University of Washington

Other

Washington Research Foundation

Gemtech

Optiva, Inc.

Mirabilis Medica, Inc.

Fuel Concepts of America, Inc.

Biz Research Inc.

Roy W Martin

Shahram Vaezy

Lawrence A Crum

Andrew Hollis Proctor

Stephen J Carter

Fred E Silverstein

Victor Y Fujimoto

David Giuliani

Peter John Kaczkowski

George W Keilman

George Woodrow Keilman

Michael Gaps

W Scott Helton

Donald E Moore

Arthur H Chan

Rodger H Rosenbaum

Mark D Brentnall

David A Gilbert

Peter S Colley

Robert A Lerner

John A Myers

Michael B Kimmey

L David Engel

Joseph M Miller

Misty Noble

Stanley Newhouse

Darik Taniguchi

Michael D Schuffler

Brian Thomas Zender

Geoffrey C Jiranek

Adrian Prokop

John Craig McCoy

Gerard Bashein

C Joseph Ghafari

David James Albers

Ram B Hatangadi

A boat hook assembly includes a clamping assembly, which is attachable to a pole. The clamping assembly includes a mechanical clamp in one embodiment and a magnetic clamp in another embodiment adapted to temporarily secure a boat hook which is configured to connect to a receiving member on a boat dock. The boat hook is configured to receive a boat line extending from the boat. The temporary securement of the boat hook by the clamping assembly is overcome by an operator moving the pole in a manner to release the clamping assembly from the boat hook, wherein the boat remains connected to the dock by the boat hook and the extended boat line. The boat hook assembly includes structural element and arrangements to prevent unintentional release of the clamping assembly from the boat hook.

Deployable boat hook

The deployable boat hook assembly includes a clamping assembly which is attachable to a pole. The clamping assembly includes a clamp adapted to temporarily secure a boat hook which is configured to connect to a receiving member on a dock. The boat hook is configured to receive a boat line extending from the boat. The temporary securement of the boat hook by the clamping assembly is overcome by an operator moving the pole in a manner to release the clamping assembly from the pole, such that the boat remains connected to the dock by the boat hook and the boat line.

A biometric firearms safety system includes a firearm that has a grip and an action. A fingerprint unit is coupled to the firearm. The fingerprint unit is positioned on the grip to read fingerprints from a user. The fingerprint unit stores fingerprints from an authorized user. A locking unit is coupled to the firearm. The locking unit engages the action such that the locking unit inhibits the action from is manipulated. Thus, the locking unit inhibits the firearm from is loaded and fired. The locking unit is electrically coupled to the fingerprint unit. The locking unit disengages from the action when the user's fingerprints match the authorized user's fingerprints. Thus, the locking unit facilitates the user to load and fire the firearm.

Biometric firearms safety system

A PCV circuit for an internal combustion engine is modified to deliver the PCV fluid to an atomization chamber which also receives fuel from an electronic fuel injector tapped into the main vehicle fuel supply. The fuel from the injector is thoroughly vaporized in and/or immediately downstream of the chamber and conveyed to the vehicle intake manifold. A switch cuts off operation of the fuel injector at high load/high throttle setting conditions. The injector operates at a constant frequency with a selected ON time.

Automotive fuel system

A plurality of concepts related to HIFU therapy are disclosed, including a technique to spatially track and display the relative positions of a HIFU focal point and an imaging plane from an ultrasound imager, so that a clinician can ensure that the HIFU focus remains in the image plane during HIFU therapy, thereby facilitating image guided HIFU therapy. Also disclosed are a plurality of transvaginal probes that include a HIFU transducer optimized for the treatment of uterine fibroids. In one embodiment, the probe includes a piezoceramic crystal bonded to an aluminum lens, to achieve a HIFU transducer having a focal length of about 4 cm. In another embodiment, the probe includes a generally spoon-shaped transducer including a plurality of individual emitter elements. Still another concept disclosed herein is a method for evaluating a quality of a coupling between a liquid-filled volume encompassing a HIFU transducer and a tissue interface.

Methods for using high intensity focused ultrasound and associated systems and devices

Method and probe for using high intensity focused ultrasound

A noninvasive technique that can be used to deny blood flow to a particular region of tissue, without the inherent risks associated with invasive procedures such as surgery and minimally-invasive procedures such as embolization. Blood flow in selected portions of the vasculature can be occluded by selectively treating specific portions of the vasculature with high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). The occlusion denies undesired tissue the nutrients and oxygen provided by blood flow, causing necrosis in the undesired tissue. An imaging technology (such as magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, ultrasound imaging, Doppler based ultrasound imaging, or computed tomographic angiography) is used to identify the undesired tissue, and the vascular structures associated with the undesired tissue. A portion of the vasculature providing blood flow to the undesired tissue is selected, and HIFU is administered to the selected portion of the vasculature to occlude blood flow through that portion of the vasculature.

Treatment of unwanted tissue by the selective destruction of vasculature providing nutrients to the tissue

Ultrasound contrast agents are used to enhance imaging and facilitate HIFU therapy in four different ways. A contrast agent is used: (1) before therapy to locate specific vascular structures for treatment; (2) to determine the focal point of a HIFU therapy transducer while the HIFU therapy transducer is operated at a relatively low power level, so that non-target tissue is not damaged as the HIFU is transducer is properly focused at the target location; (3) to provide a positive feedback mechanism by causing cavitation that generates heat, reducing the level of HIFU energy administered for therapy compared to that required when a contrast agent is not used; and, (4) to shield non-target tissue from damage, by blocking the HIFU energy. Various combinations of these techniques can also be employed in a single therapeutic implementation.

