Abstract: An adaptive autostereoscopic display system (10) provides an apparatus for conditioning the psychological state, physiological state, or behavior of a subject (12) by displaying a stereoscopic virtual image at a left viewing pupil (14l) and a right viewing pupil (14r). A first set of images (100) is displayed and physiological response measurements are obtained from the subject (12). Based on the response of the subject (12) a personalized image response profile is obtained. Then, in order to condition the psychological state, physiological state, or behavior of the subject (12), a second set of images (102), based on the personalized image response profile is displayed.

Abstract: An implantable article and method are disclosed for treating pelvic floor disorders such as vaginal vault prolase. A surgical kit useful for performing a surgical procedure such as a sacral colpopexy is also described.

Abstract: A cardiac constraint jacket is formed of flexible material defining a volume between an open upper end and a lower end. The jacket is dimensioned for an apex of a patient's heart to be inserted into the volume through the open upper end and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. A delivery device is used to place the jacket on the heart. The delivery device includes a plurality of attachment locations. Each of the attachment locations is releasably secured to separate positions surrounding a periphery of the open upper end of the jacket. The delivery device also includes a control arrangement which is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position. The control arrangement is connected to the attachment locations such that the attachment locations are in a compact array urging the open upper end of the jacket into a collapsed configuration when the control member is in the closed position.

Abstract: A method for creating a coupling between an implantable device, such as a transducer, and a structure of the ear, such as an ossicle, in an implantable hearing assistance device. The coupling permits slip between the device and the structure and provides a neutral load. The device is positioned such that it either lightly touches or is positioned away from the structure. In one embodiment, the surface of the device or the structure is cleaned while the remaining surface, that is, the surface not cleaned, is coated with a solution. An adhesive material is applied between the device and the structure. The solution prevents a bond from forming at that interface while a bond forms at the remaining surface. Alternatively, a compliant adhesive may be used. In another embodiment, the surface of the device is coated with a gel, the gel optionally being covered with a metallic foil.

Abstract: The invention relates to of medicine and medicine equipment and concerns techniques and means for medicinal action with electromagnetic fields to living tissues. A method provides a stimulating effect of an electromagnetic field to metabolic processes in tissues of an organism, that result in positive shifts of a functional state of regulatory systems. On a contactless electromagnetic action to members of a vascular system, biomechanical, bioelectrical and bioresonant processes in the vascular system control the tone of a vascular wall with a high degree of selectivity.

Abstract: An implantable electromagnetic transducer for hearing aids and process for tuning its frequency response are disclosed. The transducer is provided with a static transducer part which includes a hermetically sealed transducer housing and a ring coil arrangement which is mounted inside, and with a dynamic part which is mechanically connected to the static transducer part via at least one connecting element which is coupled in the implanted state to part of the body of the implant wearer via at least one connecting element. The implantable transducer has a permanent magnet arrangement, which interacts with the ring coil arrangement and which is supported to be able to vibrate by means of a support in the direction of the axis of the ring coil arrangement, with at least one connecting element being made as a multifunction element which is part of the support and/or part of the hermetically tight transducer housing.

Abstract: A radiolabeled implantable device includes a base, a first layer including Cu and a radioactive isotope on the base, and a second layer including Sn on the first layer. Preferably, the base is formed of stainless steel and the radioactive isotope is a radioisotope of Re, such as 188Re or 186Re. Alternately, radioisotopes of the following elements may be used: Be, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Hf, Ta, W, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Po, At, Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu, Am, Cm, Bk, Cf, Es, Fm, Md, No, Lr. In addition, a process for producing a radiolabeled implantable device includes depositing a first layer including Cu and a radioactive isotope on a base, and depositing a second layer including Sn on the first layer. The process may further include removing Cr2O3 from the base and/or rinsing the base prior to depositing the first layer thereon.

Abstract: Reciprocal noise cancellation of a patient's mono-frequency tinnitus tone is achieved utilizing an externally generated tone which is subjectively defined by a mono-frequency tinnitus patient to match his/her tinnitus tone in frequency and amplitude. An externally generated sound wave, selectively designated by subjective observations of a patient to match the patient's tinnitus tone is first applied to the tinnitus patient via earphones or a speaker system and then the same externally generated sound wave is sequentially phase shifted through a plurality of angularly shifted sequence steps to shift or slide the external sound wave through at least a 180 degree phase shift of the generated signal as it is applied to the patient to achieve a series of reductions of the patient's tinnitus tone and in one of such shifted steps a reciprocal, canceling relationship with the patient's tinnitus tone.

Abstract: An apparatus, and corresponding method, for management of fecal incontinence comprising a catheter having at least two electrodes and an inflatable balloon, a non-conductive sleeve surrounding the electrodes, and an alarm box, wherein the catheter is insertable into a rectal vault and is inflatable to serve as a block to passage of stool and wherein moisture sensed by the electrodes triggers the alarm box and thereby notifies a user that fecal material has entered the rectal vault.

