Abstract: Catheters and methods for obtaining monophasic action potential (“MAP”) electrograms include a flexible catheter body defining a longitudinal axis, and a distal assembly affixed to the catheter body distal end defining a distal tip. The distal assembly has at least three MAP recording electrodes, and at least one reference electrode for determining reference potential. The recording electrodes are each positioned a radial distance from the longitudinal axis in at least three different radial directions, defining a recording geometry substantially having radial symmetry. The reference electrode is a longitudinal distance from the recording geometry. Optional features include a steerable catheter shaft, one or more radio-frequency ablation electrodes, and a dedicated pacing electrode. Different possible embodiments include a dome housing having the recording electrodes in a fixed spatial arrangement, and a distal loop assembly having an array of electrodes on at least three flexible loop elements.

Abstract: A medical imaging and therapy applicator is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the medical imaging and therapy applicator is that it can image target tissue of a patient with ultrasound imaging transducers. Another feature of the medical imaging and therapy applicator is that it can display the imaging information and provide therapeutic energy to the target tissue. Methods associated with use of the medical imaging and therapy applicator are also covered.

Abstract: A waveguide couples an acoustic source (such as an ultrasound transducer) to a custom cosmetic product (e.g., a liquid or gel-based skin care product) applied to the skin. In one exemplary embodiment, a distal surface of the waveguide is placed in contact with a relatively thin layer of skin care product that has been applied to the skin. Alternatively, the thin layer can be applied to the distal face of the waveguide, and then the waveguide placed on the skin. The custom cosmetic product has been formulated such that when ultrasound energy is directed into the custom cosmetic product via the waveguide, bubbles included or formed in the custom cosmetic product oscillate, and increase the permeability of the skin to active beneficial agents included in the custom cosmetic product.

Abstract: A waveguide couples an acoustic source (such as an ultrasound transducer) to a custom cosmetic product (e.g., a liquid or gel-based skin care product) applied to the skin. In one exemplary embodiment, a distal surface of the waveguide is placed in contact with a relatively thin layer of skin care product that has been applied to the skin. Alternatively, the thin layer can be applied to the distal face of the waveguide, and then the waveguide placed on the skin. The custom cosmetic product has been formulated such that when ultrasound energy is directed into the custom cosmetic product via the waveguide, bubbles included or formed in the custom cosmetic product oscillate, and increase the permeability of the skin to active beneficial agents included in the custom cosmetic product.

Abstract: A traffic manager includes an execution unit that is responsive to instructions related to queuing of data in memory. The instructions may be provided by a network processor that is programmed to generate such instructions, depending on the data. Examples of such instructions include (1) writing of data units (of fixed size or variable size) without linking to a queue, (2) re-sequencing of the data units relative to one another without moving the data units in memory, and (3) linking the previously-written data units to a queue. The network processor and traffic manager may be implemented in a single chip.

Abstract: A traffic manager includes an execution unit that is responsive to instructions related to queuing of data in memory. The instructions may be provided by a network processor that is programmed to generate such instructions, depending on the data. Examples of such instructions include (1) writing of data units (of fixed size or variable size) without linking to a queue, (2) re-sequencing of the data units relative to one another without moving the data units in memory, and (3) linking the previously-written data units to a queue. The network processor and traffic manager may be implemented in a single chip.

Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods relate to allocating bandwidth to a plurality of ports that access a shared resource. An exemplary system may comprise a multiplexer, a table, and a scheduling circuit. The table may define when a port has access to the shared resource. The table entries may be based on the number of ports with access to the shared resource and the required bandwidth in each of the ports. The scheduling circuit controls the multiplexer according to the table, and the ports may gain access to the shared resource one port at a time.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering HIFU energy may include a probe with a plurality of leaves that provide a bowl-shaped HIFU therapy transducer. In once case, pins may slide within grooves in the leaves to deploy the leaves. In another case, spines may be configured to slide in a channel defined in each leaf. In other cases, a spring or a shape memory alloy may be used to deploy the leaves. In another implementation, a probe may be fitted with a flexible material that couples the HIFU therapy transducer to the probe and allows the transducer to be drawn to the side of the probe for insertion. In another implementation, a probe may have one or more inflatable bladders that form the HIFU therapy transducer. In yet another implementation, a probe may have an imaging component and a HIFU therapy transducer disposed thereon that rotate, as a unit, about a hinge.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for contouring, shaping and/or directionally shrinking tissue by selective application of energy are disclosed herein. One embodiment of a method of contouring tissue includes determining a contraction direction along which the tissue is to be preferentially contracted and applying energy to a plurality of discrete elongated exposed regions of tissue spaced apart from each other among non-exposed regions of tissue. At least one of the exposed regions can be oriented such that a longitudinal dimension of the exposed regions is generally transverse to the contraction direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering HIFU energy may include a probe with a plurality of leaves that provide a bowl-shaped HIFU therapy transducer. In once case, pins may slide within grooves in the leaves to deploy the leaves. In another case, spines may be configured to slide in a channel defined in each leaf. In other cases, a spring or a shape memory alloy may be used to deploy the leaves. In another implementation, a probe may be fitted with a flexible material that couples the HIFU therapy transducer to the probe and allows the transducer to be drawn to the side of the probe for insertion. In another implementation, a probe may have one or more inflatable bladders that form the HIFU therapy transducer. In yet another implementation, a probe may have an imaging component and a HIFU therapy transducer disposed thereon that rotate, as a unit, about a hinge.

