Abstract: Implantable closure apparatus and methods for sealing or closing openings at internal body locations. The apparatus and methods may involve the delivery and attachment of a patch, patch and plug, or plug only to seal or close the opening. The closure apparatus and methods may be used to close a patent foramen ovale (PFO).

Abstract: A method of providing customized medical monitoring to a patient is disclosed. The method can include steps of selecting a medical monitoring device for a patient, where the medical monitoring device is associated with a biological transducer, determining at least one desired monitoring parameter, and customizing locally the medical monitoring device to monitor the desired monitoring parameter collected by the biological transducer. The method may further include steps of providing the medical monitoring device to the patient, and monitoring at least one health parameter of the patient from a remote location. The medical monitoring device can also be customized remotely.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a mapping device may be capable of passing through cerebral veins and other cerebrovascular spaces to provide electrophysiological mapping of the brain. These embodiments of the device may also be capable of providing, simultaneously or separately, ablation energy or other treatments to targeted brain tissue. In such circumstances, a user may be enabled to analyze an electrophysiological map of a patient's brain and, at the same time or within a short time period before or after the mapping process, may be enabled to apply ablation energy for treatment of a central nervous system disorder. Such treatment may be accomplished without the use of invasive surgery in which the brain is accessed through an opening in the patient's cranium.

Abstract: The invention provides for an electrical lead, a steerable sheath and steerable catheter, a sheath and catheter that attach to cardiac tissue via an anchor screw, and a method of pacing, particularly via the atrioventricular septum.

Abstract: Perfused tissue is illuminated and light passing through the tissue or reflected from it is detected to produce an electrical signal. Amplitude pulses corresponding to the subject's heart beat are detected in the electrical signal and the areas of these pulses are calculated to produce blood flow values indicative of the blood volume pumped by the heart. The blood flow values may be used alone or in combination with other measured cardiac parameters to evaluate cardiac function.

Abstract: An aqueous non-flammable release composition for use in food preparation comprising water; de-oiled, powdered lecithin; and less than about 10% oil. The de-oiled, powdered lecithin is water miscible which facilitates the use of less or no oil in a release composition, and allows the use of a non-flammable propellant. The non-flammable release composition may be applied to cooking utensils, such as baking and frying pans, and especially grills and the like, in order to prevent or inhibit food from sticking during cooking and to facilitate cleaning; which may be safely applied while a utensil, pan, or grill is hot; near an open flame or heating element; or while food is being cooked.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to combination therapies for treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection comprising administration of a CCR5 antagonist in combination with other therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scanning an indicium local to a user on an advertisement or product. The scanning may be carried out by using a user device, such as a cellular phone or personal digital assistant (PDA), as an input device. The indicium may include an alphanumeric code encoded or embedded therein. The alphanumeric code may be sent over a communication network such as the Internet to a lookup server. The lookup server will correlate the alphanumeric code with a location identifier. The location identifier may be a universal resource locator (URL) indicating a specific webpage containing information and/or interactive tools related to the item bearing the indicium.

Abstract: A method for dynamic control of medications provided to a patient at a remote location is disclosed. The method can include steps of selecting a customized set of medications for a patient, where the customized set of medications at least partially reflect a medical diagnosis of the patient, and providing the customized set of medications to the patient, where the customized set of medications are inaccessible to the patient without authorization from a medical care provider. Further steps of the method can include authorizing the patient to receive a first medication regimen from the customized set of medications, monitoring remotely at least one health parameter of the patient, and authorizing the first medication regimen to be modified to a second medication regimen based at least partially on the at least one health parameter.

Abstract: A method of providing customized medical monitoring to a patient is disclosed. The method can include steps of selecting a medical monitoring device for a patient, where the medical monitoring device is associated with a biological transducer, determining at least one desired monitoring parameter, and customizing locally the medical monitoring device to monitor the desired monitoring parameter collected by the biological transducer. The method may further include steps of providing the medical monitoring device to the patient, and monitoring at least one health parameter of the patient from a remote location. The medical monitoring device can also be customized remotely.

Abstract: A cordless telephone system includes a base station and a handset. The base station includes a telephone line interface, a base station chipset coupled to the telephone line interface, and a first radio transceiver coupled to the base station chipset. The handset includes a microphone, a speaker, a processor coupled to the microphone and the speaker, a wireless network interface coupled to the processor, a handset chipset coupled to the processor, and a second radio transceiver coupled to the wireless network interface and the handset chipset. The second radio transceiver is operable to communicate with the first radio transceiver and a third radio transceiver at a device coupled to a computer network. In a cordless telephone mode, a telephone call is communicated between the handset and the base station. In an IP telephone mode, an IP telephone call is communicated between the handset and the device.

Abstract: By combining lecithin and oil as the principal ingredients, a highly effective, uniform, widely dispersed, pan release spray product is achieved with the lecithin comprising a de-oiled powdered lecithin. The liquid lecithin and/or combinations thereof is blended with the vegetable oil, water and/or alcohol to form a stable emulsion that exhibits superior pan release properties. Furthermore, the lecithin emulsions of the present invention are easily formulated with a variety of blending agents to make flavorful salad dressings, marinades, and pet flavor enhancing products, as a non-aerosol, finger pump based product or as an aerosol product.

Abstract: The invention describes a steerable sheath for percutaneous epicardial access. The invention also describes a novel lead to facilitate left ventricular pacing and efficient defibrillation.

Abstract: The invention provides a rotatable infusion sheath apparatus. An apparatus of the invention includes a hub comprising a hub body with a longitudinal bore, at least one infusion inlet in fluid communication with the bore, and at least one elongate catheter sheath attached to the hub body. Generally, the sheath is rotatable with respect to the hub body and forms a substantially fluid- and gas-impervious seal therewith. Articles of manufacture are provided that include a rotatable infusion sheath apparatus of the invention and a catheter.

Abstract: The invention provides for a tissue ablation device and methods of using such a tissue ablation device for treating cardiac arrhythmias.

Abstract: The invention provides for an esophageal probe for transesophageal cardiac stimulation. An esophageal probe can be made de novo or can be a modified transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) probe. The invention further provides for an electrode-containing membrane to so modify a TEE probe for transesophageal cardiac stimulation. Methods are provided by the invention for using esophageal probes of the invention for transesophageal pacing or defibrillation.

Abstract: The invention provides for a tissue ablation device and methods of using such a tissue ablation device for treating cardiac arrhythmias.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method for generating a response to an aggregate query request on a source database, a random sample of records is extracted from the source database to generate a sample database. Then an aggregate query is performed on the sample database to generate a sample result, and an estimate of the aggregate query request on the source database is derived from the sample result.

Abstract: Purified plasminogen activator proteins obtained or derived from the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus saliva and salivary glands, methods for purifying the proteins, DNA sequences encoding these proteins, means for producing them using recombinant DNA technology, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these proteins and methods of treatment utilizing these proteins are provided.

Abstract: A live, attenuated varicella zoster virus vaccine is produced with enhanced yield of VZV. The new process makes mass production of a live VZV vaccine more practical. In addition, optimized monoloyer cell culture conditions provide a process for maximizing monolayer cell density which is useful for enhancing viral vaccine production. According to this process, cell densities approaching 500,000 cells/cm.sup.2 are routinely achieved in conventional culture vessels.