Abstract: A golf course has a single fairway with multiple greens. At least two greens are provided, at opposite ends of the fairway. One or more additional greens may be provided between the first two greens and along the fairway. Also, multiple tees are provided for the one fairway. At least one tee is provided at each end of the fairway, the tee facing down the fairway towards the green at the opposite end of the fairway. Each green may be the target of two or more tees disposed at different locations on the fairway. The golf course is occupied for a predetermined limited period of time by an individual or a single group of golfers. The individual or single group of golfers plays back and forth along the fairway, for as long as they have reserved the course. They can play at their own pace, undisturbed by other golfers because there are no other golfers on the course. The only limitation is duration: eventually they will have to stop because their reserved interval of play has terminated.

Abstract: A self-propelled toy. Capable of climbing at least some kinds of walls. Suction cups are provided on leg-like appendages which are movable relative to a frame or body member.

Abstract: A personal transportation apparatus has a frame defining a surface for supporting a load, and a plurality of air-cushion cells mounted to the frame and depending from a lower side thereof, the air-cushion cells each having a changeable height to accommodate variations in an underlying terrain during a translation of the frame over the terrain. A pressure source is mounted to the frame and is operatively connected to the air-cushion cells for supplying air under pressure to the cells, thereby generating an air-cushion support for the frame. An elevation mechanism is mounted to the frame for lifting the frame from one step to a next higher step of a stairway so that the frame ascends the stairway from a lowermost step to an uppermost step of the stairway.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic apparatus includes a carrier body, a plurality of rigid substrates each bearing at least one solid-state gamma ray sensor, the substrates being attached to the carrier body, and a computer operatively connected to the sensors for receiving signals therefrom and deriving information about location and size of a source of radioactivity in the patient. The carrier body enables disposition of different gamma ray sensors on different sides of the patient so that the sensors at least partially surround the patient. In an associated medical diagnostic method, a chemical composition containing a radioactive isotope is administered to a patient. A plurality of solid-state sensors sensitive to gamma rays generated by radioactive decay of the isotope are subsequently disposed about the patient, and signals from the sensors are conducted to a computer, which is then operated to derive information about location and size of a source of radioactivity in the patient.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods and apparatuses for delivering stents or conduits and other devices into the myocardium of a patient. One preferred stent delivery system provides access to the insertion site in the myocardium by advancing a delivery catheter through a blockage in a coronary artery, or around the blockage through a coronary vein or through a channel or tunnel formed around the blockage. In one embodiment, once the distal end of the delivery catheter is adjacent the myocardium, an angled bend is created in the catheter by actuating expandable steering guides mounted to the catheter which cooperate with the walls of the blood vessel to cause the catheter to turn. Then, a guidewire is advanced through the delivery catheter and into the myocardium. In another embodiment, a tip-deflecting pull wire extends from the distal end of the delivery catheter which may be actuated to turn towards and then inserted into the myocardium.

Abstract: A cardiovascular treatment method utilizes an elongate flexible surgical instrument (e.g., catheter) having a distal end. A distal end portion of the instrument is inserted into a vascular system of a patient. A surgical head at the distal end of the instrument is positioned so that the head is disposed adjacent to myocardium tissue of the patient. The head is operated to form a recess in the myocardium tissue. Prior to operating the head to form the recess, a thickness of the myocardium tissue is measured, the recess formed during the operation having a length determined in accordance with the measured thickness of the myocardium tissue. The thickness measurement partially determines the length of the recess. The angle of entry of the recess with respect to the heart wall also partially determines the length of the recess: the greater the angle, the longer the recess can be for a given myocardium thickness.

