Abstract: Electrode structures are formed from flexible, porous, or woven materials. One such structure is made by forming first and second body sections, each including a peripheral edge. The first and second body sections are joined together about their peripheral edges with a seam, thereby forming a composite structure. Another one of such structures is made by forming a body having a three. dimensional shape and opposite open ends, and at least partially closing at least one of the opposite ends by forming a seam. Another one of such structures is formed from a sheet of material having peripheral edges. The sheet is placed on the distal end of a fixture, while the peripheral edges of the sheet are gathered about the proximal end of a fixture, thereby imparting to the sheet a desired shape. At least one pleat is formed to secure the gathered peripheral edges together. The seams or pleats are formed by thermal bonding, or ultrasonic welding, or laser welding, or adhesive bonding, or sewing.

Abstract: A catheter using multiple hollow fibers to carry a heating/cooling fluid employs fiber spreading features to improve heat transfer and help prevent clotting of body fluids within which the catheter is immersed. The catheter includes a length of outer tube surrounding an inner tube. The inner tube conveys fluids in one direction, and the passageway between inner and outer tubes conveys fluids in the opposite direction. The inner and outer tubes have proximal distal ends. The distal end is closed, but the proximal end is open to permit introduction of a heating or cooling fluid into the inner tube, and withdrawal of the fluid from the passageway between the inner and outer tubes. At the tubes' distal end resides a proximal fluid transfer housing coupled to multiple hollow heat exchange fibers. The distal ends of these fibers may be commonly connected to a distal fluid transfer housing and optional reservoir, which cooperatively return fluid to the passageway between inner and outer tubes.

Abstract: A machine-driven automatic fever abatement system treats or prevents fever in hospital patients by administering medication, coolant, or other antipyretic means. The system includes a path, a flow device, a source of treatment substance, fever-characteristic sensors, and a controller. The path may be an open-ended structure, such as a tube, or a closed-ended structure such as a catheter with a sealed, internal path. The path is coupled to one or more bodily sites of the patient. The path is coupled to the flow device, which is itself attached to the source. The source contains a treatment substance such as medication (in the case of an open-ended path) or a coolant (in the case of a closed-ended path). One or more fever characteristic sensors are attached to various sites on the patient, for sensing temperature, metabolic rate, and/or other fever-affected physiological properties.

Abstract: Electrode assemblies and associated systems employ a nonporous wall having an exterior for contacting tissue. The exterior peripherally surrounds an interior area. The wall is essentially free of electrically conductive material. The wall is adapted to assume an expanded geometry having a first maximum diameter and a collapsed geometry having a second maximum diameter less than the first maximum diameter. The assemblies and systems include a lumen that conveys a medium containing ions into the interior area. An element free of physical contact with the wall couples the medium within the interior area to a source of electrical energy to enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the source through the medium to the wall for capacitive coupling to tissue contacting the exterior of the wall.

Abstract: This is an implant for placement in the human body and an assembly for so placing that implant. Most desirably, it is an implant for use in the vasculature of the human body and is used to occlude some space in that vasculature as a portion of a treatment regimen. The implant itself is preferably a component of a deployment device using an electrolytically severable joint. The implant component is at least partially covered with a highly resistive or insulative covering. The highly resistive or insulative layer or covering appears to enhance the susceptibility of the electrolytic joint to quick erosion and thus detachment of the implant. Although the implant itself is preferably a vaso-occlusive device, it may instead be a stent, a vena cava filter, or other implant which may be installed in this manner. The implant may be independently coated with insulative or resistive material or may be formed using a material with such as tantalum, which forms such an insulator or resistor in situ.

Abstract: A method for treating cardiac arrest includes defibrillating the patient and/or ventilating the patient and/or administering a cardiac arrest drug such as epinephrine to resuscitate the patient, and then cooling the patient's body temperature using one or more cooling catheters positioned in the central venous system of the patient and/or particularly cooling the patient's brain temperature using a catheter advanced into the aortic arch or into the carotid artery whereby a bolus of cold saline solution is introduced into the blood supplied to the brain to lower the brain temperature quickly, and further cooling or maintaining the brain temperature at a desired level by pumping coolant in a closed circuit formation between the catheter and the coolant source to remove heat from the blood supplied to the patient's brain.

