Abstract: A method of modifying a surface of a medical device for implantation or disposition inside a patient is described. The medical device comprises a structure having at least one surface. The method includes the steps of: placing the medical device into a plasma chamber substantially free from contaminants and substantially sealing the plasma chamber from the atmosphere; removing at least an outermost layer of any oxide layer from the at least one surface of the structure by a plasma oxide-removal process, whilst maintaining the plasma chamber under seal from the atmosphere; and subsequently forming a new oxide layer at the least one surface of the structure by introducing at least one gas into the plasma chamber, whilst maintaining the plasma chamber under seal from the atmosphere. A medical device including a bulk material and an oxide layer disposed over at least one surface of the medical device. The oxide layer is substantially pure and free from contaminants.

Abstract: To modify the headspace in a container to remove vacuum pressure, a container has a seal or cap which may provide a temporary opening into the container which is sealable under compression to provide a controlled raising of the internal pressure as the heated contents of the container cools. A sealing chamber (84) may enable the introduction of a fluid into the headspace (23b) to force the fluid level (40) lower. Other methods and apparatus are described.

Abstract: A stump grinder has a grinding arm that durably mounts a rotatable grinding wheel by securing the drive shaft of a motor to the grinding wheel such that a pair of bearings within the motor support one side of the grinding wheel and by supporting the other side of the grinding wheel with a stub shaft received within a third bearing. The grinding arm is laterally offset on the frame of the stump grinder to have a swing angle that is not symmetrical relative to the width of the frame, but with the swing angle starting at one side of the frame and then traversing across substantially the entire width of the frame to improve the ability of the operator to see the grinding wheel. A single joystick is movable in orthogonal directions corresponding to desired up and down and side-to-side pivoting motions of the grinding arm. The joystick includes a depressible trigger for starting and stopping the operation of the grinding wheel.

Abstract: A set of hardware security modules (HSMs) in a database system may implement a key management system with a database storing encryption keys or other secrets. The set of HSMs may identify a first key encryption key (KEK) and a second KEK stored in the set of HSMs. The set of HSMs may retrieve, from the database, a set of encryption keys encrypted by the first KEK and decrypt each encryption key of the set of encryption keys using the first KEK. The set of HSMs may re-encrypt each encryption key of the set of encryption keys with the second KEK and transmit, to the database, the set of encrypted encryption keys encrypted by the second KEK for storage. Then, the set of HSMs may delete the first KEK from the set of HSMs.

Abstract: A utility loader incorporating a boom of adjustable length. The boom may include either or both of a left and right lift arm assembly, with each lift arm assembly including a rear lift arm that telescopically receives a front lift arm. Each lift arm assembly also includes an extension actuator adapted to telescopically extend and retract its front lift arm relative to its rear lift arm. A detection system may be provided and adapted to limit lift arm assembly extension based at least in part upon a load applied at a tool supported by the boom and a relative telescopic location of a front lift arm relative to its associated rear lift arm.

Abstract: There are disclosed implantable medical devices and apparatus for treating implantable medical devices during production, so as to cause the implantable medical devices to have abluminal surfaces and luminal surfaces with different functional characteristics and in particular surface energies. The luminal surfaces of the medical device are preferably coated with carbon, so as to have a low surface energy, which reduces the risk of thrombi forming when implanted into a patient's vessels. The abluminal surfaces are treated so as to have a high surface energy, such that a therapeutic, preferably bioactive, material, such as a drug, can adhere to the abluminal surfaces and preferably without any need for a containment layer such as polymer or other matrix material. Once the therapeutic material has been delivered into the tissue wall, the stent can remain within the patient's vessel without leaving any delivery artefacts, as occurs with some prior art drug eluting medical devices.

Abstract: A utility loader incorporating a boom of adjustable length. The boom may include either or both of a left and right lift arm assembly, with each lift arm assembly including a rear lift arm that telescopically receives a front lift arm. Each lift arm assembly also includes an extension actuator adapted to telescopically extend and retract its front lift arm relative to its rear lift arm. A detection system may be provided and adapted to limit lift arm assembly extension based at least in part upon a load applied at a tool supported by the boom and a relative telescopic location of a front lift arm relative to its associated rear lift arm.

Abstract: A medical device such as a stent (10) or medical balloon (40) is at least partially coated with a carboxylic acid layer in order to enhance biocompatibility, reduce thrombogenesis and increase endothelialisation. The coating is preferably of citric acid in non-crosslinked form and preferably non-porous so as to mask the underlying structure of the medical device. The acid coating forms an outer surface of at least a part of the medical device, that is has no other layer or material overlying it, save for in some embodiments a partial coating of a bioactive material.

