Patents Issued in June 1, 2017
  • Publication number: 20170150924
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for registering a sensor assembly, implemented on a base apparatus, to a desired location associated with a head of a user. A position of a reference point on the base apparatus is determined relative to an external anatomical landmark of the user. A position of the external anatomical landmark is determined relative to the desired location. The position and orientation of the sensor assembly is determined relative to the desired location according to the determined position and orientation of the sensor assembly relative to the reference point, the determined position of the reference point relative to the external anatomical landmark, and the position of the external anatomical landmark relative to the desired location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Edward C. Benzel, Vincent J. Miele, Adam J. Bartsch
  • Publication number: 20170150925
    Abstract: The present invention relates to hair band EEGs. More particularly, the present invention relates to hair bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Melody Jung
  • Publication number: 20170150926
    Abstract: A seamless, smart fetal monitoring garment and methods of using thereof. The system includes a knitted or interwoven garment having a multiplicity of conductive textile electrodes for sensing maternal and fetal electrical vital signals. The maternal and fetal electrical vital signals are selected from a group including maternal heart rate, fetal heart rate and electromyogram (EMG) activities including uterine activities. The method includes wearing the garment, acquiring electrical mixed common, maternal and fetal vital signals from surface region of a pregnant woman, using the plurality of textile electrodes, optimally weighted summing-up the acquired signals, analyzing the summed-up signals to thereby extract the maternal signal and the fetal signal, including determining their heart rates, and including detecting health hazards and in some embodiments, including detecting a uterine contraction sequence suggesting the need to be hospitalized for birth giving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: HEALTHWATCH LTD.
    Inventors: Uri AMIR, Oleg Malafriev, Itzhak Katz
  • Publication number: 20170150927
    Abstract: An adhesive plaster module which has an adhesive layer for adhering to an object includes a substrate having the adhesive layer, a switch mounted on a same side of the substrate as the adhesive layer, a battery mounted on an opposite side of the substrate from the adhesive layer, and an electronic component mounted on the opposite side of the substrate from the adhesive layer, and configured to operate with power supplied from the battery upon the switch becoming conductive, wherein the switch is configured to be nonconductive while the adhesive layer is not attached to the object, and configured to become conductive in response to attaching the adhesive layer to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuyuki KUBOTA, Kaori YOKOTA, Norihito KONNO
  • Publication number: 20170150928
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for in-vivo assessment of the location and extent of blood flow stasis regions inside a cardiac chamber or blood vessel and systems for performing the methods. The disclosure provides methods for assessing risk of intracardiac or intravascular thrombus or of embolism originating in a cardiac chamber or vessel, and methods for assessing the need for and/or optimization of cardiac resynchronization therapy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Juan Carlos del Alamo de Pedro, Lorenzo Rossini, Andrew Kahn, Javier Bermejo, Pablo Martínez-Legazpi, Raquel Yotti Alvarez
  • Publication number: 20170150929
    Abstract: A biological-information detecting apparatus includes a first blood-flow measuring device provided at a seat surface of a seat, the first blood-flow measuring device measuring a condition of a blood flow of a popliteal artery of a measurement subject seated in the seat, a second blood-flow measuring device provided at a back of the seat, the second blood-flow measuring device measuring a condition of a blood flow of a thoracic aorta of the measurement subject, and a blood-pressure calculation device determining a pulse-wave propagation velocity and a degree of arteriosclerosis from blood flow data acquired by the first blood-flow measuring device and blood flow data acquired by the second blood-flow measuring device and calculating blood pressures of the popliteal artery and the thoracic aorta of the measurement subject based on the pulse-wave propagation velocity and the degree of arteriosclerosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki SANKAI
  • Publication number: 20170150930
    Abstract: A method for estimating a physical condition used by a computer includes simultaneously measuring blood flow volumes of at least two body parts of a person and estimating the person's physical condition on the basis of the blood flow volumes of the at least two body parts measured in the simultaneously measuring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: SHINICHI SHIKII, KOICHI KUSUKAME, AKI YONEDA, NAWATT SILAWAN, SHINJI UCHIDA, TATSUO ITOH
  • Publication number: 20170150931
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a blood component level, such as a blood neutral fat level or blood sugar level, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joon Hyung LEE, So Young LEE, Sang Kyu KIM, Jung Yong NAM, Jung Mok BAE, Ki Young CHANG
  • Publication number: 20170150932
