Abstract: A method, using high intensity ultrasound, which may also be combined with a chemotherapy agent, that can result the direct destruction of tumor cells and in the reduction or elimination of local reoccurrence of cancer after removal of cancerous tissue, such as a surgical breast lumpectomy or surgical excision of a brain tumor. The method comprises either (1) the treatment of the tumor directly with High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, or (2) the treatment of the margins of the tissue surrounding the surgical cavity or void with ablative continuous wave high intensity ultrasound and a combination of a locally delivered chemotherapy agent and high intensity ultrasound, termed sonoporation.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating medical devices at the point of care with a polymer and/or therapeutic agent comprising an environmentally controlled device coating chamber in which the device may be delivered by the manufacturer as the device packaging, or the device may be placed into the chamber at the point of care. The environmentally controlled chamber can provide a sterile enclosure in which the polymer and/or a therapeutic agent can be applied to an uncoated or previously coated device and converted to another form (such as a liquid to a film or gel) if desired, under controlled and reproducible conditions. The environmentally controlled chamber can accommodate and provide for coating the device by immersion, spray and other methods of covering the device surface with a liquid or powder. The chamber can provide for energy sources, both internally, such as heat produced by film heaters, and externally, such as UV light or microwave passing through the enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating medical devices at the point of care with a polymer and/or therapeutic agent comprising an environmentally controlled device coating chamber in which the device may be delivered by the manufacturer as the device packaging, or the device may be placed into the chamber at the point of care. The environmentally controlled chamber can provide a sterile enclosure in which the polymer and/or a therapeutic agent can be applied to an uncoated or previously coated device and converted to another form (such as a liquid to a film or gel) if desired, under controlled and reproducible conditions. The environmentally controlled chamber can accommodate and provide for coating the device by immersion, spray and other methods of covering the device surface with a liquid or powder. The chamber can provide for energy sources, both internally, such as heat produced by film heaters, and externally, such as UV light or microwave passing through the enclosure.

Abstract: Resculpturing or altering the shape of cardiac valve leaflets, or cusps, and/or the valve supporting structures (such as the orifice or annulus, the aortic root or aorta, or the tendons which are attached to the valve) using heat. More specifically, the invention relates to applying High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) during cardiac surgery to raise the temperature of heart valve structures comprised of or including collagen to a temperature sufficient to induce collagen change and shrinkage. The HIFU energy source (transducer) is preferably placed close to the valve structure during open heart surgery.

Abstract: A noninvasive or minimally invasive treatment of infarct areas of the heart with High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) emitted without respect to the timing or phase of the cardiac cycle, intended to remodel cardiac tissue by inducing angiogenesis and/or the formation of myocytes to improve cardiac function.

Abstract: A noninvasive or minimally invasive treatment of cardiac arrhythmia such as supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, specifically atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, by treating the tissue with heat produced by ultrasound, including High Intensity Focused Ultrasound or HIFU, emitted without respect to the timing or phase of the cardiac cycle, intended to have a biological and/or therapeutic effect, so as to interrupt or remodel the electrical substrate in the tissue area that supports arrhythmia.

Abstract: Noninvasive pain treatment of skeletal cancer metastases in cancer patients utilizing planar or focused ultrasound. The ultrasound energy preferably targets at the Periosteum or immediate soft-bone-tissue interface, where local sensory pain receptors are directly affected by the growing tumor, to generate heat to destroy local sensory pain receptors so as to interrupt or block the pain feedback pathway to the central nervous system.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a sterilizing dose of ultraviolet wavelength (UV) light to sterilize one or more patient contacting surfaces of a transducer. The dose of ultraviolet light can be delivered to the face and, preferably, also to a portion of the sides of the transducer area, which is the patient contact area, in a short period of time.

Abstract: A noninvasive or minimally invasive treatment of cardiac arrhythmia such as supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, specifically atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, by treating the tissue with heat produced by ultrasound, (including High Intensity Focused Ultrasound or HIFU) intended to have a biological and/or therapeutic effect, so as to interrupt or remodel the electrical substrate in the tissue area that supports arrhythmia.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for use in arcing fault detection systems within circuit breakers and which is adapted for automated production by top-down assembly. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a circuit board and a two-piece sensing coil within a two piece housing with its center oriented horizontally relative to the circuit board. In other embodiments the sensing coil is one-piece and is either preassembled with a sensing bus and oriented horizontally or oriented vertically relative to the circuit board. The invention also includes several methods for making electrical connections to the circuit breakers.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in arcing fault detection systems within circuit breakers and which is adapted for automated production by top-down assembly. The invention also includes several devices for making electrical connections to the circuit breakers, including a lug having a top and a hollow center, the top having a hole connecting the top to the hollow center for accessing a wirebinding screw, a neutral bus having a first end and a second end, the first end disposed within the hollow center beneath the hole, a wire binding screw disposed in the hole and extending through the hollow center for securing a first wire to the first end of the neutral bus, and a strain relief member connected to the second end of the neutral bus for securing a second wire connected to the second end of the neutral bus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a current limiting circuit breaker having a plurality of current responsive devices for opening a pair of contacts upon short circuit conditions. One such device is a conventional magnetic tripping mechanism. The other device utilizes an insulating object driven by a magnetic force caused by the short circuit current. Upon opening of the contacts with the use of the insulating object, let-through current flows through a secondary contact, positioned on the insulating object, to a positive temperature coefficient resistivity element which limits the current and arcing in the contacts. In an alternative embodiment, at least one steel component is added to increase the magnetic force, thereby providing a greater force on the insulating object. An insulation component is also added to further suppress any arc generated between the contacts when going from a closed state to an open state.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in arcing fault detection systems within circuit breakers and which is adapted for automated production by top-down assembly. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a circuit board and a two-piece sensing coil within a two piece housing with its center oriented horizontally relative to the circuit board. In other embodiments the sensing coil is one-piece and is either preassembled with a sensing bus and oriented horizontally or oriented vertically relative to the circuit board. Also included are several methods for making electrical connections to the circuit breakers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit breaker assembly having a base, cover, and switch handle adapted to withstand an external force applied to a lever of the switch handle. During normal operation the handle rotates on small-diameter pivots in elongated bearing slots. Under abnormal conditions that occur when the lever of the switch handle is inadvertently struck, such as when the circuit breaker is dropped on the lever of the switch handle, the pivots slide in the elongated bearing slots. The force is borne by large-diameter hubs which come in contact with mating bearing surfaces. Thus, the pivots are not shorn off during such incidents, which would damage the circuit breaker.