Author: claimsbot

1. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly for an implantable active medical device comprising:
a capacitor having an aperture, the capacitor electrically grounded to an electrically conductive feedthrough ferrule or housing of the implantable active medical device;
a terminal pin extending into the aperture; and
an electrically conductive continuous coil disposed within the aperture between the terminal pin and the capacitor, the continuous coil comprising an inner diameter defined by a plurality of coils, each coil having a coil diameter different than the inner diameter, with the terminal pin extending through the inner diameter of the spring so that the plurality of coils circumferentially surround the terminal pin, the electrically conductive continuous coil mechanically securing and electrically coupling the terminal pin to the capacitor.
2. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly according to claim 1, wherein the continuous coil is compressed between the terminal pin and the capacitor.
3. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of coils are canted.
4. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly according to claim 1, comprising two or more continuous coils disposed within the aperture and between the terminal pin and the capacitor, and mechanically securing and electrically coupling the terminal pin to the capacitor.
5. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a conductive adhesive, solder, or braze, disposed within the aperture.
6. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly according to claim 1, wherein the continuous coil is fixed to the terminal pin, or the capacitor.
7. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly according to claim 1, wherein the aperture defines a ledge and the continuous coil is disposed on the ledge.
8. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a second electrically conductive continuous coil disposed between the capacitor and the electrically conductive feedthrough ferrule or housing of the implantable active medical device, the second electrically conductive continuous coil mechanically securing and electrically coupling the capacitor and the electrically conductive feedthrough ferrule or housing of the implantable active medical device.
9. An implantable active medical device comprising:
a hermetically sealed housing;
electronics disposed within the sealed housing;
a lead connector attached to the hermetically sealed housing; and
a filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly electrically connecting the electronics and the lead connector, the filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly comprising:
a capacitor having an aperture, the capacitor electrically grounded to the hermetically sealed housing;
a terminal pin extending into the aperture, the terminal pin electrically connecting the electronics and the lead connector; and
an electrically conductive continuous coil disposed within the aperture between the terminal pin and the capacitor, the continuous coil comprising an inner diameter defined by a plurality of coils, each coil having a coil diameter different than the inner diameter, with the terminal pin extending through the inner diameter of the spring so that the plurality of coils circumferentially surround the terminal pin, the electrically conductive continuous coil mechanically securing and electrically coupling the terminal pin to the capacitor.
10. An implantable active medical device according to claim 9, wherein the continuous coil is compressed between the terminal pin and the capacitor.
11. An implantable active medical device according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of coils are canted.
12. An implantable active medical device according to claim 9, comprising two or more continuous coils disposed within the aperture and between the terminal pin and the capacitor, and mechanically securing and electrically coupling the terminal pin to the capacitor.
13. An implantable active medical device according to claim 9, further comprising a conductive adhesive, solder, or braze disposed within the aperture.
14. An implantable active medical device according to claim 9, wherein the aperture defines a ledge and the electrically conductive continuous coil is disposed on the ledge.
15. An implantable active medical device according to claim 9, further comprising a second electrically conductive continuous coil disposed between the capacitor and the hermetically sealed, housing, the second electrically conductive, continuous coil mechanically securing and electrically coupling the capacitor and the hermetically sealed housing.
16. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly for an implantable active medical device comprising:
a capacitor having an aperture, the capacitor electrically grounded to an electrically conductive feedthrough ferrule or housing of the implantable active medical device with an electrically conductive continuous coil comprising an inner diameter defined by a plurality of coils, each coil having a coil diameter different than the inner diameter; with the capacitor present within the inner diameter of the spring so that the plurality of coils circumferentially surround the capacitor; and
a terminal pin extending into the aperture, the terminal pin mechanically secured and electrically coupled to the capacitor.
17. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly according to claim 16, wherein the continuous coil is compressed between the capacitor and the electrically conductive feedthrough ferrule or housing of the implantable active medical device.
18. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of coils are canted.
19. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly according to claim 16, comprising two or more continuous coils disposed between the capacitor and the electrically conductive feedthrough ferrule or housing of the implantable active medical device.
20. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly according to claim 16, wherein an exterior surface of the capacitor defines a ledge and the electrically conductive continuous coil is disposed on the ledge.
21. A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly according to claim 16, wherein the filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly comprises two or more terminal pins and corresponding capacitor apertures within the capacitor, and the electrically conductive continuous coil electrically grounds the capacitor to the electrically conductive feedthrough ferrule or housing of the implantable active medical device.

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 cross talk compensation assembly for mounting within a modular jack, comprising:
a circuit board, the circuit board having a rear end, a front end and a plurality of conductive traces thereon, which are at least partially adapted to compensate cross talk; and
a plurality of receptacle terminals supported on the circuit board, each receptacle terminal including a base end fixed to the circuit board, first and second legs located over one another with one end of each leg joined to the other leg by a bent portion, the first leg ending in a free end and the second leg extending from the base end toward the bent portion such that it forms an acute angle with the circuit board, each receptacle terminal having at least one electrical contact area designed to electrically contact a respective one of the conductive traces on the circuit board, the bent portion of each receptacle terminal being cantilevered to engage the circuit board at least when one or more of the receptacle terminals is contacted by a terminal of a modular plug, wherein the bent portion of each receptacle terminals is electrically insulated from the circuit board by a dielectric material, wherein the circuit board has a top surface and a bottom surface, at least four conductive traces running on the top surface andor on the bottom surface of the circuit board, each conductive trace having a first contact region and a second contact region, the first contact regions being arranged in a first row parallel and adjacent to the rear end, each first contact region being adapted to electrically contact a separate output terminal, the second contact regions being arranged in a second row spaced apart from and parallel to the first row of the first contact regions, each of the second contact regions being adapted to electrically contact a separate one of the receptacle terminals, the first row of first contact regions, the second row of second regions and a first length of each of the conductive traces defining a first area on the top surface and a second area on the bottom surface, wherein a plurality of capacitive pads are disposed on the first area and the second area to form respective capacitors, the second row of second contact regions, a second length of each conductive trace and a third length of each conductive trace adjacent to the front end defining a third area on the top surface and a fourth area on the bottom surface, wherein the conductive traces are designed to form a plurality of cross talk compensation stages and time delay stages on the third area of the top surface and on the second area of the bottom surface.
2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle terminals are contact springs.
3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first leg of each receptacle terminal has a contact portion for engaging a terminal of a modular plug, the width of the bent portion of each terminal is larger than the width of the contact portion of the first leg of the respective receptacle terminal and wherein the width of the bent portion tapers toward the free end of the first leg of each receptacle terminal.
4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one conductive trace of the first pair of signal paths and at least one conductive trace of the second pair of signal paths are disposed on the top surface and on the bottom surface of the circuit board, each of the conductive traces of the first and second pairs of signal paths having first sections which are designed to form a first cross talk compensation stage on a first region of the circuit board to couple inductively andor capacitively a first signal path of the first pair to a second signal path of the second pair of signal paths and a second signal path of the first pair to a first signal path of the second pair.
5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of the conductive traces of the first and second pairs of signal paths have second sections which are designed to form a second cross talk compensation stage on a second region of the circuit board to couple inductively andor capacitively the first signal path of the first pair to the first signal path of the second pair of signal paths and the second signal path of the first pair to a second signal path of the second pair.
6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein each of the conductive traces of the first and second pairs of signal paths comprises third sections which are designed to form a third cross talk compensation stage on a third region of the circuit board to couple inductively andor capacitively a first signal path of the first pair to a second signal path of the second pair of signal paths and a second signal path of the first pair to a first signal path of the second pair.
7. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of the conductive traces of the first and second pairs of signal paths comprises fourth sections which are designed to form a first time delay stage on a fourth region of the circuit board to introduce a time delay on the signal paths of the first and second pairs and wherein each of the conductive traces of the first and second pairs of signal paths comprises fifth sections which are designed to form a second time delay stage on a fifth region of the circuit board to introduce a further time delay on the signal paths of the first and second pairs.
8. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein a fourth cross talk compensation stage is formed by the plurality of capacitive pads and wherein the first through third cross talk compensation stages and both time delay stages are alternately disposed between the front end of the circuit board and the base ends of the receptacle terminals.
9. A printed circuit board for use with a cross talk compensation assembly, comprising:
a rear end, a front end, a top surface and a bottom surface, at least four conductive traces running on the top surface andor on the bottom surface of the circuit board, each conductive trace having a first contact region and a second contact region, the first contact regions being arranged in a first row parallel and adjacent to the rear end, each first contact region being adapted to electrically contact a separate output terminal, the second contact regions being arranged in a second row spaced apart from and parallel to the first row of the first contact regions, each of the second contact regions being adapted to electrically contact a separate receptacle terminal, first row of first contact regions, the second row of second regions and a first length of each of the conductive traces defining a first area on the top surface and a second area on the bottom surface, wherein a plurality of capacitive pads are disposed on the first area and the second area to form respective capacitors, the second row of second contact regions, a second length of each conductive trace and a third length of each conductive trace adjacent to the front end defining a third area on the top surface and a fourth area on the bottom surface, wherein the conductive traces being designed to form a plurality of cross talk compensation stages and time delay stages on the third area of the top surface and on the second area of the bottom surface.
10. The printed circuit board according to claim 9, wherein the capacitive pads and the sections of the conductive traces forming the plurality of cross talk compensation stages and time delay stages are arranged symmetrically along the long central axis of the printed circuit board.
11. The printed circuit board according to claim 9, wherein a pair of adjacent second contact regions are connected via respective conductive traces to pair of adjacent first contact regions, thereby forming a first pair of signal paths, a further pair of second contact regions flanking the pair of adjacent second contact regions are connected via separate conductive traces to the other pair of adjacent first contact regions, thereby forming a second pair of signal paths.
12. The printed circuit board according to claim 9, wherein at least one conductive trace of the first pair of signal paths and at least one conductive trace of the second pair of signal paths are disposed on the top surface and on the bottom surface of the circuit board, each conductive trace of the first and second pairs of signal paths having first sections which are designed to form a first cross talk compensation stage on a first region of the circuit board to couple inductively andor capacitively a first signal path of the first pair to a second signal path of the second pair of signal paths and a second signal path of the first pair to a first signal path of the second pair.
13. The printed circuit board according to claim 12, wherein each of the conductive traces of the first and second pairs of signal paths comprises second sections which are designed to form a second cross talk compensation stage on a second region of the circuit board to couple inductively andor capacitively the first signal path of the first pair to the first signal path of the second pair of signal paths and the second signal path of the first pair to a second signal path of the second pair.
14. The printed circuit board according to claim 13, wherein each of the conductive traces of the first and second pairs of signal paths comprises third sections which are designed to form a third cross talk compensation stage on a third region of the circuit board to couple inductively andor capacitively a first signal path of the first pair to a second signal path of the second pair of signal paths and a second signal path of the first pair to a first signal path of the second pair.
15. The printed circuit board according to claim 9, wherein each of the conductive traces of the first and second pairs of signal paths comprises fourth sections which are designed to form a first time delay stage on a fourth region of the circuit board to introduce a time delay on the signal paths of the first and second pairs.
16. The printed circuit board according to claim 15, wherein each of the conductive traces of the first and second pairs of signal paths have fifth sections which are designed to form a second time delay stage on a fifth region of the circuit board to introduce a further time delay on the signal paths of the first and second pairs.
17. The printed circuit board according to claim 12, wherein at least the second, third and fourth sections of each conductive trace of the first and second pair of signal paths are snake like formed with a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the circuit board.
