Abstract: An apparatus to directly take a sample of expired air from a subject which utilizes a stopper (3) with two distinct position. When the stopper (3) is in the upper position, it allows air blown in via the cannula (6) to scavenge the interior space of the tube (1) until the control (11,12, or 13) has indicated a sufficient volume. The cannula (6) is then pulled by the operator so that a blind stop (7) obturates the opening of an evacuation pipe (10) connected to the control. The stopper is then moved to a lower position to seal the sample of air in the tube (1).

Abstract: A system and method for providing computerized, knowledge-based medical diagnostic and treatment advice. The medical advice is provided to the general public over a telephone network. Two new authoring languages, interactive voice response and speech recognition are used to enable expert and general practitioner knowledge to be encoded for access by the public. "Meta" functions for time-density. analysis of a number of factors regarding the number of medical complaints per unit of time are an integral part of the system. A semantic discrepancy evaluator routine along with a mental status examination are used to detect the consciousness level of a user of the system. A re-enter feature monitors the user's changing condition over time. A symptom severity analysis helps to respond to the changing conditions. System sensitivity factors may be changed at a global level or other levels to adjust the system advice as necessary.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for flavouring shredded tobacco by which a mixture of alcohol, water and flavouring essences are fed into a rotary cylinder, wherein the mixture is cooled to below ambient temperature before being fed into the cylinder.

Abstract: A surgical guidance system includes a magnetic field generator carried by a support frame, a guidance system controller, at least one magnetic field sensor located at a surgical instrument, and a feedback display device. The guidance system indicates the position of the surgical instrument relative to a trajectory as the surgical instrument approaches a surgical target within a body. The magnetic field generator establishes a magnetic field having geometric characteristics that indicate the trajectory from an initial point to the target. The sensors detect the distinguishable orientation of the magnetic field along the trajectory, and the feedback display device indicates whether the surgical instrument is aligned or misaligned with the trajectory. The magnetic field generator is adjustable upon the support frame such that the approach angle and position of the trajectory may be selected.

Abstract: In a method for removing a myoma, an antenna electrode is placed into a patient so that the antenna electrode is in contact with the patient's uterus. A cutting electrode is also inserted into the patient and placed into contact with uterine tissues about a myoma. The antenna electrode and the cutting electrode are energized with radio frequency energy so that the cutting electrode cuts through the uterine tissues.

Abstract: An implantable suture sleeve for use with an implantable lead with a pacemaker/cardioverter/defibrillator lead. Since irradiation from a radioisotope source is capable of inhibiting the growth of hyperproliferating cells as compared with normal cells, a radioisotope material which is incorporated into the lead can be used to decrease the rate of fibrotic growth. The radioisotope may be located inside the suture sleeve, alloyed into or coated onto the metal from which a wire or coil within the suture sleeve is made, or molded into the rubber of the suture sleeve. Beta emitting radioisotopes having a half-life between 1 and 100 days would be best suited as the radioactive material due to their comparatively short range of action within human tissue, and because of their comparatively short half-life.

Abstract: A photic stimulator for stimulating the central nervous system and the brain waves of a human subject having left and right eyes and left and right visual fields within each eye. The stimulator includes light assemblies providing pulsating light signals individually to the left and right visual fields of each of the left and right eyes of the subject and a control module for varying frequency and intensity of the light assemblies. The photic stimulator can stimulate the left and right visual fields of each eye independently of each other. This capability exploits the anatomical structure of the optic chiasm found within the human brain where stimuli of both eyes stimulates the side of the visual cortex opposite the side where the visual stimulation is seen in the visual field.

Abstract: A smoke reducing device for use in minimally invasive surgery includes a housing having an inlet opening from an outlet opening. The housing is sized to fit through a trocar opening that leads to a body cavity. A filter is positioned within the housing between the inlet and outlet openings. An air flow generator is located within the housing and is positioned to draw air in through the inlet opening, pulled through the filter, and exhausted through the outlet opening to draw any smoke created during minimally invasive surgery through the filter. The smoke reducing device may form part of an electrocautery device such that smoke created during minimally invasive surgery can be filtered internally of the body cavity.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument is provided for cauterization and/or welding of tissue of varying impedances, thicknesses and vascularity especially in the performance of endoscopic procedures. The instrument compresses the tissue in the compression zone between first interfacing surface and second interfacing surfaces. The compression zone is formed by an insulator which forms a compression ridge in one of the interfacing surfaces and separates first and second electrically opposite electrodes. A preferred application of the invention is in a cutting instrument wherein a hemostatic line is formed using RF along a cut line.

Abstract: Methods for preventing or reducing sensation originating in a part of a human body through the application of magnetic flux either to the lumbar-sacral region of the body or to the cervico-dorsal region of the body. For sensation originating in a part of the body at or below, but remote from, the lumbar-sacral region, a first method comprises placing at least one source of magnetic flux in close proximity to the lumbar-sacral region and allowing the source to remain there until the desired effect is achieved. For sensation originating in the upper extremities, a second method comprises placing at least one source of magnetic flux in close proximity to the cervico-dorsal region and allowing the source to remain there until the desired effect is achieved.

