Abstract: Medical devices for positioning a valve in a subject's body, such as a prosthetic heart valve in a subject's heart, are disclosed. The prosthetic heart valve may include a valve assembly, a frame, and a control arm. The prosthetic heart valve may include a commissural post or multiple commissural posts. The prosthetic heart valve may include a positional marker on a control arm. The prosthetic heart valve may include multiple positional markers on one or more control arms. The positional markers can be shapes, characters, or other symbols. The positional markers may themselves be asymmetric. The positional markers may be placed in an asymmetric location on a control arm. The control arm may be asymmetrically shaped.

Abstract: Medical devices for positioning a valve in a subject's body, such as a prosthetic heart valve in a subject's heart, are disclosed. The prosthetic heart valve may include a valve assembly, a frame, and a control arm. The prosthetic heart valve may include a commissural post or multiple commissural posts. The prosthetic heart valve may include a positional marker on a control arm. The prosthetic heart valve may include multiple positional markers on one or more control arms. The positional markers can be shapes, characters, or other symbols. The positional markers may themselves be asymmetric. The positional markers may be placed in an asymmetric location on a control arm. The control arm may be asymmetrically shaped.

Abstract: Delivery systems for delivering medical devices and prosthetic heart valves in a patient's body are disclosed. The delivery system may include a catheter-based delivery system. The delivery system may include a tip, a capsule, an inner sheath, and a projection. The delivery system may include an outer sheath and a handle. The delivery system may be configured to be actuated via an actuator disposed on the handle. The projection may include an arm portion and a feeler portion. The feeler portion may include an indentation. The delivery system may be configured to correctly position a medical device or prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: Medical devices for positioning a valve in a subject's body, such as a prosthetic heart valve in a subject's heart, are disclosed. The prosthetic heart valve may include a valve assembly, a frame, and a control arm. The prosthetic heart valve may include a commissural post or multiple commissural posts. The prosthetic heart valve may include a positional marker on a control arm. The prosthetic heart valve may include multiple positional markers on one or more control arms. The positional markers can be shapes, characters, or other symbols. The positional markers may themselves be asymmetric. The positional markers may be placed in an asymmetric location on a control arm. The control arm may be asymmetrically shaped.

Abstract: Delivery systems for delivering medical devices and prosthetic heart valves in a patient's body are disclosed. The delivery system may include a catheter-based delivery system. The delivery system may include a tip, a capsule, an inner sheath, and a projection. The delivery system may include an outer sheath and a handle. The delivery system may be configured to be actuated via an actuator disposed on the handle. The projection may include an arm portion and a feeler portion. The feeler portion may include an indentation. The delivery system may be configured to correctly position a medical device or prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for positioning, manipulating, holding, grasping, immobilizing and/or stabilizing a heart including one or more tissue-engaging devices, one or more suction sources, one or more fluid sources, one or more energy sources, one or more sensors and one or more processors. The system and method may include an indifferent electrode, a drug delivery device and an illumination device. The system's tissue-engaging device may comprise a tissue-engaging head, a support apparatus and a clamping mechanism for attaching the tissue-engaging device to a stable object. The system may be used during various medical procedures including the deployment of an anastomotic device, intermittently stopping and starting of the heart, ablation of cardiac tissues and the placement of cardiac leads.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for positioning, manipulating, holding, grasping, immobilizing and/or stabilizing a heart including one or more tissue-engaging devices, one or more suction sources, one or more fluid sources, one or more energy sources, one or more sensors and one or more processors. The system and method may include an indifferent electrode, a drug delivery device and an illumination device. The system's tissue-engaging device may comprise a tissue-engaging head, a support apparatus and a clamping mechanism for attaching the tissue-engaging device to a stable object. The system may be used during various medical procedures including the deployment of an anastomotic device, intermittently stopping and starting of the heart, ablation of cardiac tissues and the placement of cardiac leads.

Abstract: An attachment for an apparel strap such as a strap on a handbag, a backpack, a visor, a headband, or a size-adjustable baseball style sports cap which has a dome and adjustment strap or straps at the rear of the cap for adjustment of the size of the cap. The attachment has a badge member with a display surface and a rear surface on which a clasp member is fixed. The clasp member includes first and second elements which are separated by an elongate gap through which the adjustment strap may be maneuvered to place the strap between the clasp elements and the rear of the badge member so that the badge member is secured to the adjustment strap such that the display surface of the badge may be observed by a person in the presence of the wearer of the cap or other apparel.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cooling a plasma tube generally includes flowing a hydrocarbon dielectric heat transfer fluid into a space defined by the plasma tube and a concentric tube surrounding the plasma tube. In one embodiment, the hydrocarbon fluid is selected to have a dissipation factor less than 0.002 and a thermal efficiency coefficient greater than or equal to 1.30 kJ/kg*K.

Abstract: An electrodeless lamp and process for emitting ultraviolet and/or vacuum ultraviolet radiation comprises an envelope formed of an ultra-pure and/or low-defect quartz material and an ultraviolet and/or vacuum ultraviolet emissive material disposed in the interior region of the envelope. The electrodeless lamp formed of the ultra-pure and/or low-defect quartz material minimizes degradation during use.

