Abstract: An implantable sling for the treatment of male incontinence and method of Implementing the same. The sling comprises a urethral support portion and at least one anchoring portion extending therefrom. The anchoring portion is operatively positioned through the obturator foramen and about at least one ramus portion of the pelvis such that the support portion of the implant is operatively positioned at or distal to the bulbar urethra to treat urinary incontinence. In a preferred embodiment, the implant will have first and second anchoring portions extending from the support portion with each respective one of said anchoring portions being operative to be secured about dedicated ones of the patient's pubic ramus. The implants may further be fabricated from tissues, synthetic materials or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A device 10 and method for replacing or restoring competence to incompetent valves. The device 10 is inserted percutaneously or surgically and is preferably constructed of a material capable of promoting cellular ingrowth such that, eventually, native biologic tissue completely covers the device 10 insulating the blood flow therefrom. The material is preferably bioabsorbable over time, allowing the device to harbor the regeneration of a valve structure and to later become absorbed by the body. The device is sized and arranged to mimic the valve it is replacing or repairing.

Abstract: A fluid sprayer system using a modulated hydraulic control valve and a positive displacement pump to control the amount of fluid sprayed by the system. The modulated hydraulic control valve may be controlled using pulse width modulation and may be provided with a substantially constant source of hydraulic fluid. The pulse width modulated hydraulic control valve provides the hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic motor as a controlled flow. The controlled flow serves to control the hydraulic motor that controls a positive displacement pump. The position displacement pump is used to control the amount of fluid sprayed by the system. The control system changes the signal to the control valve so as to mitigate pressure changes otherwise caused by said positive displacement pump.

Abstract: A controlled articulation trailer with synchronized steering and a traveling top link three point tool bar hitch is disclosed. The controlled articulation trailer comprises a box-frame carriage having two separate but laterally aligned, wheeled axles near the back of the carriage. The aligned axles are mechanically angularly controlled by, or ‘synchronized to’, the movements of the draft vehicle. A tongue attaches to the draft vehicle via a hitch plate bolted to the draw bar of the draft vehicle. The tongue receiver fits onto a ball hitch and an adjustable stabilizer arm is bolted to the hitch plate and extends at an angle back to a tongue attachment. The tongue connects through the front of the carriage to a pivot point located on a bridge across the front-middle of the carriage and extends beyond this pivot point to connect, through doubly-pivoting tie-rods, to the wheels, thus controlling the articulation such that the trailer's wheels turn in synchronization to turns made by the draft vehicle.

Abstract: A rotary sprinkler having an adjustable arc segment whose angular extent and absolute direction relative to the ground are represented by an arc indicator, which arc indicator may comprise a band whose visible length represents the angular extent and whose position on the sprinkler points to the direction. The sprinkler may have the arc segment adjusted by a movable arc limit stop that is coupled to a toggle member only at drive reversal, and the sprinkler may be converted to full circle operation by raising the arc limit stop relative to a cooperating trip tab. A buckling spring assembly used to shift the drive comprises a compression spring held between two spaced pivot members, and the drive can be built in continuous and intermittent drive versions by replacing a few normal rotary gears with multilated gears. A friction clutch having asymmetric teeth for smooth operation prevents damage to the drive during forced nozzle rotation.

Abstract: The invention provides surgical needles with a porous distal portion from which a liquid injectate will weep or ooze multidirectionally under injection pressure while the porous distal portion of the needle is inserted into a body surface. The porous distal portion of the needle can be fabricated from a porous carbon, metal, ceramic or polymer and preferably has a decreasing gradient of impedance to fluid flowing to the point of the needle to compensate for the falling off of injection pressure as fluid moves towards the point, thereby ensuring uniform weeping of the injectate along the injection course. The needle is adapted for attachment to a catheter or syringe. In another embodiment, a surgical assemblage is provided wherein a porous distal portion having similar fluid flow characteristics is located along the distal end of a catheter, and a needle point is attached to the distal end of the catheter (e.g., a steerable catheter) for piercing tissue.

Abstract: A method of making an optical element that includes a thermoplastic power portion, the method including laminating a first thermoplastic sheet to one side of a functional film, laminating a second thermoplastic sheet to a second side of the functional film, and affixing either the first thermoplastic sheet or the second thermoplastic sheet to the power portion, with the other of the first or second thermoplastic sheets being open to atmosphere.

Abstract: A fastening device (1) for fastening polyurethane screening panels (6,7) to a screen (8) is made up of a composite fastener and a disc stringer support. The composite fastener is a steel bolt (2) and nut (3) with a polyurethan holding component (4) and a polyurethane cover (9) for the bolt head. The disc and stringer support is a stringer (31) serving as a joist spanning between girders of the screen frame, the stringer (31) having no flange and being narrow and deep, with discs (35) set in the top surface of the stringer at spaced apart positions, having a hole (36) in each disc for the bolt and nut and a recess (38) in the stringer underneath each disc for the nut. The bolt and nut have a toggle (14) which allows insertion into the hole in the disc and tightening the bolt and nut entirely from above the screen.

Abstract: An irrigation controller includes a housing for enclosing a microprocessor that stores and executes at least one watering program. The microprocessor has a parallel output bus with a plurality of pin sets for controlling a plurality of irrigation stations. The connection between the controller and the irrigation stations is through a plurality of station modules that are removably coupled, in any desired number, to the various pin sets on the output bus. The number of stations controlled is adjusted by the number of modules connected to the output bus. The controller housing has a pocket for holding a user's manual, which is positioned between the controller housing and a mounting bracket when the controller housing is installed on the mounting bracket.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of use or treatment are disclosed for creating intrauterine adhesions resulting in amenorrhea. In particular, the apparatus relates to an easily deployed intrauterine implant that readily and consistently reduces or eliminates abnormal intrauterine bleeding. In addition, the apparatus is also used as a uterine marker device for visualizing endometrial tissue thickness and potential changes. The method of the present invention serves as a supplement to or a replacement for conventional hysterectomy or ablation/resection procedures used to treat menorrhagia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle having a fixed room and a slide-out room which extends and retracts relative to the fixed room. The fixed room includes a floor section, sidewall sections, and a roof section, and the slide-out room includes a floor section, sidewall sections, and a roof section. A slide-out extension mechanism extends and retracts the slide-out room in a cantilevered manner. In a fully retracted position, the roof section and two of the sidewall sections of the slide-out room are typically concealed from exterior view, and a third sidewall section of the slide-out room forms a portion of the sidewall section of the fixed room. Furthermore, the floor section of the slide-out room is flush with the floor section of the fixed room, and proximal ends of the sidewall sections of the slide-out room are flush with an inner surface of one of the sidewall sections of the fixed room when the slide-out room is fully extended.

Abstract: A two-part connector structure (22, 32) includes a male connector part (32) and a female connector part (22) which are mutually engageable to open fluid communication between the connector parts (22, 32). For example, the connector parts (22, 32) may be used to establish fluid communication between a container (12) and a conduit (14). The connector parts (22, 32) are disengageable from one another to discontinue fluid communication between them, and also to close communication between ambient and each of the container and the conduit. The male connector part (32) includes a mounting structure (32a) for supporting on the female connector part (22), and also includes a guide structure (44) effective to guide a male portion (36) of the male connector part (32) into engagement with the female connector part (22).