| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090057222 | MEMBRANE CARD AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION AND USE THEREOF - Processes are provided for producing porous track membranes, membrane cards, membrane packages, separation elements, separation units and separation systems, for using the same for the separation of materials from fluids, and for determining the maximum pore diameter of membranes. Porous track membranes are produced by exposing a polymeric film to a bombardment of heavy ions to provide the film with a track density, etching pores into the resulting tracked film with an etching solution to provide the film with a density of the pores corresponding to the track density and laminating the resulting porous track membrane to a porous backing by means of an adhesive to produce membrane cards. Membrane packages and a turbulizer are spirally wound around a fluid collection tube to form a separation unit. The separation unit is included in a separation system with a processed fluid accumulator, pipes for the source, unprocessed, and processed fluids, a pressure transducers in fluid communication with the pipes for the processed and unprocessed fluids to control the timing of back flushing of the separation system when the membranes reach a high level of retention of materials separated from the source fluid. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20100018852 | Process for Producing a Porous Track Membrane - Porous track membranes are produced by exposing a polymeric film to a bombardment of heavy ions to provide the film with a track density, and etching pores into the resulting tracked film with an etching solution to provide the film with a density of the pores corresponding to the track density under conditions to maintain turbulent flow. An alkaline etching solution is used that contains salts of alkali metals in sufficient concentration to increase the boiling point of the resulting alkali-metal-containing solution to temperatures in excess of about 100 up to about 150° C. | 01-28-2010 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080221484 | Method and a dual-array transducer probe for real time mechanical imaging of prostate - The present invention relates to a transrectal probe and method for real time mechanical imaging of a prostate. The probe is equipped with dual-array pressure sensors—one on the probe head and another on the shaft of the probe spaced away from the head with an angular and linear offset forming an S-shaped transition between the shaft and the head of the probe. The addition of the shaft pressure sensor array together with orientation tracking sensors allows precise calculation of the current head position throughout the examination of the prostate. Display means are used to guide the user in the proper manipulation of the probe in order to reduce the forces on surrounding tissues and organs and to minimize patient's discomfort. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20090005707 | Method and device for real time mechanical imaging of prostate - The present invention relates to a method for real time mechanical imaging of a prostate with a transrectal probe. In the method, generating a composite two- and three-dimensional prostate mechanical image from a plurality of partial mechanical images extracted from pressure response data and a probe orientation data starts with examining the prostate by pressing a probe head pressure sensor array against it at various overlapping locations. Merging of partial mechanical images together is accomplished by analyzing an overlap between each subsequent and previous partial mechanical image. Finding the prostate is assisted with a supplemental pressure response data indicating the location of a sphincter known to be about 4-5 cm away from the prostate. Data processing is improved by including probe orientation data to further increase the accuracy and sensitivity of the method. The probe is equipped with a two-dimensional head pressure sensor array, a supplemental shaft sensor array and orientation tracking sensors including a three-axis magnetic sensor and a two-axis accelerometer sensor for calculating elevation, rotation and azimuth angles of the probe. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20100087756 | METHOD OF CHARACTERIZATION AND DIFFERENTIATION OF TISSUE - A novel method for soft tissue characterization includes obtaining a sequence of surface stress patterns as a function of an increasing compression force when a probe is pressed against the tissue over the location of the lesion of interest. A number of elasticity features are then calculated to characterize the tissue and the lesion located therein including strain hardening, loading curve average slope, lesion peak signal under a predetermined load, tissue heterogeneity, lesion shape and lesion mobility. At least three elasticity features are provided as an input to a statistical Bayesian classifier trained on a clinical database to calculate the probability of the lesion being benign or malignant. Additional patient-related parameters may be further provided as inputs to the classifier to increase the accuracy of differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. These parameters include a family history of cancer disease, a patient-inherited genetic factor, a history of said tissue related diseases, patient's age, patient's weight, and patient's lifestyle and dietary factors. The method of the invention along with other non-invasive examinations of lesions may help in reducing the rate of biopsies, specifically breast tissue biopsies. