Author: claimsbot

1. A monitoring system, comprising:
an emitter configured to emit light into tissue;
a modulator configured to modulate the light to generate photon density waves at a modulation frequency, wherein the modulation frequency is above about 50 MHz and below about 3 GHz;
a detector configured to detect relative characteristics of the photon density waves including amplitude changes and phase shifts;
a processor configured to make determinations relating to a value of a physiologic parameter of the tissue based on the phase shifts, and the processor is configured to reject or accept the determined value of the physiologic parameter based on whether calculations based on the relative characteristics are complimentary; and
a display feature configured to present the value of the physiologic parameter to a user.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate the light at the modulation frequency above approximately 100 MHz and below approximately 1 GHz.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to calculate an estimated number of scattering particles in the tissue based on detected phase shifts.
4. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of emitters, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate light from the plurality of emitters to sweep the tissue with a plurality of modulation frequencies.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the modulator comprises a DVD RW driver circuit.
6. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of emitters capable of establishing a phased array and a second calculation component configured to utilize the phased array to identify a region of the tissue rich with pulsatile signals or a region of the tissue with low saturation.
7. The system of claim 1, comprising a noise detection feature configured to identify noise artifacts based on a defined range of calculated values based on the amplitude changes and phase shifts.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the modulator is configured to establish a phased array of photon density waves for use in pulse oximetry and hemometry techniques.
9. A method, comprising:
modulating light at a modulation frequency that is within a range between 100 MHz and 3 GHz to generate photon density waves in a medium;
detecting relative amplitude changes and phase shifts in the photon density waves;
calculating a value related to a number of scattering particles in the medium based on the phase shifts; and
detecting and graphically indicating a physiologic value related to the scattering particles in the medium based on the phase shifts.
10. The method of claim 9, comprising modulating multiple light emissions to generate a phased array of photon density waves.
11. The method of claim 10, comprising identifying regions rich with pulsatile signals based on the phased array of photon density waves.
12. The method of claim 9, comprising identifying regions of low saturation based on the phased array of photon density waves.
13. The method of claim 9, comprising sweeping the modulation frequency through a range from 500 MHz to 1 GHz.
14. A method, comprising:
emitting light from a plurality of light sources into a medium;
modulating the light from the plurality of light sources at different frequencies to generate photon density waves, wherein the different frequencies are approximately 100 MHz to 1 GHz;
coordinating the modulation of the plurality of light sources to establish coordinated wave characteristics;
identifying noise based on whether the coordinated wave characteristics are within a defined physiologic regime; and
calculating values for physiologic features of the medium based on detection of relative characteristics of the photon density waves after passing through the medium.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the coordinated wave characteristics comprise focused wave intensity in a specified region of the medium.
16. The method of claim 14, comprising sweeping the medium with a plurality of modulation frequencies to facilitate calibration.
17. Application instructions stored on a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium, the application instructions comprising:
code configured to control modulation of light at a modulation frequency to generate photon density waves in a medium, wherein the modulation frequency is above about 100 MHz and below about 3 GHz;
code configured to facilitate detection of relative amplitude changes and phase shifts in the photon density waves;
code configured to calculate a value related to a number of scattering particles in the medium based on the phase shifts; and
code configured to identify and graphically indicate a physiologic value related to the scattering particles in the medium based on the phase shifts.
18. The application instructions of claim 17, comprising code configured to control modulation of multiple light emissions to generate a phased array of photon density waves.
19. A monitoring system, comprising:
an emitter configured to emit light into tissue;
a modulator configured to modulate the light to generate photon density waves at a modulation frequency, wherein the modulation frequency is above about 50 MHz and below about 3 GHz;
a detector configured to detect relative characteristics of the photon density waves including amplitude changes and phase shifts;
a processor configured to make determinations relating to a value of a physiologic parameter of the tissue based on the phase shifts, and the processor is configured to calculate an estimated number of scattering particles in the tissue based on detected phase shifts; and
a display feature configured to present the value of the physiologic parameter to a user.
20. A monitoring system, comprising:
an emitter configured to emit light into tissue;
a modulator configured to modulate the light to generate photon density waves at a modulation frequency, wherein the modulation frequency is above about 50 MHz and below about 3 GHz;
a detector configured to detect relative characteristics of the photon density waves including amplitude changes and phase shifts;
a noise detection feature configured to identify noise artifacts based on a defined range of calculated values based on the amplitude changes and phase shifts;
a processor configured to make determinations relating to a value of a physiologic parameter of the tissue based on the phase shifts; and
a display feature configured to present the value of the physiologic parameter to a user.