18. The printed circuit board according to claim 12, wherein the width of at least portions of the conductive traces forming the first, second andor third cross talk compensation stage is wider than the width of the respective conductive traces forming the first and second time delay stage.
19. The printed circuit board according to claim 9, wherein a fourth cross talk compensation stage is formed by the plurality of capacitive pads and wherein the first through third cross talk compensation stages and both time delay stages are alternately disposed between the front end of the circuit board and the base ends of the receptacle terminals.
20. The printed circuit board according to claim 9, wherein fifth and sixth conductive traces run on the top surface and seventh and eighth conductive traces run on the bottom surface of the circuit board, each further conductive trace having a first contact region and a second contact region, the first contact regions being arranged in the first row and the second contact regions being arranged in the second row, wherein the fifth and sixth conductive traces are disposed on the first area of the top surface and extend between respective capacitive pads, and wherein the seventh and eighth conductive traces are disposed on the second area of the bottom surface and extend between respective capacitive pads.

1. A tissue anchor comprising:
a generally flexible elongate continuous anchor member capable of being inserted through tissue and moving between an elongate configuration and a shortened configuration suitable for anchoring against at least one side of the tissue, said anchor member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a compressible intermediate portion between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, and
a tensioning member operatively connected to said anchor member such that said anchor member can slide relative to said tensioning member, the tensioning member extending through the proximal end portion of the generally flexible elongate anchor member, to the distal end portion, and back to an anchor point at the proximal end portion, at least first and second generally parallel portions of the tensioning member and at least a portion of the intermediate portion of the generally flexible elongate anchor member extending through the tissue in a deployed configuration, said tensioning member capable of being pulled to cause said anchor member to move relative to said tensioning member from said elongate configuration to said shortened configuration wherein the compressible intermediate portion can compress and thereby adjust to the thickness of the tissue between the proximal and distal end portions and said anchor member forms at least one fold upon pulling said tensioning member; wherein material of the anchor member is selected to fold on both proximal and distal sides of the tissue in response to a transition to the shortened configuration.
2. The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein said generally flexible elongate anchor member is formed from a material selected from at least one of: natural fibers, synthetic fibers, polymers, and metals.
3. The tissue anchor of claim 2, wherein said tensioning member comprises a suture.
4. The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein said tensioning member comprises a suture.
5. The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein said tensioning member includes a stop member engageable with said anchor member.
6. The tissue anchor of claim 5, wherein said stop member comprises a knot in said tensioning member.
7. The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein said tensioning member extends through said anchor member at multiple locations between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion.
8. The tissue anchor of claim 1, further comprising a lock member engageable with said tensioning member to retain said anchor member in the shortened configuration.
9. The tissue anchor of claim 1, further comprising at least one radiopaque marker on at least one of said anchor member and said tensioning member.
10. The tissue anchor of claim 9, further comprising a first radiopaque marker located proximate said proximal end portion when said anchor member is in the shortened configuration and a second radiopaque marker located proximate said distal end portion when said anchor member is in the shortened configuration.
11. The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein said distal end portion includes a relatively rigid tip, said tip being of reduced width relative to an adjacent portion of said anchor member.
12. The tissue anchor of claim 11, wherein said tip acts as a compressive force applying member against the distal end portion of the anchor member when the anchor member is in the shortened configuration.
13. The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein said anchor member varies in width along its length when in the elongate configuration, wherein the proximal and distal end portions of the anchor member have greater width than the intermediate portion to allow the proximal and distal end portions to cover a plurality of folded sections formed in the intermediate portion in the shortened configuration.
14. The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein said anchor member includes an edge portion that extends longitudinally along a side edge of the anchor member and is more rigid than a central area of said anchor member.
15. The tissue anchor of claim 1, further comprising: a force applying member configured to bear against the distal end portion of the anchor member when the anchor member is in the shortened configuration.
