Abstract: A mechanism for removing a fluid-filled object such as an intragastric balloon from a patient. The apparatus includes a delivery tube having a lumen and a retrieval tool able to slide within the lumen that can both puncture and grasp the intragastric balloon. The retrieval tool may have sharpened graspers with either a sharp tip and/or knife-like edges. Alternatively, the delivery tube itself may have sharpened cutting blades that deploy outward to puncture the intragastric balloon. One embodiment utilizes a suction cup tip on the delivery sheath and a sharpened puncture rod that extends past the distal tip of the lumen, for rapid deflation of a balloon. Various embodiments hasten the deflation process and simplify the manipulation required by the surgeon.

Abstract: A blending system is described for preparing a blended mixture. The blending system includes a control system having at least a processor, a computer-readable memory, and a display, wherein the memory contains software configured to receive a formula defining instructions for preparing a blended mixture using one or more blending materials and amounts recommended for the blended mixture using a scale. The blending system further includes management software stored in the computer-readable memory and executed by the control system, the software in communication with the control system to exchange information on customers and formulas blended mixtures associated with the customers. Additionally, the control system includes software configured to calculate information associated with the blended mixture when an input received by the control system indicates an amount that is different than an amount in the formula and displays the calculated information associated with the blended mixture on the display.

Abstract: A mechanism for removing a fluid-filled object such as an intragastric balloon from a patient. The apparatus includes a delivery tube having a lumen and a retrieval tool able to slide within the lumen that can both puncture and grasp the intragastric balloon. The retrieval tool may have sharpened graspers with either a sharp tip and/or knife-like edges. Alternatively, the delivery tube itself may have sharpened cutting blades that deploy outward to puncture the intragastric balloon. One embodiment utilizes a suction cup tip on the delivery sheath and a sharpened puncture rod that extends past the distal tip of the lumen, for rapid deflation of a balloon. Various embodiments hasten the deflation process and simplify the manipulation required by the surgeon.

Abstract: In various embodiments, there are provided different methods of batch sizing. One method provides for the stylist having a matrix chart outlining as a percentage of or total amount of ingredients needed to create a mixture based on customer characteristics and/or service requested. In another method, batch sizing adjustment criteria includes a series of questions that provide user input. These methods enable the stylist to be capable of creating a more accurate batch sizing using the batch sizing adjustment criteria. The batch sizing of the formula may be performed by the stylist themselves or automatically done by a computer-driven system.

Abstract: Transoral obesity treatment devices and related methods for operation thereof are described which occupy space within a stomach and/or stimulate the stomach wall. The transoral obesity treatment devices and related methods are intended to assist a patient in maintaining a healthy body weight. Features of the devices include insertion transorally and without invasive surgery, without associated patient risks of invasive surgery, and without substantial patient discomfort. The life span of these devices may be material-dependent upon long-term survivability within an acidic stomach, but is intended to last one year or longer. The devices have the capacity to vary in size and are desirably self-actuating in that they change shape and/or volume using internal motors or actuators. The changing character of the devices helps prevent the person's stomach from compensating for the implant, such as sometimes happens with static intragastric devices.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a hair dye color mixture. The method includes: providing a control system having at least a memory, input controls, and a display; storing in the memory at least one formula, the formula including one or more colorants and/or dye blending materials, and wherein each colorant and/or blending material is separately assigned to an initial product brand; receiving input from the input controls to change a colorant and/or blending material from the initial product brand to one or more subsequent product brands, and wherein the control system recalculates components of the formula using the one or more subsequent product brands in response to receiving input from the input controls; and matching the color of the hair dye color mixture made from colorants and/or dye blending materials of the initial product brand using colorants and/or dye blending materials of the one or more subsequent product brands, in response to the input.

Abstract: A variety of passive intragastric implant devices for obesity treatment are disclosed. Such passive implants do not autonomously change shape, but instead react within the stomach to induce satiety. The implants may take up volume within the stomach, thus reducing the digestive capacity. Additionally, the implants may contact areas within the stomach, such as the cardia surrounding the esophageal sphincter, to stimulate satiety-inducing nerves. Also, a number of implants slow gastric emptying by blocking or otherwise impeding flow through the pyloric sphincter. Other implants delay digestion by providing a duodenal sleeve. A number of implants combine two or more of these satiety-inducing features. Methods of implant are disclosed including compressing the implants within a delivery tube and transorally advancing the implants through the esophagus to be deployed within the stomach. Removal of the implants occurs in the reverse.

Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided a method for preparing a hair dye mixture. The method includes a scale and control system in communication with each other. The control system provides for a memory and a display, wherein the memory contains a formula that defines instructions for blending a hair dye mixture. The method displays the instructions on the display. The stylist may then view the display of instructions and add colorant(s) and dye blending material(s) to a receptacle on the scale, in accordance with the instructions, using current product packaging, such that specialized packaging requirements are not required.