Abstract: A utility loader incorporating a boom of adjustable length. The boom may include either or both of a left and right lift arm assembly, with each lift arm assembly including a rear lift arm that telescopically receives a front lift arm. Each lift arm assembly also includes an extension actuator adapted to telescopically extend and retract its front lift arm relative to its rear lift arm. A detection system may be provided and adapted to limit lift arm assembly extension based at least in part upon a load applied at a tool supported by the boom and a relative telescopic location of a front lift arm relative to its associated rear lift arm.

Abstract: A gantry system comprises a bearing assembly including at least two rows of ball bearings, an inner race portion including an inner race and a first outer peripheral face and an outer race portion including an outer race and a second outer peripheral face. A first mounting plate is mounted to the first outer peripheral face of the inner race portion. The first mounting plate has a substantial portion that is relatively flat where it contacts the first outer peripheral face. In addition, the first mounting plate is relatively thin in comparison to the inner race portion such that the first mounting plate conforms to the surface of the inner race portion.

Abstract: A medical device such as a stent (10) or medical balloon (40) is functionalised prior to coating with a bioactive material (54), specifically by acidification or basification of the contact surface or surfaces (50) of the medical device. Functionalisation with subsequent coating of bioactive agent directly onto the functionalised surface provides a significantly more consistent and reliable coating of bioactive agent on a medical device without requiring containment or time release devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system using either dedicated appliances or virtual hosts to perform scanning on software repositories to identify malware and security risks in the software coding design prior to production implementations. The system can be utilized to provide a preemptive measure to ensure best practices are employed. The system can also scan for common errors such as hardcoded passwords to ensure they are not introduced in the implementation of the software. The system can also be used to automatically provide a layer defense in a Software Development Lifecycle for detection during testing and quality assurance phases.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of processing a plastic container having a longitudinal axis is disclosed. The method includes: blow-molding a plastic container having an upper portion including a finish, a sidewall, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, and a substantially transversely oriented pressure panel having an inner annular wall and a central push-up portion located in the base, wherein a base mold portion is displaced longitudinally with respect to first and second side mold portions to form the pressure panel set above the standing surface; introducing heated liquid contents into the plastic container with the pressure panel located in an outwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion; capping the plastic container; and, moving the pressure panel to an inwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion.

Abstract: A utility loader incorporating a boom of adjustable length. The boom may include either or both of a left and right lift arm assembly, with each lift arm assembly including a rear lift arm that telescopically receives a front lift arm. Each lift arm assembly also includes an extension actuator adapted to telescopically extend and retract its front lift arm relative to its rear lift arm. A detection system may be provided and adapted to limit lift arm assembly extension based at least in part upon a load applied at a tool supported by the boom and a relative telescopic location of a front lift arm relative to its associated rear lift arm.

Abstract: A sealing and pressure dosing apparatus, and container filling method, including a capping machine (102) which receives containers (1). Closures (80) are applied to the containers (1) immediately following the raising of pressure within the containers (1) by a pressure dosing system in a pressure sealing chamber (84). Preferably a cooling system is integrated with the capping machine.

Abstract: A medical device such as a stent or medical balloon is functionalised prior to coating with a bioactive material, specifically by carboxylic acidification of the contact surface or surfaces of the medical device. The preferred process involves washing a stent or other medical device in a washing solution which may be sodium hydroxide, soaking in a carboxylic acid solution, rinsing in water to remove excess carboxylic acid, allowing to dry before applying a bioactive agent layer. It has been found that washing after functionalisation removes excess carboxylic acid and enhances the retention of bioactive agent on the contact surface or surfaces of the medical device leading to a more uniform and consistent layer of bioactive agent.

Abstract: Exemplary hot-fillable plastic containers are disclosed. In some embodiments, the containers may include a threaded neck portion, a body portion, and a base portion including a standing surface and a movable element. In some embodiments, the moveable element may be arranged to be recessed either substantially above, or substantially below, the standing surface in an initial pre-filling position.

Abstract: According to aspects of this disclosure there is provided a method for processing plastic containers comprising: i. Providing a container suitable for hot-filling; ii. Filling the container with heated or heatable liquid including water; iii. Sealing the container with a seal or cap to close the container; iv. Cooling the liquid in the sealed container to create a first headspace pressure within the container; v. Enclosing the cooled and sealed container within an open aseptic converter chamber, wherein the converter chamber comprises: 1. A sanitized environment; 2. Means for maintaining the sanitization of the container within the converter chamber; 3. Means for perforating or opening the cap or seal of the container within the converter chamber; 4. Means for sealing the opening or perforation within the converter chamber; and 5. Means for transporting or conveying multiple containers within the converter chamber. vi.