Abstract: The inventive ablation element comprises an elongated cannula having a proximal end and a distal end. The cannula defines an internal lumen within the cannula and a cannula axis. A plurality of conductors contained within the lumen, each of the conductors has a proximal end proximate the proximal end of the cannula, and a distal end proximate the distal end of the cannula. A plurality of ablation stylets each has a proximal end and a distal end, and each coupled at the respective proximal end of the stylet to the distal end of a respective conductor, the stylets comprise a deflectable material, the conductors together with their respective stylets being mounted for axial movement. A trocar point defined proximate the distal end of the cannula.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for assessing one or more blood components in an animal. The present invention permits non-invasive assessment of blood components in a body structure containing blood and other tissue types by assessing multiple regions of a tissue surface for an optical characteristic of blood and separately assessing one or more optical (e.g., Raman or NIR) characteristics of the blood component for one or more regions that exhibit the optical characteristic of blood.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the progress of a disease. A pre-determined vector space is determined where the vector space mathematically describes a reference set of wavelength resolved data at a plurality of time intervals. A sample containing at least one cell is irradiated with light. Target data is collected where the target data corresponds to at least one of light emitted from or scattered by the sample and includes a plurality of spatially accurate wavelength resolved measurements of light. The target data is transformed into the pre-determined vector space for each spatially accurate wavelength resolved measurement of light. A distribution of transformed points is analyzed in the plurality of pre-determined vector space. Based on the analysis, a transition of a disease condition of the sample is classified.

Abstract: A method and system to differentiate a tissue margins during various medical procedures. A region containing a biological tissue is irradiated, with a substantially monochromatic light. Raman spectroscopic data is obtained from the irradiated region. A boundary between a neoplastic portion and a non-neoplastic portion, in the region containing the biological tissue, is differentiated by evaluating the Raman spectroscopic data for at least one Raman spectroscopic value characteristic of either the neoplastic portion or the non-neoplastic portion. The neoplastic portion is selected for physical manipulation based on the differentiation of the boundary between the neoplastic portion and the non-neoplastic portion.

Abstract: Raman molecular imaging is used to differentiate between normal and diseased cells or tissue. For instance benign and malignant lesions of bladder and other tissues can be distinguished, including epithelial tissues such as lung, prostate, kidney, breast, and colon, and non-epithelial tissues, such as bone marrow and brain. Raman scattering data relevant to the disease state of cells or tissue can be combined with visual image data to produce hybrid images which depict both a magnified view of the cellular structures and information relating to the disease state of the individual cells in the field of view.

Abstract: A fuel injector has a number of groups of nozzles. The groups are generally concentric with an injector axis. Each nozzle defines a gas flowpath having an outlet for discharging a fuel/air mixture jet. There are means for introducing the fuel to the air. One or more groups of the nozzles are oriented to direct the associated jets skew to the injector axis.

Abstract: Raman molecular imaging is used to differentiate between normal tissue and benign and malignant lesions of bladder and other tissues, including epithelial tissues such as lung, prostate, kidney, breast, and colon, and non-epithelial tissues, such as bone marrow and brain. Raman scattering data relevant to the cancerous state of cells can be combined with visual image data to produce hybrid images which depict both a magnified view of the cellular structures and information relating to the cancerous state of the individual cells in the field of view.

Abstract: A fluid flow sensor assembly comprised of a fluid flow sensor plumbed to convey flow in parallel with a normally-closed, high-flow valve, displaceable to an opened position in response to hydrodynamic force, for placement into a fluid conduit to achieve a precise measurement of the fluid volumetric flow with a high turndown ratio at a pressure drop below which the flow sensor alone would impose, is disclosed. In addition, the mathematic relationship of the flow sensor output to the fluid volumetric flow rate through the parallel flow sensor assembly, throughout the flow range, is disclosed.

Abstract: An augmentor system minimizes acoustic pressure fluctuations on the heat release process within the augmentor by staggering the vanes therein. The alternating axial vane stagger pattern arranges the downstream set of vanes as baffles which prevent the propagation of tangential acoustic waves between the vanes to protect the upstream set of vanes from the effects of transverse acoustic velocity fluctuations which minimizes screech without substantially affecting augmentor performance.

Abstract: A trellis traceback apparatus and method are disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus may include a branch indication memory, memory address logic, a selector, and a shift register. The memory may store branch indication information for a state at a section, the information indicating a branch that leads to the state. The memory address logic may indicate the section. The selector may receive the branch indication information for the state at the indicated section. The selector may select the branch indication information based on received selection information. The shift register may provide information stored in a plurality of register segments to the selector as the selection information, and the shift register may receive and store the selected branch indication information.