Abstract: In various embodiments, there are provided different methods of batch sizing. One method provides for the stylist having a matrix chart outlining as a percentage of or total amount of ingredients needed to create a mixture based on customer characteristics and/or service requested. In another method, batch sizing adjustment criteria includes a series of questions that provide user input. These methods enable the stylist to be capable of creating a more accurate batch sizing using the batch sizing adjustment criteria. The batch sizing of the formula may be performed by the stylist themselves or automatically done by a computer-driven system.

Abstract: An intragastric obesity treatment implant promotes a feeling of satiety in the patient by contacting the insides of the stomach wall, reducing the space in the stomach, or otherwise reducing the amount of food consumed. One intragastric obesity treatment implant two inflatable balloons coupled via a flow restrictor through which fluid may flow in response to peristaltic motions of a patient's stomach. Additionally, one implant comprises a pumping chamber coupled to a reservoir, where the pumping chamber moves stomach fluids into the reservoir in response to peristaltic motions of the patient's stomach.

Abstract: A transorally implanted intragastric balloon or treating obesity and for weight control including a variable size balloon with one or interconnected regions acting to exert a pressure on the stomach, to provide a stomach volume occupying effect, and/or to anchor the balloon within the stomach.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the handheld injection device includes a first housing having a first axis and a second housing having a second axis. In one embodiment, the second housing is configured to support a needle. In one embodiment, the first axis and a second axis form an adjustable angle between about 180 degrees and about 90 degrees.

Abstract: Transoral obesity treatment devices and related methods for operation thereof are described which occupy space within a stomach and/or stimulate the stomach wall. The transoral obesity treatment devices and related methods are intended to assist a patient in maintaining a healthy body weight. Features of the devices include insertion transorally and without invasive surgery, without associated patient risks of invasive surgery, and without substantial patient discomfort. The life span of these devices may be material-dependent upon long-term survivability within an acidic stomach, but is intended to last one year or longer. The devices have the capacity to vary in size and are desirably self-actuating in that they change shape and/or volume using internal motors or actuators. The changing character of the devices helps prevent the person's stomach from compensating for the implant, such as sometimes happens with static intragastric devices.

Abstract: In but one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system having a display to indicate the amount of a material being added to a scale. The system includes tolerance indication software configured to indicate predefined ranged tolerances above and/or below the recommended amounts, such that a user is able to identify whether the amount added to the scale for a colorant and/or dye blending material is within the predefined ranged tolerances. In yet another aspect the memory includes instructions to recreate formulas based on a specific product brand. Software can be provided to permit a user to convert the formula, either a portion or the entire formula, to a second product brand.

Abstract: A variety of passive intragastric implant devices for obesity treatment are disclosed. Such passive devices may not autonomously change shape, but instead react within the stomach to induce satiety. The devices may provide slowed entry into the stomach, thus reducing the intake capacity. Additionally, the devices may contact areas within the stomach, such as the cardia surrounding the esophageal sphincter, to stimulate satiety-inducing nerves. Some devices combine two or more of these satiety-inducing features. Methods of implant are disclosed including compressing the devices within a delivery tube and transorally advancing the devices through the esophagus to be deployed within the stomach. Removal of the devices occurs in the reverse. The implants are formed of materials that permit the implant to be compressed into a substantially linear transoral delivery configuration and that will resist degradation over a period of at least six months within the stomach.

Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided a method for preparing a hair dye mixture. The method includes a scale and control system in communication with each other. The control system provides for a memory and a display, wherein the memory contains a formula that defines instructions for blending a hair dye mixture. The method displays the instructions on the display. The stylist may then view the display of instructions and add colorant(s) and dye blending material(s) to a receptacle on the scale, in accordance with the instructions, using current product packaging, such that specialized packaging requirements are not required.

Abstract: The medical systems, apparatuses and uses thereof for treating obesity and/or obesity-related diseases are provided which relate to devices designed to stimulate an internal surface of the stomach such as the cardia. Features of the obesity treatment devices include insertion of said devices transorally and without invasive surgery, without associated patient risks of invasive surgery, and without substantial patient discomfort. The devices include flotation portions and cardia-stimulating portions, so that as the level of stomach contents rise, the devices will contact and stimulate the nerves in the cardia region of the stomach to induce satiety. The devices may have non-inflatable balls, be made of skinned foam, have ballast members such as a weighted ball or quantity of saline for orientation, and various combinations thereof.

Abstract: An injection device enables a user to control the dilution ratio of mixed injectable fluid. In one embodiment, the injection device includes a drive unit configured to apply extrusion forces to fluids. In one embodiment, the injection device produces the mixed injectable fluid based on a selected dilution ratio. In one embodiment, the injection device produces the mixed injectable fluid based on selected injection rates.

Abstract: A vibratory gyroscope system is described which utilizes a mechanical resonator having a first mode of vibration and an associated first natural frequency, and a second mode of vibration having an associated second natural frequency. The angular rate of motion input couples energy between the first and second modes of vibration. The gyroscope has driver circuits, sensors and actuators for the first and second modes. The invention utilizes a bias error shifting method which provides for shifting the bias error away from DC to a higher frequency, where it can be removed by low pass filtering. As a result of the inventive method, gyroscope systems can be produced with significantly lower bias error.

Abstract: A frame pacing method, computer program product, and computing system are provided for graphics processing.