16. A tissue anchor comprising:
a flat, generally flexible elongate continuous anchor member capable of movement between an elongate configuration suitable for deployment and a shortened configuration suitable for anchoring against tissue, said anchor member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a compressible intermediate portion between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, wherein said anchor member includes a plurality of fold lines that are spaced along a length of said anchor member and extend transversely across said anchor member, said fold lines defining discrete sections of the anchor member which lie in a stacked orientation in said shortened configuration; and
a tensioning member operatively connected to said anchor member such that said anchor member can slide relative to said tensioning member, the tensioning member extending through the proximal end portion of the flat, generally flexible elongate member, to the distal end portion, and back to an anchor point at the proximal end portion, at least first and second generally parallel portions of the tensioning member and at least a portion of the intermediate portion of the anchor member extending through the tissue in a deployed configuration, said tensioning member capable of being pulled to cause said anchor member to move relative to said tensioning member from said elongate configuration to said shortened configuration and said anchor member forms at least one fold upon pulling of said tensioning member; wherein material of the anchor member is selected to fold on both proximal and distal sides of the tissue in response to a transition to the shortened configuration.
17. The tissue anchor of claim 16, further comprising: a force applying member configured to bear against the anchor member when the anchor member is in the shortened configuration.
18. The tissue anchor of claim 16, wherein the plurality of fold lines comprises a plurality of living-hinges formed in the anchor member.
19. A tissue anchor comprising:
a flat elongate continuous anchor member formed from a strip of fabric material and capable of movement between an elongate configuration suitable for deployment and a shortened configuration suitable for anchoring against tissue, said anchor member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a compressible intermediate portion between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion,
a tensioning member operatively connected to said anchor member such that said anchor member can slide relative to said tensioning member, the tensioning member extending through the proximal end portion of the flat elongate anchor member, to the distal end portion, and back to an anchor point at the proximal end portion, at least first and second generally parallel portions of the tensioning member and at least a portion of the intermediate portion of the anchor member extending through the tissue in a deployed configuration, said tensioning member capable of being pulled to cause said anchor member to move relative to said tensioning member from said elongate configuration to said shortened configuration and said anchor member forms at least one fold upon pulling said tensioning member, and
a lock member capable of securing the anchor member in the shortened configuration; wherein material of the anchor member is selected to fold on both proximal and distal sides of the tissue in response to a transition to the shortened configuration.
20. A tissue anchor comprising:
a flat, generally flexible elongate continuous anchor member capable of being inserted through tissue and moving between an elongate configuration suitable for deployment through a catheter and a shortened configuration suitable for anchoring against the tissue, said anchor member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a compressible intermediate portion between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, and
a tensioning member operatively connected to said anchor member such that said anchor member can slide relative to said tensioning member, the tensioning member extending through the proximal end portion of the flat, generally flexible elongate anchor member, to the distal end portion, and back to an anchor point at the proximal end portion, at least first and second generally parallel portions of the tensioning member and at least a portion of the intermediate portion of the anchor member extending through the tissue in a deployed configuration, said tensioning member capable of being pulled to cause said anchor member to move relative to said tensioning member from said elongate configuration to said shortened configuration against the tissue and said anchor member forms at least one fold upon pulling said tensioning member;
wherein the anchor member includes a plurality of holes through which the tensioning member passes to allow the tensioning member to be routed in a longitudinal direction in both a first direction and in an opposite second direction along the anchor member, wherein the holes are formed linearly along only a single axis; wherein material of the anchor member is selected to fold on both proximal and distal sides of the tissue in response to a transition to the shortened configuration.
21. The tissue anchor of claim 20, further comprising: a force applying member configured to bear against the anchor member when the anchor member is in the shortened configuration.
