Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes an interventional medical device having a first tracking element that generates tip location data based on an EM locator field. An ultrasound probe has an ultrasound transducer mechanism and a second tracking element. The ultrasound transducer mechanism has an active ultrasound transducer array that generates two-dimensional ultrasound slice data at any of a plurality of discrete imaging locations within a three-dimensional imaging volume. The second tracking element generates probe location data based on the EM locator field. A processor circuit is configured to execute program instructions to generate an ultrasound image for display, and is configured to generate a positioning signal based on the tip location data and the probe location data to dynamically position the active ultrasound transducer array so that the two-dimensional ultrasound slice data includes the distal tip of the interventional medical device.

Abstract: An Aureobasidium pullulans recombinant strain with high-yield heavy oil and a construction method and application thereof are provided. The Aureobasidium pullulans recombinant strain is obtained by knocking out a pullulan synthetase PUL gene while overexpressing an ACL gene. The obtained Aureobasidium pullulans recombinant strain can significantly increase the yield of heavy oil. After 7-day fermentation with xylose as carbon source, the yield of the heavy oil of the recombinant strain reaches 19.4372 g/L, while the yield of the heavy oil of the original strain is 10.0325 g/L, i.e. the recombinant strain improves the yield by 93.74% compared with the original strain.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for analyzing the composition of bodily fluid. The apparatus can include a fluid handling network including a patient end configured to maintain fluid communication with a bodily fluid in a patient and a pump unit in operative engagement with the fluid handling network. The pump unit can have an infusion mode, in which the pump unit is operable to deliver infusion fluid to the patient through the patient end, and a sample draw mode, in which the pump unit is operable to draw a sample of the bodily fluid from the patient through the patient end. The apparatus can include a spectroscopic analyzer positioned to analyze at least a portion of the sample; a processor in communication with or incorporated into the spectroscopic analyzer; and stored program instructions executable by the processor to obtain measurements of two or more properties of the sample.

Abstract: A fluid handling module that is removably engageable with a bodily fluid analyzer is provided. The module may comprise a fluid handling element, and a fluid component separator that is accessible via the fluid handling element and configured to separate at least one component of a bodily fluid transported to the fluid component separator. The fluid handling element may have at least one control element interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing an endovascular procedure. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic catheter supporting a first inflatable balloon. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic wave guide associated with the ultrasonic catheter. The ultrasonic wave guide includes a fluid lumen. The ultrasonic wave guide has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer having a transducer horn. The proximal portion of the ultrasonic wave guide is crimped directly onto the transducer horn. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to vibrate the ultrasonic wave guide at an ultrasonic frequency, and the ultrasonic wave guide is configured to transmit the ultrasonic frequency from the ultrasonic transducer to the distal portion.

Abstract: A catheter includes a wave guide for transmitting ultrasonic energy from a transducer, and which is also rotated to facilitate enhanced disruption of the concerned obstruction in a transverse direction. Embodiments of waveguide include distal anchors that help focus the energy transmitted to a treatment site, and may also include a deployable filter that may open distal of the obstruction to capture any dislodged debris. Selectively inflatable balloons may cordon off a treatment site, and the wave guide may comprise a tube that may serve the dual purposes of inflating the balloon(s), as well as to transmit ultrasonic energy to an obstruction. A portion of an ultrasonic catheter may include plural curved portions to space an exposed portion of the wave guide away from the catheter body to enhance the vibratory action provided.

Abstract: A vascular occlusion treatment system includes an ultrasound imaging system having an imaging control circuit communicatively coupled to an ultrasound imaging probe and to a display screen, and an ultrasonic vibration system having an ultrasonic generator operatively coupled to a medical ultrasonic object, such as an ultrasonic catheter. The ultrasonic catheter has a corewire with a distal tip. The ultrasonic generator has a generator control circuit that alternatingly switches between an ultrasonic work frequency and a tracking frequency. The generator control circuit sends a notification to the imaging control circuit when the generator control circuit has switched from the ultrasonic work frequency to the tracking frequency. The imaging control circuit responds by initiating a search in an ultrasound imaging space to locate the distal tip that is vibrating at the tracking frequency, and indicating a location of the distal tip in the ultrasound image displayed on the display screen.

