Abstract: Diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices and methods that include an elongate shaft, a balloon, a plurality of electrodes carried by the balloon, and electronics to electrically connect the electrodes to a proximal end of the shaft. The devices can include a visualization system within the balloon.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for mechanically reducing the volume of the lung. Some embodiments include endobronchially positioning an anchoring device within a lung, the anchoring device comprising at least a distal anchor, expanding at least a portion of the distal anchor to anchor the distal anchor against lung lumen tissue, and tensioning at least a portion of the device to reduce the volume of the lung.

Abstract: Diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices and methods that include an elongate shaft, a balloon, a plurality of electrodes carried by the balloon, and electronics to electrically connect the electrodes to a proximal end of the shaft. The devices can include a visualization system within the balloon.

Abstract: A device for mechanically reducing the volume of a lung, comprising a distal anchor, a proximal anchor, and a tether extending between the distal and proximal anchors, the device configured so that the distance between the anchors measured along the tether can be increased or decreased and maintained after release of a delivery device. Some embodiments are a method of endobronchially deploying an anchoring device within the lung to reduce the lung volume, the anchoring device comprising a distal anchor, a proximal anchor, and a tether extending between the distal and proximal anchors, the device configured such that the distance between the distal and proximal anchors measured along the tether can be increased or decreased and then maintained after release of the anchoring device from a delivery device, reducing the volume of the lung by decreasing the distance between the distal and proximal anchors, and maintaining the decreased distance.

Abstract: A modular external defibrillator system in embodiments of the teachings may include one or more of the following features: (a) a base containing a defibrillator module to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient, (b) a patient parameter monitoring pod connectable to a patient via patient lead cables to collect patient data, the patient data including at least one patient vital sign, (c) a power supply sharing link between the base and the pod, the pod receiving power from the base via the power sharing link, the pod being operable to collect patient data without receiving power from the base, and (d) an external battery charger, the battery charger interrogating the batteries to determine battery information used for battery charging, the battery information including at least one of charging voltage, charging current, and charge time.

Abstract: A container method for product integrity and identification includes a bottle formed from a resin comprising polyethylene terephthalate and a first set of dye stuffs present in the bottle in an amount sufficient to absorb visible and ultraviolet wavelengths which may cause product degradation. A second set of dyestuffs is present in the bottle in an amount sufficient to provide an identifying blue color of the bottle while enabling sufficient transmission of the light for visual inspection of the product contained in the bottle.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a smoking article having reduced generation of benzo[a]pyrene during smoking thereof comprises preparing a treated tobacco by contacting a tobacco material with an extraction solvent consisting essentially of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol or 2-propanol; and incorporating the treated tobacco in a smoking article.

Abstract: A computer device, such as a mobile phone or PDA for example, is able to access an application program or command, based upon selection of corresponding sequences of symbols. Such symbols can be polysemous in nature and thus be associated with a plurality of different meanings depending upon other symbols sequenced therewith. By utilizing polysemous symbols, a relatively large number of sequences can be developed and associated with programs and/or commands of the computer device, with only a relatively small number of symbols displayed. In devices such as PDAs and mobile phone where display space is a premium, such access to commands and programs can be invaluable.

Abstract: A modular external defibrillator system in embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: (a) a base containing a defibrillator module, (b) a pod having a patient parameter module with patient lead cables attachable to a patient to collect at least one patient vital sign, the pod operable at a distance from the base, (c) a communications link between the pod and the base to carry the at least one vital sign from the pod to the base, the defibrillator module delivering a defibrillation shock to the patient based on the at least one vital sign.

Abstract: A phase persistent agile signal source method, apparatus, and/or computer program product provides a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) clock rate, provides a frequency tuning word (FTW) for a desired output frequency, provides a DDS update for a desired DDS update rate, provides an equivalent frequency least significant bit (LSB) for the desired DDS update rate, provides a current phase of an LSB accumulator, and generates a coherent phase of the desired output frequency based on the DDS clock rate, FTW, DDS update rate to the DDS, equivalent LSB for the desired DDS update rate, and current phase of the LSB accumulator. The coherent phase can be the fraction portion of the result obtained from the multiplication of the FTW and the current phase of the LSB accumulator.

Abstract: A tobacco rod having reduced levels of at least one phenolic compound precursor selected from the group consisting of gentisic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, scopoletin, quinic acid, a quinic acid derivative, caffeic acid, inositol and lignin. The concentration in mainstream smoke of phenolic compounds such as phenol, hydroquinones (e.g., hydroquinone, methyl hydroquinone and 2,3-dimethyl hydroquinone), catechols (e.g., p-coumaryl quinic acid, feruloyl quinic acid and syringoyl quinic acid) and cresols (e.g., o-cresol, m-cresol and p-cresol) can be reduced by reducing the concentration in uncured (e.g., green) or cured tobacco of the phenolic compound precursors.

Abstract: The invention presents an apparatus and techniques for determining whether a medical electrode, such as a defibrillation electrode coupled to an automated external defibrillator, is in a condition for replacement. The determination can be made as a function of one or more data. In one exemplary embodiment, the determination is a function of one or more measurements of an impedance of a hydrogel bridge in a test module. In another exemplary embodiment, the determination is a function of one or more environmental condition data from one or more environmental sensors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for depositing a catalyst onto a substrate through the use of pulsed laser radiation. A solution is prepared containing the catalyst and the support. The beam from a pulsed laser whose wavelength is such that it is absorbed by the catalyst is directed into the liquid. The laser reduces the catalyst particle size and allows it to be deposited as a film or as small diameter particles onto the support thereby giving a catalyst with enhanced activity.