Abstract: A method for solid material detection in a medium includes receiving an exhaust gas downstream with respect to a workpiece from which a photoresist material is removed. An electromagnetic circuit is configured to include the exhaust gas, the exhaust gas is excited with electromagnetic energy and an impedance value of the electromagnetic circuit is determined, wherein the impedance value corresponds to an amount of solid material within the exhaust gas.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. A nerve is stimulated in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a first condition, such as a stopped or slowed condition. The medical procedure is performed on the heart or another organ. The stimulation of the nerve is stopped in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a second condition, such as a beating condition. The heart itself may also be stimulated to a beating condition, such as by pacing. The stimulation of the nerve may be continued in order to allow the medical procedure to be continued. Systems and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. A nerve is stimulated in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a first condition, such as a stopped or slowed condition. The medical procedure is performed on the heart or another organ. The stimulation of the nerve is stopped in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a second condition, such as a beating condition. The heart itself may also be stimulated to a beating condition, such as by pacing. The stimulation of the nerve may be continued in order to allow the medical procedure to be continued. Systems and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for positioning, manipulating, holding, grasping, immobilizing and/or stabilizing a heart including one or more tissue-engaging devices, one or more suction sources, one or more fluid sources, one or more energy sources, one or more sensors and one or more processors. The system and method may include an indifferent electrode, a drug delivery device and an illumination device. The system's tissue-engaging device may comprise a tissue-engaging head, a support apparatus and a clamping mechanism for attaching the tissue-engaging device to a stable object. The system may be used during various medical procedures including the deployment of an anastomotic device, intermittently stopping and starting of the heart, ablation of cardiac tissues and the placement of cardiac leads.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for positioning, manipulating, holding, grasping, immobilizing and/or stabilizing a heart including one or more tissue-engaging devices, one or more suction sources, one or more fluid sources, one or more energy sources, one or more sensors and one or more processors. The system and method may include an indifferent electrode, a drug delivery device and an illumination device. The system's tissue-engaging device may comprise a tissue-engaging head, a support apparatus and a clamping mechanism for attaching the tissue-engaging device to a stable object. The system may be used during various medical procedures including the deployment of an anastomotic device, intermittently stopping and starting of the heart, ablation of cardiac tissues and the placement of cardiac leads.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for positioning, manipulating, holding, grasping, immobilizing and/or stabilizing a heart including one or more tissue-engaging devices, one or more suction sources, one or more fluid sources, one or more energy sources, one or more sensors and one or more processors. The system and method may include an indifferent electrode, a drug delivery device and an illumination device. The system's tissue-engaging device may comprise a tissue-engaging head, a support apparatus and a clamping mechanism for attaching the tissue-engaging device to a stable object. The system may be used during various medical procedures including the deployment of an anastomotic device, intermittently stopping and starting of the heart, ablation of cardiac tissues and the placement of cardiac leads.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. A nerve is stimulated in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a first condition, such as a stopped or slowed condition. The medical procedure is performed on the heart or another organ. The stimulation of the nerve is stopped in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a second condition, such as a beating condition. The heart itself may also be stimulated to a beating condition, such as by pacing. The stimulation of the nerve may be continued in order to allow the medical procedure to be continued. Systems and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: A linear motion, muscle-actuated cardiac assist device novelly uses a powering muscle whose contractions and relaxations are made in a substantially linear fashion, as opposed to the curvilinear muscle motions associated with prior art muscle-actuated cardiac assist devices. As a result, collateral circulation of the powering muscle need not be cut, theoretically leading to prevention of ischemia in the powering muscle. Other benefits include: greater energy efficiency of the powering muscle; greater available choice of powering muscles (i.e., not limited to the latissimus dorsi as the powering muscle); and reduced profile height of the cardiac assist device to reduce protrusion from the implanted area of the body.

Abstract: Regulators for improved cardiac assist systems of the type including skeletal muscle powered fluid pressure means, a cardiac cup and/or an aortic balloon pump. The regulators convert the positive pressures generated by contracting muscle into both positive and negative pressures useful in the systems.

Abstract: An improved electrode for establishing electrical contact with a nerve of a patient. This electrical contact may be used to sense neural activity on the nerve or to artificially stimulate it to perform various medical treatments. One embodiment of the electrode has an outer cuff of an insulating material which is sutured around the nerve to be contacted. A drug impregnated layer of material is positioned inside of the outer cuff. This material is a polymeric matrix which permits the drug to leach out at a predetermined rate. The drug is preferably a glucocortico steroid such as dexamethasone sodium phosphate. The actual electrical contact is produced by metallic foil which is positioned on the surface of the drug impregnated layer of material which is located inside of the cuff. A second embodiment employs a half cuff which is held in contact with the nerve tissue by being sutured to muscle tissue. The insulative substrate of the half cuff is a drug impregnated polymeric matrix.