Abstract: An instrument for therapeutically cytotoxically ablating parathyroidal tissue is disclosed. A substance delivery device with which a quantity of an activator substance that is less than a cytotoxic ablation quantity threshold of a parathyroid gland can be percutaneously introduced into parathyroidal tissue is provided. The activator substance, when introduced, is not activated. An energy source device that includes a selector with which a quantity of an energy that is less than a cytotoxic ablation energy threshold of the parathyroid gland can be selected and an energy production device operable to apply the energy to the activator substance is provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for locating the parathyroid. In one aspect, temporal variation among a plurality of images is evaluated and at least one image is enhanced according to the temporal variation. The image may be enhanced to one or both of reduce conspicuity of the thyroid gland and enhance conspicuity of the parathyroid gland. Some of the plurality of images may be adjusted in order to align representations of a target portions. Adjustments may be based locations of one or more organs or one or more artificial markers affixed to a living body in the plurality of images. A local positioning system (LPS), GPS, or other locating system may be used to position a living body, align the plurality of images, or to guide the positioning of objects relative to the living body. An elastomeric gel marker for imaging applications is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for locating the parathyroid. In one aspect, temporal variation among a plurality of images is evaluated and at least one image is enhanced according to the temporal variation. The image may be enhanced to one or both of reduce conspicuity of the thyroid gland and enhance conspicuity of the parathyroid gland. Some of the plurality of images may be adjusted in order to align representations of a target portions. Adjustments may be based locations of one or more organs or one or more artificial markers affixed to a living body in the plurality of images. A local positioning system (LPS), GPS, or other locating system may be used to position a living body, align the plurality of images, or to guide the positioning of objects relative to the living body. An elastomeric gel marker for imaging applications is also disclosed.

Abstract: Targeted ablation of parathyroidal tissue is provided through hyperthermia adjuvant therapy. An in situ localization of parathyroidal tissue is obtained. A temperature-sensitive adjuvant is instilled into the parathyroidal tissue. Hyperthermia is therapeutically induced within the parathyroidal tissue. Heat-inducing energy is targeted into the parathyroidal tissue, which selectively includes the temperature-sensitive adjuvant. Application of the heat-inducing energy to the parathyroidal tissue is continued over a therapeutic range. In a further embodiment, the targeted ablation of the parathyroidal tissue is provided through hypothermia adjuvant therapy with the targeted use of cold-inducing energy.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for locating the parathyroid. In one aspect, temporal variation among a plurality of images is evaluated and at least one image is enhanced according to the temporal variation. The image may be enhanced to one or both of reduce conspicuity of the thyroid gland and enhance conspicuity of the parathyroid gland. Some of the plurality of images may be adjusted in order to align representations of a target portions. Adjustments may be based locations of one or more organs or one or more artificial markers affixed to a living body in the plurality of images. A local positioning system (LPS), GPS, or other locating system may be used to position a living body, align the plurality of images, or to guide the positioning of objects relative to the living body. An elastomeric gel marker for imaging applications is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for locating the parathyroid. In one aspect, temporal variation among a plurality of images is evaluated and at least one image is enhanced according to the temporal variation. The image may be enhanced to one or both of reduce conspicuity of the thyroid gland and enhance conspicuity of the parathyroid gland. Some of the plurality of images may be adjusted in order to align representations of a target portions. Adjustments may be based locations of one or more organs or one or more artificial markers affixed to a living body in the plurality of images. A local positioning system (LPS), GPS, or other locating system may be used to position a living body, align the plurality of images, or to guide the positioning of objects relative to the living body. An elastomeric gel marker for imaging applications is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pair of eye goggles is described. The eye goggles include a nosepiece that can be fit over a wearer's nose, a strap that can be fit removably around the wearer's head, and a pair of eyepieces. Each eye piece includes a transparent lens that can be fit over one of the wearer's eyes, a frame that surrounds the transparent lens and which includes an inside-facing edge to which the nosepiece is attached and an outside-facing edge to which the strap is attached, a sealing pad, and a usage indicator.

Abstract: Targeted ablation of parathyroidal tissue is provided through hyperthermia adjuvant therapy. An in situ localization of parathyroidal tissue is obtained. A temperature-sensitive adjuvant is instilled into the parathyroidal tissue. Hyperthermia is therapeutically induced within the parathyroidal tissue. Heat-inducing energy is targeted into the parathyroidal tissue, which selectively includes the temperature-sensitive adjuvant. Application of the heat-inducing energy to the parathyroidal tissue is continued over a therapeutic range. In a further embodiment, the targeted ablation of the parathyroidal tissue is provided through hypothermia adjuvant therapy with the targeted use of cold-inducing energy.

