Abstract: Transcatheter aortic valve prostheses for improving the cardiac function of a patient suffering from coronary artery disease. Transcatheter aortic valve prostheses include a valve component and a frame. The valve component includes valve leaflets and a skirt. The frame includes access cells that improve access to a patient's coronary arteries if further intervention is required and/or includes a window or conduction protection cell that is oriented to align with a portion of conduction system of the heart in situ to reduce conduction disturbances of the anatomy. Suture patterns for attaching a commissure to a commissure post of the frame, and for attaching a tissue bumper to the commissure post, are also described.

Abstract: A clothes dryer has a heat source, preferably a heat pump, a rotating drum, and means to generate flow of air from the heat source to an inlet in the drum. At least two outlets are separated from each other in the drum to enable higher air flow rates without increase in pressure drop, resulting in reduced drying time.

Abstract: Cathodoluminescence is detected either in the transmitted or emitted mode in a scanning electron microscope by means of a photodiode mounted to the specimen base in the sample stage of the system, thereby permitting a broader spectral response. Preferably, the photodiode is mounted together with its feedback amplifier resistor and capacitor in a metallic housing secured to the sample base beneath the sample (in the transmitted mode) or above and to the side of the sample (in the emitted mode). The response signal is thus coupled from the vacuum chamber in electrical, not optical form.

Abstract: The system includes a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a color kinescope (CRT). The electron beams of the SEM and the CRT are driven in a synchronized raster. A first signal representative of back-scattered electrons, for example, is fed to a color encoder section, the output of which drives each of the red, green and blue guns of the CRT to generate a uniquely encoded color representation of the information in the first signal. A second signal, which may be derived from the secondary electron image of the sample is used to modulate the brightness of the CRT in accordance with the scanning electron beam. There is thus presented on the CRT a color image of high resolution and information content, and one which is ideally suited to human perception.