Abstract: A monitoring, managing and protecting system is provided that includes a monitoring probe working in conjunction with an ablating device. The probe is configured to be positioned in close proximity to a region of non-targeted tissue proximate an ablation site of targeted tissue and to be operatively connected to an electrical response assessment system or component. The probe includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle disposed at the proximal end thereof and a tissue monitoring and protecting apparatus disposed at the distal end thereof. The ablating device includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle mounted at the proximal end thereof and an ablation element mounted at the distal end thereof. The monitoring probe measures electrical characteristics of the non-targeted tissue and/or of the tissue between the monitoring electrode and the ablation electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, software, and device 300 used to determine a size or size range 260 for an aperture in the interatrial septum of a heart. The invention relates to software 200 with a learning model 310 which helps a clinician select a surgical shunt size for a patient, monitoring the patient post operatively, and for making shunt modification recommendations, based on specific and aggregate patient data.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method of modeling optimal alternative selection strategies based on a multidimensional risk profile, including: presenting, to a user of an application via a graphical user interface, a plurality of question sets, wherein each question set in the plurality of question sets is associated with a different risk dimension; receiving, from the user of the application via the graphical user interface, a plurality of answers associated with the plurality of question sets; determining, based on the received answers, a plurality of risk parameters associated with the user; configuring a utility model based on the plurality of risk parameters; selecting an alternative from a plurality of alternatives that returns a maximum expected value based on the utility model; and displaying, to the user of the application via the graphical user interface, the alternative.

Abstract: A monitoring, managing and protecting system is provided that includes a monitoring probe working in conjunction with an ablating device. The probe is configured to be positioned in close proximity to a region of non-targeted tissue proximate an ablation site of targeted tissue and to be operatively connected to an electrical response assessment system or component. The probe includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle disposed at the proximal end thereof and a tissue monitoring and protecting apparatus disposed at the distal end thereof. The ablating device includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle mounted at the proximal end thereof and an ablation element mounted at the distal end thereof. The monitoring probe measures electrical characteristics of the non-targeted tissue and/or of the tissue between the monitoring electrode and the ablation electrode.

Abstract: A monitoring, managing and protecting system is provided that includes a monitoring probe working in conjunction with an ablating device. The probe is configured to be positioned in close proximity to a region of non-targeted tissue proximate an ablation site of targeted tissue and to be operatively connected to an electrical response assessment system or component. The probe includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle disposed at the proximal end thereof and a tissue monitoring and protecting apparatus disposed at the distal end thereof. The ablating device includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle mounted at the proximal end thereof and an ablation element mounted at the distal end thereof. The monitoring probe measures electrical characteristics of the non-targeted tissue and/or of the tissue between the monitoring electrode and the ablation electrode.

Abstract: Catheter systems include direction-sensitive, multi-polar tip electrode assemblies for electroporation-mediated therapy, electroporation-induced primary necrosis therapy and electric field-induced apoptosis therapy, including configurations for producing narrow, linear lesions as well as distributed, wide area lesions. A monitoring system for electroporation therapy includes a mechanism for delivering electrochromic dyes to a tissue site as well as a fiber optic arrangement to optically monitor the progress of the therapy as well as to confirm success post-therapy. A fiber optic temperature sensing electrode catheter includes a tip electrode having a cavity whose inner surface is impregnated or coated with thermochromic/thermotropic material that changes color with changes in temperature. An optic fiber/detector arrangement monitors the thermochromic or thermotropic materials, acquiring a light signal and generating an output signal indicative of the spectrum of the light signal.

