Abstract: An electronic, hand-held, easy-to-use, icon driven medical log that can be easily used by the elderly, children, the sick, the incapacitated and those with minimal computer skills. The medical log includes a first set of icons each representative of a different bodily condition and a second set of icons each representative of a different bodily location. A third set of icons is also provided to control the operation of the medical log. The medical log is initialized by programming the date and time into the device using the control icons. Once the medical log is initialized, a patient or a caretaker can make entries into the medical log by entering a bodily condition by selecting one of the first set of icons. The bodily location where the patient is experiencing discomfort is then entered into the medical log by selecting one of the second set of icons. The date and time the condition and bodily location was entered into the medical log is automatically stored in the log for later retrieval.

Abstract: An interactive computerized system and process for querying a customer regarding identification for both customer and equipment, such as an automobile, information, as well as problems related to such equipment and desired repairs and maintenance for the equipment, then compiling and processing the acquired information and thereafter preparing and printing work orders for the customer, the service advisor and the mechanics.

Abstract: A system and process linking an external computer with an illustration system of an insurance carrier and a system of an independent lending institution, via modem, to determine the optimal premium structure for a contemplated variable life insurance product using a portion of the policy owner's money and a lending institution loan to finance the premium. The system and process can also provide for simultaneously tracking several variable life insurance policy cash values to ensure each individual policy cash value is adequate for collateral purposes.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for a universal auction specification system is disclosed. The universal auction specification system comprises a network accessible set of trading primitives. A script generator is used for combining the set of trading primitives into a temporal protocol script representing a particular auction specification.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for formulating and submitting a purchase request over a computer network and making said purchase request available to a dealer immediately. A Data Center system has a system database, a buyer interface, and a dealer interface. The system database includes an exclusive database region for each participating dealer. A potential buyer submits a purchase request over a computer network to the Data Center system. The purchase request includes a product identification data and a buyer location information. The Data Center system further contains dealer information, product information, and the like. The Data Center system determines at least one appropriate dealer to receive the purchase request. The Data Center creates a purchase request record from the data and information provided in the purchase request.

Abstract: A plan of countersuit insurance provided to professionals, possibly as part of or along with their professional liability insurance, deters frivolous professional malpractice claims. The plan of insurance pays legal costs of countersuits for improper prosecution when a frivolous claim has been made and, preferably, tried to a judgment for the accused professional, and an objective review concludes that the claim was frivolous. As part of the insurance plan, the names of covered professionals are posted on a publicly accessible database. If a potential plaintiff or his or her attorney finds a potential defendant's name on the database, it may be a deterrent to filing weaker claims that might be viewed as frivolous.

Abstract: A method for calculating a mortgage which provides application of mortgage payments to principle first and then interest in the amortization schedule of repayment of a conventional loan is disclosed. The disclosure provides a method for calculating mortgage payments on a conventional mortgage loan by applying such payments first to reduction of principle while accumulating accrued interest. Payments are applied towards accrued interest after the principle amount of the loan is reduced.

Abstract: A computer system and method of operation thereof are provided that allow manufacturers and distributors of brand products to participate in the e-commerce marketplace without violating existing distribution channels. This is accomplished by providing a web based system where customers can place orders for brand name products and then allocating orders to manufacturers, distributors and retailers according to distribution channel protocols defined by the manufacturers. This ensures that sales of brand goods and services via the Internet does not violate existing distribution agreements between the manufacturers and their respective distributors and retailers.

Abstract: This invention provides smooth delivery and accurate positioning of prostheses in the body. In embodiments, systems are provided that include elongate members extending generally along the axis of a supporting catheter to a free ends. The elongate members extend through openings in the prosthesis to maintain the position of the prosthesis on the catheter. The prosthesis can be released from the catheter by relative axial motion of the catheter and the elongate members such that the free ends are removed from the openings in the prosthesis. In embodiments, the elongate members hold the distal end of a self-expanding stent at a desired axial location and in radial compaction as a restraining sheath is withdrawn. The friction between the sheath and stent puts the stent under tension, which reduces the radial force on the sheath wall, allowing smoother retraction. Proximal portions of the stent radially expand and axially shorten.

Abstract: An integrated framework is disclosed for analyzing a firm in terms of its resources, capabilities and strategic positions, providing a Strategic Capability Network composed of nodes signifying these resources, capabilities and strategic positions, together with relationships between these nodes. The framework provides for assessment of the costs of supporting resources and the value of strategic positions, and the propagation of costs to supported capabilities and strategic positions, and the propagation of value to supporting capabilities and resources. Provision is made for various types of synergetic relationships, with corresponding logical and or connections.

