Abstract: The invention describes includes a device and method for dilating a coronary arterial stenosis and for creating a transection in the myocardium. The transection creates a new artery composed partially of the old artery and partially of the normal healing tissue and myocardium. Several dilating means are described, as well as several cutting means and alignment means by which the cutting means may be located and properly oriented. In operation, the dilating means, cutting means and alignment means are advanced in the distal end of a catheter, which may be guided into position by a guidewire.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bone graft applicator assembly including a specially designed applicator, attached to a reservoir of bone graft material, such that the graft material can be moved into the delivery portion while the tip of the delivery portion is in place. The instantly disclosed device allows for the collapse of the delivery tip so that the tip can be placed between vertebras or alternatively within any bony structure or implant where the placement of bone graft material would be desirable, and then expanded to allow the bone graft material to be placed between the vertebras or the like while maintaining the geometry of the space into which the bone graft material is being placed.

Abstract: The instant invention describes a zipper lubricating applicator device for dispensing a lubricant to components of a zipper. The applicator device is designed to fit various lubricant reservoirs and is capable of dispensing lubricant in the form of liquids, gels, or aerosols. The zipper lubricating applicator device contains a lubricant receiving cavity constructed and arranged to receive a lubricant reservoir. A lubricant dispensed from the lubricant reservoir is received by the lubricant receiving cavity and is directed to at least one inner lumen. The lubricant is dispersed at a controlled rate and to a desired portion of a zipper through the zipper receiving channel. The zipper receiving channel is constructed and arranged to provide dispensing of the lubricant to a portion of the zipper as the applicator device slidably moves upon the zipper track. The instant invention further describes systems for applying a lubricant to a zipper track.

Abstract: The instant invention describes a zipper lubricating applicator device for dispensing a lubricant to one or more components of a zipper. The applicator device is designed to fit various lubricant reservoirs and is capable of dispensing lubricant in the form of liquids, gels, or aerosols. The zipper lubricating applicator device contains a lubricant receiving cavity constructed and arranged to receive a lubricant reservoir. A lubricant dispensed from the lubricant reservoir is received by the lubricant receiving cavity and is directed to at least one inner lumen. The inner lumen provides a pathway for dispersal of a lubricant from the lubricant reservoir receiving cavity to a zipper receiving channel. The lubricant is dispersed at a controlled rate and to a desired portion of a zipper through the zipper receiving channel. The zipper receiving channel is constructed and arranged to provide dispensing of the lubricant to a portion of the zipper as the applicator device slidably moves upon the zipper track.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bone graft applicator assembly including a specially designed applicator, attached to a reservoir of bone graft material, such that the graft material can be moved into the delivery portion while the tip of the delivery portion is in place. The instantly disclosed device allows for the collapse of the delivery tip so that the tip can be placed between vertebras or alternatively within any bony structure or implant where the placement of bone graft material would be desirable, and then expanded to allow the bone graft material to be placed between the vertebras or the like while maintaining the geometry of the space into which the bone graft material is being placed.

Abstract: The present invention provides new and useful features and mechanisms for the localization and transport of biopsy specimens. The invention having a specimen board, an absorbent material in operative engagement and in coplanar alignment with the specimen board, a compression sheet, radio opaque indicia located within the specimen board, and a flexible connection between the compression sheet and the specimen board, and an attachment device which provides for removable engagement of the specimen board and compression sheet. The apparatus further provides for a clear visualization window and operating instructions. The absorbent material is capable of adjustable movement between a first and second position, providing orthogonal positioning relative to the specimen board. As a result, the apparatus may be used to create three dimensional radiographic images allowing tissue analysis resulting in orthogonal views while maintaining original positional reference points.

Abstract: The instant invention describes a zipper lubricating applicator device for dispensing a lubricant to one or more components of a zipper. The applicator device is designed to fit various lubricant reservoirs and is capable of dispensing lubricant in the form of liquids, gels, or aerosols. The zipper lubricating applicator device contains a lubricant receiving cavity constructed and arranged to receive a lubricant reservoir. A lubricant dispensed from the lubricant reservoir is received by the lubricant receiving cavity and is directed to at least one inner lumen. The inner lumen provides a pathway for dispersal of a lubricant from the lubricant reservoir receiving cavity to a zipper receiving channel. The lubricant is dispersed at a controlled rate and to a desired portion of a zipper through the zipper receiving channel. The zipper receiving channel is constructed and arranged to provide dispensing of the lubricant to a portion of the zipper as the applicator device slidably moves upon the zipper track.

Abstract: A flow cytometer subsystems monitors a particle sensing zone within a fluid transport chamber for the presence of a particle (e.g., blood cell) traveling therethrough, and produces an output pulse, whose width is representative of the trajectory and thereby the length of time that the particle is within the particle sensing zone as it travels through the fluid transport chamber. This output pulse is then processed in accordance with geometry parameters of successive time delay zones of the particle fluid transport chamber through which the particle passes, in order to derive a composite time delay between the sensing of the particle to the time at which a fluid droplet containing the particle will break off from the carrier fluid. The composite time delay is employed to accurately establish the time at which the particle is controllably charged as the particle breaks off from the carrier fluid.

