Abstract: A system for preventing thrombosis in an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device sized for implantation at least partially within a patient's body. The device includes an at least partially electrically conductive portion that is disposed within a patient's body upon implantation, an electrode coupled to the electrically conductive portion of the device; and a power source coupled to the electrode. The power source provides a negative electric charge to the at least partially electrically conductive portion for an indefinite period of time. The device may be configured to resist thrombosis, infection, and/or undesired tissue growth via the charged conductive portion once implanted. Exemplary embodiments of the implantable medical device include a hemodialysis vasculature graft, a dialysis catheter, a coronary artery, and a heart valve.

Abstract: A system for preventing thrombosis in an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device sized for implantation at least partially within a patient's body. The device includes an at least partially electrically conductive portion that is disposed within a patient's body upon implantation, an electrode coupled to the electrically conductive portion of the device; and a power source coupled to the electrode. The power source provides a negative electric charge to the at least partially electrically conductive portion for an indefinite period of time. The device may be configured to resist thrombosis, infection, and/or undesired tissue growth via the charged conductive portion once implanted. Exemplary embodiments of the implantable medical device include a hemodialysis vasculature graft, a dialysis catheter, a coronary artery, and a heart valve.

Abstract: A system for preventing thrombosis in an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device sized for implantation at least partially within a patient's body. The device includes an at least partially electrically conductive portion that is disposed within a patient's body upon implantation, an electrode coupled to the electrically conductive portion of the device; and a power source coupled to the electrode. The power source provides a negative electric charge to the at least partially electrically conductive portion for an indefinite period of time. The device may be configured to resist thrombosis, infection, and/or undesired tissue growth via the charged conductive portion once implanted. Exemplary embodiments of the implantable medical device include a hemodialysis vasculature graft, a dialysis catheter, a coronary artery, and a heart valve.

Abstract: A vascular graft comprises a perforate tubular compressible frame having a fabric liner disposed over at least a portion of the frames lumen. The graft may be used in combination with a base structure to form a bifurcated graft in situ. The base structure compresses a compressible frame having a fabric liner which defines a pair of divergent legs. The base structure is positioned within the aorta so that one leg enters each iliac. The tubular grafts can then be introduced into each leg to form the bifurcated structure. A graft delivery catheter includes a controllably flared sheath which facilitates recapture of a partially deployed graft.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a transaction network that facilitates and simplifies purchase transactions between any number of customers and any number of merchants. The transaction network is primarily utilized in the sale and purchase of digital content via a network such as the Internet. The transaction network registers and authenticates customer purchase activities and maintains customer account data including payment information. Once registered, a customer will generally not register again for further purchase activities at participating merchant sites. Additionally, the transaction network provides a single, central authentication mechanism for all participating merchant sites using a single customer identifier and password. Further, the transaction network accumulates purchase information across all of the merchant sites and the ultimate payment processing of those purchase transactions.

Abstract: A detachable button system has a fixed component permanently attached to a garment and a detachable button component. The fixed component a disc-shaped base and a cylinder extending perpendicularly from said base, said cylinder featuring a plurality of tabs projecting perpendicularly from the cylinder and parallel to the base. The detachable portion had an interior cavity for receiving the cylinder, the interior cavity including a plurality of slots corresponding to the plurality of tabs, the slots receiving said tabs. The tabs vary across their width so as to provide a friction fit when the cylinder of the fixed component is inserted into the internal cavity of the detachable component and the detachable component is rotated.

Abstract: A detachable button system has a fixed component permanently attached to a garment and a detachable button component. The fixed component a disc-shaped base and a cylinder extending perpendicularly from said base, said cylinder featuring a plurality of tabs projecting perpendicularly from the cylinder and parallel to the base. The detachable portion had an interior cavity for receiving the cylinder, the interior cavity including a plurality of slots corresponding to the plurality of tabs, the slots receiving said tabs. The tabs vary across their width so as to provide a friction fit when the cylinder of the fixed component is inserted into the internal cavity of the detachable component and the detachable component is rotated.

Abstract: A vascular graft comprises a perforate tubular compressible frame having a fabric liner disposed over at least a portion of the frames lumen. The graft may be used in combination with a base structure to form a bifurcated graft in situ. The base structure compresses a compressible frame having a fabric liner which defines a pair of divergent legs. The base structure is positioned within the aorta so that one leg enters each iliac. The tubular grafts can then be introduced into each leg to form the bifurcated structure. A graft delivery catheter includes a controllably flared sheath which facilitates recapture of a partially deployed graft.

Abstract: A detachable button system has a fixed base component permanently attached to a garment and a detachable button component. The base and the detachable button components each have cooperating attachment elements that allow the components when assembled to function as a button. The button component may be easily detached by the user, and replaced with a different button component. The attachment elements may be a mateable combination of a slotted abutment cylinder and cooperating pin catch, a mateable combination of a threaded cylinder and threaded pin, or the like. The base component may have a disc or shank which can be sewn or otherwise attached to the garment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a transaction network that facilitates and simplifies purchase transactions between any number of customers and any number of merchants. The transaction network is primarily utilized in the sale and purchase of digital content via a network such as the Internet. The transaction network registers and authenticates customer purchase activities and maintains customer account data including payment information. Once registered, a customer will generally not register again for further purchase activities at participating merchant sites. Additionally, the transaction network provides a single, central authentication mechanism for all participating merchant sites using a single customer identifier and password. Further, the transaction network accumulates purchase information across all of the merchant sites and the ultimate payment processing of those purchase transactions.

