Abstract: A method and apparatus to facilitate nutritional malabsorption by diverting digestive secretions, such as bile or pancreatic secretions. A tube is positioned substantially within the small intestine. The tube comprises a proximal end which when deployed is operative to receive digestive secretions, a distal end which when deployed is operative to discharge the digestive secretions into the alimentary tract, and a tube wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the tube wall inner surface defining passage extending between the proximal and distal ends. When deployed the passage is operative to transfer the digestive secretions from the proximal end to the distal end thereby reducing digestive contact between the digestive secretions and food in the small intestine.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and materials for manipulating the sense of satiety developed from the gastrointestinal transit of a substance in a mammal, whether the substance be a food or drug compound. The method involves administering a therapeutically effective amount, by a direct delivery route, of a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation comprising nutrients and pharmacological agents to the mammal's gastrointestinal tract. The present system is designed to maximize satiety feedback from normal intestinal sensors by small amounts of nutrients or nutrient derivatives, in essence, to “fool” body sensors that are not usually in contact with nutrients unless very large amounts are ingested.

Abstract: The present invention relates to surgical devices. A surgical instrument in accordance with the present invention includes a transducer assembly adapted to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency. An end effector is adapted to receive ultrasonic vibration from the transducer assembly and to propagate the ultrasonic vibration from a first end to a second end. The end effector is rotatable with respect to the handpiece assembly while the transducer assembly vibrates at the ultrasonic frequency. A method of applying ultrasonic energy to tissue of a patient is also provided. The method includes the steps of providing a handpiece assembly carrying an acoustic assembly having a transducer assembly and an end effector, and energizing the transducer to cause the end effector to vibrate. The method further includes the steps of rotating the end effector with respect to the handpiece assembly while the transducer assembly is vibrating, and contacting the tissue of the patient with the end effector.

Abstract: One surgical device includes a transducer assembly adapted to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency in response to electrical energy. A first transmission component is adapted to receive and transmit the ultrasonic vibration from a first end to a second end. A second transmission component is adapted to receive and transmit the ultrasonic vibrations from a first end to a second end. A torque limiting device coupled to the second transmission component limits the torque when the second end of the first transmission rod is coupled to the first end and a method of attaching a transmission component is also provided. A method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of providing a handpiece assembly having an integral torque limiting mechanism and a first transmission component and threading a second transmission component onto the first transmission component of the handpiece assembly.

Abstract: A synthesis color photographic map, on a predetermined scale, covering a wide geographic area. It is formed of a number of color photographic base maps each covering a selective portion of the wide geographic area and on the predetermined scale. These photographic base maps are assembled together to form the synthesis map. Each of the photographic base maps is a photography of a forestry base map which covers one of the selective portions of the above-mentioned area on a scale which is larger than the said predetermined scale. These forestry base maps are colored according to a given identification color code and then color photographed and scale reduced to the aforesaid predetermined scale.