Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems for imaging and monitoring endoluminal valve formation. In certain aspects, a system of the invention includes: an elongate body defining a lumen and an exit port located on a side of the elongate body, wherein the side of the elongate body is configured to engage with a vessel wall; a tissue dissection probe disposed within the lumen, and configured to extend out of the exit port and into the vessel wall in order to form an intramural space in the vessel wall; and an imaging element located on the tissue dissection probe.

Abstract: An example variable reluctance device includes a load structure connected to an armature through a connecting arm. The armature is positioned between two oppositely oriented core structures. A structural frame secures the core structures in a fixed position, forming gap regions between the core structures and the armature, forming a magnetic circuit. The armature is resiliently centered between the core structures by a spring, such that the gaps and are approximately equal in width when the armature is at rest. The device further includes a magnetic substance within the gaps that is compressed or stretched to allow movement of the armature.

Abstract: Technologies are described for reducing distortion in amplified signals in well logging tools based on spectral analyses of the amplified signals. For example, a system includes a well logging tool. The well logging tool includes an excitation source to direct an excitation signal towards an environment adjacent a wellbore and a receiver to amplify a probe signal received from the environment adjacent the wellbore in response to the excitation signal. The system also includes a feedback module to receive the amplified signal. The feedback module includes a spectrum analyzer module to spectrally analyze the amplified signal to generate spectral information of the amplified signal; and a controller module to determine, from the spectral information, whether the amplified signal includes distortion, and if so, to issue a feedback signal to the excitation source or the receiver to cause at least a reduction of the distortion in the amplified signal.

Abstract: A smart-phone interface including an arrangement of icons for opening applications arranged around perimeter of display screen leaving an empty central workspace, and a method of activating the smart-phone of consisting of touching the touch screen of the smart-phone with a finger having a fingerprint recognizable by the smart-phone and dragging the finger in a G shape.

Abstract: A pin extractor is disclosed. The pin extractor can comprise a press to act against a clip securing a pin to be extracted. The press can have a clip interface feature at an end of the press configured to compress the clip radially inward upon application of a force against the clip. The pin extractor can also comprise a puller having a claw to engage the pin. The puller can be movable relative to the press to extract the pin as the press compresses the clip radially inward.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for assessing the completeness of a varicose vein ablation. The method involves the use of imaging and/or functional measurement data to determine the extent to which a varicose vein has closed as a result of an ablation procedure.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for detecting endoleaks associated with EVAR procedures using physiological measurements. The method can involve the taking of functional measurement data in the vicinity of a stent-graft delivered as part of the EVAR procedure and determining the presence of an endoleak based on such data.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to devices and methods for imaging and delivering a fertilized egg into a woman's uterus. In certain embodiments, the invention provides devices that include a body configured to fit within a lumen of a woman's reproductive system. The body includes an opening. Devices of the invention also include a channel within the body. The channel includes a distal end that is connected to the opening. Devices of the invention also include an imaging assembly coupled to the body.

Abstract: A method and system for securing visual media utilizing an encoding process with optical translation for decoded image viewing having the steps of displaying a first image for viewing by a user, generating a second image that is substantially a negative of the first image, displaying the first and second image through a stereoscopic projection system using at least two separate channels of the system to create a displayed garbled image decoding the displayed image by cancellation of the second image from the view of said user. The system may also employ active and passive 3D glasses or other decoder and generate interference and other signals to obscure the desired image before decoding. The system may also be used with handheld display devices such as tablets, notebooks and smart phones utilizing decoding screens or user wearable devices.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to devices and methods that allow an operator to obtain real-time images of a luminal surface during an implant delivery procedure. In certain embodiments, a delivery device of the invention includes an elongate body and an inner member moveably disposed within the elongate body. The elongate body includes a first imaging element and defining a center lumen that leads to an opening. The elongate body is configured to releasably hold an implant within the center lumen and the first imaging element is configured to at least partially surround the center lumen such that the implant is deployable through the first imaging element. The inner member is configured to engage with and deploy the implant out of the opening of the elongate body and into a body lumen.

