text:
A working end of a surgical instrument that carries first and second jaws for delivering energy to tissue. In a preferred embodiment, at least one jaw of the working end defines a tissue-engagement plane that contacts the targeted tissue. The cross-section of the engagement plane reveals that it defines a surface conductive portion that overlies a variably resistive matrix of a temperature-sensitive resistive material or a pressure-sensitive resistive material. An interior of the jaw carries a conductive material or electrode that is coupled to an Rf source and controller. In an exemplary embodiment, the variably resistive matrix can comprise a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material, such as a ceramic, that is engineered to exhibit a dramatically increasing resistance (i.e., several orders of magnitude) above a specific temperature of the material.
1. A working end of a surgical instrument for delivering energy to tissue, comprising:
paired first and second jaw members moveable between an open position and a closed position; and
at least one jaw including an electrode, a first body portion comprising an electrically conductive material having a temperature-sensitive variable resistance which increases with an increase in the temperature of the material for responding to the temperature of the tissue, and a second body portion comprising a conductive material, the second portion configured to be coupled to an Rf voltage source, the electrode and the second body portion configured to be coupled to separate poles of the Rf voltage source, wherein the first body portion is disposed between the second body portion and the electrode to control the passage of electrical current from the second body portion to the electrode and wherein said at least one jaw defines a surface engagement plane for engaging tissue, said engagement plane carrying an exposed surface of said first body portion.
2. The working end of
3. The working end of
4. The working end of
5. The working end of
6. A working end of a surgical instrument for delivering energy to tissue, comprising:
paired first and second jaw members moveable between an open position and a closed position; and
at least one jaw including an electrode adapted for contacting tissue, a first body portion comprising an electrically conductive material having a temperature-sensitive variable resistance which increases with an increase in the temperature of the material for responding to the temperature of the tissue, and a second body portion comprising a conductive material, the second portion configured to be coupled to an Rf voltage source, the electrode and the second body portion configured to be coupled to separate poles of the Rf voltage source, wherein the first body portion is disposed between the second body portion and to electrode to control the passage of electrical current from to second body portion to the electrode responsive to the temperature of contacted tissue and wherein said at least one jaw defines a surface engagement plane for engaging tissue, said engagement plane carrying an exposed surface of said first body portion.
7. The working end of
8. The working end of
9. The working end of
10. The working end of
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/032,867, filed Oct. 22, 2001, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,929,644, titled Electrosurgical Jaw Structure for Controlled Energy Delivery, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electrosurgical jaws and methods for delivering energy to tissue, and more particularly to an instrument working end for grasping tissue that self-modulates energy application to engaged tissues for sealing, welding or coagulating purposes.
2. Description of the Related Art
In various open and laparoscopic surgeries, it is necessary to coagulate, seal or weld tissues. One preferred means of tissue-sealing relies upon the application of electrical energy to captured tissue to cause thermal effects therein for sealing purposes. Various mono-polar and bi-polar radiofrequency (Rf) jaw structures have been developed for such purposes. In a typical bi-polar jaw arrangement, each jaw face comprises an electrode and Rf current flows across the captured tissue between the first and second polarity electrodes in the opposing jaws. While such bi-polar jaws can adequately seal or weld tissue volumes that have a small cross-section, such bi-polar instruments often are ineffective in sealing or welding many types of tissues, such as anatomic structures having walls with irregular or thick fibrous content, bundles of disparate anatomic structures, substantially thick anatomic structures, or tissues with thick fascia layers such as large diameter blood vessels.
Prior art Rf jaws that engage opposing sides of a tissue volume typically cannot cause uniform thermal effects in the tissue, whether the captured tissue is thin or substantially thick. As Rf energy density in tissue increases, the tissue surface becomes desiccated and resistant to additional ohmic heating. Localized tissue desiccation and charring can occur almost instantly as tissue impedance rises, which then can result in a non-uniform seal in the tissue. The typical prior art Rf jaws can cause a further undesirable effects by propagating Rf density laterally from the engaged tissue to cause unwanted collateral thermal damage.
What is needed is an instrument with a jaw structure that can apply Rf energy to tissue in new modalities: (i) to weld or seal tissue volumes that have substantial fascia layers or tissues that are non-uniform in hydration, density and collagenous content; (ii) to weld a targeted tissue region while substantially preventing thermal damage in regions lateral to the targeted tissue; and (iii) to weld a bundle of disparate anatomic structures.
The principal objective of the present invention is to provide an instrument and jaw structure that is capable of controllably applying energy to engaged tissue. As background, the biological mechanisms underlying tissue fusion by means of thermal effects are not fully understood. In general, the application of Rf energy to a captured tissue volume causes ohmic heating (alternatively described as active Rf heating herein) of the tissue to thereby at least partially denature proteins in the tissue. By ohmic heating, it is meant that the active Rf current flow within tissue between electrodes causes frictional or resistive heating of conductive compositions (e.g., water) in the tissue.