Abstract: A stent for expanding a lumen of a body having a structural stability along the length of the stent, as well as a good expandable force. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stent is made of a single length of a filament and includes zigzag sections, in which the filament is wound in a zigzag manner, disposed on both end portions of the stent; and a spiral section, in which the filament is wound in a spiral manner, disposed between the zigzag sections. The zigzag section includes a plurality of bands. Each of the bands includes a series of straight portions, peak portions, and valley portions, the peak and valley portions being integrally engaged with the straight portions, and each of the bands is disposed along a circumferential direction of the stent on a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof; and each valley portion of the bands is twisted with a peak portion of an adjacent band.

Abstract: An expandable tissue supporting device of the present invention employs ductile hinges at selected points in the expandable device. When expansion forces are applied to the device as a whole, the ductile hinges concentrate expansion stresses and strains in small well defined areas. The expandable medical device including ductile hinges provides the advantages of low expansion force requirements, relatively thick walls which are radio-opaque, improved crimping properties, high crush strength, reduced elastic recoil after implantation, and control of strain to a desired level. The expandable tissue supporting device includes a plurality of elongated beams arranged in a cylindrical device and connected together by a plurality of ductile hinges.

Abstract: A method of exposing, ligating, and dividing perforating veins endoscopically using balloon dissectors to gain access to the perforating veins thereby avoiding large incisions required in the Linton procedure and similar open surgical procedures.

Abstract: An anti-piracy system reduces the opportunity for piracy and illicit use of software products by requiring each software product to be registered for a single computer. If a user attempts to install the software product on another computer, the software product will recognize a different hardware composition and disable itself. During installation, the software product generates a hardware ID that identifies the set of hardware components and sends it and a product ID to a registration authority. The registration authority computes a registration ID from the product ID and the hardware ID and sends the registration ID back to the software product. Each time the software product is subsequently launched, the software product computes its own test ID from the product ID and hardware ID using the same algorithm employed by the registration authority. The software product then compares the test ID to the registration ID.

Abstract: The invention relates to a braided implantable endoprosthesis such as a stent or stent-graft with selectively terminated elongated member ends to aid orientation and control. A saw-tooth or crown pattern is formed on an end or on an edge of an opening in the generally tubular body. The pattern is defined by a series of terminus on the elongated members at a predetermined distance from respective control points. The termini cooperate with the control points and provide layers when constrained. The invention also relates to methods of making a braided implantable endoprosthesis with patterned terminated ends.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of transplanting hematopoietic system reconstituting cells from a donor into an allogeneic recipient comprising administering to the recipient, prior to the administration of the hematopoietic system reconstituting cells, an amount of mononuclear cells which are treated so as to render them incapable of proliferating and causing a lethal graft versus host disease effect, but which are effective in enhancing subsequent engraftment of the hematopoietic system reconstituting cells in the recipient; and administering to the recipient an effective amount of hematopoietic system reconstituting cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intravascular stent wherein the intravascular stent has its inner surface treated to promote the migration of endothelial cells onto the inner surface of the intravascular stent. Particularly, the inner surface of the intravascular stent includes at least one groove. Methods for manufacturing an intravascular stent are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an expandable insert for use as a vessel support in blood vessels, the insert being able to deform plastically from a nonexpanded state to an expanded state by application of a radial force directed from the inside outward, with at least one tubular, essentially cylindrical main body section, whose circumferential surface is formed by a number of annularly meandering rings, the rings in each case forming a one-piece strand of material with a defined strand length. The insert is particularly stiff with respect to externally acting radial forces because a first group of rings is provided whose strand length essentially corresponds to the circumference of the insert in the expanded state, and a second group of rings is provided whose strand length is greater than the circumference of the insert in the expanded state.

Abstract: An expandable intervertebral fusion implant includes a pair of semi-cylindrical shells having mating surfaces which resist shifting when the parts are assembled. The cylinder thus formed is placed on a special installation tool, which is first used to place the cylinder in the intervertebral space. Thereafter, the tool is actuated to spread the shells, and a spacer of appropriate size and taper is slid over the tool shaft, and in between the shells to maintain their spacing after the tool is removed. Having spacers of different height and taper allow the surgeon to adapt the implant to various situations.

Abstract: A minimally invasive approach for surgery on portions of the heart and great vessels located between a point approximately three centimeters above supra annular ridge and the mid ventricular cavity. A parasternal incision is made extending across a predetermined number of costal cartilage, e.g., a right parasternal incision extending from the lower edge of the second costal cartilage to the superior edge of the fifth costal cartilage. One or more costal cartilages, e.g., the third and fourth, are then excised to provide access to the portion of the heart or great vessels of interest, and a desired procedure completed. The minimally invasive approach enables repair or replacement of the mitral or aortic valve.