Abstract: The present invention relates to specific binding members, particularly antibodies and fragments thereof, which bind to amplified epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and to the de2-7 EGFR truncation of the EGFR. In particular, the epitope recognized by the specific binding members, particularly antibodies and fragments thereof, is enhanced or evident upon aberrant post-translational modification. These specific binding members are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The binding members of the present invention may also be used in therapy in combination with chemotherapeutics or anti-cancer agents and/or with other antibodies or fragments thereof.

Abstract: Releasable magnetic pole strap systems are disclosed. Embodiments are directed to a releasable magnetic pole strap system including a pole which includes: a proximal end having a distal surface; and a pole attachment device connected to the distal surface of the proximal end of the pole. The system also includes a strap including a strap attachment device which is configured to be releasably attached to the pole attachment device. The distal surface of the proximal end of the pole is at least partially covered by the pole attachment device. Each of the pole attachment device and the strap attachment device includes either a magnet or a non-magnetic ferric material. At least one of the pole attachment device or the strap attachment device includes a magnet.

Abstract: Releasable magnetic pole strap systems are disclosed. Embodiments are directed to a releasable magnetic pole strap system including a pole which includes: a proximal end having a distal surface; and a pole attachment device connected to the distal surface of the proximal end of the pole. The system also includes a strap including a strap attachment device which is configured to be releasably attached to the pole attachment device. The distal surface of the proximal end of the pole is at least partially covered by the pole attachment device. Each of the pole attachment device and the strap attachment device includes either a magnet or a non-magnetic ferric material. At least one of the pole attachment device or the strap attachment device includes a magnet.

Abstract: Magnetic license plate holder systems are disclosed. Embodiments are directed to a magnetic license plate holder system including a license plate which includes a rear side and an opposing front side. The magnetic license plate holder system also includes a magnetic attachment system which includes: a rear attachment system configured to be positioned between a license plate holder and the rear side of the license plate, while facing the rear side of the license plate; and a front attachment system configured to be facing the front side of the license plate. The rear attachment system is configured to be releasably attached to the front attachment system. Each of the rear attachment system and the front attachment system includes either a magnet or a non-magnetic ferric material. At least one of the rear attachment system or the front attachment system comprises a magnet.

Abstract: A structure for a plethysmogram and a method for obtaining an optical gating signal using a plethysmogram are disclosed. The structure includes: a backing; a plurality of electrodes mounted on the backing; a reflectance (or transmission) optical sensor mounted on the backing; and a cable that connects the plurality of electrodes and the reflectance optical sensor to a pulse flowmeter. In an embodiment, “look-back” software is employed to obtain an optical gating signal for averaging the impedance waveforms associated with each heartbeat.

Abstract: Optical ankle-brachial index (ABI) and blood pressure measurement systems and methods are disclosed. The blood pressure measurement system includes a pressure cuff and an optical pulse detector placed on a finger or toe or a reflectance optical pulse detector attached to the skin distal to the inflation bladder of its respective cuff. The ABI measurement system includes a brachial artery pressure cuff, a first reflectance optical pulse detector attached to the brachial artery pressure cuff or a transmission or reflectance optical pulse detector attached to a finger, an ankle pressure cuff; and a second reflectance optical pulse detector attached to the ankle cuff or an optical pulse detector attached to a toe. A computer may also be included in the above systems and methods to detect optical pulses from the detectors and control the inflation and deflation of the cuffs in order to determine blood pressure and/or ABI.

Abstract: Optical ankle-brachial index (ABI) and blood pressure measurement systems and methods are disclosed. The blood pressure measurement system and method includes a brachial artery pressure cuff and a reflectance optical pulse detector attached to the pressure cuff. The ABI measurement system and method includes a brachial artery pressure cuff, a first reflectance optical pulse detector attached to the brachial artery pressure cuff, a dorsalis pedis artery pressure cuff or a posterior tibial artery pressure cuff; and a second reflectance optical pulse detector attached to the dorsalis pedis artery pressure cuff or the posterior tibial artery pressure cuff. A computer may also be included in the above systems and methods to detect optical pulses from the cuffs and control the inflation and deflation of the cuffs in order to determine blood pressure and/or ABI.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the impedance and impedance changes in a body segment are disclosed. By utilizing an ECG buffer, at least one plethysmograph buffer, and concurrently performing at least extraction of an ECG waveform stored in the ECG buffer and extraction of impedance waveforms stored in the at least one plethysmograph buffer, enhanced signal-to-noise ratios of output signals of impedance plethysmographs are achieved. In an embodiment, improved waveform selection using template matching is also achieved. With template matching, a new candidate waveform is compared in shape to the previous average waveform and may be accepted for current averaging based on the comparison.

Abstract: Improvements in a safety hypodermic needle and a method of making the same are disclosed. The improvements relate to a commercial embodiment of a patented safety needle and comprise a tubular member extruded from a flexible elastomeric or rubber-like polymeric material. The tubular member is extruded with two ribs extending from the outer wall of the tubular member and spaced apart 90° circumferentially. The wall of the tubular member is provided with through cuts to form a cutout on one wall portion and an elongated lever on the opposite wall portion in the 90° space between the ribs. The cuts separate the wall of the tubular member into two outwardly flexible arms, each having a single rib thereon adjacent an edge of the arm. One end of the tubular member is stretched over the needle hub of a hypodermic needle and the other end is stretched over a needle cup which houses the sharp needle point. The needle cup is provided with a needle opening through which the needle extends during use.