Abstract: A method of generating a 3D ultrasound image includes acquiring a 3D volumetric data set corresponding to a 3D imaging volume of an ultrasound probe in a 3D detection volume; acquiring a position of the ultrasound probe with respect to the 3D detection volume; acquiring a position of an interventional medical device with respect to the 3D detection volume; determining a position of the interventional medical device relative to the 3D imaging volume of the ultrasound probe; determining an interventional medical device-aligned plane that intersects with a longitudinal axis of the interventional medical device; extracting a texture slice from the 3D imaging volume for a corresponding interventional medical device-aligned plane positional and rotational orientation; mapping the texture slice onto the interventional medical device-aligned plane; and rendering the interventional medical device-aligned plane as a 3D ultrasound image and displaying the rendered 3D ultrasound image on a display screen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method for measuring the magnitude of a seepage force and its influence on effective stress of a formation. The measuring device includes a lower bearing platform having a pressure testing device fixed on an upper part thereof, and a water storage chamber mounted with a seepage water discharge pipe. A confining pressure loading chamber is mounted on the upper part of the lower bearing platform, and the lower bearing platform is used for placing a sample which has 11 measuring points distributed at equal intervals on an outer wall thereof. An upper and a lower permeable pressure-bearing steel sheet are placed on an upper and a lower end surface of the sample, respectively. The invention can improve the validity and accuracy of measurement and make the calculation result of the test more accurate.

Abstract: Disclosed is an implantable medical device such as a port assembly including a catheter lock and one or more unique device identifiers (“UDIs”) of the catheter lock. The catheter lock is configured to fit over an end portion of a catheter over an outlet stem extending from a portion of the implantable medical device such as housing of a port. The one or more UDIs embedded in the catheter lock include machine-readable identification data for the implantable medical device. Also disclosed is a system including the implantable medical device and instructions stored in a memory of a computing device for execution by one or more processors. Methods related to the foregoing are additionally disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of generating a 3D ultrasound image includes acquiring a 3D volumetric data set corresponding to a 3D imaging volume of an ultrasound probe in a 3D detection volume; acquiring a position of the ultrasound probe with respect to the 3D detection volume; acquiring a position of an interventional medical device with respect to the 3D detection volume; determining a position of the interventional medical device relative to the 3D imaging volume of the ultrasound probe; determining an interventional medical device-aligned plane that intersects with a longitudinal axis of the interventional medical device; extracting a texture slice from the 3D imaging volume for a corresponding interventional medical device-aligned plane positional and rotational orientation; mapping the texture slice onto the interventional medical device-aligned plane; and rendering the interventional medical device-aligned plane as a 3D ultrasound image and displaying the rendered 3D ultrasound image on a display screen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method for measuring the magnitude of a seepage force and its influence on effective stress of a formation. The measuring device includes a lower bearing platform having a pressure testing device fixed on an upper part thereof, and a water storage chamber mounted with a seepage water discharge pipe. A confining pressure loading chamber is mounted on the upper part of the lower bearing platform, and the lower bearing platform is used for placing a sample which has 11 measuring points distributed at equal intervals on an outer wall thereof. An upper and a lower permeable pressure-bearing steel sheet are placed on an upper and a lower end surface of the sample, respectively. The invention can improve the validity and accuracy of measurement and make the calculation result of the test more accurate.

Abstract: A fluid handling module that is removably engageable with a bodily fluid analyzer is provided. The module may comprise a fluid handling element, and a fluid component separator that is accessible via the fluid handling element and configured to separate at least one component of a bodily fluid transported to the fluid component separator. The fluid handling element may have at least one control element interface.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for analyzing the composition of bodily fluid. The apparatus can include a fluid handling network including a patient end configured to maintain fluid communication with a bodily fluid in a patient and a pump unit in operative engagement with the fluid handling network. The pump unit can have an infusion mode, in which the pump unit is operable to deliver infusion fluid to the patient through the patient end, and a sample draw mode, in which the pump unit is operable to draw a sample of the bodily fluid from the patient through the patient end. The apparatus can include a spectroscopic analyzer positioned to analyze at least a portion of the sample; a processor in communication with or incorporated into the spectroscopic analyzer; and stored program instructions executable by the processor to obtain measurements of two or more properties of the sample.