Abstract: Catheter systems include direction-sensitive, multi-polar tip electrode assemblies for electroporation-mediated therapy, electroporation-induced primary necrosis therapy and electric field-induced apoptosis therapy, including configurations for producing narrow, linear lesions as well as distributed, wide area lesions. A monitoring system for electroporation therapy includes a mechanism for delivering electrochromic dyes to a tissue site as well as a fiber optic arrangement to optically monitor the progress of the therapy as well as to confirm success post-therapy. A fiber optic temperature sensing electrode catheter includes a tip electrode having a cavity whose inner surface is impregnated or coated with thermochromic/thermotropic material that changes color with changes in temperature. An optic fiber/detector arrangement monitors the thermochromic or thermotropic materials, acquiring a light signal and generating an output signal indicative of the spectrum of the light signal.

Abstract: Catheter systems include direction-sensitive, multi-polar tip electrode assemblies for electroporation-mediated therapy, electroporation-induced primary necrosis therapy and electric field-induced apoptosis therapy, including configurations for producing narrow, linear lesions as well as distributed, wide area lesions. A monitoring system for electroporation therapy includes a mechanism for delivering electrochromic dyes to a tissue site as well as a fiber optic arrangement to optically monitor the progress of the therapy as well as to confirm success post-therapy. A fiber optic temperature sensing electrode catheter includes a tip electrode having a cavity whose inner surface is impregnated or coated with thermochromic/thermotropic material that changes color with changes in temperature. An optic fiber/detector arrangement monitors the thermochromic or thermotropic materials, acquiring a light signal and generating an output signal indicative of the spectrum of the light signal.

Abstract: A monitoring, managing and protecting system is provided that includes a monitoring probe working in conjunction with an ablating device. The probe is configured to be positioned in close proximity to a region of non-targeted tissue proximate an ablation site of targeted tissue and to be operatively connected to an electrical response assessment system or component. The probe includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle disposed at the proximal end thereof and a tissue monitoring and protecting apparatus disposed at the distal end thereof. The ablating device includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle mounted at the proximal end thereof and an ablation element mounted at the distal end thereof. The monitoring probe measures electrical characteristics of the non-targeted tissue and/or of the tissue between the monitoring electrode and the ablation electrode.

Abstract: A system and method for providing amplitude spectroscopy is provided. Generally, the system contains a generator for providing a waveform for analysis of a multilevel quantum system, wherein the generator has the capability of changing amplitude of the waveform provided and driving the multilevel quantum system at a fixed frequency while sweeping amplitude. A detector is also provided for reading population in different energy states of the multilevel quantum system, wherein the detector plots an amplitude spectroscopy response of the multilevel quantum system. A memory and processor are provided within the system where the processor is configured by the memory to perform the step of plotting an energy-level diagram of the multilevel quantum system from the amplitude spectroscopy plot of the multilevel quantum system.

Abstract: A system and method for providing amplitude spectroscopy is provided. Generally, the system contains a generator for providing a waveform for analysis of a multilevel quantum system, wherein the generator has the capability of changing amplitude of the waveform provided and driving the multilevel quantum system at a fixed frequency while sweeping amplitude. A detector is also provided for reading population in different energy states of the multilevel quantum system, wherein the detector plots an amplitude spectroscopy response of the multilevel quantum system. A memory and processor are provided within the system where the processor is configured by the memory to perform the step of plotting an energy-level diagram of the multilevel quantum system from the amplitude spectroscopy plot of the multilevel quantum system.

Abstract: A system and method provides active propulsion of endoscopes along body lumens. The propulsion system can be attached to a commercially available endoscope, or be provide affixed together, and moves the endoscope in a lumen by pulling it forward. A rotatable toroidal wall, e.g. annular invaginated balloon, provides the propulsion. A drive assembly rotates the toroid while maintaining the toroid's position along the endoscope. The toroid is radially extended or inflated within the lumen to engage its outer surface to the lumen. The toroidal rotation tracks the lumen wall for propulsion. Stops maintain the rotating toroid's position on the endoscope. A helical screw within the toroid engages patterned protrusions around the toroid; screw rotation advances the protrusions to rotate the toroid wall. A fitted belt coupled to a groove in the toroid provides alternative actuation. Colonoscopy is substantially improved, reducing anesthesia and other requirements and costs, and improving safety.

