Abstract: An implantable device for positioning in the vicinity of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery (CCA) into the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the external carotid artery (ECA) comprises a deflecting element suitable to deflect the flow of embolic material flowing in the CCA toward the ICA, into the ECA.

Abstract: A process for the polymerization of one or more alpha-olefins having at least 3 carbon atoms, which comprises contacting the monomer or monomers in a polar or non-polar solvent under polymerization conditions with a homogeneous catalyst system including (a) a cationic form of a racemic mixture of a chiral octahedral transition metal complex or of a non chiral octahedral transition metal complex, comprising 1, 2 or 3 bidentate chelating ligands and no cyclopentadienyl ligands and having C1, C2, or C3 symmetry; and (b) an anion of a Lewis acid or a Brönsted acid; and adjusting the pressure so as to obtain either a highly stereoregular polymer or copolymer or an elastomer.

Abstract: This invention discloses a medical condition sensing system including a multiplicity of general purpose computers disposed in user locations and being connected via a computer network to at least one controller computer remote from at least one of the user locations, personal parameter measuring software resident on at least one of the multiplicity of general purpose computers and the at least one controller computer for measuring at least one personal parameter of at least one user, personal parameter reference generating software resident on at least one of the multiplicity of general purpose computers and the at least one controller computer for establishing a reference for the at least one personal parameter, and personal parameter comparison software resident on at least one of said multiplicity of general purpose computers and the at least one controller computer for comparing at least one currently measured personal parameter with a corresponding reference and providing a comparison output.

Abstract: A method of chemosensitization which comprises administering at least one chemotherapeutic agent and at least one 3-aryloxy-3-phenylpropylamine to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: A method of testing an agent for its potential at modulating induction of a molecular weight change of a first polyion is disclosed. The method is effected by (a) subjecting the first polyion to conditions under-which the first polyion undergoing the molecular weight change in a presence, in an absence or under several different concentrations of the agent; (b) interacting the first polyion with a second polyion having an opposite charge, the second polyion being fluorescently labeled; (c) providing reaction conditions so as to allow molecular weight discriminative interaction between the first polyion and the second polyion; and (d) employing a fluorescence polarization assay for determining a modulating effect of the agent on the induction of the molecular weight change of the first polyion.

Abstract: A process for the polymerization of one or more alpha-olefins having at least 3 carbon atoms, which comprises contacting the monomer or monomers in a polar or non-polar solvent under polymerization conditions with a homogeneous catalyst system including (a) a cationic form of a racemic mixture of a chiral octahedral transition metal complex or of a non chiral octahedral transition metal complex, comprising 1, 2 or 3 bidentate chelating ligands and no cyclopentadienyl ligands and having C1, C2, or C3 symmetry; and (b) an anion of a Lewis acid or a Brönsted acid; and adjusting the pressure so as to obtain either a highly stereoregular polymer or copolymer or an elastomer.

Abstract: A method of marking individuals of commercially distributed organism or organisms and offspring thereof is disclosed. The method is effected by genetically marking a plurality of individuals of the organism or organisms with a plurality of unique DNA sequences, each of the unique DNA sequences includes a variable region, so as to produce artificial, inherited and detectable genetic variability among the plurality of individuals of the commercially distributed organism or organisms.

Abstract: A surgical inserter is provided which includes (a) a head portion formed with a ring acceptor for accepting a ring of the surgical screw; and (b) a neck portion connected to, or integrally formed with, the head portion. The neck portion is formed with two longitudinal grooves for engaging a folded band of connective tissue therein.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a risk of a subject to develop vascular complications is disclosed. The method is effected by determining a haptoglobin phenotype of the subject and thereby evaluating the risk of the subject to develop vascular complications. The risk is decreased in patients with haptoglobin 1-1 phenotype as compared to patients with haptoglobin 1-2 or haptoglobin 2-2 phenotypes.

Abstract: The present invention concerns novel stent apparatuses for use in treating lesions at or near the bifurcation point in bifurcated cardiac, coronary, renal, peripheral vascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, urinary and neurovascular vessels and brain vessels. More particularly, the invention concerns a stent apparatus with at least one side opening which may further comprise an extendable stent portion laterally extending from the side opening and at least partly in registry with the wall of the side opening.

Abstract: An integrated-optical device including a substrate having waveguide and a plurality of electrodes to receive electrical signals for controlling the light transmission through the pathways. The waveguide pathways are in an interaction zone of an electro-optically active waveguide material whose refractive index changes in response to electrical signals applied to the electrodes, and also in an access zone providing optical access to the interaction zone. The active waveguide material in the interaction zone is preferably a different material from the waveguide material in the access zone, enabling improved performance and/or simpler fabrication in a number of described respects.

