Abstract: A matching network system including communication devices, servers and software which enables the provisioning of services and execution of transactions based on a plurality of private and public personality profiles and behavior models of the users, of the communication devices, of the products/services and of the servers; in combination with the software resident at the communication device level and or the local/network server level. Matching and searching processes based on a plurality of personality profiles wherein the information, communication and transactions are enabled to be matched with the user, the communication device and or the servers. The communication device is a stationary device or a mobile device, such as a portable computing device, wireless telephone, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, or a multifunction communication, computing and control device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for the treatment of diseases in the vasculature, and more specifically, devices and methods for treatment of aneurysms found in blood vessels. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a two part prostheses, where one part is an expandable sponge structure and the other part is an expandable tubular mesh structure, is provided. In the first embodiment, the expandable sponge structure is intended to fill the aneurysm cavity to prevent further dilatation of the vessel wall by creating a buffer or barrier between the pressurized pulsating blood flow and the thinning vessel wall. In the first embodiment, the expandable tubular mesh structure is placed across the aneurysm, contacting the inner wall of healthy vessel proximal and distal to the aneurysm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for the treatment of diseases in the vasculature, and more specifically, devices and methods for treatment of aneurysms found in blood vessels. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a two part prostheses, where one part is an expandable sponge structure and the other part is an expandable tubular mesh structure, is provided. In the first embodiment, the expandable sponge structure is intended to fill the aneurysm cavity to prevent further dilatation of the vessel wall by creating a buffer or barrier between the pressurized pulsating blood flow and the thinning vessel wall. In the first embodiment, the expandable tubular mesh structure is placed across the aneurysm, contacting the inner wall of healthy vessel proximal and distal to the aneurysm.

Abstract: Various methods and apparatus for processing audio signals are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device which can enhance and/or optimize received audio signals for vibrational conduction to the user. Received audio signals may be processed to cancel acoustic echo such that undesired sounds received by one or more intra-buccal and/or extra-buccal microphones are eliminated or mitigated. Additionally, a multiband actuation system may be used where two or more transducers each deliver sounds within certain frequencies. Also, the assembly may also utilize the sensation of directionality via the conducted vibrations to emulate directional perception of audio signals received by the user. Another feature may include the ability to vibrationally conduct ancillary audio signals to the user along with primary audio signals.

Abstract: A method for treatment of COPD, hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy, and chronic hypoxia including creation of an artificial arterio-venous fistula and installation of a flow mediating device proximate the fistula. The flow mediating device is operated to limit flow as medically indicated to provide the optimum amount of bypass flow.

Abstract: Dental retention systems which facilitate the adjustment or removal of an oral appliance, e.g., a crown or bridge, from a reconfigurable abutment assembly are described. The adjustable abutment assembly may be secured to an anchoring implant bored into the bones within the mouth. The abutment assembly has a projecting abutment portion with one or more shape memory alloy compression plates or elements extending along the projecting abutment portion. Each of the plates has a length with one or more straightened portions and with at least one curved or arcuate portion. Energy may be applied to the elements such that the arcuate portion self-flattens to allow for the oral appliance to be placed thereupon while removal of the energy allows the elements to reconfigure into its curved configuration thereby locking the oral appliance to the abutment. Removal of the oral appliance may be effected by reapplication of energy to the elements.

Abstract: Tissue visualization devices and variations thereof are described herein where such devices may utilize a variety of methods for facilitating clearing of the device of opaque bodily fluids and sealing between the device and the underlying tissue surface. Additionally, methods and devices for enhancing navigation of the device through a patient body are also described.

Abstract: A digital audio player device can be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance or other oral device to form an intraoral MP3 player. In another embodiment, the device provides an electronic and transducer device that can be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance or other oral device to form a DAP. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device fabricated from a thermal forming process utilizing a replicate model of a dental structure obtained by conventional dental impression methods. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming and/or entertainment device, in particular in the form of a roulette game device, having a game field comprising a plurality of wager fields which can be covered individually and/or group-wise by a wager of a player and/or of a plurality of players, as well as having a playing field, in particular in the form of a roulette wheel, comprising a plurality of winning fields of which one or, optionally, more can be selected by means of a winnings determination means.

