Abstract: A minimal intrusive cardiac support apparatus is disclosed which requires only one incision into a main blood vessel or heart chamber. The apparatus includes a pair of generally coaxial and slideably arranged cannulae (one inner and one outer) communicatively coupled to a blood pump for providing right-heart and/or left-heart cardiac support during cardiac surgery. Optional balloons may be mounted on the outside of the inner and outer conduits which can be selectively inflated to seal off the sides surrounding vessel or to deliver cooling fluid or medication to the surrounding tissue. Using the apparatus, a method of pumping blood through the body is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for determining the condition of a patient's heart comprises a plurality of electrodes for producing cardiac signals and means for converting the cardiac signals into digital form. Data processing means is programmed to process the digital cardiac signals to determine a plurality of parameters of the patient's heartbeat and determine the condition of the patient's heart using a binary decision tree algorithm. The algorithm has a plurality of decision nodes each of which makes a decision based upon the value(s) of a subset of the parameters, the decision criterion of at least one of the said decision nodes being modified according to the value of at least one parameter not of the subset. In addition, at at least one node, the respective subset of parameters may be determined according to the value of at least one parameter not of the subset.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac stimulation system senses electrical activity of all four chambers of the heart and delivers pacing and defibrillation pulses to all four chambers of the heart. The system includes a lead system consisting of first and second leads. The first lead includes a right ventricular pacing electrode, a right ventricular defibrillation electrode, and a right atrial defibrillation lead. The second lead is implantable in the coronary sinus of the heart and includes a left ventricular pacing electrode, a left ventricular defibrillation electrode, a left atrial pacing electrode, and a left atrial defibrillation electrode. A right atrial pacing electrode is carried by one of the first and second leads.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a defibrillator having both a manual and an AED mode with corresponding user commands for both modes. The defibrillator includes a door which conceals manual mode commands, such that opening of the door puts the defibrillator in the manual mode and simultaneously reveals the manual mode command buttons. In one actual embodiment, the door includes apertures which allow access to the AED command buttons. When the door is in the open position, a keypad is revealed having manual commands which preferably take the form of buttons. In another actual embodiment, the door includes a switch which senses when the door is opened and sends the defibrillator into manual mode. The door includes a front side having AED command buttons, and a back side having manual mode command buttons. The door conceals a keypad having further manual mode command buttons.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device, such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, cardiovertor and/or a multisite device, having an improved detection of late atrial extrasystoles. The device detects atrial events (EvtA); applies a first window forming a relative atrial refractory period (DARRP) for discriminating (filtering) atrial extrasystoles of an early or average prematurity, and reacts to a variation of the sinusal atrial rate by certain control algorithms. It also applies the detected atrial events to a second window (DLE), distinct from the first window and of longer duration, for the discrimination of the atrial extrasystoles having a low prematurity, called late extrasystoles. The duration of the second window is a variable duration, defined as a fraction of the current average atrial interval (AAI). Further, the second window is used to inhibit temporarily any reaction to a variation of the sinusal atrial rate, in the event of detection of an atrial event inside the second window.

Abstract: A cardiac lead has an end adapted for contact with cardiac tissue that has a number of dot-like electrodes which are separated from each other by electrically insulating material, and which are positioned at respective locations adapted for simultaneous contact with the cardiac tissue. The dot-like electrodes produce respective unipolar signals. At least one difference signal from the unipolar signals of a pair of the dot-like electrodes. The difference signal is edited in circuitry of a cardiac assist device and is compared to a threshold. If the threshold is exceeded, a signal indicating a cardiac rhythm abnormality, such as fibrillation, is generated for triggering electrical therapy delivered to the cardiac tissue by the cardiac assist device.

Abstract: An electrotherapy delivery device includes an upper member having a handle portion and a pediatric electrode mounted to the bottom surface of the upper member. A base member having an adult electrode is selectively attached to the upper member with a coupling mechanism to conceal the pediatric electrode. The upper member attaches to the base member across diametrically opposed corners of the base member to provide the user with a more ergonomic hand position when accessing the paddles from the defibrillator. The device further include a plurality of switches operable to deliver a charge and to select the level of charge to be delivered to the patient. The paddle is provided with a processing circuit that receives an output from separate energy level increase and decrease switches, processes the output from the switches, and outputs a signal to the defibrillator corresponding to the level of energy selected by the switches.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a preparation method of a paste by mixing at least one constituent substance in a solid form, notably a powder, with at least one constituent substance in a liquid form, mechanically kneading the mixture under vacuum and subjecting said mixture to vibrations under vacuum.According to the invention, the mixture is subjected to a vibration field during at least the final phase of the mechanical kneading in a device comprising a base (2), a bowl of revolution (28) carried by said base, a cover (21) closing said bowl in a tight manner, an evacuation duct (10) opening into the bowl and kneading blades (27), the bowl being suspended underneath the cover and removably connected to said cover with means (11a, 11b) for imparting vibrations to the cover and bowl assembly via the cover.The present invention applies to the preparation of alginate, plaster or similar substances based pastes.

Abstract: A description is provided of a process for producing long products with a moisture content of less than approximately 14% by weight and particularly approximately 11 to 13% by weight, the long product leaving the press head in the form of soft, moist-plastic dough strands being guided in suspended manner up to the final drying through varyingly heated climate zones and at the end of the drying process, the long product is cooled and/or dimensionally stabilized in a further climate zone. The long product leaving the press head is heated as rapidly as possible in a first climate zone, but in more than 10 minutes to a temperature of more than approximately 80.degree. C. under the action of a heating medium with a relative humidity of approximately 60 to 80% and then in a second climate zone under the action of a drying medium with a temperature of over approximately 80.degree. C.