Abstract: A verification system for obtaining, storing and providing access to information regarding a commitment or position of an individual or entity. In one embodiment the verification system comprises an interactive voice response system or computer program interface capable of obtaining and recording information regarding any of a number of commitments from an individual or entity, such as a commitment to change long distance telephone service providers. The verification system comprises a voice response unit configured to query pertinent information from an individual and record the responses to the queries in a digital format. Upon completion of a successful session, the voice response unit forwards the recorded responses confirming consent, to a storage device, such as a computer server. As desired, the recorded responses can be retrieved from the server by telephone or computer for verification of the consent, commitment, or position of the individual or entity.

Abstract: A surgical device for opening a passageway adjacent a thrombus to allow both blood and medication to bypass a clot. The surgical device may also be used to pierce and remove a thrombus. The device includes a core element or wire having an expanding proximal cage assembly and a distal filter or expanding cage assembly placed around the core wire. Components of the device are preferably radio-opaque. The proximal end of the proximal cage may be affixed to an actuator to allow expansion of the cage after deployment. The proximal cage assembly may be used for collecting emboli or for displacing emboli to allow blood flow to resume, either with or without concurrent clot-dissolving drug treatment. The distal section is placed distally of the thrombus to collect portions of the thrombus which may loosen during the treatment or removal procedure.

Abstract: A catheter comprising an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passageway defining a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The elongate tubular member comprises a relatively stiff proximal section and a relatively flexible distal section. The proximal section includes an inner tubular liner, a first stiffener comprising a metal alloy, and a second stiffener comprising a non-metal alloy. The first and second stiffeners are coaxially wound exterior to the proximal inner liner. The distal section includes a distal inner tubular liner and the second stiffener coaxially wound exterior to the distal inner liner. The first stiffener terminates before reaching the distal section.

Abstract: A temperature control system for a thermal reactor is disclosed that addresses many of the problems in the art. In accordance with one aspect of the disclosed control system, a plurality of temperature controllers are employed. Each temperature controller employs one or more dynamic models that are optimized for a given temperature range. The temperature range over which a particular controller is optimized is preferably generally exclusive of the temperature ranges over which other controllers of the plurality of temperature controllers are optimized. In accordance with another aspect of the control system, the control system employs enhanced ramp trajectory logic. In accordance with another aspect of the control system, the control system employs a virtual temperature sensor in the event of a hardware failure of the corresponding non-virtual temperature sensor.

Abstract: A flashlight having a head assembly, a switch assembly and a removable tail cap with a spare bulb holder provided by the tail cap. The spare bulb holder includes a resilient body having an internal, U-shaped wall defining a slot configured to receive a flashlight bulb, a cylindrical wall about the slot and ribs extending between the U-shaped wall and the cylindrical peripheral wall. The slot extends through the cylindrical peripheral wall and includes a first section for receiving the plug of a flashlight bulb, a second section for receiving the flange of a flashlight bulb and a third section for receiving a lens of the flashlight bulb.

Abstract: Methods for designing golf club heads and inertially tailored golf club heads designed in accordance with such methods. A location for a center of gravity (CG) of a golf club head and magnitudes and directions of the principal moments of inertia of the golf club head are selected, and mass is distributed within the golf club head such that the center of gravity of the golf club head is located at the selected center of gravity location, and such that the principal moments of inertia of the golf club head have the selected magnitudes and directions.

