Abstract: An insertion device with an insertion axis includes an axial actuator with a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is moveable along the insertion axis relative to the second portion. The insertion device further includes a first tube coupled to the first portion of the axial actuator, and the first tube is movable along the insertion axis in response to movement of the first portion relative to the second portion. The device further includes a second tube having a radially biased distal end. The distal end is substantially contained within the first tube in a first state, and the second tube is rotatable with respect to the first tube. Also, the second tube is axially movable to a second state, and a portion of a distal end of the second tube is exposed from a distal end of the first tube in the second state.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a fiducial marker kit. In one example, the kit includes a fiducial marker assembly that includes a bone screw base for receiving an imageable marker or locatable divot. A valved protective sleeve prevents debris from accumulating in a receptacle portion of the base, which may otherwise degrade the accuracy of patient registration in an image-guided surgical procedure. In one example, the valve automatically opens or closes upon insertion or removal of a screwdriver or other tool, or a shaft portion of the imageable marker or locatable divot. Various bone screw base and receptacle combinations are also discussed.

Abstract: Devices and methods provide accurate targeting, placement, and/or stabilization of an electrode or other instrument(s) into the brain or other body organ, such as to treat severe tremor or other neurological disorders. Targeting is performed using any form of image-guidance, including real-time MRI, CT, or frameless surgical navigation systems.

Abstract: A microcoil is manufactured by rolling a trace unit in such a way as to form at least one winding. The trace unit is comprised of a conductive trace attached to a flexible insulating film. A preferred embodiment of the microcoil contains both a first winding and a second winding electrically connected and spaced apart by a joining portion. The microcoil may be used for internal magnetic resonance imaging of patient by attaching the microcoil to a catheter.

Abstract: Devices and methods provide accurate targeting, placement, and/or stabilization of an electrode or other instrument(s) into the brain or other body organ, such as to treat severe tremor or other neurological disorders. Targeting is performed using any form of image-guidance, including real-time MRI, CT, or frameless surgical navigation systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus accurately maintains alignment of a surgical instrument. The apparatus includes a base with an attached movable member. The movable member includes a passage forming a portion of a trajectory path. A relaxable or rigid material has a similar passage in common with the passage of the movable member. If a relaxable material is used, the passage portion of the relaxable region is held open by an inserted stem removably attached to the movable member. The instrument is then inserted into the center of the stem and thus into the trajectory path. The stem is removed by withdrawing it from the movable member over the proximal portion of the instrument. This releases the relaxable region to tightly hold the instrument in place. Alternatively, using a relaxable or rigid component, the component is slid laterally to at least partially offset a passage through the component from the passage of the movable member to reduce a combined effective area of the passages and to grasp an instrument.

Abstract: A method and apparatus accurately maintains alignment of a surgical instrument. The apparatus includes a base with an attached movable member. The movable member includes a passage forming a portion of a trajectory path. A relaxable or rigid material has a similar passage in common with the passage of the movable member. If a relaxable material is used, the passage portion of the relaxable region is held open by an inserted stem removably attached to the movable member. The instrument is then inserted into the center of the stem and thus into the trajectory path. The stem is removed by withdrawing it from the movable member over the proximal portion of the instrument. This releases the relaxable region to tightly hold the instrument in place. Alternatively, using a relaxable or rigid component, the component is slid laterally to at least partially offset a passage through the component from the passage of the movable member to reduce a combined effective area of the passages and to grasp an instrument.