22. A tissue anchor comprising:
a flat elongate continuous strip formed from a generally flexible material and having proximal and distal end portions, and a compressible intermediate portion between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, and
a tensioning member having first and second ends, the tensioning member extending through the proximal end portion of the flat elongate strip, to the distal end portion, and back to an anchor point at the proximal end portion, at least first and second generally parallel portions of the tensioning member and at least a portion of the intermediate portion of the strip extending through the tissue in a deployed configuration, said tensioning member operatively connected to said elongate strip such that pulling on said first end of said tensioning member causes said proximal and distal end portions of said elongate strip to move toward each other into a shortened configuration suitable for anchoring against the tissue and said elongate strip forms at least one fold upon pulling said tensioning member; wherein material of the anchor member is selected to fold on both proximal and distal sides of the tissue in response to a transition to the shortened configuration.
23. The tissue anchor of claim 22, further comprising: a force applying member configured to bear against the distal end portion of the anchor member when the anchor member is in the shortened configuration.
24. A tissue anchor comprising:
a generally flexible flat elongate continuous anchor strip capable of being inserted through tissue in an elongate configuration and movable to a shortened, folded configuration suitable for anchoring against at least one side of the tissue, anchor strip having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a compressible intermediate portion between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, and
an activation member operatively connected to said anchor strip, the activation member extending through the proximal end portion of the generally flexible flat elongate continuous anchor strip, to the distal end portion, and back to an anchor point at the proximal end portion, at least first and second generally parallel portions of the tensioning member and at least a portion of the intermediate portion of the anchor strip extending through the tissue in a deployed configuration, and operable to move the anchor strip from the elongate configuration to the shortened, folded configuration; wherein material of the anchor member is selected to fold on both proximal and distal sides of the tissue in response to a transition to the shortened, folded configuration.
25. The tissue anchor of claim 24, wherein the shortened, folded configuration further comprises a zig-zag fold pattern.
26. The tissue anchor of claim 24, further comprising: a force applying member configured to bear against the anchor strip when the anchor strip is in the shortened, folded configuration.
27. A tissue anchoring system, comprising:
a delivery catheter,
a generally flexible elongate continuous anchor member capable of being inserted through tissue and moving between an elongate configuration and a shortened configuration suitable for anchoring against at least one side of the tissue, said anchor member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a compressible intermediate portion between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, and a deploying device operatively associated with said delivery catheter and operable to extend the anchor member from said delivery catheter, and
a tensioning member operatively connected to said anchor member such that said anchor member can slide relative to said tensioning member, the tensioning member extending through the proximal end portion of the generally flexible elongate anchor member, to the distal end portion, and back to an anchor point at the proximal end portion, at least first and second generally parallel portions of the tensioning member and at least a portion of the intermediate portion of the generally flexible elongate anchor member extending through the tissue in a deployed configuration, said tensioning member capable of being pulled to cause said anchor member to move relative to said tensioning member from said elongate configuration to said shortened configuration wherein the compressible intermediate portion can compress and thereby adjust to the thickness of the layer of tissue between the proximal and distal end portions and said anchor member forms at least one fold upon pulling said tensioning member;
wherein said anchor member includes a plurality of fold lines that are spaced along a length of said anchor member and extend transversely across said anchor member, said fold lines defining discrete sections of the anchor member which lie in a stacked orientation in said shortened configuration; wherein material of the anchor member is selected to fold on both proximal and distal sides of the tissue in response to a transition to the shortened configuration.
28. The system of claim 27, wherein said deploying device further comprises a deploying catheter at least partially containing said anchor member and at least partially contained within said delivery catheter.
29. The system of claim 27, wherein said anchor member is formed from a material selected from at least one of: natural fibers, synthetic fibers, polymers, and metals.
30. The system of claim 29, wherein said tensioning member comprises a suture.
31. The system of claim 27, wherein said tensioning member comprises a suture.
32. The system of claim 27, wherein said tensioning member includes a stop member engageable with said anchor member.
33. The system of claim 32, wherein said stop member comprises a knot in said tensioning member.
34. The system of claim 27, wherein said tensioning member extends through said anchor member at multiple locations between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion.
35. The system of claim 27, further comprising a lock member engageable with said tensioning member to retain said anchor member in the shortened configuration.
