Other

Endotex Interventional Systems, Inc.

Atrionix, Inc.

Lucent Technologies Inc.

University of California

At+t Corp.

Rampro, Inc.

Emory University

Michael R Ross

Farhad Khosravi

Michael D Lesh

James Clayton Peacock, Iii

Michael Hogendijk

John C Spiridigliozzi

Jonathan Jason Langberg

Renato M Camarda

David Lee Chavez, Jr

Amir Abolfathi

Himanshu N Patel

Mark A Maguire

Chris J Diederich

Kevin Jude Taylor

Albert F Rappoport

Samuel C Shawe

John P Jensen

Methods and systems for operating a moving platform to locate a known target at an area associated with the target are disclosed. In an example method to locate the target at the area, a first moving platform, configured with a first type of sensor, is caused to move to the area. An attempt is made to locate, via the first moving platform and the first type of sensor, the target at the area. Based on the attempt, a second moving platform, configured with a second type of sensor, is caused to move to the area. The target is located via the second moving platform and the second type of sensor.

Methods and systems for operating a moving platform to determine data associated with a target person or object

Methods and systems for operating a moving platform to determine data associated with a target person or object are disclosed. In an example method to determine at least one of an object or an activity associated with the target, a first moving platform, configured with a first type of sensor, is caused to move to an area associated with the target. The target is located at the area. An attempt is made to determine, via the first moving platform and the first type of sensor, the at least one of the object or activity. Based on the attempt, a second moving platform, configured with a second type of sensor, is caused to move to the area. The at least one of the object or activity associated with the target is determined via the second moving platform and the second type of sensor.

Methods and systems for operating a moving platform to determine an identity of an unidentified target are disclosed. In an example method to determine the identity of the unidentified target, a first moving platform, configured with a first type of sensor, is caused to move to an area associated with the target. An attempt is made to determine, via the first moving platform and the first type of sensor, the identity of the target. Based on the attempt, a second moving platform, configured with a second type of sensor, is caused to move to the area. The identity of the target is determined via the second moving platform and the second type of sensor.

This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator. The equatorial band has a length relative to the longitudinal axis of the expandable member that is narrow relative to the working length, and is also substantially shorter than its circumference when the working length is in the radially expanded position. A pattern of insulators may be included over an ablation element which otherwise spans the working length in order to form the equatorial band described. The expandable member is also adapted to conform to the pulmonary vein in the region of its ostium, such as by providing a great deal of radial compliance or by providing a taper along the working length which has a distally reducing outer diameter. A linear ablation element is provided adjacent to the circumferential ablation element in a combination assembly which is adapted for use in a less-invasive &ldquo;maze&rdquo;-type procedure in the region of the pulmonary vein ostia in the left ventricle.

Circumferential ablation device assembly

Synchronizing wireless base stations by reception of a synchronization signal that is transmitted in an unused B channel of an ISDN link interconnecting a switching network and the base stations. The synchronization signals are generated by the tone circuit of the switching network which advantageously is a digital signalling processor (DSP). Each base station is interconnected to the switching network via two basic rate interface (BRI) links. Each base station can handle a maximum of three wireless handsets thus leaving one of the four B channels present in the two BRI links unused. It is this unused link that is utilized to transmit the synchronization signals from the switching network to the base stations. Furthermore, the switching network is configured in such a manner that all base stations receive the synchronization signals at the same time over the unused B channels.

Synchronization of wireless base stations by a service circuit in a

This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator. The equatorial band has a length relative to the longitudinal axis of the expandable member that is narrow relative to the working length, and is also substantially shorter than its circumference when the working length is in the radially expanded position. A pattern of insulators may be included over an ablation element which otherwise spans the working length in order to form the equatorial band described. The expandable member is also adapted to conform to the pulmonary vein in the region of its ostium, such as by providing a great deal of radial compliance or by providing a taper along the working length which has a distally reducing outer diameter. A linear ablation element is provided adjacent to the circumferential ablation element in a combination assembly which is adapted for use in a less-invasive 'maze'-type procedure in the region of the pulmonary vein ostia in the left ventricle. A cylindrical ultrasound transducer is provided on an inner member within the balloon and forms the circumferential ablation member by emitting a radial ultrasound signal which is circumferential to the transducer and highly collimated to the transducer's length. The circumferential ultrasound signal sonically couples to the balloon's outer skin to form the circumferential ablation element that is adapted to ablate a circumferential path of tissue engaged to the balloon.

A prosthesis is provided for treating aneurysms, occlusive disease of vessels and body organs, and arterio-venous fistulas, occurring in single and bifurcated lumens. The prosthesis comprises an expandable coiled sheet portion having a biocompatible graft, either a sheet or tube, affixed thereto along part or all of the circumference of the coiled sheet portion. The prosthesis has a small delivery profile, making it suitable for use in a variety of body vessels. Methods of making and deploying the prosthesis in single and bifurcated lumens are also provided.

Methods of making and using coiled sheet graft for single and bifurcated

This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator. The equatorial band has a length relative to the longitudinal axis of the expandable member that is narrow relative to the working length, and is also substantially shorter than its circumference when the working length is in the radially expanded position. A pattern of insulators may be included over an ablation element which otherwise spans the working length in order to form the equatorial band described. The expandable member is also adapted to conform to the pulmonary vein in the region of its ostium, such as by providing a great deal of radial compliance or by providing a taper along the working length which has a distally reducing outer diameter. A linear ablation element is provided adjacent to the circumferential ablation element in a combination assembly which is adapted for use in a less-invasive 'maze'-type procedure in the region of the pulmonary vein ostia in the left ventricle.

