Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that include a housing; a catheter shaft and an actuator coupled to the catheter shaft and configured to move longitudinally relative to the housing and longitudinally move the catheter shaft in response to force imparted by a user. The apparatuses, systems, and methods may also include a piston assembly arranged within the housing and configured to receive the actuator and allow longitudinal movement of the actuator relative to the housing.

Abstract: A vessel cleaning device and method includes an armored chassis with track members operable independently by first and second pneumatic drive systems, and a remotely controllable arm. A plurality of nozzles disposed on the arm are configured to rotate while spraying high pressure liquid in mutually opposed directions when the arm is extended. The device is sized and shaped to pass through a 24-inch opening in the vessel when the arm is collapsed, and the track members and the arm are controllable remotely by an operator external to the vessel. Once the device has passed through the 24-inch opening into the vessel, the arm is movable into the extended position, and the device is movable within the vessel while the nozzles spray liquid along a notional circumference to remove waste materials from an interior surface of the vessel.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for enhancing the working end of a hydrovac boom hose having a longitudinal axis and a perimeter disposed transversely to the axis, the working end configured to vacuum earthy material from a digsite along the axis. A plurality of high pressure nozzles are disposable in spaced relation along the perimeter of the working end, and configured to emit high pressure fluid towards the digsite to dislodge the earthy material. The nozzles are angularly actuatable to selectively emit the high pressure fluid along a range of angles relative to the longitudinal axis, and are rotationally actuatable to selectively emit the high pressure fluid from a range of locations along the perimeter of the working end. The angular and rotatable actuation is independent of movement of the working end and/or of movement of the hydrovac boom hose.

Abstract: A vessel cleaning device and method includes an armored chassis with track members operable independently by first and second pneumatic drive systems, and a remotely controllable arm. A plurality of nozzles disposed on the arm are configured to rotate while spraying high pressure liquid in mutually opposed directions when the arm is extended. The device is sized and shaped to pass through a 24-inch opening in the vessel when the arm is collapsed, and the track members and the arm are controllable remotely by an operator external to the vessel. Once the device has passed through the 24-inch opening into the vessel, the arm is movable into the extended position, and the device is movable within the vessel while the nozzles spray liquid along a notional circumference to remove waste materials from an interior surface of the vessel.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that include a housing; a catheter shaft and an actuator coupled to the catheter shaft and configured to move longitudinally relative to the housing and longitudinally move the catheter shaft in response to force imparted by a user. The apparatuses, systems, and methods may also include a piston assembly arranged within the housing and configured to receive the actuator and allow longitudinal movement of the actuator relative to the housing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to electrophysiology catheters and methods of using the same. According to one embodiment, the catheter includes a braided conductive member at its distal end that can be radially expanded, for example using a mandrel slidably disposed within a shaft of the catheter. According to another embodiment, the catheter comprises a tip portion constructed of an elastomeric material. According to a further embodiment, the catheter includes a braided conductive member wherein a thermocouple is formed using one filament of the braided conductive member and one thermocouple wire. Other embodiments of the invention relate to a handle for use with a catheter and methods of using the same. According to one embodiment, the handle comprises a thumbwheel coupled to a housing, a spring disposed within the housing in contact with the thumbwheel, and means for increasing compression of the spring to increase rotational friction on the thumbwheel.

Abstract: Catheter for mapping and/or ablation, and methods of using the same. According to one embodiment, catheter includes a metallic cap having a plurality of apertures and at least one electrode disposed in each aperture of the plurality of apertures. According to another embodiment, the catheter includes a non-conductive cap having a plurality of apertures and at least one electrode disposed in each aperture of the plurality of apertures. Electrodes may be paired, arranged along the length of the cap, or circumferentially arranged on the cap, according to various embodiments. According to a further embodiment, a method for treating a condition of a heart includes placing a catheter inside the heart, mapping a region of the heart using mapping electrodes on the catheter, and ablating using an ablation electrode disposed about the mapping electrodes of the catheter.

Abstract: A game system providing multiple levels of integrated play featuring instant progressive awards and variably compounding award amounts. The game system may be one of many types, including seal cards, jar tickets, instant games and lottery tickets. The game system offers the opportunity for awards at an initial level, and a chance for an instant progressive award offered to players qualifying for an upper level. Players eligible for an instant progressive award do not wait until the end of play at the initial level before participating at the upper level. Any upper level progressive award amounts not awarded may be compounded with an award amount associated with the next round of play to create an increased award amount in the next round. Any compounded award amount is variable and not predetermined. The instant progression scheme and variably compounding award amounts increase player interest over multiple rounds of play.

