Abstract: A surgical implant for treating female urinary incontinence. The implant comprises an elongate polymer material suburethral support having a length and a width, first and second elongate and porous polymer material suspending members having a length and a width extending from opposite ends of the suburethral support, and first and second polymer tissue anchors having conical tips and wings on the first and second suspending members. The width of the suspending members is less than the width of the suburethral support. The length of the second suspending member between the suburethral support and the second anchor is adjustable.

Abstract: A system and method for securing accessories to shoes and other wearable items is described. One illustrative embodiment is a system for attaching a decorative accessory to a wearable item, the system comprising a shaft having first and second ends; a first shoulder secured to the first end of the shaft, the first shoulder being configured for insertion through an expandable hole in the wearable item and configured to engage an inner surface of the wearable item; a second shoulder secured to the second end of the shaft, the second shoulder being configured to engage the wearable item; and a third shoulder adjacent to the second shoulder, the third shoulder comprising the decorative accessory.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adapting the performance of an acoustic communication link with an implantable medical device (IMD) are disclosed. An illustrative method includes initiating an acoustic link with the IMD, measuring an initial performance of the acoustic link, determining whether the initial performance of the acoustic link is adequate, adjusting an operating parameter related to the acoustic link in the event the initial performance of the acoustic link is inadequate, measuring a performance of the acoustic link in response to the adjusted operating parameter, and setting the operating parameter to a prior setting if the measured performance of the acoustic link does not improve in response to the adjusted operating parameter.

Abstract: A cardiac lead includes a lead body that defines a passage, a conductive element that extends through the passage, and a fixation assembly. The fixation assembly includes a threaded member threadably engaged with the conductive element such that rotation of the threaded member causes the threaded member to translate longitudinally relative to the conductive element. A fixation element has a first end coupled to the threaded member and a second end coupled to a fixed location. A resilient membrane extends over the fixation element such that rotation of the threaded member affects the resilient membrane radially with respect to the conductive element.

Abstract: An implanted medical system includes a medical lead, an anchoring device and at least one suture secured circumferentially about the anchoring device to cause compression of the anchoring device on the medical lead. In particular, the anchoring device is received coaxially over the medical lead and includes an elastomeric sleeve and a compression governor. The elastomeric sleeve has a substantially elongate, hollow, and tubular body. The compression governor is substantially more rigid than the elastomeric sleeve and is coaxially secured to the elastomeric sleeve. The compression governor defines an inner bore having an effective diameter and is adapted to limit compression at a pre-selected minimum effective diameter to limit compressive forces exerted on the lead by the anchoring device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spinning apparatus for forming a workpiece. The spinning apparatus includes at least one spinner capable of deforming the workpiece. The apparatus allows for the forming of the workpiece in four different axes. The spinning apparatus includes an arrangement allowing for the vertical arrangement of the workpiece while the spinner is working on the workpiece. The spinning apparatus includes a clamp for holding the workpiece vertically. The spinner is positioned vertically below the clamp and the workpiece.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reduction of the incoming delay time in network-initiated data transmission in GPRS-mobile communication networks, wherein data transmission is initiated to a mobile communication terminal device in a ready state via a requesting network node, wherein the first data packet to be sent by the requesting network node has already been transmitted to the base station subsystem together with a Paging Request message.

Abstract: A relatively stiff head suspension component. The suspension component is comprised of a sheet material having a major surface with side-edges. Tubular stiffening rails are integrally formed on the side-edges from the sheet material. The tubular rails have a substantially symmetrical cross section and extend around at least about 270 degrees from the major surface.

Abstract: A method of treating urinary incontinence of a patient by introducing a surgical implant through a vaginal incision. The surgical implant includes a suburethral support having first and second suspending members and first and second tissue anchors. The width of each suspending member is less than the width of the suburethral support. Each tissue anchor has a conical tip and is coupled with a respective one of the first and second suspending members. The first and second tissue anchors are inserted into tissue on first and second sides, respectively, of a urethra of the patient without penetrating an abdominal wall. A position of the suburethral support relative to the patient's urethra is adjusted, including pulling the second suspending member through the patient's vagina to adjust the distance between the suburethral support and the second anchor, after which the distance between the suburethral support and the second anchor is fixed.

Abstract: A method for providing support to an anatomical structure of the pelvis includes making a vaginal incision for securing a support portion under a urethra of a patient, passing a narrowed portion of an introducer through an introducer aperture of a first soft tissue anchor, seating the first soft tissue anchor on the introducer, and inserting a second soft tissue anchor through the vaginal incision and pressing the second soft tissue anchor into tissue on a second side of the urethra such that a support portion is suspended from the first and second soft tissue anchors under the urethra without the first and second soft tissue anchors penetrating an abdominal wall of the patient.

