Abstract: A blood pump assembly has a balloon disposed at a distal region and a driveline disposed at a proximal region and is capable of being employed to provide mechanical circulatory support (e.g., counterpulsation). A blood pump support apparatus has a support structure with a head region and a tail region that is removably disposable in the blood pump assembly. When the support structure is disposed in the blood pump assembly, the head region is disposed within the balloon. When the blood pump assembly is implanted in the descending aorta and the support structure is disposed in the blood pump assembly, forces act on the balloon that would cause the balloon to roll or fold upon itself along an angle with respect to the balloon's longitudinal axis. The head region of support structure opposes these forces.

Abstract: A blood pump assembly comprises a balloon defining an elongated inflatable chamber with an opening at the proximal end. The proximal region of the balloon is substantially cylindro-conically shaped, and tapering toward the proximal end of the balloon, the central region of the balloon is substantially cylindrically shaped with a substantially uniform exterior diameter. The distal region of the balloon is substantially cylindro-conically shaped, the distal region of the balloon tapering toward the distal end of the balloon. The length of the distal region of the balloon is greater than approximately 15% of the combined length of the proximal and central regions of the balloon. A driveline may be coupleable to the opening and have a connection element disposed at a proximal end of the driveline. A radio opaque marker may be integrated into the driveline at a distal end of the driveline.

Abstract: A fiber optic probe assembly comprises an optical engine and a fiber optic probe. A proximal end connector comprises a self-aligning connector for connecting optical fibers of the fiber optic probe to the optical engine and an integrated fiber optic-based polarizer. A disposable cover is provided for enclosing at least a portion of a fiber optic probe assembly. The disposable cover comprises an elongated tubular housing and a sheath portion adapted to receive at least a portion of the fiber optic probe between ends of the housing. A handle is disposed on a proximal end of the housing, the handle comprising a self-tensioning device. An optical window is disposed on a distal end of the housing, the optical window adapted to provide for alignment with optical elements of the fiber optic probe.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for monitoring an animal and having a controller. According to a first aspect of the apparatus and method, the controller has a sensor adapted to sense a movement rate of the animal and to establish a value of the movement rate regarding the animal. According to a second aspect of the apparatus and method, the controller includes a sensor provided to allow establishment of the existence of the breath of the animal, and a heart rate calculation device for establishing a value of the breathing rate regarding the animal.

Abstract: An arrangement for the automatic application of milking apparatus to a milk animal including a milking apparatus store, a milking apparatus handling device including a milking apparatus carrier movable on the device and a teat sensor on the handling device together with at least one animal position sensor and a control unit responsive to the animal and teat sensors to operate the handling device, the arrangement being such that when an animal is sensed to be in milking position the control unit operates the handling device to take milking apparatus for a teat of the animal from the store in the carrier to a specific teat with the carrier moved to a sideways offset at a selected angle to the device and the teat sensor in range of the teat.

Abstract: A method of guiding a milking apparatus support towards at least one teat of a milk animal, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: moving a support to a fixed start position within a stall; illuminating a region expected to contain at least one udder with a sheet of light from the support; capturing images by viewing the region with a video camera; analyzing the captured images to identify possible teat candidates and selecting one of these teat candidates as a target teat; determining the position of the target teat and homing in the support and any supported milking apparatus to the target teat.

Abstract: An arrangement for the automatic application of milking apparatus to a milk animal including a milking apparatus store, a milking apparatus handling device including a milking apparatus carrier movable on the device and a teat sensor on the handling device together with at least one animal position sensor and a control unit responsive to the animal and teat sensors to operate the handling device, the arrangement being such that when an animal is sensed to be in milking position the control unit operates the handling device to take milking apparatus for a teat of the animal from the store in the carrier to a specific teat with the carrier moved to a sideways offset at a selected angle to the device and the teat sensor in range of the teat.