Biophan Technologies, Inc.

Gentcorp Ltd

Greatbatch Gen-Aid, Ltd.

Other

Wilson Greatbatch

Jeffrey Deal

Patrick Connelly

Michael L Weiner

Victor R Miller

Stuart Gilmour MacDonald

John C Sanford

Thomas Foster

An improvedHe nuclear reactor with provision for direct electric conversion of a relativistic proton stream into useable electric power at a voltage level compatible with the national power grid (one million V DC). Various embodiments include multiple collector cages for extracting relativistic protons of various energy levels, diverter wires for deflecting high-energy proton streams to either side of lower energy cages to avoid unwanted impact. Other embodiments include arrangements for dividing multi-megavolt voltages down to a useable one megavolt level compatible with the national power grid. Further embodiments comprise guiding the proton stream by the cusps of magnetron cavities to permit conversion of the relativistic proton energies into microwave power. A proposal is also made for harvestingHe from the Moon to supply earth-bound and space-bound reactors. A solution to the problem of charging a potential well-forming anode in an electrostatic fusion reactor without electrical arcing is further disclosed.

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A hybrid battery power source for implantable medical use provides a generally constant low internal resistance during discharge and avoids voltage delays of the type that develop as a result of run down-induced resistance increase in Li/SVO cells. The hybrid battery power source utilizes two batteries or cells, one being a primary cell of relatively high energy density and the other being a secondary cell of relatively low internal resistance that is rechargeable. The primary and secondary cells are connected in a parallel arrangement via a voltage boost/charge control circuit that is powered by the primary cell and adapted to charge the secondary cell while limiting charge/discharge excursions thereof in a manner that optimizes its output for high energy medical device use. The energy storage capacitors of the medical device in which the hybrid battery power source is situated are driven by the secondary cell. The primary cell is used to as an energy source for recharging the secondary cell.

Hybrid battery power source for implantable medical use

An electromagnetic immune tissue invasive system includes a primary device housing. The primary device housing having a control circuit therein. A shielding is formed around the primary device housing to shield the primary device housing and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference. A lead system transmits and receives signals between the primary device housing. The lead system is either a fiber optic system or an electrically shielded electrical lead system.

Electromagnetic interference immune tissue invasive system

A hermetic component housing for use with a photonic catheter connected to a photonic pacemaker or other medical system designed for compatibility with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) procedures. The hermetic housing includes a housing body having a proximal end and a distal end. The body is formed with a hermetically sealed interior for carrying one or more electrical and/or optical components therein. The proximal end of the body is adapted to mount to a distal end of a photonic catheter carrying a fiber optic element or bundle. A hermetic terminal is provided to allow the fiber optic element or bundle to communicate with the body interior. The body can be adapted to mount (or function as) one or more electrodes designed for delivering or sensing electrical signals to body tissue, or it may be adapted to mount no electrodes. The component housing may be implemented by itself at the distal end of the photonic catheter, or it may be used in conjunction with other housings of like or different construction.

Hermetic component housing for photonic catheter

A hybrid battery power source for implantable medical use provides relatively stable resistance during discharge and avoids the voltage delays that develop as a result of variable resistance increase in Li/SVO cells. The hybrid battery power source utilizes two batteries or cells, one being a primary battery of relatively high energy density and the other being a rechargeable secondary battery of low relatively stable internal resistance. The primary and secondary batteries are connected in a parallel arrangement, preferably via an intermediate voltage boost circuit having an inductor and a pulse generating control circuit therein. The energy storage capacitors of the medical device in which the hybrid battery power source is situated are driven in whole or substantial part by the secondary battery. The primary battery is used to as an energy source for recharging the secondary battery. By arranging the two batteries in parallel, with one serving as a primary battery and the other as a rechargeable secondary battery, all the benefits of the defibrillatory impulse will be obtained and the deficiencies arising from variable voltage delay found in prior art implantable power sources will not be present.

An implantable device used to monitor and maintain at least one physiologic function, which is capable of operating in the presence of damaging electromagnetic interference. The implantable device includes primary and secondary modules, each independently protected from EMI damage via at least one shielding and/or filtering, and a non-electrical communication device for communicating in at least one direction between the primary and the secondary modules. The primary module, in response to input from electrical sensing leads, activates the secondary module in a failsafe mode. In the failsafe mode, the secondary module carries out a physiologic function upon activation and in the presence of electromagnetic interference.

MRI-resistant implantable device

An optical sense signal generator for medical device's having a photonic catheter containing optical conductors conducting light energy in two directions between electronics at a catheter proximal end and electrical stimulation and sensing components at a catheter distal end. An optical unit receives light delivered from the catheter proximal end and transmits a first portion of the light while diverting a second portion of the light. The transmitted light is fed to an opto-electrical converter for conversion into electrical stimulation signals. The diverted light is directed to one or more optical modulators that modulate the diverted light output under an applied electrical signal. An electrical circuit generates electrical sense signals corresponding to one or more sensed physiological conditions and provides the signals to the optical modulator(s). This results in modulation of the diverted light output into optical sense signals that are transmitted to the catheter proximal end.

MRI-compatible medical device with passive generation of optical sensing signals

In accordance with the present invention, disclosed is a method of conferring, upon a host cell, resistance to retroviral infection by interfering with one or more of the infection processes including retroviral replication and assembly into infective viral particles. The method involves introducing a vector into a host cell, wherein the vector comprises a polynucleotide which directs transcription, within the host cell, of RNA which is a) complementary or corresponding, depending on the target region, to a nucleic acid sequence within one or more regions of the genome of the retrovirus; and b) is effective in inhibiting one or more steps in the retroviral infection process by interfering with retroviral replication, reverse transcription, translation, or assembly into viral particles when the host cell is infected. Also disclosed is a method of treatment using the nucleic acid constructs, or cells upon which resistance to infection has been conferred.

Method of conferring resistance to immunodeficiency viral infection

In accordance with the present invention, disclosed is a method of conferring, upon a host cell, resistance to retroviral infection by interfering with one or more of the infection processes including retroviral replication and assembly into infective viral particles. The method involves introducing a vector into a host cell, wherein the vector comprises a polynucleotide which directs transcription, within the host cell, of RNA which is a) complementary or homologous, depending on the target region, to a nucleic acid sequence within one or more regions of the genome of the retrovirus; and b) is effective in inhibiting retroviral replication and/or interfering with assembly into viral particles when the host cell is infected. Also disclosed is a method of treatment using cells upon which resistance to infection has been conferred.

Growing community of inventors

Akron, NY, United States of America

Wilson Greatbatch