Abstract: A protective sheath for endoscopes and other elongate medical devices comprises a sheath, a tissue anchor, and a stiffening element or guide. The stiffening element is used to advance the protective sheath through a working channel or other central passage of the endoscope, while the tissue anchor immobilizes a free end of the sheath at a body orifice as the endoscope is introduced. In this way, the protective sheath will drawn from the working channel, evert over a distal end of the endoscope, and remain stationary over the device relative to the body lumen as the endoscope is advanced.

Abstract: A ureteral decompression device comprises a guide member and an anchoring structure. The guide member may be introduced through the urethra and bladder into the ureter so that the anchor structure passes a lodged kidney stone. Once past the stone, the anchor structure can be compacted to anchor the guide member in place. The anchor structure will permit leakage and the guide member will provide a leakage path directly past the stone, thus decompressing the kidney.

Abstract: An IP (Internet Protocol) diagnostic system is provided for troubleshooting data transport quality over an Internet Protocol operating in a communication system (100). The IP diagnostic system includes one or more processors (106) each placed at different segments (108) in the communication system. Each processor is programmed to receive (206) a request to establish a test session with a corresponding test node, establish (208) one or more IP connections with the test node, carry out (210) the test session with the test node on said IP connections, and measure (212) a quality level for each of said IP connections.

Abstract: Stents and other luminal prostheses may be introduced to body lumens, such as ureters, within a lubricious sleeve. The sleeve may be packed within a distal end of the stent so that it may be everted and withdrawn to cover an exterior surface of the stent as the stent is advanced. The stent is typically advanced using a separate pusher member which is engaged against a proximal end of the stent. The stent may be anchored within the body lumen by deforming or otherwise deploying anchor structures at either or both ends of the stent.

Abstract: A luminal access system comprises an evertable, lubricious sleeve, a pusher tube, and optionally a lumen tube. The evertable, lubricious sleeve is attached to a non-evertable sheath which is coaxially received over the pusher tube. A distal portion of the evertable sleeve folds or everts into an axial passage of the pusher tube where it is connected to a lumen tube. A distal portion of the pusher tube may be bendable, typically comprising a relatively soft polymer which is circumferentially reinforced to enhance hoop strength.

Abstract: Occluding structures may be created within a body lumen by advancing a length of material distally through the body lumen. By drawing a distal location on the advanced length of material in a proximal direction, the material may be compacted into a structure which at least partially occludes the lumen. The occluding structure may be used for a variety of purposes, including removing obstructions from the body lumen, such as kidney stones from the ureter; providing hemostasis in a blood vessel; providing occlusion of a fallopian tube; temporary constraint of stone fragments in the urinary tract; capture or restraint of clot in blood vessels; and the like. Apparatus for performing the method may comprise a length of material attached at its distal end to tubular guide or other advancement member. Tensioning members may also be provided for collapsing and compacting the length of material within the body lumen.

Abstract: Protected access through a body lumen or a tissue tract is provided by a protective sleeve. The protected sleeve is initially in a furled configuration and is unfurled by an advancement member extended through the lumen or tract. A catheter or other access member may then be advanced over the advancement member and through the protective sleeve.

Abstract: Tissue biopsy is performed through a central passage of a cannula covered with a protective sleeve. The protective sleeve is attached at one end to a location at or near a distal end of the cannula. After the biopsy procedure is completed, the cannula is withdrawn so that its exterior slides through the sleeve. In this way, the trailing edge of the sleeve is invaginated within the proximal portions of the itself to envelop the sleeve exterior and reduce the risk of inadvertent tumor cell seeding.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a user to monitor and/or override a forwarded call. Typically, the forwarded call was initially an incoming call from a caller to the user and thereafter forwarded to a remote service system, such as a remote messaging system. The system and method determine a redirecting number from which the incoming call was forwarded. The system and method then initiates a second call to the user and a voice path is established connecting the forwarded call to the second call. Thereafter, the user is notified, for example, with a distinct ring at the user's telephone, of the option that the user may monitor and override the forwarded call. The system and method can also execute procedures to actuate the options elected by the user.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for reviewing and updating a subscriber's telecommunications services using a graphical user interface via multiple data networks. A data message is received at an intelligent peripheral from the graphical user interface via at least one of the data networks. The data message indicates a subscriber's desired update to a selected service. The data message is converted into a protocol compatible with a service control point. The converted data message is identical to a data message that the intelligent peripheral would create if the subscriber had entered the desired update via an interactive voice response system. The converted data message is transmitted to the service control point, which updates the service in accordance with the subscriber's update. Thus, the service is updated substantially contemporaneously with the request. Moreover, the subscriber retains the ability to update and review service data via the interactive voice response.

Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided in which CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) Life Cycle Service FactoryFinder capabilities are combined with CORBA Naming Service resolve operations on a Naming Context. The methodology allows EJBHomes in a distributed network to be found using CORBA Life Cycle Services while maintaining support for the EJB (Enterprise Java Bean) programming model of using JNDI (Java Naming and Directory Interface) lookup calls to locate EJBHomes. Usage of Life Cycle Services in an EJB environment for finding EJBHomes by using Naming interfaces is enabled while using Life Cycle Service semantics. An exemplary embodiment is provided to allow deployment in different environments (including environments without Life Cycle support) and reconfiguration of the FactoryFinder being used, without requiring changes to source code.

Abstract: An end-of-life indicator comprising a housing having a chamber therein and attachable to the water treatment device, a diaphragm disposed within the chamber, a rotatable cap having indicia disposed thereon adapted to cooperate with the housing, a spring device for rotating the cap with respect to the housing, an escapement device for regulating the rotational displacement of the cap and means for resetting the cap to a start position. The chamber is arranged for the ingress of water into the water treatment device to pressurize the chamber and the egress of water from the water treatment device to depressurize the chamber, the ingress and egress of water defining one fill cycle. The diaphragm is arranged to be moved by the pressurizing and depressurizing of the chamber. The escapement device are arranged to cooperate with the diaphragm and the spring device whereby predetermined incremental rotation of the cap is provided during each of the fill cycles.

Abstract: A housing for a desk top personal computer incorporating a novel integrated cooling system. The housing features a cast magnesium chassis that acts as a heat sink that conductively absorbs heat from internal components. A recessed, rectangular, open-sided cooling channel is integrally formed in the bottom of the chassis. A fan is mounted to one end of the cooling channel. A series of fins running lengthwise extends down from the top of the channel. A power supply module, which dissipates heat from a conduction plate along its bottom, is mounted on the top side of the chassis directly above the channel. In operation, the fan draws air into the housing through a series of openings along the top back edge of the chassis. The air passes over the inside surfaces of the chassis, dissipating the relatively small amount of heat generated by the components mounted thereon and flows into the cooling channel.