Abstract: A vascular graft comprises a perforate tubular compressible frame having a fabric liner disposed over at least a portion of the frames lumen. The graft may be used in combination with a base structure to form a bifurcated graft in situ. The base structure compresses a compressible frame having a fabric liner which defines a pair of divergent legs. The base structure is positioned within the aorta so that one leg enters each iliac. The tubular grafts can then be introduced into each leg to form the bifurcated structure. A graft delivery catheter includes a controllably flared sheath which facilitates recapture of a partially deployed graft.

Abstract: A system for preventing thrombosis in an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device sized for implantation at least partially within a patient's body. The device includes an at least partially electrically conductive portion that is disposed within a patient's body upon implantation, an electrode coupled to the electrically conductive portion of the device; and a power source coupled to the electrode. The power source provides a negative electric charge to the at least partially electrically conductive portion for an indefinite period of time. The device may be configured to resist thrombosis, infection, and/or undesired tissue growth via the charged conductive portion once implanted. Exemplary embodiments of the implantable medical device include a hemodialysis vasculature graft, a dialysis catheter, a coronary artery, and a heart valve.

Abstract: A vascular graft comprises a perforate tubular compressible frame having a fabric liner disposed over at least a portion of the frames lumen. The graft may be used in combination with a base structure to form a bifurcated graft in situ. The base structure compresses a compressible frame having a fabric liner which defines a pair of divergent legs. The base structure is positioned within the aorta so that one leg enters each iliac. The tubular grafts can then be introduced into each leg to form the bifurcated structure. A graft delivery catheter includes a controllably flared sheath which facilitates recapture of a partially deployed graft.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining the pressure-volume relationship for one or more chambers of a heart, e.g., to guide pharmacologic or other treatment of congestive heart failure. An implantable device includes a catheter including a distal end sized for introduction into a chamber of a heart, a pressure sensor for measuring pressure within the chamber, and a sensor for measuring fluid volume within the chamber. A processor coupled to the catheter obtains pressure data from the pressure sensor and fluid volume data from the volume sensor. The processor approximates fluid volume within the chamber as a function of time and determines one or more pressure-volume loops based upon the pressure data and the fluid volume. In one embodiment, the catheter is a lead and a controller which identifies changes in determinants of cardiac output. Changes in medical therapy are guided by pressure volume loop data generated.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining the pressure-volume relationship for one or more chambers of a heart. An implantable device includes a catheter including a distal end sized for introduction into a chamber of a heart, a pressure sensor for measuring pressure within the chamber, and a resistance sensor for measuring fluid resistance within the chamber. A processor coupled to the catheter obtains pressure data from the pressure sensor and fluid resistance data from the resistance sensor. The processor approximates fluid volume within the chamber as a function of time and determines one or more pressure-volume loops based upon the pressure data and the fluid volume. In one embodiment, the catheter is a lead including a pacing electrode and a controller including the processor delivers pulses to the pacing electrode based upon the pressure-volume loops to deliver electrical therapy to the heart.

Abstract: The present invention provides modular bifurcated intraluminal tubular prostheses, particularly stents and stent-grafts, for the treatment of disease conditions, particularly aneurysms. Modular sections of the prostheses, or “prosthetic modules,” may be selectively assembled to form a prosthesis having characteristics which are tailored to the specific requirements of the patient, including branch angle and branch lumen sizes which match the patients vascular geometry. A Y-connector prosthetic module structure provides support and separation for each of the adjacent branching lumens. Radiopaque markers on the prostheses promote alignment between prosthetic modules and with the body lumen system.

Abstract: A bowling scoring console is disclosed having a housing and a video display monitor mounted in the housing. The console may have one or more of a video game processor, an Internet access device, and a television receiver mounted in the housing and coupled to the display monitor. Methods are also disclosed for using a video game device and an Internet access device in a bowler staging area of a bowling center.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a transaction network that facilitates and simplifies purchase transactions between any number of customers and any number of merchants. The transaction network is primarily utilized in the sale and purchase of digital content via a network such as the Internet. The transaction network registers and authenticates customer purchase activities and maintains customer account data including payment information. Once registered, a customer will generally not register again for further purchase activities at participating merchant sites. Additionally, the transaction network provides a single, central authentication mechanism for all participating merchant sites using a single customer identifier and password. Further, the transaction network accumulates purchase information across all of the merchant sites and the ultimate payment processing of those purchase transactions.

Abstract: A catheter assembly for performing transmyocardial revascularization through the coronary arteries or veins, and a method of using this assembly for creating TMR channels through the myocardium coronary artery shunts through the myocardium and a device and method for injecting therapeutic agents into TMR channels interoperatively, together with a number of therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides modular bifurcated intraluminal tubular prostheses, particularly stents and stent-grafts, for the treatment of disease conditions, particularly aneurysms. Modular sections of the prostheses, or “prosthetic modules,” may be selectively assembled to form a prosthesis having characteristics which are tailored to the specific requirements of the patient, including branch angle and branch lumen sizes which match the patients vascular geometry. A Y-connector prosthetic module structure provides support and separation for each of the adjacent branching lumens. Radiopaque markers on the prostheses promote alignment between prosthetic modules and with the body lumen system.