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a photon counting imaging apparatus includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray detector, and data acquisition circuitry. The X-ray detector includes a detector pixel including photoelectric conversion cells each configured to individually generate an electrical signal of a predetermined pulse height, and output circuitry configured to generate an energy signal having a pulse height corresponding to energy of the X-rays based on the electrical signals from the photoelectric conversion cells. The data acquisition circuitry corrects the energy signal based on a relationship between an amplification factor and an applied voltage to the detector pixel during a period until the voltage applied to the detector pixel recovers from a breakdown voltage to a reverse bias voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Tooru KATO, Mikihito HAYASHI, Hiroaki NAKAI
  • Publication number: 20170150933
    Abstract: The invention comprises a multiplexed proton tomography imaging apparatus and method of use thereof. In one embodiment, a method for imaging a tumor of a patient comprises the steps of: (1) simultaneously detecting spatially resolved positively charged particle positions passing through each of a set of cross-section planes, where the cross-section planes are both prior to and posterior to the patient along a path of the positively charged particles; (2) determining a prior vector for each of the individual positively charged particles entering a patient using the detected positions; (3) determining a posterior vector for each of the individual positively charged particles exiting the patient using the detected positions; (4) generating a probable path of each positively charged particle through the patient; and (5) generating an image of the patient using the n probable proton paths and optionally a detected residual energy of each proton.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: James P. Bennett, W. Davis Lee
  • Publication number: 20170150934
    Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for imaging a tumor with X-rays while, simultaneously or alternatingly, treating or imaging the tumor with positively charged particles. An X-ray imaging system, such as one or two sets of a cone beam X-ray source coupled to an X-ray detector, is rotatable about a first axis and a patient. The X-ray imaging system is positioned off axis a path of charged particles delivered through an exit port of a nozzle system from a synchrotron and does not block a path of the positively charged particles from the exit nozzle to the patient or an imaging path from the patient to a scintillation detector. Fiducial indicators are used to confirm an unobstructed path of the positively charged particles in a treatment room comprising many movable elements, such as the X-ray imaging system and a patient positioning system/couch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: James P. Bennett, W. Davis Lee
  • Publication number: 20170150935
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging system (10) for a vertebral level, an identification method for a vertebral level, a computer program element for controlling such system and a computer readable medium having stored such computer program element. The imaging system (10) comprises a determination unit (11), a definition unit (12), an imaging unit (13), and a processing unit (14). The determination unit (11) determines a target vertebral level. The definition unit (12) defines an anatomical landmark of a spine. The imaging unit (13) provides a series of X-ray images along the spine based on the landmark. The processing unit (14) identifies the target vertebral level in at least one of the X-ray images. The processing unit (14) further stitches the X-ray images to a continuous panoramic image of the spine and identifies the target vertebral level in the panoramic image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: EBERHARD SEBASTIAN HANSIS, DIRK SCHAEFER, MICHAEL GRASS
  • Publication number: 20170150936
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus includes processing circuitry. The circuitry controls a voltage generator during non-helical scan to switch tube voltage, thereby causing an imaging to be performed separately with X-rays of a first energy and X-rays of a second energy. The circuitry generates first and second projection data sets, respectively. The circuitry performs image reconstruction based on the first and second projection data sets respectively, thereby generating first and second images respectively. The circuitry performs alignment processing to align the second image with the first image. The circuitry generates a third projection data set based on a processing result of the alignment processing. The circuitry performs transformation processing to transform the second and third projection data sets into projection data sets corresponding to reference materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Yoda
  • Publication number: 20170150937
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for reducing artefacts that are caused particularly by disturbance bodies and/or metal bodies in computed tomography (CT) images by means of a regulated iteration process that can be integrated particularly into a process for processing measurement data and preferably into a superordinate process for data alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Maik STILLE, Thorsten M. BUZUG
  • Publication number: 20170150938
    Abstract: An image brightness adjustment method and an image brightness adjustment device are provided in the present disclosure. A brightness of a fluoroscopic image obtained by irradiating an object with an initial fluoroscopic dose of X-rays is acquired as an initial brightness. A current load corresponding to the initial brightness is determined according to a relationship between image brightness and loads for the initial fluoroscopic dose, where the current load indicates an X-ray blocking ability of the object. Then, a stable fluoroscopic dose corresponding to the current load is determined according to a relationship between load and stable fluoroscopic dose, where the stable fluoroscopic dose is used to obtain a fluoroscopic image of a predetermined brightness for the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Dexin Wang