Abstract: A temperature feedback device and method is provided for the monitoring of tissue treatment status during the application of surgical heating energy. In a preferred embodiment a function of the temperature over time is used to determine when coagulation of tissue has occurred to a desired degree. Preferably an electrosurgical hemostatic energy is used to coagulate tissue. A feedback signal is provided to a user or to a controller of an electrosurgical energy source to control delivery of energy to the tissue.

Abstract: An improved directed energy surgical method and assembly is disclosed. The method and assembly contemplate the application of a directed energy stream to tissue and the application of a liquid mist stream at a particular predetermined transverse angle to the tissue to reduce or eliminate smoke at the surgical site. The invention may be advantageously implemented in an assembly having a surgical pencil for emitting the directed energy stream and liquid mist stream. The liquid mist stream is generated by the surgical pencil, preferably by atomizing a liquid stream supplied thereto (e.g., pressurized via jet atomization). The invention may be utilized in connection with conventional electrosurgical, laser surgery, ultrasound, and other techniques and devices.

Abstract: A method of directly freezing porcine embryos which includes adding a solution to be frozen including ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, bovine serum and dextran in the presence of basic medium to porcine embryos and freezing the resulting mixture.

Abstract: A smoking article holding device has an article holder, a pivot assembly, and a clamping assembly. The article holder includes two spaced-apart arms having a plurality of paired, opposed, concave arcuate recesses which facilitate holding a corresponding plurality of smoking article sizes. The article holder is attached to a linkage of a pivot assembly. The linkage is attached to a pivot base to facilitate pivoting orientation of the attached holder in a desired position. The pivot base of the pivot assembly is attached to the clamping assembly. A pair of spaced-apart clamping arms are included in the clamping assembly and retained by an adjustable retainer. The adjustable retainer includes a threaded adjustment stud and an adjustment knob which facilitate tightening and loosening for attaching and removing the clamping assembly from a selected surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for vibrating an auditory element, such as a stapes, within an ear to improve hearing. A piezoelectric transducer is interposed within an inner circumference of the stapes, such as between the neck and footplate. An electrical input signal is applied to the transducer to vibrate an oval window or perilymph of the cochlea, either directly or through the stapes. The vibrator has small size and low power consumption, which are particularly advantageous for partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI) or total middle ear implantable (T-MEI) hearing aid systems.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for selectively destroying blood vessels contained at a selected depth and in a selective area of a patients dermis by positioning a laser so that light from the laser will impinge on the selected area of the dermis and operating the laser to deliver pulse light to the area, which light has a wavelength between 700 nm and 1100 nm, with each pulse delivering a fluence at the surface above the area being treated of between 5 joules per square centimeter and 100 joules per square centimeter, and each pulse having a pulse duration of between 0.2 milliseconds and 100 milliseconds.

Abstract: A cylindrical body with a flexible sheath at one end is mountable onto the end of a penis. With a partial vacuum drawn within the body through a one-way valve mounted in the wall of the body, the device is fixed to the penis securely. A weight may be hung from an eyelet of the body for stretching the penis. A plug provides a means for admitting air into the body for removing the device. A cone shaped wrap is secured to the penis in order to prevent the glans-penis from swelling. This wrap provides an air bladder in contact with the glans-penis to counteract swelling when the vacuum is drawn.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for diagnosing and treating Amygdala Related Transitory Disorders, comprising selecting a patient who has symptoms suggesting ARTD, stimulating said patient's amygdala with a magnetic field, and determining whether said stimulus with a magnetic field is capable of inducing or aggravating symptoms of ARTD. Additional embodiments include a method to determine the lowest dose of an anticonvulsant that will effectively control ARTD, and methods of using electromagnetic stimuli to treat ARTD by interfering with kindling or desensitizing the amygdala.

Abstract: A computer program and method for creating individualized exercise protocols for individuals recovering from various cardiovascular and/or pulmonary diseases is disclosed. The computer program includes receiving means for receiving health information relating to the individual; access means for accessing a plurality of patient data records, each of the patient data records including patient information and an exercise protocol for a patient who has previously completed rehabilitation; comparing means for comparing the health information with the patient data records and for identifying patient data records that contain patient information that is similar to the health information; and creating means for creating an exercise protocol for the individual based on the exercise protocols in the identified data records.

Abstract: An implantable, passive bio-sensor (10) for monitoring internal physiological conditions of a patient is disclosed. The bio-sensor (10) includes at least one sensor or transducer (12) for monitoring a physiological condition of the patient and a passive transponder (14) that receives sensor signals from the sensor or sensors (12), digitizes the sensor signals, and transmits the digitized signals out of the patient's body when subjected to an externally generated interrogation signal. In one embodiment, the bio-sensor (100) is incorporated into the sidewall of a shunt (102) used for treating hydrocephalus for non-invasively monitoring the operation of the shunt (102).