Abstract: A medical diagnostic method utilizes a surface plasmon resonance apparatus provided with a sensing surface. A tear sample from an eye of a patient is placed into contact with the sensing surface. The surface plasmon resonance apparatus is then operated to determine concentrations of solutes such as salt and antigenic analytes in the tear sample.

Abstract: An elongate probe, with a suction channel extending longitudinally along the probe, is inserted into a patient so that a distal tip of the probe is in contact with a fibroid mass inside the patient. Thereafter the probe is ultrasonically vibrated so that the distal tip has an excursion amplitude or distance greater than 275 microns. During probe vibration, suction is applied to the channel at a vacuum level greater than 24? Hg to thereby maintain the target tissue mass in engagement with the distal tip during the vibrating of the probe and enable ablation of at least a selectable portion of the target tissue mass.

Abstract: A medical instrument comprises a tubular introducer member, an operative element, an elongate shifter connected at a distal end to the operative element, a handle, at least one stop component, and an override. The shifter and the operative element are movable relative to the tubular member, while the first part of the handle is fixed to a proximal end of the tubular member and the second part of the handle is fixed to a proximal end of the shifter. The stop component is disposed on the first part or second part to limit relative motion of the first part and the second part and concomitantly to stop travel of the operative element at a predetermined location relative to a distal end of the tubular member. The override enables a user to override or passivate the stop component and thereby permit travel of the operative element past the predetermined location.

Abstract: A control assembly for interlocked sockets includes a rotary breaker which is actuated by a knob and is mounted on a supporting structure. The control assembly includes a visual indication means which has the purpose of highlighting the open/closed state of the rotary breaker as a consequence of rotations of the knob.

Abstract: The present invention describes linking a therapeutic agent to a compound which is known to be naturally concentrated in a tissue affected by, or that is causing, a disease, to create a prodrug for treatment of the disease. Embodiments of the present invention include a new class of carotenoid-linked drugs to treat such blinding retinal disease such as age-related macular degeneration, retinoblastoma, and diabetic macular edema. For example, the present invention comprises a method for the treatment of a disorder of the eye comprising linking a therapeutic agent to a xanthophyll carotenoid to create a prodrug, and administering a therapeutically effective amount of the prodrug to an individual in need of treatment. Provided are prodrugs for treatment of retinoblastoma, cystoid macular edema (CME), exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, or inflammatory disorders.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a probe, a transducer assembly operatively coupled to the probe for generating an ultrasonic resonant vibration therein, and a frequency generator operatively coupled to the transducer assembly for energizing the transducer component. A control component is operatively connected to the frequency generator for inducing the frequency generator to produce an alternating signal sequence including a first electrical excitation signal and a second electrical excitation signal, wherein the first electrical excitation signal has at least one first ultrasonic frequency and at least one first amplitude collectively selected to generate cavitation bubbles at a wound site to fragment damaged tissue and debride the wound site.

Abstract: The present invention, provides a flow cytometry apparatus for the detection of particles from a plurality of samples comprising: means for moving a plurality of samples comprising particles from a plurality of respective source wells into a fluid flow stream; means for introducing a separation gas between each of the plurality of samples in the fluid flow stream; and means for selectively analyzing each of the plurality of samples for the particles. The present invention also provides a flow cytometry method employing such an apparatus.

Abstract: Improvements in intra-abdominal surgery include a method for removing large chunks of organic or inorganic material from the abdomen through a natural body opening such as the urethra. The technique may be supplemented by laparoscopic procedures.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the automatic manufacture of a multiple component object with intersecting components based on a standard design model of the object. The systems and methods according to the invention are capable of automatically extracting from a design model the dimensions of the components and the intersection parameters of the components, and of instructing a manufacturing machine to mark out the position of the components and manufacture the object on the basis of the extracted information. This increases efficiency and compatibility with existing design models and reduces cost.

Abstract: A real-time radar surveillance system comprises at least one land-based non-coherent radar sensor apparatus adapted for detecting maneuvering targets and targets of small or low radar cross-section. The radar sensor apparatus includes a marine radar device, a digitizer connected to the marine radar device for receiving therefrom samples of radar video echo signals, and computer programmed to implement a software-configurable radar processor generating target data including detection data and track data, the computer being connectable to a computer network including a database. The processor is figured to transmit at least a portion of the target data over the network to the database, the database being accessible via the network by at least one user application that receives target data from the database, the user application providing a user interface for at least one user of the system.

Abstract: A hand held device generates a predetermined number of pulses of electromagnetic radiation having a predetermined electromagnetic spectrum, a predetermined duration, a predetermined inter-pulse interval, and a predetermined total energy. The pulse sequence is delivered to a skin surface to reduce or eliminate Xray or ultraviolet radiation damage to the skin surface.

Abstract: An ultrasonic medical probe comprises an elongate shaft formed integrally with a head portion having a distal end face oriented at least partially transversely to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The shaft is provided with an internal longitudinal channel or bore extending to the end face. The end face is formed with an indentation communicating with the channel or bore at a distal end thereof, whereby liquid is guided over an extended surface of the end face relative to the channel or bore. The head portion also has a lateral surface extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe. The lateral surface is provided with at least one outwardly or radially extending projection. The projection enables the application of ultrasonic cavitation energy to a tissue surface that is in contact with the lateral or side surface of the probe head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronic volume data acquisition using ultrasound generates image data in a scanning and imaging process known as coherent aperture combining beamforming (CAC-BF). The CAC-BF technique can be applied in an azimuth dimension and/or an elevation dimension, to form an ultrasound image line, image plane, or image data cube. Several innovations relating to the design and ordering of shots and efficient weighting algorithms that address various performance issues associated with B-mode and other modes such as Doppler, and harmonic imaging are disclosed. The invention has significant advantages over other synthetic aperture imaging techniques and conventional imaging techniques by supporting higher resolution, larger volumes and/or shorter acquisition times than comparative techniques, using similar system hardware complexity.

Abstract: A trans-vascular surgical method includes forming an artificial opening in a blood vessel of a patient's vascular system at a substantially predetermined location and moving a distal end portion of a medical instrument through at least a section of the patient's vascular system and through the artificial opening. A surgical port device is disposed inside the blood vessel to inhibit blood from exiting the patient's vascular system through the artificial opening while permitting extension of the distal end portion of the medical instrument through the artificial opening. After moving the distal end portion of the medical instrument through the artificial opening, the medical instrument is operated to perform a medical procedure operation inside the patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonostructured device comprising a substrate including nanotroughs therein; and a lipid bilayer suspended on or supported in the substrate. A separation method is also provided comprising the steps of supporting or suspending a lipid bilayer on a substrate; wherein the subtrate comprises nanostructures and wherein the lipid bilayer comprises at least one membrane associated biomolecule; and applying a driving force to the lipid bilayer to separate the membrane associated biomolecule from the lipid bilayer and to drive the membrane associated biomolecule into the nanostructures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanostructured device comprising a substrate including nanotroughs therein; and a lipid bilayer suspended on or supported in the substrate. A separation method is also provided comprising the steps of supporting or suspending a lipid bilayer on a substrate; wherein the substrate comprises nanostructures and wherein the lipid bilayer comprises at least one membrane associated biomolecule; and applying a driving force to the lipid bilayer to separate the membrane associated biomolecule from the lipid bilayer and to drive the membrane associated biomolecule into the nanostructures.