1. An aircraft system, comprising:
an airfoil having a leading edge, a lower surface, and a chord line; and
a leading edge device having a first flow surface and a second flow surface, the first flow surface being coupled to the airfoil and the second flow surface being coupled to the first flow surface, the leading edge device being movable along a motion path among:
a retracted position;
an extended position; and
an intermediate position with the first flow surface at least approximately perpendicular to the chord line of the airfoil, and wherein the motion path has:
a first segment between the retracted position and the intermediate position along which the second flow surface is positioned at least one of generally behind and generally above the first flow surface; and
a second segment between the extended position and the intermediate position.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fuselage coupled to the airfoil and an engine coupled to at least one of the airfoil and the fuselage.
3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an engine having an engine nacelle, the engine nacelle being proximate to the airfoil, and wherein at least a portion of the leading edge device is at least approximately aerodynamically sealed against the engine nacelle when the leading edge device is in the extended position.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an engine having an engine pylon, the engine pylon being proximate to the airfoil, and wherein at least a portion of the leading edge device is at least approximately aerodynamically sealed against the engine pylon when the leading edge device is in the extended position.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an engine proximate to the airfoil, the engine having a thrust reverser and an engine nacelle, a portion of the engine nacelle being coupled to the thrust reverser to move when the thrust reverser is deployed, and wherein at least a portion of the leading edge device moves with the portion of the engine nacelle when the leading edge device is in the extended position.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the leading edge device includes a first leading edge device, and wherein the method further comprises a second leading edge device laterally disposed from the first leading edge device, the second leading edge device having an extended position, wherein at least a portion of the first leading edge device is at least approximately aerodynamically sealed against a portion of a lateral edge of the second leading edge device when the first leading edge device is in the extended position and the second leading edge device is in the extended position.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the second flow surface is discontinuous with the first flow surface while the leading edge device is in the first segment of the motion path.
8.-27. (canceled)
28. A method of making an aircraft system, comprising:
configuring a leading edge device to be couplable to an airfoil, the airfoil having a leading edge, a lower surface, and a chord line, the leading edge device having a first flow surface and a second flow surface; and
configuring the leading edge device to be movable along a motion path among:
a retracted position;
an extended position; and
an intermediate portion with the first flow surface at least approximately perpendicular to the chord line of the airfoil, and wherein the motion path has:
a first segment between the retracted position and the intermediate position along which the second flow surface is positioned at least one of generally behind and generally above the first flow surface; and
a second segment between the extended position and the intermediate position.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
providing an aircraft having an airfoil; and
coupling the leading edge device to the airfoil.
30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
providing an aircraft having an airfoil and an engine with an engine pylon, the engine pylon being proximate to the airfoil; and
coupling the leading edge device to the airfoil wherein at least a portion of the leading edge device is at least approximately aerodynamically sealed against the engine pylon when the leading edge device is in the extended position.
31. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
providing an aircraft having an airfoil and an engine with an engine nacelle, the engine nacelle being proximate to the airfoil; and
coupling the leading edge device to the airfoil wherein at least a portion of the leading edge device is at least approximately aerodynamically sealed against the engine nacelle when the leading edge device is in the extended position.
32. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
providing an aircraft with an airfoil and an engine proximate to the airfoil, the engine having an engine nacelle and a thrust reverser, a portion of the engine nacelle being coupled to the thrust reverser to move when the thrust reverser is deployed; and
coupling the leading edge device to the airfoil wherein at least a portion of the leading edge device moves with the portion of the engine nacelle that moves with the thrust reverser when the leading edge device is in the extended position.
33. The method of claim 28 wherein the leading edge device includes a first leading edge device, and wherein the method further comprises:
providing an aircraft with an airfoil, the airfoil having a second leading edge device with a lateral edge and an extended position; and
coupling the first leading edge device to the airfoil adjacent to the second leading edge device, wherein at least a portion of the first leading edge device is at least approximately aerodynamically sealed against a portion of the lateral edge of the second leading edge device when the first leading edge device is in the extended position and the second leading edge device is in the extended position.
34. A method for configuring an aircraft for various phases of flight, comprising moving a leading edge device from a stationary retraced position to a stationary extended position, the leading edge device being coupled to an airfoil and having a first and second flow surface, and wherein the second flow surface remains positioned at least one of generally behind and generally above the first flow surface while moving from the retracted to the extended position until the first flow surface passes through an intermediate position where the first flow surface is at least approximately perpendicular to a chord line of the airfoil.
