Abstract: Methods and devices for facilitating the repair of vasculature. The methods and devices described accomplish engagement of components employed during in situ assembly of repair devices.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for an implantable gastric stimulation system within the stomach. The stimulation system includes an electronics anchor, electrode lead anchor, implantable pulse generator and external programmer. The electronics anchor is configured to attach to the stomach wall at a first location and the electrode lead anchor configured to attach to the stomach wall at a second location. The electrode lead anchor includes one or more electrodes configured to contact the stomach wall and a flexible lead portion coupled to the one or more electrodes at one end with an the electrical connector portion at the other end. The implantable pulse generator has electronic circuitry and is attached to the electronics anchor; the electronic circuitry is connected to the electrical connector of the electrode lead anchor and can communicate with the one or more electrodes.

Abstract: A sliding gas-tight seal on an access port promotes insufflation of an anatomical space formed in tissue at a surgical site only during insertion of an endoscopic instrument through the access port into the anatomical space, and promotes deflation of the inflated space upon removal of the endoscopic instrument from within the access port. An inflatable balloon disposed about the port near the distal end may be selectively expanded to seal and anchor the access port within an incision through which a surgical procedure with insufflation is to be performed. Multiple resilient seals may be attached to the body of the port, and an auxiliary resilient seal may be inserted within the aperture of a seal attached to the body to accommodate a wide range of endoscopic instruments of various exterior dimensions inserted through the seals.

Abstract: A method of in-line sign in that allows a user to sign into a first server based on a sign-in methodology of a second server is disclosed. The method uses, among other things, a nonce and approved URL list to prevent spoofing and replay attack. Additionally, the method allows error messages that occur during the authentication process to be displayed to the user having the look and feel of the first server, despite using the authentication process of the second server. A method of dual or distributed authentication is also disclosed wherein the user need only to input the login id and password once and wherein the two authentication processes need not exchange the user's password.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of reducing angiogenesis in an individual. The methods generally involve administering to the individual an effective amount of a nicotinic acetyl choline receptor antagonist. The methods are useful to treat conditions associated with or resulting from angiogenesis, particularly pathological angiogenesis. The invention further provides methods of treating a condition associated with or resulting from angiogenesis.

Abstract: A mounting plate used to attach a latch set to a door. The mounting plate includes two sets of attachment apertures (one set is used with a long plate and the other set is used with a rose) and a pair of retention apertures. The retention apertures have a keyhole or teardrop shape that accepts the head of a retention boss on a long plate. Rotation of the long plate relative to the mounting plate causes the retention boss head to engage the mounting plate and attaches the long plate to the mounting plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of reducing angiogenesis in an individual. The methods generally involve administering to the individual an effective amount of a nicotinic acetyl choline receptor antagonist. The methods are useful to treat conditions associated with or resulting from angiogenesis, particularly pathological angiogenesis. The invention further provides methods of treating a condition associated with or resulting from angiogenesis.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods facilitate positioning of a cardiac valve annulus treatment device, thus enhancing treatment of the annulus. Methods generally involve advancing an anchor delivery device through vasculature of the patient to a location in the heart for treating the valve annulus, contacting the anchor delivery device with a length of the valve annulus, delivering a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus, and drawing the anchors together to circumferentially tighten the valve annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having at least one tensioning member and at least one tensioning actuator for deforming a distal portion of the catheter to help it conform to a valve annulus. The catheter device may be used to navigate a subannular space below a mitral valve to facilitate positioning of an anchor delivery device.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods facilitate positioning of a cardiac valve annulus treatment device, thus enhancing treatment of the annulus. Methods generally involve advancing an anchor delivery device through vasculature of the patient to a location in the heart for treating the valve annulus, contacting the anchor delivery device with a length of the valve annulus, delivering a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus, and drawing the anchors together to circumferentially tighten the valve annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having at least one tensioning member and at least one tensioning actuator for deforming a distal portion of the catheter to help it conform to a valve annulus. The catheter device may be used to navigate a subannular space below a mitral valve to facilitate positioning of an anchor delivery device.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods facilitate positioning of a cardiac valve annulus treatment device, thus enhancing treatment of the annulus. Methods generally involve advancing an anchor delivery device through vasculature of the patient to a location in the heart for treating the valve annulus, contacting the anchor delivery device with a length of the valve annulus, delivering a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus, and drawing the anchors together to circumferentially tighten the valve annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having at least one tensioning member and at least one tensioning actuator for deforming a distal portion of the catheter to help it conform to a valve annulus. The catheter device may be used to navigate a subannular space below a mitral valve to facilitate positioning of an anchor delivery device.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods facilitate positioning of a cardiac valve annulus treatment device, thus enhancing treatment of the annulus. Methods generally involve advancing an anchor delivery device through vasculature of the patient to a location in the heart for treating the valve annulus, contacting the anchor delivery device with a length of the valve annulus, delivering a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus, and drawing the anchors together to circumferentially tighten the valve annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having at least one tensioning member and at least one tensioning actuator for deforming a distal portion of the catheter to help it conform to a valve annulus. The catheter device may be used to navigate a subannular space below a mitral valve to facilitate positioning of an anchor delivery device.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods facilitate positioning of a cardiac valve annulus treatment device, thus enhancing treatment of the annulus. Methods generally involve advancing an anchor delivery device through vasculature of the patient to a location in the heart for treating the valve annulus, contacting the anchor delivery device with a length of the valve annulus, delivering a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus, and drawing the anchors together to circumferentially tighten the valve annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having at least one tensioning member and at least one tensioning actuator for deforming a distal portion of the catheter to help it conform to a valve annulus. The catheter device may be used to navigate a subannular space below a mitral valve to facilitate positioning of an anchor delivery device.