Abstract: A probe having a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer is positioned in a female patient. The HIFU transducer is deployed within the vagina of the patient outside of the cervix and uterine cavity and is configured to direct HIFU energy to a treatment site within the uterus of the patient. An imaging component positioned relative to the patient images a portion of the patient's uterus that includes the treatment site to help guide the delivery of the HIFU energy to the treatment site. A liquid medium may be infused into the uterine cavity of the patient where it is maintained during imaging and delivery of the HIFU therapy. The HIFU transducer produces a thermal heating of tissue at a focus within the treatment site to initiate necrosis of the tissue. The location of the focus is controlled in accordance with an image obtained by the imaging component.

Abstract: A dog clutch operative to provide shiftably connection. A first clutch element includes a plurality of dogs selectively engagable with a plurality of counterdogs coupled to the second clutch element for selectively coupling primary and secondary rotatable parts. The second clutch element further includes a bush coupled to the secondary rotatable part and an intermediate part containing the counterdogs. The intermediate part can be selectively coupled to the bush for selectively coupling the second clutch element and the secondary part.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the invention a multi-mode memory device is provided. The memory device includes at least one content-addressable memory (CAM). The memory device further includes a first match-in bus for receiving input into a first CAM of the at least one CAM, wherein the status of the match-in bus determines a operating mode of a plurality of operating modes of the first CAM, and a match-out bus for enabling the first CAM to be coupled to another CAM module and comprises match lines of a memory portion of the first CAM, wherein if the match-in bus is disabled, the first CAM is in a first mode, and if the match-in bus is enabled, the first CAM is in a second mode.

Abstract: A method for analyzing impact on binaries, software, and hardware of a planned software upgrade for a computer system. The method includes performing a configuration inventory for the computer system with profiles for the computer system of hardware, software including operating system software, middleware, applications, development tools, and third party software, application interfaces, and binaries. A set of upgrade rules, e.g., rules defining hardware and software requirements including interfaces, libraries, dependencies, and more, are accessed and the binary profiles are analyzed based on the upgrade rules to determine safe binaries and at-risk binaries. The at-risk binaries are further divided into subcategories based on risks of incompatibility with the planned software upgrade. The subcategories include failure, high risk, and low risk.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism is provided. The coupling mechanism includes a bushing assembly adapted to establish a coupling when rotated, a housing that is rotatable when torque is applied to the housing, a torque-limit member positioned between the housing and the bushing assembly such that when the torque-limit member is in a positive-lock state, the housing and bushing assembly rotate jointly upon the application of torque until a predefined torque level is attained. A compressible member is included that engages the torque-limit member to define through frictional resistance of moving parts and parts geometry a predefined torque level. The torque-limit member switches from the positive-lock state to a ratchet state when the predefined torque level is attained. When the torque-limit member is in the ratchet state, the housing rotates relative to the bushing assembly.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure A system and method is provided for marketing and selling mortgage servicing rights (MSR). The method includes setting a contract price for the sale of MSR that are to be originated in the future. A buyer and a seller enter into a purchase and sale agreement in which the buyer commits to purchase the MSR for loans to be originated in the future, and the seller agrees to sell the MSR on those loans at a fixed point in time (MSR sale date). The price for each MSR is determined at the time of the sale based upon an agreed to pricing grid that contains price adjustments for differences between loan interest rates and par interest rates on the MSR sale date.

Abstract: A clutch for the shiftable connection of a primary part to a secondary part is a dog clutch, of which the dogs (12) and counterdogs (15) meshing one in the other in the engaged state are frontal dogs. In order to ensure a rapid opening of a generic clutch even under load, between the primary part (11) and the secondary part (8) an intermediate part (14) is provided which has the counterdogs (15) on its side facing the dogs (12) and, on its side facing away from the dogs (15), can be positively connected fixedly in terms of rotation via radially displaceable elements (17) to the secondary part (8) or to a part connected fixedly in terms of rotation to the latter, the position of these (17) being determined by the position of the shift sleeve (23). The radially displaceable sliding pieces (17) are guided in the intermediate part (14) and can be connected fixedly in terms of rotation via a deflecting coupling toothing (20, 21) to a bush (18) displaceable on the secondary part (8).

Abstract: A baggage bin has a floor and side walls, and is lowerable from a housing. Guide bolts secured to one side wall are movably engaged in front and rear arcuate grooves with a common arc center point in the other side wall. A guide roller or slide block secured to one side wall is movably engaged in a linear guide track or groove on the other side wall. To lower the bin, it first moves linearly downward, until the rear guide bolt reaches an end of the rear groove, and then pivots about the rear guide bolt as the front guide bolt moves farther in the longer arc of the front groove, so that the front loading edge of the bin tilts downward. The components are simple, and the lateral space required between the side walls of the bin and the housing is small.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus and methods to provide a game system utilizing a normal household DVD player. The apparatus typically uses multiple remote controls and a game disc to provide an interactive game such as a quiz game. The game disc manipulates the address locations within the DVD to provide movement throughout the disc and the remote controls similarly at an offset to the address locations to source particular media files on the disc to be displayed on an associated television or similar. The remote controls are also provided with a mechanism to avoid conflict between near simultaneous signals that include receivers within the remote controls to receive the signals, resolve the first remote control operated and only allow an operational code from that remote control to be received by the DVD player.

Abstract: A baggage compartment includes a support structure, a bin, and a guide. The bin defines an at least partially closed volume configured to store baggage. The guide connects the support structure and the bin. The guide is configured to move the bin along a first portion of a path linearly and a second portion of the path rotationally.