Abstract: Hopper cars both open and covered and discharge control systems are disclosed. Each hopper car may include at least one hopper and a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the hopper car. At least one discharge opening may be formed proximate a lower portion of each hopper. A respective door assembly may be pivotally mounted adjacent to each discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the respective discharge opening. Each discharge control system may include a common linkage and associated secondary linkages operable to move associated door assemblies between a first position and a second position. A power source including a motor, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder may be disposed on the railway car to move the common linkage. For other hopper cars a wayside drive system may be releasably engaged with a capstan operable coupled to the common linkage.

Abstract: A constriction device that constricts body tissue includes fixation structures for fixing the device on constricted body tissue. The device includes an elongated sleeve including an inner surface and opposed opened ends. The device is formed from expandable or elastic material so that when in an expanded condition, body tissue to be constricted may be received therein and thereafter, when released from the expanded condition, the body tissue is constricted by the device. The fixation structures include a plurality of fixation elements on the inner surface of the sleeve that grasp the body tissue upon release of the sleeve from the expanded condition to fix the device on the constricted tissue.

Abstract: An improved strain gage and an improved manufacturing method are disclosed. The strain gage includes a semi-rigid substrate having a thickness of 3 to 30 mils, a resistive strain sensitive foil bonded to the semi-rigid substrate for providing a resistance varying with strain associated with a surface to which the strain gage is attached, a first and a second terminal operatively connected to the resistive strain sensitive foil, and an anti-static layer. The improved strain gage allows for reduced labor content in manufacturing by allowing use of modern automated electronic component manufacturing equipment.

Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of a patient's lung, for example, a lung exhibiting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in particular to methods and devices for affecting lung volume reduction, preferably for achieving acute or immediate lung volume reduction following treatment. The lung volume reduction is effected by delivering a condensable vapor at a temperature above body temperature to the desired regions of the patient's lung to damage tissue therein. Blood flow and air flow to the damaged tissue region is essentially terminated, rendering the target region non-functional. Alternative energy sources may be used to effect the thermal damage to the lung tissue.

Abstract: An obstructive device adapted to be implanted into a patient's airway comprising: at least one tissue contacting surface adapted to delivery energy to an airway wall in order to induce a fibrotic response between the device and the patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating cardiac tissue are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is directed to treating cardiac tissue that includes a primum, a secundum adjacent to the primum, and a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The method can include shrinking the primum at a first location spaced apart from the PFO, and at least partially sealing the PFO by applying energy at a second location at least closer to the PFO than the first location. A variety of techniques, including vacuum, mechanical, chemical, RF energy and ultrasound can be used to shrink the primum. In at least some embodiments, shrinking the primum can be performed independently of whether a PFO is also sealed, for example, if the patient receiving the treatment does not have a PFO.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for the achieving lung volume reduction by non-foreign occlusion of a patient's airways and inducing neointima hyperplasia to occlude the airways.

Abstract: An intrusion detection security system (IDSS) guards a server against vandals' attacks such as denial of service, distributed denial of service, and common gateway interface attacks. An incoming source address is compared with the contents of a database of privileged addresses. If the incoming address is present in the database, the IDSS instructs protective equipment such as a firewall or router to allow the incoming message to pass to the web server despite any ongoing attack, thus allowing messages from customers or suppliers, for example, through. Otherwise, the IDSS checks a database of blocked addresses. When the incoming address is absent, the IDSS writes the address to the database of blocked addresses and instructs the protective equipment to block subsequent messages from the incoming address.

Abstract: A boxcar and load restraint system are provided with improved load carrying capabilities and performance characteristics of uninsulated boxcars and insulated boxcars. An insulated boxcar with the load restraint system may have increased load carrying capacity, increased service life, and reduced maintenance costs as compared to conventional insulated boxcars. All or portions of the load restraint system may be used in uninsulated boxcars.

Abstract: A catheter including an elongate drive shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, an ablation burr disposed at the distal end expandable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the second position has a greater transverse dimension than in the first position. The catheter of the present invention can include a mechanism for positioning the burr eccentrically within a vessel lumen. In this context, expansion means that the burr can ablate a lumen having a larger diameter than the diameter of the lumen of the guide catheter to which the device is advanced.