Abstract: A human female contraceptive device and a method for placing a human female contraceptive device are disclosed. The contraceptive device includes a lumen surface-conforming occlusive agent that is shaped to occlude a fallopian tube of a human female and a skeleton affixed to the occlusive agent. The skeleton further includes a cavity-conforming material that is shaped to fit at a junction of a uterus and the fallopian tube of the human female; and anchors affixable onto the skeleton and into the myometrium of the uterus of the human female. The method include the steps of fitting an occlusive agent sized to occlude at least a portion of the channel of a fallopian tube of the human female and placing a skeleton at a junction of a uterus and the fallopian tube of the human female as an anchor for the collusive agent.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for locating the parathyroid. In one aspect, temporal variation among a plurality of images is evaluated and at least one image is enhanced according to the temporal variation. The image may be enhanced to one or both of reduce conspicuity of the thyroid gland and enhance conspicuity of the parathyroid gland. Some of the plurality of images may be adjusted in order to align representations of a target portions. Adjustments may be based locations of one or more organs or one or more artificial markers affixed to a living body in the plurality of images. A local positioning system (LPS), GPS, or other locating system may be used to position a living body, align the plurality of images, or to guide the positioning of objects relative to the living body. An elastomeric gel marker for imaging applications is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and method for treating organic tissue of a patient's body in precisely controlled regions of the body such as the parathyroid glands. The systems and methods include introducing an energy or substance into contact with target tissue to control functionality of the target tissue and preventing the energy or substance from contacting surrounding non-target tissues sufficiently that functionality of critical non-target tissues is substantially not affected.

Abstract: Gel and non-gel structures for interfacing with various portions of an organism's body are disclosed. A gel structure such as a web-like structure is configured to encircle a portion of the human body. The gel structure can be adapted to encircle virtually any exterior or interior portion of the human body. The gel structure can interface with an external medical device for delivery of medicine or for extracting substances and fluids from the human body.

Abstract: A sealing pad (14) made of a compliant and resiliently deformable gelatinous elastomer suitable to conform under pressure to form a substantially airtight seal with at least a portion of the user's skin adjacent to the sealing pad (14). The gelatinous elastomer may be attached to a second material by incorporating the gelatinous elastomer into a large plurality of interstitium in the second material. In addition, the second material can be configured to form an endoskeleton or exoskeleton that modifies the physical properties of the gelatinous elastomer.

Abstract: The goggles (10) include a frame (12) having a transparent portion adapted to cover at least one of the users eyes and a sealing pad (14) adjacent to the frame, comprising a compliant and resiliently deformable gelatinous elastomer suitable to conform under pressure to form a substantially airtight seal between the frame (12) and at least a portion of the user's face adjacent to the sealing pad (14).

Abstract: The Goggles (10) include a frame (12) having a transparent portion adapted to cover at least one of the user's eyes and a sealing pad (14) adjacent to the frame, comprising a compliant and resiliently deformable gelatinous elastomer suitable to conform under pressure to form a substantially airtight seal between the frame (12) and at least a portion of the user's face adjacent to the sealing pad (14).

Abstract: Erectile function facilitators and methods of use thereof wherein an open-ended elastic sheath has at least one fluid retaining chamber incorporated therein and has means for initially partitioning and for subsequently providing communication between said at least one fluid retaining chamber and the interior of said elastic sheath such that fluid in said fluid remaining chamber can be dispensed into the interior of said sheath by the application by the wearer of external pressure to at least one fluid retaining chamber. The wearer has complete control as to the time and extent of medication being dispensed. Partitioning and subsequent communication between the fluid retaining chamber and the sheath interior can be by means of valves or stretchable membrane, or by fold or twist or clamping, as desired.

Abstract: Prophylactic devices and methods for assisting in establishing and maintaining male erectile function. Open ended elastic sheaths with portions having different elasticity than have other portions, which portions of different elasticity cause selective constriction around and/or along selected portions of the penis by differential external pressures applied to said selected portions so as to not impede arterial blood flow to the penis but impede venous blood flow from the penis and thereby establish and maintain the penis in an erectile position. Various sheath configurations for the purpose include portions with lesser radius laterally of the longitudinal center axis of the sheath, or with more rigid portions, or with thicker portions, or with a balloon-like internal chamber fillable with a liquid or gas.

Abstract: Prophylactic devices, including devices for assisting and establishing and maintaining male erectile function, are disclosed. Devices and methods for facilitating male erectile function include open ended elastic sheaths having a plurality of woven strands in open weave configuration wherein the strands are movable longitudinally and individually of one another, with the sheath causing selective constriction around and/or along selected portions of the penis by differential external pressures applied to said selected portions so as to not impede arterial blood flow to the penis but impede venous blood flow from the penis and thereby establish and maintain the penis in an erectile position. Forms are also disclosed wherein venous blood flow is selectively impeded by the device having circumferentially disposed tapered portions or by having less elasticity or thickened chambers in some portions.