Abstract: A system for implanting a flow modifying device in a heart comprises a flow modifying device comprising a tubular body comprising first and second openings located at first and second ends of the tubular body and a neck positioned between the first opening and the second opening, and a guide catheter comprising a flexible elongate shaft comprising a proximal portion comprising a fitting for receiving an insertion instrument and distal portion comprising an enlarged distal tip to prevent the flexible elongate shaft from passing through the flow modifying device. A guide catheter for cannulating a coronary sinus from a superior vena cava comprises a pre-formed distal portion comprising a proximal straight zone, a proximal curved zone extending along a first curved path, a distal straight zone extending along a straight path and a distal curved zone extending along a second curved path. The guide catheter can have different stiffnesses.

Abstract: A system for implanting a flow modifying device in a heart comprises a flow modifying device comprising a tubular body comprising first and second openings located at first and second ends of the tubular body and a neck positioned between the first opening and the second opening, and a guide catheter comprising a flexible elongate shaft comprising a proximal portion comprising a fitting for receiving an insertion instrument and distal portion comprising an enlarged distal tip to prevent the flexible elongate shaft from passing through the flow modifying device. A guide catheter for cannulating a coronary sinus from a superior vena cava comprises a pre-formed distal portion comprising a proximal straight zone, a proximal curved zone extending along a first curved path, a distal straight zone extending along a straight path and a distal curved zone extending along a second curved path. The guide catheter can have different stiffnesses.

Abstract: A system for implanting a flow modifying device in a heart comprises a flow modifying device comprising a tubular body comprising first and second openings located at first and second ends of the tubular body and a neck positioned between the first opening and the second opening, and a guide catheter comprising a flexible elongate shaft comprising a proximal portion comprising a fitting for receiving an insertion instrument and distal portion comprising an enlarged distal tip to prevent the flexible elongate shaft from passing through the flow modifying device. A guide catheter for cannulating a coronary sinus from a superior vena cava comprises a pre-formed distal portion comprising a proximal straight zone, a proximal curved zone extending along a first curved path, a distal straight zone extending along a straight path and a distal curved zone extending along a second curved path. The guide catheter can have different stiffnesses.

Abstract: A system for controlling water distribution from a water distribution vehicle includes spray heads for spraying water from the vehicle and an actuator system for turning the spray heads on and off. A computer processor is programmed to control the actuator system in response to a sensor input. The system can include means for measuring the ground speed of the vehicle, such as a GPS, and the sensor input signal can be associated with the ground speed of the vehicle. Using a pulse width modulated signal, the processor can adjust water flow from the spray heads based on the vehicle ground speed. The processor also can be programmed to prevent water flow from one or more spray heads when the vehicle speed is below a minimum speed or as the vehicle speed is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catheter for use in delivering and/or recovering materials to and/or from a tissue site in the body, the catheter comprising one or more macroporous regions adapted to selectively deliver molecules and/or recover cells from the tissue site, based on one or more physical-chemical-biological characteristics. The macroporous region can be provided in the form of a helical hollow wires, and can be adapted to both recover cells from the tissue site (e.g., bacterial or other cells present in interstitial fluid) and optionally to permit the infusion of medicament to the site, under corresponding conditions.

Abstract: A catheter (100) is disclosed that includes a reinforced hollow fiber (114) and is suitable for insertion- in a body tissue in order to deliver and/or recover fluids to and/or from the tissue. In one embodiment, the catheter comprises a combination of catheter body (112), hollow fiber region (114), and reinforcing means (116), to provide a catheter having sufficient structural integrity for the hollow fiber region to be positioned within a body tissue, preferably without the need for ancillary devices such as introducers or protective sheaths, and to there be used for the purpose of delivering and/or recovering fluids from the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus for efficiently generating ozone in dry air or in oxygen at about 1 bar pressure. The apparatus generates a uniform cold plasma having no arcs or localized discharges that fills the entire generator volume. Electrical pulses having a peak voltage of approximately 20 kV, pulse width of approximately 20-ns FWHM, and repetition rate of approximately 10 kHz drive the generator. Short pulses apply voltage to the generator on a short time scale compared to the time required to form an arc-like discharge, and at an electric field strength many times over DC breakdown, which is not achievable with long electrical pulse widths. The generator is optimized for cool, UV-free operation. Dimensions of the generator are adjusted to optimize production of ozone by tailoring the distribution function of the electrons in the cold plasma. Overall efficiency of the generator approaches 50% of the theoretical quantum efficiency of generating ozone.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method for providing convection enhanced delivery of bioactive agent to a tissue site. The apparatus involves the use of semipermeable membranes, typically in the form of one or more hollow fibers, together with a source and conduit of solution containing the bioactive agent to be delivered. The use of hollow fiber technology provides an optimal combination of features, including delivery kinetics and distribution, as compared to conventional (e.g., standard needle) type delivery devices.

Abstract: A system for use in treating a tissue site, e.g., a site exhibiting or at risk for developing compartment syndrome, the system including a monitor for use in controlling the function and operation of one or more apparatuses providing insertable catheters. The system includes at least one apparatus having a catheter portion that includes both a suitably protected, functional device tip, adapted to be positioned and used within the tissue site, and one or more hollow fiber membranes, e.g., an array of such membranes, adapted to be positioned within the tissue site in order to simultaneously collect fluid therefrom. The catheter portion is adapted to be safely inserted and positioned within the tissue site, in a manner that permits it to function there while substantially minimizing direct impingement of the non-fluid tissue on the functional device tip surface.

