Abstract: An improved gas appliance having a burner, a gas valve through which the flow of combustion gas to the burner is controlled, and a motor driven blower that supplies combustion air to the burner. The improvement includes means for increasing gas flow through the gas valve as blower speed increases, and decreasing gas flow through the gas valve as blower speed decreases, based on a pressure signal generated independently of combustion air pressure. This improvement allows a constant ratio of gas to air to be maintained in the burner while a combustion flow rate varies dependent on the blower motor revolutions per minute. Thus input pressures of combustion can be controlled at low cost.

Abstract: An implantable flow control element is provided which prevents air from entering an isolated portion of a patient's lung. The element may permit air to escape from the isolated portion so that the element acts like a valve. Systems for implanting pulmonary devices are also provided.

Abstract: An implantable flow control element is provided which prevents air from entering an isolated portion of a patient's lung. The element may permit air to escape from the isolated portion so that the element acts like a valve. Systems for implanting pulmonary devices are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for ultrasonic imaging utilizing multiple sets of transmit pulses differing in amplitude, frequency, phase, and/or pulse width. One embodiment has phase differences between the k transmit signal as 360 k degrees providing for constructive interference of the kth order harmonic pulse, while an amplitude modulation of each transmit profile is constant between sets. These sets of pulses are transmitted into media of interest and received echoes from these pulses are combined to form an averaged signal. The averaged pulses represent the net common mode signal received from each of the transmit sets. This combined signal set is used to reconstruct an ultrasound image based on broad beam reconstruction methodology.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus having an insertion part which includes an object optical system in order to conduct measurements or stereoscopic-vision observations, using the object optical system with a moderate parallax, a moderate size of an image can be provided without making an endoscope thick in diameter.

Abstract: A temperature-setting device for providing a predetermined temperature to a quantity of fluid circulating therethrough, a thermal treatment apparatus including such device for selectively treating a targeted tissue adjacent a subject's body cavity, and techniques using such thermal treatment apparatus are provided. The temperature-setting device comprises: an electrically conducting tubular element, a housing element for receiving the tubular element; and a transformer electrically connectable to the housing element. The tubular element functions as a resistor and heats the fluid circulating therethrough. Alternatively, the housing element comprises a thermal conducting member disposed within a bath of a cooling substance, the thermal conducting member having a recess for receiving the tubular element.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for preventing myocardial infarction, or lessening the size/severity of an evolving myocardial infarction, by cooling at least the affected area of the myocardium using an intravascular heat exchange catheter. The heat exchange catheter may be inserted into the vasculature (e.g., a vein) and advanced to a position wherein a heat exchanger on the catheter is located in or near the heart (e.g., within the vena cava near the patient's heart). Thereafter, the heat exchange catheter is used to cool the myocardium (or the entire body of the patient) to a temperature that effectively lessens the metabolic rate and/or oxygen consumption of the ischemic myocardial cells or otherwise protects the ischemic myocardium from undergoing irreversible damage or infarction.

Abstract: The present invention is a container for an IV aqueous solution of a Gram-positive oxazolidinone agent, such as linezolid a the compound of formula: which comprises having the container-solution contact surface material be a polyolefin.

Abstract: Devices, systems, methods, and kits for treating the tissue structures of the ear make use of a guide structure that can mechanically register a treatment probe with a target region of a target tissue, the guide structure being fittingly received in an auditory canal and often comprising a conformable body such as a compressible foam, or the like. The guide structure may include an articulating mechanism for selectively orienting the treatment probe toward the target region of, for example, a tympanic membrane. The guide structure may also support a videoscopic image capture device, illumination transmitting optical fibers, an aiming beam transmitter, and the like. Such structures facilitate myringotomy, tympanostomy tube placement, and the like, under local anesthesia in a doctor's office.

Abstract: Inhalation device and associated method for facilitating inhalation by a patient of powder medicaments contained in a receptacle. The inhalation device has a chamber for receiving the receptacle. A ring is circumferentially coupled to an inner surface of the chamber to achieve a higher reproducible emitted dose of medicament from the receptacle. The inhalation device also includes an improved implement for puncturing the receptacle, requiring less force and experiencing fewer failures.

Abstract: The method and device of the present invention for wound treatment with a combination of laser and ultrasound waves comprises a probe to produce a laser beam and transducer to produce ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic transducer has tip with a distal end comprising a radiation surface. A liquid is directed to the radiation surface wherein an directed atomized particle spray of the liquid is created upon contact of the liquid with the radiation surface. The laser beam and spray directed to the wound from at least 0,1 inches transmits ultrasound waves as well as particles and has an radiation, irrigation, mechanical cleansing, liquid energizing and bactericide effect on the wound.

