Abstract: The present invention relates to shaped, bone fiber-based products and methods to make the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting assembly for preparing fibers and methods for using the same. The invention may produce a plurality of fibers of different shapes and lengths, which may depend upon the operating parameters.

Abstract: A shingle removing tool includes, among other possible things, a handle, a shaft connected to the handle, and a base connected to the shaft. A length of the shaft is adjustable. The base includes a blade portion that is configured to separate one or more shingles from a support structure to which the shingles are affixed.

Abstract: Time release repellent formulations and methods of making formulations, comprising a natural repellent, alum in an amount effective to keep microbial count below a pre-determined level and a natural binder. The natural repellent may be animal urine or a natural oil. The natural binder is selected from the group consisting of: rice, pearlite, polymer, peat moss, clay and foam. The pH level of the formulation is maintained within a pre-determined range by adding a natural acid to lower the pH level or adding a natural base to raise the pH level.

Abstract: A shingle removing tool includes, among other possible things, a handle, a shaft connected to the handle, and a base connected to the shaft. A length of the shaft is adjustable. The base includes a blade portion that is configured to separate one or more shingles from a support structure to which the shingles are affixed.

Abstract: A shingle removing tool includes, among other possible things, a handle, a shaft connected to the handle, and a base connected to the shaft. A length of the shaft is adjustable. The base includes a blade portion that is configured to separate one or more shingles from a support structure to which the shingles are affixed.

Abstract: A method for providing fuel for vehicle or power plant engines, including disassociating water into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis and catalysing the reformation of water vapor by spark catalysis is disclosed. The apparatus according to the invention incorporates utilization of a steam turbine and solar panels to provide additional electrical energy for electrolysis of the water fuel.

Abstract: A medical device and method for percutaneously treating a heart valve. In one embodiment, the medical device includes a catheter having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a notch formed near the distal portion. A cutting element may be disposed within the distal portion and is moveable across the notch to slice through a heart chord.

Abstract: An intravascular stent assembly for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, is designed to treat a lesion with vulnerable plaque by reducing the fibrous cap stresses. The stent includes distal, proximal, and center sections where the center section is configured to treat the vulnerable plaque. The stent consists of radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis and either directly connected or interconnected by one or more interconnecting links placed so that the stent is flexible in the longitudinal direction while providing high degrees of radial strength and vessel scaffolding.

Abstract: A radiopaque nitinol medical device such as a stent for use with or implantation in a body lumen is disclosed. The stent is made from a superelastic alloy such as nickel-titanium or nitinol, and includes a ternary element selected from the group of chemical elements consisting of iridium, platinum, gold, rhenium, tungsten, palladium, rhodium, tantalum, silver, ruthenium, or hafnium. The added ternary element improves the radiopacity of the nitinol stent comparable to that of a stainless steel stent of the same and strut pattern coated with a thin layer of gold. The nitinol stent has improved radioplacity yet retains its superelastic and shape memory behavior and further maintains a thin strut/wall thickness for high flexibility.

Abstract: A stent for implantation in a body lumen for protecting from rupture a fibrous cap in order to treat vulnerable plaque. One embodiment of the stent achieves staged expansion through stronger and weaker circumferential regions, and includes optional anchors positioned at the circumferential transition between the stronger and weaker regions. During the first stage expansion, the weaker region expands moving the anchors laterally apart. The anchors straddle the fibrous cap and embed into the vessel wall. The second stage expansion of the stent exerts gentler stresses by the weaker region against the fibrous cap while the stronger region exerts greater stresses on the remainder of the vessel wall to open the vessel.

Abstract: An improved stent design and stent delivery catheter assembly for repairing a main vessel and a side branch vessel forming a bifurcation. The stent includes rings aligned along a common longitudinal axis and connected by links, where the stent has one or more portals for aligning with and partially expanding into the opening to the side branch vessel. The stent is implanted at a bifurcation so that the main stent section is in the main vessel, and the portal section covers at least a portion of the opening to the side branch vessel. A second stent can be implanted in the side branch vessel and abut the expanded central section to provide full coverage of the bifurcated area in the main vessel and the side branch vessel. Radiopaque markers on the stent and on the tip of the delivery catheter assist in aligning the portal section with the opening to the side branch vessel.