  • Publication number: 20170150939
    Abstract: Controlling a multi-device module includes a physiological sensor configured to sense physiological characteristics of a subject and generate a signal indicative of an instantaneous physiological state. A first device is configured to generate a first signal indicative of an operating state of the first device. A second device is configured to generate a second signal indicative of an operating state of the second device. A remote-control device includes a repository for storing computer executable files aggregated from a plurality of changing private networks. The remote-control device includes an electronic record (ER) client to make a wireless connection with each of the private networks and to query ER database associated with the private networks for electronic records residing within the private networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Netspective Communications LLC
    Inventor: Shahid N. Shah
  • Publication number: 20170150940
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes: in a collimation condition, performing air scan based on a predetermined reference scanning condition to obtain air calibration data corresponded to the predetermined reference scanning condition; and obtaining air calibration data of non-reference scanning conditions in the collimation condition based on the air calibration data corresponded to the predetermined reference scanning condition and stored incremental differences, wherein the stored incremental differences are differences between the air calibration data of the predetermined reference scanning condition and the non-reference scanning conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Shanshan LOU, Jiaxiang XIE
  • Publication number: 20170150941
    Abstract: A system for identifying tissue includes a subject-specific tissue signature (48) derived from an ultrasound image. The tissue signature has specified ranges of characteristics based on analysis of a reference tissue of a subject having a confirmed pathology. A searching module (140) is stored in memory and is configured to search through images (134) for a volume of the subject to identify tissues in the images for comparison. A comparison module (124) configured to identify tissue matches between the tissue signature of the reference tissue and the tissue signature of the tissues in the volume in accordance with a score based upon the specified ranges of characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: James Robertson Jago, Thomas Patrice Jean Arsene Gauthier, Gary Cheng-How Ng
  • Publication number: 20170150942
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a present embodiment includes: an ultrasonic probe attached to a puncture adaptor including puncture holes; and a processing circuitry configured to (A) set a target site of puncturing within an object, the target site of puncturing being specified in an ultrasonic image based on data detected by the ultrasonic probe, (B) identify a puncture hole out of the puncture holes, the puncture hole being at a position corresponding to a position of the target site of puncturing, (C) generate projection information regarding the identified puncture hole, and (D) control a projection apparatus that optically projects information to control the projection information to be projected onto the puncture adaptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Fuminori FUJITA, Kentaro TSUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20170150943
    Abstract: An ultrasound observation apparatus includes: a transmitting-and-receiving unit that: generates an electrical transmission drive wave for generating an ultrasound pulse to be transmitted by an ultrasound probe; outputs the transmission drive wave to the ultrasound probe; and receives an electrical echo signal from the ultrasound probe; an analysis unit that analyzes a frequency of the echo signal to calculate a frequency spectrum of the echo signal; a setting unit that sets, in accordance with the transmission drive wave, a frequency band used in calculating a feature of the frequency spectrum; a correction unit that corrects intensity of the frequency spectrum in the frequency band, using a correction amount defined according to the transmission drive wave, to calculate a corrected frequency spectrum; and an approximation unit that approximates the corrected frequency spectrum calculated by the intensity correction unit, in the frequency band, to extract a feature of the corrected frequency spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironaka MIYAKI
  • Publication number: 20170150944
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a holder implemented to hold a probe; an object sensor for detecting physical changes around the holder; an electromagnetic wave sensor for detecting electromagnetic waves around the holder; and a controller for determining a port name for a probe held in the holder, based on sensing values from the object sensor and electromagnetic wave sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Chil Su KIM
  • Publication number: 20170150945