Abstract: An insertion device and method of using and manufacturing an insertion device is shown, wherein the insertion device is capable of distributing a media over a large distribution volume inside a patient while reducing the amount of tissue disturbed by the procedure. Also shown is a computer-readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed operable to cause generation of a set of data for use with an insertion device. An insertion device and methods are shown that allows a series of iterations to be performed within a single insertion procedure that distributes media, such as cells for cell therapy, over a large volume.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for calibrating a movable receiver coil with spatially varying signal reception profile in a magnetic resonance imaging environment is described. The method of the invention calibrates the movable receiver coil with spatially varying signal reception profile by dividing the receiver coil into parts and determining electromagnetic interactions of the parts in the environment. The method further includes (1) estimating orientation and position information corresponding to the receiver coil and (2) associating electromagnetic interaction data with records such as (a) responses of the receiver coil in various tissue environments to emissions caused by stimuli from external magnetic resonance coils, (b) high-resolution external receiver coil records of emissions from same environments, and (c) measurements of self-interactions and mutual interactions among the parts of the receiver coil.

Abstract: A device and method of placement of a chronic micro-catheter is shown that allows effective guiding of micro-catheters through a host catheter that is later removable while leaving the micro-catheter implanted in place within the patient. The novel configuration allows the micro-catheter to be completely radially enclosed during insertion, and still allows the host catheter to be removed, leaving the micro-catheter behind. Additionally, the configuration allows several micro-catheters to be placed at any number of depths and orientations while still using a minimally invasive host catheter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the combination of a methylxanthine and a carbonic anhydrase activator to provide synergistic effects. The invention further relates to the improved/enhanced cognitive ability of individuals, particularly those suffering from various disorders, such as Alzheimer's Disease, stroke, hypoxia, general dementia, ADHD, mental retardation, and “sun down” syndrome.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods to modulate &agr;-secretase and/or to improve cognitive ability. The invention further relates the improved/enhanced cognitive ability in diseased individuals, particularly Alzheimer's Disease patients, and treatment thereof through increased sAPP production. Macrocyclic lactones (i.e. bryostatin class and neristatin class) are compounds preferred for use with the present composition. The present invention also provides methods for increasing the generation of non-amyloidogenic soluble APP comprising the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by administering an effective amount of PKC activator(s).

Abstract: A class of customizable injection devices or delivery instruments whose basic form is a stiff tube with holes of user-selectable size at several user-selectable places is described. The use of this device includes a method of selection and construction of a particular device from such a class of devices for a particular treatment procedure using computer-assisted means. Thus, the user may make selections among available or creatable choices (such as selection of hole size, selection of hole location, number of holes, etc.), and a method can be practiced for making such user-selection serve the goals of delivery of materials such as drugs, cells, or of devices sufficiently small and numerous to be delivered in fluid suspension.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound of formula (I): or salts or hydrates thereof, useful as beta-secretase inhibitors. The invention further relates to a method of reducing plaque formation, particularly useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound of formula (I): 1

Abstract: Movement of material in an organism, such as a drug injected into a brain, is modeled by a uniformly structured field of static constants governing transport by moving fluid and diffusion within the fluid. This supports planning of material introduction, (e.g., infusion, perfusion, retroperfusion, injections, etc.) to achieve a desired distribution of the material, continuing real-time feedback as to whether imaged material is moving as planned and will be distributed as desired, and real-time plan modification to improve results.

Abstract: A method for increasing the generation of non-amyloidogenic soluble APP comprising activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by administering an effective amount of at least one PKC activator. Also provided is a method for altering conditions associated with amyloid processing in order to enhance an &agr;-secretase pathway to generate soluble &agr;-amyloid precursor protein (&agr;-APP) so as to prevent &bgr;-amyloid aggregation comprising administering an effective amount of a benzolactam.

Abstract: A method supplies a dynamic vector map of properties within a region or a unified suite of quantification functionality for property functions, such as density functions, conduction functions (e.g., thermal conduction, electrical conduction, atomic or subatomic mass conduction, macromolecular mass conduction), defined on, defined in or defining a three-dimensional space, which functions may optionally vary in time. There should be at least two services assisting in the definition of the map or suite, even in a dynamic modality, selected from: (a) Computation of the volume of the region where the density lies above or below a specified threshold, or between two specified values; (b) Computation of the integral of the density (that is, determining a total amount of material within the region); (c) Estimation of the rate of change of the density with respect to time, optionally restricted to a specified region.