Abstract: Methods are provided for automatically actuating and positioning a first medical device in a subject anatomy with a remote medical navigation system together with a localized second medical device that passes through the first device and is also actuated by the remote navigation system to access a desired target location. After an initial calibration step, an exemplary method comprises: (a) determining configurational variables for the first medical device based on a computational model of device deformation and a set of geometrical constraints, and (b) automatically steering the first medical device with the remote navigation system to the computationally determined configuration.

Abstract: Methods are provided for automatically actuating and positioning a first medical device in a subject anatomy with a remote medical navigation system together with a localized second medical device that passes through the first device and is also actuated by the remote navigation system to access a desired target location. After an initial calibration step, an exemplary method comprises: (a) determining configurational variables for the first medical device based on a computational model of device deformation and a set of geometrical constraints, and (b) automatically steering the first medical device with the remote navigation system to the computationally determined configuration.

Abstract: A method of operating a remote medical navigation system using ultrasound, employs ultrasound imaging from a medical device to supplement or to replace conventional x-ray imaging of the operating region during navigation.

Abstract: In one form of invention a process of operating a host computer coupled to a communications network including: determining whether a diversity flag is set, when a communications connection is requested; sending a request from the host computer to a proxy identification list server in a communications network for proxy pair identification information, when the diversity flag is set; receiving in the host computer the proxy pair identification information from the proxy identification list server in response to the host request; and wherein the sending includes communicating from the host computer to a destination computer though a first communication path that includes a first proxy device and though a second communication path, separate from the first communication path, that includes the second proxy device.

Abstract: Packets of real-time information are sent with a source rate greater than zero kilobits per second, and a time or path or combined time/path diversity rate initially being zero kilobits per second. This results in a quality of service QoS, optionally measured at the sender or the receiver. When the QoS is on an unacceptable side of a threshold of acceptability, the sender sends diversity packets at an increased rate. Increasing the diversity rate while either reducing or maintaining the overall transmission rate is new. CELP-based multiple-description data partitioning sends the base or important information plus a subset of fixed excitation in one packet and sends the base or important information plus the complementary subset of fixed excitation in another packet. Reconstruction produces acceptable quality when only one of the two packets is received and better quality when both packets are received. Reconstruction provides for single and multiple lost packets.

Abstract: Methods are provided for automatically actuating and positioning a localized second medical device in multiple spatial dimensions in a subject anatomy with a remote medical navigation system in coordination with a localized first medical device that is also actuated by the remote navigation system. After an initial calibration step, an exemplary method comprises: (a) navigating the first medical device with the remote navigation system, (b) constructing a cost function based on the spatial coordinates of the first and second medical devices, minimizing it and computing and automatically applying updates to the configurational degrees of freedom of the second medical device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means for guiding a medical device within the body to approach a target destination. The system and method provide a means for determining a predicted length and orientation, navigating the device to an intermediate point less than the predicted length, determining an error between the projected destination and actual target destination, and successively updating a predicted value of a control variable to yield an orientation within a predetermined distance error before advancing the device the remaining distance to the destination. This provides a physician with the capability of verifying the device will be accurately guided to the target destination without trial and error. A method is also provided for intuitive navigation to targets with limited trial and error based on user-applied device orientation adjustments, where the user chooses the magnitude of the adjustments and the system determines the adjustment direction.

Abstract: A media over packet networking appliance provides a network interface, a voice transducer, and at least one integrated circuit assembly coupling the voice transducer to the network interface. The at least one integrated circuit assembly provides media over packet transmissions and holds bits defining reconstruction of a packet stream having a primary stage and a secondary stage. The secondary stage has one or more of linear predictive coding parameters, long term prediction lags, parity check, and adaptive and fixed codebook gains. The packet stream has an instance of single packet loss, and the reconstruction includes receiving a packet sequence represented by P(n)P(n?1)?, [Lost Packet], P(n+2)P(n+1)?, and P(n+3)P(n+2)?, obtaining as information from the secondary stage one or more of the linear predictive coding parameters, long term prediction lags, parity check, and adaptive and fixed codebook gains, and performing an excitation reconstruction utilizing said packet sequence thus received.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for interventional navigation within a subject's body is provided in which a medical device having at least one electrostrictive element is adapted to cause the distal end of the medical device to bend in a given direction for improving navigation. The medical device may further comprise at least one magnetically responsive element on the distal end, which may be oriented in the approximate direction of a magnetic field that is applied to the subject's body. At least one method for navigating a medical device though a subject's body is provided, by changing the direction of an applied magnetic field to align a magnetically responsive element on the distal end for orienting the distal end, and by applying a voltage to at least one electrostrictive element disposed in the distal portion of the device for causing the distal end to change orientation from that achieved by application of the magnetic field alone.

Abstract: In one form of the invention, a process of sending real-time information from a sender computer (103) to a receiver computer (105) coupled to the sender computer (103) by a packet network (100) wherein packets (111,113) sometimes become lost, includes steps of directing (441) packets (111) containing the real-time information from the sender computer (103) by at least one path (119) in the packet network (100) to the receiver computer (105), and directing packets (113) containing information dependent on the real-time information from the sender computer (103) by at least one path diversity path (117) in the packet network (100) to the same receiver computer (105).

Abstract: In one form of the invention, a process of sending real-time information from a sender computer (103) to a receiver computer (105) coupled to the sender computer (103) by a packet network (100) wherein packets (111,113) sometimes become lost, includes steps of directing (441) packets (111) containing the real-time information from the sender computer (103) by at least one path (119) in the packet network (100) to the receiver computer (105), and directing packets (113) containing information dependent on the real-time information from the sender computer (103) by at least one path diversity path (117) in the packet network (100) to the same receiver computer (105).

