Superstar singer Michael Jackson co-patented a "Method and means for creating anti-gravity illusion" in 1993.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7736301 | Rotatable ferrules and interfaces for use with an optical guidewire Devices and methods for passing optical radiation into and out of a body lumen which can include a rotatable ferrule for use in an optical guidewire and methods for using a rotation ferrule. The rotatable ferrule may be either rotatably captured by and free to rotat... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7435214 | Atraumatic arthroscopic instrument sheath A removable, resilient atraumatic sheath for arthroscopic instruments. The sheath covers sharp edges on the arthroscopic instrument, particularly the distal tip of the rigid cannula, and thereby protects tissue and objects near a surgical site from accidental trauma... | 10/14/2008 |
| 7413542 | Atraumatic arthroscopic instrument sheath A removable, resilient atraumatic sheath for arthroscopic instruments. The sheath covers sharp edges on the arthroscopic instrument, particularly the distal tip of the rigid cannula, and thereby protects tissue and objects near a surgical site from accidental trauma... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7309867 | Methods and apparatus for characterization of tissue samples The invention provides methods for determining the probability that a given region of a tissue sample contains tissue of a given category, such as CIN 1 (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1), CIN 2/3 (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 and/or 3), no... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7310547 | Fluorescent fiberoptic probe for tissue health discrimination A system and method for the in situ discrimination of healthy and diseased tissue. A fiberoptic based probe is employed to direct ultraviolet illumination onto a tissue specimen and to collect the fluorescent response radiation. The response radiation is observed at... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7282723 | Methods and apparatus for processing spectral data for use in tissue characterization The invention provides methods for processing tissue-derived spectral data for use in a tissue classification algorithm. Methods of the invention comprise application of spectral and/or image masks for automatically separating ambiguous or unclassifiable spectral da... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7267647 | Endoscope An endoscope has an inserting tube to be inserted into a human body, first and second optical systems integrally secured to a tip end portion of the inserting tube. The first and second optical systems are for observing the in vivo tissues at different magnification... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7260248 | Image processing using measures of similarity The invention provides methods of relating a plurality of images based on measures of similarity. The methods of the invention are useful in the segmentation of a sequence of colposcopic images of tissue, for example. The methods may be applied in the determination ... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7244122 | Methods for determining optical characteristics of dental objects Color measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a central source fiber optic and receive light reflected from the surface of the object/tooth... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7240839 | Color measurement apparatus operable as a pointing device, a computer display measurement device and a printer output measurement device A color measurement apparatus is adapted as an attachment for a personal computing system. An interface integral to the color measurement apparatus couples the color measurement apparatus to the personal computing system. A computer pointing device integral to the c... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7192396 | System and method for orienting endoscope and operator control A system and method for orienting an endoscope shaft and operator control module. The operator control module includes an engaging mechanism that allows the operator control module to be disengaged from the endoscope shaft. This allows the operator control module to... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7187810 | Methods and systems for correcting image misalignment The invention provides methods of determining a correction for a misalignment between at least two images in a sequence of images due at least in part to sample movement. The methods are applied, for example, in the processing and analysis of a sequence of images of... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7170677 | Stereo-measurement borescope with 3-D viewing Two stereo images are created by splitting a single image into two images using a field of view dividing splitter. The two images can be displayed side by side so that they can be viewed directly using stereopticon technology, heads-up display, or other 3-D display ... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7136518 | Methods and apparatus for displaying diagnostic data The invention provides methods for displaying diagnostic results obtained from a tissue sample. In general, the invention assigns tissue-class probability values to discrete regions of a patient sample, and creates an overlay for displaying the results. The overlay ... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7127282 | Optical methods and systems for rapid screening of the cervix A method and a system is provided for discriminating between healthy cervical tissue and pathologic cervical tissue based on the fluorescence response of the tissue to laser excitation (LIF) and the backscatter response to illumination by white light (in the spectra... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7113283 | Apparatus and method for measuring color Color measuring systems and methods are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a central source fiber optic and receive light reflected from the surface of the object being measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics pass to a variety o... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7110096 | Method for determing optical characteristics through a protective barrier Color/optical characteristics measuring systems and methods are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics/elements are spaced apart from a central source fiber optic/element and received light reflected from the surface of the object is measured. Light from the per... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7103401 | Colonic polyp discrimination by tissue fluorescence and fiberoptic probe A system and method for the in situ discrimination of healthy and diseased tissue. A fiberoptic based probe is employed to direct ultraviolet illumination onto a tissue specimen and to collect the fluorescent response radiation. The response radiation is observed at... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7097450 | Methods for determining color or shade information of a dental object using an image generation device without operator identification of the position of a reference implement in the field of view of the image generation device Color measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a central source fiber optic and receive light reflected from the surface of the object/tooth... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7081090 | Protective sheath for illumination assembly of a disposable vaginal speculum A protective sheath assembly for a vaginal speculum assembly includes a disposable vaginal speculum and a reusable illumination assembly that is releasably attached to the speculum. The sheath assembly is attachable to the handle of said speculum to cover the illumi... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7041050 | System for performing a surgical procedure inside a body A surgical system comprising a cannula for an elongate surgical tool that enables a physician to operate on a surgical site within a body from outside the body is described. The cannula supports a pin that is locked and unlocked from a J-shaped channel provided in t... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7025923 | Methods for forming complex-shaped components in a heated polymeric film A thin-walled polymeric component that may have a selected complex shape, and a method of forming the component. The method includes heating a portion of a polymeric film to a selected malleable temperature, and forming a protrusion in the heated portion while it is... | 04/11/2006 |
