Abstract: Implants for treatment of obesity may be placed within the stomach and/or esophagus or around the outside surface of the stomach and/or esophagus. The implants comprise at least a portion constructed of a shape memory material. The implants are thus adapted to be implanted in a deformed shape, and then to be transformed through the application of activation energy into a memorized shape. The shape and/or size transformation induces a change in shape of the stomach and/or esophagus, thus altering the normal digestive path of food entering the patient's gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: A vasoocclusive microcoil for therapeutic treatment of a patient's vasculature includes a surface with a plurality of voids or pores therein, and a therapeutic or bioactive material disposed within the plurality of voids or pores. The therapeutic or bioactive material within the plurality of voids or pores operates to accelerate a healing process in the patient's vasculature when the microcoil is introduced into the patient's vasculature.

Abstract: A vasoocclusive microcoil for therapeutic treatment of a patient's vasculature includes a surface with a plurality of voids or pores therein, and a therapeutic or bioactive material disposed within the plurality of voids or pores. The therapeutic or bioactive material within the plurality of voids or pores operates to accelerate a healing process in the patient's vasculature when the microcoil is introduced into the patient's vasculature.

Abstract: Containers, and label panels for use with them, are described for receiving shipping parcel. One container embodiment incorporates a closable body having an interior and a mouth communicating with the interior. A label substrate is supported by the container body and includes return address indicia. A transparent layer overlays the return address indicia so that it may be seen there through. The transparent layer includes an exposed surface portion formed of a release material for removeably receiving a shipping label. A label panel for use with a container includes a substrate securable to the container's body which is provided with the return address indicia, and a transparent film adhered to the label substrate for receiving the shipping label.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for treating abdominal aortic aneurysms is described, where the device is an endovascular graft implant that one or more adjustable elements. The adjustable elements provide improved performance, for example, reduced leaking. The adjustable elements are adjustable within the body of a patient in a minimally invasive or non-invasive manner such as by applying energy percutaneously or external to the patient's body. Examples of suitable types of energy include, for example, acoustic energy, radio frequency energy, light energy, and magnetic energy.

Abstract: A reusable labeling construction for a container comprises a removable label and a label panel. The removable label, according to one of its embodiments, includes a strip constructed of a selected strip material having an area adapted to receive information corresponding to a recipient's address, and a layer of selected adhesive. The label panel is adapted to be supported by a container body and includes a transparent surface portion formed of a material to which the selected adhesive will adhere sufficiently to retain the label on the transparent surface portion during shipment, yet from which it may be removed without tearing the strip material.

Abstract: A tester routine is provided that evaluates multiple test pins, on multiple devices under test, at the same time and only if a fail occurs does any evaluation have to be made. In the case of a failing pin on any device only that device with the falling pin is retested until passed or if not passed after a specified time the device is considered a fail.

Abstract: Tissue shaping methods and devices are provided for reinforcing and/or remodeling heart valves. In certain embodiments, magnetic tissue shaping devices are implanted in tissue adjacent heart valve leaflets. The devices are mutually attractive or repulsive so as to remodel the heart tissue and improve heart valve function. In certain other embodiments, one or more tissue shaping devices including shape memory material are implanted in a patient's body within or on tissue adjacent a heart valve leaflet. The shape memory material can be activated within the patient in a less invasive or non-invasive manner, such as by applying energy percutaneously or external to the patient's body. The shape memory tissue shaping devices are implanted in a first configuration and then activated to remember a second configuration that displaces tissue so as to remodel the heart valve geometry and improve heart valve function.

Abstract: Image data is processed to track moving foreground objects thereby identifying tracked objects, and the movement of said foreground objects is tracked. A timeline is displayed, along with an indication of said tracked objects with reference to said timeline.

Abstract: Output from a video camera is monitored. Input data is analysed to produce a model of a background image and incoming image data is compared with said background model to identify images having a high level of activity created by the introduction of a foreground object. A period of activity, composed of a plurality of consecutive images having a high level of activity, is identified, and an exemplar image is generated.

Abstract: Graphical output representing the activity of a plurality of monitoring detection devices over a region is displayed. The detection devices are represented as an array of regular polygons in an arrangement substantially analogous to the monitored region, and a characteristic of the graphical output is adjusted within a displayed polygon by a degree dependent upon the level of activity detected by its respective detection device.

Abstract: A sequence of images received from a camera is recorded according to a first procedure. The images are analysed to identify events of interest, and upon identifying an event of interest, an area of interest of a plurality of said images is identified. The identified area is recorded according to a second procedure.

Abstract: An environment is monitored by capturing image data depicting the environment and analysing the image data to identify moving foreground objects. Upon identifying an object, the movement of said object is tracked, and graphical output data is generated providing a representation of the movement superimposed upon a representation of said environment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dual catheter radiation delivery system, for delivering a dose of radiation to a treatment site, typically in a body lumen. The system comprises an outer sheath catheter, having an inflatable balloon thereon. The system further comprises an inner radiation delivery catheter, having a radially expandable structure such as a balloon with a radiation source thereon. The sheath catheter is positioned such that the sheath balloon is at the treatment site, and the radiation delivery catheter is transluminally advanced through the sheath catheter such that the radiation source is positioned within the sheath balloon. The radiation delivery balloon is inflated within the sheath balloon, to position the radioactive source near the vessel wall. The source may comprise a thin film carried by the radiation delivery balloon, having a radioactive isotope implanted therein or chemically bonded thereto. Alternatively, the radioactive isotope may be implanted within or adhered to the radiation delivery balloon.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tubular microporous prosthesis formed by rolling a flexible sheet around a longitudinal axis. Preferably, the prosthesis is self expandable under the radially outwardly directed spring bias of the rolled sheet. At least a portion of the sheet may be provided with a coating to affect the physical and/or biological properties of the prosthesis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tubular prosthesis formed by rolling a flexible sheet around a longitudinal axis. Preferably, the prosthesis is self expandable under the radially outwardly directed spring bias of the rolled sheet. Also disclosed are catheters for delivering two or more of the tubular prostheses at a site within a body lumen. Multiple prostheses may be deployed directly against a vessel wall in a single procedure, or may be deployed within a vascular graft to provide support throughout the length of the graft.

Abstract: A method of producing an organo-nitrogen compound by the direct conversion of elemental nitrogen, in which a substrate vapor of a simple organic compound, e.g. propanol is mixed with a carrier gas at least partly comprising nitrogen and the vapor mixture is passed over a catalyst, e.g. of a transition metal, and irradiated with microwave radiation to produce a simple organo-nitrogen compound.

Abstract: A reinforced lumen catheter body is disclosed, such as for use in a balloon dilatation and/or drug delivery catheter. In one embodiment, the catheter body is provided with a guidewire access port along its length, to permit exchange of catheters during a cardiovascular procedure. Preferably, at least one lumen extending through the catheter body is defined within a tubular metal wall. One or more adjacent lumen are defined within a polymeric wall.

Abstract: A digital luminance processing circuit for peaking or depeaking high frequency luminance signal components includes the parallel combination of a low pass circuit and a bandpass circuit. The relative magnitude of the bandpass response is controlled by a linearly variable multiplier constructed with minimal hardware including four AND gates and three adders. The low pass and bandpass circuits share delay stages to further reduce hardware. The overall response of the processing circuit closely emulates the frequency response to processed luminance signal in current analog television receivers over the video signal frequency range.