Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110138948 | COAXIAL SCREW GEAR SLEEVE MECHANISM - An improved mechanism for expanding or lifting a device in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention is a coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanism. In various embodiments, coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms includes a post with a threaded exterior surface and a corresponding sleeve configured to surround the post, the corresponding sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to interface with the threaded exterior surface of the post and a geared exterior surface. A drive mechanism can be configured to interface with the geared exterior surface of the sleeve, causing a device utilizing such a mechanism to expand or lift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. | 06-16-2011 |
20110160861 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR VERTEBRAL BODY DISTRACTION AND FUSION EMPLOYING A COAXIAL SCREW GEAR SLEEVE MECHANISM - Improved methods and apparatuses for vertebral body distraction and fusion in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention employ one or more coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms. In various embodiments, coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms include a post with a threaded exterior surface and a corresponding sleeve configured to surround the post, the corresponding sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to interface with the threaded exterior surface of the post and a geared exterior surface. A drive mechanism can be configured to interface with the geared exterior surface of the sleeve, causing the device to distract. | 06-30-2011 |
20120022357 | MEDICAL EMITTER/DETECTOR IMAGING/ALIGNMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Improved methods and apparatuses for imaging during medical procedures in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention include use of an image correction algorithm. In various embodiments, an original image of a region of interest where a medical procedure occurring along a particular axis will be performed is created with a beam emitter and a generally planar detector. Due to the emitter not being aligned orthogonal to the detector, the original image will be skewed. Using a known location and orientation of the detector, a location and orientation of the emitter provided by a position monitoring system, and the original image, a processing system can execute the image correction algorithm to provide a corrected image to allow a surgeon to perform the medical procedure while viewing an accurate corrected image in real-time. | 01-26-2012 |
20120022544 | PEDICLE SCREW INSERTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Improved methods and apparatuses for inserting pedicle screws in accordance with embodiments of the present invention include an image correction algorithm. In various embodiments, an original image of a region of interest of a patient including a pedicle is created with an X-ray emitter and an X-ray detector. Due to the X-ray emitter not being aligned orthogonal to the X-ray detector, the original image will be skewed. Using a known location and orientation of the X-ray detector, a location and orientation of the X-ray emitter provided by a position monitoring system, and the original image, a processing system can execute the image correction algorithm to provide a corrected image to allow a surgeon to properly insert a pedicle screw along the axis of the pedicle while viewing an accurate corrected image in real time | 01-26-2012 |
20120323329 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR VERTEBRAL BODY DISTRACTION AND FUSION EMPLOYING A COAXIAL SCREW GEAR SLEEVE MECHANISM - Improved methods and apparatuses for vertebral body distraction and fusion in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention employ one or more coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms. In various embodiments, coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms include a post with a threaded exterior surface and a corresponding sleeve configured to surround the post, the corresponding sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to interface with the threaded exterior surface of the post and a geared exterior surface. A drive mechanism can be configured to interface with the geared exterior surface of the sleeve, causing the device to distract. | 12-20-2012 |
20150088258 | Methods and Apparatuses for Vertebral Body Distraction and Fusion Employing a Coaxial Screw Gear Sleeve Mechanism - Improved methods and apparatuses for vertebral body distraction and fusion in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention employ one or more coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms. In various embodiments, coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms include a post with a threaded exterior surface and a corresponding sleeve configured to surround the post, the corresponding sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to interface with the threaded exterior surface of the post and a geared exterior surface. A drive mechanism can be configured to interface with the geared exterior surface of the sleeve, causing the device to distract. | 03-26-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090137953 | DEFLECTABLE CATHETER STEERING AND LOCKING SYSTEM - A deflectable catheter includes a catheter shaft having a deflectable distal tip. A support member is coupled around a proximal portion of the catheter shaft, and the support member includes a first brake portion extending along at least a portion of the support member. A handle is coupled around the support member. The deflectable catheter includes a carriage moveably coupled along the handle, and the carriage includes a second brake portion sized and shaped to engage with at least a portion of the first brake portion. A flexible element is coupled between the deflectable distal tip and the carriage. A biasing device is adapted to bias the second brake portion into engagement with the first brake portion. | 05-28-2009 |
