Abstract: Compounds of the general formula (I): in which inter alia Q1 represents —NR1R3, —OR1 or —SR1 and Q2 represents —NR2R4, —OR2 or —SR2, and A represents the point of attachment to a support matrix, are useful as protein binding ligands when (a) at least one of R1, R2, R3 and R4 includes an alkyl group —CnH2n+1 in which n is greater than or equal to 7; (b) at least two of R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently include an alkyl group —CnH2n+1 or a cycloalkyl group —CnH2n?1 in which n is greater than or equal to 4; or (c) at least three of R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently include a C1-12 alkyl group substituted by —NR5R6 or aryl.

Abstract: A medical device for delivering RF energy to a target tissue region includes an elongate delivery cannula having a lumen in communication with a distal opening. A deployment member is positioned and longitudinally movable in the lumen. An array of electrode elements are secured to a distal end of the deployment member, the deployment member being movable from a delivery position, in which the electrode elements are positioned within the lumen, to a deployed position, in which the electrode elements extend distally out of the cannula distal opening. A sealing member formed from a bio-compatible material sufficiently rigid to penetrate solid body tissue partially extends from, and substantially seals, the distal cannula opening when the deployment member is in the delivery position.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering electrical energy includes a tubular member having a pair of opposing members extendable from the distal end of the tubular member, the opposing members being directable towards one another for engaging tissue between inner surfaces of the opposing members, the opposing members having one or more electrodes for delivering electrical energy to tissue engaged between the opposing members. One or more hollow needles extend from an inner surface of at least one opposing member, the hollow needles configured to deliver conductive fluid from a lumen into tissue penetrated by the needles.

Abstract: An invasive medical device for delivery radio frequency energy to a target tissue region includes an elongate delivery cannula having a lumen in communication with a distal opening. A deployment member is positioned and longitudinally movable in the lumen. An array of electrode elements are secured to a distal end of the deployment member, the deployment member being movable from a delivery position, in which the electrode elements are positioned within the lumen, to a deployed position, in which the electrode elements extend distally out of the cannula distal opening. A sealing member formed from a biocompatible material sufficiently rigid to penetrate solid body tissue partially extends from, and substantially seals, the distal cannula opening when the deployment member is in the delivery position. By way of examples, the sealing member may be carried on a distal end of the deployment member, or on a separately movable deployment member, or frictionally fit in the cannula distal opening.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are each optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl groups; R3 is hydrogen or an aryl group substituent or R3 is a solid support optionally attached via a spacer; Z represents an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom or NR4; Y represents an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom or NR5; in which R4 and R5, which may be the same or different, represent hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted benzyl or optionally substituted ?-phenylethyl; and one of X1 and X2 represents a nitrogen atom and the other of X1 and X2 represents a nitrogen atom or CR6, in which R6 represents hydrogen or an aryl group substituent; are useful for the affinity binding of a prion protein.

Abstract: For the separation, removal, isolation, purification, characterization, identification or quantification of plasminogen or a protein that is a plasminogen analogue, an affinity adsorbent is used that is a compound of formula (II) wherein one X is N and the other is N, C—Cl or C—CN; A is a support matrix, optionally linked to the triazine ring by a spacer; Z is O, S or N—R and R is H, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl or &bgr;-phenylethyl; B is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon linkage containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; D is H, OH or a primary amino, secondary amino, tertiary amino, quaternary ammonium, imidazole, guanidino or amidino group; or B-D is —CHCOOH—(CH2)3-4—NH2; and q is 2 to 6.

Abstract: A compound of the formula (I) wherein each Z is the same or different and is formula (a) or —Y wherein each X is the same or different and is a multivalent aminyl group or diaminyl-terminated spacer; each Y is the same or different aminyl group; and M is a support matrix.

Abstract: For the separation, removal, isolation, purification, characterisation, identification or quantification of fibrinogen or a protein that is a fibrinogen analogue, an affinity adsorbent is used that is a compound of formula II wherein one X is N and the other is N, C—Cl or C—CN; Y is O, S or NR2; 0 Z is O, S or NR3; R2 and R3 are each H, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, benzyl or &bgr;-phenylethyl; n is 0 to 6; A is a support matrix, optionally linked to the triazine ring by a spacer; R7 is a group bearing a positive charge at neutral pH; W is an optional linker; V is an aromatic group; and R8 and R9 are each H, OH, alkyl, alkoxy, amino, NH2, acyloxy, acylamino, CO2H, sulphonic acid, carbamoyl, sulphamoyl, alkylsulphonyl or halogen or a cyclic structure such as a morpholino group, or R8 and R9 are linked to form such a cyclic structure.