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 rotor system for a helicopter comprising:
a rotating shaft;
at least one gimbaled hub assembly coupled to said rotating shaft;
a plurality of rotating blades coupled to said at least one gimbaled hub assembly; and
a plurality of non-rotating blades coupled to said at least one gimbaled hub assembly and providing lift for the helicopter;
said plurality of non-rotating blades providing rolling moment to said at least one gimbaled hub assembly.
2. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a non-rotating shaft coupled to said rotating shaft and said plurality of non-rotating blades.
3. A system as in claim 2 wherein said non-rotating shaft extends within said rotating shaft.
4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of non-rotating blades are vertically coupled above said plurality of rotating blades.
5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of non-rotating blades are pitch adjustable.
6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of rotating blades are pitch adjustable.
7. A system as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of non-rotating blades form a fixed wing.
8. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a set of bearings coupled between said plurality of non-rotating blades and said plurality of rotating blades for moment transfer therebetween.
9. A system as in claim 1 further comprising at least one swashplate coupled to said rotating shaft and said plurality of rotating blades.
10. A system as in claim 1 further comprising at least one pitch actuator coupled to said plurality of non-rotating blades.
11. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one gimbaled hub assembly comprises a plurality of universal joints coupled to said plurality of non-rotating blades and said plurality of rotating blades.
12. A helicopter comprising:
a fuselage;
at least one engine; and
at least one rotor system comprising;
a rotating shaft extending from said fuselage and coupled to said engine;
at least one gimbaled hub assembly coupled to said rotating shaft;
a plurality of rotating blades coupled to said at least one gimbaled hub assembly; and
at least one non-rotating wing coupled to said at least one gimbaled hub assembly and providing lift and counteracting moments generated by said plurality of rotating blades.
13. A helicopter as in claim 12 wherein said at least one non-rotating wing is pitch adjustable.
14. A helicopter as in claim 12 wherein said at least one non-rotating wing comprises a plurality of blades.
15. A helicopter as in claim 12 further comprising:
a non-rotating blade support structure coupled to said at least one non-rotating wing;
a tapered roller bearing assembly coupled to said non-rotating blade support structure; and
a rotating blade support structure coupled to said plurality of rotating blades and said tapered roller bearing assembly.
16. A helicopter as in claim 12 further comprising a pitch actuator coupled to said non-rotating blade support structure and adjusting pitch of said at least one non-rotating wing.
17. A helicopter as in claim 12 further comprising a plurality of constant velocity links coupled between said rotating shaft and said plurality of rotating blades.
18. A helicopter as in claim 17 further comprising:
a rotating blade root support housing coupled between said plurality of constant velocity links and said rotating shaft; and
a plurality of gimbal bearings coupled between said plurality of constant velocity links and said support housing.
19. A helicopter as in claim 12 wherein said at least one rotor system comprises:
a first rotor system; and
a second rotor system.
20. A helicopter as in claim 12 wherein said at least one rotor system comprises:
a first rotor system comprising:
a first rotating shaft extending from said fuselage;
a first gimbaled hub assembly coupled to said first rotating shaft;
a first non-rotating wing coupled to said first gimbaled hub assembly; and
a first plurality of rotating blades coupled to said first gimbaled hub assembly; and
a second rotor system comprising:
a second rotating shaft extending from said fuselage;
a second gimbaled hub assembly coupled to said second rotating shaft;
a second non-rotating wing coupled to said second gimbaled hub assembly; and
a second plurality of rotating blades coupled to said second gimbaled hub assembly.
21. A system as in claim 12 further comprising at least one hub fairing covering a non-rotating portion of the at least one rotor system.
22. A method of providing forward flight operation on a helicopter comprising:
pitching a plurality of rotating blades to provide an angle of attack;
providing lift offset via a plurality of non-rotating blades and said plurality of rotating blades; and
unloading said plurality of rotating blades via said plurality of non-rotating blades.
23. A method as in claim 22 wherein providing lift offset comprises pitching said plurality of non-rotating blades to counteract moments generated from said plurality of rotating blades.