Abstract: A data storage device array includes a number of data storage devices. Each of the disc drives is operable to spin-up its spindle motor in response to the successful communication of predetermined out-of-band (OOB) signals. By selectively causing the communication of the predetermined OOB signals to the data storage devices, the selective spin-up of the data storage devices may be achieved.

Abstract: An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention captures a lymph nodule and resects it. The lymph node is captured with a vacuum and resected it with an electrode, which minimizes bleeding and limits the potentially malignant node from coming into contact with surround tissue as it is resected and removed. This limits the potential for inadvertent cancer spread. An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention also allows several lymph nodes to be resected in a single procedure, each lymph node being easily indexed according to its nodal station and stored in a manner that limits the potential for cross-contamination. An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention further provides a collector for individually receiving resected lymph nodes. The collector may be easily detached and sent to pathology without interrupting resection of other lymph nodes.

Abstract: A constriction device that constricts body tissue is viewable under X ray fluoroscopy. The device includes an elongated sleeve. The sleeve includes opposed opened ends and is formed from expandable or elastic material to receive therein, when in an expanded condition, body tissue to be constricted and to constrict the body tissue therein when released from the expanded condition. At least a portion of the sleeve includes X ray opaque material rendering the device visible under X ray fluoroscopy.

Abstract: A universal boxcar is provided with load carrying capabilities of a conventional uninsulated boxcar and temperature ratings of an insulated boxcar. The insulated boxcar may be formed with interior dimensions corresponding generally with interior dimensions of an uninsulated boxcar without requiring the use of high cost, high performance insulation. The insulated boxcar may be formed at a reasonable cost and selling price with increased load carrying capacity, increased service life, and reduced maintenance costs as compared to conventional insulated boxcars.

Abstract: A universal boxcar is provided with exterior metal surfaces and load carrying capabilities of a conventional uninsulated boxcar and thermal transfer ratings of an insulated boxcar. The boxcar may be formed with interior dimensions corresponding generally with interior dimensions of an uninsulated boxcar without high cost, high performance insulation. The boxcar may include a double side doors slidably mounted on the exterior of each sidewall assemble. A load restraint system may be provided with improved load carrying capabilities and performance characteristics. The load restraint system may have increased load carrying capacity, increased service life, and reduced maintenance costs. All or portions of the load restraint system may be used in uninsulated boxcars or temperature controlled railway cars.

Abstract: A boxcar and load restraint system are provided with improved load carrying capabilities and performance characteristics of uninsulated boxcars and insulated boxcars. An insulated boxcar with the load restraint system may have increased load carrying capacity, increased service life, and reduced maintenance costs as compared to conventional insulated boxcars. All or portions of the load restraint system may be used in uninsulated boxcars.

Abstract: A constriction device that constricts body tissue is viewable under X ray fluoroscopy. The device includes an elongated sleeve. The sleeve includes opposed opened ends and is formed from expandable or elastic material to receive therein, when in an expanded condition, body tissue to be constricted and to constrict the body tissue therein when released from the expanded condition. At least a portion of the sleeve includes X ray opaque material rendering the device visible under X ray fluoroscopy.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for transseptal access into the left atrium of a heart. In one embodiement an apparatus for transseptal left atrial access comprised of a catheter adapted for insertion into a vessel and one or more RF devices adapted to be extendable from the distal end of said catheter and configured for the penetration or sealing of septal tissue.

Abstract: A system that emulates a tape cartridge mounted in a tape drive, and methods of operation are disclosed. The emulated tape drive communicates with a client using an interface protocol defining an addressable range. The emulated tape cartridge has a virtual addressable range that matches or exceeds the addressable range defined in the interface protocol. One or more storage appliances provide the emulation of the tape drive and a plurality of virtual volumes. An interface manager disposed between the client and the storage appliances mounts the virtual volumes as necessary to assemble the emulated tape cartridge.

Abstract: An improved strain gage is disclosed. The strain gage includes a semi-rigid substrate having a thickness of about 1 to about 30 mils, a resistive strain sensitive foil bonded to the semi-rigid substrate for providing a resistance varying with strain associated with a surface to which the strain gage is attached, and a first and a second terminal operatively connected to the resistive strain sensitive foil.