Abstract: The invention describes includes a device and method for dilating a coronary arterial stenosis and for creating a transection in the myocardium. The transection creates a new artery composed partially of the old artery and partially of the normal healing tissue and myocardium. Several dilating means are described, as well as several cutting means and alignment means by which the cutting means may be located and properly oriented. In operation, the dilating means, cutting means and alignment means are advanced in the distal end of a catheter, which may be guided into position by a guidewire.

Abstract: The present invention provides new and useful features and mechanisms for the localization and transport of biopsy specimens. The invention having a specimen board, an absorbent material in operative engagement and in coplanar alignment with the specimen board, a compression sheet, radio opaque indicia located within the specimen board, and a flexible connection between the compression sheet and the specimen board, and an attachment device which provides for removable engagement of the specimen board and compression sheet. The apparatus further provides for a clear visualization window and operating instructions. The absorbent material is capable of adjustable movement between a first and second position, providing orthogonal positioning relative to the specimen board. As a result, the apparatus may be used to create three dimensional radiographic images allowing tissue analysis resulting in orthogonal views while maintaining original positional reference points.

Abstract: A flow cytometer subsystems monitors a particle sensing zone within a fluid transport chamber for the presence of a particle (e.g., blood cell) traveling therethrough, and produces an output pulse, whose width is representative of the trajectory and thereby the length of time that the particle is within the particle sensing zone as it travels through the fluid transport chamber. This output pulse is then processed in accordance with geometry parameters of successive time delay zones of the particle fluid transport chamber through which the particle passes, in order to derive a composite time delay between the sensing of the particle to the time at which a fluid droplet containing the particle will break off from the carrier fluid. The composite time delay is employed to accurately establish the time at which the particle is controllably charged as the particle breaks off from the carrier fluid.

Abstract: An optical illumination and monitoring subsystem controls the operation of a flow cytometer having a carrier fluid that flows along a channel coupled to a droplet generator, which controls a point at which droplets break off from the carrier fluid, and a droplet sorter that is operative to cause selected droplets to be sorted along one or more droplet travel paths. The subsystem is operative to illuminate a respective droplet monitoring location along each of one or more droplet travel paths with a respective beam of light, such as that sourced from a common laser. In response to backscatter reflection from a droplet passing through the respective beam of light at a respective droplet monitoring location, the amplitude of the beam of light is increased. Then the droplet is monitored for the presence of a particle therein exhibiting detectable fluorescence as a result of the increase in the amplitude of the respective beam of light.

Abstract: A stellar icon for representing multivariate data includes finger members corresponding to constituents of a sample with a length corresponding to an expression of an attribute of the constituent. The finger members are positioned on the base member so that the finger members corresponding to a constituent with an expression of attribute within a certain range are on the upper portion of the base member, and the finger members corresponding to a constituent with an expression of an attribute that is not in the range are positioned on the lower portion of the base member. A method and system for forming the stellar icon include forming a transformation table including data regarding the range and constituents and attributes to be represented. The transformation table is used to determine the relative position of each finger member on the base member and to determine the length of the finger member so that the length corresponds to the expression of the attribute.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for sorting particles in a stream of a sample in a flow cytometer by producing from a stable sort having desirable sort characteristics multiple images of a portion of the stream; generating from the multiple images an averaged numerical reference standard representative of the stable sort; continuously collecting during the sorting multiple running images of the portion of the stream; generating from the multiple running images at least one numerical sample average representative of the sample sort of each collection of the multiple running images; and comparing each numerical sample average to the numerical reference standard and determining whether a sample average exhibits a deviation from the reference standard that requires an adjustment of the sort. The sort may then be adjusted to eliminate or reduce the deviation and maintain the stable sort of the reference histogram. A novel imaging apparatus may be employed in a flow cytometer performing this method.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for sorting particles in a stream of a sample in a flow cytometer by producing from a stable sort having desirable sort characteristics multiple images of a portion of the stream; generating from the multiple images an averaged numerical reference standard representative of the stable sort; continuously collecting during the sorting multiple running images of the portion of the stream; generating from the multiple running images at least one numerical sample average representative of the sample sort of each collection of the multiple running images; and comparing each numerical sample average to the numerical reference standard and determining whether a sample average exhibits a deviation from the reference standard that requires an adjustment of the sort. The sort may then be adjusted to eliminate or reduce the deviation and maintain the stable sort of the reference histogram. A novel imaging apparatus may be employed in a flow cytometer performing this method.

Abstract: A stellar icon for representing multivariate data includes finger members corresponding to constituents of a sample with a length corresponding to an expression of an attribute of the constituent. The finger members are positioned on the base member so that the finger members corresponding to a constituent with an expression of attribute within a certain range are on the upper portion of the base member, and the finger members corresponding to a constituent with an expression of an attribute that is not in the range are positioned on the lower portion of the base member. A method and system for forming the stellar icon include forming a transformation table including data regarding the range and constituents and attributes to be represented. The transformation table is used to determine the relative position of each finger member on the base member and to determine the length of the finger member so that the length corresponds to the expression of the attribute.

Abstract: Automatic biological sample mixing apparatus for use in flow cytometry, wherein a sample container is secured loosely at its top by means of a multi-reagent dispensing head; and the container is mounted at its bottom on a resilient support disposed on an elliptically rotated member, to cause reagents introduced into the container to be thoroughly mixed with a sample in the container in a fast, efficient, gentle, and accurately repeatable manner.