Abstract: Apparatus for passing a blocked vein, including: (a) an intravascular catheter body defining at least one lumen; (b) a radially expandable anchor at a distal end of said catheter; and (c) a penetration tool sized and shaped to be delivered by the lumen to a point distal of the expandable anchor, the penetration tool including a tip and configured for being pushed through venous blockage more than one week old and present with a young's modulus greater than 1 MPa. Optionally, the penetration tool tip comprises a sharpened tip. Optionally or additionally, the penetration tool tip is controllably bendable.

Abstract: Loading tools for use with medical devices are disclosed. An example loading tool may be suitable for use with a drug-coated expandable medical device. The loading tool may include a tubular sleeve having a distal end region, a proximal end region, and a lumen extending therethrough. The distal end region may include a reduced distal tip designed to interact with a hemostasis valve having a resilient seal member.

Abstract: Loading tools for use with medical devices are disclosed. An example loading tool may be suitable for use with a drug-coated expandable medical device. The loading tool may include a tubular sleeve having a distal end region, a proximal end region, and a lumen extending therethrough. The distal end region may include a reduced distal tip designed to interact with a hemostasis valve having a resilient seal member.

Abstract: Loading tools for use with medical devices are disclosed. An example loading tool may include a tubular sleeve having a proximal end region, a distal end region, and a lumen. The distal end region may be designed to be engaged with a resilient seal member of a hemostasis valve so that a medical device disposed within the lumen can be passed through the resilient seal member. The tubular sleeve may include a tube wall. At least a portion of the tube wall may overlap to define an overlapping region.

Abstract: A system and method including a guide wire having a plurality of sensors attached near an end of the guide wire, and a processor configured to determine a position of a body component and a position of a catheter moving along the guide wire based on the signals received from the plurality of sensors. Feedback information can be generated based on these determined positions to help guide a medical procedure.

Abstract: A system and method including a guide wire having a plurality of sensors attached near an end of the guide wire, and a processor configured to determine a position of a body component and a position of a catheter moving along the guide wire based on the signals received from the plurality of sensors. Feedback information can be generated based on these determined positions to help guide a medical procedure.

Abstract: A system and a process for performing identified modifications of content in an e-mail message at a server or server farm electronically distal from an e-mail origin site. The process acts so that: a) the distal server or server farm pointed to by an MX record of a short domain in the domain name server system; and b) an e-mail message comprising a recipient e-mail address combined with said short domain as a suffix.

Abstract: A portable electronic cable carrier, which can be securely attached to and released from a keychain or similar device. Electronic cables may be removably released from the portable carrier for usage and then securely locked back into place around the portable cable carrier, which in addition to storing the cable also protects the cable connector ends.

