condition to a rigid condition when a sufficient volume of fluid is transferred into the internal chamber to substantially fill the internal chamber.

Methods and apparatuses for measuring parameters based on the presence or absence of fluid at a plurality of fluid sensing zones in a disposable cassette are described herein. In an embodiment, a fluidic device includes a disposable cartridge including a fluid channel, an instrument configured to receive the disposable cartridge, the instrument including at least one sensor having a plurality of fluid sensing zones spaced along the fluid channel when the disposable cartridge is received by the disposable cartridge, each fluid sensing zone configured to determine a presence or absence of fluid at a respective portion of the fluid channel, and a control unit configured to determine at least one of a fluid volume, a volume displacement, a flow rate, a flow velocity or a volume ratio of gas bubbles of the fluid based on the presence or absence of the fluid at each of the fluid sensing zones.

A slotted waveguide for use with an electrodynamic transducer is described. The slotted waveguide has a transducer front surface for radiating acoustic energy from the electrodynamic transducer. The transducer front surface is concave and the electrodynamic transducer is operable to a desired high frequency. The slotted waveguide may include a body and a volume displacement element. The slotted opening has a width not substantially greater than a wavelength corresponding to the desired high frequency and the volume displacement element has a displacement surface that extends inward into the electrodynamic transducer and complements in shape the transducer front surface.

This invention provides a radiation boundary integrator (“RBI”) for integrating sound radiation from mid-range and high-frequency sources in multi-way loudspeakers. The RBI is a substantially solid boundary that is placed over the mid-range speakers to provide smooth, wave-guiding side walls to control the angular radiation of the high-frequency sound waves emanating from the high-frequency sound sources. To allow the mid-range frequency sound waves generated from mid-range sound sources to pass through the RBI, the RBI is designed with openings. To further prevent the possibility of having high-frequency sound radiate through the openings in the RBI, the RBI may be designed with porous material in the openings of the RBI. The porous material would be transparent to the mid-range sound radiation, but would prevent the high-frequency sound radiation from being disturbed by the openings in the RBI. As such, the RBI provides an outer or front surface area that forms an acoustical barrier to high frequencies radiating across the front surface, yet is acoustically transparent to mid-range frequencies radiating through openings in the RBI. The RBI may also serve as a volume displacement device to compression-load the mid-range sound sources by contouring the back side of the RBI to the shape of the mid-range sound sources thus reducing the space between the RBI and the mid-range sound sources and loading the mid-range sound sources to generate greater mid-range sound energy.

A vaporizer device for the administration of a substance to a user as a vapor comprises a housing and a mechanism for delivering a vapor. The mechanism is located within the housing. The housing comprises one or more air intake openings, at least one air exit opening, at least one control button and a display screen. The mechanism for delivering a vapor comprises a translational screw in contact with a micro motor, a cavity adapted to engage a liquid-containing cartridge, a heating chamber adapted to receive a liquid from the liquid-containing cartridge, a heating element adapted to provide heat to the heating chamber, a first air channel in communication with the one or more air intake openings and the heating chamber, and a second air channel in communication with the heating chamber and the at least one air exit opening. A method of administering a vapor to an individual includes use of the vaporizer device where the vaporizer device is adapted to receive control instructions. A liquid-filled cartridge is provided which is adapted to be inserted into the cavity such that the cartridge can be placed in contact with the translational screw. The liquid-filled cartridge is inserted into the vaporizer; and a vapor provided by the vaporizer device is inhaled. The vaporizer device accurately determines the dosage that a patient is inhaling while also regulating their use of the device. This Volume Displacement Dosage Vaporizer is a reusable device with replaceable liquid cartridges. These cartridges can contain multiple dosages of a specific liquid, which is more convenient for the patient and reduces cost. Since the dosage is pre-measured while in liquid form, the air flow / suction force of the vapor does not affect the dosage. The device can also have locking mechanisms and wireless communication capabilities. The device will not allow patients take over the maximum doctor recommended dosage, and regulates the time interval of those dosages based on doctor recommendation. wireless communication can be used to communicate with other devices to ensure that the patient is not overlapping their dosages while using other devices. Wireless communication can also be used to sync the device to a smartphone, tablet, or computer app to track patient data, usage, and the patient can also set a timer / alarm.

A medical device includes a vascular access device with an access port having a septum and a slit. The slit is formed on the inner surface of the body of the septum where the access port receives an access device that is separate from the vascular access device through the slit of the septum. A pivoting member in communication with the access port pivots when the port is accessed by an access device. The medical device may be used to control the volume displacement of a chamber within the medical device by decreasing the volume of the chamber by inserting a substance having a mass into the chamber, pivoting a structure associated with the chamber, and increasing the volume of the chamber simultaneously and commensurately with the mass of the substance inserted into the chamber.

A medical device may include a vascular access device with an access port which may include a septum and a slit. The slit may be formed on the inner surface of the body of the septum and the access port may be capable of receiving a separate access device through the slit of the septum. The medical device may also include a flexible member which expands to create an additional volume within the access port when the port is accessed by the access device. A method of controlling volume displacement a chamber of a medical device may include decreasing the volume of a chamber of an extravascular system by inserting a substance having a mass into the chamber and / or increasing the volume of the chamber simultaneously and commensurately with the mass of the substance inserted into the chamber.

Procedures for the fusion of the sacroiliac joint advantageously make use of an implant selected to distract the joint upon insertion and to maintain or increase tension upon insertion. The implant can have a varying structure along its length. In some method described herein for fusing the sacroiliac joint using an implant, an implant is screwed into the sacroiliac joint between the sacrum bone and the iliac bone. The implant comprises a shaft, a tool engagement flange at top end of the shaft, a pointed tip comprising no more than about 20 percent of the length of the screw, and threads spiraling around the shaft. For screws of particular interest, the volume displacement perpendicular to the shaft increases at least about 5 percent from a point adjacent the tip to a point near the top of the shaft. Some of the desirable screw designs can be used in other orthopedic application, especially situations involving varying bone hardness. Useful filler material can be formed from a blend of bone powder and bioactive agents.

A microfluidic chips (1), microfluidic fluid reservoirs (2), microfluidic kits (1,2) comprising a microfluidic chip (1) and a microfluidic fluid reservoir (2), and to methods of operating such microfluidic kits (1,2). According to the invention, at least either the microfluidic chip (1) or the microfluidic fluid reservoir (2) includes a distensible diaphragm (4) or a distensible wall region, respectively, which is distensible into the fluid reservoir (2), with volume displacement taking place, in order to move a fluid (8) out of the fluid reservoir (2) through the fluid channel inlet (6) into a fluid channel (7) of the microfluidic chip (1).