Abstract:
A system to apply ultrasound energy to a region surrounding blood flow in a blood vessel from a position outside a patient includes: a therapeutic ultrasound transducer comprising a plurality of transducer elements; and a processor configured to control the plurality of transducer elements; wherein the processor is configured to change phase inputs to the transducer elements to move a focus of the transducer at least 1 cm in a first plane which is substantially along a plane of the transducer elements of the therapeutic ultrasound transducer and at least 1 cm in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane; and wherein the processor is further configured to position the focus of the transducer in sequential positions offset from the blood flow in the blood vessel according to a pattern pre-determined by an operator of the system.
Abstract:
A system for applying high intensity ultrasound energy to a nerve surrounding an artery of a patient includes a piezoelectric array comprising a plurality of ultrasound elements, a controller configured to individually control a phasing of each of the ultrasound elements, a platform on which the ultrasound elements are coupled, wherein the platform is configured to support at least a part of the patient, a programmable generator configured to generate an output power for at least one of the ultrasound elements, and a programmable processor configured to process a signal transmitted from one of the ultrasound elements and reflected back from tissue, and determine a tissue characteristic based on the reflected signal.
Abstract:
An integrated patient platform system and method for performing medical procedures below a patient's body is disclosed. In some embodiments, a superior level surface of an integrated patient platform is configured to support a patient, lying in a prone or supine position, and an inferior level surface of the integrated patient platform is configured to support one or more medical procedure components. The superior level surface includes an aperture disposed therethrough. At least a portion of the aperture forms an examination window that is adjustable in size and position and configured to receive a portion of a patient over or in the examination window. A medical procedure component may be positioned on the inferior level surface to contact or otherwise interface with the portion of the patient positioned over or in the examination window.
Abstract:
Methods for chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of semiconductor substrates, and more particularly to temperature control during such chemical mechanical polishing are provided. In one aspect, the method comprises polishing the substrate with a polishing surface during a polishing process to remove a portion of the conductive material, repeatedly monitoring a temperature of the polishing surface during the polishing process, and exposing the polishing surface to a rate quench process in response to the monitored temperature so as to achieve a target value for the monitored temperature during the polishing process.
Abstract:
An inflatable cuff having integrated ultrasound transducers (25) is used to effect hemostasis of deep bleeding wounds in limbs. The cuff includes a chamber defined by a bladder (30) or a series of dams into which a fluid may be introduced and pressurized. The pressure of the fluid stops or slows bleeding while high intensity focused ultrasound is applied to effect hemostasis. The fluid may also serve as an acoustic couplant between the limb and the ultrasound transducers (25). The transducers (25) may be electrostrictive transducers. Diodes may be used to reduce parallel capacitive loading in the transducer array. Bypass capacitors using the electrostrictive material may also be used.
Abstract:
A method of controlling polishing includes storing a library having a plurality of reference spectra, polishing a substrate, measuring a sequence of spectra of light from the substrate during polishing, for each measured spectrum of the sequence of spectra, finding a best matching reference spectrum using a matching technique other than sum of squared differences to generate a sequence of best matching reference spectra, and determining at least one of a polishing endpoint or an adjustment for a polishing rate based on the sequence of best matching reference spectra. Finding a best matching reference spectrum may include performing a cross-correlation of the measured spectrum with each of two or more of the plurality of reference spectra from the library and selecting a reference spectrum with the greatest correlation to the measured spectrum as a best matching reference spectrum.
Abstract:
A polishing pad has an opaque polishing layer with an aperture therethrough and a polishing surface, and a solid light-transmissive window in the aperture. The solid light-transmissive window includes an outer portion secured to the polishing layer and an inner portion secured to the outer portion. The outer portion has a upper surface recessed relative to the polishing surface, whereas the inner portion has an upper surface that is substantially co-planar with the polishing surface.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for sealing a vascular opening such as an arteriotomy formed during a femoral artery catheterization procedure are described. Included are methods for locating the arteriotomy, aligning the therapeutic applicator to the arteriotomy, transiently occluding the blood vessel, and a station keeping procedure for maintaining alignment. Locating the arteriotomy and aligning the applicator may be performed using a targeting catheter having one or more targeting aids, such as an inflatable balloon or sensor (e.g., Doppler or temperature sensor), and an ultrasonic beacon. Station keeping may be performed using overlapping ultrasound signals that are sent to a target tissue site and the echo detected. An algorithm is described for detecting tissue movement relative to the applicator based on comparison of the echo with a previously stored echo.
Abstract:
The present invention provides compositions and methods useful for purifying recombinant myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and fragments thereof. In particular, the invention provides a one-step purification method for MAG and MAG fragments. Novel forms of human recombinant MAG protein are also disclosed in addition to methods of reliably producing and storing stable recombinant MAG proteins.
Abstract:
The invention provides compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with expression of CD19, e.g., by administering a recombinant T cell comprising the CD19 CAR as described herein, in combination with one or more B-cell inhibitors, e.g., inhibitors of one or more of CD1O, CD20, CD22, CD34, CD123, FLT-3, ROR1, CD79b, CD179b, or CD79a. The disclosure additionally features novel antigen binding domains and CAR molecules directed to CD20 and CD22, and uses, e.g., as monotherapies or in combination therapies. The invention also provides kits and compositions described herein.