Abstract: A medical device handle assembly can include a modular extension that allows for the addition of any number of connector ports to an existing handle. In an embodiment, such an extension can comprise a main body portion configured to be coupled with an elongate medical device shaft comprising at least one of an electrical wire and a fluid lumen. The main body portion may comprise a handle port configured to provide access to one or more of a fluid connector fluidly coupled with the fluid lumen and an electromechanical connector electrically coupled with the electrical wire. The handle assembly can further comprise a handle extension portion coupled with the handle port.

Abstract: A deflection mechanism for use in an elongate medical device is presented. The deflection mechanism comprises an actuator. The actuator comprises a rotatable body comprising a channel. The deflection mechanism further comprises an activation wire having a proximal end and a distal end, and a wire lock attached to the proximal end of the activation wire. The wire lock is disposed within the channel and is configured to ride therein when the actuator body is rotated. An elongate medical device, and a handle assembly thereof, that incorporate the deflection mechanism are also presented.

Abstract: A method for treating a desired volume of tissue using HIFU or other energy modality to ablate a pattern of elemental treatment volumes each having a volume that is greater than that of the focal zone of the HIFU transducer but smaller than the overall volume of the desired treatment volume. In one embodiment, the pattern of elemental treatment volumes are arranged to form a shell which partially or wholly encapsulates the desired volume of tissue, which then necroses in situ due to effects other than direct HIFU damage (including some combination of ischemia, thermal conduction, inflammation, apoptosis, etc.). The necrosed tissue remains in the body and is subsequently resorbed and/or healed via normal body mechanisms.

Abstract: Herein described is a computer based system, a computer-readable storage media, and a method for optimizing the amount of currency transferred to a custodial inventory vault of a depository institution. The currency comprises ten and twenty dollar bills. For example, the method comprises determining a first amount of ten and twenty dollar bills, subtracting a second amount corresponding to a minimum vault holding requirement from the first amount to yield a third amount. The third amount is transferred along with a predetermined fourth amount to the custodial inventory vault of the depository institution. The predetermined fourth amount may be chosen to minimize or obviate an occurrence of an ending cash balance of ten and twenty dollar bills being less than the second amount. The third and fourth amounts of ten and twenty dollars bills are held in the custodial inventory vault and provide a monetary benefit for the depository institution.

Abstract: An energy deposit determining system and method are provided that determines a productive lease or well. The system and method may be used for oil wells, gas wells, oil and gas explorations and/or mineral leases.

Abstract: A method and system for processing accounting event data and applying the accounting event data to account balances associated with an entity. The system receives accounting event data from multiple third-party financial institutions and uses processing rules to identify activities associated with each accounting event represented in the accounting event data. An activity describes, among other information, a balance to be adjusted and an amount that it is to be adjusted by. A balance quantifies information related to an entity's finances. A balance is adjusted by applying an activity to the balance, thereby increasing or reducing the balance by a specified amount. The system may generate a financial report by applying a template to financial data, including the activities and balances.

Abstract: Herein described is a computer based system, a computer-readable storage media, and a method for optimizing the amount of currency transferred to a custodial inventory vault of a depository institution. The currency comprises ten and twenty dollar bills. For example, the method comprises determining a first amount of ten and twenty dollar bills, subtracting a second amount corresponding to a minimum vault holding requirement from the first amount to yield a third amount. The third amount is transferred along with a predetermined fourth amount to the custodial inventory vault of the depository institution. The predetermined fourth amount may be chosen to minimize or obviate an occurrence of an ending cash balance of ten and twenty dollar bills being less than the second amount. The third and fourth amounts of ten and twenty dollars bills are held in the custodial inventory vault and provide a monetary benefit for the depository institution.

Abstract: A deflection mechanism for use in an elongate medical device is presented. The deflection mechanism comprises an actuator. The actuator comprises a rotatable body comprising a channel. The deflection mechanism further comprises an activation wire having a proximal end and a distal end, and a wire lock attached to the proximal end of the activation wire. The wire lock is disposed within the channel and is configured to ride therein when the actuator body is rotated. An elongate medical device, and a handle assembly thereof, that incorporate the deflection mechanism are also presented.

Abstract: A medical device handle assembly can include a modular extension that allows for the addition of any number of connector ports to an existing handle. In an embodiment, such an extension can comprise a main body portion configured to be coupled with an elongate medical device shaft comprising at least one of an electrical wire and a fluid lumen. The main body portion may comprise a handle port configured to provide access to one or more of a fluid connector fluidly coupled with the fluid lumen and an electromechanical connector electrically coupled with the electrical wire. The handle assembly can further comprise a handle extension portion coupled with the handle port.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to filtering systems and methods for suppression of reverberation artifacts in ultrasound images. In some embodiments, a method of obtaining a filtered ultrasound image includes taking a first ultrasound image of a target tissue using an applicator. At least a portion of the applicator is moved such that the reverberation artifact ultrasound path length changes relative to the first position of the applicator. A second ultrasound image of the target tissue is then taken. The first and second ultrasound images are synthesized using at least one filtering method. The filtering method attenuates or removes reverberation artifacts in the synthesized ultrasound image.

Abstract: HIFU therapy to a desired tissue site is controlled based on detected changes in one or more characteristics of a received backscatter signal resulting from exposure of the tissue to HIFU or other interrogation signals. In one embodiment, the bloom of backscatter signals outward from a treatment region (e.g., towards the HIFU transducer) is detected and monitored. Once the bloom reaches a predetermined location, treatment is stopped. Other signal characteristics such as angular distribution of frequency components in the backscatter signal, changes in reflection, power required to saturate a tissue characteristic, changes in attenuation and changes in a cumulative energy distribution function of the backscatter signal that change as a result of the application of HIFU power are also used to control the delivery of HIFU signals in accordance with other embodiments of the disclosed technology.

