Abstract: An instrument for use in cartilage removal comprises an elongate body having a first end and a longitudinal axis having a longitudinal direction. A cartilage removal portion is coupled to the elongate body at the first end. The cartilage removal portion includes a plurality of serrated blades substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and adapted for removing material while moving in the longitudinal direction. Each serrated blade has a centroid located along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A securing apparatus for selectively securing an ablating element of an ablation instrument proximate to a targeted region of a biological tissue. The securing apparatus includes a support base affixed to the ablation instrument relative the ablating element, and having a support face adapted to seat against the biological tissue proximate to the ablation element. The support base further defines a passage having one end communicably coupled to a vacuum source and an opposite end terminating at an orifice at the support face. The support face together with the biological tissue forms a hermetic seal thereagainst during operation of the vacuum source to secure the ablation instrument thereagainst. Essentially, the hermetic seal and the vacuum source cooperate to form a vacuum force sufficient to retain the ablation device against the biological tissue.

Abstract: Method, system and computer program product are provided for adaptively encoding in hardware, software or a combination thereof a sequence of video frames in real-time. Pre-encode perceptual activity measurement processing is employed to derive statistics on each frame of the sequence of video frames to be encoded. The statistics are used by variable bit rate logic to obtain a number of bits to be used in encoding each frame. The number of bits to be used is provided to a single encoding engine, which encodes the sequence of video frames and produces a constant quality, variable bit rate bitstream output. The pre-encode processing employs a regulator as the global data flow control and synchronization for the encoder. Perceptual activity analysis on each frame of the sequence of video frames can derive information on, for example, shading, scene change, fade, color, motion and/or edge presence within the frame. Voting gives greater weight to the presence of certain characteristics within the frame.

Abstract: A catheter handle including a handle body defining a longitudinally extending handle aperture, a connector adapted to connect a steering wire to the handle body, a piston located at least partially within the handle aperture and slidable relative to the handle aperture, the piston being adapted to be operably connected to a catheter body, and a biasing element, operably connected to the piston, to bias the piston in the distal direction. As an alternative to the biasing element, or in addition, the catheter handle may also include a steering wire anchor associated with the handle body and including a movable portion operably connected to the proximal portion of the steering wire.

Abstract: A mechanism for manipulating the distal end of an elongate medical device, wherein steering is accomplished by a single wire which extends from the proximal to the distal end of the device, the wire being anchored at an eccentric location relative to the central axis of the device containing said steering mechanism. Advantageously, a device comprising the steering mechanism also comprises at least one through lumen extending substantially from the proximal to the distal end of the device whereby a device or materials can be moved to the distal end of the device.