Abstract: A handheld apparatus for preparing a specimen slide includes a handle, a filter holder assembly coupled to and extending from the handle; and a slide holder assembly coupled to and extending from the handle spaced apart from the filter holder assembly, wherein the slide holder assembly comprises a plurality of positioning members movably coupled to one another, and a slide holder movably coupled to one of the positioning members to allow a slide mounted on the slide holder to make rolling contact with an outward facing surface of a filter mounted on the filter holder assembly.

Abstract: Catheter assembly including an elongate shaft comprising a thermoplastic polymer such as a thermoplastic shape memory polymer having a pre-selected glass transition temperature (Tg) and a means for heating the thermoplastic polymer, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is in a rubbery state at temperatures above the glass transition temperature and is in a glassy state at temperatures below the glass transition temperature. The elongate shaft may be selectively heated and cooled to provide sufficient flexibility and retention during a medical procedure.

Abstract: An energy modulator for use with a particle source that provides a beam of particles includes a first block moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the first block is at the second position, it is in a path of the beam, and a second block moveable relative to the first block, wherein the second block and the first block are offset from each other in a direction of the beam, wherein the first block has a first energy absorption characteristic, and the second block has a second energy absorption characteristic that is different from the first energy absorption characteristic.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for delivering brachytherapy to a target tissue region of a human or other mammalian body. In some embodiments, a flexible brachytherapy device is implanted that includes a therapy delivery portion having one or more radioactive sources securely retained thereto, and a tail portion extending from the therapy delivery portion. Once implanted, the tail portion may extend outside the body, where it may be folded and secured flat against the skin. The device may be removed at therapy completion. Other embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for delivering brachytherapy devices to the body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for providing an improved and flexible approach for handling models of hardware and software designs for verification activities. The semantics of the software and hardware are mapped to allow correct interfacing between the hardware and software models. This allows designers to more efficiently and accurately perform hardware/software co-verification.

Abstract: A mailbox mounting bracket is configured for attachment to a post, rail, fence, or the like, to allow a mailbox to be mounted in multiple orientations. The bracket has a top plate with a plurality of holes for mounting to the bottom of a mailbox, a downwardly-extending peripheral ridge with a plurality of holes for mounting to the sides of the mailbox, and first and second downwardly-extending flanges at opposite sides of the bracket each with a plurality of holes for mounting to opposite sides of the post, fence, rail or the like. In another embodiment, the bracket includes two pieces each having a top plate, the top plates being rotatably connected to each other for extra support and versatility.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating and implementing two-dimensional (2D), image-based design rules (IBDRs) are disclosed. Techniques for creating 2D IBDR can include identifying a search pattern that is representative of a 2D pattern of interest of a design, creating a pattern representation based on the search pattern, defining an anchor point for the pattern representation, and assigning weights to elements of the pattern representation. The 2D MDR can be used in systems and method for searching a design by comparing the 2D IBDR to the design. A number of 2D IBDRs can be merged into a subset of similar 2D IBDRs by characterizing desired rule geometries, sorting the 2D IBDRs into groups according to the desired rule geometries, merging the groups of 2D IBDRs into a single representative search pattern. Additionally, standard design rules can be created from the disclosed 2D IBDRs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing waveform data and outputting data to a waveform viewer are disclosed. A waveform is segmented into a plurality of segments, and data describing each segment is stored at several levels of resolution. When a user wishes to view a portion of the waveform, the appropriate segments of the waveform are identified, and the appropriate levels of resolution are selected. The data describing the appropriate segments at the appropriate levels of resolution are output to a waveform viewer. An index may be provided to aid in selection of the appropriate data. Various methods for compression of the data are also supported.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media for processing one or more biological specimens carried by specimen slides. Images of objects in a specimen are acquired and objects of interest in the acquired images are identified. Additional images of identified objects of interest may be acquired at multiple wavelengths. Cellular features of objects of interest are extracted from images and may be used for classifying the specimen, e.g., as normal or suspicious/abnormal, based a probabilistic model that utilizes the extracted features.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and article of manufacture for a one-pass approach for implementing metal-fill for an integrated circuit. Also disclosed is a method, system, and article of manufacture for implementing metal-fill that is coupled to a tie-off connection. An approach that is disclosed comprises a method, system, and article of manufacture for implementing metal-fill having an elongated shape that corresponds to the length of whitespace. Also disclosed is the aspect of implementing metal-fill that matches the routing direction. Yet another disclosure is an implementation of a place & route tool incorporating an integrated metal-fill mechanism.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and related computer program products for processing and displaying computer-aided detection (CAD) information associated with medical breast x-ray images, such as breast x-ray tomosynthesis volumes and conventional x-ray mammograms, are described. For one preferred embodiment, CAD findings for several cases (or several individual data volumes) are selectively designated for marking such that a predetermined number of CAD findings per case (or per data volume) are marked for display across all of the cases (or data volumes). In another preferred embodiment, localized breast fibroglandular tissue density information is used together with certainty-of-finding information as a basis for selecting which candidate CAD findings to designate as marked CAD findings, with increased certainty-of-finding being required to mark CAD findings in regions of higher fibroglandular tissue density.

