Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device adapted for occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body for sterilization purposes. The device delivers RF energy to wound tissue at a desired location within at least one fallopian tube and implants a porous foam plug adjacent to the wounded tissue at said location. Depending on the plug's pore sizes, vascularized tissue may grow into the plug to prevent or discourage the formation of scar tissue around the plug and/or a vascularized capsule may form around the plug, which limits the patient's foreign body response so that the capsule does not constrict around the plug.

Abstract: A method for measuring residual protein in a cellular specimen including obtaining a low magnification image of a candidate object of interest, filtering the candidate object of interest pixels with a low pass filter, morphologically processing the candidate object of interest pixels to identify artifact pixels, identifying the candidate object of interest by eliminating artifact pixels, acquiring a higher magnification image of the subsample for the candidate object of interest, transforming pixels of the higher magnification image in a first color space to a second color space to differentiate higher magnification candidate object of interest pixels from background pixels, identifying an object of interest from the candidate object of interest pixels in the second color space, and determining the optical density of the protein in a cell contained in a subsample, wherein the optical density is indicative of the residual component of a cellular protein.

Abstract: A method for measuring residual protein in a cellular specimen including obtaining a low magnification image of a candidate object of interest, filtering the candidate object of interest pixels with a low pass filter, morphologically processing the candidate object of interest pixels to identify artifact pixels, identifying the candidate object of interest by eliminating artifact pixels, acquiring a higher magnification image of the subsample for the candidate object of interest, transforming pixels of the higher magnification image in a first color space to a second color space to differentiate higher magnification candidate object of interest pixels from background pixels, identifying an object of interest from the candidate object of interest pixels in the second color space, and determining the optical density of the protein in a cell contained in a subsample, wherein the optical density is indicative of the residual component of a cellular protein.

Abstract: An automated method for evaluating the amount of residual protein levels following treatment of cellular specimens. Particular methods include the measurement of maternal neutrophil alkaline phosphatase after treatment with or without urea or heat, measurement of leukocyte acid phosphatase after treatment with or without tartrate, and measurement of leukocyte esterase after treatment with ?-naphthol butyrate with or without fluoride.

Abstract: A device for sterilizing females by occluding the uterotubal junction. The device includes a catheter with a releasable heat generating plug which is used to thermally damage the uterotubal junction and cause it to constrict around the plug, after which the plug is released from the catheter and left in place in the uterotubal junction.

Abstract: A method and device for creating amenorrhea in women. A porous biomaterial implant is positioned into the ablated uterine cavity of a female patient. Once positioned in the uterine cavity, the porous biomaterial implant expands into its preformed shape or is inflated within the uterine cavity. The ablated uterine tissue then grows within the porous implant. Prior to insertion of the implant, the uterine cavity is prepared by performing endometrial ablation to at least the inferior or lower portion of the uterine cavity. Placement of the porous biomaterial causes the uterine cavity walls to coapt, achieving complete occlusion of the uterine cavity and prevention of endometrial regrowth.

Abstract: A system for facilitating the placement of a catheter within the human body, in a lumen or vessel such as the fallopian tubes, and controlling the catheter after placement. The system coordinates the operation of treatment electrodes on the catheter with informative displays and prompts to an operator, based on information derived from electrical parameters of position detection electrodes on the catheter.

Abstract: An automated method for evaluating the amount of residual protein levels following treatment of cellular specimens. Particular methods include the measurement of maternal neutrophil alkaline phosphatase after treatment with or without urea or heat, measurement of leukocyte acid phosphatase after treatment with or without tartrate, and measurement of leukocyte esterase after treatment with &agr;-naphthol butyrate with or without fluoride.

Abstract: An automated method for evaluating the amount of residual protein levels following treatment of cellular specimens. Particular methods include the measurement of maternal neutrophil alkaline phosphatase after treatment with or without urea or heat, measurement of leukocyte acid phosphatase after treatment with or without tartrate, and measurement of leukocyte esterase after treatment with &agr;-naphthol butyrate with or without fluoride.

Abstract: An automated method for evaluating the amount of residual protein levels following treatment of cellular specimens. Particular methods include the measurement of maternal neutrophil alkaline phosphatase after treatment with or without urea or heat, measurement of leukocyte acid phosphatase after treatment with or without tartrate, and measurement of leukocyte esterase after treatment with &agr;-naphthol butyrate with or without fluoride.

Abstract: An automated method for evaluating the amount of residual protein levels following treatment of cellular specimens. Particular methods include the measurement of maternal neutrophil alkaline phosphatase after treatment with or without urea or heat, measurement of leukocyte acid phosphatase after treatment with or without tartrate, and measurement of leukocyte esterase after treatment with &agr;-naphthol butyrate with or without fluoride.

Abstract: A graphic material display device having a baseball bat-like shape. A centrally located shoulder and a second shoulder located adjacent one of the ends are connected by a web portion and support a transparent, hollow, cylindrical tube. Graphic material placed adjacent the web portion and within in the tube may be viewed through the tube.