Use of contrast agents to increase the effectiveness of high intensity focused ultrasound therapy

A frame ensures that the alignment between a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer designed for vaginal use and a commercially available ultrasound image probe is maintained, so that the HIFU focus remains in the image plane during HIFU therapy. A water-filled membrane placed between the HIFU transducer and the treatment site provides acoustic coupling. The coupling is evaluated to determine whether any air bubbles exist at the coupling interface, which might degrade the therapy provided by the HIFU transducer. HIFU lesions on tissue appear as hyperechoic spots on the ultrasound image in real time during application of HIFU therapy. Ergonomic testing in humans has demonstrated clear visualization of the HIFU transducer relative to the uterus and showed the potential for the HIFU transducer to treat fibroids from the cervix to the fundus through the width of the uterus.

Image guided high intensity focused ultrasound device for therapy in obstetrics and gynecology

A mobile illumination apparatus. A universal clamp for attaching to wide range objects such that a broad range of clamping abilities are achieved. Incorporating into the clamp a self-locking ratcheting mechanism for adjusting over a range of spans and fold-out fingers for applying force to the object; the clamp folds up against or into the apparatus for transport or storage. An extendable-and-retractable neck mounting for a transducing-element head thereon, for activating-deactivating the transducing-element, and moving the head to hold an orientation so as to illuminate a region-of-immediate-interest or a particular target. Drive and control circuitry to maintain the illumination intensity substantially constant.

Portable and mobile illumination and detection

An air bleed vapor system is provided having a primary vapor manifold connected to a fuel line take-off for providing a source of liquid fuel to the system. A vapor control module incorporates a precision needle valve for allowing metering of extremely small flowrates of liquid fuel into the vapor manifold. A pressure line is inserted into the PCV intake of a vehicle, and a secondary vaporization chamber is in fluid communication with the pressure line and the vapor control module, and provides an oxygen intake chamber into which an air-fuel mixture can be held at the pressure of the vehicle's crankcase ventilation system. Finally, a delivery vaporization conduit in the form of a linearly elongated chamber is in fluid communication with the PCV manifold of the vehicle.

Air bleed vapor system

The present invention employs hydrogels as acoustic couplings for clinical applications of ultrasound imaging and therapy, but is particularly applicable to high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) based therapy. While other materials can be used, it has been determined that polyacrylamide is sufficiently robust and transmissive to withstand the high temperatures encountered in HIFU therapy. One embodiment of a hydrogel coupling is configured in shape and size (length) to ensure that a focal region of an ultrasound transducer is disposed proximate the target area when the distal tip of the transducer is in contact with tissue. These couplings can be shaped to correspond to the beam focus characteristics of specific transducers. Water can be applied to hydrate the tip of the hydrogel coupling during use, and medication absorbed into the hydrogel material can be applied to the tissue in contact with the distal surface of the hydrogel.

Solid hydrogel coupling for ultrasound imaging and therapy

Method and apparatus for the simultaneous use of ultrasound on a probe for imaging and therapeutic purposes. The probe limits the effects of undesirable interference noise in a display by synchronizing high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) waves with an imaging transducer to cause the noise to be displayed in an area of the image that does not overlap the treatment site. In one embodiment, the HIFU is first energized at a low power level that does not cause tissue damage, so that the focal point of the HIFU can be identified by a change in the echogenicity of the tissue caused by the HIFU. Once the focal point is properly targeted on a desired treatment site, the power level is increased to a therapeutic level. The location of each treatment site is stored and displayed to the user to enable a plurality of spaced-apart treatment sites to be achieved. As the treatment progresses, any changes in the treatment site can be seen in the real time, noise-free image. A preferred application of the HIFU waves is to cause lesions in blood vessels, so that the supply of nutrients and oxygen to a region, such as a tumor, is interrupted. The tumor will thus eventually be destroyed. In a preferred embodiment, the HIFU is used to treat disorders of the female reproductive system, such as uterine fibroids. The HIFU treatment can be repeated at spaced-apart intervals, until any remaining fibroid tissue is destroyed.

Ultrasound therapy head configured to couple to an ultrasound imaging probe to facilitate contemporaneous imaging using low intensity ultrasound and treatment using high intensity focused ultrasound

A medical instrument uses solid tapered cones mounted to a preferably concave, spherically curved, piezoelectric ultrasound transducer which focuses and concentrates the ultrasound energy to a narrow tip so very high levels of ultrasound can be delivered to the tissue adjacent to the tip. Ultrasound matching layers or variable curvature geometries are employed at the tip aid in transferring the energy from the tip to the tissue. Alternative embodiments employing cooling technology are also described.

Self-cooled ultrasonic applicator for medical applications

A medical instrument uses solid tapered cones mounted to a preferably concave, spherically curved, piezoelectric ultrasound transducer which focuses and concentrates the ultrasound energy to a narrow tip so very high levels of ultrasound can be delivered to the tissue adjacent to the tip. Ultrasound matching layers or variable curvature geometries are employed at the tip aid in transferring the energy from the tip to the tissue.

Apparatus and method for producing high intensity focused ultrasonic energy for medical applications

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Roy W Martin