| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090306657 | SPLIT FLEXIBLE TUBE BIASING AND DIRECTIONAL ATHERECTOMY DEVICE AND METHOD - The invention provides a rotational atherectomy system, device and method comprising a flexible, elongated, rotatable catheter tube that is split into two elements, a biasing element and a cutting element, distally and wherein the biasing element and cutting element are capable of forming a first and retracted position for insertion into a lumen and a second and expanded position for ablation. The biasing element is biased in the expanded position, thereby placing a biasing force against the lumen wall and pressing the cutting element against the opposite side of the lumen wall for directional cutting and/or grinding, either by rotation, axial translation, vibration or a combination thereof. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090306689 | BIDIRECTIONAL EXPANDABLE HEAD FOR ROTATIONAL ATHERECTOMY DEVICE - A rotational atherectomy device that includes an expandable head that can clean a blockage from vessel larger than its rest diameter, in which the drive shaft may rotate in two opposite directions and may have different abrasive characteristics for each rotation direction. In one direction, the head may be configured for cutting and/or slicing, which may be well suited to removing particularly soft blockage material. In the other direction, the head may be configured for grinding, scraping and/or sanding, which may be well suited to removing particularly hard blockage material. The head includes one or more arms that are pivotally or hingedly attached to the drive shaft. One or more abrasive elements are disposed on or are attached to the one or more arms. The abrasive elements have a cutting feature, such as a sharpened edge that cuts like a razor blade when the drive shaft is rotated in the “cutting” direction. The abrasive elements also have a grinding feature, such as an abrasive material disposed on the abrasive element adjacent to the sharpened edge, which grinds away a blockage when the drive shaft is rotated in the “grinding” direction. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100121361 | DIRECTIONAL ROTATIONAL ATHERECTOMY DEVICE WITH OFFSET SPINNING ABRASIVE ELEMENT - The invention provides a rotational atherectomy system, device and method comprising a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with a pre-curved abrasive section disposed within a catheter that deforms the abrasive section to a substantially straight profile and, when the abrasive section is moved distally out of the catheter, the abrasive section resumes its pre-curved profile. Directional ablation is achieved by rotation of the drive shaft along its pre-curved axis as the abrasive section is urged against a portion of the lumen wall. | 05-13-2010 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090083665 | MULTI-STATE UNIFIED PIE USER INTERFACE - A state menu selection system that provides a function control set relating to an active application, maps at least one function from the function control set to at least one input device, and activates a function from the control set upon activation of the corresponding input device. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20100125603 | Method, Apparatus, and Computer Program Product for Determining Media Item Privacy Settings - An apparatus for determining media item privacy settings may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive media item capture data associated with a media item. The media item capture data may include at least a capture location. The processor may also be configured to identify a privacy context that corresponds to the media item capture data. In this regard, the capture location of the media item capture data may be within a geographic zone of the privacy context. The processor may be further configured to determine a privacy setting for the media item based on the corresponding privacy context, and, in some embodiments, control access to the media item in accordance with the determined privacy setting. Associated methods and computer program products may also be provided. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100262616 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING VISUAL SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS - An approach is provided for modifying the image content of returned images resulting from a search query. The portions of each image that is unrelated to the search query is omitted or other wise obscured so as to reduce the amount of image data in the search results. Additionally, related advertising, hyperlinks, or other object can be combined with the image data to enhance the information returned to the user. | 10-14-2010 |