    Abstract: Amplification of a signal by a small circuit size and reduction of a power are achieved. A current controlling current source unit 53 changes an outputting current based on a transition time setting signal tp. A current controlling current source unit 54 changes a drawing current based on a transition time setting signal tn. An amplitude control unit 55 changes a power source voltage supplied to the current controlling current source unit 53 and changes amplitude of a voltage generated by a current outputted from the current controlling current source unit 53, based on amplitude setting signal ap. An amplitude control unit 56 changes a power source voltage supplied to the current controlling current source unit 54 and changes amplitude of a voltage generated by the current drawn by the current controlling current source unit 54, based on amplitude setting signal an.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Takuma NISHIMOTO, Yutaka IGARASHI, Yusaku KATSUBE, Kengo IMAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20170150946
    Abstract: A transmission circuit for ultrasonic diagnosis includes a delay processing circuit that delays a transmission signal pattern and an operational circuit that calculates a delay time. A transmission timing for supplying the transmission signal pattern to a plurality of piezo electric elements corresponding to a plurality of channels is approximated by a multi-dimensional polynomial with locations of the plurality of piezo electric elements being variables so that the transmission timing becomes linear or arc-like. Coefficients in the multi-dimensional polynomial are supplied to the transmission circuit for ultrasonic diagnosis. The delay time in the delay processing circuit is determined by a first coefficient. The operational circuit calculates the delay time based on a second coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Hiroyasu YOSHIZAWA, Satoshi HANAZAWA, Tatsuya ODAWARA, Na LI
  • Publication number: 20170150947
    Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic diagnostic device in which a transmission unit outputs a transmission signal to a probe such that an ultrasonic wave is transmitted a plurality of times while the position of a sound source is changed. A reception unit obtains the received ultrasonic wave signal from the probe for each of the plurality of times that the transmission signal is transmitted. A synthesis processing unit synthesizes the received ultrasonic wave signals that are obtained over the plurality of times. A higher harmonic extraction unit extracts a higher harmonic component from the synthesized received ultrasonic wave signal. An image forming unit forms an ultrasonic wave image on the basis of the extracted higher harmonic component. A control unit adjusts the time interval of the plurality of times that the ultrasonic wave is transmitted and controls the transmission voltage of the transmission signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo YOSHIZAWA, Masanori HISATSU
  • Publication number: 20170150948
    Abstract: A signal processing device according to an embodiment includes adjustment circuitry and processing circuitry. The adjustment circuitry adjusts a received signal based on an echo of an ultrasonic wave transmitted to a subject with gain corresponding to a location at which the echo has been generated. The processing circuitry corrects the received signal that has been adjusted by the adjustment circuitry and calculates an index value relating to attenuation by using the corrected received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Yuko KANAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20170150949
    Abstract: A device for detecting ovulation using saliva according to the present invention comprises: a device body having a lens disposed in the inner space thereof and a pinhole formed through a side opposite to the lens; a scattering unit coupled to one side of the device body, which has the pinhole formed therein, and configured to scatter light to be supplied to the pinhole; and a sample plate which is separably mounted in the device body so as to be located between the lens and the pinhole and on which saliva is placed, wherein the pinhole is configured to convert light, which passed through the scattering unit, into point light so as to uniformly supply the light to the sample plate, so that saliva crystals formed by drying of the saliva will form a striking contrast with the surrounding portions when the light is scattered by the saliva crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Medi Brain Lab Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Kwan LIM, Ig-Mo KOO
  • Publication number: 20170150950
    Abstract: A medical instrument with a hollow shaft, a handle at the proximal end, and a tool at the distal end such that the tool is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft via an actuation rod connected to the handle, the actuation rod composed of two parts, with mutually facing end-face toothing arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Yann Thouément, Régis Besse, Jochen Stefan, Daniel Kärcher
  • Publication number: 20170150951
    Abstract: A protection device for preventing tumor dissemination and tumor metastasis in a laparoscopic surgery includes a soft bag (1) for containing a resected tumor during the surgery provided in an abdominal cavity through a puncture in an abdominal wall, and a sealing thread (2) provided around a mouth of the soft bag (1). An instrument is able to be put into the soft bag in the abdominal cavity through the mouth of the soft bag (1) outside the abdominal cavity for inflating and crushing, or the instrument is able to be put into the soft bag in the abdominal cavity for operation and observation through a conduit shaped structure for a breaking operation (3) or a conduit shaped structure for an auxiliary operation (4) or a conduit shaped structure for peering (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Bin Ling, Andong Ling
  • Publication number: 20170150952
    Abstract: Stomach tissue is manipulated and fastened with a tissue grasper and a tissue shaper to form folds in the stomach. The tissue grasper and the tissue shaper rotate and translate relative to one another. The tissue grasper has a plurality of vacuum orifices to adhere the tissue grasper to tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: EndoGastric Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Romley