Abstract: In a medical treatment method, magnetic elements are injected into organic tissues of a patient. The magnetic elements are disposed, upon injection, on opposite sides of tissues or a hole to be closed or collapsed. Owing to magnetic attraction between the magnetic elements, the organic tissues of the patient are drawn together to constrict tissues or to close or collapse a wound or vessel.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods and apparatuses for delivering stents and other devices into the myocardium of a patient. One preferred stent delivery system provides access to the insertion site in the myocardium by advancing a delivery catheter through a blockage in a coronary artery, or around the blockage through a coronary vein or through a channel or tunnel formed around the blockage. In one embodiment, once the distal end of the delivery catheter is adjacent the myocardium, an angled bend is created in the catheter by actuating expandable steering guides mounted to the catheter which cooperate with the walls of the blood vessel to cause the catheter to turn. Then, a guidewire is advanced through the delivery catheter and into the myocardium. In another embodiment, a tip-deflecting pull wire extends from the distal end of the delivery catheter which may be actuated to turn towards and then inserted into the myocardium.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic device comprises a substrate or carrier, a plurality of acoustoelectric transducers or sensors attached to the substrate or carrier in a pre-established array, a signal processor operatively coupled to the transducers for determining locations of points of origin of acoustic pressure waves generated by internal tissue structures of a patient on whom the substrate or carrier is placed, and a diagnosis computer operatively coupled to the transducers for automatically analyzing signals from the transducers to determine an internal condition of the patient. The device optionally includes a plurality of mechanical probes movably mounted to the substrate or carrier and actuators operatively connected to the probes for inducing movement of the probes, in a direction perpendicular to the substrate or carrier, from nascent or retracted positions to extended positions.

Abstract: An intravenous surgical instrument comprises an inner shaft or post and an outer sheath. At a distal end of the inner post a spring-tail or whip-like electrode is disposed substantially in a sagittal plane, or one perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. Following an insertion into a human vein or other circulatory vessel the distal end of the shaft is protruded from the sheath; thereafter sheath, post and electrode are simultaneously withdrawn from the vein, with a relative rotatory motion being imparted to the electrode. A current flow is preferably simultaneously imposed across the electrode into an inner surface of the surrounding vessel, facilitating a damaging of the vessel inner surface and a collapse of the vessel.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods and apparatuses for delivering stents or conduits and other devices into the myocardium of a patient. One preferred stent delivery system provides access to the insertion site in the myocardium by advancing a delivery catheter through a blockage in a coronary artery, or around the blockage through a coronary vein or through a channel or tunnel formed around the blockage. In one embodiment, once the distal end of the delivery catheter is adjacent the myocardium, an angled bend is created in the catheter by actuating expandable steering guides mounted to the catheter which cooperate with the walls of the blood vessel to cause the catheter to turn. Then, a guidewire is advanced through the delivery catheter and into the myocardium. In another embodiment, a tip-deflecting pull wire extends from the distal end of the delivery catheter which may be actuated to turn towards and then inserted into the myocardium.

Abstract: A cardiovascular treatment method utilizes an elongate flexible surgical instrument (e.g., catheter) having a distal end. A distal end portion of the instrument is inserted into a vascular system of a patient. A surgical head at the distal end of the instrument is positioned so that the head is disposed adjacent to myocardium tissue of the patient. The head is operated to form a recess in the myocardium tissue. Prior to operating the head to form the recess, a thickness of the myocardium tissue is measured, the recess formed during the operation having a length determined in accordance with the measured thickness of the myocardium tissue. The thickness measurement partially determines the length of the recess. The angle of entry of the recess with respect to the heart wall also partially determines the length of the recess: the greater the angle, the longer the recess can be for a given myocardium thickness.

Abstract: Disclosed is a conduit that provides a bypass around an occlusion or stenosis in a coronary artery. The conduit is a tube adapted to be positioned in the heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a heart chamber and a coronary artery, at a site distal to the occlusion or stenosis. The conduit has a section of blood vessel attached to its interior lumen which preferably includes at least one naturally occurring one-way valve positioned therein. The valve prevents the backflow of blood from the coronary artery into the heart chamber.

