Abstract: The stent having a flexible self-expandable braided tubular wall having a proximal segment having an outer diameter, and a distal segment having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the proximal segment. An intermediate segment is formed between the proximal and distal segments, which forms a truncated cone of which the base is forming the proximal end of the intermediate segment and of which the top is forming the distal end of the intermediate segment. A covering layer is arranged within the tubular wall.

Abstract: A stent deployment device includes a flexible, elongate interior catheter and a retaining structure cooperating with the catheter to support a stent along a distal end support region of the catheter. The stent is supported in a reduced radius delivery state to facilitate delivery to a treatment site in a body lumen, by advancing the device over a previously positioned guidewire. An opening at the distal end of the device receives the guidewire into a guidewire lumen of the interior catheter. A second opening through the catheter wall just proximally of the support region allows passage of the guidewire to the exterior of the catheter, whereby the guidewire is contained within the device only along the distal end region. The retaining structure can include an exterior catheter surrounding the interior catheter and stent, and moveable axially relative to the interior catheter.

Abstract: The present invention taught, enabled, described, illustrated and claimed herein comprises a continuous cover-type debris/fluid separation apparatus which is easily installed in existing, conventional trough-type gutter structures. The apparatus is configured to capture a small amount of water between two ridge features in a what is termed herein a “static pool.” The first ridge is preferably formed adjacent the outer part of the gutter structure and the second ridge is formed adjacent the inner part of the gutter structure (i.e., adjacent a terminal edge of the roof of a building). The first ridge has an apex portion that is preferably is disposed at a higher elevation than an apex portion of the second ridge. The portion of the cover structure disposed between the first ridge and the second ridge thus defines the static pool region. As rainwater flowing from the terminal edge of the roof begins to fill the static pool region the rainwater naturally seeks level.

Abstract: A self-expanding stent formed from helically wound and braided filaments of bioabsorbable polymers such as PLA, PLLA, PDLA, and PGA.

Abstract: A braided self-expandable stent-graft-membrane made of elongated members forming a generally tubular body. A membrane layer and graft layer are disposed on a endoprosthesis such as a stent. The membrane layer is substantially impermeable to fluids. The outermost layer is biocompatible with the body tissue. The innermost layer is biocompatible with the fluid in the passage. An embodiment includes a graft layer disposed on the inside of a stent and a membrane layer disposed on the outside of the stent. The innermost layer is biocompatible with the fluid in the passage. The stent-graft-membrane is used at a treatment site in a body vessel or organ where it is desirous to exclude a first fluid located outside the endoprosthesis from reaching a second fluid located in the lumen. The membrane may be made of silicone or polycarbonate urethane. The graft may be braided, woven, spun or spray-cast PET, PCU, or PU fibers. The layers may include ePTFE or PTFE.

Abstract: A catheter is formed with a layered wall construction including an inside tube formed of a low friction polymer, a polymeric outside tube, and a metallic reinforcement braid embedded in the wall between the inside and outside tubes. The braid is composed of multiple elongate flexible strands preferably of stainless steel, wound in two opposite directions and interbraided with one another. Each strand has a rectangular transverse profile, with a profile width at least three times the profile thickness. The strands are wound with their thicknesses directed radially of the catheter wall, permitting the catheter wall to be formed at a reduced thickness while maintaining favorable structural characteristics including pushability, torqueability, flexibility and resistance to kinking. As a result, the catheter's outside diameter can be reduced without reducing its interior lumen, or alternatively a larger interior lumen can be provided in a catheter of a given size.

Abstract: A prothesis for transluminal implantation consists of a flexible tubular interbraided structure of metal or polymeric monofilaments, and polymeric multifilament yarns. The prosthesis can be elastically deformed to reduce its diameter through axial elongation. The monofilaments and multifilament yarns are arranged in axially spaced apart helices, concentric on a common central axis of the prosthesis. The monofilaments are selectively shaped before their interbraiding with the multifilament yarns, either by an age-hardening or other heat-setting stage, or a cold-working stage that controllably plastically deforms the strands. The shaped structural strands cooperate to impart to the prosthesis its nominal shape and resilience. The textile strands cooperate to provide a sheeting that occupies interstices between adjacent structural strands, to reduce permeability and thereby enhance the utility of the prosthesis as a vascular graft.

Abstract: A magnetic data transducing head slider is provided with a transversely extended crossbar or other barrier near the leading edge. The barrier is deposited onto the air bearing surface of the slider using photolithographic techniques that enable precise determination of the barrier dimensions and the barrier set-back from the leading edge. The barrier set-back, width and thickness can be selected to control the transducer flying height and the pitch of the slider relative to the data recording surface of a magnetic disk when the slider is aerodynamically supported relative to the disk. The barrier also acts as a shield to minimize particulate contamination.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable implantable endoprosthesis having elongate elements including hollow, cavity or porous portions adapted to accumulate by-product from the degradation of the bioabsorbable material and shortening the diffusion distance for water absorption and thereby relatively increasing the degradation of the structure.

