Abstract: An apparatus and method of use or treatment are disclosed for creating intrauterine adhesions resulting in amenorrhea. In particular, the apparatus relates to an easily deployed intrauterine implant that readily and consistently reduces or eliminates abnormal intrauterine bleeding. In addition, the apparatus is also used as a uterine marker device for visualizing endometrial tissue thickness and potential changes. The method of the present invention serves as a supplement to or a replacement for conventional hysterectomy or ablation/resection procedures used to treat menorrhagia.

Abstract: A method and apparatus or arrangement, for monitoring the operating characteristics of valves, principally to monitor for failure of a valve. The method including measuring a pressure differential across a valve 1 and comparing the measured differential with a required differential. If the measured differential is acceptable relative to the required differential, the valve is deemed to be operating acceptably. If the differential is not acceptable relative to the required differential, then further monitoring in the form of flow sensing takes place and is compared relative to required flow characteristics. The method employs a comparison of the pressure differential and the sensed flow characteristics to determine whether the valve is operating acceptably.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle having a fixed room and a slide-out room which extends and retracts relative to the fixed room. The fixed room includes a floor section, sidewall sections, and a roof section, and the slide-out room includes a floor section, sidewall sections, and a roof section. A slide-out extension mechanism extends and retracts the slide-out room in a cantilevered manner. In a fully retracted position, the roof section and two of the sidewall sections of the slide-out room are typically concealed from exterior view, and a third sidewall section of the slide-out room forms a portion of the sidewall section of the fixed room. Furthermore, the floor section of the slide-out room is flush with the floor section of the fixed room, and proximal ends of the sidewall sections of the slide-out room are flush with an inner surface of one of the sidewall sections of the fixed room when the slide-out room is fully extended.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for improving adhesion of polyorganosiloxane to plastic, such as polycarbonate substrates. In a preferred embodiment, a tertiary amine is added to a polyorganosiloxane coating composition to achieve an improved abrasion coating.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a bipolar ablation device with multiple needle electrodes that penetrate a desired target tissue. These electrodes may be arranged in a variety of therapeutically effective arrangements, such as a comb-like shape, a multi-needle wheel, or an expanding bow design. By contacting and preferably penetrating the cardiac tissue with bipolar electrodes, a user can more precisely create ablation-induced scarring and thus electrical block at desired target locations without causing unwanted damage and related complications.

Abstract: A transducer is disclosed for sensing flow of a fluid. The transducer includes means for applying a heat pulse to the fluid and at least one temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is adapted to detect a decaying response to the heat pulse to provide an indication of the flow. The decaying response may be detected by comparing measured voltages at a set moment in time or by comparing measured times at a set voltage threshold. A method for sensing flow of a fluid is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides surgical needles with a porous distal portion from which a liquid injectate will weep or ooze multidirectionally under injection pressure while the porous distal portion of the needle is inserted into a body surface. The porous distal portion of the needle can be fabricated from a porous carbon, metal, ceramic or polymer and preferably has a decreasing gradient of impedance to fluid flowing to the point of the needle to compensate for the falling off of injection pressure as fluid moves towards the point, thereby ensuring uniform weeping of the injectate along the injection course. The needle is adapted for attachment to a catheter or syringe. In another embodiment, a surgical assemblage is provided wherein a porous distal portion having similar fluid flow characteristics is located along the distal end of a catheter, and a needle point is attached to the distal end of the catheter (e.g., a steerable catheter) for piercing tissue.

Abstract: A soil moisture sensor uses a non-collimated light source and a photosensor, respectively, mounted at the foci of a transparent ellipsoidal plastic body. The dimensions of the body are such that emitted light rays are internally reflected toward the photosensor at the surface of the ellipsoid if the surface is dry, but refracted outwardly of the body when the surface is wet. The amount of light reflected onto the photosensor is thus a measure of the amount of moisture at the surface of the sensor. Direct illumination of the photosensor by the light source is prevented either by interposing opaque electronic components between them on a circuit board, or by taking advantage of light source characteristics to minimize the amount of transmitted light. If a circuit board is used, it is completely encapsulated against moisture penetration by fixing it in a carrier and molding the body around and onto the carrier to form a monolithic unit with the carrier and circuit board.

Abstract: The present invention provides a slide-out mechanism that adjusts the elevation of a slide-out room relative to the main body of a vehicle. In one preferred embodiment, the slide-out mechanisms includes an acme screw elevator on a telescoping support arm below the slide-out room. As the slide-out room extends or retracts, the acme screw elevator increases or decreases the height of the slide-out room so as to allow full retraction within the vehicle body and complete level extension.