Abstract: Systems and methods for designing and implanting a customized intra-ocular lens (IOL) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes an eye analysis module that analyzes a patient's eye and generates biometric information relating to the eye. The system also includes eye modeling and optimization modules to generate an optimized IOL model based upon the biometric information and other inputted parameters representative of patient preferences. The system further includes a manufacturing module configured manufacture the customized IOL based on the optimized IOL model. In addition, the system can include an intra-operative real time analyzer configured to measure and display topography and aberrometry information related to a patient's eye for assisting in proper implantation of the IOL.

Abstract: Methods and devices described herein facilitate improved treatment of body organs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating obesity, insulin resistance and co-morbidities of these conditions by removing tissue from the abdomen. More specifically, it relates to a method of removing abdominal fat and omentum to which the fat is attached, in order to improve health. The invention includes a device for safely removing this tissue material.

Abstract: Tubular casting processes, such as dip-coating, may be used to form substrates from polymeric solutions which may be used to fabricate implantable devices such as stents. The polymeric substrates may have multiple layers which retain the inherent properties of their starting materials and which are sufficiently ductile to prevent brittle fracture. Parameters such as the number of times the mandrel is immersed, the duration of time of each immersion within the solution, as well as the delay time between each immersion or the drying or curing time between dips and withdrawal rates of the mandrel from the solution may each be controlled to result in the desired mechanical characteristics. Additional post-processing may also be utilized to further increase strength of the substrate or to alter its shape.

Abstract: Tubular casting processes, such as dip-coating, may be used to form substrates from polymeric solutions which may be used to fabricate implantable devices such as stents. The polymeric substrates may have multiple layers which retain the inherent properties of their starting materials and which are sufficiently ductile to prevent brittle fracture. Parameters such as the number of times the mandrel is immersed, the duration of time of each immersion within the solution, as well as the delay time between each immersion or the drying or curing time between dips and withdrawal rates of the mandrel from the solution may each be controlled to result in the desired mechanical characteristics. Additional post-processing may also be utilized to further increase strength of the substrate or to alter its shape.

Abstract: A stimulation device is provided that stimulates breathing to manipulate blood gas concentrations such as SaO2 or PCO2 and thereby treat underlying causes of breathing disorders and heart failure progression. A programmable device is provided for setting diaphragm stimulation waveforms that adjust minute ventilation about a predetermined baseline value. Normal breathing of the subject is observed to establish a baseline reference minute ventilation, and the device is programmed to produce stimulation waveforms that may provide either a decrease or an increase in the patients minute ventilation. The minute ventilation of the subject may be decreased or increased from the baseline level by decreasing or increasing a parameter that changes minute ventilators.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for delivering energy to lung tissue, for example to cause lung volume reduction. In one embodiment, an elongated catheter has a handle portion that includes an interior chamber that is supplied with a biocompatible liquid media under pressure. An energy source delivers energy to the media to cause a liquid-to-vapor phase change within the interior chamber and ejects a flow of vapor media from the working end of the catheter. The delivery of energy and the flow of vapor are controlled by a computer controller to cause a selected pressure and selected volume of vapor to propagate to the extremities of the airways. Contemporaneously, the vapor undergoes a vapor-to-liquid phase transition which delivers large amount of energy to the airway tissue. The thermal energy delivered is equivalent to the heat of vaporization of the fluid media, which shrinks and collapses the treated airways.

Abstract: A system for sealably closing a reservoir is disclosed. The system can have a container and a slider. The container can have an orifice and catches and lips surrounding the orifice. The slider can be translatably attached to the container over the orifice. The slider can slidably engage the catch and lips to force the orifice closed. While attached to the catch and lips, the slider can create a pressurized seal of the orifice.

Abstract: A system level scheme for networking of implantable devices, electronic patch devices/sensors coupled to the body, and wearable sensors/devices with cellular telephone/mobile devices, peripheral devices and remote servers is described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental implant are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon the implant to form a hearing assembly. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controllably traversing a tissue wall. In one embodiment, a distal end of a catheter is positioned and/or repositioned utilizing direct visualization out the distal end of the catheter, as facilitated by an imaging element disposed within the distal tip of the catheter. An inflatable balloon may comprise a portion of the distal tip of the catheter for structural and/or visualization media purposes. A tissue traversing element may be forwarded through a working lumen defined by the catheter and controllably pushed through a tissue wall as observed with the imaging element. The tissue traversing element may comprise sensors and the like to facilitate monitoring of changes in pressure, color, oxygen saturation, flow rate, and echo timing, to determine the position of the tissue traversing member relative to the tissue wall.