1. A detection device (10), comprising:
a drop detection device (22) positioned to receive drop ejection information as drops are ejected from multiple orifices (18) of said drop ejection device; and
a controller (34) that receives said drop ejection information and conducts a mathematical calculation to calculate frequency domain information from said drop ejection information to produce orifice information;
wherein said drop detection device (22) includes an array of detection devices wherein each element of said array obtains a signal from spatially separated zones of an orifice plate and wherein said orifice plate is controlled to simultaneously eject drops from said multiple orifices in said spatially separated zones in a manner to reduce crosstalk of detected signals.
2. The device (10) of claim 1 further comprising a drop ejection device (16) including said multiple orifices (18) adapted for ejecting drops therefrom and wherein said orifice health information includes drop ejection information for each of said multiple orifices.
3. The device (10) of claim 2 wherein said drop ejection device (16) simultaneously ejects drops from said multiple orifices at one of a unique frequency for each orifice and a unique phase for each orifice.
4. The device (10) of claim 2 wherein said drop ejection device (16) is chosen from one of a thermal ejection device, and a piezo ejection device and wherein said drop detection device (22) is chosen from one of an electrostatic detection device, a capacitive detection device, an acoustic drop detection device, and an optical detection device.
5. The device (10) of claim 2 wherein said drop ejection device (16) simultaneously ejects drops from at least eight orifices (18).
6. The device (10) of claim 1 wherein said frequency domain information is mathematically calculated by one of the following algorithms: Discrete Fourier Transformation (DFT), a Discrete Cosine Transformation (DCT) and a Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT).
7. The device (10) of claim 6 wherein said FFT deconvolves said drop ejection information to provide a resulting frequency information including a frequency peak information for each functioning orifice of multiple orifices.
8. The device (10) of claim 7 wherein each orifice has a unique frequency separated from adjacent frequencies by at least 100 Hz.
9. The device (10) of claim 7 wherein a power measurement of each frequency peak is utilized by said controller (34) to determine a drop quality of drops ejected from each functioning orifice of multiple orifices (18).
10. A method of detecting orifice functionality, comprising:
ejecting drops from multiple orifices (18);
detecting drop ejection information from said ejecting drops, using an array of detection devices wherein each element of said array obtains a signal from spatially separated zones of an orifice plate and wherein said orifice plate is controlled to simultaneously elect drops from multiple orifices in said spatially separated zones in a manner to reduce crosstalk of detected signals; and
conducting a fast Fourier transform (FFT) on said drop ejection information to produce orifice functionality information for individual ones of said multiple orifices (18).
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said ejecting drops from multiple orifices (18) comprises simultaneously ejecting drops from individual ones of said multiple orifices at a unique frequency for each orifice and wherein said step of conducting a fast Fourier transform (FFT) includes conducting a frequency domain analysis that deconvolves said drop ejection information to provide a resulting frequency information including a frequency peak for each functioning orifice of said multiple orifices and, further comprising measuring a power of each frequency peak to determine a drop quality of drops ejected from each functioning orifice of said multiple orifices.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of detecting drop ejection information is conducted utilizing one of electrostatic detection, capacitive detection, acoustic drop detection, and optical detection.
13. A method of manufacturing a detection device (10), comprising:
providing a drop ejection device (16) including multiple orifices (18) adapted for ejecting drops therefrom;
positioning a drop detection device (22) to receive drop ejection information as drops are ejected from said multiple orifices of said drop ejection device, wherein said drop detection device (22) includes an array of detection devices wherein each element of said array obtains a signal from spatially separated zones of an orifice plate and wherein said orifice plate is controlled to simultaneously eject drops from multiple orifices in said spatially separated zones in a manner to reduce crosstalk of detected signals; and
connecting a controller (34) to said drop detection device so as to receive said drop ejection information, said controller calculating frequency domain information on said drop ejection information to produce orifice information.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said detection device (22) is positioned within an imaging device that produces images on print media, said drop ejection device is adapted for ejecting drops from ones of multiple orifices at a unique frequency for each orifice and wherein said calculating frequency domain information comprises utilizing one of a DFT, a DCT and a FFT.
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. An implantable device, comprising:
a pressurizable expandable element, attached to an elongate conduit element near its forward end, said conduit element including a rear port portion and having a first passageway connecting said rear port portion to said expandable element, said expandable element expandable to enlarged shapes by addition of a flowable material using an external source provided into said rear port portion, said rear port portion adapted for providing fluid communication between the implantable device and the external source during adjustment and for automatically sealing the flowable material in the implantable device upon removal of the external source,
wherein the implantable device is adapted for implantation within body tissue with the expandable element adjacent a body lumen to provide volume to the body tissue for adjustable coaptation of the body lumen.
2. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein said rear port portion comprises an elastic septum.
3. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein said elongate conduit has a second elongate passageway extending from an opening in the conduit forward tip end to a location rearward from said expandable element.
4. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein said expandable element is attached onto said elongate conduit element by a material comprising an adhesive material.
5. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein said elongated conduit element permits subcutaneous positioning of the rear port portion.
6. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein the implantable device is constructed using a bio compatible material such as polyurethane or silicone.
7. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein the rear port portion comprises a compression ring for maintaining a seal of the rear port portion.
