Abstract: A solder-free laser module which comprises at least one laser chip clamp-mounting between electrodes. The laser module includes: some electrodes facing each other and having opposite poles; insulating separators placed between the facing surfaces of the electrodes to prevent direct contact between them and their short-circuiting; laser chips mounted between the facing surfaces of said electrodes, making contact with the electrodes, and clamping means for bringing the electrodes facing each other more closely together to ensure their contact with the laser chips positioned between them, thereby ensuring electrical power supply to the aforesaid laser chips and dissipation of the heat generated. The invention further relates to a method for assembling the aforesaid laser module.
Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing materials is provided including a container for holding the material to be dispensed, a plurality of frame portions for holding decorative items, locking apparatus for locking the frame portions to the container, and a dispensing means for dispensing materials from the container. The dispenser also includes a base for receiving the container and frame portions, a memory device for playing a sound when the dispenser is removed from the base, and a switch for activating the memory device when the container is removed from the base.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 18, 2003
Date of Patent:
May 8, 2007
Inventors:
Christopher Peterson, Daniel James Lewis
Abstract: The invention relates to equipment and process for music digitalization, storage, access and listening, which equipment includes a digital music server (1), a music digitizing station (2), and a variable and convenient number of listening stations (3), the latter being interlinked to the server (1) and to the station (1) by the local network (4), it being also provided a central (or remote) digital music server (1A), said local (1) and central (or remote) (1A) digital music servers being a microcomputer with a large hard disk capacity for storing the digitized songs, and to centralize, in a database, all the information in the digitized CDs; said improvements also to allow the inclusion of more than one digital music server (1) and more than one digitizing station (2), and to allow only one microcomputer to be the digital music server (1) and the digitizing station (2), at the same time.
Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises two oppositely-positioned working numbers each having proximal and distal ends and each having a working surface. The instrument also comprises at least one ring member affixed to a least one of the working members to encompass one or more of a user's fingers. In one embodiment at least one working surface has a heating element to cut or seal and cut tissue.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 11, 2006
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2007
Assignee:
The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for limiting a ray beam, especially in connection with an x-ray imaging equipment. The invention comprises a collimator construction in which a primary blade element (4) is moved directly by means of an actuator (3) and where at least one secondary element (5, 20) is movable in connection with the primary element (4), but does not move dependent on the movements of it when the distance between the said elements (4, 5, 20) is within at least one certain operating range concerning them.
Abstract: A method for restructuring the debt of a debtor who has an interest in a distressed property by a third party including the steps of comparing a present appraised value of the property to a total cost for purchasing the property from the debtor by the third party, satisfying the personal debt of debtor by the third party, and reselling the property back from the third party to the debtor based upon a present appraised value of the property, and if the present appraised value of the property exceeds the total cost to the third party by a preselected value then the third party purchases the property from the debtor, satisfies the personal debt of the debtor and resells the property back to the debtor at the present value of the property.
Abstract: An endoscopic device separates ingested food from gastric fluids or gastric fluids and digestive enzymes, to treat obesity. In a particular embodiment a gastric bypass stent comprises a tubular member and two or more stent members defining a lumen. The tubular member has a substantially liquid impervious coating or covering and one or more lateral openings to permit one-way liquid flow.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 26, 2002
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2007
Assignee:
The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
Abstract: The system includes a device (1) for detecting hung up/picked up line, which provides a signal showing whether the line is open or closed, a device (2) for closing or opening the line (7), which provides the data to be transmitted, a device (3) for detecting a conventional call, a module (4) for exterior connection, a power supply circuit (5), which receives electrical current from the telephone line (7) itself and control means (6) which, on receiving a signal through the connection module (4), transmit an appropriate signal to the device (2) for closing and opening the line (7), which transmits the data of a message to be transmitted.
Abstract: An instrument and method are provided for sealing and joining or hemostatically dividing tissue, which is particularly suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery. The instrument makes use of the controlled application of a combination of heat and pressure to seal adjacent tissues, to join adjacent tissues, or to anastomose tissues, whereby tissue is heated for an optimal time and at an optimal temperature under optimal pressure to maximize tissue seal strength while minimizing collateral tissue damage. The instrument of the present invention is lightweight and therefore portable, and is particularly useful in field conditions where a source of external power may not be readily available.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 21, 2006
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2007
Assignee:
The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
Inventors:
Michael R. Treat, Fred H. Co, George D. Hermann, Thomas A. Howell, Theodore R. Kucklick, Michelle Y. Monfort, Kenneth H. Mollenauer
Abstract: The present invention relates to automatic exposure control implemented in imaging by electromagnetic radiation, in particular to automatic exposure control in film-based mammography, which is based on a completely new approach as compared with the solutions currently in use, which utilize adjustment curves and/or tables constructed on the basis of empiric tests. The new approach includes modeling into the AEC system the radiation spectra obtainable from the radiation source as a function of its operating parameters and attenuation of the spectrum as the radiation traverses components of the imaging apparatus. By measuring the thickness of the object to be imaged and knowing the initial spectrum and its calculable behavior, a correspondence between the AEC signal and the desired darkening of the image can be achieved which is based on true density of the object being imaged.
Abstract: A method for inserting a lead into coronary veins of a patient. The method comprises providing a guide sheath that comprises a tube having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a lumen passing through said tube, said lumen is provided with a first opening in said proximal portion and a second opening in said distal portion, said lumen is adapted to allow the lead to pass through it; a balloon provided in said distal portion, said balloon is adapted to be inflated outwardly and circumferentially from said tube; a tubing fluidically connected to said balloon, said tubing extends from said balloon to said proximal portion. The method further comprises inserting the guide sheath into a coronary vein; inflating said balloon so as to prevent retrograde blood flow from the coronary vein; inserting the lead into the coronary vein through said lumen and placing it in a target location.