Chiron Corporation

Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona

Other

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Gmbh

Frank I Marcus

Michael Houghton

George Kuo

Kent B Thudium

John Andrew Hall

Robert O Ralston

Barbara A Gervase

Kim M Berger

Qui-Lim Choo

Ding Sheng He

Victor D Ramirez

Michael Bosnos

Trina D Hughes

Oui-Lim Choo

José M Guillén-Rodríguez

Kullervo H Hynynen

Methods and devices for identifying the 4and the 5intercostal spaces for the purpose of proper placement of ECG precordial leads, regardless of the patient's height and/or weight. By calculating the sternal length, the distance between the sternal notch and the xiphoid process, the locations of the 4and 5intercostal spaces can be determined. The present invention also features devices for measuring the length and to indicate to a user the location of the 4and 5intercostal spaces based on the measured sternal length. The methods and devices provide a more accurate identification of the 4and the 5intercostal spaces resulting in proper ECG lead placement, which then facilitates accurate ECG interpretation.

Methods and devices for placement of electrocardiogram leads

Lesion size or volume prediction shortly after the onset of an ablation procedure can inform or control the ablation procedure. The prediction and/or control is made without regard to an actual detected temperature in the vicinity of the ablation electrodes. As a consequence, the system has utility with irrigated catheter constructions and other situations in which local irrigation in the vicinity of an ablation site would otherwise interfere with a prediction or control scheme that solely relies upon temperature measurements.

System and method for predicting lesion size shortly after onset of RF energy delivery

Two Hepatitis C Virus envelope proteins (E1 and E2) are expressed without sialylation. Recombinant expression of these proteins in lower eukaryotes, or in mammalian cells in which terminal glycosylation is blocked, results in recombinant proteins which are more similar to native HCV glycoproteins. When isolated by GNA lectin affinity, the E1 and E2 proteins aggregate into virus-like particles.

Antibodies to hepatitis C virus asialoglycoproteins

The patterns of contraction and relaxation of the heart before and during left ventricular or biventricular pacing are analyzed and displayed in real time mode to assist physicians to screen patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy, to set the optimal A-V or right ventricle to left ventricle interval delay, and to select the site(s) of pacing that result in optimal cardiac performance. The system includes an accelerometer sensor; a programmable pace maker, a computer data analysis module, and may also include a 2D and 3D visual graphic display of analytic results, i.e. a Ventricular Contraction Map. A feedback network provides direction for optimal pacing leads placement. The method includes selecting a location to place the leads of a cardiac pacing device, collecting seismocardiographic (SCG) data corresponding to heart motion during paced beats of a patient's heart, determining hemodynamic and electrophysiological parameters based on the SCG data, repeating the preceding steps for another lead placement location, and selecting a lead placement location that provides the best cardiac performance by comparing the calculated hemodynamic and electrophysiological parameters for each different lead placement location.

Optimization method for cardiac resynchronization therapy

Impedance and capacitance-related parameters are monitored in the electrical circuit of a tissue-ablation apparatus wherein RF electrical power is administered at predetermined frequencies. Tissue temperature has been found to correlate well with low-frequency impedance, or with the resistive component of impedance at any frequency. Therefore, one or both of these parameters are calculated and tracked during the ablation procedure to estimate tissue temperature. Similarly, tissue lesion formation has been found to correlate well with changes in the capacitive component of tissue impedance. Thus, this parameter can be used to track tissue lesion formation during the ablation procedure. The ratio of tissue-to-blood interface with the ablation electrode is estimated by measuring impedance at a very low frequency and a very high frequency. The difference between these two values divided by the high-frequency value is taken to be a measure of such ratio. Alternatively, other electrical parameters indicative of changes in the capacitive component of the system may be measured and the ratio is calculated as a function of these changes with respect to a baseline value.

Method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling tissue temperature and lesion formation in radio-frequency ablation procedures

Hepatitis C virus asialoglycoproteins

Dopamine releasing protein (DARP) is a protein which stimulates release of dopamine from dopaminergic neurons, and is effective at extremely low concentrations. DARP is useful for stimulating vertebrate nervous systems, and for treatment of Parkinson's disease. Antibodies to DARP are useful for inhibiting dopamine release, and for quantifying the concentration of DARP in samples.

Detection reagent and antibody specific for dopamine releasing protein

The present invention employs ultrasonic energy delivered to myocardial tissue at frequencies sufficient to destroy the myocardial tissue implicated in the arrhythmic. More specifically, the present invention comprises an ultrasonic transducer mounted on a distal end of a catheter and at least one electrode associated with the distal end region of the catheter. The ultrasonic transducer may be a single crystal transducer or a phased array crystal transducer.

Apparatus and method for intra-cardiac ablation of arrhythmias

Dopamine releasing protein (DARP) is a protein which stimulates release of dopamine from dopaminergic neurons, and is effective at extremely low concentrations. DARP is useful for stimulating vertebrate nervous systems, and potentially for treatment of Parkinson's disease. Antibodies to DARP are useful for inhibiting dopamine release, and for quantifying the concentration of DARP in samples.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Frank I Marcus