8. An implantable device assembly, comprising:
(a) an elongate guide probe member adapted for being inserted into tissue adjacent a body lumen of a patient;
(b) an elongate implantable device adapted for being surgically implanted into the tissue adjacent to the body lumen, said implantable device including a forward expandable element and a rear port portion connected together by flexible conduit, said conduit having a first inner passageway in fluid communication between said expandable element and said rear port portion and having a second passageway adapted for receiving said elongate probe member; and
(c) an external source containing a flowable material and adapted for connection to the rear port portion of said implantable device, whereby a flowable material from said external source can be introduced through the rear port portion and through the first passageway of said implantable device so as to expand the forward expandable element adjacent a body lumen to at least partially and adjustably restrict the lumen.
9. The implantable device assembly of claim 8, wherein said guide probe member comprises a stiff elongate rod having a pointed forward end.
10. The implantable device assembly of claim 8, wherein said guide probe member comprises a flexible guidewire.
11. The implantable device assembly of claim 8, wherein said implantable device rear port portion contains an elastic septum and said source is a syringe having a forward facing needle whereby said needle may be sealingly inserted in said septum and a flowable material injected from said syringe through the first passageway to expand the forward expandable element.
12. The implantable device assembly of claim 11, wherein said syringe includes an axially movable rear plunger element, whereby the needle is insertable into the elastic septum located in the rear port portion of the implantable device and a flowable material injected by the plunger element through the needle and first passageway to expand the forward expandable element.
13. A method for variably restricting a body lumen in a patient, comprising the steps of:
guiding an elongate implantable device into body tissue of a patient to a location adjacent a body lumen to be restricted using an elongate probe member, the elongate implantable device having an expandable element located at its forward end and having a port portion provided at its rearward end, so that the expandable element is positioned adjacent to the body lumen; and
providing a flowable material from a source into the port portion in fluid communication with the expandable element, and at a location separate from the expandable element, so as to expand the expandable element to at least partially restrict the body lumen, wherein the implantable device is guided over the elongate probe member.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:
withdrawing the elongate probe member from the patient’s body;
positioning the port portion of said elongate implantable device inside the patient’s body tissue near the surface of the skin, and
closing an opening made in the patient’s skin over the port portion.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing a flowable material includes injecting one or more of a saline liquid solution, a gel, or a slurry of particles in a fluid carrier.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing a flowable material includes injecting a radiopaque material to facilitate fluoroscopic visualization.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the elongate probe member and implantable device are surgically inserted to a location adjacent the urethra of a patient.
18. The method of claim 13 including placing an implantable device along two opposite sides of the urethra of a patient.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein the implantable device is guided over the elongate probe member.
20. The method of claim 13, wherein the implantable device and elongate probe member are inserted into the body tissue as a unit.
21. The method of claim 13, wherein the implantable device is positioned using visual guidance.
22. The method of claim 13, wherein the implantable device is positioned using fluoroscopy.
23. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
increasing restriction of the body lumen by adding flowable material to the implantable device.
24. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
decreasing restriction of the body lumen by removing flowable material from the implantable device.
25. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
measuring restriction of the body lumen by infusing fluid through the body lumen past a restricted portion of the body lumen and measuring back pressure.
26. The method of claim 13, wherein providing a flowable material from a source into the port portion comprises:
injecting the flowable material into a septum of the port portion using a hyperdermic needle.
27. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
expanding the expandable element prior to withdrawal of the elongated probe member.
28. A method for variably restricting a body lumen in a patient, comprising:
guiding an elongate implantable device into body tissue of a patient to a location adjacent a body lumen to be restricted using an elongate probe member, the elongate implantable device having an expandable element located at its forward end and having a port portion provided at its rearward end, so that the expandable element is positioned adjacent to the body lumen; and
providing a flowable material at the rearward end from a source directly to the port portion, so as to expand the expandable element to at least partially restrict the body lumen;
wherein the implantable device is positioned using fluoroscopy.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
withdrawing the elongate probe member from the patient’s body;
positioning the port portion of said elongate implantable device inside the patient’s body tissue near the surface of the skin, and
closing an opening made in the patient’s skin over the port portion.
30. The method of claim 28, wherein the material includes injecting one or more of a saline liquid solution, a gel, or a slurry of particles in a fluid carrier.
31. The method of claim 28, wherein providing a flowable material includes injecting a radiopaque material to facilitate fluoroscopic visualization.
32. The method of claim 28, wherein the elongate probe member and implantable device are surgically inserted to a location adjacent the urethra of a patient.
33. The method of claim 28, including placing an implantable device along two opposite sides of the urethra of a patient.
34. The method of claim 28, wherein the implantable device is guided over the elongate probe member.
35. The method of claim 28, wherein the implantable device and elongate probe member are inserted into the body tissue as a unit.
36. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
increasing restriction of the body lumen by adding flowable material to the implantable device.
37. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
decreasing restriction of the body lumen by removing flowable material from the implantable device.
38. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
measuring restriction of the body lumen by infusing fluid through the body lumen past a restricted portion of the body lumen and measuring back pressure.
39. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of providing a flowable material from a source into the port portion comprises:
injecting the flowable material into a septum of the port portion using a hyperdermic needle.
40. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
expanding the expandable element prior to withdrawal of the elongated probe member.