35. The method of claim 34, further comprising operating the aircraft with the leading edge device in at least one of the retracted position and the extended position.
36. An aircraft system, comprising:
an airfoil having a leading edge, a lower surface, and a chord line; and
leading edge means for forming a retractable extension of the leading edge of the airfoil, the leading edge means having a first flow surface and a second flow surface, the leading edge means coupled to the airfoil and movable along a motion path among:
a retracted position;
an extended position, and
an intermediate position with the first flow surface at least approximately perpendicular to the chord line of the airfoil, and wherein the motion path has:
a first segment between the retracted position and the intermediate position along which the second flow surface is positioned at least one of generally behind and generally above the first flow surface; and
a second segment between the extended position and the intermediate position.
37. The system of claim 36, further comprising a fuselage coupled to the airfoil and an engine coupled to at least one of the airfoil and the fuselage.
38.-40. (canceled)
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system for controlling cardiac arrhythmia in a heart of a patient, comprising:
a cardiac delivery system; and
a source of conduction-modifying agent coupled to the cardiac delivery system, the conduction-modifying agent being effective for modifying neuronal conduction in nerve ganglia;
wherein the cardiac delivery system comprises a distal portion for delivering the conduction-modifying agent from the source to at least one cardiac fat pad in proximity to ganglia therein.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the cardiac delivery system comprises at least one needle having a tip for injecting the conduction-modifying agent into proximity with the ganglia through a surface of the fat pad.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the distal portion is straight.
4. The system of claim 2 wherein the distal portion is helical.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the cardiac delivery system comprises an intracardiac delivery system.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the cardiac delivery system comprises an endocardial system.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the cardiac delivery system comprises a transvascular system for delivering the conduction-modifying agent into the fat pad through a wall of a vessel associated with the heart.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the conduction-modifying agent comprises fibroblasts.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the conduction-modifying agent comprises a biopolymer.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the biopolymer is fibrin glue.
11. The system of claim 9 wherein the biopolymer is alginate.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the conduction-modifying agent comprises a neurotoxin.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the neurotoxin is Botulinum Type A.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein the conduction-modifying agent comprises growth factor.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the growth factor is fibroblast growth factor.
16. The system of claim 1 wherein the cardiac delivery system comprises:
at least one needle, the needle having a distal end for injecting the conduction-modifying agent into proximity with the ganglia through a surface of the fat pad, and a proximal end; and
a coupler disposed at the proximal end of the needle for coupling the needle to the source.
17. The system of claim 1 wherein the cardiac delivery system comprises a catheter, the catheter comprising:
an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end;
at least one lumen extending through the elongated body between the distal end of the elongated body and the proximal end of the elongated body;
at least one needle disposed at the distal end of the elongated body and having a tip for injecting the conduction-modifying agent into proximity with the ganglia through a surface of the fat pad, the needle being in fluid communication with the lumen; and
a coupler disposed at the proximal end of the elongated body for coupling the lumen to the source.
18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:
a mapping electrode disposed at the distal end of the elongated body; and
a conductor extending through the elongated body between the distal end of the elongated body and the proximal end of the elongated body.
19. The system of claim 1 further comprising an anchor disposed at the distal portion of the cardiac delivery system for anchoring the distal end of the cardiac delivery system at a location on the fat pad so that conduction-modifying agent may be delivered to a region of tissue in proximity to the location while the anchor is anchored thereto.
20. A system for controlling cardiac arrhythmia in a heart of a patient, comprising:
a cardiac delivery system; and
a source of conduction-modifying agent coupled to the cardiac delivery system, the conduction-modifying agent being effective for modifying neuronal conduction in nerve ganglia and comprising a plurality of components;
wherein the source comprises a plurality of separate sections, the components being respectively separately contained in the source sections; and
wherein the cardiac delivery system comprises:
a distal portion comprising a plurality of channels for delivering the components of the conduction-modifying agent to the tip hereof; and
a plurality of separate delivery channels, the distal channels of the cardiac delivery system being in respective fluid communication with the source sections through respectively the delivery channels.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein the components comprise biopolymer precursors.