  • Publication number: 20170150953
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel internal fixation devices, such as bone plates, generally and novel craniomaxillofacial bone plates more specifically and systems for bonding the same. More specifically, the invention relates to bone plates made of a polymer blend of (poly)lactic acid and Ecoflex as well as a novel hot-melt adhesive polymer blend of the same material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen McCarthy, Jeffrey Weinzweig
  • Publication number: 20170150954
    Abstract: A retractor for endoscopic surgery can be placed in a vicinity of a target organ in a body cavity, while reducing burdens on a patient. The retractor is a surgical retractor including a liquid-absorbing and swelling material, wherein the liquid-absorbing and swelling material is formed in a roll shape, the roll-shaped liquid-absorbing and swelling material absorbs liquid in a body cavity to swell and expand into a planar shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Shintaro Kataoka, Takehiko Hirabara
  • Publication number: 20170150955
    Abstract: A lumbar spine fusion system includes a probe and a retractor blade. The probe includes a shaft, a pointed tip, and a collar. The pointed tip is configured to puncture tissue in a disk space of a disk and anchor the probe to the tissue. The collar is configured to act as a stop to control a distance through which the shaft of the probe traverses the tissue. The retractor blade includes an end portion and a slot. The slot is configured to receive at least a portion of the shaft of the probe. At least a portion of the end portion is configured to rest upon one or more of the disk and the collar when the retractor blade is mounted on the probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Seth K. WILLIAMS
  • Publication number: 20170150956
    Abstract: A retractor includes a first arm, a second arm, and a translating member. The first arm comprises a proximal portion configured to retain a first retractor member and a distal portion configured to rotate relative to the proximal portion about a first axis. The second arm is configured to retain a second retractor member, such that rotation of the distal portion about the first axis causes the first retractor member to pivot toward or away from the second retractor member when the first retractor member and the second retractor member are coupled to the first arm and the second arm, respectively. The translating member is coupled between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and is configured to receive a drive force that causes the translating member to bias the distal portion to pivot relative to the proximal portion about the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Cyril Baudouin, Matthew Fenn, Markus Hunziker, Sean Saidha, Michael White, Khawar Siddique, Brian Perri, Philippe Lindenmann
  • Publication number: 20170150957
    Abstract: A laparoscopic retractor (11) comprises a shaft (8) having a proximal and distal end, the distal end of the shaft being configured for adjustment from a substantially straight orientation to a curved orientation having a substantially U-shaped hook suitable for laparoscopic retraction. The proximal end of the shaft comprises a handle (1) operably connected to the distal end of the shaft for adjustment of the distal end from the substantially straight orientation to the curved orientation. The distal end of the shaft is enclosed within a flexible sheath (4) that is adapted to be inflated, and wherein a portion of the sheath covering the distal end of the shaft comprises inflatable balloon means such as one or more inflatable balloons (5) which cover the substantially U-shaped hook.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Conor O'Shea, Padraig Cantillon-Murphy, Emmet Andrews, Michael O'Riordain, Conor O'Donoghue, Grace Burke, Daniel Cummins, Richard Finn
  • Publication number: 20170150958
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a first member comprising an end surface. A second member includes a flange and a first groove having a holding member movably disposed therein. A third member includes a lip and a second groove having the holding member movably disposed therein. The lip extends at an acute angle relative to an axis defined by the third member. The holding member is movable between a first configuration in which the holding member is disposed in the second groove and first and second portions of the holding member are positioned in the first groove and a second configuration in which the holding member is spaced apart from the second groove and the first and second portions of the holding member are spaced apart from the first groove. Systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: KYPHON SARL
    Inventors: Neil Sasaki, Craig Lauchner
  • Publication number: 20170150959
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing soft tissue to bone can include loading a suture through an eyelet of a suture anchor. The suture anchor can have a longitudinal axis and a distal tip. An anchor inserter assembly can be positioned in contact with the suture anchor. The anchor inserter assembly can include a sleeve portion and an impacting portion. The suture can be engaged with a suture engaging member on the suture inserter assembly at a location adjacent to the eyelet. The sleeve portion can be translated relative to the impacting portion from an alignment position to an insertion position thereby moving the suture a first distance offset from the eyelet in a direction away from the distal tip. The anchor insert assembly can be advanced to a driven position thereby advancing the suture anchor into the bone. The suture engaging member can be released from the suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Brian K. Berelsman, Kevin T. Stone