36. The system of claim 27, further comprising at least one radiopaque marker on at least one of said anchor member and said tensioning member.
37. The system of claim 36, further comprising a first radiopaque marker located proximate said proximal end portion when said anchor member is in the shortened configuration and a second radiopaque marker located proximate said distal end portion when said anchor member is in the shortened configuration.
38. The system of claim 27, wherein said distal end portion includes a relatively rigid tip, said tip being of reduced width relative to an adjacent portion of said anchor member.
39. The system of claim 38, wherein said tip acts as a compressive force applying member against the distal end portion of the anchor member when the anchor member is in the shortened configuration.
40. The system of claim 27, wherein said anchor member varies in width along its length when in the elongate configuration.
41. The system of claim 27, wherein said anchor member includes an edge portion that is more rigid than a central area of said anchor member.
42. The tissue anchoring system of claim 27, further comprising: a force applying member configured to bear against the distal end portion of the anchor member when the anchor member is in the shortened configuration.
43. A tissue anchoring system, comprising:
a first generally flexible continuous anchor member capable of being inserted through tissue and moving between an elongate configuration and a shortened configuration suitable for anchoring against at least one side of the tissue, said anchor member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a compressible intermediate portion between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion,
a second generally flexible continuous anchor member capable of being inserted through the tissue and moving between an elongate configuration and a shortened configuration suitable for anchoring against at least one side of the tissue, said second anchor member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a compressible intermediate portion between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion, and
a coupling structure operatively connecting said first and second anchor members, the coupling structure comprising at least one tensioning member operatively connected to said first and second anchor members, the tensioning member extending through the proximal end portion of the first anchor member and travels in a first direction, to the distal end portion, and then extends in an opposite second direction back to the proximal end portion of the first anchor member and then extends through the proximal end portion of the second anchor member and travels in the first direction to the distal end portion of the second anchor member and then extends in the opposite second direction back to the proximal end portion of the second anchor member, at least first and second portions of the tensioning member and at least a portion of the intermediate portion of the at least one of the first and second anchor members extending through the tissue in a deployed configuration, said tensioning member capable of being pulled to cause the least one of said first and second anchor members to move relative to said tensioning member from said elongate configuration to said shortened configuration wherein the compressible intermediate portion can compress and thereby adjust to the thickness of the layer of tissue between the proximal and distal end portions and the least one of said first and second anchor members forms at least one fold upon pulling said tensioning member; wherein material of the anchor member is selected to fold on both proximal and distal sides of the tissue in response to a transition to the shortened configuration.
44. The system of claim 43, wherein said tensioning member comprises a suture.
45. The system of claim 43, further comprising:
a lock member engageable with said at least one tensioning member to retain said first and second anchor members in their respective shortened configurations.
46. The system of claim 43, further comprising:
a delivery catheter, and
a deploying device operatively associated with said delivery catheter and operable to extend at least one of the first and second anchor members from said delivery catheter.
47. The system of claim 46, wherein said deploying device comprises a deploying catheter at least partially containing said anchor member and at least partially contained within said delivery catheter.
48. The system of claim 43, wherein said anchor member is formed from a material selected from at least one of: natural fibers, synthetic fibers, polymers, and metals.
49. The system of claim 43, further comprising a stop member engageable with said anchor member.
50. The system of claim 43, wherein said first and second anchor members are configured such that said first and second anchor member each can form at least one fold in said compressible intermediate portion.
51. The system of claim 43, further comprising at least one radiopaque marker on at least one of said first anchor member, said second anchor member, or said coupling structure.
52. The system of claim 43, wherein said distal end portions of said first and second anchor members each includes a relatively rigid tip, said tips being of reduced widths relative to adjacent portions of said first and second anchor members.
53. The system of claim 52, wherein said tips act as compressive force applying members against the distal end portions of the respective first and second anchor members when the first and second anchor members are in their shortened configurations.