Abstract: An implantable stent having surface features adapted to promote an organized growth pattern of infiltrating cells when implanted in a tubular organ is provided. The surface features comprise depressions, pores, projections, pleats, channels or grooves in the stent body and are designed to increase turbulence or stagnation in the flow of a liquid, such as blood through the stent, and/or to promote the growth of infiltrating cells in an organized pattern. Alternatively, the invention stent can be populated with living cells prior to implant and can be heatable from an external source of energy, thereby inducing production of therapeutic bioactive agents from ingrowing cells. The invention also provides an implantable heatable stent for transcutaneously monitoring the flow of fluid through a lumen into which the stent is implanted by measuring the rate at which the heated stent cools in response to blood flow when the source of heat is removed.

Abstract: Systems and methods employing a small guage steerable catheter (30) including a locatable guide (32) with a sheath (40), particularly as an enhancement to a bronchoscope (14). A typical procedure is as follows. The location of a target in a reference coordinate system is detected or imported. The catheter (30) is navigated to the target which tracking the distal tip (34) of the guide (32) in the reference coordinate system. Insertion of the catheter is typically via a working channel of a convention bronchoscope. Once the tip of the catheter is positioned at the target, the guide (32) is withdrawn, leaving the sheath (40) secured in place. The sheath (40) is then used as a guide channel to direct a medical tool to target.

Abstract: The present invention includes an irrigation controller utilizing a “virtual” dial. In particular, the present invention contemplates an electronic programming and controlling interface that is controlled according to actuation of a simple on/off switch (i.e., a binary switch), preferably a push button. For example, in one embodiment, an irrigation controller is provided wherein a rotary dial is replaced with a circular liquid crystal display. The LCD contains segments peripherally on its screen that are energized according to the desired function selected by the user. The segment that is “on” at a particular time will correspond to visual indicia on the panel of the controller to inform the user which function is operable at that particular time. The user can then advance to the next segment on the LCD screen by pressing a button located elsewhere on the controller panel.

Abstract: A system for electromagnetically interrogating electronically coded labels is provided. The system includes at least one electromagnetically interrogatable electronic coded label, an interrogator containing a generator of electromagnetic interrogation signals and a receiver of electromagnetic reply signals from the label. The system is adapted to make use of electromagnetic signals, other than those generated by the interrogator, which may reach the label.

Abstract: A device and method for improving flow through a native blood vessel valve, such as the aortic valve, are provided. The present invention allows a miniature valve to be implanted into affected leaflets percutaneously, obviating the need for coronary bypass surgery. The method includes the cutting of small holes, on the order of 4 mm, in the leaflets of a targeted valve, thereby allowing blood to flow through the newly formed holes. The holes are used as attachment sites for the miniature valves of the present invention.

Abstract: A soil moisture sensor has a cylindrical body of transparent cyclic olefin polymer (COC). A pair of axially spaced cavities tapered toward each other are formed in the body. A light source is placed in one of the cavities, and a light sensor is placed in the other. The walls of the cavities are so curved that divergent light rays from the light source are refracted at the cavity-body interface into parallelism, and that reflected parallel rays are refracted at the body-cavity interface so as to focus on the light sensor. The parallel rays coming from the light source are reflected or refracted at the outer surface of the body, depending upon whether the ambient environment of the sensor is dry or wet.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides an upper locking device for a slide-out room which ensures a substantially tight seal is created at the upper portion of the slide-out room.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a vehicle mounting bracket having an adjustable linkage mounting portion. The mounting bracket is fixed to the vehicle and the linkage system, while adjustment bolts on the mounting bracket allow the user to adjust the vertical height of linkage relative to the vehicle. Scalloped adjustment joints of the linkage allow a user to modify the joint angle while effectively increasing or decreasing the length of the linkage members.

Abstract: A slide-out mechanism is provided that adjusts the elevation of a slide-out room relative to the main body of a vehicle. In one preferred embodiment, the slide-out mechanisms includes a tube roller mounted near the edge of the floor to slide vertically. The top end of the tube roller contacts the floor of the slide-out room while the bottom of the tube roller rolls along an extending arm. The extending arm includes a groove which allows the tube roller to reduce its vertical position when the slide-out is fully extended, causing the proximal end of the slide-out to therefore reduce in height.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process to rapidly spin-apply an AR coating system to a backside of a prescription lens. The AR coating system comprises a polyurethane primer layer, a siloxane thermally cured scratch resistant coating layer, a two-layer sol-gel AR coating, and a hydrophobic layer. The process comprising steps of spin-applying each of the layers provides a quick way to furnish a prescription lens that is AR coated on both sides.

Abstract: A self-adjusting irrigation controller takes a pre-irrigation soil moisture reading prior to irrigation, chooses an amount of water to be dispensed corresponding to that reading from a table, and dispenses that amount of water. A predetermined length of time after the end of irrigation, the controller takes a post-irrigation soil moisture reading and compares the value of that reading to a predetermined target value. If the post-irrigation value differs substantially from the target value, the water amount corresponding to the pre-irrigation value in the table is adjusted to reduce that difference on the next scheduled irrigation cycle having that same pre-irrigation soil moisture reading. The target value is determined by watering the soil to field capacity, then computing the target value as a function of the reading of the sensor at field capacity. The controller thus converges toward an ideal runtime and follows changes in the environment.