Abstract: This invention describes a wound dressing product for active continuous debridement of devitalized tissues in non-healing wounds including diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, burn injuries and other etiologies. The present invention pertains to the principle of continuous wound debridement which makes necrotic tissue more susceptible for removal and hence enhances progressive wound healing. The dressing contains an active ingredient, such as collagenase which serves to debride wounds in-situ. In the present invention purified Collagenase (90% pure) was deposited onto several wound dressing materials. A key feature of this invention is that the activity level of the Collagenase used was substantially preserved.

Abstract: This invention describes a wound dressing product for active continuous debridement of devitalized tissues in non-healing wounds including diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, burn injuries and other etiologies. The present invention pertains to the principle of continuous wound debridement which makes necrotic tissue more susceptible for removal and hence enhances progressive wound healing. The dressing contains an active ingredient, such as collagenase which serves to debride wounds in-situ. In the present invention purified Collagenase (90% pure) was deposited onto several wound dressing materials. A key feature of this invention is that the activity level of the Collagenase used was substantially preserved.

Abstract: A wound dressing for active continuous debridement of devitalized tissues in non-healing wounds including diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, burn injuries and other etiologies, includes an active ingredient, such as collagenase, which serves to debride wounds in-situ. In one example, purified Collagenase (90% pure) was deposited onto several wound dressing materials. A key feature of this invention is that the activity level of the Collagenase used was substantially preserved.

Abstract: This invention describes a wound dressing product for active continuous debridement of devitalized tissues in non-healing wounds including diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, burn injuries and other etiologies. The present invention pertains to the principle of continuous wound debridement which makes necrotic tissue more susceptible for removal and hence enhances progressive wound healing. The dressing contains an active ingredient, such as collagenase which serves to debride wounds in-situ. In the present invention purified Collagenase (90% pure) was deposited onto several wound dressing materials. A key feature of this invention is that the activity level of the Collagenase used was substantially preserved.

Abstract: A method of fat cavitation including infiltrating adipose tissue with a liquid, creating a puncture in a patient's skin, providing a wire, the wire being generally uniform in diameter and having a first end and a second end and introducing the second end of the wire through the puncture in the patient's skin. The method further includes placing at least a portion of the second end of the wire in contact the adipose tissue, generating an ultrasonic wave, transmitting the ultrasonic wave to the second end of the wire, creating cavitation bubbles in at least a portion of the targeted adipose tissue and liquefying at least a portion of the targeted adipose tissue. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A method of decoding linear block code uses an iterative message passing algorithm with a binary image of a parity check matrix of the linear block code, wherein the parity check matrix is adapted from one iteration to another based on the reliabilities of bits in the linear block code. The adaptation involves reducing a submatrix corresponding to the less reliable bits in the linear block code to a sparse nature before applying the message passing algorithm in each iteration. An apparatus that performs the method is also provided and several variations of the algorithm are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention shows that expressed coronavirus envelope protein M specifically interacted with co-expressed non-coronavirus RNA transcripts containing the short viral packaging signal in the absence of coronavirus N protein. Furthermore, this M protein-packaging signal interaction led to specific packaging of the packaging-signal-containing RNA transcripts into coronavirus-like particles in the absence of N protein. These findings highlight a novel RNA packaging mechanism for an enveloped virus, and a novel coronavirus-based expression system can be developed based on the data presented herein.

Abstract: A method of fat cavitation including infiltrating adipose tissue with a liquid, creating a puncture in a patient's skin, providing a wire, the wire being generally uniform in diameter and having a first end and a second end and introducing the second end of the wire through the puncture in the patient's skin. The method further includes placing at least a portion of the second end of the wire in contact the adipose tissue, generating an ultrasonic wave, transmitting the ultrasonic wave to the second end of the wire, creating cavitation bubbles in at least a portion of the targeted adipose tissue and liquefying at least a portion of the targeted adipose tissue. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A new method and apparatus for the long-term removal of hair are provided. Ultrasonic energy is transmitted to a needle passed through the skin into an individual hair follicle. The resulting cavitation of the area surrounding the hair follicle causes the hair follicle to be disrupted. The process is repeated for individual hair follicles over the selected region of the body.

Abstract: A pulsed Doppler probe 10 for monitoring blood flow within a blood vessel 12 includes a sheath 17 and a plurality of electrically conductive wires 26 extending through the sheath 17. The wires 26 have distal ends 28 to which an ultrasonic transducer 18 is operatively connected. The transducer 18 has an operative surface 20, and the probe 10 also includes a means 22 for fixing the orientation of the operative surface 20 with respect to at least one of a longitudinal axis 38 of the sheath 17, and the orientation fixing means 22, or with respect to the distal ends 28 of the electrically conductive wires 26. The orientation fixing means 22 includes an epoxy material 24 encasing the ultrasonic transducer 18, shaped to include a cylindrically concave surface 30. The probe 10 further includes a mesh band 44 of at least one of an absorbable material and an inert material adapted to encircle the blood vessel 12.