Abstract: Transgenic mice having a phenotype characterized by the substantial depletion of a mature lymphocytic cell type otherwise naturally occurring in the species from which the transgenic mouse is derived. The phenotype is conferred in the transgenic mouse by a transgene contained in at least the precursor stem cell of the lymphocytic cell type which is depleted. The transgene comprised is a DNA sequence encoding a lymphatic polypeptide variant which inhibits maturation of the lymphocytic cell type.

Abstract: Transgenic mice having a phenotype characterized by the substantial absence of mature T lymphocytes otherwise naturally occurring in said mice. The phenotype is conferred in the transgenic mouse by a transgene contained in at least the precursor stem cell of the T lymphocyte which is depleted. The transgene comprises a DNA sequence encoding a T cell receptor polypeptide variant which inhibits maturation of the T lymphocyte.

Abstract: Transgenic mice having a phenotype characterized by the substantial absence of mature T lymphocytes otherwise naturally occurring in said mice. The phenotype is conferred in the transgenic mouse by a transgene contained in at least the precursor stem cell of the T lymphocyte which is depleted. The transgene comprises a DNA sequence encoding a T cell receptor polypeptide variant which inhibits maturation of the T lymphocyte.

Abstract: Methods are provided for determining the oncogenic potential of chemical compounds which utilizes a transgenic mouse predisposed to T-cell lymphomas. The transgenic mouse expresses a pim-1 oncogene and as a consequence is predisposed to the spontaneous onset of T-cell lymphomas. The oncogenic potential of a chemical compound is determined by administering a known dose of the chemical compound of interest to a pim-1 transgenic mouse. Thereafter, the transgenic mouse is monitored to detect the onset of a T-cell lymphoma. The time of onset of the T-cell lymphoma and the dosage of the chemical compound are compared to either the onset of spontaneous T-cell lymphomas in the pim-1 transgenic mouse or to the onset of a T-cell lymphoma in a pim-1 transgenic mouse which has been exposed to a known quantity of a carcinogenic agent. This provides an indication of the oncogenic potential of the chemical compound.

Abstract: A method for twin sheet forming layers high heat distortion temperature thermoplastic materials. The process employs a low heat distortion temperature thermoplastic material layer disposed between the layers of high heat distortion temperature material layer to permit adhesion therebetween at moderate temperatures to reduce thermal degradation. The structures made therefrom are useful as aircraft ducting.

Abstract: A thymidine kinase deficient live deletion mutant of pseudorabies virus is provided. The mutant, designated PRV783 was derived from the live deletion mutant strain 2.4N3A by deleting a 19 bp sequence from the BamHI fragment 11 of strain 2.4N3A into which had been inserted an EcoRI restriction site at a unique cleavage site in fragment 11 for the restriction endonuclease XhoI. The 19 bp deletion encompasses the inserted EcoRI site in fragment 11 of strain 2.4N3A. PRV783 is useful for preparing vaccine compositions to immunize susceptible animals against infection by pseudorabies virus.

Abstract: The invention relates to live deletion mutants of a herpesvirus, especially of Pseudorabies virus. The genomes of the mutants differ from the genomes of the parent strain by the presence of one or more deletions selected from a deletion in the inverted repeats, a deletion in the unique sequence, and a deletion in the thymidine kinase gene.The new deletion mutants are avirulent, do not induce latent infections, are stable and possess good immunogenic properties.The invention also relates to vaccines containing the new mutant strains.

Abstract: The invention relates to live deletion mutants of a herpesvirus, especially of Pseudorabies virus. The genomes of the mutants differ from the genomes of the parent strain by the presence of one or more deletions selected from a deletion in the inverted repeats, a deletion in the unique sequence, and a deletion in the thymidine kinase gene.The new deletion mutants are avirulent, do not induce latent infections, are stable and possess good immunogenic properties.The invention also relates to vaccines containing the new mutant strains.