Did You Know...
...that Robert Adler has the dubious distinction of being the Father of the Couch Potato? Back in 1955 Adler was employed by what was then Zenith Radio Corp., where he was charged to invent something that would allow viewers to turn down the TV volume without leaving their chairs. After a series of flops (such as a wired contraption that people tripped over), Adler hit on the idea of using sound waves. Thus the Remote Control was born...
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7022118 | Medical energy irradiation apparatus To provide a medical energy irradiation apparatus which permits easy and accurate establishment of a site of tissues of a living body targeted for irradiation with energy, when doctors use the medical energy irradiation apparatus to perform a cure for a prostatic hy... | 04/04/2006 |
| 7018395 | Photodynamic treatment of targeted cells The present invention is drawn to methods for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of a target cell, target tissue or target composition in a mammalian subject, using a therapeutically effective amount of a targeted substance, which is either a targeted photosensitizing agent... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7008416 | Medical energy irradiation apparatus To provide a medical energy irradiation apparatus which, having a simple and inexpensively manufacturable structure, enables a doctor using it in the heat curing of prostatic hypertrophy or the like to accurately and stably irradiate a prescribed site deep in a livi... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6997189 | Method for lung volume reduction Methods and assemblies for reducing the volume of a lung. A plurality of anchors are anchored at different positions in the lung. A cord is attached to each of the anchors. The anchors are drawn towards one another via the cords to cause the lung to collapse, thus c... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6994702 | Vacuum assisted closure pad with adaptation for phototherapy A modified vacuum assisted wound closure system adapted for concurrent applications of phototherapy having a foam pad for insertion substantially into the wound site and a wound drape for sealing enclosure of the foam pad at the wound site. The foam pad includes an ... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6974450 | Face-lifting device A device is described that can be used by surgeons to provide quick and accurate face-lifting maneuvers that minimize the amount of tissue that has to be removed. The device is comprised of a shaft with a relatively planar but possibly lenticulate and even slightly ... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6970620 | Waveguide for receiving and/or radiating electromagnetic radiation In the region of a distal end at its circumference the waveguide is formed transparent to the radiation which impinges onto the surface of the waveguide at suitable angles, and in the region of the distal end in the inside of the waveguide there are arranged scatter... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6967673 | Electronic endoscope system with color-balance alteration process An electronic endoscope system includes a video scope having a solid-state image sensor for successively producing a frame of color image-pixel signals, and an image-signal processor for producing a color video signal based on the frame of color image-pixel signals.... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6960206 | Coiled ablation catheter system A cardiac ablation catheter includes a coil-like ablating element that is deployable from an elongate, flexible sheath. The ablating element, while in the deployed position, has a shape with at least one revolution oriented in a plane that is orthogonal to a longitu... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6953466 | Methods for delivering a therapeutic implant to tissue A method for delivering a therapeutic implant to a tissue is provided. This method includes providing an elongate catheter having a distal end including a lumen, providing a carrier including a therapeutic agent, placing the carrier including the therapeutic agent i... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6953458 | Device and method for delivery of long wavelength laser energy to a tissue site A laser energy delivery device and method are provided for irradiating a body tissue with relatively long wavelength laser energy in the presence of an aqueous liquid without significant absorption of the laser energy by the liquid. The device includes an elongate h... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6951558 | Scanning laser handpiece with shaped output beam A scanning optical system for delivering electromagnetic radiation onto tissue to be treated is cooperative with a lightguide or optical fiber. Radiation to be delivered is provided by a source thereof via the optical fiber. The optical system includes an optical pr... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6951557 | Percutaneous myocardial revascularization device and method Devices and methods for creating a series of percutaneous myocardial revascularization (PMR) channels in the heart. One method includes forming a pattern of channels in the myocardium leading from healthy tissue to hibernating tissue. Suitable channel patterns inclu... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6939359 | Apparatus and methods for valve removal This invention discloses a medical catheter and methods for removing a defective valve from a patient endoluminally. The method may comprise inserting a medical catheter endoluminally to a site of the defective valve; deploying a coupling mechanism of said medical c... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6902562 | Percutaneous myocardial revascularization marking and therapeutic or diagnostic agent delivery system A system and method of marking percutaneous myocardial revascularization channels in a human heart and introducing into the channels a therapeutic or diagnostic agent by inserting a catheter system into the left ventricle of a heart, applying tissue ablative energy ... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6902526 | Visualizing ablation device and procedure A medical needle set for visualized tissue ablation within a subject's body includes a cannula and components configured for inclusion in the cannula, including a trocar for occlusion of the cannula lumen during needle placement, and a visualizing ablation probe use... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6899708 | Sterile tissue access system A tissue access system for tissue ablation without open surgery includes a distally open elongated tube (4) with a handle piece (6) having a through channel (7) in axial alignment with the elongated tube and an infusion fitting (9) that o... | 05/31/2005 |
| 6869429 | Apparatus for exterior arterial ablation A method and apparatus for reducing the thickness of arterial walls is disclosed. Ablation of the exterior layer of the arterial walls is performed using mechanical or laser ablation techniques. Surveying is preferably carried out during the procedure to ensure opti... | 03/22/2005 |