Abstract: A seal card game system providing multiple levels of non-progressive play. The game system awards a master case award to a winning ticket not among the population of individual deal winning tickets. A winning ticket of each deal set does not qualify for the master case award level. The game features segregated deal sets, each set containing break-open tickets. Each deal set is segregated by deal identifier indicia. In one exemplary embodiment, the deal identifier indicia is a selected color which is imprinted on each of the playing tickets comprising a deal set. The play tickets may be serialized by deal or by case for security. A seal card may includes the serialization of each ticket associated with the case. The non-progression scheme benefits the game operator in retaining the interest and participation of a higher population of players throughout the multiple deal play.

Abstract: A flexible, lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to attach sensor mask (10) for placement on a patient (11) for monitoring physiological signals of the patient is disclosed. The sensor mask includes an elongated flexible substrate (12); a plurality of electrodes (14) spaced along the length of the substrate and configured for placement against the patient for sensing the physiological signals; and at least one electrical connector (16) electrically coupled with the electrodes for delivering the physiological signals sensed by the electrodes to a recording/analyzing device. The electrodes are formed of patches of conductive ink that are deposited on the substrate at spaced locations along the length thereof. The electrical connector includes terminals formed of conductive ink deposited on the substrate and is electrically coupled with the electrodes by a plurality of lines of conductive ink deposited on the substrate.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes an evaporator coil with a drain pan having alternative drain openings which receive movable primary and secondary drain plugs. A drain pan for use with horizontal A-coils is provided with alternative drain pan openings permitting a variety of configurations whereby the evaporator coil may be oriented in the space conditioning system in the most effective manner depending upon on-site conditions. A combination horizontal coil support and drainage duct with coil baffle provides a channel for effective communication of drainage fluid from the coil to the drain pan.

Abstract: A digital wipe device is provided for lenses and similar articles which consists of a pair of sheaths in which the first sheath fits on a thumb of a hand and the second sheath fits on a finger of the hand. An interconnecting flexible member is connected to and extends between one side of each of the sheaths. A plurality of wiping sheets are connected in a stacked manner to an underside of the interconnecting flexible member and the sheaths, so that the outermost wiping sheet can be used to clean the lenses and similar articles between the thumb and finger and than torn away when soiled to expose a fresh clean wiping sheet for further use.

Abstract: An insulating bolt is disclosed herein for use in supporting signs on walls comprising a hollow threaded shaft having a channel disposed on the shaft to receive a grounding strap which is laid in the channel. The end of the grounding strap conforms to the end of the shaft of the bolt for engaging into the end of an armored cable thus providing grounding means from the sign back to the power source. A slide locking nut having a raised shoulder for sliding in the channel is provided for positioning and holding the bolt in place.

Abstract: A method for the ionization of polymers which comprises forming a thick layer of the polymer on a probe tip and then ionizing the polymer in a vacuum with laser irradiation. In a preferred embodiment, a moiety that readily photoionizes in an IR field is incorporated into the thick layer of polymer and the irradiation of the thus modified polymer is done with a CO.sub.2 IR laser. A method is also disclosed for the fabrication of polymer coatings which comprises accelerating the charged polymer ions generated by the ionization of a thick layer of polymer in a vacuum toward the substrate which has an appropriate charge gradient.

Abstract: An in vivo assay for quantifying the mineral content of bone comprises placing living bone into or adjacent to the coil of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer, recording a .sup.31 P NMR spectrum while the bone is stationary, and comparing the spectrum obtained with the NMR spectrum of a reference standard containing a known concentration of a reference compound. The assay can be used to diagnose and determine the efficacy of treatment of osteodystrophy if used in conjunction with radiographic densitometry to estimate the calcium content of the bone.

Abstract: An assay method for the quantitative determination of the mineral content of bone comprises using proton decoupling and magic angle sample spinning techniques to record well resolved .sup.31 P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of unfractionated bone biopsy samples and characterizing the differences in mineral identity and content from those of normal bone. A rotor for performing the assay includes a compartment for the sample to be assayed, and a separate compartment for a reference material.

Abstract: A method for selecting a flame retardant for a polymer comprises using cross polarization and magic-angle sample spinning techniques to record well resolved .sup.31 P and .sup.13 C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the polymer before and after ignition; recording .sup.31 P and .sup.13 C NMR spectra of the combination of polymer and a known flame retardant before and after ignition; characterizing the chemical and physical changes that occur in the flame retardant and the polymer upon ignition and thereby determining the chemical basis by which the known flame retardant is operating and using that knowledge to select another flame retardant that will be effective for use with the polymer.

Abstract: A mail box is shaped like a post which is to say it has a housing in the shape of a rectangular prism. The letter box pivots at its bottom front from the top of the housing. The amount the letter box pivots outward is adjustable and a weight on the rear of the letter box tends to pull it closed. The letter box is particularly adapted for urban and suburban placement where the mailman delivers the mail from a vehicle or where the mailman does not deliver the mail to a door side box.