Lifecor, Inc.

Orthalign, Inc.

Vascor, Inc.

Compu-guard, Inc.

Joseph F Russial

Marlin S Heilman

David M Reilly

Richard Anthony Bates

A Curt Stone

Jonathan Robert Speicher

Jon David Wagner

Charles Robert Kohler

Kurt D Badstibner

Arlan J Brandt

Larry D Bowling

Thomas E Kaib

Romesh Wadhwani

David J Peduzzi

John A Glegyak

Curt A Stone

An implantable heart assist system includes a compressible pumping chamber including an inlet conduit to be placed in fluid connection with the descending thoracic aorta and an outlet conduit to be placed in fluid connection with the thoracic aorta; and a pump system comprising a first rigid member, a second rigid member positioned so that at least a portion of the pumping chamber may be positioned between the first and second rigid members, a drive system configured to cause the second rigid member to move toward or away from the first rigid member, and a controller in operative connection with the drive system and controlling the drive system, wherein movement of the second rigid member toward the first rigid member results in compresses the pumping chamber and movement of the second rigid member away from the first rigid member expands the pumping chamber.

Thoracic aorta ventricular assist system

An implantable heart assist system, includes a pumping chamber formed of a flexible material and being adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the aorta and a pump system comprising a first rigid member and a spaced apart second rigid member so that at least a portion of the pumping chamber may be positioned therebetween, a drive system comprising a motor. The motor is adapted to cause the second rigid member to move toward the first rigid member to compress the pumping chamber or away from the first rigid member to expand the pumping chamber. A controller is in operative connection with the drive system and controlling the motor.

A device for detecting and measuring a change in angular position with respect to a reference plane is useful in surgical procedures for orienting various instruments, prosthesis, and implants with respect to anatomical landmarks. One embodiment of the device uses three orthogonal rate sensors, along with integrators and averagers, to determine angular position changes using rate of change information. A display provides position changes from a reference position. Various alignment guides are useful with surgical instruments to obtain a reference plane.

Surgical orientation device and method

A patient-worn energy delivery apparatus for imparting electrical therapy to the body of a patient responsive to an occurrence of a treatable condition includes a voltage converter for converting electrical energy from an initial voltage to a final voltage, and a defibrillator electrically coupled between the converter and the patient and having an energy reservoir for receiving the electrical energy. The defibrillator produces preshaped electrical pulses such as defibrillation pulses and cardioversion pulses. The apparatus additionally includes an energy delivery controller electrically coupled to the patient and the converter and the defibrillator. The controller causes the converter to provide the electrical energy to the defibrillator at a specific charging rate in response to an energy level in the reservoir. The apparatus may include a plurality of electrodes interposed between the defibrillator and the patient and each electrode preferably has an impedance reducing means contained therein. One embodiment of the apparatus may include a H-bridge to produce a positive-going pulse segment and the negative-going pulse segment within the biphasic exponential signals. The apparatus periodically measures the energy as it is being delivered to the patient and can pre-emptively stop or truncate the pulse in the event an error condition is detected, such as an overvoltage condition or if the energy level approaches a predetermined level. The electrical components which store and release the energy minimize the size and expense of the apparatus, while isolating the microcomputer from the high energy levels as the therapeutic pulse is delivered.

Patient-worn energy delivery apparatus

A patient-worn harness or vest protects at-risk patients from the possibly fatal results of heart arrhythmias. The harness or vest incorporates sensing electrodes for monitoring heart condition, a microprocessor and memory for processing signals received from the sending electrodes and comparing same with patient's data, and skin-contacting pulsing electrodes for applying electrical pulses to the patient's chest wall responsive to signals received from the microprocessor. The electrodes include automatic tightening and electrolyte gel release mechanisms for reducing impedance at the electrode-skin interface. A servicing subsystem is provided for the harness or vest and may be used to interface with the harness or vest and may be used to interface with the harness or vest and also to communicate with remote health care personnel through a suitable telephone link.

Portable device for sensing cardiac function and automatically

A patient-worn harness or vest protects at-risk patients from the possibly fatal results of heart arrhythmias. The harness or vest incorporates sensing electrodes for monitoring heart condition, a microprocessor and memory for processing signals received from the sending electrodes and comparing same with patient's data, and skin-contacting pulsing electrodes for applying electrical pulses to the patient's chest wall responsive to signals received from the microprocessor. The electrodes include automatic tightening and electrolyte gel release mechanisms for reducing impedance at the electrode-skin interface. A servicing subsystem is provided for the harness or vest and may be used to interface with the harness or vest and also to communicate with remote health care personnel through a suitable telephone link.

A data communications system for conveying load control commands, power usage data, and other data on electric power lines. A remote module for reading the power usage meters and controlling loads is disposed at each power usage location. A group of remote modules convey their power usage data to an associated communications terminal to be accumulated, organized and stored. The group also receives load control commands from the communications terminal to cause them to initiate specific load control functions. There are a plurality of communications terminals disposed at various intervals along the primary distribution feeders. A central control unit collects the usage data from the remote modules, generates load control commands, and the like. Communications between the control unit and a destination communications terminal are relayed by the intermediate communications terminals. If an intermediate communications terminal should fail to relay communications properly, the central control unit and the other communications terminals isolate and by-pass the malfunctioning unit. If a communications terminal should fail to communicate properly with its associated group of remote modules, another communications terminal can be programmed to assume its function.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Joseph F Russial