Abstract: A catheter introducer for antegrade and retrograde medical procedures includes a generally tubular introducer member having proximal and distal ends. The introducer member includes a lumen for receiving a guidewire during a medical procedure, which guidewire includes a distal end traveling in a first direction. The catheter introducer further includes an occlusion member adjacent the distal end thereof for altering the traveling direction of the distal end of the guidewire to a second direction. The catheter introducer of the invention can be easily used for performing angioplasty on tandem or segmental lesions in one procedure using antegrade and retrograde approaches. The novel technique of the present invention involves performing angioplasty on one lesion using one of the antegrade and retrograde approaches, and then using the other of the antegrade and retrograde approaches to perform angioplasty on the second lesion. Both lesions are attended to during one medical procedure.

Abstract: A pump jack hoisting apparatus includes a safety railing for protecting workers from accidental falling. The apparatus includes a pair of laterally spaced pump jack poles each of which is associated with a respective pump jack. Each pump jack includes inner and outer support extensions for supporting thereon inner and outer walking platforms. A pair of generally L-shaped support frames is removably secured to the outer support extension of the respective pump jack. Each support frame includes a vertically extending arm and a horizontally extending brace. The brace includes a mounting member for engaging the outer arm of the respective pump jack. A plurality of generally L-shaped rail brackets are vertically spaced on the arms and include a top-open recess. A safety rail is removably positioned in the recess and extends between the pair of support frames.

Abstract: A method of bonding a particle material to near theoretical density, includes placing a particle material in a die. In the first stage, a pulsed current of about 1 to 20,000 amps., is applied to the particle material for a predetermined time period, and substantially simultaneously therewith, a shear force of about 5-50 MPa is applied. In the second stage, an axial pressure of about less than 1 to 2,000 MPa is applied to the particle material for a predetermined time period, and substantially simultaneously therewith, a steady current of about 1 to 20,000 amps, is applied. The method can be used to bond metallic, ceramic, intermetallic and composite materials to near-net shape, directly from precursors or elemental particle material without the need for synthesizing the material. The method may also be applied to perform combustion synthesis of a reactive material, followed by consolidation or joining to near-net shaped articles or parts.

Abstract: An apparatus for bonding a particle material to near theoretical density, includes a chamber, a punch and die assembly for supporting a particle material, plungers for applying shear and/or axial pressures, and a power supply for applying a current. In the first stage, a pulsed current of about 1 to 20,000 amps., is applied to the particle material for a predetermined time period, and substantially simultaneously therewith, a shear force of about 5-50 MPa is applied. In the second stage, an axial pressure of about less than 1 to 2,000 MPa is applied to the particle material for a predetermined time period, and substantially simultaneously therewith, a steady current of about 1 to 20,000 amps. is applied. The apparatus may be used to bond metallic, ceramic, intermetallic and composite materials to near-net shape, directly from precursors or elemental particle material without the need for synthesizing the material.

Abstract: A bedding material spreader device of the present invention includes a hopper for holding a material. The hopper is open at the top and includes a closed bottom. A screw-auger is rotatably positioned along the inside bottom of the hopper for conveying the material towards the left or the right discharge opening provided on the rear wall of the hopper. Left and right spinners for spreading the material, either from the left or right side of the hopper, are provided in corresponding recesses on the exterior rear wall of the hopper. The auger includes radially extending blades on the left and right ends thereof, which spin-out the material from inside the hopper towards the left or right discharge opening and into the corresponding spinner which feeds-out the material out of the hopper. A hydraulic mechanism, which selectively runs the hydraulic flow in opposite directions, allows either the left or the right spinner to rotate to thereby allow the material to be fed-out from either side of the device.