24. A method as in claim 22 further comprising adjusting a tip-path-plane to prevent vibratory moment transfer between said plurality of rotating blades and a fuselage.
25. A method as in claim 22 comprising transferring lift and moments between said plurality of non-rotating blades and said plurality of rotating blades.

1. A surgical instrument assembly for use during a surgical procedure to implant an orthopaedic hip prosthesis, comprising:
a trial shaft having (i) a cylindrically-shaped stem, and (ii) a locking screw having a number of threads formed in a distal end thereof, the locking screw being rotatable relative to the cylindrically-shaped stem, and
a discrete trial neck removably secured to the trial shaft, the trial neck having (i) a bore formed therein, with the stem of the trial shaft being received into the bore so as to allow for rotation of the trial neck relative to the trial shaft, and (ii) a locking mechanism operable to selectively lock the rotational position of trial neck relative to the trial shaft.
2. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 1, further comprising a distal reamer having (i) a cutting head that includes a plurality of helical cutting flutes arranged in a geometry that corresponds with the geometry of the distal stem component, and (ii) a threaded bore formed in a superior end thereof, wherein the threads of the locking screw of the trial shaft are threaded into the threaded bore of the distal reamer.
3. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the stem of the trial shaft has a number of grooves formed therein, and
the locking mechanism of the trial neck has a locking pawl that is selectively positionable in the number of grooves to selectively lock the rotational position of trial neck relative to the trial shaft.
4. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the stem of the trial shaft has a number of grooves formed therein,
the locking mechanism of the trial neck has a locking pawl that is positionable between (i) a locked position in which the locking pawl is positioned in one of the number of grooves of trial neck so as to prevent rotation of the trial neck relative to the trial shaft, and (ii) an unlocked position in which the locking pawl is positioned so as to allow rotation of the trial neck relative to the trial shaft, and
the locking mechanism further includes a locking screw that is rotatable to move the locking pawl between the locked position and the unlocked position.
5. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the trial shaft further has an alignment key formed in an outer surface thereof proximate to the threads of the locking screw, and
the alignment key is configured to mate with a keyway formed in a superior surface of the distal stem component so as to align the trial shaft in a predetermined orientation relative to the distal stem component when the trial shaft is secured to the distal stem component.
6. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking screw of the trial shaft has a drive socket formed in a proximal end thereof, opposite the distal end in which the threads are formed.
7. A surgical instrument assembly for use during a surgical procedure to implant an orthopaedic hip prosthesis, comprising:
a plurality of trial shafts, wherein each of the plurality of trial shafts has (i) a length that is different from the length of at least some of the other of the plurality of trial shafts, (ii) a cylindrically-shaped stem, and (ii) a locking screw having a number of threads formed in a distal end thereof, the locking screw being rotatable relative to the cylindrically-shaped stem, and
a plurality of trial necks configured to be separately secured to each of the plurality of trial shafts, wherein each of the plurality of trial necks has (i) an offset size that is different from the offset size of at least some of the other of the plurality of trial necks, and (ii) a bore formed therein that is sized to receive the stem of each of the plurality of trial shafts.
8. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 7, wherein:
each of the plurality of trial necks includes a locking mechanism operable to selectively lock the rotational position of trial neck relative to one of the plurality of trial shafts.
9. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 8, wherein:
the stem of each of the plurality of trial shafts has a number of grooves formed therein, and
the locking mechanism of each of the plurality of trial necks has a locking pawl that is selectively positionable in the number of grooves to selectively lock the rotational position of trial neck relative to the trial shaft.
10. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 7, further comprising a distal reamer having (i) a cutting head that includes a plurality of helical cutting flutes arranged in a geometry that corresponds with the geometry of the distal stem component, and (ii) a threaded bore formed in a superior end thereof, wherein the threads of the locking screw of each of the plurality of trial shafts are sized to be threaded into the threaded bore of the distal reamer.
11. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 7, wherein:
each of the plurality of trial shafts further has an alignment key formed in an outer surface thereof proximate to the threads of the locking screw, and
the alignment key is configured to mate with a keyway formed in a superior surface of a distal stem component so as to align the trial shaft in a predetermined orientation relative to the distal stem component when the trial shaft is secured to the distal stem component.