54. The tissue anchoring system of claim 43 further comprising:
a first force applying member configured to bear against the distal end portion of the first anchor member when the first anchor member is in the shortened configuration, and
a second force applying member configured to bear against the distal end portion of the second anchor member when the second anchor member is in the shortened configuration.
55. The system of claim 43, wherein the first and second anchors are disposed side-by-side in spaced relationship.
56. The system of claim 43, wherein the distal end portions of each of the first and second anchors are disposed on one side of the tissue and the proximal end portions of the first and second anchors are disposed on an opposite side of the tissue.
57. A tissue anchor capable of being inserted through tissue for anchoring on both a proximal side and a distal side of the tissue, comprising:
a generally flexible elongate continuous anchor member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an intermediate portion, the anchor member being comprising a material capable of transitioning between an elongate configuration and a shortened configuration,
wherein in the shortened configuration the anchor member defines a plurality of folds, the anchor member having a length sufficient to define at least one fold on each of the proximal side and the distal side of the tissue with at least a portion of the intermediate portion extending through the tissue in a deployed condition; and
a tensioning member operatively connected to the anchor member such that the anchor member slides relative to said tensioning member under an external force, the tensioning member extending through the proximal end portion of the generally flexible elongate anchor member, to the distal end portion, and back to an anchor point at the proximal end portion,
wherein the tensioning member is pullable to cause the anchor member to move relative to said tensioning member to transition the anchor member from the elongate configuration to the shortened configuration,
wherein the material of the anchor member is selected to fold on both the proximal and distal sides of the tissue in response to the transition to the shortened configuration, and
wherein at least first and second generally parallel portions of the tensioning member extend through the tissue adjacent one folded section of the intermediate portion and extend in a longitudinal direction along one side of the intermediate portion, wherein the one folded section has a first end portion that lies along the proximal side of the tissue and a second end portion that lies along the distal side of the tissue and passes through the tissue at a location between the first and second end portions of the one folded section.

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 method of testing surface damage of a first wafer of group III nitride wafers sliced from a bulk group III nitride crystal comprising measuring an X-ray diffraction peak with an incident beam at an angle less than 15 degrees to the damaged surface.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the peak intensity of an X-ray diffraction peak with an incident beam at an angle less than 15 degrees to the damaged surface is compared with a peak intensity of a diffraction peak with an incident beam at an angle more than 15 degree to the damaged surface.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wafer has a surface (a) oriented with c-plane or (b) misoriented from the c-plane, and wherein said surface misorientation is within +\u221210 degrees.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the X-ray diffraction peak is from 114 plane of the group III nitride crystal.
5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the peak intensity of the diffraction peak from 114 plane is compared with the peak intensity of the diffraction peak from 002 plane.
6. A method according to claim 5, and further comprising verifying that the peak intensity of the diffraction peak from 114 plane is more than 1100 of the peak intensity of the diffraction peak from 002 plane.
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray diffraction peak indicates that the wafer requires removal of the surface damage.
8. A method according to claim 5, wherein the X-ray diffraction peak indicates that the wafer requires removal of the surface damage.
9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the X-ray diffraction peak indicates that the wafer requires removal of the surface damage.
10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray diffraction peak indicates the degree of removal of the surface damage.
11. A method according to claim 5, wherein the X-ray diffraction peak indicates the degree of removal of the surface damage.
12. A method according to claim 6, wherein the X-ray diffraction peak indicates the degree of removal of the surface damage.
13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the diffraction geometry is asymmetric.
14. A method according to claim 3, wherein the diffraction geometry is asymmetric.
15. A method according to claim 4, wherein the diffraction geometry is asymmetric.
16. A method according to claim 2, wherein group III nitride comprises gallium nitride.
17. A method according to claim 3, wherein group III nitride comprises gallium nitride.
18. A method according to claim 4, wherein group III nitride comprises gallium nitride.
19. A method according to claim 5, wherein group III nitride comprises gallium nitride.
20. A method according to claim 6, wherein group III nitride comprises gallium nitride.