Raychem Limited

Medtronic, Inc.

Covidien LP

Mallinckrodt, Inc.

Nuclear Semiconductor

Lee M Middleman

Walter R Pyka

James E Jervis

Philippe Poncet

Michael Buhler

Karl Van Dyk

Reza Zadno

Paul David Mannheimer

Joseph H Evans

Clark Raymond Baker, Jr

Frank Anthony Doljack

Bruce R Bowman

Donald F Pettengill

Roger S Goodrich

Michael E Fein

Michael J Bernstein

Thomas A Kridl

Alan J Gotcher

James L Claypool

Hans R Zulliger

Arthur Edward Blake

Hank C Wuh

Karl Van Dyke

Victor A Scheff

In an embodiment, a sensor may be adapted to provide information related to its position on a patient's tissue. The sensor may include tissue contact sensors which may relay a signal related to the proper placement of the sensor relative to the tissue of a patient. Such a sensor may be useful for providing information to a clinician regarding the location of the sensor in relation to the skin of a patient in order to provide improved measurements.

Medical sensor and technique for using the same

In an embodiment, a sensor may be adapted to provide information related to its position on a patient's tissue. postioned adjacenta sensor may be provided with tissue contact sensors which may relay a signal related to the proper placement of the sensor relative to the tissue of a patient. Such a sensor may be useful for providing information to a clinician regarding the location of the sensor in relation to the skin of a patient in order to provide improved measurements.

Embodiments disclosed may include a sensor which may be adapted to provide information related to its position on a patient's tissue. A sensor may be provided with tissue contact sensors which may relay a signal related to the sensor's proper placement adjacent a patient's tissue. Such a sensor may be useful for providing information to a clinician about the status of a sensor, such as if a sensor may be located more closely to the tissue in order to provide improved measurements.

The invention provides a method of using an apparatus for manipulating matter in a confined or inaccessible space, comprising providing an apparatus having manipulator means at least partly constructed of one or more bent or twisted elongate shape memory alloy members having pseudoelasticity at the intended manipulation temperature, and a hollow housing or cannula capable of holding at least the shape memory alloy member(s) in a relatively straightened state, and actuating means for extending the shape memory alloy member(s) from the housing to manipulate matter within the space and for withdrawing the shape memory alloy member(s) into the housing, the arrangement being such that the shape-memory alloy member(s) bend(s) or twist(s) pseudoelastically in a lateral or helical sense to manipulate the matter on extending from the housing at the manipulation temperature, and become(s) relatively straightened on withdrawal into the housing at the temperature.

Method of manipulating matter in a mammalian body

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for anchoring a tubular element, preferably in the form of a catheter, within a passageway formed in a mammalian body, such as in a vessel, artery, duct, channel, or the like. The apparatus comprises a tubular element having a flexible, elongated, hollow tubular outer lumen with a central longitudinal axis extending therethrough, the outer lumen having a proximal end and a distal end. The apparatus further comprises deployment means positioned within the outer lumen and slidable with respect to the outer lumen. The deployment means has a proximal end and a distal end. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of resilient anchoring members preferably formed of a pseudoelastic material. The anchoring members are coupled to the distal end of the deployment means and extend longitudinally beyond the distal end of the deployment means. Each anchoring member is reversibly movable by the deployment means between a first position and a second position. In the first position, at least a portion of each anchoring member is retracted within the outer lumen of the tubular element. In the second position, at least a portion of each of the anchoring members is deployed exteriorly to the outer lumen of the tubular element, so as to engage an inner wall of the mammalian passageway and anchor the tubular element in a selected position within the passageway.

Device for anchoring tubular element

An encoding element which is backward compatible and will provide a single coded value to older analyzers in response to first signal, but will also provide a second coded value to a new analyzer or monitor. In one embodiment, both coded values are provided over the same first and second leads which are compatible with existing sensors. In another embodiment, a first voltage level produces a first current from the encoding element, while a second voltage level will produce the second coded value. In another embodiment, a first coded value is provided in response to a DC current from older analyzers. A second coded value is provided in response to a AC signal from newer analyzers. Yet another embodiment provides the coded value in the form of a resonant circuit in the AC driven mode. In another embodiment, the first coded value is provided over the same two leads after a period of time, with the second value being provided prior to that period of time passing.