20090235511 | PUSH/PULL WIRE ANCHOR - A method for making a deflectable catheter includes positioning a positioning a flexible element along a catheter liner. A flexible element distal portion extends along at least a portion of a deflectable distal end portion of the catheter liner. At least one anchor is engaged to the flexible element distal portion. The anchor extends at least part way around the flexible element distal portion. An encapsulant is positioned around at least the flexible element distal portion and the deflectable distal end portion. The method further includes squeezing the encapsulant around the flexible element distal portion and the anchor, wherein the encapsulant forms at least a portion of a sidewall of the deflectable distal end portion and at least the anchor is within the sidewall, and the encapsulant is adapted to transmit pushing and pulling forces from the at least one anchor to the deflectable distal end portion, and the tension strength and compression strength of the flexible element and the at least one anchor are at least as strong as the encapsulant tension strength and compression strength. | 09-24-2009 |
20090312699 | BI-DIRECTIONAL CATHETER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD THEREFOR - A catheter assembly includes a catheter body extending from a deflectable distal end to a proximal end, and the catheter body includes an actuator lumen. A housing is engaged to the proximal end of the catheter body. A flexible element extends from the housing through the actuator lumen to the deflectable distal end. The deflectable distal end is deflected by pushing and pulling of the flexible element. An actuator is movably coupled with the housing and connected to the flexible element. A tubular support is engaged around the flexible element and connected to the actuator, the tubular support moves with the actuator, and the tubular support substantially constrains lateral movement of the flexible element. The tubular support is telescopically received and engaged with an inner surface of the actuator lumen. The inner surface of the actuator lumen substantially constrains lateral movement of the tubular support and the flexible element. | 12-17-2009 |
20100160858 | DEFLECTABLE CATHETER STEERING AND LOCKING SYSTEM - A deflectable catheter includes a catheter shaft having a deflectable distal tip. A support member is coupled around a proximal portion of the catheter shaft, and the support member includes a first brake portion extending along at least a portion of the support member. A handle is coupled around the support member. The deflectable catheter includes a carriage moveably coupled along the handle, and the carriage includes a second brake portion sized and shaped to engage with at least a portion of the first brake portion. A flexible element is coupled between the deflectable distal tip and the carriage. A biasing device is adapted to bias the second brake portion into engagement with the first brake portion. | 06-24-2010 |
20110196346 | ARTICULATING HANDLE FOR A DEFLECTABLE CATHETER AND METHOD THEREFOR - A catheter assembly includes a handle assembly, and a catheter body coupled with the handle assembly, where the catheter body extends to a deflectable distal end portion, and the deflectable distal end is controllable by a flexible element. A lever actuator member is operatively coupled with the flexible element, and movement of the actuator member provides for movement of the flexible element. | 08-11-2011 |
20130072868 | Articulating Handle for a Deflectable Catheter and Method Therefor - A catheter assembly includes a handle assembly, and a catheter body coupled with the handle assembly, where the catheter body extends to a deflectable distal end portion, and the deflectable distal end is controllable by a flexible element. A lever actuator member is operatively coupled with the flexible element, and movement of the actuator member provides for movement of the flexible element. | 03-21-2013 |
20140343512 | LARGE BORE SHEATH ASSEMBLY - A hemostasis valve assembly includes a housing and a valve member. The housing includes a central bore. The valve member is positioned within the housing and includes opposed first and second primary surfaces, a thickness, an opening, and first and second slits. The valve thickness is defined between the first and second primary surfaces. The opening is formed in the first primary surface. The first and second slits intersect each other and extend through a portion of the valve thickness. At least one of the first and second slits is accessible within the opening. | 11-20-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120253108 | IMPLANTS, TOOLS, AND METHODS FOR TREATMENT OF PELVIC CONDITIONS - Described are various embodiments of surgical procedures, systems, implants, devices, tools, and methods, useful for treating pelvic conditions in a male or female, the pelvic conditions including incontinence (various forms such as fecal incontinence, stress urinary incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence, etc.), vaginal prolapse (including various forms such as enterocele, cystocele, rectocele, apical or vault prolapse, uterine descent, etc.), and other conditions caused by muscle and ligament weakness, the devices and tools including devices and tools for anchoring an implant to supportive tissue and adjusting the implant. | 10-04-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130035543 | TOOLS AND METHODS FOR TREATMENT OF PELVIC CONDITIONS - Surgical procedures, systems, implants, devices, tools, and methods that are used for treating pelvic conditions in a male or female, the pelvic conditions including