Abstract: A laser operation and control system preferably comprising a laser adapted to be grasped by a user and freely passed over a treatment area, control circuitry for activating and deactivating the laser, at least one boundary sensor operable to transmit a signal to the control circuitry to deactivate the laser upon passage thereof beyond a boundary of the treatment area and to transmit a signal to the control circuitry to activate the laser upon passage thereof within the boundary, and at least one proximity sensor for transmitting a signal to the control circuitry to deactivate the laser should the proximity sensor fail to sense a substantially solid surface within a predetermined distance therefrom and for transmitting a signal to the control circuitry to activate the laser should the proximity sensor sense such a surface.

Abstract: A method for removing adipose tissue uses an elongate rigid tube or probe member having a distal end and a proximal end and an axially extending lumen. An incision is formed in a skin surface of a patient, the tube being inserted through the incision into subcutaneous adipose tissues of the patient. Upon insertion of the tube through the incision, an ultrasonic pressure wave is generated at the proximal end of the tube, the waveform being transmitted through the tube to establish a standing wave therein. The standing ultrasonic wave in the insertion tube produces cavitation bubbles at the distal end of the tube, the bubbles causing liquefaction of adipose tissues of the patient at a surgical site located distally of the distal end of the insertion tube. Suction is applied to the lumen of the tube, thereby aspirating the liquefied adipose tissues from the surgical site through the lumen.

Abstract: A tendon approximator employs two connected, normally closed clamps, which are each formed from two extruded elements. The two extruded elements are connected together in their mid-region by means of non-circular cam on a base element and a corresponding non-circular cam surface on a clamping element. In the normally closed position of the individual clamps, the cam and cam surface urge the device into a jaw-closed position with the handles being spaced apart. In a preferred embodiment two of the clamps are connected by means of rods extending through corresponding handle portions of the two clamps.

Abstract: An improved needle guard for a syringe is provided having a tubular body. The needle guard includes a longitudinal bore and one or more slots or slits formed therein. The longitudinal bore of the guard is sized for telescopic reception of and contraction about the tubular body of the syringe. Slots or slits are arranged so as to allow deformation of the longitudinal bore of the needle guard thereby increasing the inside diameter of the longitudinal bore so as to allow axial movement of the needle guard along the tubular body of the syringe.

Abstract: Mammal skin having wrinkles can be treated to remove wrinkles by abrading elevated portions of the epithelial layer with an ultrasonic surgical tool adapted to abrade soft tissue. The subcutaneous tissue in the selected region is medicated by subcutaneous injection of anaesthetic, vaso constrictor and spreading factor in effective quantities.

Abstract: A microscope has a voice activated control system which permits precise location of the microscope and precise focusing by means of voice commands uttered by the microscope operator. When the microscope is in a movement mode, the movement is terminated by any sound exceeding a pre-established acoustic threshold level. Any microscope location can be identified and appropriate data is stored in a memory drive to permit the microscope to return to an identified location with a single voice command. The microscope is combined with a screen monitor and/or an acoustic speaker to provide visible and/or acoustic responses from the control system. The system is practical for retrofitting existing remotely controllable microscopes.

Abstract: A normally closed clamp is provided which is formed from two extruded elements which are connected together in their midregion by means of a non-circular cam on a base element and a corresponding non-circular cam surface on a clamping element. In the normally closed position, the cam and cam surface urge the device into a jaw-closed position with the handles being spaced-apart. When the handles are brought together, the jaw members separate and the relative position of the cam surface and the cam member is altered. The device may be used as a tissue separator. Two of the devices may be assembled together as a tendon approximator.

Abstract: A marking device provides a circular mark on the skin of the breast of a patient concentric with the areola of the patient's breast. The device is a cylindrical tubular member having an open circular end which is the marking element and having a pair of cross markings at the other end on an optically transparent wall to permit optical centering of the device with respect to the breast areola prior to skin marking. A preferred embodiment includes a pair of markers in a common cylindrical tubular member having one circular diameter at one end and a different circular diameter at the other end.

Abstract: A microsurgery tool for use in anastomosis of small vessels has a thin shaft with a pair of forwardly projecting tines defining a throat for receiving the pointed end of a suture needle. The microsurgery tool is inserted between confronting ends of vessels into engagement with the inner wall of one vessel for receiving a suture needle point passing through the outer wall of the vessel and thereafter is withdrawn from the space between the vessels to engage the outer surface of the other vessel where it receives the pointed end of the same suture needle passing through the inner wall of the other vessel.

Abstract: A microsurgery tool for use in anastomosis of small vessels has a thin arcuate shaft or tube with a tubular distal end having its tubing cut away to define a trough for receiving the pointed end of a suture needle. The microsurgery tool is inserted between confronting ends of vessels into a first vessel for receiving a suture needle point passing through the outer wall of the first vessel. Thereafter the tool is withdrawn from the space between the vessels and the convex outer surface of the trough engages the outer surface of the second vessel where it supports the wall of the second vessel while the point of the same suture needle is passed through the inner wall of the second vessel.