Multiple-code oximeter calibration element

The present invention accordingly provides a device or apparatus for manipulating matter in a confined or inaccessible space, comprising manipulator means at least partly constructed of one or more bent or twisted elongate shape memory alloy members having pseudoelasticity at the intended manipulation temperature, and a hollow housing (preferably of elongate tubular form) or cannula capable of holding at least the shape memory alloy member(s) in a relatively straightened state, and actuating means for extending the shape memory alloy member(s) from the housing to manipulate matter within the said space and for withdrawing the shape memory alloy member(s) into the housing, the arrangement being such that the shape-memory alloy member(s) bend(s) or twist(s) pseudoelastically in a lateral or helical sense to manipulate the matter on extending from the housing at the said manipulation temperature, and become(s) relatively straightened on withdrawal into the housing at the said temperature. Preferably the invention provides such a device or apparatus which is of elongate form for surgical manipulation of matter within a living body, and which has the manipulator means at its distal end with the shape memory alby member(s) having pseudoelasticity at the temperature to be encountered within that body, and wherein the actuating means is operable from the proximal end of the device.

Device or apparatus for manipulating matter

The present invention provides a device or apparatus for manipulating matter in a confined or inaccessible space, comprising manipulator means at least partly constructed of one or more bent or twisted elongate metallic members having pseudoelasticity at the intended manipulation temperature, and a hollow housing (preferably of elongate tubular form) or cannula capable of holding at least the metallic member(s) in a relatively straightened state, and actuating means for extending the metallic member(s) from the housing to manipulate matter within the said space and for withdrawing the metallic member(s) into the housing, the arrangement being such that the metallic member(s) bend(s) or twist(s) pseudoelastically in a lateral or helical sense to manipulate the matter on extending from the housing at the said manipulation temperature, and become(s) relatively straightened on withdrawal into the housing at the said temperature. Preferably the invention provides such a device or apparatus which is of elongate form for surgical manipulation of matter within a living body, and which has the manipulator means at its distal end with the metallic member(s) having pseudoelasticity at the temperature to be encountered within that body, and wherein the actuating means is operable from the proximal end of the device.

A device or apparatus for manipulating matter in a confined or inaccessible space, comprises a manipulator at least partly constructed of one or more bent or twisted elongate metallic members having pseudoelasticity at the intended manipulation temperature, and a hollow housing (preferably of elongate tubular form) or cannula capable of holding at least the metallic member(s) in a relatively straightened state, and an actuator for extending the metallic member(s) from the housing to manipulate matter within the space and for withdrawing the metallic member(s) into the housing, the arrangement being such that the metallic member(s) bend(s) or twist(s) pseudoelastically in a lateral or helical sense to manipulate the matter on extending from the housing at the manipulation temperature, and become(s) relatively straightened on withdrawal into the housing at the temperature. Preferably the device or apparatus is of elongate form for surgical manipulation of matter within a living body, and has the manipulator at its distal end with the metallic member(s) having pseudoelasticity at the temperature to be encountered within the body, and wherein the actuator is operable from the proximal end of the device.

The present invention accordingly provides a device or apparatus for manipulating matter in a confined or inaccessible space, comprising manipulator means at least partly constructed of one or more bent or twisted elongate shape memory alloy members having pseudoelasticity at the intended manipulation temperature, and a hollow housing (preferably of elongate tubular form) or cannula capable of holding at least the shape memory alloy member(s) in a relatively straightened state, and actuating means for extending the shape memory alloy member(s) from the housing to manipulate matter within the said space and for withdrawing the shape memory alloy member(s) into the housing, the arrangement being such that the shape-memory alloy member(s) bend(s) or twist(s) pseudoelastically in a lateral or helical sense to manipulate the matter on extending from the housing at the said manipulation temperature, and become(s) relatively straightened on withdrawal into the housing at the said temperature. Preferably the invention provides such a device or apparatus which is of elongate form for surgical manipulation of matter within a living body, and which has the manipulator means at its distal end with the shape memory alloy member(s) having pseudoelasticity at the temperature to be encountered within that body, and wherein the actuating means is operable from the proximal end of the device.

The present invention provides a device or apparatus for manipulating matter in a confined or inaccessible space, comprising manipulator means at least partly constructed of one or more bent or twisted elongate shape memory alloy members having pseudoelasticity at the intended manipulation temperature, and a hollow housing (preferably of elongate tubular form) or cannula capable of holding at least the shape memory alloy member(s) in a relatively straightened state, and actuating means for extending the shape memory alloy member(s) from the housing to manipulate matter within the said space and for withdrawing the shape memory alloy member(s) into the housing, the arrangement being such that the shape-memory alloy member(s) bend(s) or twist(s) pseudoelastically in a lateral or helical sense to manipulate the matter on extending from the housing at the said manipulation temperature, and become(s) relatively straightened on withdrawal into the housing at the said temperature.

Growing community of inventors

Portola Valley, CA, United States of America

Lee M Middleman