Abstract: A flexing head support suspension system for supporting the head, neck, and, face of a subject while the subject receives a treatment. The suspension system comprises a pressure sensitive apparatus for supporting the head, neck, and face. The apparatus includes a face plate and a suspension support unit. The suspension mechanism in the support unit maintains a neutral placement of the head in relation to the body while the subject is undergoing treatment. The apparatus alleviates discomfort and pain that often comes as a result of the pressure on the body during treatment of various somatic modalities. The apparatus may be a stand alone unit or attachable to both standard and non-standard massage tables.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, distances associated with a Trellis decoder are determined.

Abstract: A method of constructing biologically active compounds which mimic the biological activity of the biologically active protein or which block the activity of the biologically active protein is disclosed. A method of identifying specific and discrete portions of pathogen antigens which either serve as epitopes for neutralizing antibodies or which are involved in pathogen binding to host cell receptors is disclosed. A method of constructing biologically active compounds which compete with cellular receptors for binding to either biologically active proteins or pathogen antigens is disclosed.

Abstract: A continuous, solvent-free process for obtaining solvent-free, fine white powders of high molecular weight alternating copolymers of maleic anhydride and a C1-C4 alkyl vinyl ether, without odor or taste, having the molecular structure (A—B)n, where A is maleic anhydride, B is an alkyl vinyl ether and n is an integer indicative of the molecular weight of the copolymer, which comprises feeding alkyl vinyl ether as reactant and solvent in excess over the desired 1:1 mole ratio of A:B in the copolymer, molten maleic anhydride and a free radical initiator, continuously at predetermined feeding rates into a reactor heated at a reaction temperature of about 50° to 100° C.

Abstract: A method of constructing biologically active compounds which mimic the biological activity of the biologically active protein block the activity of the biologically active protein is disclosed. A method of identifying specific and discrete portions of pathogen antigens which either serve as epitopes for neutralizing antibodies or which are involved in pathogen binding to host cell receptors is disclosed. A method of constructing biologically active compounds which compete with cellular receptors for binding to either biologically active proteins or pathogen antigens is disclosed.

Abstract: A continuous, solvent-free process for obtaining solvent-free, fine white powders of high molecular weight alternating terpolymers of maleic anhydride, a C1-C4 alkyl vinyl ether and isobutylene, without odor or taste.

Abstract: A continuous, solvent-free process for obtaining solvent-free, fine white powders of high molecular weight alternating copolymers of maleic anhydride and a C1-C4 alkyl vinyl ether, without odor or taste, having the molecular structure (A-B)n, where A is maleic anhydride, B is an alkyl vinyl ether and n is an integer indicative of the molecular weight of the copolymer, which comprises feeding alkyl vinyl ether as reactant and solvent in excess over the desired 1:1 mole ratio of A:B in the copolymer, molten maleic anhydride and a free radical initiator, continuously at predetermined feeding rates into a reactor heated at a reaction temperature of about 50° to 100° C.

Abstract: The present invention is a computerized method of identifying self-hybridizing sequences in nucleic acid strands. Once the sequences are identified, genetic information frequently residing in or near the sequences can be more easily identified. A computer program is used to automatically and rapidly conduct the steps of the method. Under the method, a practical minimum possible length of a stem sequence is first determined and entered into a program. A maximum loop size is then determined and entered. Subsequently, a mismatch factor is determined as well as whether to include G-T base pairs in total energy calculations. The calculations are then made by identifying a potential upstream stem sequence and iterating through possible downstream stem sequences. Once all possible downstream stem sequences have been compared to the upstream sequence, the upstream sequence is incremented by one base location, and once again all possible downstream sequences are compared.

Abstract: A method of constructing biologically active compounds which mimic the biological activity of the biologically active protein or which block the activity of the biologically active protein is disclosed. A method of identifying specific and discrete portions of pathogen antigens which either serve as epitopes for neutralizing antibodies or which are involved in pathogen binding to host cell receptors is disclosed. A method of constructing biologically active compounds which compete with cellular receptors for binding to either biologically active proteins or pathogen antigens is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating mammalian diseases and conditions characterized by myelin destruction. The present invention provides methods for inducing myelin formation by myelin forming cells expressing reovirus type 3 receptors comprising administering to such cells an effective amount of a compound bindable with the reovirus type 3 receptor. The compounds for use in the method of the invention preferably comprise antibodies and peptides, more preferably synthetic peptides.