Abstract: A method for identifying resource types within shortened uniform resource locators includes receiving, by a shortener application executing on a first computing device, from a second computing device, a uniform resource locator and a request to shorten the uniform resource locator. The method includes identifying, by the shortener application, a first identification of a type of a resource within the uniform resource locator. The method includes identifying, by the shortener application, a second identification of the type of the resource, based on the first identification. The method includes generating, by the shortener application, a shortened uniform resource locator including the second identification of the type of the resource. The method includes transmitting, by the shortener application, to the second computing device, the shortened uniform resource locator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information to a plurality of users based on the relevancy of the information to the users are disclosed. An incoming message is received. Similarity scores are generated indicating similarities of the incoming message to features of a plurality of messages. Relevancy scores are generated for the plurality of users, the relevancy scores indicating relevancies of the incoming message to the plurality of users based on the similarity scores and a plurality of user profiles including information descriptive of the plurality of users' preferences for the features of the plurality of users. Message information derived from the incoming message, the relevancy scores, and the plurality of user profiles is delivered to at least some of the plurality of users.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information to a plurality of users based on the relevancy of the information to the users are disclosed. An incoming message is received. Similarity scores are generated indicating similarities of the incoming message to features of a plurality of messages. Relevancy scores are generated for the plurality of users, the relevancy scores indicating relevancies of the incoming message to the plurality of users based on the similarity scores and a plurality of user profiles including information descriptive of the plurality of users' preferences for the features of the plurality of users. Message information derived from the incoming message, the relevancy scores, and the plurality of user profiles is delivered to at least some of the plurality of users.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information to a plurality of users based on the relevancy of the information to the users are disclosed. An incoming message is received. Similarity scores are generated indicating similarities of the incoming message to features of a plurality of messages. Relevancy scores are generated for the plurality of users, the relevancy scores indicating relevancies of the incoming message to the plurality of users based on the similarity scores and a plurality of user profiles including information descriptive of the plurality of users' preferences for the features of the plurality of users. Message information derived from the incoming message, the relevancy scores, and the plurality of user profiles is delivered to at least some of the plurality of users.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information to a plurality of users based on the relevancy of the information to the users are disclosed. An incoming message is received. Similarity scores are generated indicating similarities of the incoming message to features of a plurality of messages. Relevancy scores are generated for the plurality of users, the relevancy scores indicating relevancies of the incoming message to the plurality of users based on the similarity scores and a plurality of user profiles including information descriptive of the plurality of users' preferences for the features of the plurality of users. Message information derived from the incoming message, the relevancy scores, and the plurality of user profiles is delivered to at least some of the plurality of users.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for regulating a flow of information to one or more users is disclosed. A system includes a relevancy threshold for a user and an incoming message having a relevancy score, the relevancy score indicating a relevancy of the incoming message to the user. A method for regulating a flow of information to a user of the system is disclosed. The method determines whether the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies the relevancy threshold, and delivers to the user message information derived from the incoming message and adjusting the relevancy threshold when the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies the relevancy threshold. The method adjusts the relevancy threshold by an amount determined by a time-dependent function when the relevancy score of the incoming message does not satisfy the relevancy threshold.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating the relevancy of an incoming message to a plurality of users are disclosed. Similarity scores indicating similarities of the incoming message to features of a plurality of messages are generated. Relevancy scores are generated for the plurality of users indicating relevancies of the incoming message to the plurality of users based on the similarity scores and a plurality of user profiles including information descriptive of the plurality of users' preferences for the features.

Abstract: A network-based mail attachment storage system and method for: receiving from a sender an electronic mail item which contains a forwarding specification and an attachment; detaching the attachment from the electronic mail item; storing the attachment on a storage device at a specific address under a specific file name; generating a handle corresponding to the specific address and the specific file name; appending the electronic mail item to include the handle; and transmitting in accordance with the forwarding specification the appended electronic mail item, including the handle but excluding the stored attachment.

Abstract: A system for management and manipulation of stored files through electronic mail items including a receiving portal for receiving from a sender an electronic mail item which contains a user identification, a file handle and a command specification, a storage device containing a file corresponding to the file handle, a rights verifier for determining whether or not the sender has privilege to access the stored file corresponding to the file handle, and a command executor which executes the command specification on the file retrieved from the storage device when the sender is verified to have the access rights to the file.

Abstract: A data input device and method for producing signals corresponding to symbols, comprises: at least one manually actuatable switch having a home state and manually actuatable from the home state to one of a set of first states and manually actuatable from the set of first states to one of a set of second states including the home state. A first signal corresponding to a transition from the home state to a selected one of the set of first states is produced and a second signal corresponding to a transition from the selected one of the set of first states to a selected one of the set of second states is produced. An output signal representing one symbol is produced in response to the first and second signals.

Abstract: A data input device and method for producing signals corresponding to symbols, comprises: at least one manually actuatable switch having a home state and manually actuatable from the home state to one of a set of first states and manually actuatable from the set of first states to one of a set of second states including the home state. A first signal corresponding to a transition from the home state to a selected one of the set of first states is produced and a second signal corresponding to a transition from the selected one of the set of first states to a selected one of the set of second states is produced. An output signal representing one symbol is produced in response to the first and second signals.