Abstract: A request message requesting a service is received from a terminal device. Computer code is transmitted to the terminal device, and a communication connection request is received from the terminal device in response to running the computer code on the terminal device. In response to receiving the communication connection request, a communication connection is established to the terminal device. A first IP address associated with the terminal device is determined based on one or more communications transmitted through the communication connection.

Abstract: A system including a console and a catheter assembly. The console may include an ultrasound-producing mechanism configured to convert an electric current into a vibrational energy. The console also may include a driving-parameter modifier configured to modify driving parameters to selectively provide one or more output modes for the vibrational energy. The catheter assembly may include a sheath including a sheath lumen and a core wire at least partially disposed within the sheath lumen. The core wire may include a proximal portion and a distal portion of the core wire, wherein the proximal portion of the core wire is coupled to the ultrasound-producing mechanism. A working length of the distal portion of the core wire beyond the sheath may be configured for longitudinal, transverse, or longitudinal and transverse displacement in accordance with the one or more output modes for the vibrational energy to effect different intravascular lesion-modification procedures.

Abstract: Provided herein is a catheter assembly including, in some embodiments, a core wire configured for linear actuation and a damping mechanism around the core wire. The core wire includes a proximal end with a sonic connector configured to couple to an ultrasound-producing mechanism. The core wire includes a distal end configured to modify intravascular lesions with vibrational energy from the ultrasound-producing mechanism. The damping mechanism includes a gasket system and a retainer to retain the gasket system in a damping-mechanism bore of the catheter assembly. The damping mechanism is around a proximal-end portion of the core wire, where the damping system can provide a compressive force sufficient to dampen transverse wave-producing vibrational energy in the proximal-end portion of the core wire without restricting the linear actuation of the core wire through the damping mechanism including extension and retraction of the core wire through the damping mechanism.

Abstract: A system including a console and a catheter assembly. The console may include an ultrasound-producing mechanism configured to convert an electric current into a vibrational energy. The console also may include a driving-parameter modifier configured to modify driving parameters to selectively provide one or more output modes for the vibrational energy. The catheter assembly may include a sheath including a sheath lumen and a core wire at least partially disposed within the sheath lumen. The core wire may include a proximal portion and a distal portion of the core wire, wherein the proximal portion of the core wire is coupled to the ultrasound-producing mechanism. A working length of the distal portion of the core wire beyond the sheath may be configured for longitudinal, transverse, or longitudinal and transverse displacement in accordance with the one or more output modes for the vibrational energy to effect different intravascular lesion-modification procedures.

Abstract: Methods for achieving sub-lithographic feature sizes in an integrated circuit (IC) layer are provided that use ion implantation to enhance or reduce the etch rate of a thin masking layer. The etch rates also can be enhanced or reduced at specific locations through multiple implantation steps. The implantation can be performed at tilted angles to achieve sub-lithographic implanted regions that are self-aligned to pre-existing photoresist or hard-mask features over the masking layer on the surface of a substrate. A higher density of features can be achieved in an IC layer than are present in an overlying masking layer with the use of ion implantation.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes an interventional medical device having a first tracking element that generates tip location data based on an EM locator field. An ultrasound probe has an ultrasound transducer mechanism and a second tracking element. The ultrasound transducer mechanism has an active ultrasound transducer array that generates two-dimensional ultrasound slice data at any of a plurality of discrete imaging locations within a three-dimensional imaging volume. The second tracking element generates probe location data based on the EM locator field. A processor circuit is configured to execute program instructions to generate an ultrasound image for display, and is configured to generate a positioning signal based on the tip location data and the probe location data to dynamically position the active ultrasound transducer array so that the two-dimensional ultrasound slice data includes the distal tip of the interventional medical device.