Abstract: An apparatus and method for thermally destroying tumors. A tip has a plurality of deployable thermal conductive elements whose temperatures are individually controllable. This allows the shape of the thermal field to be controlled and for specific areas to be protected from excessive heat by cooling those specific areas while ablating other areas. In another embodiment, the deployable thermal conductive elements are individually deployable to various lengths to further aid in shaping the thermal field. The temperatures and the shape of the thermal field may be monitored and controlled by a data processing device, such as a microprocessor. Further selectivity in defining the area of tissue to be treated may be achieved by introducing into the tissue thermal additives that alter the thermal properties of the tissue.

Abstract: A Comprehensive Integrated Testing Protocol (CITP) incorporates precise measurements of the dynamic and the static lung volumes and capacities at V30 for routine infant lung function testing. The static functional residual capacity (sFRC) in infants is measured after a short hyperventilation induces a post-hyperventilation apnea (PHA) that abolishes the infant's breathing strategies and creates a reliable volume landmark. A measurement of the sFRC is then obtained by inert gas washout; e.g., by measuring the volume of nitrogen expired after end-passive expiratory switching of the inspired gas from room air to 100% oxygen during the PHA. A true measurement of the total lung capacity (TLC) is obtained from the sum of (1) the passively exhaled gas volume from a Pao plateau of 30 cm H2O through a pneumotachometer (PNT) by integrating the flow signal to produce volume, which is the inspiratory capacity (IC), and (2) the sFRC.

Abstract: The present invention describes devices and methods for detecting and measuring the amount of acetaminophen-protein adducts in a sample.

Abstract: A method of measuring residual lung volume (RV) in infants by washout of nitrogen or other inert gas, using a compression jacket for rapid thoracoabdominal compression (RTC). RTC is performed from a raised lung volume (V30) to an airway opening pressure. The jacket pressure (Pj) (range 65-92 cm H2O) which generates the highest forced expiratory volume is used during the RV maneuver. The infant is manually hyperventilated to briefly inhibit the respiratory drive. RTC is initiated during the last passive expiration. By measuring the volume of nitrogen expired after end-forced expiratory switching of the inspired gas from a breathable mixture containing an inert gas to 100% oxygen while RTC is maintained during the post-expiratory pause, RV is calculated.