Abstract: An actuator link assembly includes a sleeve member with a sleeve lug on one end. The sleeve lug is a split lug having primary and secondary lug portions. There is a coupling fixture on the sleeve member. There is a rod within the sleeve member with a rod lug between the primary and secondary sleeve lug portions. A locking member engages the rod and the sleeve member. A flight control system has a movable flight control element, a user control device and a linkage system between the control device and the flight control element. The linkage system includes an actuator that is controllable by a user. The system includes the actuator link assembly connected to the flight control element and to the actuator.

Abstract: A shingle removing tool includes, among other possible things, a handle, a shaft connected to the handle, and a base connected to the shaft. A length of the shaft is adjustable. The base includes a blade portion that is configured to separate one or more shingles from a support structure to which the shingles are affixed.

Abstract: Continuous Glucose Error-Grid Analysis (CG-EGA) method, system or computer program product designed for evaluation of continuous glucose sensors providing frequent BG readings. The CG-EGA estimates the precision of such sensors/devices in terms of both BG values and temporal characteristics of BG fluctuation. The CG-EPA may account for, among other things, specifics of process characterization (location, speed and direction), and for biological limitations of the observed processes (time lags associated with interstitial sensors).

Abstract: A bone marrow aspiration device is described. In one embodiment, the bone marrow aspiration device includes a central body portion having a proximal end and a distal end, and an outer shaft portion coupled to the distal end of the central body portion. The outer shaft portion also has a distal opening. A first lumen is formed by the central body portion and the outer shaft portion, and the first lumen extends from the proximal end to the distal opening. An aspiration needle is disposed within the first lumen. The aspiration needle has a substantially linear configuration when positioned within the first lumen, and a substantially curved configuration when extended from the distal opening. The aspiration needle is adapted to aspirate liquid bone marrow from a first region of a bone cavity.

Abstract: A medical device for treating a defective heart valve. The medical device comprises a delivery sheath and an implantable device moveably disposed within the delivery sheath. The implantable device further comprises a distal expandable basket, a proximal expandable basket, and a connecting member coupling at a first end to the distal expandable basket and at a second end to the proximal expandable basket. Each of the distal expandable basket and proximal expandable basket is in a collapsed state during delivery and an expanded state after deployment. An actuator is releasably coupled to the implantable device. When coupled to the implantable device, the actuator can move the implantable device in a way to allow for positioning of the distal and proximal expandable baskets.

Abstract: A method including introducing an expandable body into a blood vessel at a point coextensive with a vulnerable plaque lesion, and expanding the expandable body from a first diameter to a different second diameter sufficient to modify the shape of an inner diameter of the blood vessel at the point coextensive with the lesion without rupturing the lesion. An apparatus including a cannula having a dimension suitable for insertion into a blood vessel and including an expandable body coupled thereto, the expandable body including a first outer diameter suitable for insertion through the blood vessel and a second outer diameter greater than the first diameter and having a maximum dimension to modify the shape of an inner diameter of the blood vessel and retain a same perimeter. A kit including a cannula including an expandable body and a stent. An expandable framework comprising a polymer material. An apparatus including an expandable body.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product related to the diagnosis of diabetes, and is directed to predicting the long-term risk of hyperglycemia, and the long-term and short-term risks of severe hypoglycemia in diabetics, based on blood glucose readings collected by a self-monitoring blood glucose device. The method, system, and computer program product pertain directly to the enhancement of existing home blood glucose monitoring devices, by introducing an intelligent data interpretation component capable of predicting both HbA1c and periods of increased risk of hypoglycemia, and to the enhancement of emerging continuous monitoring devices by the same features. With these predictions the diabetic can take steps to prevent the adverse consequences associated with hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.

Abstract: A method in a portable electronic device (100) having a user interface illumination (110) is disclosed. The method comprises sensing (202) an ambient light level in a neighborhood of the portable electronic device with a sensor (104) of the portable electronic device. Based on the ambient light level sensed, then controlling (204) a visual characteristic of the user interface illumination, wherein the user interface illumination is operated at a brightness between a maximum brightness and a minimum brightness for at least one ambient light level detected.