Devices and methods for placement of partitions within a hollow body organ

Devices and methods for tissue acquisition and fixation, or gastroplasty, are described. Generally, the devices of the system may be advanced in a minimally invasive manner within a patient's body to create one or more plications within the hollow body organ. A tissue treatment device attached to a distal end of a flexible elongated member and has a cartridge member opposite an anvil member. The cartridge member and the anvil member are movable between a closed position and an open position, and a moveable barrier is disposed between the cartridge and anvil members to help acquire a dual fold of tissue. The tissue treatment device can be repositioned to form multiple plications within the organ.

Analyte sensor inserter system

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host and associated methods of manufacture. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host and associated methods of manufacture.

GAS SEPARATION TYPE SHOWERHEAD

Provided is a gas separation type showerhead for effective energy supply. The gas separation type showerhead includes: a gas supply module to which a first gas and a second gas are separately supplied; a gas separation module in which the supplied first and second gases are separately dispersed; and a gas injection module which is a multi-hollow cathode having a plurality of holes and in which the first and second gases separately dispersed are ionized in the holes to be commonly dispersed.

Methods and apparatuses for image guided medical procedures

Methods and apparatuses for the image guidance and documentation of medical procedures. One embodiment includes combining small field of view images into a recorded image of with a large field of view and aligning the small field of view real time image with the recorded image through correlation of imaging data. A location and orientation determination system may be used to track the imaging system and provide a starting set of image alignment parameters and/or provide change updates to a set of image alignment parameters, which is then further improved through correlating imaging data. The recorded image may be selected according to real time measurement of a cardiac parameter during an image guided cardiac procedure. Image manipulations planned based on the recorded image can be stored and applied to the real time information. The position of the medical device may be determined and recorded through manipulating a cursor in a 3-D image space shown in two non-parallel views.

Method and apparatus for a searchable data service

Method and apparatus for a searchable data service are described. The searchable data service may be implemented as a Web service with a Web service interface that allows the storage of locators and other attributes associated with entities stored in a data store in a searchable index. The attributes may be expressed as {name, value} pairs. The interface may allow client applications to query the searchable index to retrieve locators for entities in the backend data store according to the attributes associated with each locator. Search speed may be automatically optimized using, for example, indexes, query planning, and parallelism. The searchable data service provides a searchable index and is not a data store per se. The searchable data service separates searching and indexing of data from the actual storage of the data.

Modified nucleotides

The invention provides modified nucleotide or nucleoside molecule comprising a purine or pyrimidine base and a ribose or deoxyribose sugar moiety having a removable 3′-OH blocking group covalently attached thereto, such that the 3′ carbon atom has attached a group of the structure —O-Z wherein Z is any of —C(R′)2-O—R″, —C(R′)2-N(R″)2, —C(R′)2-N(H)R″, —C(R′)2-S—R″ and —C(R′)2-F, wherein each R″ is or is part of a removable protecting group; each R′ is independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, substituted alkyl, arylalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, acyl, cyano, alkoxy, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy or amido group, or a detectable label attached through a linking group; or (R′)2 represents an alkylidene group of formula ═C(R′″)2 wherein each R′″ may be the same or different and is selected from the group comprising hydrogen and halogen atoms and alkyl groups; and wherein said molecule may be reacted to yield an intermediate in which each R″ is exchanged for H or, where Z is —C(R′)2-F, the F is exchanged for OH, SH or NH2, preferably OH, which intermediate dissociates under aqueous conditions to afford a molecule with a free 3′OH; with the proviso that where Z is —C(R′)2-S—R″, both R′ groups are not H.

Interacting avatars in an instant messaging communication session

An avatar that represents an user in a communications session is animated, without user manipulation, based on the animation of another avatar that represents another user in the same instant messaging communication session. The avatars may be displayed in a single instant messaging window, and the displayed animations may create an appearance that the avatars are interacting with one another. An avatar animation may be based on the content communicated by a user and a category that is associated with a user.

Systems and methods of forming refractory metal nitride layers using disilazanes

A method of forming (and apparatus for forming) refractory metal nitride layers (including silicon nitride layers), such as a tantalum (silicon) nitride barrier layer, on a substrate by using a vapor deposition process with a refractory metal precursor compound, a disilazane, and an optional silicon precursor compound.

Process for selective masking of III-N layers and for the preparation of free-standing III-N layers or of devices, and products obtained thereby

In a process for forming a mask material on a III-N layer, wherein III denotes an element of the group III of the Periodic Table of Elements, selected from Al, Ga and In, a III-N layer having a surface is provided which comprises more than one facet. Mask material is selectively deposited only on one or multiple, but not on all facets. The deposition of mask material may be particularly carried out during epitaxial growth of a III-N layer under growth conditions, by which (i) growth of at least a further III-N layer selectively on a first type or a first group of facet(s) and (ii) a deposition of mask material selectively on a second type or a second group of facet(s) proceed simultaneously. By the process according to the invention, it is possible to produce free-standing thick III-N layers. Further, semiconductor devices or components having special structures and layers can be produced.

Vaporizer, film forming apparatus including the same, method of vaporization and method of forming film

It is aimed at providing a vaporization apparatus and a vaporization method capable of keeping track of a progressive condition of clogging of the apparatus. It is also aimed at providing a vaporization apparatus and a vaporization method capable of eliminating clogging prior to occurrence of complete clogging, without disassembling the apparatus. It provides a vaporization apparatus for introducing a carrier gas from one end of a gas passage and for feeding, the carrier gas including a material solution, from the other end of the gas passage to a vaporization part to thereby vaporize the material solution, characterized in that a mass flow controller (MFC) is provided at the one end of the gas passage, and means for detecting a pressure within the gas passage is provided. The vaporization apparatus is characterized in that the same is provided with means for introducing a chemical solution capable of dissolving therein matters deposited or sticked to the inside of the gas passage, into the gas passage.