Abstract:
A surgical access system includes retractor for creating an access path between an incision site and a surgical site. The retractor includes a frame having a base member and a pair of generally curved rails extending therefrom. A tubular member is coupled to the frame and includes first and second blade portions that are capable of relative movement with respect to each other by movement on the curved rails. A method of inserting the retractor into a patient includes inserting a guide rod over a guide wire, locating an obturator in the retractor, inserting the obturator and retractor over the guide rod, and removing both the guide rod and obturator to leave the retractor in the body to provide the access path.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to systems and methods providing content-access-based information retrieval. Information items from a plurality of disparate information sources that have been previously accessed or considered are automatically indexed in a data store, whereby a multifaceted user interface is provided to efficiently retrieve the items in a cognitively relevant manner. Various display output arrangements are possible for the retrieved information items including timeline visualizations and multidimensional grid visualizations. Input options include explicit, implicit, and standing queries for retrieving data along with explicit and implicit tagging of items for ease of recall and retrieval. In one aspect, an automated system is provided that facilitates concurrent searching across a plurality of information sources. A usage analyzer determines user accessed items and a content analyzer stores subsets of data corresponding to the items, wherein at least two of the items are associated with disparate information sources, respectively. An automated indexing component indexes the data subsets according to past data access patterns as determined by the usage analyzer. A search component responds to a search query, initiates a search across the indexed data, and outputs links to locations of a subset and/or provides sparse representations of the subset.
Abstract:
A visualization method for processing heterogeneous data sets. A set of display nodes is generated on a user display that corresponds to groupings of data elements from a set of data. As various display nodes are selected, specific searching criteria corresponding to a selected display node is applied to the set of data. The data nodes on the user display are dynamically updated to reflect the processing of the additional criteria.
Abstract:
An interactive visualization of stored data includes a representation of a three-dimensional generally helical path extending between spaced apart ends of the path. Selected parts of the stored data are mapped to corresponding parts of the helical path to facilitate visualization of the stored data. The stored data may include an unbounded dimension (e.g., time) that is mapped along the helical path. One or more user interface elements may be associated with the helical path to effect display of additional information associated with a selected part of the path.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for displaying and managing data in hierarchies and polyarchies of information are described. In one aspect, an object having first and second intersecting hierarchies is specified. The object is illustrated with respect to the first hierarchy. A second intersecting hierarchy selection option is presented to a user to illustrate the object with respect to the second intersecting hierarchy in response to user selection.
Abstract:
A surgical access system includes retractor for creating an access path between an incision site and a surgical site. The retractor includes a frame having a base member and a pair of generally curved rails extending therefrom. A tubular member is coupled to the frame and includes first and second blade portions that are capable of relative movement with respect to each other by movement on the curved rails. A method of inserting the retractor into a patient includes inserting a guide rod over a guide wire, locating an obturator in the retractor, inserting the obturator and retractor over the guide rod, and removing both the guide rod and obturator to leave the retractor in the body to provide the access path.
Abstract:
A computer system and for displaying a static animation image in response to an action related to a displayed object that occurs on the computer system is presented. An initial state of the displayed object is determined with regard to the action. A final state of the displayed object with regard to the action is also determined. Transition aspects between the initial state and the final state are then determined. A static animation image is generated according to the initial state, the transition aspects, and the final state. The static animation image represents, in static form, an animation indicative of the action from the initial state to the final state of the displayed object. The static animation image is displayed on the graphical user interface in lieu of animation.
Abstract:
A method for providing an array of visual elements, such as a directory tree, that include indented indicators that represent the level of the relationship between the visual elements of the array is disclosed. Visual elements include, but are not limited to, text, images, and/or combinations of text and images. The use of indented indicators enhance the display in a manner that allows the indentation of other parts of the visual elements such as state boxes and text to be reduced to a minimal amount or entirely eliminated.
Abstract:
A method and interface for managing indices of ordered elements are provided. A subset of elements are selected from an index of ordered elements and displayed on a user interface device. A user can manipulate the display of different subsets of the ordered elements via a user input device. Additional indicia corresponding to the subset of index elements are also displayed on the interface. The additional indicia can include a reference to a visual indicator of index display depth and/or a reference to the location of the displayed elements within the index.
Abstract:
A location history is a collection of locations over time for an object. A stay is a single instance of an object spending some time in one place, and a destination is any place where one or more objects have experienced a stay. Location histories are parsed using stays and destinations. In a described implementation, each location of a location history is recorded as a spatial position and a corresponding time at which the spatial position is acquired. Stays are extracted from a location history by analyzing locations thereof with regard to a temporal threshold and a spatial threshold. Specifically, two or more locations are considered a stay if they exceed a minimum stay duration and are within a maximum roaming distance. Each stay includes a location, a starting time, and an ending time. Destinations are produced from the extracted stays using a clustering operation and a predetermined scaling factor.