Abstract: A system for controlling water distribution from a water distribution vehicle includes spray heads for spraying water from the vehicle and an actuator system for turning the spray heads on and off. A computer processor is programmed to control the actuator system in response to a sensor input. The system can include means for measuring the ground speed of the vehicle, such as a GPS, and the sensor input signal can be associated with the ground speed of the vehicle. Using a pulse width modulated signal, the processor can adjust water flow from the spray heads based on the vehicle ground speed. The processor also can be programmed to prevent water flow from one or more spray heads when the vehicle speed is below a minimum speed or as the vehicle speed is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catheter for use in delivering and/or recovering materials to and/or from a tissue site in the body, the catheter comprising one or more macroporous regions adapted to selectively deliver molecules and/or recover cells from the tissue site, based on one or more physical-chemical-biological characteristics. The macroporous region can be provided in the form of a helical hollow wires, and can be adapted to both recover cells from the tissue site (e.g., bacterial or other cells present in interstitial fluid) and optionally to permit the infusion of medicament to the site, under corresponding conditions.

Abstract: A medical device having incorporated electrodes that can be used for delivering drugs or other therapeutic fluids at a uniform rate over an extended area to an internal anatomical location of a patient's body. The device can also be used for aspirating excess fluid from an internal anatomical location of a patient's body.

Abstract: A catheter (100) is disclosed that includes a reinforced hollow fiber (114) and is suitable for insertion—in a body tissue in order to deliver and/or recover fluids to and/or from the tissue. In one embodiment, the catheter comprises a combination of catheter body (112), hollow fiber region (114), and reinforcing means (116), to provide a catheter having sufficient structural integrity for the hollow fiber region to be positioned within a body tissue, preferably without the need for ancillary devices such as introducers or protective sheaths, and to there be used for the purpose of delivering and/or recovering fluids from the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A self-introducing medical device that can be used for delivering drugs or other therapeutic fluids at a uniform rate over an extended area to an internal anatomical location of a patient's body. The device can also be used for aspirating excess fluid from an internal anatomical location of a patient's body.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted to position a functional device tip, such as a sensor, in a body site having both fluid and non-fluid tissue components, in a manner that substantially mitigates the impingement of non-fluid tissue impingement on the device tip. One such apparatus can be used to both remove fluid from a tissue site, such as a site exhibiting tissue swelling, and to determine tissue pressure, using a single catheter. An apparatus can provide a pressure sensor that is adapted to be positioned and used within the tissue site itself, without substantial impingement by non-fluid tissue, and optionally also provides the ability to concurrently remove and/or deliver fluids or components thereof to or from the tissue site.

Abstract: A connector having a cylindrical hollow body having a first, closed end and a second, open end. A first external thread extends from the first end toward the second end and a second external thread extends from the second end toward the first end. Additionally, a contact element extends concentrically from the closed first end of the hollow body.

Abstract: An H-bridge switching topology for bi-directional field excitation to null the effects of a rotor's permanent magnets uses both a low-side and a high-side field excitation driver to control the rotor's average field current. A standard proportional control signal for generators using uni-directional field excitation is used to control an H-bridge for bi-directional field excitation. The H-bridge consists of two pair of power switches. In a preferred embodiment, the switches are n-channel MOSFETs. A drive circuit interfaces a logic block with the H-bridge in order to properly bias the power switches.

Abstract: An H-bridge switching topology for bi-directional field excitation to null the effects of a rotor's permanent magnets is disclosed. The present invention uses both a low-side and a high-side field excitation driver to control the rotor's average field current. A standard proportional control signal for generators using uni-directional field excitation is used to control an H-bridge for bi-directional field excitation. The H-bridge consists of two pair of power switches. In a preferred embodiment, the switches are n-channel MOSFETs. A drive circuit interfaces a logic block with the H-bridge in order to properly bias the power switches. The present invention also comprises a method of monitoring the uni-directional field control duty cycle as a means of determining if the system voltage is rising and going out of control. If the system voltage exceeds a voltage range, a logic circuit then provides reverse field current in a pulse width modulation fashion to null the effects of the permanent magnets.

Abstract: A method of pruning a reference library of signatures and corresponding known structure parameter vectors, each signature composed of a reference signal vector, including, for a given reference signal vector, interpolating a parameter vector and deleting the given reference signal vector and the corresponding parameter vector for a sufficiently small interpolation error. Also a method of accessing an indexed reference library of signatures and corresponding known structure parameter vectors, each signature comprising a reference signal vector, including acquiring an unknown signal, calculating an index vector for the unknown signal; determining error between the index vector for the unknown signal and a calculated reference signal index vector of the library; and thereby identifying as a match candidate for the unknown signal a reference signal vector.

Abstract: A biopsy forceps device is provided for obtaining tissue samples, or removing tissue for therapeutic reasons, at a site within a body, while maintaining access to the site through an access lumen of the biopsy forceps. The device includes an elongate tubular body for introduction into the body and navigation to an area of interest. An inner tubular member having a lumen, or a plurality of lumens, extends through or adjacent the outer tubular member, from the proximal end to the distal end, where cutting jaws are provided. The cutting jaws are rotatably mounted at the distal end of the device and are controlled by movement of the inner tubular member. The inner tubular member is coupled with a handle portion allowing control of the cutting jaws at the proximal end. Access to the lumen of the inner tubular member is gained at the proximal end, where a luer fitting is provided.