| 6863668 | Articulation mechanism for medical devices An improved articulating device for use with a medical insertion instrument comprising in part a first tube having a plurality of ribs defining a plurality of bending segments, a second tube axially disposed within the first tube, and means for transmitting an axial... | 03/08/2005 |
| 6846311 | Method and apparatus for in VIVO treatment of mammary ducts by light induced fluorescence The invention is directed toward a micro-endoscope assembly for the treatment of diseased tissue in breast ducts comprising a cylindrical guide tube with a distal end defining an internal cylindrical passageway, a first smaller cylindrical tube eccentrically formed ... | 01/25/2005 |
| 6819843 | Device and method for photolithographically irradiating biological substances A device and a method for the photolithographic exposure of biological substances is described, which comprises at least one light source, a bundle of optical fibers and a control unit, whereby each of the optical fibers can be controlled by light independently from... | 11/16/2004 |
| 6788967 | Medical diagnosis, treatment and imaging systems A locating system for determining the location and orientation of an invasive medical instrument, for example a catheter or endoscope, relative to a reference frame, comprising: a plurality of field generators which generate known, distinguishable fields, preferably... | 09/07/2004 |
| 6749603 | Electrical probe An electrical probe which can be used in electrosurgery as well as for measurements is disclosed. The probe comprises an inner electrode and an outer electrode which are constructed coaxially. The isolator located between the electrodes is constructed as a light gui... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6741410 | Light resolution element for irradiating dental replacement pieces with light to effect the hardening thereof A light resolution element for a light guiding apparatus is provided that is connectable in optical communication with the light guiding apparatus for guiding and re-orienting light emitted thereto from the light guiding apparatus such that light exiting the light r... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6733496 | Intervertebral disc device employing flexible probe An intervertebral disc device is provided comprising a distal probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising a flexible neck which ta... | 05/11/2004 |
| 6726685 | Intervertebral disc device employing looped probe An intervertebral disc device is provided comprising a probe capable of being extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, the probe forming a loop when extended from the distal end of the i... | 04/27/2004 |
| 6673064 | Excimer laser catheter A method and apparatus of providing endovascular therapy. The steps include arranging optical fibers within a catheter, the catheter having a tip whose length is at least 1 cm and whose diameter of less than 1 millimeter, connecting an excimer laser to th... | 01/06/2004 |
| 6669687 | Apparatus and methods for treating tissue Apparatus and methods are provided for thermally or mechanically treating tissue, such as valvular structures, to reconfigure or shrink the tissue in a controlled manner, thereby improving or restoring tissue function. The apparatus comprises a catheter i... | 12/30/2003 |
| 6632223 | Pulmonary vein ablation stent and method A system for treating atrial fibrillation includes a stent and a delivery catheter for carrying the stent to a treatment site. The stent is self-expanding, for example, being formed of a shape memory alloy, and is configured to lodge against the interior ... | 10/14/2003 |
| 6626899 | Apparatus and methods for treating tissue Apparatus and methods are provided for thermally and/or mechanically treating tissue, such as valvular structures, to reconfigure or shrink the tissue in a controlled manner. The apparatus comprises a catheter in communication with an end effector which i... | 09/30/2003 |
| 6616653 | Method and apparatus for coagulation of superficial blood vessels in bladder and proximal urethra An apparatus and method of use are disclosed to treat and/or diagnose urological disorders. The non-implantable device includes a light source housed within a light source segment. The light source segment is of a sufficiently small size and configuration... | 09/09/2003 |
| 6607526 | Laser irradiation apparatus A laser irradiation apparatus comprising: a long and slender main body 101; an optical fiber 107, which is placed inside the main body 101 and which is equipped with a proximal end through which a laser ray is introduced and an emitting part from which th... | 08/19/2003 |
| 6607525 | Apparatus and method for treating urinary stress incontinence An apparatus and method for treating female stress-induced incontinence and other similar diseases associated with weakening of the pelvic floor muscles. A guiding catheter with temperature sensor(s) is positioned in patient's urethra. An inflatable ballo... | 08/19/2003 |
| 6605082 | Thermal treatment apparatus The invention relates to a thermal treatment apparatus capable of irradiating targeted lesions with energy to obtain good treatment results. The invention displays the diagnostic images 2201 of the lesion overlaid upon the laser irradiation areas a, b, c, and ... | 08/12/2003 |
| 6599287 | Medical energy irradiation apparatus An energy irradiation apparatus for medical treatment of tissues through irradiation of energy including a long main unit, an emitting part, a power transmission member, a drive mechanism, a first engaging member, and a second engaging is disclosed. The e... | 07/29/2003 |
| 6595987 | Heart synchronized pulsed laser system A heart-synchronized pulsed laser system includes a laser; means for sensing the contraction and expansion of a beating heart to be synchronized with the laser; means, responsive to the means for sensing, for generating a trigger pulse; means for position... | 07/22/2003 |
| 6562028 | Method of treating intervertebral discs by inserting a diffuser directly into the annulus A method of controllably heating the annulus of an intervertebral disc is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of forming an access channel through the annulus of an intervertebral disc while avoiding the nucleus of the intervertebral disc, inserting... | 05/13/2003 |
| 6551302 | Steerable catheter with tip alignment and surface contact detector A steerable percutaneous catheter for guiding at least one functional device to selected surfaces of a body for treatment thereon, particularly adapted for laser-assisted Percutaneous Transmyocardial Revascularization (PTMR). The steerable catheter has a ... | 04/22/2003 |
| 6547782 | System and method for augmentation of surgery The system and method includes a manipulator for manipulating a surgical instrument relative to a patient's body and, a position sensor for sensing the position of the surgical instrument relative to the patient's body. The manipulator can be manually or ... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6503269 | Method of treating intervertebral discs using optical energy and optical temperature feedback A method of controllably heating the annulus of an intervertebral disc is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of forming an access channel through the annulus, inserting a light source into the intervertebral disc, activating the light source to emi... | 01/07/2003 |
