Abstract: An implantable textile prosthesis which is anatomically curved to substantially match the natural curvature of the aortic arch in a human being or patient is provided. The first woven section is arched define an apical region and to conform generally to an aortic arch of a human patient. A plurality of elongate woven tubular extents extend vertically from a top wall portion at the apical region of the tubular main wall. These tubular extents are sutured to the first woven section to provide fluid communication between the tubular main wall and the tubular extents.

Abstract: An implantable textile prosthesis which is anatomically curved to substantially match the natural curvature of the aortic arch in a human being or patient is provided. The first woven section is arched define an apical region and to conform generally to an aortic arch of a human patient. A plurality of elongate woven tubular extents extend vertically from a top wall portion at the apical region of the tubular main wall. These tubular extents are sutured to the first woven section to provide fluid communication between the tubular main wall and the tubular extents.

Abstract: A medical lubricant suitable for injection into the blood stream of a patient. The lubricant is suitable for use with rotating equipment such as atherectomy drive shafts moving within sheaths and over guide wires and other minimally invasive medical devices introduced into a patient through a catheter like instrument. The lubricant is an oil-in-water emulsion including a surfactant, a co-surfactant, and a pH buffer. The lubricant can further include a cryogenic agent and a pH adjusting agent. One lubricant includes olive oil as an emulsified oil, egg yolk phospholipid as a surfactant, sodium deoxycholate as a co-surfactant, glycerin as a cryogenic agent, L-histidine as a pH buffer, and is pH adjusted using sodium hydroxide. The lubricant also includes a therapeutic agent. The lubricant can withstand freeze/thaw cycles as well as saline dilution, heating, and shear stress without significant creaming, separation, or unacceptable increases in oil droplet size.

Abstract: A medical lubricant suitable for injection into the blood stream of a patient. The lubricant is suitable for use with rotating equipment such as atherectomy drive shafts moving within sheaths and over guide wires and other minimally invasive medical devices introduced into a patient through a catheter like instrument. The lubricant is an oil-in-water emulsion including a surfactant, a co-surfactant, and a pH buffer. The lubricant can further include a cryogenic agent and a pH adjusting agent. One lubricant includes olive oil as an emulsified oil, egg yolk phospholipid as a surfactant, sodium deoxycholate as a co-surfactant, glycerin as a cryogenic agent, L-histidine as a pH buffer, and is pH adjusted using sodium hydroxide. The lubricant can also include a therapeutic agent. The lubricant can withstand freeze/thaw cycles as well as saline dilution, heating, and shear stress without significant creaming, separation, or unacceptable increases in oil droplet size.

Abstract: A medical lubricant suitable for injection into the blood stream of a patient. The lubricant is suitable for use with rotating equipment such as atherectomy drive shafts moving within sheaths and over guide wires and other minimally invasive medical devices introduced into a patient through a catheter like instrument. The lubricant is an oil-in-water emulsion including a surfactant, a co-surfactant, and a pH buffer. The lubricant can further include a cryogenic agent and a pH adjusting agent. One lubricant includes olive oil as an emulsified oil, egg yolk phospholipid as a surfactant, sodium deoxycholate as a co-surfactant, glycerin as a cryogenic agent, L-histidine as a pH buffer, and is pH adjusted using sodium hydroxide. The lubricant can also include a therapeutic agent. The lubricant can withstand freeze/thaw cycles as well as saline dilution, heating, and shear stress without significant creaming, separation, or unacceptable increases in oil droplet size.

Abstract: A medical lubricant suitable for injection into the blood stream of a patient. The lubricant is suitable for use with rotating equipment such as atherectomy drive shafts moving within sheaths and over guide wires. The lubricant is an oil-in-water emulsion including a surfactant and a co-surfactant. The lubricant can include a cryogenic agent and a pH buffer and be pH adjusted. One lubricant includes olive oil as an emulsified oil, egg yolk phospholipid as a surfactant, sodium deoxycholate as a co-surfactant, glycerin as a cryogenic agent, L-histidine as a pH buffer, and is pH adjusted using sodium hydroxide. The lubricant can withstand freeze/thaw cycles as well as saline dilution, heating, and shear stress without significant creaming, separation, or unacceptable increases in oil droplet size. Compared to saline, the lubricant provides significantly increased lubrication efficiency for rapidly moving parts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and compensating for a kink in an optical fiber. A distal sensor (11) monitors a level of a parameter in an environment in which the distal sensor is immersed. The distal sensor is disposed at a tip of the optical fiber (17) and the optical fiber conveys green light signals and near infrared (NIR) light signals to and from the distal sensor. A photodetector (59') records the signal and reference values for the green light signals and the NIR light signals conveyed by the optical fiber at consecutive data points. A microcontroller (42) is electronically coupled to the photodetector and receives the signal and reference values for the green light signals and the NIR light signals. A kink in the optical fiber is detected when a change between NIR signal values recorded at a pair of consecutive data points recorded by the photodetector is greater than a predetermined threshold.