Abstract: A temperature limit stop assembly for a mixing valve including a stop surface supported by a stem and a hot water stop shoulder supported by a stop member and engagable with the stop surface of the stem to limit rotational movement of a valve plate.

Abstract: A pulsed latch circuit with conditional shutoff prevents an input node, such as a node receiving data, of the pulsed latch circuit, from latching data based on a delayed input control signal, such as an internal clocking signal, and based on a feedback latch state transition detection signal indicating that a current state of input data is stored in the latch. As such, two control conditions are used to shut down the latch. In one example, a condition generator detects when the latch has captured data correctly and outputs a signal to disable the input node. In addition, a variable delay circuit is used to adjust the width of the allowable input signal to set a worst case shutoff time. If data is latched early, a feedback latch state transition detection signal causes the input node to be disabled. If data is not latched early, the maximum allowable latch time is set by the variable delay circuit.

Abstract: A grout and lifting tube for casting within a concrete segment. The tube provides enhanced sealing between the tube and the concrete to prevent moisture leakage into a structure formed by a plurality of the concrete segments. The tube includes a generally cylindrical body having an exterior with an anchoring rib structure, a threaded interior, a proximal end, a distal end. An annular gasket is disposed at the proximal end of the tube body, and may be secured to the proximal end of the tube body by a mechanical interlock and/or by unitary co-molding. After the concrete section is placed and grout is pumped through the tube, a plug is threadable into the proximal end of the tube to both compress the gasket between the plug and the tube at a first seal, and to compress the gasket between the plug and the concrete surrounding the proximal end of the tube at a second seal to provide robust, watertight sealing.

Abstract: A collector for propagating incident radiation is disclosed. The collector may comprise a light directing component coupled to a buffer component, a first propagation component coupled to the buffer component and configured to transmit the incident radiation into a collector region through one of a plurality of windows, and an optical transport assembly coupled to an end of the collector region and having a second propagation component. Each light directing component may be configured to redirect the incident radiation from a first direction to a second direction, and the collector region may include a plurality of regions exhibiting a refractive index value that gradually transitions from about 1.5 to about 2.0. The second propagation component may be further configured to retain the incident radiation.

Abstract: A screw assembly (10) for insertion into a bone region (12A) (12B) includes a screw body (14) and a washer (16). The screw body (14) includes a distal end (218), a proximal end (224), and a distal threaded area (220), and a proximal threaded area (226). The distal threaded area (220) is positioned near the distal end (218) and the proximal threaded area (226) is positioned near the proximal end (224). The washer (16) includes a washer threaded area (238) that engages the proximal threaded area (226) to selectively secure the washer (16) to the screw body (14). With this design, the washer (16) can be selectively attached to the screw body (14) and different sized washers (16) can be alternatively and selectively secured to the screw body (14). As a result thereof, the person inserting the screw assembly (10) can pick the washer (16) size best suited to retain the bone region (12A) (12B) in which the screw assembly (10) is being inserted.

Abstract: Anti-uPA antibodies and antigen-binding regions thereof, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such antibodies and antigen-binding regions, are described. Also described are methods of using such antibodies and antigen-binding regions to bind uPA epitopes and activate uPA function, such as inhibition of uPA mediated inflammation. Epitopes that can be used to activate uPA function and anti-inflammation activity are also described, as well as methods of identifying compounds that can bind them.

Abstract: An orthopedic device for ball and socket joint reconstruction. The anchor stem is adapted to be anchored in a medullary canal. A proximal portion of the anchor stem includes a threaded hole oriented along a longitudinal axis thereof. Metaphyseal portion includes a proximal end with recess and a longitudinal bore in fluid communication with the recess, and a distal end adapted to interface with the proximal portion of the anchor stem. An anti-rotation structure is preferably located at an interface of the anchoring stem to the metaphyseal portion to prevent rotation of the anchor stem relative to the metaphyseal portion around the longitudinal axis. A fastener is provided to extend through the longitudinal bore and to engage with the threaded hole on the anchor stem to fix the metaphyseal portion to the anchoring stem. The locking assembly is located in the recess and mechanically couples the head of the fastener to the metaphyseal portion to limit rotation of the fastener relative to the metaphyseal portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for sealing a puncture in a tubular tissue structure or the wall of a body cavity are provided. The apparatus and method include a bioabsorbable member that is partially external to and partially internal to an introducer sheath before and during placement thereof.

Abstract: A low noise current source includes first and second voltage input terminals. The current source further includes an amplifying device having an input terminal and an output terminal, where the output terminal is coupled to the second voltage input terminal via a load. The current source also includes a bias circuit coupled between the first voltage input terminal, the second voltage input terminal, and the input terminal. The current source additionally includes a first bypass circuit coupled between the first voltage input terminal and the input terminal, where the first bypass circuit configured to provide a substantially high electrical resistance and substantially no electrical impedance between the first voltage input terminal and the input terminal.