Abstract: Disclosed is an interface and method for data transmission between digital and radio frequency (RF) components of a base station. The interface and method involves transmitting transmit or receive data over a first set of time slots and transmitting various uplink or downlink low rate static/control signals over a second set of time slots. The transmit data includes in-phase transmit data bits and quadrature phase transmit bits, and the receive data includes in-phase transmit data bits and quadrature phase transmit bits received over a diversity antenna system.

Abstract: Methods are provided for partial aortic obstruction for cerebral perfusion augmentation in patients suffering from global or focal cerebral ischemia. Alternatively, the methods can be used to partially obstruct aortic blood flow to condition the spinal cord to secrete neuroprotective agents prior to abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Partial obstruction of a vessel can be accomplished by a device comprising an elongate catheter and a distally mounted expandable member. The expandable member may comprise one or two balloons. Other medical devices, such as an angioplasty, stent, or atherectomy catheter, can be inserted distal the expandable member to provide therapeutic intervention.

Abstract: A method and implantation tools for placing a transventricular splint including a tension member. The method includes gaining access to the patient's hearts and identifying entry or exit points for the tension member, marking those locations and delivering the tension member. Anchors for the tension member are also delivered. The length of the tensions member is measured and the walls of the heart drawn together. The pads are secured to the tension member and the tension member is trimmed to length. The pads are secured to the heart surface.

Abstract: An evacuation sheath assembly and method of treating occluded vessels which reduces the risk of distal embolization during vascular interventions is provided. The evacuation sheath assembly includes an elongated tube defining an evacuation lumen having proximal and distal ends. A proximal sealing surface is provided on a proximal portion of the tube and is configured to form a seal with a lumen of a guided catheter. A distal sealing surface is provided on a distal portion of the tube and is configured to form a seal with a blood vessel. A method of treatment of a blood vessel using the evacuation sheath assembly includes advancing the evacuation sheath assembly into the blood vessel through a guide catheter. Prior to advancing a device across a stenosis to be treated, normal antegrade blood flow in the blood vessel proximate to the stenosis is stopped. While blood flow is stopped, the stenosis is treated.

Abstract: Methods are provided for partial aortic obstruction for cerebral perfusion augmentation in patients suffering from global or focal cerebral ischemia. Alternatively, the methods can be used to partially obstruct aortic blood flow to condition the spinal cord to secrete neuroprotective agents prior to abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Partial obstruction of a vessel can be accomplished by a device comprising an elongate catheter and a distally mounted expandable member. The expandable member may comprise one or two balloons. Other medical devices, such as an angioplasty, stent, or atherectomy catheter, can be inserted distal the expandable member to provide therapeutic intervention.

Abstract: Devices and methods for stabilizing a lead in a cardiac vein.

Abstract: The various aspects of the invention pertain to devices and related methods for treating heart conditions, including, for example, dilatation, valve incompetencies, including mitral valve leakage, and other similar heart failure conditions. The devices and related methods of the present invention operate to assist in the apposition of heart valve leaflets to improve valve function. According to one aspect of the invention, a method improves the function of a valve of a heart by placing an elongate member transverse a heart chamber so that each end of the elongate member extends through a wall of the heart, and placing first and second anchoring members external the chamber. The first and second anchoring members are attached to first and second ends of the elongate member to fix the elongate member in a position across the chamber so as to reposition papillary muscles within the chamber.

Abstract: An external heart wall stress reduction apparatus is provided to create a heart wall shape change. The device is generally disposed to the exterior of a heart chamber to reshape the chamber into a lower stress configuration.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating a damaged intervertebral disc to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. Dynamic bias devices and reinforcement devices are disclosed, which may be used individually or in combination, to eliminate nerve impingement associated with the damaged disc, and/or to reinforce the damaged disc, while permitting relative movement of the vertebrae adjacent the damaged disc.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating a damaged intervertebral disc to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. The present invention provides disc reinforcement therapy (DRT) which involves implanting one or more reinforcement members in and preferably around the annulus of the disc. The reinforcement members may be used to stabilize the annulus and/or compresses a portion of the annulus so as to reduce a bulge and/or close a fissure. The implantable devices and associated delivery tools may incorporate heating capabilities to thermally treat the annular tissue. Alternatively or in combination, other devices may be specifically employed for such thermal treatment.

