Abstract: A method for the treatment of a particular volume of plant or animal tissue comprising the steps of treating the plant or animal tissue with at least one photo-active molecular agent, wherein the particular volume of the plant or animal tissue retains at least a portion of the at least one photo-active molecular agent, and then treating the particular volume of the plant or animal tissue with light sufficient to promote a simultaneous two-photon excitation of at least one of the at least one photo-active molecular agent retained in the particular volume of the plant or animal tissue, wherein the at least one photo-active molecular agent becomes active in the particular volume of the plant or animal tissue. There is also disclosed a method for the treatment of cancer in plant or animal tissue and a method for producing at least one photo-activated molecular agent in a particular volume of a material.

Abstract: Neurologic measures, namely the hand grasp reflex (syn. palmar grasp reflex), the foot grasp reflex (syn. plantar grasp reflex), the tactile sucking reflex, and the extensor plantar reflex, and, additionally, when a specific magnitude of activity and cut-off score is applied, alone and especially in certain combinations, are used to diagnose the nature and cause of loss of voluntary urinary bladder and bowel control (syn. incontinence), for example, in Alzheimer disease.

Abstract: A method for assessing or determining alcohol consumption rates including using a blood specimen from a human subject to develop an individual blood constituent panel; comparing the individual panel with a reference blood constituent panel to provide categories corresponding to rates of alcohol consumption; and identifying the category of consumption rate. The methods of the invention can be varied through modification of one of several statistical models used therewith to preferentially weigh the analysis and identify one consumption category over another. Multi-variate and similar such statistical techniques correlate comparisons of individual/subject blood and reference panel constituents with recognized consumption rates.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for use in open surgical and transluminal methods for supplying long-term retrograde perfusion of the myocardium via a conduit disposed between the left ventricle and the coronary sinus. In a first method, an opening is formed between the left ventricle and the coronary sinus, and the coronary ostium is partially occluded using a stent that prevents the pressure in the coronary sinus from exceeding a predetermined value. In an alternative method, a first end of a conduit is inserted transeptally through the right atrium and obliquely into the posterior septal endocardium of the left ventricle via the posterior pyramidal space, while a second end of the conduit is inserted into the coronary sinus via the coronary ostium. A pressure-limiting valve is included in the conduit. In either method, the outlet from the left ventricle to the coronary sinus may include a one-way valve to prevent backflow from the coronary sinus into the left ventricle during cardiac diastole.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for treating a condition resulting from the cessation or withdrawal of tobacco or nicotine, opioids, ethanol or combinations thereof comprising administering an effective amount of 4-chloro-5-(imidazoline-2-y(amino)-6-methoxy-2-methylpyrimidine.

Abstract: A method for the accumulation of trace-labeled or therapeutic insoluble molecules in targeted cells of a living host for purposes including diagnosis, therapy, and research in cell biology. The method enables soluble precipitable materials, which can be trace-labeled or therapeutic, to be made to accumulate as non-digestible precipitates in targeted cells as a result of enzyme action within the targeted cells. Accumulation is achieved by administering to the living host a soluble binary reagent having a targeting agent attached to a chemical agent which is a soluble precipitable material. The binary reagent binds to antigenic receptors on targeted cells which endocytosed the binary reagent and transport it into the lysosomes where enzymes detach the soluble precipitable material from the targeting agent, causing it to precipitate, accumulate, and be retained in the cells.

Abstract: A laparoscopic bladder neck suture suspension procedure that anchors a suture in Cooper's ligament and, transvaginally, in the anterior vaginal wall to provide upper and lower suspension points and, then, ties and tensions a knot intracorporeally within the retropubic space between the upper and lower suspension points. The laparoscopic bladder neck suture suspension procedure utilizes a surgical instrument that combines a knot tying device mounted over a suture passing device. The suture passer may incorporate a grasper at its tip for purposes of passing a suture through body tissue as desired. The knot tying device is used to suture intracorporeally under tension using sliding knots such that the tension can be increased incrementally as the surgeon tests the elevation of the bladder neck by feel.

Abstract: A surgical procedure includes forming an incision in a patient placed in the right lateral recumbent position to facilitate forming a retroperitoneal cavity. Dissection is formed with a balloon cannula, and the retroperitoneal cavity thus formed is then maintained by a mechanical lift or retractor positioned to elevate the wall of the cavity adjacent the patient's left side. The dissected peritoneum and the underlying bowel are displaced away from the spine by gravity with the patient thus positioned. An endoscope may be introduced into the retroperitoneal cavity to visualize surgery within the cavity including dissection of the iliopsoas muscle to facilitate discectomy and spinal fusion of adjacent vertebrae.

Abstract: A method of treating urinary disorders utilizing a physiologically acceptable composition including a plurality of physiologically acceptable hydrogel particles which have been swollen in a water solution containing a low molecular weight water soluble organic compound, the solution having the ability to swell the particles. The concentration of the organic compound is such that the resulting particles can be inserted, without use of a carrier liquid utilizing a hand driven hypodermic syringe. The swollen hydrogel particles are substantially insoluble in body fluids.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for: detecting and quantifying the release of chemical agents, such as anti-inflammatory drugs from the synovial cavity of a joint into the vascular system of the joint; directly measuring the effect of chemical agents on oxygen consumption and the oxygen extraction rate of the joint cells alone; directly and simultaneously measuring the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs on hemodynamic parameters of the joint, and on transsynovial parameters of the joint, such as the permeability of the synovial membrane of a joint, the production of synovial fluid by the joint, and the composition of the synovial fluid of the joint. Each of these methods is useful for evaluating the efficacy of chemical agents on joint inflammation.