Abstract: Described herein is a catheter system for delivering an L-shaped conduit into the body of a patient between the left ventricle and coronary artery. A shunt preferably made of semirigid material is inserted into the lumen of a delivery catheter. The delivery catheter is advanced within the patient until its distal end is located adjacent to the desired insertion site, which is preferably the junction between a coronary artery and passageway formed in the myocardium between the left ventricle and coronary artery. A proximal section of the shunt is first advanced out of the delivery catheter into the myocardial passageway. A distal section of the shunt is advanced into the coronary artery, preferably by advancing the distal section of the shunt into the myocardial passageway and then pulling the distal section back into the coronary artery, or by pushing the distal section of the shunt in a folded configuration out of the delivery catheter into the coronary artery.

Abstract: A conduit is provided to provide a bypass around a blockage in the coronary artery. The conduit is adapted to be positioned in the myocardium or heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a chamber of the heart such as the left ventricle and the coronary artery, distal to the blockage. The stent is self-expanding or uses a balloon to expand the stent in the heart wall. Various attachment means are provided to anchor the stent and prevent its migration.

Abstract: A procedure wherein an elongate, at least partially flexible tie member is partially wound about tissues to be closed at a surgical site. Opposite ends of the flexible tie element are entrained by a twisting instrument which has a distal end juxtaposed to the surgical site. The twisting instrument extends out of the patient so that a proximal end of the instrument is manipulable by a surgeon. The surgeon rotates the instrument about a longitudinal axis, thereby twisting the tie member multiple turns about itself. Where the tie member is a wire, the twisting effectively locks the tie member at the surgical site. The tie member may then be severed by a cutters so that the tissues are closed.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a flexible substrate, a flexible video screen disposed on the substrate, and a scanner operatively connected to the video screen for providing thereto a video signal encoding an image of objects located near the substrate. The scanner is provided with an analyzing component in the form of a specially programmed digital computer for analyzing scanner sensor signals and determining therefrom three-dimensional shapes of the objects. In medical diagnosis and treatment procedures, the substrate with the video screen is disposed on a selected body portion of a patient, for example, the abdomen or a shoulder or knee, so that the substrate and the video screen substantially conform to the selected body portion and so that the video screen is facing away from the body portion.

Abstract: A surgical method for assisting cardiac function utilizes a balloon initially in a collapsed configuration. The balloon is inserted into an intrapericardial space about a patient's heart and is disposed about one portion of the patient's heart. The method further includes inflating the balloon in the intrapericardial space to compress one portion of the patient's heart. A lower end portion of the patient's heart is separately compressed by an additional instrumentality to reduce ventricular volume.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods and apparatuses for delivering stents and other devices into the myocardium of a patient. One preferred stent delivery system provides access to the insertion site in the myocardium by advancing a delivery catheter through a blockage in a coronary artery, or around the blockage through a coronary vein or through a channel or tunnel formed around the blockage. In one embodiment, once the distal end of the delivery catheter is adjacent the myocardium, an angled bend is created in the catheter by actuating expandable steering guides mounted to the catheter which cooperate with the walls of the blood vessel to cause the catheter to turn. Then, a guidewire is advanced through the delivery catheter and into the myocardium. In another embodiment, a tip-deflecting pull wire extends from the distal end of the delivery catheter which may be actuated to turn towards and then inserted into the myocardium.

Abstract: Improved methods of treatment of diseased or occluded vascular grafts in patients having undergone coronary artery bypass or other bypass surgery are disclosed. Deployment of a conduit in the myocardium at a site distal to the site of attachment of the coronary artery bypass graft allows oxygenated blood to flow from a chamber in the heart directly into the coronary artery, bypassing blockages in the coronary artery and the graft originally used to bypass the coronary artery. To ensure proper positioning, the conduit is delivered through the graft to the myocardium. A new lining for the existing vein graft and methods of delivery are also disclosed.