Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

Aspect Software, Incorporated

Other

Schneider (usa) Inc.

Sims Deltec, Inc.

Robert C Owens

Ronald W Heil, Jr

Biswajeet Mukherjee

Edward W Kuns

Mark A Rydell

Theodore Arthur Johnson

Robert G Hauser

Brian D Pederson

Malcom B Strandberg

James Harmon Barnett

Jonathan Buckner Morgan

Andy Arbuckle

Trish Owens

Terry Owens

A sugar cone toasting assembly includes a spike that has a pointed end to penetrate ground near an open flame. A rod is removably attachable to the spike and a barrier is removably attachable to the rod. In this way the barrier can be elevated above the ground when the rod is attached to the spike and the spike is inserted into the ground. A plurality of holders is each disposed on the barrier and each of the holders extends over the open flame when the spike is inserted into the ground. Each of the holders has a curved portion forming a circle to receive a pointed end of a sugar cone thereby facilitating the sugar cone to be toasted by the open flame.

Sugar cone toasting assembly

A method and apparatus are provided for synchronizing changes from a plurality of dissimilar automatic contact distributors to an electronic workforce management server. The method includes the steps of determining a type of data received from each of the dissimilar automatic contact distributors and identifying a data criteria for the determined type of data. The method further includes the steps of detecting a difference between the data criteria and data, identifying a correction for the detected difference, reformatting the data based upon the identified correction and saving the reformatted data in a database of the electronic workforce management server.

Synchronization of data within an ACD system

A method and apparatus are provided for processing messages in a networked automatic contact distribution system having a plurality of computer processors. The method includes the steps of a processor of the plurality of processors receiving a configuration message, the processor determining a type of the configuration message from metadata contained within the message and the processor executing a predetermined set of steps based upon the determined type of the configuration message.

Method of unifying control of contact center system

A method and apparatus are provided for operating a plurality of call center products. The method includes the steps of providing an enterprise administration server and disposing a respective terminal adapter between the enterprise administration server and each of the plurality of call center products. The method further includes the steps of a terminal adapter of a call center of the plurality of call center products receiving a database instruction from the enterprise administration server; the terminal adapter mapping a database instruction between a protocol of the enterprise administration server and a protocol of the call center product and the call center product executing the instruction.

Unified command and control of a multiplicity of heterogeneous systems supporting call center functionality

A method and apparatus are provided for changing operating parameters within an automatic contact distribution system that includes a plurality of functionally similar but structurally different automatic contact distributor subsystems. The method includes the steps of a user selecting an operating parameter for use by each of the plurality of functionally similar but structurally different automatic contact distributor subsystems, a respective conversion program for each of the plurality of functionally similar but structurally different automatic contact distributor subsystems receiving the selected operating parameter from the user and incorporating the selected operating parameter into the respective subsystems.

A method for updating real-time data between intervals in a communication processing center, having a data source and a data collector, includes receiving, at the data collector, real-time data at intervals from a data source. The real-time data includes information on the availability of aspects of a communication network. The received real-time data is stored in a memory. The occurrence of a specified triggering event between the intervals is detected. The stored real-time data is updated based on information relating to the specified triggering event.

Method and system for updating real-time data between intervals

This specification discloses a mechanism that alters the cutting angle of a motorized miter saw. The cutting angle is altered by a mechanism that deploys a member from underneath the cutting material resting surface to above the cutting material resting surface. When deployed above the cutting material resting surface, the angle between the blade and cutting material is altered.

Power saw with miter angle adjustment

The invention is directed to a guide wire apparatus and a method for detecting the location of a guide wire within the body of a patient. The apparatus includes a guide wire with an internally-housed sensing member. The guide wire assembly is structured to provide the response, maneuverability and tactile feel comparable to conventional guide wire devices. The apparatus is useful in medical treatments and diagnoses such as angioplasty or catheterization procedures, for detecting obstructions within a blood vessel of a patient, and the like.

Guide wire apparatus with location sensing member

An improved electrocardial lead for use with an automatic implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (AICD) comprises an elongated, flexible, plastic tubular catheter body which is preformed so that when unconstrained, it assumes the shape of a tapered spiral or helix. The catheter body supports a defibrillating electrode attached to the exterior wall of the catheter body and is connected by a suitable cable to a proximal connector for mating with the AICD pulse generator. The improved lead also includes a tip electrode for sensing cardiac activity and providing information to the AICD pulse generator for controlling its operation. The lead of the present invention is intended for endocardial emplacement with the electrode structures predominantly in the right ventrical and provides substantially increased electrode surface area in contact with heart tissue as compared to prior art endocardial defibrillating leads and, thus, maximizing the energy delivered to the heart during defibrillation.

