1. A target shooting system comprising:
a. A target; wherein the target is viewed by;
b. A scope; wherein the scope is interfaced with;
c. A camera; wherein the camera is interfaced with;
d. A computer; and
e. A program executed by the computer; wherein the program determines a location of a hit on the target as a change between a baseline value and a new hit value.
2. The target shooting system of claim 1, further wherein the scope is integral with the camera as a unitary device.
3. The target shooting system of claim 1, further wherein the scope is a separate device interfaced with the camera.
4. The target shooting system of claim 1, further wherein the system is calibrated and a baseline value is determined by means of the program comprising the steps of:
a. Capturing an image of the target by means of the camera;
b. Displaying the image of the target by means of the computer;
c. Selecting within the program a caliber of ammunition;
d. Determining by means of the program a measurement value;
e. Using the measurement value to create by means of the program a map of the target;
f. Storing within the program the map of the target as a baseline value; and
g. Activating by means of the program a calibration feature.
5. The target shooting system of claim 4, further wherein by means of the program a user selects an area of the target to be monitored by the system.
6. The target shooting system of claim 5, further wherein by means of the program a user selects a bullseye within the target area.
7. The target shooting system of claim 4, further wherein the new hit value is determined by means of the program comprising the steps of:
a. Obtaining an image of the target from the camera;
b. Mapping all detectable contours on the target as line segments and bounds boxes;
c. Analyzing each detected contour-bounds box to determine if the contour-bounds box is within a specified range;
d. Comparing each detected contour-bounds box to existing contour-bounds boxes compiled during calibration of the program; and
e. Determining whether each detected contour-bounds box is a new hit value.
8. The target shooting system of claim 4, further wherein the new hit value is determined by means of the program comprising the steps of:
a. Obtaining an image of the target from the camera;
b. Mapping all detectable contours on the target as line segments;
c. Analyzing each detected line segment to determine if the line segment is part of a baseline value;
d. Aligning the baseline value with the image; and
e. Determining whether each detected line segment is a new hit value.
9. The target shooting system of claim 4, further wherein the new hit value is determined by means of the program comprising the steps of:
a. Obtaining an image of the target from the camera;
b. Filtering the image;
c. Detecting any new contour on the target; and
d. Determining whether each new contour is a new hit value.
10. The target shooting system of claim 4, further wherein the new hit value is determined by means of the program comprising the steps of:
a. Obtaining an image of the target from the camera;
b. Filtering the image;
c. Detecting any new contour on the target;
d. Analyzing each detected contour to determine if the detected contour is part of a baseline value;
e. Aligning the baseline value with the image; and
f. Determining whether each detected contour is a new hit value.
11. A target shooting system comprising:
a. A target; wherein the target is viewed by;
b. A scope; wherein the scope is interfaced with;
c. A camera; wherein the camera is interfaced with;
d. A computer; and
e. A program executed by the computer; wherein the program determines a location of a hit on the target as a change between a baseline value and a new hit value; and
further wherein the system is calibrated and a baseline value is determined by means of the program comprising the steps of:
i. Capturing an image of the target by means of the camera;
ii. Displaying the image of the target by means of the computer;
iii. Selecting an area of the target to be monitored by the system;
iv. Selecting a bullseye within the target area;
v. Selecting within the program a caliber of ammunition;
vi. Determining by means of the program a measurement value;
vii. Using the measurement value to create by means of the program a map of the target;
viii. Storing within the program the map of the target as a baseline value; and
ix. Activating by means of the program a calibration feature.
12. The target shooting system of claim 11, further wherein the new hit value is determined by means of the program comprising the steps of:
a. Obtaining an image of the target from the camera;
b. Mapping all detectable contours on the target as line segments and bounds boxes;
c. Analyzing each detected contour-bounds box to determine if the contour-bounds box is within a specified range;
d. Comparing each detected contour-bounds box to existing contour-bounds boxes compiled during calibration of the program; and
e. Determining whether each detected contour-bounds box is a new hit value.
13. The target shooting system of claim 11, further wherein the new hit value is determined by means of the program comprising the steps of:
a. Obtaining an image of the target from the camera;
b. Mapping all detectable contours on the target as line segments;
c. Analyzing each detected line segment to determine if the line segment is part of a baseline value;
d. Aligning the baseline value with the image; and
e. Determining whether each detected line segment is a new hit value.
14. The target shooting system of claim 11, further wherein the new hit value is determined by means of the program comprising the steps of:
a. Obtaining an image of the target from the camera;
b. Filtering the image;
c. Detecting any new contour on the target; and
d. Determining whether each new contour is a new hit value.
15. The target shooting system of claim 11, further wherein the new hit value is determined by means of the program comprising the steps of:
a. Obtaining an image of the target from the camera;
b. Filtering the image;
c. Detecting any new contour on the target;
d. Analyzing each detected contour to determine if the detected contour is part of a baseline value;
e. Aligning the baseline value with the image; and
f. Determining whether each detected contour is a new hit value.