One objective of the invention is to denature tissue proteins, including collagen, into a proteinaceous amalgam that intermixes and fuses together as the proteins renature. As the treated region heals over time, the so-called weld is reabsorbed by the body's wound healing process. A more particular objective of the invention is to provide a system that (i) instantly and automatically modulates ohmic heating of tissue to maintain a selected temperature in the tissue, and (ii) to instantly and automatically modulate total energy application between active Rf heating (resulting from tissue's resistance to current flow therethrough) and conductive heating of tissue that results from heat conduction and radiation from resistively heated jaw components.
In general, the various jaw structures corresponding to the present invention all provide an Rf working end that is adapted to instantly and automatically modulate between active Rf heating of tissue and conductive heating of tissue by resistive jaw portions. Thus, the targeted tissue can be maintained at a selected temperature for a selected time interval without reliance of prior art "feedback" monitoring systems that measure impedance, temperature, voltage or a combination thereof.
In an exemplary embodiment, at least one jaw of the instrument defines a tissue-engagement plane that engages the targeted tissue. A cross-section of the jaw inwardly of the engagement plane illustrates that multiple electrically-conductive components comprise the invention for applying energy to tissue. Typically, the engagement plane defines a surface conductive portion (for tissue contact) that overlies a medial portion of a variably resistive material. An exemplary jaw further carries a core conductive material (or electrode) that is coupled to an Rf source and controller. Of particular interest, one embodiment has a variably resistive matrix that comprises a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material having a resistance (i.e., impedance to electrical conduction therethrough) that changes as it increases in temperature. One type of PTC material is a ceramic that is engineered to exhibit a dramatically increasing resistance above a specific temperature of the material, sometimes referred to as a Curie point or a switching range.
In one embodiment, a jaw of the working end utilizes a medial variably resistive matrix that has a selected switching range, for example a 5�–20� C. range, which approximates a targeted temperature that is suitable for tissue welding. In operation, it can be understood that the engagement plane will apply active Rf energy to (or cause ohmic heating within) the engaged tissue until the point in time that the variably resistive matrix is heated to its selected switching range. When the tissue temperature thus elevates the temperature of the PTC material to the switching range, Rf current flow from the core conductive electrode through to the engagement surface will be terminated due to the temperature increase in tissue and the resistive matrix. This instant and automatic reduction of Rf energy application can be relied on to prevent any substantial dehydration of tissue proximate to the probe's engagement plane. By thus maintaining an optimal level of moisture around the engagement plane, the working end can more effectively apply energy to the tissue—and provide a weld thicker tissues with limited collateral thermal effects.
The working end of the probe corresponding to the invention further provides a suitable cross-section and mass for providing a substantial heat capacity. Thus, when the medial variably resistive matrix is elevated in temperature to its switching range, the matrix can effectively function as a resistive electrode to thereafter passively conduct thermal energy to the engaged tissue volume. Thus, in operation, the working end can automatically modulate the application of energy to tissue between active Rf heating and passive conductive heating of the targeted tissue to maintain the targeted temperature level.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the variably resistive matrix can be a silicone-based material that is flexible and compressible. Thus, the engagement surface of one or both jaws can flexibly engage tissue to maintain tissue contact as the tissue shrinks during the welding process. In a related embodiment, the variably resistive matrix can be an open-cell silicone-based material that is coupled to a fluid inflow source for delivering fluid to the engagement plane to facilitate welding of very thin tissue volumes.
The jaws of the invention can operate in mono-polar or bi-polar modalities, with the variably resistive matrix carried in either or both jaws of the working end.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when considered in combination with the accompanying Figures, in which like reference numerals are used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.