Abstract: The invention provides an intravascular catheter with an expandable member such as a balloon with an imaging device on a surface of the expandable member. The imaging device can use an optical fiber on a surface of the expandable member to image a treatment site. Since an image can be captured directly from the surface of the expandable member, an operator can examine the treatment site while positioning the expandable member. With the treatment site in view, the operator can deliver the treatment (e.g., inflate the balloon or deploy the stent) with confidence that it will be located properly.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer device is disclosed. The device includes a body and an ultrasonic transducer mounted onto the body. The ultrasonic transducer comprises a shoulder and an O-ring placed on the shoulder. The O-ring substantially covers the interface between the ultrasonic transducer and the body.

Abstract: A device includes a piezoelectric transducer. The transducer has N independent transducer regions. N is an integer. Each of the N independent transducer regions has a thickness. Each of the N independent transducer regions has an acoustic impedance AIT. Each of the N independent transducer regions is independently excitable to oscillate in the thickness mode when electrically excited by a potential difference applied across the thickness. The device further includes a first impedance matching layer having an acoustic impedance AI1 and AIT and a borehole fluid acoustic impedance AIBF. The first impedance matching layer is situated such that an acoustic signal emitted by the piezoelectric transducer will pass through the second impedance matching layer. The device further includes a second impedance matching layer having an acoustic impedance AI2 between AI1 and AIBF.

Abstract: A focused acoustic transducer suitable for use in a downhole environment is disclosed. At least some embodiments employ a disk of piezoelectric material with low planar coupling and low Poisson's ratio mounted on a backing material and sealed inside an enclosure. The piezoelectric material disk has a pattern of electrodes deposited on an otherwise smooth, ungrooved surface. Despite the lack of grooves, the material's low planar coupling and low Poisson's ratio enables the electrodes to operate in a phased relationship to provide and receive focused acoustic pulses. Moreover, the elimination of deep cuts offers a much lower cost of construction. The electrode material may be any conductive material, though silver and silver alloys are contemplated. The patterning of electrodes can occur during the deposition process (e.g., using a silk-screen or other printing technique) or afterwards (e.g., mechanically or chemically with an etch technique that uses a pre- or post-deposition photoresist layer).

Abstract: A server device may receive a notification indicating that an event has occurred, where the notification specifies an area associated with the event. The server device may further send a request for network content in response to the notification; receive the network content for each of a group of user devices, where the network content includes a location for each of the group of user devices and incident information for each of the group of user devices; generate geo fence information based on the area associated with the event, the geo fence information including boundaries for a geo fence that surrounds the location of the event; generate state information, associated with the geo fence, for a user device, of the group of user devices, located within the boundaries for the geo fence, where the state information includes the location for the user device; and send, to another server device, the state information for the user device.

Abstract: A sports training aid includes a sports accessory and a coaching instruction positioned on the accessory in a position where it can be seen by a wearer during normal use of the accessory. In one example the accessory is a football boot and the coaching instruction is provided by an elastic sleeve detachably mounted over the boot.

Abstract: A server device may receive a notification indicating that an event has occurred, where the notification specifies an area associated with the event. The server device may further send a request for network content in response to the notification; receive the network content for each of a group of user devices, where the network content includes a location for each of the group of user devices and incident information for each of the group of user devices; generate geo fence information based on the area associated with the event, the geo fence information including boundaries for a geo fence that surrounds the location of the event; generate state information, associated with the geo fence, for a user device, of the group of user devices, located within the boundaries for the geo fence, where the state information includes the location for the user device; and send, to another server device, the state information for the user device.

Abstract: A cooking oil container has a filter cup retained at the upper end thereof. The filter cup retains a planar circular filter at the lower end and a seal between the filter holder and the bottom of the filter cup prevents oil from overflowing around the circumference of the filter holder to avoid the filter. The filter cup is spaced from the inner walls of the container to allow air to escape from the bottom of the container. The top of the container has a grip ring and the inverted top is useable as a drip tray for the filter cup while oil is being poured out of the container.

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a monitoring portal configured to receive state information descriptive of usage of a plurality of communication services provided on a plurality of communication networks of different types and to make the state information available to a subscriber of the plurality of communication services, in substantially real time.

Abstract: A service control point (SCP) (140) associated with a public-switched telephone network (PSTN) (110) includes a service logic module (210-N+1) and a network interface (215). The service logic module (210-N+1) enables the service control point (SCP) (140) to establish a connection with an Internet Protocol (IP) application server (120) via a transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) network (105). The network interface (215) communicates via the connection to integrate telephony services between the PSTN (110) and the TCP/IP network (105).