  • Publication number: 20170150960
    Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft or “suture anchor”, threaded, knotless or otherwise, by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. The simplified placement system and method of the present invention allows the surgeon to establish the graft position and, while maintaining that position, secure the anchor without changing the suture tension or causing a shift in the graft position and furthermore, when the anchor is threaded, without spinning of the suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. DOUGHERTY, Robert A. Van Wyk, Gary R. Heisler
  • Publication number: 20170150961
    Abstract: An endoscopic stitching device includes an actuation shaft, a tool assembly, and a drive assembly. The tool assembly includes a suture needle and a pair of jaws transitionable between open and closed positions. Each jaw includes a needle engaging blade slidably supported thereon. Each needle engaging blade is transitionable between an extended position in which the needle engaging blade engages the suture needle and a retracted position in which the needle engaging blade is disengaged from the suture needle. The drive assembly includes first, second, and third electrical actuators. The first actuator is operatively coupled with the actuation shaft to cause axial displacement of the actuation shaft. The axial displacement of the actuation shaft causes opening and closing of the pair of jaws. The second and third actuators are operatively coupled with the needle engaging blades to provide axial displacement of the needle engaging blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Stanislaw Marczyk, Russell Pribanic, Anthony Calderoni, Christopher Switalski
  • Publication number: 20170150962
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems and methods for endoscopic suturing or stitching through an access tube or the like. An endoscopic stitching device is provided and includes a handle assembly; an elongate shaft supported by and extending from the handle assembly; and an end effector supported on a distal end of the elongate shaft. The end effector includes a neck assembly configured and adapted for articulation in one direction between a substantially linear configuration and an off-axis configuration, and a pair of juxtaposed jaws pivotally associated with one another. Each jaw defines a suture needle receiving recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Ramiro Cabrera, Thomas Wingardner, David N. Fowler, Brian J. Creston, Dmitri Menn, Paul D. Richard, Gene Stellon
  • Publication number: 20170150963
    Abstract: Suture delivered patches adapted for interposition, augmentation or repair devices for use in tendon and ligament repair, including rotator cuff repair, have been developed as well as methods for their delivery using suture guided arthroscopic methods. The repair patches may be provided from suitable biocompatible materials. The patches may be delivered using anchored sutures already in use during a surgical repair including, open, minimally invasive, endoscopic, and arthroscopic repair procedures. Additionally, fixation of the suture delivered repair patch is secured along with the normal suture securing workflow of the one or more sutures used to deliver the patch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Struan H. COLEMAN
  • Publication number: 20170150964
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tissue protection device for mitral valve cerclage annuloplasty and, more particularly to a tissue protection device for protecting tissues of the body (heart) during mitral valve cerclage annuloplasty that is performed on a mitral valve cerclage patient with mitral regurgitation. The tissue protection device for mitral valve cerclage annuloplasty of the present invention is a hollow cylindrical tube where cerclage sutures (10a, 10b) are inserted, in which a hole (22) is formed at a predetermined portion of the cylindrical tube so that a coronary sinus cerclage suture (10a) inserted in a coronary sinus comes out of the cylindrical tube, and a lower section from the hole is inserted into the tricuspid valve to protect tissues of the tricuspid valve and the ventricular septum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: JUNE-HONG KIM
  • Publication number: 20170150965
    Abstract: An adapter assembly for connecting an end effector to a surgical instrument includes first, second, and third drive assemblies configured for converting rotational motion into linear motion. Each of the second and third drive assemblies includes a cam assembly for longitudinally advancing and retracting respective second and third drive members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Justin Williams
  • Publication number: 20170150966
    Abstract: A suturing device provided. The suturing device may include at least a firing aperture, a drive mechanism and an autoloading mechanism. The firing aperture may include at least one needle rotatably disposed therein configured to engage a suture for deployment. The drive mechanism may be operatively coupled to the needle and configured to advance the needle from a retracted position to an extended position during engagement, and retract the needle from the extended position to the retracted position during disengagement. The autoloading mechanism may be operatively coupled to the drive mechanism and configured to slidably retrieve and position a suture to be deployed over the firing aperture during disengagement of the drive mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Surgimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Wai N. Chin, James Orrico, Gary M. Kobylewski, Jafar S. Hasan
  • Publication number: 20170150967