1. Type "A" Working End for Tissue Sealing
An exemplary Type "A" working end 100 of a surgical grasping instrument is illustrated in
In the exemplary embodiment of
In the exemplary embodiment of
The sectional view of
As can be seen in
It can be easily understood from
Of particular interest, still referring to
In one preferred embodiment, the PTC matrix 140 is a ceramic layer that can be engineered to exhibit unique resistance vs. temperature characteristics and can maintain a very low base resistance over a wide temperature range, with a dramatically increasing resistance above a specific temperature of the material (sometimes referred to as a Curie point or switching range; see
In operation, it can be understood that the delivery of Rf energy to the interior conductor 145 will be conducted through the variably conductive matrix 140 and the engagement plane 125 to thereby apply Rf energy (or active ohmic heating) to tissue engaged between the jaws 105A and 105B (see
In other words, the critical increase in temperature of the variably resistive matrix 140 is typically caused by the transient high temperature of tissue that is caused by active Rf heating of the tissue. In turn, heat is conducted back through the layer of the first conductive material 135 to medial matrix 140. A suitable variably resistive PTC material can be fabricated from high purity semi-conducting ceramics, for example, based on complex titanate chemical compositions (e.g., BaTiO3, SrTiO3, etc.). The specific resistance-temperature characteristics of the material can be designed by the addition of dopants and/or unique materials processing, such as high pressure forming techniques and precision sintering. Suitable variably resistive or PTC materials are manufactured by a number of sources, and can be obtained, for example from Western Electronic Components Corp., 1250-A Avenida Acaso, Camarillo, Calif. 93012. Another manner of fabricating the medial conductive material 140 is to use a commercially available epoxy that is doped with a type of carbon. In fabricating a substantially thin medial conductive layer 140 in this manner, it is preferable to use a carbon type that has single molecular bonds. It is less preferable to use a carbon type with double bonds which has the potential of breaking down when used in thin layers, thus creating the potential of an electrical short circuit between conductive portions 145 and 135.
As can be seen in
The manner of utilizing the working end 100 of
With the jaws in the closed position and the engagement plane 125 engaging tissue, the operator actuates a switch 164 that delivers Rf energy from the voltage (Rf) source 150 to the interior conductor 145. At ambient tissue temperature, the low base resistance of the medial conductive matrix 140 allows unimpeded Rf current flow from the voltage source 150 through the engagement surface 125 (and conductor layer 135) and tissue to return electrical lead 156 a that is coupled to ground pad 158. It can be understood that the engaged tissue initially will have a substantially uniform impedance to electrical current flow, which will increase substantially in proximity to engagement surface 125 as the engaged tissue loses moisture due to the active Rf delivery.
Following an arbitrary time interval, the impedance of tissue proximate to engagement surface 125 typically will be elevated, and the higher tissue temperature will instantly conduct heat to the medial PTC matrix 140. In turn, the medial PTC layer 140 will reach its switching range and terminate Rf current flow from the core conductor 145 to the engagement surface 125. Such automatic reduction of active Rf energy application will prevent any substantial dehydration of tissue proximate to the engagement plane 125. By thus maintaining the desired level of moisture in tissue proximate to the engagement plane 125, the working end can more effectively apply energy to the tissue. Such energy application can extend through thick engaged tissue volumes while causing very limited collateral thermal effects. Thereafter, as the temperature of tissue proximate to engagement surface 125 falls by thermal relaxation and the lack of an Rf energy density, the temperature of the medial conductive matrix 140 will thus fall below the threshold of the selected switching range. This effect, in turn, will cause Rf current to again flow through the assembly of conductive layers 145, 140 and 135 to the engaged tissue to again increase the tissue temperature by active Rf heating. By the above-described mechanisms of causing the medial variably resistive matrix 140 to hover about its selected switching range, the actual Rf energy applied to the engaged tissue can be precisely modulated to maintain the desired temperature in the tissue.
Of particular interest, in one embodiment, the polymer matrix that comprises the medial conductor portion 140B is doped with materials to resistively heat the matrix as Rf energy flow therethrough is reduced. Thus, the thermal mass of the jaws which are elevated in temperature can deliver energy to the engaged tissue by means of greater passive conductive heating—at the same time Rf energy delivery causes lesser active tissue heating. This balance of active Rf heating and passive conductive (or radiative) heating can maintain the targeted temperature for any selected time interval.
In summary, one method of the invention comprises the delivery of Rf energy from a voltage source 150 to a conductive jaw surface 135 through a thermally-sensitive resistor material 140 wherein the resistor material has a selected switching range that approximates a targeted temperature for tissue sealing or welding. In operation, the working end automatically modulates active Rf energy density in the tissue as the temperature of the engaged tissue conducts heat back to the thermally-sensitive resistor material 140 to cause its temperature to reach the selected switching range. In this range, the Rf current flow will be reduced, with the result being that the tissue temperature can be maintained in the selected range without the need for thermocouples or any other form of feedback circuitry mechanisms to modulate Rf power from the source. Most important, it is believed that this method of the invention will allow for immediate modulation of actual Rf energy application along the entire length of the jaws, which is to be contrasted with prior art instruments that utilize a temperature sensor and feedback circuitry. Such sensors or thermocouples measure temperature only at a single location in the jaws, which typically will not be optimal for energy delivery over the length of the jaws. Such temperature sensors also suffer from a time lag. Further, such temperature sensors provide only an indirect reading of actual tissue temperature—since a typical sensor can only measure the temperature of the electrode.
