Abstract: An instrument that includes an outer member, an inner member, and a jaw assembly. The inner member includes a first arm and a second arm. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw is connected to the first arm at a first pivot joint and to the outer member at a second pivot joint. The second jaw is connected to the second arm at a third pivot joint and to the outer member at a fourth pivot joint. The inner member is adapted to be moved distally relative to the outer member so that the first jaw pivots about the second pivot joint towards the second jaw and the second jaw pivots about the fourth pivot joint towards the first jaw thus moving the jaw assembly from the open position towards the closed position.

Abstract: An instrument that includes an outer member, an inner member, and a jaw assembly. The inner member includes a first arm and a second arm. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw is connected to the first arm at a first pivot joint and to the outer member at a second pivot joint. The second jaw is connected to the second arm at a third pivot joint and to the outer member at a fourth pivot joint. The inner member is adapted to be moved distally relative to the outer member so that the first jaw pivots about the second pivot joint towards the second jaw and the second jaw pivots about the fourth pivot joint towards the first jaw thus moving the jaw assembly from the open position towards the closed position.

Abstract: A device for managing cables for an information handling system may include a rigid but flexible body defining multiple cable retaining regions. Each of the multiple cable retaining regions may include a first portion shaped and sized to receive and retain a first type of cable having a first cross-sectional geometry, and a second portion shaped and sized to receive and retain a second type of cable having a second cross-sectional geometry different than the first cross-sectional geometry.

Abstract: A device for managing cables for an information handling system may include a rigid but flexible body defining multiple cable retaining regions. Each of the multiple cable retaining regions may include a first portion shaped and sized to receive and retain a first type of cable having a first cross-sectional geometry, and a second portion shaped and sized to receive and retain a second type of cable having a second cross-sectional geometry different than the first cross-sectional geometry.

Abstract: A tri-leaflet prosthetic cardiac valve with leaflets having an analytic shape in a selected position. The leaflets are connected to a valve body at attachment curves. The shape of the leaflet is selected from a set of geometries that can be represented mathematically. The attachment curve is selected to improve the durability of the tri-leaflet valve by moving the point of maximum loaded stress along the attachment curve away from the commissures. An inner wall of the valve body is given a non-circular shape near the attachment curve, the shape of the inner wall corresponding to the attachment curve. Also, a method of making a valve by selecting an analytic leaflet shape, selecting an attachment curve to improve durability of the valve by moving the point of maximum loaded stress along the attachment curve away from the commissures, and forming a valve body to support one or more leaflets, the valve body having a non-circular inner wall conforming to the attachment curve.

Abstract: A stent includes an elongated stent member having a plurality of post members. Each post member includes a pair of opposite sides. A first end of each post member includes an arcuate apex interconnecting the opposite sides. A second end of each post member has an open end. The opposite sides are angled to converge toward each other at the second end. The second end of each post member is connected to an adjacent post member by a stent portion. Each opposite side and each stent portion converge at an angle of less than 90°. The opposite sides are angled to converge toward each other at the second end.

Abstract: A flexible leaflet heart valve includes an annular body and an annular base portion connected to an end of the body. A fabric member is molded into the base portion to form an uninterrupted annular fabric band around the periphery of the base portion. The fabric band may include a first portion molded into the base and a second portion extending from the base. Alternatively, the fabric band may be entirely encapsulated in the base. The valve fabric can be sutured directly to patient tissue, or the valve fabric can be sutured to an adjacent sewing cuff which is sutured to patient tissue.

Abstract: A stent includes an elongated stent member having a plurality of post members. Each post member includes a pair of opposite sides. A first end of each post member includes an arcuate apex interconnecting the opposite sides. A second end of each post member has an open end. The opposite sides are angled to converge toward each other at the second end. The second end of each post member is connected to an adjacent post member by a stent portion. Each opposite side and each stent portion converge at an angle of less than 90°. The opposite sides are angled to converge toward each other at the second end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pre-stressing devices incorporating materials subject to stress softening is disclosed, as well as the resulting device. The method includes fabricating a heart valve with an inflow side and an outflow side. At least a portion of the heart valve includes a material subject to stress softening. The material experiences stress when a pressure differential occurs between the inflow side and the outflow side of the valve. The method includes creating a stress in the material prior to implantation in order to stabilize the stress/strain response of the material prior to implantation.

Abstract: A heart valve is disclosed which includes a valve body and a plurality of flexible leaflets coupled to the valve body. The plurality of leaflets has an open position and a closed position. Each of the plurality of leaflets comprises a belly when the plurality of leaflets are in their respective closed positions. The belly of one or more of the plurality of leaflets has a continuous curvature except for a non-continuous portion.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis includes a molded body and a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet includes a free margin having opposite ends and a mid-point. The opposite ends are attached to a peripheral portion of the valve. Each free margin is adjacent each other free margin to form a natural-state non-uniform gap therebetween. The gap has a maximized width adjacent the mid-point of each leaflet. Each free margin is scalloped to form a peak at the opposite ends and a mid-point peak between the opposite ends. Each peak is substantially the same height above the base.

Abstract: A flexible leaflet heart valve includes a base, a peripheral portion and a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet includes a scalloped free margin having opposite ends and a mid-portion between the opposite ends. The opposite ends are attached to the peripheral portion of the valve at a first height above the base. The mid-portion of each free margin is positioned at a second height above the base, less than the first height. Each free margin is adjacent each other free margin to form a gap therebetween. Each leaflet is of a first thickness and at least a portion of each free margin is of a second thickness, greater than the first thickness. This may include extending the second thickness along the entire free margin between the opposite ends or extending the second thickness only along the mid-portion of the free margin.

Abstract: A mechanism for steering a photoconductor belt in an electrophotographic imaging system is disclosed. The photoconductor belt is moved about a support roller system of the imaging system to form a continuous transport path. The photoconductor belt tends to deviate from this continuous transport path in a direction substantially perpendicular to the path. The belt steering mechanism includes a support carriage, a steering carriage, a support roller and a belt steering drive assembly. The steering roller is mounted to the steering carriage, and the steering carriage is connected to the support carriage so as to be pivotable about a steering axis. The belt steering drive assembly is operably coupled to the steering carriage to pivotally move the steering carriage about the steering axis.

Abstract: A valve including a living hinge coupling a leaflet to a valve body. The leaflet can be coupled through the living hinge to the valve body's inner diameter, its outer diameter, or somewhere between the two diameters. Because the living hinge design of the valve is an integrated part, it can be manufactured in a single step.

Abstract: A system for registration of color separation images on a photoconductor belt in an imaging system operates to detect a position of the photoconductor belt using an opening which may be scribed through the belt opaque layer. The registration system detects the position with the same laser scanner used for forming latent images on the photoconductor belt. The registration system includes a belt steering control system that steers the photoconductor belt based on the detected position to reduce deviation of the belt from a continuous transport path. The registration system also may include a scan control system that, based on the detected position, controls the modulation of laser beams scanned to form latent images on the photoconductor belt. By controlling belt steering and laser beam scanning, the registration system maintains the image quality of a final multi-color image upon transfer of registered color separation images to an output substrate.