Abstract: A system for metering and dispensing single and plural component liquids and solids as described herein. The dispensing system has a microprocessor-based control system and progressive cavity pumps which provide a very accurate control of component ratios, shot sizes, flow rates and dispense durations. The system has numerous feedback components for accurately controlling the pressure, flow rates, fluid levels and amounts of fluids dispensed. Where a valved nozzle is used, the pressure in the flow system is used to control the pumps rather than the valve. Such a system may be used as a sprayer with compressed air added. Drum rams are associated with the supply drums and the progressive cavity pumps may be placed on the drum ram. Maintenance of a steady state in the system is accomplished with back and forth movement of the pump, with compensation for pressure changes. Absolute rotational position of the pump can be monitored when a set pressure is maintained, to diagnose system conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for communication using movement of a person's eye, including an emitter for directing light towards an eye, a sensor for detecting emitted light from the emitter, and a processor coupled to the sensor for converting sequential light intensity signals received from the sensor into a stream of data, and/or for converting the signals into an understandable message. A radio frequency transmitter transmits the stream of data to a remote location, such as to a receiving and processing unit, which may store the stream of data, display a message in the stream of data, or use a command in the stream of data to control a piece of equipment. A self-contained detection device is also provided that includes a frame adapted to be worn on a person's head, and an emitter and a sensor, such as a solid state biosensor, on the frame for directing light towards and detecting light reflected off of the eye, respectively.

Abstract: A musical apparatus which controls a variety of parameters of musical tones by detecting motion of an object in a space adjacent to the musical apparatus. More specifically, the musical apparatus may comprise a musical tone signal generator which generates a musical tone signal, at least one light source which radiates light beams into a space adjacent to the musical apparatus, at least one light detector which detects at least two light beams reflected from an object in the space and generates a detection value for each of said at least two light beams, a computing element which receives the detection values and generates a synthesized value; and a controller which controls parameters of musical tones based on the synthesized value. For example, the synthesized value may be the sum of the detection values, the difference between the detection values, the ratio between the detection values, or some other relationship between the detection values.

Abstract: An imaging element characterizes tissue morphology by analyzing perfusion patterns of a contrast media in tissue visualized by the imaging element, to identify infarcted tissue. In a preferred implementation, a catheter tube introduced into a heart region carries the imaging element, as well as a support structure spaced from the imaging element, which contacts endocardial tissue. The imaging element is moved as the imaging element visualizes tissue. A selected electrical event is sensed in surrounding myocardial tissue, which regulates movement of the imaging element. The support element stabilizes the moving imaging element as it visualizes tissue, providing resistance to dislodgment or disorientation despite the presence of dynamic forces.

Abstract: A self-addressable, self-assembling microelectronic device is designed and fabricated to actively carry out and control multi-step and multiplex molecular biological reactions in microscopic formats. These reactions include nucleic acid hybridizations, antibody/antigen reactions, diagnostics, and biopolymer synthesis. The device can be fabricated using both microlithographic and micro-machining techniques. The device can electronically control the transport and attachment of specific binding entities to specific micro-locations. The specific binding entities include molecular biological molecules such as nucleic acids and polypeptides. The device can subsequently control the transport and reaction of analytes or reactants at the addressed specific micro-locations. The device is able to concentrate analytes and reactants, remove non-specifically bound molecules, provide stringency control for DNA hybridization reactions, and improve the detection of analytes. The device can be electronically replicated.

Abstract: A two component polyurethane top coat for use with golf balls includes a polyol component and a polyisocyanate component. The polyol component includes a polyester polyol resin containing a neopentyl glycol resin. A mixture of silane and aziridine is also preferably included in the polyol component. The polyisocyanate component includes a mixture of an isocyanate trimer of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and a biuret of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). The polyol and polyisocyanate components preferably include a two solvents forming a blend selected from the group consisting of ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, propyleneglycolmonomethylether acetate, toluene, or xylene. The coating can be applied directly to golf ball covers with a variety of chemistries without the need of a primer or basecoat. The top coat provides superior adhesion and abrasion resistance in addition to improving the drying and curing characteristics.

Abstract: A point of sale (POS) bar code scanner such as in common use in retail stores includes provision for reading bar coded redemption coupons (or other bar coded documents redeemable for value) in a manner secure from a human operator. Integration of functions between the POS scanner and the coupon reader varies with different embodiments described. Through software associated with bar code decoding logic, a comparison is made between information on a validation coupon and information on items presented for purchase, and a decision is made as to whether the redemption coupon is valid and redeemable in this transaction. In one embodiment, the bar code scanner simply receives the redemption coupon face down on the product scanner window, and integrated decode logic of the scanner identifies the bar code as belonging to a redemption coupon, then makes the comparison and validation of the coupon for the particular transaction.