Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for determining a location of an object of interest for use in image calibration. Certain embodiments of a method include loading an image of at least a portion of a patient. The image includes an object of interest. The method further includes retrieving patient data related to the patient, and automatically generating a proposed height value of the object of interest in relation to a reference location. The proposed height value is generated by selecting a height value from a set of height values based on the patient data. In certain embodiments, the reference location is a positioning tabletop. In certain embodiments, the patient data includes patient height and/or patient weight, and the set of height values is indexed based on height and/or weight by gender.

Abstract: An earplug with a soft body and a stiffener in the body, the stiffener being tapered in diameter, with a rear end (34) of greatest diameter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pyrrolo-naphthyl compounds of the formula and methods of using them to modulate PAI-1 expression and to treat PAI-1 related disorders.

Abstract: A screening method for identifying and/or analysing Hsp90 inhibitors and/or Hsp90 agonists comprises the steps of contacting a compound with at least two of yeast strains A-E wherein each yeast strain comprises expression vectors from which a pair of binding partners for a yeast two-hybrid assay are expressed. The binding partner pairs comprise: A: Hsp90-targeting protein; B: Hsp90-Hsp90; C: Hsp90-p23; D: Hsp90-E3 ligase; E: Hsp90-Client. Inhibition and/or promotion of dimerisation between the binding partners is then measured.

Abstract: A method for forming a device (10) that fits into a person's ear canal, that carries sound from a pipe (B) of a speaker assembly (A) into the person's ear canal, and that blocks environmental noise. A first elastomeric material (14) is molded around an elongated core (16) to form a device body (12) with an outer surface that can seal to a person's ear canal. In one method, the first elastomeric material of the body is a soft foamable material and the core is a previously-formed tube (16) of a stiffer second elastomeric material, with the body bonded to the tube by being molded around it, either in a mold cavity or by extrusion through an extrusion head. In another method, the elastomeric material of the body is a non-foam, and the core (96) is a rigid pin that is removed from the earplug body after the earplug body has at least partially solidified.

Abstract: Earplugs are formed by extruding an elastomeric material (12) forwardly (F) through an extrusion head (14) so a forward portion of the extrusion enters a shaping cavity (50A). The forward portion of the extrusion is severed from the rest of the mass being extruded to form a globule. The globule is allowed or forced to expand in the cavity, or the cavity is formed of parts that compress the globule, to shape the globule to the shape of the cavity.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method and computer instructions for estimating stent size. In an embodiment, a stent size estimating system includes: an input module for inputting artery data; a calculation module for calculating stent size based on the artery data; and an output module for outputting stent data. The stent size estimating system may also include: an availability module for checking the availability of a stent; a selection module for selecting a stent based on output stent data; and/or a feedback module for inputting feedback, for example.

Abstract: An earplug (10) that includes a soft foam body (12) and a stiffener (14) in the body, is produced by a method that has minimum steps and that results in an earplug of attractive design and that uses a minimum of material. One method includes molding an earplug body in a body cavity (52) while a mandrel (56) lies in the body cavity. After the foam material in the body cavity has at least partially solidified, the mandrel is removed, leaving an empty stiffener cavity (60) in the foam body (12). With the body remaining in the body mold (54), flowable stiffener material (14A) is poured into the stiffener cavity of the body and allowed to solidify, to produce an earplug with a molded-in stiffener (14). Another method, results in an earplug (90) with a stem (95) having a rearwardly-projecting stem portion (96). This method includes molding a stem rear portion (96) in a stiffener cavity (110) while allowing stiffener material to project forward of the rear portion to form a stem free front portion (120).

Abstract: A soccer practice cage is disclosed. The soccer practice cage includes a cage frame having at least two frame goal openings; a cover having at least two cover goal openings communicating with the at least two frame goal openings, respectively, of the cage frame; and at least two goals carried by at least one of the cage frame and the cover and communicating with the at least two frame goal openings and the at least two cover goal openings, respectively.

Abstract: A method of generating an image of a coronary artery tree for a patient. The method can include acquiring data from the patient for coronary artery segments and generating a coronary artery tree image including the coronary artery segments. The method can also include accessing coronary artery tree patterns, comparing the coronary artery tree image to the coronary artery tree patterns, and automatically selecting one of the coronary artery tree patterns as a representative coronary artery tree image for the patient. The method can further include measuring lesions and automatically adding the lesion measurements to the coronary artery tree image for the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a first agent that attenuates topoisomerase II (Topo II) activity and a second agent that inhibits Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) for use in chemotherapy. The agents are particularly useful in the treatment of cancer and destruction of micro-organisms. The invention also relates to screening methods, diagnostic methods and methods for evaluating or monitoring chemotherapy regimens.

