Abstract: A method for distributing dividend monies from an insurance policy, such as a life insurance policy, to a policyholder. The method including the determination of an internal value for the insurance company's shares or other securities, offering the insurance company's shares or other securities to the policyholder at the internal value, and paying the dividend value in the form of the insurance company's or other securities at the internal value.

Abstract: A laser energy delivery device is provided that is suitable for irradiating a body tissue with relatively long wavelength laser energy in the presence of an aqueous liquid without significant absorption of the laser energy by the liquid. The device includes an elongate hollow sheath that has an open aperture at its distal end portion and closed at its proximal end, a laser energy conduit such as an optical fiber or hollow wave guide, within the sheath, the distal end of the conduit being disposed near the open aperture at the distal end portion of the sheath, and the proximal end of the conduit being adapted for connection to a source of long wavelength laser energy. The sheath also includes an inlet port, spaced from the proximal end of the sheath, and adapted to receive and deliver a biologically compatible gas through the sheath to a body tissue site in contact with the open distal end of the sheath.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for imaging, characterizing, diagnosing, monitoring a treatment, and treating junctions between internal body areas. In particular, the devices of the present invention are useful in distinguishing normal, non-hernia, reflux, and hernia patients for diagnostic purposes, drug screening, and selecting and monitoring appropriate interventions.

Abstract: Spinal stabilization devices and their methods of insertion and use to treat degenerated lumbar, thoracic or cervical spinal discs in minimally invasive, outpatient procedures are described. In one embodiment, the spinal stabilization device is an expandable cage made of a coil or perforated cylindrical tube with a bulbous or bullet-shaped distal end and a flat or rounded proximal end. In a preferred embodiment, the spinal stabilization device is mechanically expanded to a larger diameter or is made of a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy which is thermally programmed to expand to a relatively larger diameter when a pre-determined transition temperature below body temperature is reached. To treat a degenerated disc, a guide wire is inserted into the disc and an endoscope is inserted through a posterolateral puncture in the back and advanced up to the facet of the spine.

Abstract: An artificial spinal joint, consisting of a flexible or rigid member or a pair of moveably-joined, flexible or rigid segments, is formed into a spring-like shape, whose distal ends have feet with slots through which screws can be inserted to attach the artificial joint to vertebra whose facets (joints) are non-functional. The artificial spinal joint is able to prevent subluxation of the spine, while retaining the mobility of the spine and permitting angular deflection of the vertebra above and below a non-functional spinal joint. A jig is used to position tools and make passageways for screws to attach the artificial spinal joint to the vertebra or its pedicles or facets in a minimally invasive procedure. The rigid members or segments are bio-compatible and may be made of titanium, a titanium alloy, tantalum, medical grade stainless steel or carbon fibers in a matrix of a rigid, durable plastic.

Abstract: A tube having a distal end portion made of a curved, flexible, shape retentive material such as superelastic, nickel-titanium memory metal alloy which has been heat-treated to retain a desired curved shape. The tube translates within and is constrained by a rigid sleeve, which may alternately be an instrument channel of an endoscope. When the distal end portion of the tube is extended from the sleeve, it returns to its original curved shape. Markings about the proximal and, or distal end portions of the tube enable the operator to know to what extent the distal end portion of the tube has been extended from the sleeve even when the distal end portion of the tube is not visible. The tube may be used for supporting and activating a cutting, abrading, coagulating, shrinking, or vaporizing device that is brought near or into contact with a tissue surface.

Abstract: A method for treating patients suffering from left ventricular dysfunction is disclosed. The method involves applying, during diastole, for a time period of about one hour, about five days each week for at least about seven weeks, an incrementally increasing therapeutic pressure to the patients' lower extremities, from the calves through the thighs and the buttocks. The initial hourly treatment is carried out at a peak diastolic/systolic pressure ratio (D/S Ratio) in the range of about 0.4:1 up to about 0.6:1 and thereafter at a D/S Ratio in the range of 0.5:1 to 1:1 for each consecutive hourly treatment, with the proviso that the average D/S Ratio over the entire treatment regimen does not exceed about 0.9:1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catheter device including an optical fiber whose distal end is disposed within a hollow tube with a sharp or needle shaped distal end, which can penetrate tissue. The distal end of the optical fiber and the hollow tube are configured so as to emit, by refraction (total internal reflection) or reflection from a metal surface, laser energy at an angle of about 80° to about 90° relative to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber and hollow tube. The hollow tube is mounted to a housing and may be surrounded by a sheath.

Abstract: An apparatus for limiting the number of times a fiber-optic, laser energy delivery device can be reused consists of a sleeve attached about a portion of the body of an optical fiber and a handpiece and attached hollow cannula through which the portion of the optical fiber not encased in the sleeve extends. A compression means, whose aperture, when fully closed, has an inside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the sleeve, but greater than the outside diameter of optical fibers generally available in the medical field, is provided.

Abstract: Circulatory assistance is provided in a non-invasive procedure safely and effectively using a microprocessor of an external counter pulsation device programmed to control the actuation of any or all of a plurality of valves, each of which is mounted on and in fluid communication with one of a plurality of individual inflatable bladders disposed in pockets within cuffs encasing the calves, thighs, buttocks, abdomen and/or chest of a person and an optional valve in fluid communication with the person's airway, in any desired sequence or order, toward the heart or toward the feet, either during diastole or systole, at desired inception times during the cardiac cycle, for selected durations and at chosen pressures, for treating a variety of cardiac, non-cardiac and circulatory conditions.

Abstract: A catheter for ablating obstructing material within a corporal lumen includes a fiber optic member through which radiant energy can be transmitted to a distal end adjacent the site of the obstructing material. Beveled surfaces carried on the distal end of the fiber optic member provide output beams of radiant energy oriented in a direction on the order of 45.degree. with respect to an axis of the member. The laterally deflected radiant energy beams impinge upon regions of plaque or obstructing material in the lumen and have an effective radius greater than the radius of the fiber optic member. By rotating the fiber optic member, a circular locus within the lumen can be ablated or vaporized to create a channel in the lumen with a diameter greater than the diameter of the fiber optic member.

Abstract: Computer organ tone input for alterable stops is achieved by single-key input through a decoded keyboard which is couple to a logic network and optoelectrical output drive circuitry. The decoder circuitry activates selected optical emitters in an array which is mounted in the optical reader of a computer organ such that the decoder circuitry is electronically isolated from the computer organ. The invention eliminates the need for a tone card library, does not interfere with the sensitive circuitry of the organ and permits instantaneous reprogramming of alterable voices.