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 tissue-penetrating fixation component for an implantable medical device, the component comprising a base portion and at least one tine portion, the base portion defining a longitudinal axis of the component and being configured for attachment to the medical device so that the longitudinal axis of the component extends approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device, the at least one tine portion comprising a hook segment and a distal segment, the hook segment being pre-set to extend along a curvature that encloses an angle of between 135 degrees and 270 degrees, from a proximal end thereof, in proximity to the base portion, to a distal end thereof, the distal segment being pre-set to extend from the distal end of the hook segment along a relatively straight line that is approximately tangent to the distal end of the hook segment, and the hook segment being elastically deformable from the pre-set curvature to an open position; and wherein:
the distal segment comprises a tooth and an end that surrounds the tooth;
the tooth includes a foot and a tissue-piercing tip, a length of the tooth being defined from the foot to the tip;
the end includes a pair of legs and a distal arch, the legs extending along the length of the tooth, on opposing sides thereof, the distal arch extending between the legs and distal to the tip, the legs being configured to bend in elastic deformation, when the hook segment is elastically deformed to the open position and a force is applied, along the longitudinal axis of the component, to push the distal arch of the distal segment against tissue, for initial tissue penetration, and the bending of the legs exposing the tip of the tooth to the tissue; and
the tooth is configured to resist bending when the force is applied.
2. The component of claim 1, wherein the tooth of the distal segment of the at least one tine portion tapers from a first width thereof, at the foot, to a smaller, second width thereof, at the tip.
3. The component of claim 2, wherein the length of the tooth of the distal segment is between approximately 0.03 inch and approximately 0.05 inch.
4. The component of claim 2, wherein the first width is between approximately 0.010 inch and approximately 0.015 inch, and the second width is approximately 0.003 inch.
5. The component of claim 1, wherein the hook segment of the at least one tine portion tapers from a first width thereof, at the proximal end thereof, to a smaller, second width thereof, in proximity to the distal end thereof.
6. The component of claim 5, wherein a width of the distal segment of the at least one tine portion, defined by the pair of legs thereof, is greater than the second width of the hook segment.
7. The component of claim 1, wherein the distal segment of the at least one tine portion extends toward the longitudinal axis, when the hook segment of the at least one tine portion conforms to the pre-set curvature.
8. The component of claim 1, wherein the distal segment of the at least one tine portion extends approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis, when the hook segment of the at least one tine portion conforms to the pre-set curvature.
9. The component of claim 1, wherein the preset curvature of the hook segment of the at least one tine portion is defined by a single radius, the radius being approximately 0.085 inch, and a length of the distal segment is between approximately 0.05 inch and approximately 0.1 inch.
10. The component of claim 1, wherein:
the base portion comprises a ring that extends around the longitudinal axis; and
the at least one tine comprises a plurality of tines spaced apart from one another around a circumference of the ring.
11. The component of claim 1, wherein the at least one tine portion has a substantially constant thickness along an entire length thereof, from the proximal end of the hook segment to the distal arch of the end of the distal segment.
12. An implantable medical device comprising a hermetically sealed housing and a tissue-penetrating fixation component, the housing containing control electronics and a power source of the device and defining a longitudinal axis of the device, and the fixation component comprising a base portion fixedly attached to the housing and at least one tine portion extending therefrom, the at least one tine portion comprising a hook segment and a distal segment, the hook segment being pre-set to extend along a curvature that encloses an angle of between 135 degrees and 270 degrees, from a proximal end thereof, in proximity to the base portion, to a distal end thereof, the distal segment being pre-set to extend along a relatively straight line that is approximately tangent to the distal end of the hook segment, and the hook segment being elastically deformable from the pre-set curvature to an open position; and
wherein:
the distal segment of the at least one tine portion of the fixation component comprises a tooth and an end that surrounds the tooth;
the tooth includes a foot and a tissue-piercing tip, a length of the tooth being defined from the foot to the tip;
the end includes a pair of legs and a distal arch, the legs extending along the length of the tooth, on opposing sides thereof, the distal arch extending between the legs and distal to the tip, the legs being configured to bend in elastic deformation, when the hook segment of the at least one tine portion of the fixation component is elastically deformed to the open position and a force is applied, along the longitudinal axis, to push the distal arch of the distal segment against tissue, for initial tissue penetration, and the bending of the legs exposing the tip of the tooth of the distal segment to the tissue; and
the tooth of the distal segment is configured to resist bending when the force is applied.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the tooth of the at least one tine portion of the fixation component tapers from a first width thereof, at the foot, to a smaller, second width thereof, at the tissue-piercing tip.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the length of the tooth is between approximately 0.03 inch and approximately 0.05 inch.
15. The device of claim 13, wherein the first width is between approximately 0.010 inch and approximately 0.015 inch, and the second width is approximately 0.003 inch.
16. The device of claim 12, wherein the hook segment of the at least one tine portion of the fixation component tapers from a first width thereof, at the proximal end thereof, to a smaller, second width thereof, in proximity to the distal end thereof.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein a width of the distal segment of the at least one tine portion of the fixation member, defined by the pair of legs thereof, is greater than the second width of the hook segment.
18. The device of claim 12, wherein the distal segment of the at least one tine portion of the fixation component extends toward the longitudinal axis, when the hook segment of the at least one tine portion conforms to the pre-set curvature.
19. The device of claim 12, wherein the distal segment of the at least one tine portion of the fixation component extends approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis, when the hook segment of the at least one tine portion conforms to the pre-set curvature.
20. The device of claim 12, wherein the preset curvature of the hook segment of the at least one tine portion of the fixation component is defined by a single radius, the radius being approximately 0.085 inch, and a length of the distal segment is between approximately 0.05 inch and approximately 0.1 inch.
21. The device of claim 12, wherein:
the base portion of the fixation component comprises a ring that extends around the longitudinal axis; and
the at least one tine portion of the fixation component comprises a plurality of tines spaced apart from one another around a circumference of the ring.
22. The device of claim 12, wherein the at least one tine portion of the fixation component has a substantially constant thickness along an entire length thereof, from the proximal end of the hook segment to the distal arch of the end of the distal segment.