Abstract: Apparatus for single-handed control of a microscope are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first controller, such as a first rotary controller, is configured for manipulation by a hand of a user to adjust a position of a microscope stage. Another controller, such as a second rotary controller, is configured and arranged relative to the first rotary controller for manipulation by an extended finger of the same hand to review, e.g., scroll through, previously identified portions of a biological specimen while the user's first hand may or may not remain in contact with the first rotary controller. In this manner, the user may continue to review the previously identified specimen portions without having to look away from the microscope.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for classifying biological specimen. A number of objects of interest are identified in a biological specimen. The nuclear area and nuclear integrated optical density for each object of interest in the specimen are measured and used for generating a scatter plot. The specimen is classified as normal or suspicious based on the distribution of points within the scatter plot.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling on-demand inter-spacecraft resource sharing and coordination are disclosed involving at least one wireless device and a payload. At least one wireless device transmits and receives communications to at least one access point and at least one user. In one or more embodiments, spacecrafts are employed for the access points and/or the users. The payload comprises at least one transponder and at least one processor. At least one transponder transmits and receives the communications to at least one access point and at least one user. The processor provides channelized communication and regenerative communication to at least one user. Also, the processor monitors signal quality of the communications received from at least one user. In one or more embodiments, the wireless device is a radio frequency (RF) omni-directional antenna. In some embodiments, the wireless device is a diffuse optical emitter and receiver.

Abstract: A communication system is provided for a patient featuring a cushion with an opening for receiving the face of the patient. The cushion includes a microphone for receiving audible signals from the patient and one or more speakers for delivering audible signals to the patient. The microphone and speaker(s) are integrated with the cushion to avoid interfering with the comfort of the patient. In one embodiment, the audible signals are delivered to and from the patient via a communication port. In another embodiment, the system includes a display device, so the patient may view parts of the patient's body on the device and then communicate with system operators through the microphone and speaker(s).

Abstract: A hub for a sheath, catheter, or other tubular device includes a first hub portion including a first hub lumen sized for receiving a medical device therethrough, and a second hub portion including a second hub lumen, the second hub portion coupled to the first hub portion such that the first and second hub lumens are aligned with one another and the first and second hub portions are spaced apart from one another to define a gap. A valve is secured within the gap between the first and second hub portions that includes a valve passage therethrough, e.g., for accommodating receiving a medical device through the first and second hub lumens into the tubular device, while providing a substantially fluid tight seal.

Abstract: Systems and method are disclosed whereby elongate medical instruments may be registered to adjacent tissue structures and other structures, and may be navigated and operated in a coordinated fashion to maximize ranges of motion, ease of use, and other factors. A method for registering an instrument relative to nearby structures may comprise moving a portion of the instrument between two in situ positions, tracking movement during this movement with both a kinematic model and also a localization sensor based configuration, determining the orientation of the tracked portion relative to both the instrument coordinate system used in the kinematic modeling and also a localization coordinate reference frame, and adjusting the orientation of the instrument coordinate reference frame to minimize the difference between determined orientations using the kinematic model and localization sensors. Methods and configurations for navigating coupled and registered instrument sets are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of ablating tissue, comprises anchoring a first electrode at a first location in a target portion of tissue, deploying a second electrode at a second location in the target portion of tissue and applying current between the first and second electrodes to ablate a first ablation portion of tissue in combination with moving an insulative cover relative to the first electrode to move a conductive portion of the first electrode to a third location within the target tissue, the third location being further from the second location than the first location, moving the second electrode to a fourth location within the target tissue, the fourth location being further from the first location than the second location and applying current between the conductive portion of the first electrode and the second electrode to ablate a second ablation portion of tissue surrounding the first ablation portion of tissue.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and structures for implementing interconnect modeling by using a test structure which include a variation of physical wire structures between local interconnects and distant interconnects. According to one approach, the impact of variations of the physical properties for neighborhood wires are considered for the electrical modeling of interconnects. This variation between the local and distant wire characteristics allows more accurate and robust interconnect modeling to be created.

Abstract: A burr hole sealing device for preventing brain shift during a stimulation lead implantation procedure is provided. The device includes a suction cup ring and a self-sealing membrane positioned within the aperture of the ring. The sealing device is attached adjacent to a burr hole and over a dura layer that is exposed in the bottom of the burr hole. The stimulation lead is disposed through the burr hole, through the membrane, through the dura layer and into brain tissue. The membrane is configured to allow the lead to pass therethrough while maintaining a tight seal around the diameter of the lead, thereby hindering leakage of cerebrospinal fluid out of the cranial cavity and maintaining a substantially fixed intracranial pressure. In one embodiment, the sealing device includes a syringe for adding fluid to, or removing fluid from, the cranial cavity in response to a detected change in intracranial pressure.