Another method of the invention comprises providing the working end with a suitable cross-section of variably resistive matrix 140 so that when it is elevated in temperature to a selected level, the conductive matrix 140 effectively functions as a resistive electrode to passively conduct thermal energy to engaged tissue. Thus, in operation, the jaws can automatically modulate the application of energy to tissue between active Rf heating and passive conductive heating of the targeted tissue at a targeted temperature level.
2. Type "B" Jaw Structures
A series of exemplary Type "B" jaw structures 200 a–200 i corresponding to the invention are illustrated in
It can be understood from
In another similar electrode arrangement (not shown), a plurality of common polarity electrodes can be exposed in an engagement surface with a phase shift in the voltage delivered to such electrodes as provided by the voltage source or sources. Such phase shift electrodes can cooperate with a return electrode in either jaw's engagement surface and/or a ground pad. The paired jaw's engagement surfaces also can be configured with mirror image electrodes, which can be phase shift electrodes which can reduce capacitive coupling among such electrode arrangements. In general, such phase shift features can be combined with any of the working ends of
3. Type "C" Jaw Structure for Sealing Tissue
An exemplary Type "C" jaw structure 300 carried by introducer 310 corresponding to the invention is illustrated in
A principal purpose for providing a flexible variably conductive matrix 340 is to dynamically adjust the pressure of the engagement plane 325A against the tissue volume that is compressed between the jaws. It is believed useful to provide a dynamic engagement plane since tissue may shrink during a sealing procedure. The repose or untensioned shape of the variably conductive matrix 340 is shown as being convex, but also can be flat in cross-section or it can have a variety of different geometries or radii of curvature.
Of particular interest, the objective of a resilient jaw surface has resulted in the development of an assembly of materials that can provide a flexible and resilient engagement plane 325A at the surface of a resilient variably resistive material 340. In the embodiment of
Of particular interest, the variably resistive matrix 340 comprises a silicone material that can function as a PTC-type resistive matrix in the same manner as the above-described ceramic materials. More in particular, one embodiment of the variably resistive matrix 340 can be fabricated from a medical grade silicone that is doped with a selected volume of conductive particles, e.g., carbon or graphite particles. By weight, the ratio of carbon to silicone can range from about 90/10 to about 30/70 to provide various selected switching ranges wherein the inventive composition then functions as a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material. More preferably, the matrix is form about 40% to 80% carbon with the balance being silicone. As described previously, carbon types having single molecular bond are preferred. One preferred composition has been developed to provide a switching range of about 75� C. to 90� C. has about 50%–60% carbon with the balance being silicone. The variably resistive matrix 340 can have any suitable thickness dimension indicated at d4, ranging from about 0.01″ to 0.25″ depending on the cross-section of the jaws.
The electrode 345 that is exposed in engagement plane 325A can be a substantially thin rigid metal, flexible foil, or a substantially flexible thin metallic coating. Such a thin flexible coating can comprise any suitable thin-film deposition, such as gold, platinum, silver, palladium, tin, titanium, tantalum, copper or combinations or alloys of such metals, or varied layers of such materials. A preferred manner of depositing a metallic coating on the polymer element comprises an electrolysis plating process known in the art, such as provided by Micro Plating, Inc., 8110 Hawthorne Dr., Erie, Pa. 16509-4654. The thickness of the metallic coating can range between about 0.0001″ to 0.005″. Other similar electroplating or sputtering processes known in the art can be used to create a thin film coating.
In operation, the working end of will function as described in the Types "A" and "B" embodiments. The elevation of the tissue temperature will conduct heat directly to the PTC matrix 340 and then will modulate energy application between (i) active Rf heating, and (ii) passive or conductive heating. In addition, the resiliency of the PTC matrix 340 will maintain substantially uniform pressure against the tissue even as the tissue dehydrates or shrinks.
While the sectional view of the jaws 305A and 305B of
5. Type "D" Jaw Structure for Sealing Tissue.
An exemplary working end of a Type "D" probe 400 is shown in
Of particular interest, in the embodiment of
In a method of using the jaw structure of
It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention includes the use of an open cell elastomer such as silicone to make both a temperature-sensitive variable resistive matrix and a form of pressure-sensitive resistive matrix. As described above, the matrix under compression will collapse pores in the matrix thereby making a conductively-doped elastomer more conductive. In effect, such a matrix can be described as a pressure-sensitive matrix or a combination temperature-sensitive and pressure-sensitive variably resistive matrix. Further, an open cell elastomer that is not conductively-doped can function as a variably resistive matrix in combination with conductive fluid. When under compression, the conductive characteristics of the matrix would be lessened due to the outflow of the conductive fluids. Thus, it can be seen that the variably resistive matrix can be designed in a variety of manners to accomplish various Rf energy delivery objectives, all of which fall within the scope of the invention.