Abstract: A device for non-invasive measurement of blood pressure includes a blood pressure cuff, a plethysmographic electrode for acquiring an impedance plethysmogram distal to the cuff and a processing device to inflate and deflate the cuff, generate the impedance plethysmogram and to determine the systolic and diastolic blood pressures. It is determined when the cuff is completely occluding the extremity, e.g., by detecting pulses at a second, partially occluded cuff or by a photoplethysmogram attached to the big toe. The device can be used to measure systolic or diastolic blood pressure or both. It can also be used to take ankle-brachial measurements. An autocorrelation technique can be used to correct noise.

Abstract: An improved buoyancy compensation device having a lesser change in buoyancy with depth than conventional buoyancy compensation devices which use ambient pressure bladders is disclosed. The improved device comprises one or more elastic members that, throughout the working range of diving pressures and volumes, is always elastic and, when pressurized, maintains an internal air pressure that is always greater than the ambient pressure at any dive depth. The invention also relates to a method of providing a buoyancy compensation device with an elastic member having a lift versus depth characteristic that approaches the lift versus depth characteristic of a constant or fixed volume buoyancy compensation device.

Abstract: A safety hypodermic needle and a method of using the same are disclosed. The safety needle comprises a hypodermic needle and a protective sheath molded of a flexible polymeric material. The protective sheath comprises a needle sleeve with an open central passage which houses the sharp needle point. The needle sleeve is supported on a plurality of inwardly bowed ribs in an unflexed “at rest” condition in which the needle point is retained inside the needle sleeve to prevent inadvertent needle sticks. Levers attached to the ribs are used to move the ribs from their inwardly bowed unflexed “at rest” condition to an outwardly bowed flexed condition to permit the needle to pass through the open central passage of the needle sleeve and into a patient's body. After the needle is removed from the patient's body, the ribs automatically return to the unflexed “at rest” condition without the assistance of any additional biasing or restoring means.

Abstract: A stretchable electrode for use in physiologic measurements on a human body, such as peripheral impedance plethysmography, is disclosed. One embodiment of the stretchable electrode comprises an uninsulated stainless steel wire braid formed into a tubular conductor surrounding an elastic core and attached to an elastic substrate or base. Other embodiments of the stretchable electrode include a garter spring, a flat braided or woven conductor and an undulating wire. The electrode may be placed about a limb of a human body and elastically stretched so that the conductor is in substantially continuous circumferential electrical contact with the skin of the limb. A method of attaching the stretchable electrode to the limb of a human body is also disclosed.

Abstract: A stretchable electrode for use in physiologic measurements on a human body, such as peripheral impedance plethysmography, is disclosed. One embodiment of the stretchable electrode comprises an uninsulated stainless steel wire braid formed into a tubular conductor surrounding an elastic core and attached to an elastic substrate or base. Other embodiments of the stretchable electrode include a garter spring, a flat braided or woven conductor and an undulating wire. The electrode is placed about a limb of a human body and elastically stretched so that the conductor is in substantially continuous circumferential electrical contact with the skin of the limb. A method of attaching the stretchable electrode to the limb of a human body is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a system and method for peripheral impedance plethysmography, an electrode for application to the patient's limb includes two outer current electrodes and two inner voltage electrodes. A distance between the two inner electrodes is automatically input into an analyzing device, either as a pre-stored value or as determined automatically from the electrode. Peripheral blood flow is calculated in accordance with that distance.

Abstract: This device uses electrical impedance and signal processing to measure the small change in volume (“Pulse Volume”) of a limb-segment that occurs with each heartbeat. “Pulsatile Flow” is defined as the pulse volume multiplied by the heart rate and is an index of tissue perfusion. This information can be combined with measured blood oxygen saturation to determine how much oxygen is reaching the tissues. The combination of knowing oxygen saturation and tissue perfusion is far more useful than knowing just one or the other of these parameters.

Abstract: A device for non-invasive measurement of blood pressure includes a blood pressure cuff, a plethysmographic electrode for acquiring an impedance plethysmogram distal to the cuff and a processing device to inflate and deflate the cuff generate the impedance plethysmogram and to determine the systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The device can be used to measure systolic or diastolic blood pressure or both. It can also be used to take ankle-brachial measurements. An autocorrelation technique can be used to correct noise.

Abstract: An improved buoyancy compensation device having a lesser change in buoyancy with depth than conventional buoyancy compensation devices which use ambient pressure bladders is disclosed. The improved device comprises one or more elastic members that, throughout the working range of diving pressures and volumes, is always elastic and, when pressurized, maintains an internal air pressure that is always greater than the ambient pressure at any dive depth. The invention also relates to a method of providing a buoyancy compensation device with an elastic member having a lift versus depth characteristic that approaches the lift versus depth characteristic of a constant or fixed volume buoyancy compensation device.

Abstract: A device for non-invasive measurement of blood pressure includes a blood pressure cuff, a plethysmographic electrode for acquiring an impedance plethysmogram distal to the cuff and a processing device to inflate and deflate the cuff, generate the impedance plethysmogram and to determine the systolic and diastolic blood pressures. It is determined when the cuff is completely occluding the extremity, e.g., by detecting pulses at a second, partially occluded cuff or by a photoplethysmogram attached to the big toe. The device can be used to measure systolic or diastolic blood pressure or both. It can also be used to take ankle-brachial measurements. An autocorrelation technique can be used to correct noise.

Abstract: In a system and method for peripheral impedance plethysmography, an electrode for application to the patient's limb includes two outer current electrodes and two inner voltage electrodes. A distance between the two inner electrodes is automatically input into an analyzing device, either as a pre-stored value or as determined automatically from the electrode. Peripheral blood flow is calculated in accordance with that distance.