Implantable tapered spiral endocardial lead for use in internal

An implantable cardiac defibrillation/cardioversion electrode. The electrode is elongated and comprises a distal active region and a proximal lead region. Conductive discharge and insulative materials occupy distinct surfaces along the length of the active region. The active region is preformed to adopt a planar spiral patch configuration under relaxed conditions. Additional flexible preformed insulative and conductive discharge wings are provided to attach to the corresponding surfaces of the active region. A method of implantation of the spiral patch is disclosed for deployment by straightening the electrode and introducing the same through an opening that approximates the cross section of the straightened electrode.

Cardiac defibrillation/cardioversion spiral patch electrode

An improved electrocardial lead for use with an automatic implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (AICD) comprises an elongated, flexible, plastic tubular catheter body which is preformed so that when unconstrained, it assumes the shape of a tapered spiral or helix. The catheter body supports a defibrillating electrode attached to the exterior wall of the catheter body and is connected by a suitable cable to a proximal connector for mating with the AICD pulse generator. The improved lead also includes a tip electrode for sensing cardiac activity and providing information to the AICD pulse generator for controlling its operation. The lead of the present invention is intended for endocardial emplacement with the electrode structures predominantly in the right ventricle and provides substantially increased electrode surface area in contact with heart tissue as compared to prior art endocardial defibrillating leads and, thus, maximizing the energy delivered to the heart during defibrillation.

A valvuloplasty catheter is described which includes an elongated flexible plastic tube dimensioned so as to allow it to be passed through the vascular system. Affixed to the distal end portion of the tube is an inflatable expander member which is intended to be positioned in the annulus of the valve to be treated. Inflation ports expose the interior of the expander member to the lumen of the tube so that when an inflation fluid is injected, under pressure, at the distal end of the tube, the expander member expands radially outward to spread the valve and free-up its leaflets. The novelty resides in providing first and second inflation ports of differing size so that the expander member inflates so as to create a dog-bone effect, tending to stabilize the expander member relative to the valve being treated.

Valvuloplasty catheter with balloon which remains stable during inflation

An implantable cardiac pacing lead includes a porous, platinum electrode, a flexible electrically conductive coil, and a crimp tube coupling the electrode to the distal end of the coil. A recess in the crimp tube, open to the electrode at the crimp tube distal end, houses a matrix impregnated with a therapeutic drug. The electrode is highly porous and loaded with a therapeutic drug in liquid or solid form. Immediately upon implant of the electrode at a selected myocardial location, the electrode begins dispensing the therapeutic drug. Meanwhile, the matrix begins to elute its drug at a rate more suited to chronic treatment. If desired, the recess can extend through the crimp tube to permit proximal end loading of the drug carrying matrix. A silicone plug, or an additional and proximal crimp tube section, is inserted into the recess after loading of the matrix to provide the required fluid seal. Finally, a variety of different matrices can be housed in the recess, to provide elution of different drugs and at differing rates.

Cardiac electrode with drug delivery capabilities

A positive fixation cardiac lead includes an electrode sleeve/crimp tube assembly in which a recess is formed for retaining a drug impregnated matrix. The electrode sleeve and crimp tube threadedly engage, to permit insertion of the matrix prior to their assembly. The distal end section of the crimp tube can be provided with a helical groove corresponding to the shape of a fixation helix, with the sleeve and distal section spaced from one another to permit insertion of an annular drug matrix. The distal portion of the electrode sleeve can have an annular groove formed to receive a length of platinum wire, for increased electrode sensitivity.

Positive fixation cardiac electrode with drug elution capabilities

A foot comforter apparatus is adapted to ventilate, and/or may cool or heat the foot. The comforter may have a heat exchanger and has a hollow foot supporting chamber provided with an upper wall and a lower wall. The foot supporting chamber is at least partially compressible to permit cyclic application of foot pressure to cause pumping action of the fluid. Conduit means connect the heat exchanger with the pump. The conduit means is connected to the chamber at preselected positions in order to facilitate one direction flow of the fluid along and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber. Spacers may be provided within the chamber to resiliently and quickly urge the upper wall away from the lower wall. Check valves may be provided in the conduits to resist undesired multi-directional flow of the fluid. One preferred embodiment of the system represents a closed circuit with heat exchanger conduit sections connecting the supply and return conduits and such conduits are charged with air. Another preferred embodiment represents an open circuit in which ambient air is drawn into the system and discharged around a user's foot.

Growing community of inventors

Forest Lake, MN, United States of America

Robert C Owens