6. Type "E" Jaw Structure for Sealing Tissue
An exemplary working end of a Type "E" probe 500 is described with reference to
In the Types "A" and "B" working ends of
The Type "E" embodiment of
In one Type "E" embodiment corresponding to the invention is depicted in
7. Type "F" Jaw Structure for Sealing Tissue
Of particular interest, the exterior variably resistive matrix 630 is of a pressure-sensitive resistive material that is carried across the engagement plane 625. In one embodiment, such a variably resistive layer 630 can be substantially thin and fabricated of a material described as a "pressure variable resistor ink" and is more specifically identified as Product No. CMI 118-44 available from Creative Materials Inc., 141 Middlesex Rd., Tyngsboro, Mass. 01879. The resistance vs. pressure characteristics of the pressure-sensitive resistive matrix 630 can be adjusted by blending the above-described material with Product No. CMI 117-34 that is available from the same source.
In operation, it can be understood that any pressure against the pressure-sensitive resistive layer 630 will locally decrease its resistance to current flow therethrough. As the jaws are closed, the engagement plane 625 of the lower jaw 605A will be pressed against the tissue. Due to the potential pressure vs. resistivity characteristics of the resistive layer 630, the layer can be designed so that Rf current will only flow through localized portions of the engagement plane 625 where the pressure-sensitive resistive layer 830 is under substantial pressure, which in turn locally lowers the resistance of a portion of the surface layer. Further, the interior thermally-sensitive variable sensitive resistive layer 640 will modulate Rf flow as previously described to maintain a targeted tissue temperature.
It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention and its method of use of the includes the use of jaw working surface similar to that of
In another embodiment (not shown), either one both jaws can have an elongate core of the substantially resistive material in addition to the core electrode and a variably resistive matrix of any type described above. The resistive material has a fixed resistance and is adapted to pre-heat the jaw, its engagement plane and the engaged tissue as a means of pre-conditioning the tissue to attain a certain selected impedance. Such a system will be useful when the engagement plane is large in dimension. A thermally conductive, but electrically insulative, layer can be disposed intermediate the fixed resistance material and a conductive (electrode) layer. The conductive layer is coupled in series with the fixed resistance material to the remote voltage source. The variably resistive matrix is disposed between the engagement plane and the conductive (electrode) layer—as described in any of the Types "A" and "B" embodiments above.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the exemplary systems, combinations and descriptions are merely illustrative of the invention as a whole, and that variations of components, dimensions, and compositions described above may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. Specific characteristics and features of the invention and its method are described in relation to some figures and not in others, and this is for convenience only. While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the exemplary descriptions and combinations, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be utilized in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the invention. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, with the limits only of the true purview, spirit and scope of the invention.
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text:
1. period - noun
· an amount of time; "a time period of 30 years"; "hastened the period of time of his recovery"; "Picasso's blue period"
Synonym(s): time_period, period_of_time
Hypernym(s): fundamental_quantity, fundamental_measure
2. period - noun
· the interval taken to complete one cycle of a regularly repeating phenomenon
Hypernym(s): time_interval, interval
3. period - noun
· (ice hockey) one of three divisions into which play is divided in hockey games
Hypernym(s): part, section, division
4. period - noun
· a unit of geological time during which a system of rocks formed; "ganoid fishes swarmed during the earlier geological periods"
Synonym(s): geological_period
Hypernym(s): geological_time, geologic_time
5. period - noun
· the end or completion of something; "death put a period to his endeavors"; "a change soon put a period to my tranquility"
6. period - noun
· the monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of nonpregnant women from puberty to menopause; "the women were sickly and subject to excessive menstruation"; "a woman does not take the gout unless her menses be stopped"--Hippocrates; "the semen begins to appear in males and to be emitted at the same time of life that the catamenia begin to flow in females"--Aristotle
Synonym(s): menstruation, menses, menstruum, catamenia, flow
Hypernym(s): discharge, emission, expelling
7. period - noun
· a punctuation mark (.) placed at the end of a declarative sentence to indicate a full stop or after abbreviations; "in England they call a period a stop"
Synonym(s): point, full_stop, stop, full_point
Hypernym(s): punctuation, punctuation_mark
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text: Prev | Next Purchase this photo Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch Marshall's Laura Der (4) sends a shot past Charlotte defender Clair Kreuz during their volleyball match on Saturday, Oct. 26 2013, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington. Gallery: 2013 Year in Review Sports Photos by Sholten Singer Dec. 29, 2013 @ 11:49 PM Sholten Singer The Herald-Dispatch photographer Sholten Singer looks back on sports shots of the year 2013. ()


text:
Southaven Mayor Greg Davis pays fines in traffic case, does not appeal guilty verdict
Southaven Mayor Greg Davis has paid the $968 in fines resulting from his misdemeanor traffic case in which he was found guilty of passing a stopped school bus in his personal vehicle that was equipped with blue police lights.