Abstract: A method of aligning a side opening in a primary stent in registry with the ostium of a branch vessel includes advancing a first guidewire through a primary vessel such that a distal end of the first guidewire extends past an intersection of the primary vessel and the branch vessel, advancing a catheter over the first guidewire to the intersection of the primary vessel and the branch vessel. A second guidewire is advanced out of the stent through the side opening and into the branch vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed are olefin polymerization methods comprising the use of the following compounds: wherein M is a metal atom, R1-R8 are univalent radicals, X1 and X2 are univalent ligands, X3 is a divalent ligand, and (RnY—T) is an optional donor or non-donor group. The relatively stable and simply synthesized pre-catalyst is activated by a co-catalyst under mild reaction conditions, producing exceptionally reactive polymerization of a wide variety of alpha-olefin monomers, and forming a variety of poly(alpha-olefin) products, having high molecular weight and low molecular weight distribution (PDIs close to 1). Living polymerization is performed at or above room temperature, along with achieving block co-polymerization of alpha-olefin monomers at room temperature, and producing polymers and oligomers having a wide range of molecular weights.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid, a recombinant protein encoded thereby and uses thereof. The isolated nucleic acid including (a) a polynucleotide at least 60% identical to SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5 or portions thereof as determined using the Bestfit procedure of the DNA sequence analysis software package developed by the Genetic Computer Group (GCG) at the university of Wisconsin (gap creation penalty—50, gap extension penalty—3); (b) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide being at least 60 homologous with SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6 or portions thereof as determined using the Bestfit procedure of the DNA sequence analysis software package developed by the Genetic Computer Group (GCG) at the university of Wisconsin (gap creation penalty—50, gap extension penalty—3); or (c) a polynucleotide hybridizable with SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5 or portions thereof at 68° C. in 6×SSC, 1% SDS, 5×Denharts, 10% dextran sulfate, 100 &mgr;g/ml salmon sperm DNA, and 32p labeled probe and wash at 68° C.

Abstract: A device and corresponding method for indicating in-use charging and abnormal discharging of a combustion engine battery during and following engine turn-off using a current sensor, a charge level tester, a latch circuit, a charge indicator, and a voltage level tester for detecting, measuring, indicating, and storing an indication of in-use normal or abnormal battery charging/discharging.

Abstract: A sealing sheet (10) assembly bondable to a construction surface comprising (a) an upper layer (14) of a first substance, the upper layer being selected fluid impermeable; and (b) a lower flexible layer (16) of a second substance, the lower flexible layer being bondable to the construction surface. The upper layer and the lower flexible layer are at least partially attached to one another, wherein a combination of the upper layer, the lower layer and the attachment or the partial attachment of the layers to one another are selected such that tensile forces resulting from constructional movements acting upon the sealing sheet result in a local detachment or relative displacement of the upper layer and the lower flexible layer, thereby the ability of the lower flexible layer of transmitting the forces onto the upper layer is remarkably reduced, resulting in improved service of the sealing cover as a whole.

Abstract: A distance measurement system is provided. The distance measurement system includes at least one resonant circuit, at least one magnetic element with predetermined magnetic properties, a transmitter operable to transmit an electromagnetic pulse, a receiver operable to detect oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse, and an analyzer operable to analyze an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, to thereby determine a distance between the resonant circuit and the magnetic element.

Abstract: A method of providing a drug to a specific region of a patient's body is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) administering to the patient a prodrug being convertible to the drug upon exposure to a predetermined dose of energy; and (b) irradiating the specific region of the body with at least two energy waves, each being provided from a different direction and/or distance, thereby generating the predetermined dose of energy in the specific region of the body and converting the prodrug into the drug therein.

Abstract: An internal fixation device particularly useful for securing bone fragments which includes an elongate tubular sleeve for insertion into the medullary canal of the bone fragments to be secured; an elongate shaft movable within the sleeve; and at least two anchoring elements, each having an inner end coupled to the shaft and an outer end aligned with a slot in the sleeve and displaceable radially outwardly therethrough to engage a bone fragment upon the movement of the shaft within the sleeve. The inner ends of the anchoring elements coupled to the shaft are oriented such that the outward displacement of one anchoring element anchors the engaged bone fragment against movement in one longitudinal direction, and the outward displacement of the other anchoring element anchors the engaged bone fragment against movement in the opposite longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for imaging a body by exposing the body to radiation transmitted through the body via successive angular portions from a radiation source on one side of the body to a radiation detector in alignment with the radiation source on the opposite side of the body; the radiation detector including a two-dimensional matrix of detector elements producing electrical outputs corresponding to the magnitudes of the radiation received by each detector element; the radiation source producing a conical beam sufficiently large such that each exposure covers all the detector elements in the two-dimensional array after traversing the body.