Abstract: A method for estimating joint angles of a multi-segment limb from inertial sensor data accurately estimates and tracks the orientations of multiple segments of the limb as a function of time using data from a single inertial measurement unit worn at the distal end of the limb. Estimated joint angles are computed from measured inertial data as a function of time in a single step using a nonlinear state space estimator. The estimator preferably includes a tracking filter such as an unscented Kalman filter or particle filter. The nonlinear state space estimator incorporates state space evolution equations based on a kinematic model of the multi-segment limb.

Abstract: For the separation, removal, isolation, purification, characterisation, identification or quantification of plasminogen or a protein that is a plasminogen analogue, an affinity adsorbent is used that is a compound of formula (II) wherein one X is N and the other is N, C—Cl or C—CN; A is a support matrix, optionally linked to the triazine ring by a spacer; Z is O, S or N—R and R is H, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl or &bgr;-phenylethyl; B is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon linkage containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; D is H, OH or a primary amino, secondary amino, tertiary amino, quaternary ammonium, imidazole, guanidino or amidino group; or B-D is —CHCOOH—(CH2)3-4—NH2; and q is 2 to 6.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are each optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl groups; R3 is hydrogen or an aryl group substituent or R3 is a solid support optionally attached via a spacer; Z represents an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom or NR4; Y represents an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom or NR5; in which R4 and R5, which may be the same or different, represent hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted benzyl or optionally substituted ?-phenylethyl; and one of X1 and X2 represents a nitrogen atom and the other of X1 and X2 represents a nitrogen atom or CR6, in which R6 represents hydrogen or an aryl group substituent; are useful for the affinity binding of a prion protein.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula (I): in which inter alia Q1 represents —NR1R3, —OR1 or —SR1 and Q2 represents —NR2R4, —OR2 or —SR2, and A represents the point of attachment to a support matrix, are useful as protein binding ligands when (a) at least one of R1, R2, R3 and R4 includes an alkyl group —CnH2n+1 in which n is greater than or equal to 7; (b) at least two of R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently include an alkyl group —CnH2n+1 or a cycloalkyl group —CnH2n?1 in which n is greater than or equal to 4; or (c) at least three of R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently include a C1-12 alkyl group substituted by —NR5R6 or aryl.

Abstract: Described is a method and a device for inserting a helical member into a living body. The device may include a handle having an actuator lever rotatably coupled thereto. The device may also include a helical member which has a tissue piercing distal tip. The helical member is coupled to the handle via a linkage operating so that, as the actuator lever is rotated in a first direction relative to the handle, the helical member is rotated and moved distally to screw into tissue along a substantially helical path.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering electrical energy includes a cannula and one or more needles extendable from and retractable into a lumen of the cannula. A distal portion of each needle is extendable from the lumen and terminates in a tissue-piercing distal tip. Each distal portion is formed from an electrically conductive and porous material, thereby providing a porous electrode through which electrolytic fluid may flow for delivering electrical energy to tissue surrounding the distal portion. The cannula is introduced into a tissue structure of a patient, the one or more needles are advanced from the cannula, saline is introduced from the porous material to surrounding tissue, and electrical energy from an RF generator is delivered to ablate tissue within the tissue structure.

Abstract: A method for measuring a color value such as brightness or intensity of a sample which comprises: measuring color values for a plurality of color standards using a reference color measurement device to obtain a matrix Y that contains the measurements of the color standards as measured by the reference color measurement device; measuring the same plurality of color standards with a field color measurement device to obtain a matrix X that contains the measurements of the color standards as measured by the field color measurement device; calculating a color correction matrix B based upon the equation Y=BX, measuring the color value for the sample with the field color measurement device, and applying the color correction matrix B to the reading of the sample color to obtain a sample color value that approximates that sample color value that would be obtained using the reference measurement device.

Abstract: The use of a pressure compensation system and composite polymer materials results in a new type of outboard sensor assembly, of the type used to monitor the status and location of towed array systems from boats. The inventive system is lower in cost, easier to manufacture in quantity, lighter weight, less likely to leak, and with a lower failure rate than conventional systems. The pressure compensation system makes use of a two (or more) phase slurry system to provide temperature compensation.

Abstract: The use of a pressure compensation system and composite polymer materials results in a new type of outboard sensor assembly, of the type used to monitor the status and location of towed array systems from boats. The inventive system is lower in cost, easier to manufacture in quantity, lighter weight, less likely to leak, and with a lower failure rate than conventional systems.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a target color measurement using an electronic image capturing device comprising the steps of: (1) determining one or more of a field correction array, level correction vectors, a color correction matrix, and a calibration correction and; (2) adjusting a target color measurement based upon one or more of a field correction array, level correction vector, a color correction matrix, and a calibration correction to obtain a corrected color target measurement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing an emulsion by membrane emulsification enabling control of the dispersed phase size and size distribution by interrupting extrusion of the dispersed phase.

Abstract: A color measurement device comprising a means for electronically recording a digital color image, a target holder extending from the recording means having a distal end, and a target at the distal end of the holder, the target having one or more reference color regions thereon.