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20110015547 | METHOD AND A DUAL-ARRAY TRANSDUCER PROBE FOR REAL TIME MECHANICAL IMAGING OF PROSTATE - The present invention relates to a transrectal probe and method for real time mechanical imaging of a prostate. The probe is equipped with dual-array pressure sensors—one on the probe head and another on the shaft of the probe spaced away from the head with an angular and linear offset forming an S-shaped transition between the shaft and the head of the probe. The addition of the shaft pressure sensor array together with orientation tracking sensors allows precise calculation of the current head position throughout the examination of the prostate. Display means are used to guide the user in the proper manipulation of the probe in order to reduce the forces on surrounding tissues and organs and to minimize patient's discomfort. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110054357 | METHODS FOR CHARACTERIZING VAGINAL TISSUE ELASTICITY - Methods for characterizing elasticity of vaginal tissue are provided. A transvaginal probe is used to deform vaginal tissue during examination. The probe is equipped with pressure sensors and a motion tracking sensor. Stress and strain data is recorded during examination. Elasticity of vaginal tissue is then characterized by calculating a stress gradient defined as a ratio of stress over strain for each point of measurement. Vaginal tactile image may also be compiled to include a family of surfaces representing locations of measurement points at predefined constant levels of stress. Pelvic organ abnormality condition may be detected if the stress gradient is below either a predetermined threshold or a normal stress gradient obtained from clinical data. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110065989 | SYSTEM FOR ASSESSMENT OF COLONOSCOPE MANIPULATION - A comprehensive system for objective assessment of colonoscope manipulation includes a handgrip for collecting and transmitting colonoscope handling data including force and motion data; a patient pain monitor for collecting and transmitting data on the level of patient's pain and discomfort; and digital processing means for extracting useful features such as colonoscope tip advancement speed from colonoscope-provided video images. All data is wirelessly transmitted to an electronic unit for processing and displaying on a monitor. A colonoscopy procedure is properly conducted when certain shaft advancement causes appropriate tip advancement, all without an increased level of patient's pain. The system of the invention is aimed at providing objective assessment data allowing for safer and less painful colonoscopies. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110065991 | HANDGRIP FOR ASSESSMENT OF COLONOSCOPE MANIPULATION - A handgrip for colonoscope shaft is equipped with force, torque, and acceleration sensors allowing for a comprehensive characterization of colonoscope shaft motion, including recognition of obstacles and recording of forces and torques applied at various times during a colonoscopy procedure. An electronic unit is adapted to receive sensors data wirelessly and calculate a variety of motion parameters guiding a medical practitioner during the procedure and aimed at making colonoscopy safer and less painful. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110130685 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REAL TIME MECHANICAL IMAGING OF PROSTATE - The present invention relates to a method for real time mechanical imaging of a prostate with a transrectal probe. In the method, generating a composite two- and three-dimensional prostate mechanical image from a plurality of partial mechanical images extracted from pressure response data and a probe orientation data starts with examining the prostate by pressing a probe head pressure sensor array against it at various overlapping locations. Merging of partial mechanical images together is accomplished by analyzing an overlap between each subsequent and previous partial mechanical image. Finding the prostate is assisted with a supplemental pressure response data indicating the location of a sphincter known to be about 4-5 cm away from the prostate. Data processing is improved by including probe orientation data to further increase the accuracy and sensitivity of the method. The probe is equipped with a two-dimensional head pressure sensor array, a supplemental shaft sensor array and orientation tracking sensors including a three-axis magnetic sensor and a two-axis accelerometer sensor for calculating elevation, rotation and azimuth angles of the probe. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110196263 | METHODS FOR ASSESSMENT OF PELVIC ORGAN CONDITIONS AFFECTING THE VAGINA - Methods for assessment of pelvic floor conditions based on tactile imaging are described. The vaginal wall is deformed using a transvaginal probe equipped with tactile pressure sensors and a motion tracking sensor. The vaginal wall coordinates and pressure patterns are obtained during the examination and used to build 3-D tactile image of the vagina and to calculate elasticity modulus profiles and spacing profiles along selected lines inside 3-D tactile image. The profile values at specified locations are then compared with thresholds or profiles for normal conditions of vagina and its support structures. Methods of the invention are disclosed to be used in assessing a risk of pelvic organ prolapse development, estimating an extent of pelvic floor organ traumatic damage after childbirth and estimating an improvement after an interventional procedure. | 08-11-2011 |