Abstract: An assembly of cannula and endoscope and dissection tip facilitate surgical procedures at remote surgical site in tissue of a patient. Relative rotation of the cannula about the endoscope from clamped rotational fixation of the cannula and endoscope is made possible by flexing a resilient clamping segment, and such relative rotation promotes convenient positioning of an eccentric tissue-dissecting tip about a vessel being harvested from within tissue of a patient. Color tinting of the tip or color-tinted illumination of tissue at a remote surgical site enhances contrasting visualization through the tip via the endoscope among the tissue types encountered at the surgical site within a patient. A tool bridge or lateral support mounts to a more rigid component such as an endoscope that extends from the proximal end of a cannula to support a more flexible surgical instrument also extending from the proximal end of the cannula.

Abstract: A sliding gas-tight seal on an access port promotes insufflation of an anatomical space formed in tissue at a surgical site only during insertion of an endoscopic instrument through the access port into the anatomical space, and promotes deflation of the inflated space upon removal of the endoscopic instrument from within the access port. An inflatable balloon disposed about the port near the distal end may be selectively expanded to seal and anchor the access port within an incision through which a surgical procedure with insufflation is to be performed. Multiple resilient seals may be attached to the body of the port, and an auxiliary resilient seal may be inserted within the aperture of a seal attached to the body to accommodate a wide range of endoscopic instruments of various exterior dimensions inserted through the seals.

Abstract: A downhole telemetry system that transmits a burst-QAM uplink signal to the surface of the well is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a downhole instrument coupled to a pair of conductors in a wireline or composite tubing string transmits a burst-QAM uplink signal to a surface system. The burst-QAM signal preferably comprises a series of data frames carrying telemetry data. Each data frame is preferably preceded by a quiet interval (when no signal is present), a timing synchronization sequence, and a training sequence. The timing synchronization sequence is designed for easy timing recovery at the surface, and the training sequence is designed to aid the adaptation of the equalizer. The data frame itself preferably includes a synchronization field, a data count, and a checksum in addition to the data. Direct digital synthesis is preferably employed to modulate the uplink signal.

Abstract: A endovascular graft having sensing devices attached thereto to facilitate measurement of pertinent parameters within the vasculature into which the graft is implanted. Power sources and transmitters may be attached to the graft to facilitate transmission of measurements to a receiving device outside the patient's body. The sensing devices, may be electrically passive or integrated devices with measurement and transmission capability. The sensing devices may be attached to specific locations on the graft material or attached to the lumen, thereby providing pertinent parameters from critical points inside the vasculature, or may be dispersed over the surface of the graft material or within the lumen to provide a profile of pertinent parameters. The sensing devices may be attached to the graft material with one suture using a running stitch to minimize graft bulk and may be coated with a material to inhibit or control tissue growth.

Abstract: A downhole telemetry system that transmits a burst-QAM uplink signal to the surface of the well is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a downhole instrument coupled to a pair of conductors in a wireline or composite tubing string transmits a burst-QAM uplink signal to a surface system. The burst-QAM signal preferably comprises a series of data frames carrying telemetry data. Each data frame is preferably preceded by a quiet interval (when no signal is present), a timing synchronization sequence, and a training sequence. The timing synchronization sequence is designed for easy timing recovery at the surface, and the training sequence is designed to aid the adaptation of the equalizer. The data frame itself preferably includes a synchronization field, a data count, and a checksum in addition to the data. Direct digital synthesis is preferably employed to modulate the uplink signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of reducing angiogenesis in an individual. The methods generally involve administering to the individual an effective amount of a nicotinic acetyl choline receptor antagonist. The methods are useful to treat conditions associated with or resulting from angiogenesis, particularly pathological angiogenesis. The invention further provides methods of treating a condition associated with or resulting from angiogenesis.

Abstract: A method for hardening the grooves of steel pistons of steel piston heads whereby hardening of the bottom of the grooves is avoided. The laser beam is directed onto the sides of the groove in an approximately tangential direction in relation to the outer diameter of the piston.

Abstract: An assembly of cannula and endoscope and dissection tip facilitate surgical procedures at remote surgical site in tissue of a patient. Relative rotation of the cannula about the endoscope from clamped rotational fixation of the cannula and endoscope is made possible by flexing a resilient clamping segment, and such relative rotation promotes convenient positioning of an eccentric tissue-dissecting tip about a vessel being harvested from within tissue of a patient. Color tinting of the tip or color-tinted illumination of tissue at a remote surgical site enhances contrasting visualization through the tip via the endoscope among the tissue types encountered at the surgical site within a patient. A tool bridge or lateral support mounts to a more rigid component such as an endoscope that extends from the proximal end of a cannula to support a more flexible surgical instrument also extending from the proximal end of the cannula.