Abstract: An introducer assembly includes an elongate sheath sized for insertion into a blood vessel of a patient and a hub. The hub can be coupled to a proximal portion of the sheath and can include a first hub portion and a second hub portion. The hub can include various features to facilitate breaking apart or separating the introducer assembly from a patient. For example, the first hub portion can have a first notch which can facilitate breaking, splitting, or fracturing the hub. The second hub portion can partially surround the first hub portion and can include two wings and an opening disposed above the first notch. The first hub portion can be formed from a first material and second hub portion can be formed from a second material. In some embodiments, the second material can be stiffer than the first material to facilitate fracturing the hub.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of manufacturing a mouth piece by 3D printing a 3D printer readable file encoding the mouth piece, the method comprising steps of: obtaining a scan file comprising physical data representing a user's teeth and gum line using 3D scanner means (100); removing outlier data from physical data in the scan file; generating representative geometrical data of the curvature of the user's teeth and gum line from the physical data; generating a virtual base model representing a mouth piece from the physical data and the representative geometrical data, the virtual base model having customisable dimensions (101); removing selected regions from the mouth piece represented by the virtual base model (102); and from the virtual base model, generating the 3D printer readable file encoding the mouth piece for printing on 3D printing means (103).

Abstract: A method for communicating in real-time to users of a provider of Internet access service, without requiring any installation or set-up by the user, that utilizes the unique identification information automatically provided by the user during communications for identifying the user to provide a fixed identifier which is then communicated to a redirecting device. Messages may then be selectively transmitted to the user. The system is normally transparent to the user, with no modification of its content along the path. Content then may be modified or replaced along the path to the user. For the purposes of establishing a reliable delivery of bulletin messages from providers to their users, the system forces the delivery of specially-composed World Wide Web browser pages to the user, although it is not limited to that type of data.

Abstract: A redirection of a URL page request may be performed by monitoring an upstream path from a subscriber to the internet through an ISP. When a URL page request is detected from a subscriber for whom a redirection is required, a redirection device generates a single TCP packet response that mimics a response from the intended destination server. The single TCP packet includes a set FIN bit that closes any active session with the destination server to prevent the subscriber from accepting packets from the destination server.

Abstract: In a set-top-box system, messages from a service provider are stored and delayed until activity from a set-top-box remote is detected. Messages are then generated and provided to a television associated with the set-top-box. Delaying of the message display until set-top-box activity is detected allows short display times, thus preventing burn-in on some television screens, while providing a greater likelihood that messages will be viewed.

Abstract: An introducer assembly includes an elongate sheath sized for insertion into a blood vessel of a patient and a hub. The hub can be coupled to a proximal portion of the sheath and can include a first hub portion and a second hub portion. The hub can include various features to facilitate breaking apart or separating the introducer assembly from a patient. For example, the first hub portion can have a first notch which can facilitate breaking, splitting, or fracturing the hub. The second hub portion can partially surround the first hub portion and can include two wings and an opening disposed above the first notch. The first hub portion can be formed from a first material and second hub portion can be formed from a second material. In some embodiments, the second material can be stiffer than the first material to facilitate fracturing the hub.

Abstract: A method for communicating in real-time to users of a provider of Internet access service, without requiring any installation or set-up by the user, that utilizes the unique identification information automatically provided by the user during communications for identifying the user to provide a fixed identifier which is then communicated to a redirecting device. Messages may then be selectively transmitted to the user. The system is normally transparent to the user, with no modification of its content along the path. Content then may be modified or replaced along the path to the user. For the purposes of establishing a reliable delivery of bulletin messages from providers to their users, the system forces the delivery of specially-composed World Wide Web browser pages to the user, although it is not limited to that type of data.

Abstract: A robotic catheter procedure system includes a bedside system that has a percutaneous device, and an actuating mechanism configured to engage and to impart movement to the percutaneous device. The system also includes a workstation coupled to the bedside system. The workstation includes a user interface configured to receive a user input, ma display device configured to display an image, a control system operatively coupled to the user interface and the actuating mechanism. The control system is configured to generate a control signal and the actuating mechanism causes movement of the percutaneous device in response to the control signal. The control system is configured to slow movement of the percutaneous device via the actuating mechanism as an identified point on the percutaneous device approaches a structure requiring a change in direction of the percutaneous device.

Abstract: In a set-top-box system, messages from a service provider are stored and delayed until activity from a set-top-box remote is detected. Messages are then generated and provided to a television associated with the set-top-box. Delaying of the message display until set-top-box activity is detected allows short display times, thus preventing burn-in on some television screens, while providing a greater likelihood that messages will be viewed.