Abstract: A waveguide couples an acoustic source (such as an ultrasound transducer) to a cosmetic product (such as a liquid or gel-based skin care product) applied to the skin. In one representative embodiment, a distal surface of the waveguide is placed in contact with a relatively thin layer of skin care product that has been applied to the skin. Alternatively, the thin layer can be applied to the distal face of the waveguide, and then the waveguide placed on the skin. The cosmetic product may be formulated such that when ultrasound energy is directed into the cosmetic product via the waveguide, microspheres in the cosmetic product oscillate and increase the permeability of the skin to active beneficial agents included in the cosmetic product.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically adjusting the energy of HIFU signals delivered to a patient, and/or to aid in visualizing the likely degree and location of HIFU effects on patient tissue. The system transmits a HIFU signal into a patient and receives echoes therefrom. The echo signals are analyzed to determine the energy of the signals in a first range, such as at one or more harmonics and/or sub-harmonics of the fundamental frequency of the HIFU signal, and energy of the echo signals in a second range such as at the fundamental frequency of the HIFU signal. Based on the comparison, the energy and/or focus of the HIFU signals delivered to the patient is adjusted. An image of the compared echo signal powers in two or more frequency ranges may also be displayed for a user or used to adjust the focus point of the HIFU signals.

Abstract: A method for treating a desired volume of tissue using HIFU or other energy modality to ablate a pattern of elemental treatment volumes each having a volume that is greater than that of the focal zone of the HIFU transducer but smaller than the overall volume of the desired treatment volume. In one embodiment, the pattern of elemental treatment volumes are arranged to form a shell which partially or wholly encapsulates the desired volume of tissue, which then necroses in situ due to effects other than direct HIFU damage (including some combination of ischemia, thermal conduction, inflammation, apoptosis, etc.). The necrosed tissue remains in the body and is subsequently resorbed and/or healed via normal body mechanisms.

Abstract: A method for treating a desired volume of tissue using HIFU or other energy modality to ablate a pattern of elemental treatment volumes each having a volume that is greater than that of the focal zone of the HIFU transducer but smaller than the overall volume of the desired treatment volume. In one embodiment, the pattern of elemental treatment volumes are arranged to form a shell which partially or wholly encapsulates the desired volume of tissue, which then necroses in situ due to effects other than direct HIFU damage (including some combination of ischemia, thermal conduction, inflammation, apoptosis, etc.). The necrosed tissue remains in the body and is subsequently resorbed and/or healed via normal body mechanisms.

Abstract: HIFU therapy to a desired tissue site is controlled based on detected changes in one or more characteristics of a received backscatter signal resulting from exposure of the tissue to HIFU or other interrogation signals. In one embodiment, the bloom of backscatter signals outward from a treatment region (e.g., towards the HIFU transducer) is detected and monitored. Once the bloom reaches a predetermined location, treatment is stopped. Other signal characteristics such as angular distribution of frequency components in the backscatter signal, changes in reflection, power required to saturate a tissue characteristic, changes in attenuation and changes in a cumulative energy distribution function of the backscatter signal that change as a result of the application of HIFU power are also used to control the delivery of HIFU signals in accordance with other embodiments of the disclosed technology.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting or selecting the treatment parameters for HIFU signals to treat a target treatment site, and/or to aid in visualizing the likely degree and location of HIFU effects on patient tissue. The system transmits one or more test signals into patient tissue and receives signals created in response to the test signals. The signals are analyzed to determine a response curve of how a characteristic of the signal varies with the one or more test signals. The response curve of the detected signals is used to select a treatment parameter.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically adjusting the energy of HIFU signals delivered to a patient, and/or to aid in visualizing the likely degree and location of HIFU effects on patient tissue. The system transmits a HIFU signal into a patient and receives echoes therefrom. The echo signals are analyzed to determine the energy of the signals in a first range, such as at one or more harmonics and/or sub-harmonics of the fundamental frequency of the HIFU signal, and energy of the echo signals in a second range such as at the fundamental frequency of the HIFU signal. Based on the comparison, the energy and/or focus of the HIFU signals delivered to the patient is adjusted. An image of the compared echo signal powers in two or more frequency ranges may also be displayed for a user or used to adjust the focus point of the HIFU signals.

Abstract: A waveguide couples an acoustic source (such as an ultrasound transducer) to a custom cosmetic product (e.g., a liquid or gel-based skin care product) applied to the skin. In one exemplary embodiment, a distal surface of the waveguide is placed in contact with a relatively thin layer of skin care product that has been applied to the skin. Alternatively, the thin layer can be applied to the distal face of the waveguide, and then the waveguide placed on the skin. The custom cosmetic product has been formulated such that when ultrasound energy is directed into the custom cosmetic product via the waveguide, bubbles included or formed in the custom cosmetic product oscillate, and increase the permeability of the skin to active beneficial agents included in the custom cosmetic product.

Abstract: A waveguide couples an acoustic source (such as an ultrasound transducer) to a custom cosmetic product (e.g., a liquid or gel-based skin care product) applied to the skin. In one exemplary embodiment, a distal surface of the waveguide is placed in contact with a relatively thin layer of skin care product that has been applied to the skin. Alternatively, the thin layer can be applied to the distal face of the waveguide, and then the waveguide placed on the skin. The custom cosmetic product has been formulated such that when ultrasound energy is directed into the custom cosmetic product via the waveguide, bubbles included or formed in the custom cosmetic product oscillate, and increase the permeability of the skin to active beneficial agents included in the custom cosmetic product.