A prosthesis is provided for treatment of aneurysms, occlusive disease of vessels and body organs, and arterio-venous fistulas, comprising an expandable coiled sheet portion having a biocompatible graft affixed thereto. The graft material, preferably a polytetrafluoroethylene ('PTFE') or polyesther material, is affixed to the coiled sheet portion by sintering, suturing, or bonding using a biocompatible adhesive. The coiled sheet portion comprises a lattice formed from a biocompatible material, and may include one or more rows of locking teeth adjacent one edge of the coiled sheet that interengage openings in an opposing edge of the coiled sheet portion to retain the prosthesis at a desired expanded diameter. The prosthesis has a small delivery profile, making it suitable for use in a variety of body vessels. Methods of making and deploying the prosthesis are also provided.

Coiled sheet graft stent and methods of making and use

A stent comprising a helical mesh coil is provided having a substantially rectangular cross-section and a band width equal to at least one-quarter to one-third of the maximum expanded circumference of the stent. The helical mesh has a multiplicity of openings forming a lattice which preferably provides about 60% open space or more. Alternative embodiments of the helical mesh may include specially designed free ends that preferentially overlap neighboring turns of the coil, to ensure that the free ends of the stent do not project into the body lumen, and integrally formed barbs that induce a ratcheting effect that ensures that the stent resists localized compressive forces. Methods of deploying the helical mesh coil stent also provided.

Helical mesh endoprosthesis and methods of use

A stent-graft delivery system and methods for use are provided for use in treating aneurysms occurring in single and bifurcated lumen hollow-body organs or vessels and for treating arterio-venous fistulas. A graft delivery component provides a clinician with complete control over the location of a graft at any time prior to implantation of stents, even when the graft is deployed from its introducer catheter. The graft delivery component includes a plurality of radially expandable fingers that releasably engage the graft, while the stent delivery component includes a small diameter introducer catheter and permits a wide range of conventional stent designs to be used to permanently fix the graft in position.

Stent graft delivery system and methods of use

Within a communication system, driving a numerically controlled oscillator with a frequency of a precision frequency oscillator and adjusting the frequency of the numerically controlled oscillator by a calculated number to be equal to that of a frequency signal derived from an external source. The calculated number utilized to adjust the numerically controlled oscillator is then transmitted to each of a number of subunits. Each subunit has another numerically controlled oscillator that is driven by a frequency derived from an internal communication link connecting the subunit to the communication system; and the other numerically controlled oscillator is controlled by the calculated number so that its frequency matches the frequency of the precision oscillator. The frequency of the internal communication link is controlled by the precision oscillator. In a second embodiment, a frequency signal derived from an external source is used to drive a numerically controlled oscillator whose frequency is adjusted by a calculated number to be equal to that of a precision frequency oscillator. The calculated number utilized to adjust the numerically controlled oscillator is then transmitted to each of a number of subunits. Each subunit has another numerically controlled oscillator that is driven by a frequency derived from an internal communication link connecting the subunit to the communication system; and the other numerically controlled oscillator is controlled by the calculated number so that its frequency matches the frequency of the precision oscillator. The internal communication link is frequency locked to the external source.

Remote accurate frequency generation using a numerically controlled

Assigning one telephone link to each wireless set and connecting each of the assigned telephone links to all of a plurality of PCS systems. Each of the PCS systems has a plurality of base stations on which wireless sets can register. When an incoming call is received for a wireless set by a switching system terminating the telephone links, the switching system transmits a new call message on the telephone link assigned to the wireless set. The PCS system on which the wireless set is registered responds to the new call message by establishing a connection from the wireless set to the telephone link. The other PCS systems monitor the state of the call so that if the wireless set physically moves to a base station connected to a new PCS system, the new PCS system can continue the call without interruption or the switching system having to perform any additional operations. Also, the PCS systems can be relatively small. When additional wireless sets are added, it is only necessary to add another PCS system and to connect all of the telephone links identified with wireless sets to the new PCS system.

Increasing the capacity of a personal communication service system by

Utilizing a bridged line appearance feature in a switching system to allow additional individual PCS systems to be added as the number of wireless sets increases. For each wireless set, a bridged line appearance is administered in the switching system having a group of shared line appearance telephone links where the number of telephone links in each group is equal to the number of individual PCS systems. When the switching system receives a call for a particular wireless set, the switching system signals the incoming call on each telephone link that is part of the shared line appearance group for that particular wireless set. The PCS system on which the particular wireless set is presently registered responds to the incoming call signal by establishing a call between the particular wireless set and the incoming call. During the call, if the wireless set physically moves and establishes communications with a base station of another PCS system, the other PCS system becomes active on the shared line appearance telephone link assigned to the wireless set on the other PCS system. The original PCS system becomes inactive on the shared line appearance telephone link associated with the wireless set when the wireless set transfers itself to the other PCS system. This allows the wireless set to be 'handed off' to the other PCS system without the PCS systems having to directly implement the 'handoff' operation.

Growing community of inventors

Hillsborough, CA, United States of America

Michael R Ross