Davis had 30 days to appeal Justice Court Judge Steve Ross's ruling last month.
"Just like anyone else, we go through the process and we were found guilty," Davis said. "We paid the fine and we went to driving school as is afforded any other citizen in Mississippi, so we did what any normal person would do. We are not appealing it and we are done."
DeSoto County Justice Court Clerk Shirley Beshears said court records show that Davis paid the fines — $598 for passing the school bus and $370 for the unauthorized blue lights — Tuesday.
The $10 fee for driving school was included in the $598 fine.
Davis said he requested that he go to driving school, which he completed online, so the misdemeanor charges would not appear on his driving record.
The charges stem from a March 22 incident in which DeSoto County school bus driver Tracey Ann Riva filed a complaint against Davis, alleging he failed to stop as the bus discharged children near a subdivision off Davis Road.
During the Sept. 13 hearing on the matter, Davis pleaded not guilty. He contended he was pursuing another vehicle that he saw pass the bus. He said no children were in danger, including two of his three daughters, who were in the car with him when the incident occurred.
Ross, a Tallahatchie County Justice Court judge, disagreed and found Davis guilty on both charges.
The traffic hearing is the latest court case that Davis has been involved in recently.
Davis is slated to appear in DeSoto County Chancery Court Wednesday to face allegations from his former wife, who has filed a petition demanding court-ordered child support, custody of the couple's three children and that child support payments be protected if Davis's salary is garnished by Mississippi Auditor Stacey Pickering.
Last week, a Hinds County judge granted Davis a temporary injunction that stops Pickering from seizing his $3,700 bi-weekly paycheck to recover more than $70,000 he alleges Davis owes the city of Southaven for questionable spending. Pickering also has filed a lawsuit against Davis to recover the money.
Davis, 46, also remains under federal investigation for the alleged misuse of city funds.
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Dry and solid 1972 BMW 2002tii. Non nnumers matching engine. great car for a restoration project. It will start. Needs fuel lines, mechanical, brakes... More
Baikal Blue, Tan leather, Air cond, Power windows, No Sunroof, VIN 2240368, Approximately 92,000 miles, 4 speed. Starts and runs, no smoke, has some valve... More
SELLING MY BMW " OLD SCHOOL" CAFE RACER THAT LOOKS GREAT AND RUNS EXCELLENT . MUST BE SEEN. A LOT OF WORK AND MONEY WAS PUT... More
1975 BMW 2002: Excellent ownership and restoration history, previous owner of 15 years. Call us for more details or come see it at our Detroit... More


text:
When entering a market where there's already a dominant player, creating a brand is as much about branding the incumbent as it is about establishing your own identity. As 21st Century Fox Fox gears up for the launch of its new national sports network this weekend, it's been hitting one theme and hitting it hard: Fox Sports 1 is going to make sports fun again.
The not-so-subtle implication: ESPN ESPN, which accurately if pompously calls itself "The Worldwide Leader In Sports," has been guilty of making sports a drag for the average fan. In the September issue of Men's Journal, Fox executive Scott Ackerman spells out the contrast he and his team are trying to draw:
"ESPN has done a fantastic job of educating people in terms of sports," says Ackerson, a gruff Fox veteran who's never far from his e-cigarette. "Well, I don't really want to teach. I want people to believe that they are eavesdropping on a conversation among really smart people who have been in the arena, who are talking sports, and who you'd really wish you could have a beer with."
21st Century Fox owner Rupert Murdoch has played this game before, more than once. Relatively few cable news viewers had given a thought to CNN's political leaning before Fox News convinced them they needed a "Fair and Balanced" alternative. It was one of the most spectacularly successful opposition-branding efforts in business history, helping Fox News become the most watched and most profitable 24-hour news channel in a matter of years.
Less successful was the company's attempt to position Fox Business Network, in its 2007 launch, as a channel for "Main Street" rather than Wall Street." Within the universe of business-news viewers, it turned out, an orientation toward Wall Street wasn't perceived as a particularly deplorable thing. While Fox Business has profitable for the last couple years, according to its owners, it has fallen short of Murdoch's ambition for it, which was nothing less than to dethrone CNBC.
Which will it be for Fox Sports 1? Will the allegations of non-fun-ness against ESPN resonate with viewers?
You certainly hear a lot of complaints against the Disney-owned network — that it's too cozy with the professional leagues, that it's obsessed with Tim Tebow, that Skip Bayless should be sealed in a barrel and dropped down a mineshaft — but the charge that its programming is too educational is, in my experience, a new one.
It's true that it has become more statistics-driven over the years, but that's in keeping with the larger trend in sports toward quantitative analysis. The sports news organization that ignores fantasy players does so at its own peril. Indeed, the poaching of uber-quant Nate Silver from the New York Times was rightly viewed as a huge coup for ESPN.