| 6978784 | Atraumatic endotracheal tube introducer and atraumatic intubation methods An endotracheal tube introducer (“introducer”) that slides within an endotracheal tube. The introducer has a tubular wall that defines a lumen extending between a split proximal end and a distal end of the introducer. The tubular wall has an outer diameter that ... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6958810 | Methods for characterizing gems or precious stones using a probe having a plurality of light receivers Optical characteristic measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other optical characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a source fiber optic and receive light from the surface of the objec... | 10/25/2005 |
| 6955644 | Autoclavable endoscope A rigid endoscope includes an outer housing subassembly that supports an optics subassembly. The outer body subassembly includes concentric tubes with optical fiber for providing object illumination. The optics subassembly includes a tubular sheath sealed at both en... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6950189 | Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of an object Color/optical characteristics measuring systems and methods are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics/elements are spaced apart from a central source fiber optic/element and received light reflected from the surface of the object is measured. Light from the per... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6933154 | Optimal windows for obtaining optical data for characterization of tissue samples The invention provides methods for determining a characteristic of a tissue sample, such as a state of health, using spectral data and/or images obtained within an optimal period of time following the application of a chemical agent to the tissue sample. The inventi... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6929601 | Endoscopic sheath assembly and associated method An endoscope sheath includes a web member disposable in a tubular configuration in engagement with an endoscope insertion member, the member being provided with a tear string in the form of a tensile member. The tear string preferably extends longitudinally along th... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6921362 | Outer sheathed endoscope A tip end part (22) of an outer sheath (20) is rotatable about an axis in a predetermined range with respect to a tip end part (13) of a flexible insertion portion (11). A channel deformation space (19) which enables a part in the ... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6915955 | Apparatus for determining multi-bit data via light received by a light receiver and coupled to spectral sensors that measure light in spectral bands Optical characteristic measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other optical characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics preferably are spaced apart from a source fiber optic and receive light from the surface o... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6916284 | Endoscope hood An endoscope hood of the present invention is provided with a cylindrical main hood body attached to an endoscope. The main hood body includes a fixing portion located substantially in a center. The fixing portion allows the inner circumferential surface of the main... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6911005 | Endoscope with detachable sheath Combination of an endoscope and a sheath for covering an inserting tube of the endoscope, the sheath includes an elastic tubular member having an open proximal end and a closed distal end, and the endoscope is provided with an air feeding tube for feeding air from a... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6902935 | Methods of monitoring effects of chemical agents on a sample The invention provides methods and systems for monitoring effects of chemical agents on optical signals produced by samples in response to the chemical agents. Preferred methods comprise application of multiple chemical agents that interact to alter an optical signa... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6869393 | Insertion device for an endoscope An insertion device (82) to aid introduction of an overtube (90) into a colon over a previously inserted colonoscope (2). The insertion device (82) comprises an elongate tubular sheath (80), which defines a lumen to receive the col... | 03/22/2005 |
| 6852077 | Cover for preventing contamination of an operating portion of an endoscope A cover for preventing contamination of an operating portion covered on an operating portion of an endoscope a lower end of which is connected with an inserting portion. The cover is formed in a bag-like shape for enveloping a total of the operating portion, formed ... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6761684 | Endoscope tip protection system An endoscope tip protection system for shielding the optical component at the distal end of an endoscope. The system comprises a tubular sheath which is optically transparent at least at its distal end, and adapted to fit onto and be retained on the scope tip. The s... | 07/13/2004 |
| 6712755 | Locking mechanism for an endoscopic overtube A locking mechanism for an endoscopic overtube comprising a generally tubular member having a slot extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the tubular member for insertion of an endoscope into the lumen configured to slidably receive the endoscope. The ... | 03/30/2004 |
| 6695772 | Small diameter cannula devices, systems and methods The present invention relates to devices, systems, and methods for obtaining a quick diagnostic view of a cavity or joint of a patient and/or delivering a therapeutic treatment to that cavity or joint. The invention relates specifically to a cannula devic... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6478730 | Zoom laparoscope A zoom laparoscope having a laparoscope base unit with a proximal end and a distal end and having a sheath with a zoom assembly. In one embodiment, the laparoscope comprises a two dimensional solid state imaging sensor. The laparoscope can contain a sheat... | 11/12/2002 |
| 6478731 | Endoscope-sheath interface using scope light post A sheath is sized and configured to receive an endoscope. The sheath is provided with a housing having a proximally facing opening with a U-shaped notch. The endoscope has at the proximal end a right-angle light post which and is received closely within t... | 11/12/2002 |