Abstract: A composite velour fabric garment includes a laminate consisting of an outer woven shell layer, an inner thermal layer of knit construction, and an intermediate layer disposed between and laminated to each of the shell layer and the thermal layer. The outer woven shell layer contains spandex in at least a weft direction for stretch and recovery in a width direction. The knit construction of the inner thermal layer provides stretch in at least a width direction, in harmony with the shell layer, and the inner thermal layer has a raised surface facing inwardly, away from the shell layer. The intermediate layer has controlled air permeability, including zero air permeability.

Abstract: An under body armor hybrid fabric garment has first and second fabric portions. The first fabric portion, configured to cover an upper torso region of a user's body left exposed by the body armor and extending into a second body transition region covered by the body armor, is formed of low or no stretch fabric. The second fabric element, configured to cover a lower torso region of the user's body underneath the body armor, is formed of stretchable fabric.

Abstract: A chemical protective fabric garment includes a first fabric layer, and a barrier layer bonded to the first fabric layer. The barrier layer includes a nonwoven membrane that is formed of fibers with embedded particles having one or more detoxifying properties, such as being absorptive of hazardous gases and/or being catalytically destructive of hazardous gases.

Abstract: Computerized methods and systems for generating procedures to be executed in mainframe computing environments, such procedures capable of being used with multiple databases are provided. The procedures are “generic” in that they contain an include member therein which, upon execution of the procedure, may be used to generate a database definition statement identifying the database on which the procedure is to be run. As such, generation and maintenance of only a single generic procedure is required when such procedure is to be run on multiple databases, significantly reducing the opportunity for human error that is associated with the generation and maintenance of the documentation necessary for jobs to be run in mainframe computing environments.

Abstract: Methods are described for forming unitary fabric elements for use in engineered thermal fabric articles, including, but not limited to, thermal fabric garments, thermal fabric home textiles, and thermal fabric upholstery covers, and for forming these engineered thermal fabric articles, having predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the thermal fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body. In one implementation, loop yarn in first regions is formed to a first pile height, and loop yarn in other regions is formed to another, different, relatively greater pile height.

Abstract: A composite velour fabric garment includes a laminate consisting of an outer woven shell layer, an inner thermal layer of knit construction, and an intermediate layer disposed between and laminated to each of the shell layer and the thermal layer. The outer woven shell layer contains spandex in at least a weft direction for stretch and recovery in a width direction. The knit construction of the inner thermal layer provides stretch in at least a width direction, in harmony with the shell layer, and the inner thermal layer has a raised surface facing inwardly, away from the shell layer. The intermediate layer has controlled air permeability, including zero air permeability.

Abstract: Methods are described for forming unitary fabric elements for use in engineered thermal fabric articles, including thermal fabric garments, thermal fabric home textiles, and thermal fabric upholstery covers, and for forming these articles, having predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the thermal fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body. In one implementation, loop yarn in first regions is formed to a first pile height, and loop yarn in other regions is formed to another, different, relatively greater pile height. In another implementation, loop yarn having a first shrinkage performance is formed in first regions to a predetermined loop height, and loop yarn having another, different shrinkage performance is formed in other regions; the loops are cut and finished to a common pile height and the web is exposed to heat to cause loop yarn to shrink to one or more different pile heights.

Abstract: An under body armor hybrid fabric garment has first and second fabric portions. The first fabric portion, configured to cover an upper torso region of a user's body left exposed by the body armor and extending into a second body transition region covered by the body armor, is formed of low or no stretch fabric. The second fabric element, configured to cover a lower torso region of the user's body underneath the body armor, is formed of stretchable fabric.

Abstract: An under body armor hybrid fabric garment has first and second fabric portions. The first fabric portion, configured to cover an upper torso region of a user's body left exposed by the body armor and extending into a second body transition region covered by the body armor, is formed of low or no stretch fabric. The second fabric element, configured to cover a lower torso region of the user's body underneath the body armor, is formed of stretchable fabric.

Abstract: A composite velour fabric garment includes a laminate consisting of an outer woven shell layer, an inner thermal layer of knit construction, and an intermediate layer disposed between and laminated to each of the shell layer and the thermal layer. The outer woven shell layer contains spandex in at least a weft direction for stretch and recovery in a width direction. The knit construction of the inner thermal layer provides stretch in at least a width direction, in harmony with the shell layer, and the inner thermal layer has a raised surface facing inwardly, away from the shell layer. The raised surface includes a plurality of discrete pillar regions of sinker loop yarn arranged in a grid or box pattern and configured to form a plurality of intersecting channels between a wearer's body and the inner thermal layer. The intermediate layer has controlled air permeability, including zero air permeability. One or more of the outer, inner, and intermediate layers include flame retardant material.

Abstract: Methods are described for forming unitary fabric elements for use in engineered thermal fabric articles, including, but not limited to, thermal fabric garments, thermal fabric home textiles, and thermal fabric upholstery covers, and for forming these engineered thermal fabric articles, having predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the thermal fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body. The fabric element has at least two regions of contrasting insulative capacity. The method includes designing a pattern and combining yarns in a continuous web according to the pattern. In one implementation, loop yarn in first regions is formed to a first pile height, and loop yarn in other regions is formed to another, different, relatively greater pile height.