Abstract: A sensing probe assembly and method for locating a magnetic field emitted by an implanted medical device. The assembly has a housing containing a magnetic field sensor circuit having an indicator light and a magnetic switch. The assembly further has a structure for marking the location of the magnetic field. The method utilizes a marking system whereby at least four points forming at least two perpendicularly intersecting line segments are located and marked above the magnetic field. The intersection is then used as a reference point for performing a medical procedure on the implanted medical device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical device to cold treat desired regions. An injection tube with an open distal end, and at least one aperture proximate thereto is disposed inside of a cooling tube, defining a cooling lumen therebetween. A third outer tube member is disposed around the second cooling member, defining a return lumen therebetween. A supply of fluid, regulated by a controller mechanism coupled to the device, flows through the injection lumen, the apertures and the cooling lumen to insulate and cool the fluid supplied into the injection lumen. The supplied fluid flows through the injection lumen and its distal end into the return lumen to cool the surrounding areas external to and proximate the distal end of the device.

Abstract: An inhaler disc cartridge comprises a carrier disc with radially outwardly extending resilient fingers, each with a medicament powder dosage. A sealing disc and an indexing ring are bonded to the disc. A cam sequentially and manually deflects a selected finger causing it to snap against an anvil to release the dosage by momentum energy transfer. In other embodiments, a cassette includes a carrier substrate reel of deposited powder dosages with a dosage sealing tape. The substrate comprises a belt with a plurality of transversely extending triangular fingers, each finger tip with a dosage thereon. Each finger is snapped in sequence against an anvil while a clamp secures the belt as the fingers are deflected. The spring fingers are corrugated in one embodiment cooperating with an anvil having channels and a device for inducing agglomeration breakup air streams through the channels.

Abstract: A reusable anesthetic container (1) has an anesthetic reserve space (2), which is provided with at least one movable wall element (3). The wall element (3) can be caused to follow the liquid anesthetic volume. In one embodiment, the movable wall element (3) is designed as a piston, which is caused to follow the anesthetic volume via a toothed piston rod (9). An elastomer ring is preferably provided on the storage container as a detent pawl for the piston rod (9). The anesthetic container (1) has a first metering element (5), which is actuated inductively by means of a complementary second metering element (6) cooperating with another metering element on the anesthesia apparatus (7) for metering the anesthetic.

Abstract: A device for attaching a tissue replacement scaffold to a bone has a platform positionable in substantially parallel relationship to the bone for retaining the tissue scaffold proximate to the bone. A post extends from the platform and is insertable into a hole formed in the bone. One or more ribs extend from a side surface of the post along a portion of its length. The ribs have an increasing cross-sectional area to establish an increasing interference fit relative to the hole in the bone tissue. The ribs have a sharp edge that grips the sides of the hole in the bone such that the ribs restrict rotation or withdrawal of the device.

Abstract: An endoscopic needle assembly has an inner tube formed from a close-wound coil of wire surrounded by a sheath, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube such that the inner tube can move longitudinally relative to the outer tube, a needle joined to a distal end of the inner tube, and a two piece handle having a first handle piece attaching to the inner tube and a second handle piece attaching to the outer tube. A safety shield, formed from a plurality of hinged petals, is built onto the distal end of the outer tube to protect an endoscope from inadvertent penetration by the needle.

Abstract: A barbecue stove structure having a switch includes a support frame, multiple flow rate control valves, and multiple press plates. When the control knob is rotated, the drive rod of the flow rate control valve and the press plate may be rotated by the control knob, so that the contact and press portion of the press plate contacts and presses the signal receiving terminal of the switch, so that the control circuit of the electric power device may output a current to an igniter of each of the burner heads, so that each of the burner heads may ignite and burn.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a guiding catheter for intraluminal procedures, such as stent delivery, balloon dilatation, atherectomy and the like, and for advancing and delivering intraluminal devices within body lumens. The guiding catheter in accordance with the invention has a multi-strand braided reinforcement layer within the wall of the catheter that has a distal end which is at an angle of at least 15° from a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the catheter. This construction of the reinforced braided layer assists in the retraction of an intraluminal device back into the inner lumen of the guiding catheter. The guiding catheter may have an inner layer that has a distal end that is also at an angle with respect to a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for maintaining donor organs at reduced temperatures ex vivo, in particular while the organ is being implanted in the recipient, and until reperfusion of the organ. By maintaining the organs at reduced temperatures, the potential for external warming of the organ and ischemic injury is reduced and graft performance and survival is improved.