Abstract: Isolated monoclonal antibodies that bind to specific epitopes of human tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and the isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding them are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the anti-TFPI monoclonal antibodies and methods of treating deficiencies or defects in coagulation by administration of the antibodies are also provided.

Abstract: A robotic catheter procedure system includes a bedside system that has a percutaneous device, and an actuating mechanism configured to engage and to impart movement to the percutaneous device. The system also includes a workstation coupled to the bedside system. The workstation includes a user interface configured to receive a user input, ma display device configured to display an image, a control system operatively coupled to the user interface and the actuating mechanism. The control system is configured to generate a control signal and the actuating mechanism causes movement of the percutaneous device in response to the control signal. The control system is configured to slow movement of the percutaneous device via the actuating mechanism as an identified point on the percutaneous device approaches a structure requiring a change in direction of the percutaneous device.

Abstract: A robotic catheter procedure system for performing a procedure to treat a vascular lesion including a bedside system and a remote workstation is provided. The bedside system includes a first percutaneous device including an end section, the end section structured to allow the first percutaneous device to create a bore through the vascular lesion. The bedside system includes a second percutaneous device. The bedside system also includes a first actuating mechanism configured to engage and to impart movement to the first percutaneous device and a second actuating mechanism configured to engage and to impart movement to the second percutaneous device. The remote workstation includes a user interface and a control system operatively coupled to the user interface and to the bedside system.

Abstract: A sheath assembly for the insertion of a percutaneous pump includes a tubular sheath body dimensioned for insertion into a blood vessel through a vessel aperture. The tubular sheath body includes a wall having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, an inner surface defining a first lumen substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second lumen disposed within the wall between the inner surface and the outer surface and extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. The first lumen is dimensioned to allow passage of a portion of the percutaneous pump, and the second lumen is dimensioned for passage of a guidewire. A stylet is removably positioned to substantially occlude the second lumen. The stylet has a proximal end releasably secured to the sheath assembly.

Abstract: A robotic catheter procedure system for performing a procedure including a bedside system and a remote workstation is provided. The bedside system includes a first percutaneous device and a second percutaneous device. The bedside system also includes a first actuating mechanism configured to engage and to impart movement to the first percutaneous device and a second actuating mechanism configured to engage and to impart movement to the second percutaneous device. The remote workstation includes a user interface and a control system operatively coupled to the user interface and to the bedside system. The control system controlling the first actuating mechanism to cause movement of the first percutaneous device to create a bore through the lesion and the second actuating mechanism to cause movement of the second percutaneous device through the bore created by the first percutaneous device.

Abstract: A medical device that includes an outer body configured to visually mark a target tissue such that the target tissue is detectable by an imaging system. The medical device includes a sensor disposed within the outer body, wherein the sensor is configured to detect radiation at the target site.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to analyze data sent by a user to determine a subscriber account associated with the data and a user associated with the data. A database is then queried to determine the number of users of the subscriber account, with a number above a threshold indicating a likely theft of service. This automatic process is accompanied by automated messaging to the user with information as to the measures taken and remedial options. The messaging may be different dependent on whether the user is deemed to be an authorized user having subscriber account administration rights.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to analyze a subscriber's sent e-mail packets to determine a subscriber identity associated with the e-mail packets. A database is then queried to determine a current sending rate of e-mails by the subscriber. A sending rate above an allowed threshold causes the upstream transmission of the e-mail packets to be blocked by injecting connection destroying packets. A subscriber remains blocked from upstream transmission of e-mails until the sending rate as determined by the ISP drops below a second, more stringent threshold. This automatic process is also accompanied by automated messaging to the subscriber with information as to the measures taken and remedial options.

Abstract: In a set-top-box system, messages from a service provider are stored and delayed until activity from a set-top-box remote is detected. Messages are then generated and provided to a television associated with the set-top-box. Delaying of the message display until set-top-box activity is detected allows short display times, thus preventing burn-in on some television screens, while providing a greater likelihood that messages will be viewed.

Abstract: Described herein are injectable in vivo crosslinking materials for use as soft tissue filler comprising (a) a reactive multi-arm polymer that comprises a plurality of hydrophilic polymeric arms, at least a portion of the hydrophilic polymeric arms comprising one or more reactive end groups and (b) a multifunctional compound that comprises functional groups that are reactive with the reactive end groups of the reactive multi-arm polymer. Also described herein are systems and methods that are based on such materials.