Abstract: An implant structure for use in pulling two soft body tissue areas closer together in a patient (e.g., two points along or adjacent to the patient's mitral valve annulus) includes at least two tissue anchor structures that are respectively implantable into the two tissue areas. A tether structure links the two tissue anchors and can be shortened and held in that condition by a cinch structure. Bracing structures are used between the anchors and the tether to help keep the longitudinal axes of the anchors transverse to the tether axis even when the tether is under tension. The tether may be sheathed in a cushioning sleeve to help protect adjacent tissue from erosion by the tether.

Abstract: A composite velour fabric garment includes a laminate consisting of an outer woven shell layer, an inner thermal layer of knit construction, and an intermediate layer disposed between and laminated to each of the shell layer and the thermal layer. The outer woven shell layer contains spandex in at least a weft direction for stretch and recovery in a width direction. The knit construction of the inner thermal layer provides stretch in at least a width direction, in harmony with the shell layer, and the inner thermal layer has a raised surface facing inwardly, away from the shell layer. The raised surface includes a plurality of discrete pillar regions of sinker loop yarn arranged in a grid or box pattern and configured to form a plurality of intersecting channels between a wearer's body and the inner thermal layer. The intermediate layer has controlled air permeability, including zero air permeability. One or more of the outer, inner, and intermediate layers include flame retardant material.

Abstract: A chassis for an electronic device, such as a computer, includes a plurality of fans attached to a single face of the chassis with each of the fans directing a fluid into an interior of the chassis and towards a second face of the chassis. The second face of the chassis has a greatest total area of output of openings within the chassis, and a positive pressure exists between the interior of the chassis and an exterior of the chassis at all the output openings within the chassis. At least one detachable filter is disposed over the plurality of fans, and at least one hexagon-shaped bezel is disposed between the plurality of fans and the at least one filter.

Abstract: Soft body tissue structure can be remodeled by shortening the distance between first and second portions of that tissue structure. First and second anchor structures are respectively implanted in the first and second portions of the tissue structure. These anchor structures are linked by a linking structure, the length of which between the anchor structures can be shortened to pull the tissue structure portions toward one another. Each of the anchor structures may include two screw structures that are driven into the associated tissue structure portion transverse to the linking structure and with a spacer between the two screws. The entire prosthesis can be implanted percutaneously if desired. An illustrative use of the prosthesis is to shorten the annulus of a patient's mitral valve, with at least a portion of the prosthesis implanted in the patient's coronary sinus.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that can be delivered through a catheter to a remote location in a patient's body. The apparatus may include a first structure that can be positioned in all dimensions in a controlled manner and stabilized in that desired position, a second structure that can then position a lumen axis at a desired angle relative to the first structure, and a third member that can pass through the lumen and approach and engage with force (e.g., penetrate) a desired location on the anatomy without compromising maintaining the desired position. The apparatus effectively separates the forces needed for positioning and the forces needed for tissue engagement (e.g., penetration).

Abstract: A structure that can be used to provide an anchor in or adjacent to a patient's soft body tissue (rather than bone) includes an annular array of flexible members that extend between two axially spaced but aligned tubular members. The space between the tubular members can be selectively changed to affect the amount by which portions of the flexible members between the tubular member project radially outward relative to the tubular members. When the flexible members project radially out, the structure resists axial movement relative to adjacent tissue and therefore acts as an anchor. When the flexible members do not project radially out, they permit axial movement of the structure through adjacent tissue.

Abstract: A composite velour fabric garment includes a laminate consisting of an outer woven shell layer, an inner thermal layer of knit construction, and an intermediate layer disposed between and laminated to each of the shell layer and the thermal layer. The outer woven shell layer contains spandex in at least a weft direction for stretch and recovery in a width direction. The knit construction of the inner thermal layer provides stretch in at least a width direction, in harmony with the shell layer, and the inner thermal layer has a raised surface facing inwardly, away from the shell layer. The intermediate layer has controlled air permeability, including zero air permeability.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided that gather a patient's body tissue and then secure the gathered tissue in a reduced area utilizing a securing structure. The securing structure mainly resides on one side of the tissue to minimize or eliminate both foreign material and the amount of manipulation or activity on the other side of the tissue. The securing device is matched to the desired amount of tissue manipulation to minimize the structure. The gathered and secured tissue can surround a septal defect to obstruct or close the defect itself.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a remote 3-D imaging system which uses a novel illumination source to establish the relationship of the image features to the system, which is displayed by virtue of calculations. In addition to static surfaces, moving surfaces may be studied and corrections due to turbidity and platform position are also easily compensated for. The instant system may also contain a plurality of sensing systems based on light, including traditional reflective or elastic scattering and novel fluorescent or non-elastic scattering still and video imaging systems, including time-gated systems.