Abstract: A system adapted to detect one or more conduction gaps in a pulmonary vein of a patient, the system including a device configured to receive or obtain a plurality of pulmonary vein recordings in respect of said patient, each pulmonary vein recording being representative of electrical signals detected or predicted at respective electrodes or between respective pairs of electrodes located or simulated within said pulmonary vein, a device configured to determine a respective activation time for each of said plurality of pulmonary vein recordings and generating curve data representative of said activation times, and a device configured to determine the presence of one or more conduction gaps by identifying one or more respective earliest activation times.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for stabilizing tissue within a patient's body during a surgical operation to provide a relatively motionless surgical field, such as during a coronary artery bypass graft procedure. The devices include tissue stabilizers which engage and provide stabilization to a targeted area of tissue and further have the ability to engage and manipulate some portion of tissue within or adjacent the targeted area to improve the surgical presentation of that portion of tissue. The tissue stabilizer typically has one or more stabilizer feet which have a first foot portion configured to provide stabilization to the targeted tissue and a second foot portion moveable relative to the first foot portion for manipulating a portion of tissue to improve the surgical presentation.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is disclosed surgical methods and apparatus for accessing and stabilizing the heart. The methods and apparatus facilitate access to an anastomosis site, allows various instruments or devices to be maneuvered and secured in place, and provide stabilization of the heart. In particular, the apparatus involves a retractor apparatus having one or more opposing blades having a channel adapted to engage an incision in a patient. The retractor blades may have features to cooperatively engage an instrument mount. The instrument mount preferably is configured to hold an instrument, such as a tissue stabilizer, and allows the instrument to be easily maneuvered. The retractor blades may have a number of suture locks for securing sutures used during surgery. The retractor system is particularly useful in accessing, positioning and stabilizing the beating heart for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Abstract: Disclosed is a class of reagents for examining protein expression in vivo that does not require transfection, radiolabeling, or the prior choice of a candidate gene. Further, a series of puromycin conjugates was constructed bearing various labeling moieties. These conjugates were readily incorporated into expressed protein products in cell lysates in vitro and efficiently cross cell membranes to function in protein synthesis in vivo as indicated by flow cytometry, selective enrichment studies, and western analysis. The present invention demonstrates that labeled-puromycin conjugates offer a general means to examine protein expression in vivo.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing a substernal space accessed via a sub-xyphoid incision. The space produced facilitates carrying out surgery, such as coronary artery bypass graft surgery with minimal trauma to a patient. Transabdominal approaches described utilize devices that lift the sternum and depress the abdomen or perform each such task as well as compress the sides of a patient's thorax, or lift the sternum and compress the sides of the thorax. Various devices including screw drives, winches, inflation and linkage mechanisms are described to achieve the stated results.

Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring the outputs of a plurality of sensors and displaying appropriate information. The device has a plurality of input circuits for connection to the plurality of sensors. A scanning means is arranged to sequentially scan the input circuits to detect the presence of any activated sensor or sensors. A plurality of display devices sequentially display information corresponding to any activated sensor or sensors. The device also includes an integrity circuit which inhibits the actuation of the display devices for a predetermined period following detection of an activated sensor, whereby transient or random noise signals received by the input circuits are ineffective to activate the display devices.

Abstract: A chord indicator for keyboard instruments comprises an elongated panel having lights therein which will be aligned with each key when the panel is placed adjacent the keyboard. Two rows of lights are provided, one indicated the white keys and the black keys as sharps and the other indicating the black keys as flats. A chord selector mechanism comprises a base having spaced contacts thereon corresponding to the lights on the panel and a carriage movable along the base having contacts corresponding to the notes of selected chords. Chord selector switches permit selection of the type of chord to be displayed and the location of the carriage on the base permits selection of the root note of the chord. Electrical means permit the chord to be indicated as having either sharps or flats as appropriate for the selected chord. In use a chord type is selected, a root note is selected, and the lights on the panel aligned with the keys corresponding to the notes of the selected chord will be illuminated.