    Abstract: An end effector for a surgical stapling apparatus is provided which includes an anvil assembly and a surgical buttress. The anvil assembly includes an anvil body and an anvil plate. The anvil plate includes a bottom surface that defines a plurality of staple forming pockets. The anvil body and the anvil plate are selectively connectable. The surgical buttress includes a buttress body and a plurality of arms extending from the body. The arms are disposable between a top surface of the anvil plate and a bottom surface of the anvil body to support the buttress body against the bottom surface of the anvil plate when the anvil plate and the anvil body are connected to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Gerald Hodgkinson, Timothy D. Ebner, Peter Hathaway
  • Publication number: 20170150968
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device comprising a housing, an elongated portion, an end effector, and a movable handle disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing and movable between a first open position and a second approximated position for affecting a function of the end effector. A ratchet mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the movable handle and is configured to substantially prevent the movable handle from moving towards its first open position until the movable handle reaches a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Keith L. Milliman
  • Publication number: 20170150969
    Abstract: A device and method for treating bodily diseases and/or conditions, for example, varicose veins, tumors and aneurisms including for example insertion of a blocking device toward a target destination using a catheter and delivery of sclerosing or other agents to the vessel while maintaining minimal, for example zero pressure in the treatment area. The blocking device may prevent treatment materials, embolisms, debris etc. from entering the upstream section of vessel. The blocking device may include, for example, a cap or other concave shape and may be expandable or extendible towards the vessel walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: V.V.T. Med Ltd.
    Inventor: Zeev BRANDEIS
  • Publication number: 20170150970
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for use during organ occlusions in humans or mammals, especially for the performing of an intrauterine tracheal occlusion in the course of the treatment of a congenital fetal diaphragmatic hernia, comprising a balloon body (1) which can be filled with a fluid with a balloon shell (2), forming a lumen to hold the fluid, and a balloon mouth (3) for introducing the fluid into the lumen, a separate auxiliary catheter for the placement of the balloon body (1) in the organ segment being treated and/or for the inflation of the balloon body (1) with the fluid, wherein the balloon body (1) is connected to a flexible, elongated prolongation element (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Tchirikov
  • Publication number: 20170150971
    Abstract: A medical flow restrictor that may be used to exclude a saccular aneurysm from the circulatory system. The device, a thin walled, foil-like shell, is compacted for delivery. The invention includes the device, electroforming fabrication methods, delivery assemblies, and methods of placing, and using, the device. A device with an aneurysm lobe and an artery lobe self-aligns its waist at the neck of an aneurysm as the device shell is pressure expanded. Negative pressure is used to collapse both the aneurysm lobe and the artery lobe, captivating the neck of the aneurysm and securing the device. The device works for aneurysms at bifurcations and aneurysms near side-branch arteries. The device, unlike endovascular coiling, excludes the weak neck of the aneurysm from circulation, while leaving the aneurysm relatively empty. Unlike stent-based exclusion, the device does not block perforator arteries. This exclusion device can also limit flow through body lumens or orifices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Richard A. Hines
  • Publication number: 20170150972
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method for automatic control of blood from the damaged vessel to be used in a dressing system provided with a tourniquet, a bandage and the first compression element. The method comprises the stage of applying pressure exceeding the systolic blood pressure of the patient via the compression element to a lesion site, so that the blood stops flowing through the damaged vessel, then the stage of reducing the pressure. In the pressure reduction stage, the pressure is reduced by a predetermined drop value, wherein if no blood flow is detected in the damaged vessel, then pressure reduction stage is repeated and if blood flow in the damaged vessel is detected, the pressure reduction stage is interrupted for a pressure drop time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Mariusz KRUK
  • Publication number: 20170150973
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical drill device. The medical drill device includes a boring drill including a motor and a drill part; an instrument body coupled to the boring drill; and a plurality of supporting rods coupled to the instrument body so as to support the boring drill to a work area. Each of the supporting rods includes: a straight portion inserted into the corresponding supporting rod insertable part in such a manner that the supporting rod is linearly moved with the instrument body; and a bent portion bent at a predetermined angle from the straight portion. As such, by using the supporting rods having a bent structure to support a boring drill to a work area and simultaneously limiting a boring depth of the boring drill, it is possible to shorten boring time and ensure safety of the boring operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: KOH YOUNG TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Young Sik KWON, Seung Chui HAN