12. A surgical instrument for use during a surgical procedure to implant a distal stem component of an orthopaedic hip prosthesis, comprising:
a proximal trial instrument having an alignment key formed in an outer surface thereof, the alignment key being configured to mate with a keyway formed in a superior surface of the distal stem component so as to align the proximal trial instrument in a predetermined orientation relative to the distal stem component when the proximal trial instrument is secured to the distal stem component.
13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the alignment key comprises an elongated rib extending outwardly from a distal end of the proximal trial instrument.
14. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein:
the proximal trial instrument comprises a modular proximal trial instrument having a discrete trial shaft and a discrete trial neck, and
the alignment key is formed in a distal end of the trial shaft.
15. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein a longitudinal axis of the alignment key extends in the superiorinferior direction.

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 site-specific delivery of a therapeutic agent or a diagnostic agent to a region of interest within a fluid-filled cavity, vessel, or fluid perfused tissue by ultrasound comprising the steps of:
a. introducing an agent-loaded microbubble population into said region of interest, said microbubble population having a controlled fragility characterized by a wall thickness to diameter ratio that defines a threshold power intensity value of ultrasonic energy where microbubble rupture occurs in the population,
b. applying an ultrasonic signal to the region of interest at a power intensity sufficient to induce microbubble rupture,
c. maintaining said power intensity until at least a substantial number of microbubbles are ruptured.
2. A method according to claim 1 comprising, prior to said step (b) the step of monitoring the location of said microbubbles within said cavity, vessel or tissue to detect the presence of said microbubbles at said region of interest.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said location of said microbubbles is monitored by applying an ultrasonic signal to the region of interest at a power intensity below a threshold power intensity value where microbubble rupture occurs.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said microbubble population is comprised of microbubbles having diameters within the range of about 1 to about 10 microns.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said microbubble population is comprised of microbubbles having an outer shell comprising an outer layer of biologically compatible amphiphilic material and an inner layer of a biodegradable polymer.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said amphiphilic material comprises a protein.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said protein comprises collagen, gelatin, albumin, or globulin.
8. A method according to claim 5, wherein said biodegradable polymer comprises polycaprolactione, polylactide, polyglycolide, polyhydroxyvalerate, polyhydroxybutyrate, or copolymers thereof.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said region of interest is a heart.
10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said region of interest is a kidney.
11. A method according to claim 1 wherein said region of interest is a liver.
12. A method according to claim 1 wherein said threshold intensity of ultrasonic power where microbubble rupture occurs is sufficient to provide a mechanical index between 0.1 and 1.9.
13. A method according to claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic power is produced by a plurality of transducers focused at said region whereby the intensity and wave superimposition at the point of convergence if the emitted ultrasonic beams is sufficient to rupture the microbubbles.
14. A method according to claim 1 further comprising monitoring the release of said therapeutic or diagnostic agent from the microbubbles to determine rate of release and cumulative dosage released by ultrasonically monitoring microbubble rupture.
15. A method according to claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic power is produced by a transducer embodied within the distal portion of a cannula to disrupt said microbubbles as they flow to said region.
16. A method according to claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic power is produced by a transducer near said region.
17. A method according to claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic power is produced by a transducer affixed to an external, wearable object affixed near said region of interest.
18. A method according to claim 1 wherein said therapeutic agent is a drug to limit ischemic injury to a heart.
19. A method according to claim 1 wherein said therapeutic agent is a drug to limit reperfusion injury to a heart.
20. A method according to claim 1 wherein said therapeutic agent is a drug to limit restenosis of a coronary artery.
21. A method according to claim 1 wherein said therapeutic agent is a drug that comprises a fibrinolytic agent, vasodilator, calcium channel blocker, angiogenesis agent, anti-platelet agent, anti-white cell agent, endocardium acting agent, free radical scavenging agent, or anti-restenosis agent.
22. A method according to claim 21 wherein said drug comprises adenosine, adenosine monophosphate, adenosine diphosphate, adenosine triphosphate or chemical derivatives of adenosine.
23. A method according to any one of claims 1-4 and 9-22 wherein said microbubble population is comprised of microbubbles having an outer shell consisting of a single layer of a biodegradable polymer.
24. A method of claim 23, wherein said biodegradable polymer comprises polycaprolactione, polylactide, polyglycolide, polyhydroxyvalerate, polyhydroxybutyrate, or copolymers thereof.
25. A method of claim 24, wherein said biodegradable polymer is polylactide.