Abstract: In an apparatus of stimulating a reaction point of a human body by a certain frequency signal, where frequencies respectively matching with organs are different and the matching frequencies are different in accordance with conditions of disease, a signal generating portion constituted by a melody IC is provided, a switching device is turned on and off in correspondence to a relaxation rhythm signal output from the generating portion, and a signal is obtained from a secondary side of an output transformer in synchronous with the on and off operations, thereby making it possible to treat by a plurality of signals in a band of a plurality of frequencies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the function of a particular area of the brain, wherein at least one point on the brain is stimulated and/or inhibited, and from the presence of a perceived but not actually present sensory impression as a result of a stimulation pattern and/or a not perceived but actually present sensory impression as a result of an inhibiting pattern, the stimulated or inhibited area of the brain is functionally assigned, and to a device for determining the function of a particular area of the brain, comprising at least one device for stimulating and/or inhibiting at least one particular area of a brain and a device for generating a visual and/or acoustic and/or sensory and/or olfactory sensory impression.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices for depositing objects into tissue of an animal. The devices include a cannula having a proximal-end and an opposite distal end insertable into tissue and defining an exit aperture. The cannula has a sidewall between the distal and proximal ends and defines a passageway in communication with the exit aperture. A distal retaining tab extends from an inner surface of the cannula and is positioned across at least a portion of the passageway adjacent the exit aperture. The distal tab has a first closed position blocking the passageway and a second open position wherein the tab is urged towards the sidewall to allow an object to pass. The tab is resilient to return to the first position after the object passes the tab. In some embodiments, the invention also includes a proximal retaining tab adjacent the proximal end of the cannula and positionable to block a portion of the passageway.

Abstract: A urinary incontinence device is disclosed. The device is a compressible resilient insert having top that contacts at least two opposed vaginal walls and deforms and substantially conforms to the shape of the vaginal cavity or cervical fornices. A removal member may be provided on the device such that when the removal member is pulled the device is removed from the vagina.

Abstract: The present invention is a seed implantation apparatus comprising a cartridge with an array of chambers having a plurality of hollow needles inside chambers, which can hold one or more radioactive seeds. The seed implantation apparatus also comprises pistons for each of the hollow needles and a plate located behind the pistons with a rod and a mechanical trigger, wherein said actuation causes said plate to move said pistons into said needles. The present invention also includes a method of using the seed implantation apparatus. The apparatus can be used in connection with brachytherapy and has particular utility in connection with simultaneously injecting multiple radioactive seeds into the prostate.

Abstract: An examination unit having walls of substantially transparent plastic material coupled to an air tube frame that, when inflated, supports the walls to define an enclosed chamber. Access to the chamber is gained through a resealable port that facilitates easy entry and exit, as well as good sealing of the air within the chamber. Built into at least one wall of the chamber is a pair of sleeved-gloves that allow: a user of the examination unit to insert his or her hands into the chamber to handle an object therein without skin contact. The examination unit may be collapsed for space-saving storage and transport, and then readily inflated to provide a suitable environment for any number of treatments or investigations requiring that an object remain isolated from the user.

Abstract: A resection device and method permits safe and efficient encapsulation, isolation and resection of body tissue. The device includes a sheath of flexible and severable material configured to receive the body tissue to be resectioned as it is drawn therein. The sheath may be expandable and held in an expanded condition as the body tissue to be resectioned is drawn into the sheath. Thereafter, the sheath is permitted to collapse about the body tissue to contain and constrict the body tissue. Once the body tissue to be resectioned is disposed in the sheath, the sheath is severed to resection the body tissue.

Abstract: A delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy uses a seed strand composed of a plurality of tubular shaped, hollow radioactive seeds with a bore. The seed strand as assembled with a material provided in the bore and between the spaced seeds is axially stiff and radially flexible and is bioabsorbable in living tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for applying magnetic field treatment to a biological entity is disclosed. The apparatus has a signal generation unit (6) for generating an electrical treatment signal, and an induction coil mat (5), connected to said signal generation unit (6). A magnetic field is generated by the induction coil mat (5) in accordance with said electrical treatment signal. The electrical treatment signal comprises frequency components of approximately 300 Hz, 600 Hz, 800 Hz and 1,000 Hz in superposition. A further set of frequencies in the range between 2 Hz and 32 Hz can be added. These further frequencies are chosen in accordance with a desired treatment mode of operation.

Abstract: A graft vessel preparation device and a method for using the graft vessel preparation device is provided. The graft vessel preparation device establishes and maintains a critical dimension on a graft vessel which corresponds to a dimension of an anastomosis site on a target vessel. One example of a graft vessel preparation device which prepares a graft vessel for a vascular anastomosis procedure includes a parallelogram linkage, a first spreader arm and a second spreader arm. The first spreader arm and the second spreader arm mount on opposing members of the parallelogram linkage in a parallel configuration. The spreader arms are configured in order to allow the placement of an end of a graft vessel over the spreader arms. The spreader arms are also configured to separate within an interior of the graft vessel once the graft vessel is placed over the spreader arms in order to establish a critical dimension. The critical dimension is established using a critical dimension locator.

Abstract: A patient motion monitoring system (102) for use in a proton therapy center (100) is disclosed. The patient monitoring system (102) includes a plurality of position detector assemblies (162) with each position detector assembly (162) being constructed of a flexibly rigid support arm (132) attached to a position sensor (130). Each support arm (132) of the plurality of position detector assemblies (162) is detachably mounted to a supporting structure so as to allow the corresponding position sensor (130) to be positioned adjacent a patient (104) who is receiving proton therapy. Furthermore, each position sensor (130) of the plurality of position detector assemblies (162) generates a position signal that is indicative of the distance between a front surface of the position sensor, and an adjacent surface of the patient.