Abstract: A track system includes an attachment assembly including at least one of a first pivot defining a roll pivot axis, a second pivot defining a pitch pivot axis, and a third pivot defining a yaw pivot axis of the track system. A frame assembly is disposed laterally outwardly from the attachment assembly and connected to the attachment assembly. The track system further includes at least one actuator for pivoting the frame assembly about at least one of the roll and yaw pivot axes, and at least one monitoring for determining, at least indirectly, at least one of a state of the track system and a ground surface condition. The at least one monitoring sensor is communicating with a track system controller to control the operation of the at least one actuator based on the at least one of the state of the track system and the ground surface condition.

Abstract: A method of promoting blood vessel growth includes the steps of providing a cryocatheter having a thermally transmission region; placing the cryocatheter proximate an area of tissue to be treated; cooling the thermally transmissive region of the cryocatheter proximate the area of tissue to a temperature sufficient to injure the area of tissue; allowing the area of tissue to warm; and removing the cryocatheter from the area of tissue. Prior, during or after the cooling step, the area of tissue can be mechanically traumatized, and drugs can be injected into the tissue.

Abstract: A method of promoting blood vessel growth includes the steps of providing a cryocatheter having a thermally transmission region; placing the cryocatheter proximate an area of tissue to be treated; cooling the thermally transmissive region of the cryocatheter proximate the area of tissue to a temperature sufficient to injure the area of tissue; allowing the area of tissue to warm; and removing the cryocatheter from the area of tissue. Prior, during or after the cooling step, the area of tissue can be mechanically traumatized, and drugs can be injected into the tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for visual identification of atrial tissue comprising the steps of visualizing a site of atrial tissue formation using a device adapted for visualizing and obtaining an image; and analyzing the image to determine the presence, location and/or distribution of atrial tissue in the site. The present invention also relates to a method for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in a patient, comprising the steps of identifying atrial tissue in a site of atrial tissue formation by introducing a device adapted for visualization into the site; and substantially ablating atrial tissue previously identified. The present invention further relates to a method for determining the shape of an atrial tissue formation comprising the step of identifying atrial tissue site potential indicative of the shape of the atrial tissue.

Abstract: A method of promoting blood vessel growth includes the steps of providing a cryocatheter having a thermally transmission region; placing the cryocatheter proximate an area of tissue to be treated; cooling the thermally transmissive region of the cryocatheter proximate the area of tissue to a temperature sufficient to injure the area of tissue; allowing the area of tissue to warm; and removing the cryocatheter from the area of tissue. Prior, during or after the cooling step, the area of tissue can be mechanically traumatized, and drugs can be injected into the tissue.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mulch having a preprogrammed biodegradability comprising at least two different layers of biodegradable polymer coated onto a sheet of a cellulosic material, one of these layers being a layer of polylactide. The mulch is particularly useful to control weeds in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry industries. The biodegradability of the mulch can further be preprogrammed according to the type of soil, the climatological zone, and the specific applications wherefore it is intended to be used. The present invention is also directed to methods for preparing and using the multilayer coated mulch.

Abstract: Body surface potential map (BSPM) pace-mapping is a system and method that can be used in medicine to localize with precision the site of origin of abnormal cardiac electrical activity and to guide the positioning of a catheter over this site of origin, such as the site of ventricular preexcitation in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or the focus of ectopic activity in patients with tachycardia. Body surface potential distributions are measured with a large number of electrodes, e.g. 24 to 128, distributed over the entire torso surface. The electrical signals are first amplified, converted into digital data and treated to remove electrical or muscle artifacts. Data recorded during abnormal activation (reference beat) are aligned with data recorded during cardiac pacing (paced beat) so as to maximize the average value of the correlation coefficient between the reference and the paced potential distributions during a preset time interval following the beginning of the QRS complex.