22. The system of claim 21 wherein the components further comprise fibroblasts, neurotoxin, growth factor, or a combination thereof.
23. An injection needle comprising:
a distal portion comprising a plurality of channels extending to a tip hereof; and
a plurality of separate delivery channels, the distal channels of the cardiac delivery system being in fluid communication with the delivery channels.
24. The injection needle of claim 23 wherein the distal portion is straight.
25. The injection needle of claim 23 wherein the distal portion is helical.
26. The injection needle of claim 23 further comprising:
a proximal portion, the delivery channels extending to the proximal portion; and
a coupler for coupling the delivery channels to a catheter.
27. The injection needle of claim 23 further comprising:
a proximal portion, the delivery channels extending to the proximal portion; and
a coupler for coupling the delivery channels to respective syringes.
28. A method for controlling cardiac arrhythmia in a heart of a patient, comprising:
detecting cardiac arrhythmia;
preparing a source of conduction-modifying agent that is effective for modifying neuronal conduction in nerve ganglia; and
delivering a therapeutically effective amount of the conduction-modifying agent from the source to at least one cardiac fat pad in proximity to ganglia therein.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein the delivering step is performed with an intracardiac system.
30. The method of claim 28 wherein the delivering step is performed with an endocardial system.
31. The method of claim 28 wherein the delivering step is performed with a transvascular system.
32. The method of claim 28 wherein the conduction-modifying agent comprises fibroblasts.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein the fibroblasts are autologous.
34. The method of claim 28 wherein the conduction-modifying agent comprises a neurotoxin.
35. The system of claim 34 wherein the neurotoxin is Botulinum Type A.
36. The method of claim 28 wherein the conduction-modifying agent comprises growth factor.
37. The system of claim 36 wherein the growth factor is fibroblast growth factor.
38. The method of claim 28 wherein the conduction-modifying agent comprises a biopolymer.
39. The method of claim 38 wherein the biopolymer is fibrin glue.
40. The method of claim 38 wherein the biopolymer is alginate.
41. The method of claim 38 wherein the biopolymer is selected from the group consisting of fibrin, collagen, alginate, precursors andor derivatives of the foregoing, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.
42. The method of claim 38 wherein the biopolymer has a characteristic of recruiting fibroblast cells.
43. The method of claim 38 wherein the delivering step further comprises forming the biopolymer from a plurality of precursors prior to application to the ganglia.
44. The method of claim 38 wherein the delivering step further comprises forming the biopolymer from a plurality of precursors upon application to the ganglia.
45. The method of claim 28 wherein the conduction-modifying agent comprises a plurality of conduction-modifying components.
46. The method of claim 45 wherein the conduction-modifying components comprise a combination of two or more components selected from among a fibroblast component, a neurotoxin component, a biopolymer component, and a growth factor component.
47. The method of claim 28 wherein the delivering step comprises delivering the therapeutically effective amount of the conduction-modifying agent in one injection.
48. The method of claim 28 wherein the delivering step comprises delivering the therapeutically effective amount of the conduction-modifying agent in a plurality of injections.
49. The method of claim 28 wherein:
the conduction-modifying agent comprises fibroblasts; and
the delivering step comprises delivering from about one million to about one billion fibroblast cells in an injection.
50. The method of claim 28 wherein:
the conduction-modifying agent comprises a biopolymer; and
the delivering step comprises delivering from about 0.1 ml to about 5 ml of biopolymer in an injection.
51. The method of claim 28 wherein:
the conduction-modifying agent comprises a biopolymer; and
the delivering step comprises delivering from about 0.5 to about 2 ml of biopolymer in an injection.
52. The method of claim 28 wherein:
the conduction-modifying agent comprises a plurality of component conduction-modifying material; and
the delivering step comprises delivering each of the conduction-modifying component materials in a separate injection.
53. The method of claim 52 wherein each of the conduction-modifying component materials comprises fibroblast cells, a neurotoxin, a growth factor, a biopolymer, or any combination of the foregoing.
54. The method of claim 28 further comprising mapping electrical activity of the heart to detect the ganglia in the fat pad.
55. The system of claim 28 further comprising:
anchoring the distal end of a cardiac delivery system at a location on the fat pad; and
delivering the conduction-modifying agent to a region of tissue in proximity to the location while the anchor is anchored thereto.