Abstract: A wheel chair drive apparatus includes a frame having a wheel mount, a battery mount, and a control shaft mount. A drive wheel has a drive motor incorporated within the drive wheel. A battery is in operative communication with the drive motor via a detachable jack. A battery housing is dimensioned to mount in the battery mount of the frame and has a handle. A control shaft pivotably mounted on the control shaft mount, so that it has a stow position, and operating position, a user entry position and a table use position. A caster lever is pivotably mounted to the frame, so that it has a rolling position and an engaged position. The caster lever is disposed to engage a receiving seat on a wheel chair. A locking lever is releasably biased toward a position locking the caster lever in the engaged position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a first agent that attenuates Topoisomerase I (Topo I) activity and a second agent that inhibits Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) for use in chemotherapy. The agents are particularly useful in the treatment of cancer and destruction of micro-organisms. The invention also relates to screening methods, diagnostic methods and methods for evaluating or monitoring chemotherapy regimens.

Abstract: A control system for a powered wheel chair drive modulates a pulse power delivery signal such that power is delivered gradually at throttle positions corresponding to a low speed, and power is delivered more rapidly at throttle positions corresponding to a higher speed.

Abstract: Earplugs (22, 24) and a combination (20) of a pair earplugs and a cord (26) that joins them, each can be detected by metal and/or magnetic detectors even if the parts of the combination becomes separated and fall into a batch of food, etc. Each earplug includes an earplug core (32) formed of a first elastomer with a multiplicity of metal-mag detectable particles (36) (particles detectable by electrical or magnetic detectors) embedded in the first elastomer, and an earplug covering (32) of a second elastomer (that may be the same as the first one) that is devoid of such particles. The cord includes a cord core (50) formed of a first flexible polymer with metal-mag detectable particles embedded therein, and a cord covering (54) formed of a second polymer that is devoid of such particles. The particles are preferably of iron, which is magnetically detectable but that can mark skin or clothing that it contacts, but which is isolated from the skin and clothing by the earplug and cord coverings.

Abstract: A method for analyzing stored frames of time-stamped imaging data and time-stamped physiologic data obtained during a study of a patient during a plurality of cardiac cycles. The imaging data includes frames representative of a succession of images of the patient's heart. These configurations use a computer to analyze the stored physiologic data to determine times of a selected phase in the plurality of cardiac cycles, select, in the plurality of cardiac cycles, stored images corresponding to the determined times of the selected phase, and align and average images corresponding to the selected phase across the plurality of cardiac cycles to produce a single representative frame of image data.

Abstract: Earplugs with soft foam bodies and with stiffeners in the bodies, are molded by suspending the stiffener in the body mold cavity using a pin (60) that extends into a passage (56) at the rear of the body. Each stiffener is tapered in diameter, with a rear end (34) of greatest diameter.

Abstract: An earplug of the type that includes a soft foam body (14) and a more rigid core (16) that stiffens the body during its insertion into the ear canal, is mass produced so the front end (30) of the stiff core cannot rub along the surface of the ear canal during insertion. The core is elongated and bonded to the body, and the core has a front end (30) that is recessed from the front end (36) of the body, so the soft foam material of the body prevents the front end of the core from contacting the ear canal. The earplug can be mass produced by extruding the soft foam through an extrusion head (42), around the cores, with a long core device having been cut into the cores and with the extrusion (52) cut at locations to leave foam material forward of each core front end.

Abstract: An earplug is provided for use by an airplane passenger, which more slowly increases the pressure of air in the passenger's ear canal than the rate of increase in cabin air pressure as the airplane descends near the end of a flight. The earplug has a cavity (30) that is open to the front end (20) of the earplug, and with a restrictor (24) at the front end of the cavity that allows air to pass between the cavity and ear canal, and the cavity to collapse, only at a very slow rate. As the environmental air pressure increases near the end of a flight, the earplug is slowly compressed in diameter and compresses the cavity.

Abstract: An earplug is provided for use by an airplane passenger, which more slowly increases the pressure of air in the passenger's ear canal than the rate of increase in cabin air pressure as the airplane descends near the end of a flight. The earplug has a cavity (30) that is open to the front end (20) of the earplug, and with a restrictor (24) at the front end of the cavity that allows air to pass between the cavity and ear canal, and the cavity to collapse, only at a very slow rate. As the environmental air pressure increases near the end of a flight, the earplug is slowly compressed in diameter and compresses the cavity.