Abstract: A prosthetic stent with a tubular wall having local inwardly or outwardly formed elevations. Stents having such elevations have a higher mechanical stability if bend according to the curvature of the body vessels to be supported or repaired. Also a method for manufacturing a stent with such elevations is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiopaque catheter tip and catheter assembly having radiopaque elements associated with a catheter. The preferred materials for the radiopaque elements are made of a 90% platinum and 10% nickel composite structure or a 90% platinum and 10% iridium composite structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stent-graft with a bioabsorbable structure and a permanent graft for luminal support and treatment of arterial fistulas, occlusive disease, and aneurysms. The bioabsorbable structure is formed from braided filaments of materials such as PLA, PLLA, PDLA, and PGA and the graft is formed from materials such as PET, ePTFE, PCU or PU.

Abstract: A temporary bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker for use on an implantable endoprosthesis. The bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker is adapted to be disposed on or adjacent an implantable endoprosthesis in a body lumen for a predetermined amount of time until the bioabsorbable and radiopaque materials are absorbed or dispersed in the body.

Abstract: A prosthesis for transluminal implantation consists of a flexible tubular three-dimensionally braided structure of metal or polymeric monofilaments, and polymeric multifilament yarns. The prosthesis can be elastically deformed to reduce its diameter through axial elongation. The monofilaments and multifilament yarns are arranged in axially spaced apart helices, concentric on a common central axis of the prosthesis. The monofilaments are selectively shaped before their interbraiding with the multifilament yarns, either by an age-hardening or other heat-setting stage, or a cold-working stage that controllably plastically deforms the strands. The shaped structural strands cooperate to impart to the prosthesis its nominal shape and resilience. The textile strands cooperate to provide one or more layers of sheeting that reduce permeability and thereby enhance the utility of the prosthesis as a vascular graft.

Abstract: An aerosol detector, particularly well suited for liquid chromatography applications, includes a corona discharge source controlled to selectively charge the non-volatile residue particles of an aerosol. The aerosol initially is composed of droplets of a liquid sample, with the residue particles resulting from droplet evaporation. The selectively charged residue particles, each carrying a charge in proportion to its size, are collected at a conductive filter. The electrical current along a conductor coupled to the filter is measured repeatedly or continuously to provide an indication of concentrations of the non-volatile material. Preferably, a pneumatic nebulizer is used to generate the aerosol. When used in a liquid chromatography system, the detector can yield several separated areas of relatively high electrical current, corresponding to concentrations of several different analytes in the liquid sample.

Abstract: A system for analyzing aerosols incorporates a corona discharge ion generator with a positively or negatively charged corona discharge needle formed of platinum or a platinum alloy. A high speed (40-210 meter per second) air flow sweeps the ions away from the corona discharge, and propels the ions into a mixing chamber in a turbulent jet that encounters an aerosol, also provided to the mixing chamber. In one version of the ion generator, the ions are carried into the mixing chamber through an orifice formed in a positively or negatively biased plate. In another alternative, the aerosol droplets are electrostatically generated, and propelled into the mixing chamber as an aerosol jet that confronts the ion jet to enhance a mixing of the charged droplets and the ions. In this version the droplets are advantageously neutralized to leave predominantly singly charged positive and negative particles, to provide a neutralized aerosol particularly well suited for analysis with a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: The stent comprises a flexible self-expandable braided tubular wall having a proximal segment having an outer diameter, and a distal segment having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the proximal segment. An intermediate segment is formed between proximal and distal segments, which forms a truncated cone of which the base is forming the proximal end of the intermediate segment and of which the top is forming the distal end of the intermediate segment. A covering layer is arranged within the tubular wall.

Abstract: A stent graft for transluminal implantation includes a resilient tubular interbraided latticework of metal or polymeric monofilaments, a tubular interbraided sleeve of polymeric multifilament yarns, and an adhesive layer between the sleeve and latticework for bonding them together. The monofilaments and multifilament yarns are arranged in respective sets of axially spaced apart and oppositely directed helices, concentric on a common axis of the stent graft. The respective braid angles of the monofilaments and multifilament yarns are carefully matched to ensure that the latticework and sleeve behave according to substantially the same relationship governing the amount of radial reduction that accompanies a given axial elongation. According to a process for fabricating the stent graft, the latticework and sleeve are braided and thermally set independently, then bonded to one another by a silicone polymer adhesive applied evenly to the latticework in a liquid spray that also incorporates an organic solvent.

Abstract: Magnetic data storage disks, particularly along dedicated transducing head contact regions, are laser textured according to a process in which beam shaping optical components impart an elliptical or otherwise elongated cross-section to the laser beam. Consequently, individual texturing features such as rims and nodules are elliptical or elongate, with more gradual height gradients in directions parallel to their major axes. The texturing features further are oriented with respect to the direction of transducing head accelerations and decelerations, which yields high performance in terms of reduced dynamic friction, reduced stiction and better wear characteristics. Texturing features are formed in a variety of patterns, including patterns with adjacent features contacting one another. A further refinement involves forming features with substantially different slopes on opposites sides of a maximum height region.