Abstract: A method for treating a patient sustaining an acute ischemic stroke in the brain. The brain has a blood circulatory system including a torcular Herophili and first and second transverse venous sinuses adjoining the torcular Herophili. The method comprises at least partially occluding the first and second transverse venous sinuses in first and second locations, respectively, adjacent to the torcular Herophili to partially obstruct venous blood drainage while permitting some antegrade venous blood flow from at least one of the transverse venous sinuses. A flow of the patient's arterial blood is introduced into at least one of the transverse venous sinuses to provide a substantially continuous retrograde blood flow into the venous side of the brain of the patient to overcome the lack of arterial blood flow for a period of time until the patient exhibits at least some resolution of ischemic brain symptoms.

Abstract: In a procedure for correlating different coordinate systems in computer-supported, stereotactic surgery, without the use of additional referencing markers, partial topographical information is collected by means of a surgical microscope mounted on a carrier system, and this partial topographical information is spatially correlated with the diagnostic data generated prior to surgery using a suitable correlation algorithm.

Abstract: An acupressure patch for providing a controlled pressure to a selected point on the skin of a patient for a selected period of time is disclosed. The patch includes a rigid nub fixedly mounted to a flat rigid pressure plate. The pressure plate is positioned on an adhesive disc and held in place by an adhesive ring. The nub sits in an aperture such that it is not covered with any adhesive. A cushioning pad may also be provided between the pressure plate and the adhesive disc. The acupressure patch provides a low profile apparatus which can be secured to a patient's skin to provide adequate pressure to be effective but not to irritate the skin.

Abstract: Tissue adhesions are inhibited by applying and immobilizing a solid preformed matrix material over a target region, such as a surgical site, in a first tissue surface. The matrix material may be any continuous solid material, such as a sheet or film. After applying the material to the target region, the material is immobilized by applying energy over at least a portion of the surface of the matrix material which causes the material to fuse to the underlying tissue. The matrix material is preferably bioabsorbable so that it is resorbed by the body over time. Suitable matrix materials include proteins, polysaccharrides, and synthetic polymers.

Abstract: A method of treatment using applied manual pressure to certain key pressure points of the forearms of a human body, in order to relieve pain or discomfort brought on from illness. The method includes manually applying pressure by the hands of a therapist along the forearms of a patient, while the patient clasps his hands and extends his arms outwardly from the body, so as to form a substantially triangular arrangement, with his two arms serving as two legs of the triangular, and an imaginary line from the two elbows. The patient forcefully pushes his hands and arms toward each other while in the triangular arrangement, with such pushing being concentrated at the clasped hands, and specifically concentrated at the metacarpals, and in the chest, and specifically at the sternum.

Abstract: An exercising method for stretching the spinal column and strengthening the spinal muscles. The user suspends his body on crutch-like supports and performs a series of exercises by positioning his body and/or the crutches in various angular positions relative to the floor. The crutches may be conventional crutches, or crutches which extend to a level higher than the user's shoulders, straps being provided for holding the body in suspension by the armpits.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method of loading and reloading a therapeutical device in a vascularized implantable containment apparatus made of selectively permeable material. Suitable therapeutical devices for use in the present invention include devices such as drug delivery devices, cell encapsulation devices, or gene therapy devices. A therapeutical device can be easily placed and replaced in a vascularized apparatus of the present invention without damaging tissues associated with the selectively permeable material of the apparatus.

Abstract: A point-of-care device allows for a simple and rapid determination of blood coagulation properties. The device is comprised of an absorbent material and a clotting agent. In operation, a quantity of blood is first allowed to clot, after which remaining serum is allowed to migrate through the absorbent material. The serum migration distance is proportional to the clotting time of the patient sample as routinely determined. The device can be used directly at the bedside of a hospital patient for immediate test results, or can be used for patient self-monitoring.

Abstract: A method of making a metal one-piece custom post member for non-parallel rooted teeth, including preparation of two root canals of the tooth by using a drill, making a funnel-shaped parallel fixing of entries in the root canals, inserting two posts made of burn-out plastic and sized to the root canals, into the canals, such that upper ends of the posts extend out therefrom, each plastic post having a body shaped as a partially flattened round stick, providing a flattened circle cross-section, one end thereof forming an enlarged cap shaped similarly to the body, treating upper ends of the posts that extend out of the canals with a self-curing resin to bind the posts together to form a plastic one-piece custom post member, removing the plastic one-piece custom post member from the tooth, casting a metal one-piece custom post member of the same size and dimensions from the plastic one-piece custom post member such that the metal one-piece custom post member has two metal posts extending therefrom, each being suf

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of controlling the sleep pattern of a baby by monitoring its state of sleep to ensure that it enters rapid eye movement sleep to ensure proper development of its central nervous system. If the baby does not enter the rapid eye movement sleep phase, then the baby may be frozen and is reawakened and comforted with smiles and laughter before being returned to sleep.