Abstract: A catheter comprising an elongate tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a deflectable tip at the distal end of the elongate tubular member. The deflectable tip comprises a first helical coil having a first diameter and a second helical coil having a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter. The first and second helical coils are arranged in the manner of a double helix. When viewed in cross-section, the first helical coil and the second helical coil are aligned at a first point on a circumference of each coil and misaligned at a second point on the circumference of each coil, where the second point is approximately 180 degrees from the first point. In certain embodiments the catheter further includes a dilatation balloon. Methods of use for crossing a chronic total occlusion are also described.

Abstract: Particulates, partially ballast in a railway track, are stabilised by adding a multi component system synthetic material selectively to the ballast in accordance with the results of analysing the results of a site survey with a mathematical model, to produce a structure of stabilised elements in the ballast, with unstabilised parts, to provide required structural reinforcement.

Abstract: A reconfigurable base station suitable for supporting multiple wireless communication system standards includes a set of channel unit boards, each providing processing operations for user signals assigned to multiple carriers of the system, a set of a radio boards, each generating a radio frequency (RF) output signal for each of at least a subset of the multiple carriers, and a reconfigurable bus interconnecting the channel unit boards and radio boards. The base stations configured to support a particular wireless system standard, such as IS-95 CDMA, by assigning particular user signals to designated signal lines of the reconfigurable bus. The base station may then be reconfigured to support other CDMA standards, such as, e.g., IS-95C with or without Orthogonal to Transmit Diversity (QTD), Multi-Carrier (MC) cdma2009, or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, (UMTS) by assigning. other user signals to the signal lines of the reconfigurable bus.

Abstract: A single base station supports the non-diversity transmission of a first digital signal type and the diversity transmission of a second digital signal type. The base station includes primary channel boards for modulating and encoding a first digital signal type and secondary channel boards for modulating and encoding a second digital signal type. A first group of transmit radio modules accept the first digital signal type and the second digital signal type and provides a composite electromagnetic output signal. Each transmit radio module is associated with a different sector. A second group of transmit radio modules accept the second digital signal type from secondary channel boards and provide a diverse electromagnetic output signal for complementing the composite electromagnetic output signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is an interface and method for data transmission between digital and radio frequency (RF) components of a base station. The interface and method involves transmitting transmit or receive data over a first set of time slots and transmitting various uplink or downlink low rate static/control signals over a second set of time slots. The transmit data includes in-phase transmit data bits and quadrature phase transmit bits, and the receive data includes in-phase transmit data bits and quadrature phase transmit bits received over a diversity antenna system.

Abstract: Disclosed is the invention relates to proteins derived from parasitic nematodes which confer protective immunity against infection by parasitic nematodes, to nucleotide sequences encoding these proteins, to recombinant molecules containing such sequences to host cells transformed with such recombinant molecules and methods for the production of the nucleotide sequences recombinant molecules and hosts. The invention also relates to vaccines comprising proteins of the invention together with suitable carriers or diluents and to antibodies raised against proteins of the invention.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to proteins derived from parasitic nematodes that confer protective immunity against infection by parasitic nematodes, to nucleotide sequences encoding those proteins, to recombinant molecules containing such sequences, to host cells transformed with such recombinant molecules and methods for the production of the nucleotide sequences, recombinant molecules and hosts. The invention also relates to vaccines comprising proteins of the invention together with suitable carriers or diluents and to antibodies raised against proteins of the invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing a balloon angioplasty procedure and for exchanging a guide wire and an intravascular catheter during the procedure. An intravascular balloon catheter includes an elongated shaft having a proximal portion adapted to extend outside the body of a patient during use, a distal portion adapted for connection to a dilation balloon and adapted for positioning intravascularly during use, and an inflation lumen extending therethrough in fluid flow communication with the balloon. In one aspect of the invention, an elongated guide lumen is connected to the catheter such that the guide lumen and catheter are movable relative to each other during use. A proximal portion of the guide lumen is adapted to extend outside the body of a patient during use, and a distal portion of the guide lumen is adapted to extend distally of the balloon during use.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter, such as a balloon catheter, and a method for use thereof, the catheter comprising an elongate shaft having an inflation lumen extending therethrough, an implement, such as a dilation balloon, connected to and located at the distal portion of the shaft and communicating with the lumen, a small profile core wire extending through at least the dilation balloon and having a distal portion that extends distally from the dilation balloon through a distal core wire opening located distally of the balloon, and further in which the core wire is movable relative to the elongate shaft to allow withdrawal of the elongate shaft and the balloon while leaving the core wire positioned intravascularly, and a tip member connected to the core wire in a region thereof distal of the location at which the core wire extends distally of the core wire opening, the tip member having a profile larger than the opening.