If there's a legitimate gripe here, it centers not on the televised coverage of sports but on the leagues and players themselves. For upwards of 30 years, the increasingly corporatization of sports in the form of big-money television contracts and endorsement deals has been draining everyone involved of their color and spontaneity. When's the last time you remember hearing an athlete say or do something even mildly controversial without apologizing for it a few hours later? (And, yes, ESPN is partly to blame here for blowing up every ill-advised tweet into a national emergency.)
There's a reason they call the NFL the No Fun League. We've gone from Joe Namath and Frenchy Fuqua to Tebow, a man who'd still be polite even if he were trapped in that barrel with Skip Bayless. If Fox Sports 1 can figure out a way to coax athletes out of the defensive crouch that is their default posture nowadays, it will have succeeded in making sports fun again. It won't be easy.


text:
When tragedy struck her family 28 years ago, Sampson resident Deanna Barney never imagined that an opportunity would come calling so many years later as a result.
The tragedy took place back in February 1985 when Barney, formerly of West Virgina, and her family learned that her beloved cousin Wilma had been murdered.
"We're a close-knit family. As the two oldest granddaughters, Wilma and I were extremely close," shared Barney, recalling how the two of them spent summers together as children, and how later in life, as adults, they were roommates for several years.
"She was a teacher. She had a Master's degree in music and she loved teaching and working with the kids," remembered Barney, adding that her cousin didn't marry for a long time but always wanted to.
While the two were rooming together in Virginia Beach, Barney shared that Wilma met a man and eventually got married in her mid-30s. Sadly, the marriage that her cousin had wanted for so long was cut short when, less than a year into the marriage, Wilma was found murdered in her home.
"Her husband wasn't home at the time and I had just moved to Jacksonville (N.C.) two weeks earlier," said Barney. "I've always felt that, since her husband was out of town, I may have been with her if I was still living there."
Now, alive and "really blessed" some 28 years later, Barney has been presented with an opportunity to tell her cousin's story by appearing on the TV show "Happily Never After," channel 240 Investigative Discoveries.
Barney described the show as one that tells the stories of "people who have not been married long when tragedy strikes."
The story of Barney's cousin captured the interest of the show almost by accident when one of the show's employees, Dominique, recognized her cousin's name while doing research.
"She thought it was the name of a professor's wife," explained Barney, adding that even though her cousin wasn't the person Dominique initially thought she was, Dominique remained interested in what happened to Wilma.
When the show contacted her aunt (Wilma's mother), Barney was suspicious at first.
However, "talking with Dominique and later Victoria (another of the show's employees) convinced me," said Barney who agreed to participate in an episode of the show centered around her cousin. "They were very nice and seemed sincere and truly interested. They seemed like real people, not just out for a big blast story. They wanted to know details, but they didn't act like they wanted to intrude and stomp over everything. They were truly interested in her (Wilma's) life and who she really was. The more I talked to them the more comfortable I was."
Barney's aunt and another cousin also agreed to participate in the show, and filming began in April.
"I had no idea what to expect. They put you in front of this camera with all these bright lights and you have to sit a certain way. You even have to be careful about how you swallow because the mic picks up everything," shared Barney, adding that she also had to respond to many questions during the interview which took over four hours.
When asked how it was to have to relive her cousin's death in the interview, Barney noted that "a couple of times I couldn't say anything it all. It became very emotional. There were certain things that would trigger and then the tears and all would come. It was hard to go on at times."
It was also difficult when the show wanted to film at the cemetery where Barney's cousin is laid to rest.
"They wanted to get a picture of us walking down the path to the gravesite with the flowers and laying the flowers on the grave," Barney said. "It was things that would have all been true at the time (right after her death)."
"You know, you're used to going to a cemetary and staying there until you feel ready to leave and then you know you need to leave, but we had to stay there to get the shots," continued Barney, adding that she was particularly concerned about how her 87-year-old aunt was feeling.
Although challenging, Barney is glad that she and her family took the opportunity to share her cousin's story through the TV show as it helped bring about a little more healing.
"I've had closure about it for a long time but my aunt has struggled with it, so I think it helped her with closure," said Barney. "I think it did her good knowing that it (the show) was about Wilma's life…She feels that she (Wilma) wasn't lost, that even after all these years somebody is remembering her and what she contributed to life."
"If it helped her and remembers Wilma then it's good," she added.
Now as the family waits to see the episode, which is set to air on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 9 p.m., Barney shared that she hopes the episode "will be in good taste" and show the change that has taken place in her own life, the same one that took place in Wilma's life before her death.