Abstract: A display for operating a plurality of separate computer systems, each having a visual display. The display includes comprising a composite display, a video system for receiving display input from each of the plurality of separate computer systems and displaying it on the composite display, a processor which controls the content of the composite display based upon a planned procedure workflow.

Abstract: A work flow driven method of performing multi-step medical procedures includes displaying the visual displays from separate computer controlled systems on a composite display, and displaying prompts for a plurality of steps of the multi-step medical procedure, and in response to user selection from the prompts, automatically reconfiguring the composite display based in part on the selection. Alternatively the display can be changed in response to user actions other than selection. In other embodiments, the composite display can change automatically to match a planned work flow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means for guiding a medical device within the body to approach a target destination. The system and method provide a means for determining a predicted length and orientation, navigating the device to an intermediate point less than the predicted length, determining an error between the projected destination and actual target destination, and successively updating a predicted value of a control variable to yield an orientation within a predetermined distance error before advancing the device the remaining distance to the destination. This provides a physician with the capability of verifying the device will be accurately guided to the target destination without trial and error. A method is also provided for intuitive navigation to targets with limited trial and error based on user-applied device orientation adjustments, where the user chooses the magnitude of the adjustments and the system determines the adjustment direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for interventional navigation within a subject's body is provided in which a medical device having at least one electrostrictive element is adapted to cause the distal end of the medical device to bend in a given direction for improving navigation. The medical device may further comprise at least one magnetically responsive element on the distal end, which may be oriented in the approximate direction of a magnetic field that is applied to the subject's body. At least one method for navigating a medical device though a subject's body is provided, by changing the direction of an applied magnetic field to align a magnetically responsive element on the distal end for orienting the distal end, and by applying a voltage to at least one electrostrictive element disposed in the distal portion of the device for causing the distal end to change orientation from that achieved by application of the magnetic field alone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for interventional navigation within a subject's body is provided in which a medical device having at least one electrostrictive element is adapted to cause the distal end of the medical device to bend in a given direction for improving navigation. The medical device may further comprise at least one magnetically responsive element on the distal end, which may be oriented in the approximate direction of a magnetic field that is applied to the subjects body. At least one method for navigating a medical device though a subject's body is provided, by changing the direction of an applied magnetic field to align a magnetically responsive element on the distal end for orienting the distal end, and by applying a voltage to at least one electrostrictive element disposed in the distal portion of the device for causing the distal end to change orientation from that achieved by application of the magnetic field alone.

Abstract: Packets of real-time information are sent with a source rate greater than zero kilobits per second, and a time or path or combined time/path diversity rate initially being zero kilobits per second. This results in a quality of service QoS, optionally measured at the sender or the receiver. When the QoS is on an unacceptable side of a threshold of acceptability, the sender sends diversity packets at an increased rate. Increasing the diversity rate while either reducing or maintaining the overall transmission rate is new. CELP-based multiple-description data partitioning sends the base or important information plus a subset of fixed excitation in one packet and sends the base or important information plus the complementary subset of fixed excitation in another packet. Reconstruction produces acceptable quality when only one of the two packets is received and better quality when both packets are received. Reconstruction provides for single and multiple lost packets.

Abstract: A media over packet networking appliance provides a network interface, a voice transducer, and at least one integrated circuit assembly coupling the voice transducer to the network interface. The at least one integrated circuit assembly provides media over packet transmissions and holds bits defining reconstruction of a packet stream having a primary stage and a secondary stage. The secondary stage has one or more of linear predictive coding parameters, long term prediction lags, parity check, and adaptive and fixed codebook gains. The packet stream has an instance of single packet loss, and the reconstruction includes receiving a packet sequence represented by P(n)P(n?1)?, [Lost Packet], P(n+2)P(n+1)?, and P(n+3)P(n+2)?, obtaining as information from the secondary stage one or more of the linear predictive coding parameters, long term prediction lags, parity check, and adaptive and fixed codebook gains, and performing an excitation reconstruction utilizing said packet sequence thus received.

Abstract: Packets of real-time information are sent with a source rate greater than zero kilobits per second, and a time or path or combined time/path diversity rate initially being zero kilobits per second. This results in a quality of service QoS, optionally measured at the sender or the receiver. When the QoS is on an unacceptable side of a threshold of acceptability, the sender sends diversity packets at an increased rate. Increasing the diversity rate while either reducing or maintaining the overall transmission rate is new. CELP-based multiple-description data partitioning sends the base or important information plus a subset of fixed excitation in one packet and sends the base or important information plus the complementary subset of fixed excitation in another packet. Reconstruction produces acceptable quality when only one of the two packets is received and better quality when both packets are received. Reconstruction provides for single and multiple lost packets.

Abstract: Packets of real-time information are sent with a source rate greater than zero kilobits per second, and a time or path or combined time/path diversity rate initially being zero kilobits per second. This results in a quality of service QoS, optionally measured at the sender or the receiver. When the QoS is on an unacceptable side of a threshold of acceptability, the sender sends diversity packets at an increased rate. Increasing the diversity rate while either reducing or maintaining the overall transmission rate is new. CELP-based multiple-description data partitioning sends the base or important information plus a subset of fixed excitation in one packet and sends the base or important information plus the complementary subset of fixed excitation in another packet. Reconstruction produces acceptable quality when only one of the two packets is received and better quality when both packets are received. Reconstruction provides for single and multiple lost packets.