Abstract: A windshield wiper blade which is adapted to be mounted on a conventional windshield wiper bracket assembly wherein the windshield wiper blade scrapes snow, ice or water from the window of the vehicle, displaces the scraped material into a reservoir, and transiently stores the scraped material in the reservoir. The reservoir is defined by a curvilinear sidewall and is located in a plane above the scraped surfaces of the window. The scraped material is expelled from the reservoir of the wiper blade and hence off of the windshield of the vehicle. The size and shape of the wiper blade insures that the wiper blade will maintain contact with the window surface to prevent "hydroplaning" of the blade as the blade is being used when the vehicle on which it is mounted is travelling at high rates of speed.

Abstract: Apparatus for the continuous processing, such as mixing, homogenizing, gassing and degassing, polymerizing of liquids, emulsions, suspensions, viscous substances and similar materials, is designed with several shafts (1) arranged vertically in ring fashion, with parallel axes and driven in equal direction. Each shaft carries a number of disk-shaped processing elements (13-15) arranged axially staggered in parallel planes, meshing with elements on adjacent shafts, and enclosing together with the shafts at least one central cavity or chamber (16) in whose area the processing elements are arranged in such a way that their circumferential surfaces are exposed. The material is efficiently mixed and homogenized while being handled gently and evenly, and local shearing stress leading to temperature peaks in the material is avoided by leaving the surfaces (130, 140) of the processing elements exposed on the outside, i.e. on the side facing away from the chamber (16).

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for mixing or dispersing particles using a gradient force produced by a contact type electric field curtain. The particles are mixed or dispersed by permitting them to be put in a dielectric container and passing them through the area of influence of the electric field curtain.

Abstract: A mixer includes an agitating means and a material scraping means in a spherical casing. A mixer further includes a cracking-dispersing means for an easily cohesive powder or an impalpable powder. If crushing of particles need be restricted to a moderate level, the mixer includes either one the above mixers as a mixer main body and an angle setting means for setting the tilt the mixer main body at a given angle.The above mixers may preferably be used for agitating and mixing a powdery or granular material of all kinds, particle sizes, and specific gravities ranging from an easily cohesive powder or an impalpable powder to particles with which it is preferable to restrict a crushing level.

Abstract: An adaptor for a windshield wiper blade to allow the wiper superstructure to be mounted to different diameter pin connectors associated with a wiper arm. Typically, wiper arms are provided with a side pin having either of two diameters. The adaptor bushing of the present invention allows a single wiper blade to be used with either pin type. The wiper blade includes laterally aligned apertures and a retainer spring clip to prevent inadvertent removal of the blade. With a larger diameter pin, the pin is simply placed through the aperture to engage the spring. With the smaller diameter pin the adapter bushing is positioned within the apertures to receive the pin. The adaptor has an offset throughbore such that when the pin is positioned within the adaptor, the spring clip will prevent withdrawal of the pin until the spring is released. The adaptor allows a supplier to stock a single style of replacement blade which can be mounted to either pin connector.

Abstract: This invention describes a so-called reciprocating wiper system having a guide housing moving pendulum fashion and a wiper arm guided therein and radially retractable and extractable, wherein by various measures the volume of the guide housing is changed as compared to known embodiments and thus adapted to the space conditions in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, wherein because of a change in the volume a lengthening of the wiper blade and thus an enlargement of the wiping area is made possible.

Abstract: Apparatus for blending solid particulate material which includes a center lift or blending column with gaseous fluid under pressure supplied to the bottom of the column for entraining material in the vessel and lifting it up through the column to circulate material within the vessel. Recycle channels are provided on the periphery of the vessel for withdrawing material at various heights and supplying it to the bottom of the vessel for recirculation through the lift column. Each of the recycled channels includes a plurality of vertically spaced apart inlet openings each with a baffle positioned therein to permit material to simultaneously enter the recycle channel at more than one point along the height of the vessel. These baffles may be equipped with operators to selectively position the baffle to control the flow of material into the recycle channel. The apparatus also includes an arrangement defining a seal leg at the bottom of the vessel to ensure proper recycle of material through the apparatus.

Abstract: A circular loom for making fabric, especially from flat strip-like or ribbon-shaped material, in which the weft carrier or shuttle assembly travels in a circular path and has a body member carrying its own weft supply, motive power means and warp shed forming means. A cam mechanism automatically orients the entering warp ends in advance of the carrier or shuttle assembly to a position for weaving the desired fabric pattern.

Abstract: An adaptor for fitting a small diameter wiper arm pin to a large diameter hole in a wiper superstructure comprises at least one element of which the inner surface defines a cavity to receive the small diameter pin. The outer surface of the pin adaptor defines an outside diameter which exceeds the diameter of the pin and is adapted to fit the large diameter hole. Preferably, a pair of complementary elements are provided to encase the pin and the outer surface further defines a groove to receive a leaf spring of a conventional wiper connector assembly. An aligning flange cooperable with a slot in the wiper assures correct alignment of the adaptor in the superstructure.

Abstract: A wiper park ramp has two components, a softer isolation pad to cushion the initial and final arm impacts, and a harder skid pad to reduce sliding friction.

Abstract: A heated wiper blade assembly for windshields is provided, in which a plastic blade holder has an upper longitudinal groove for receiving a flat electric heating element enclosed in a ribbon of dielectric. The plastic blade holder also has at its lower portion, a longitudinal slot for receiving a wiper blade therein. A metal cap is positioned over the heating element and crimped around the plastic holder to form a wiper blade subassembly. Such subassembly is then mounted in an enclosing wiper housing such that the upper portion of the blade holder with heating element and metal cap or radiator, are positioned within the housing cavity and the lower portion of the blade holder and the wiper blade, face away from the housing, so that upon application of electricity to the heating element, heat is directed into the housing and also applied to the holder and indirectly to the wiper blade.