incontinence (various forms such as fecal incontinence, stress urinary incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence, etc.), vaginal prolapse (including various forms such as enterocele, cystocele, rectocele, apical or vault prolapse, uterine descent, etc.), and other conditions caused by muscle and ligament weakness, the devices and tools including devices and tools for anchoring an implant to tissue, adjusting the length of implant components, and cutting the implant to a desired length. | 02-07-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100086226 | POTENTIAL FIELD-BASED GAMUT MAPPING - A method for adjusting a color in a color space comprises adjusting the color along a gradient path to a point in or on a color gamut. The gradient path is determined from a potential field derived from the color gamut consisting of gamut points in the color space. The potential field can be derived from one or more points in the color gamut and different functions may be used to determine the potentials due to different points in the gamut. The potential at a point in the color space due to the gamut point can be a function, including an inverse power, of distance of the point in the color space from the gamut point. The gradient path can be determined from the gradient of the potential field by quadric error-based surface simplification of a surface mesh representing a surface of the gamut. | 04-08-2010 |
20120229461 | POTENTIAL FIELD-BASED GAMUT MAPPING - A method for adjusting a color in a color space comprises adjusting the color along a gradient path to a point in or on a color gamut. The gradient path is determined from a potential field derived from the color gamut consisting of gamut points in the color space. The potential field can be derived from one or more points in the color gamut and different functions may be used to determine the potentials due to different points in the gamut. The potential at a point in the color space due to the gamut point can be a function, including an inverse power, of distance of the point in the color space from the gamut point. The gradient path can be determined from the gradient of the potential field by quadric error-based surface simplification of a surface mesh representing a surface of the gamut. | 09-13-2012 |
20130100465 | INK REDUCTION METHOD - A method for forming a color transform for a color printing device having a plurality of colorant channels that includes applying a tone scale adjustment function and a total colorant load limit. An optimization process is used to optimize a merit function including a tone scale reproduction accuracy term and a gamut shape term. The method involves determining an initial merit function value responsive to an initial total colorant load limit and an initial set of tone scale adjustment parameters for a tone scale adjustment function. Modified tone scale adjustment parameters and a modified total colorant load limit are determined that provide an improved merit function value subject to a constraint that an average total colorant load is no more than a predefined threshold for a predefined distribution of input colors. | 04-25-2013 |
20130100466 | METHOD OF INK REDUCTION - A method for forming a color transform for a color printing device having a plurality of colorant channels that includes applying a colorant control value transformation function characterized by a set of transformation function parameters. An optimization process is used to optimize a merit function including a gamut shape term. The method involves determining an initial merit function value responsive to an initial gamut shape determined using the initial set of transformation function parameters. Modified transformation function parameters are determined that produce a modified gamut shape and provide an improved merit function value. | 04-25-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090125078 | SELECTING CARDIAC PACING SITES - A method for selecting a cardiac pacing site includes steps of: securing first and second electromagnetic receiver coils at first and second positions, respectively, along a heart wall; collecting a set of non-paced heart wall motion data from each of the coils secured at the corresponding positions; applying cardiac pacing stimulation at at least one first pacing site; collecting a first set of paced heart wall motion data from each of the secured coils; comparing the non-paced heart wall motion data to the first set of paced heart wall motion data; and determining, based on the comparing, whether to maintain pacing at the at least one first cardiac pacing site or to apply pacing stimulation at a second pacing site for collection of a second set of paced heart wall motion data. The at least one first pacing site may include a right ventricular site and a left ventricular site. | 05-14-2009 |
20090198298 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR USE IN SELECTING CARDIAC PACING SITES - A method and system for use in selecting a cardiac pacing site includes sensors for tracking wall motion (e.g., sensors coupled to the right and left ventricular heart wall). The wall motion of one or more non-paced cardiac cycles is compared to the wall motion of one or more paced cardiac cycles to determine the effectiveness of one or more pacing sites. For example, image data may be generated to notify the user as to the effectiveness of the one or more pacing sites. | 08-06-2009 |
20110029034 | ALGORITHM TO MODULATE ATRIAL-VENTRICULAR DELAY AND RATE RESPONSE BASED ON AUTONOMIC FUNCTION - An implantable medical device and associated method provide atrial pacing and measure an atrial ventricular (AV) delay. An autonomic function index is computed using the AV delay. The autonomic function index may be compiled in a medical report. In some embodiments, the autonomic function index is used to adjust atrial pacing control parameters. | 02-03-2011 |