"Both Wilma and I were raised to be in church and to serve the Lord," said Barney, noting that both of them had strayed from the Christian lifestyle in their younger days. "I hope the show makes it plain that that's not who I am now. Now I'm a born-again Christian."
It's also not who her cousin was either, stressed Barney. "She came back to the Lord too…I know where she is."
Barney also hopes that the show will help others who have also gone through similar tragedies."It's just part of our life, but you can relate to people who have been through the same thing and pray for them…I just say 'Lord, I pray that it will help somebody.'"
Until then, Barney waits, anxious to see the episode having not been able to see anything before its air date. "We will definitely be sitting in front of our TV that night."
Tune into the episode to learn the whole story about Barney's cousin, her life, the man responsible for taking it, what happened to him, and how Barney and her family responded.
Lauren Williams can be reached at 910-592-8137. ext. 117 or via email at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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MorningCOMPUTER SCIENCE 103: Technical Problem Solving Strategies (3 credits) Description: Introduction and application of several strategies including elementary numerical and symbolic methods, and various programming tools to solve problems in engineering and science.Lecturer: Dr. Michael LeveringtonJOURNALISM 120: Media in Modern Life (3 credits)Description: Explore the profound transition from life with mass media to life in networked media. Research the meaning of media through anthropological, political and historical perspectives.Lecturer: Alison GauldenSOCIOLOGY 101: Principles of Sociology(3 credits) Description: Sociological principles underlying the development, structure and function of culture, society, human groups, personality formation and social change.Associate Professor: Dr. Clayton PeoplesAfternoonMATH 176: Introductory Calculus for Business and Social Sciences (3 credits)Description: Fundamental ideas of analytic geometry and calculus, plane coordinates, graphs, functions, limits, derivatives, integrals, the fundamental theorem of calculus, rates, extrema and applications thereof.Prerequisite: Must have completed Algebra II or equivalent. Applicant must submit copy of school transcript showing completion of Algebra II or equivalent. Instructor: Darren RipleyCRIMINAL JUSTICE 101: Introduction for Criminal Justice I (3 credits)Description: History, philosophy and functions of criminal justice system, law enforcement, criminal law and constitutional rights as they affect system functioning.Lecturer: Dr. Ron GlensorPHILOSOPHY 101: Introduction to Philosophy (3 credits)Description: Basic problems in different areas of philosophy such as ethics, political theory, metaphysics and epistemology.Assistant Professor: Dr. Katherine Schweitzer"I especially enjoyed the fact that the courses were challenging -- that fact alone helped me see more potential in myself."- Past THINKER
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Santa Looks A Lot Like Daddy
lyrics and chords
Type an artists name or song title in the space above for a
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Santa Looks A Lot Like DaddyRecorded by Buck OwensWritten by Don Rich and Buck Owens G G7 CSanta looked a lot like daddy or daddy looked a lot like him D7 GIt's not the way I had him pictured Santa was a much too thin G7 CHe didn't come down the chimney so momma musta let him inD7 GSanta looked a lot like daddy or daddy looked a lot like him Well they thought I was fast a sleepin' G7 CThey thought I was tucked in bedD7They never thought that I'd come a peepin' GOr that I'd hear what was said G7 CSanta put his arm around momma and momma put her arm around him D7 GSo if Santa Claus ain't daddy then I'm a gonna tell on them Repeat #1 Well Santa... G7 CI never saw Dancer or Prancer I never heard the sleigh bells ring D7 GI never saw the red nosed reindeer like they show on the TV screen G7 CBut he sure bought a lot of presents so Santa Claus he must have beenD7 GWell he sure looked a lot like daddy and daddy looked a lot like himRepeat #1 Well Santa...
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Santa Looks A Lot Like Daddy lyrics and chords
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Step 1: Parts list
1 long enough pole to extend reach
(a long dowel, broom stick, or lacrosse stick works perfect)
1 spacer about 2 inches wider than the user's foot
2 clothes hangers with clips
1 shoehorn
(not pictured, I could not find one at the time)
duct tape
Step 2: Taping spacer to pole
Duct tape makes the project quick and easy to complete without drilling any holes.
Step 3: Attach hangers
Center the hanger on the side of the pole and use 3 or 4 crossing pieces of duct tape to fasten the hanger. Test to ensure the hanger does not move
Center the second hanger on the side of the block and use 3 or 4 crossing pieces of duct tape to fasten the hanger. Test to ensure the hanger does not move
Step 4: Adding a shoehorn
If the duct tape is not strong enough to withstand the force of using the shoehorn. Drill 2 holes in the shoehorn and screw it directly to the pole.
I have been working with disabled folks for many years & have built lots a aids to daily living. It is not always easy to find or make devices to remove barriers, This is a very good solution. I will keep it in mind as I will eventually find someone who needs such a device.Thank you for sharing it.