Abstract: A novel thin planar latching switch device, generally based on a layer of polymeric switching materials sandwiched between two electrical planar conductors operative as electrodes. The device behaves as a bi-stable switch. Furthermore, the switch device generally shows a memory effect. In the open state, when no voltage is applied to the electrodes, the switching material is effectively an insulator. When an electric field greater than a certain threshold level is applied to the switching material, the material becomes more conductive, and the device thus essentially becomes a closed switch. Applications of such switching devices are described for use in flat panel displays, generally based on liquid crystals, in high efficiency color displays, and in touch screens.

Abstract: Described here is a balloon catheter system, a very low profile medical device system having one or more adjustable length and/or adjustable diameter components, (e.g., balloons), system accessories, and system components. Also described are methods for using the variations of the system and its parts, such as by performing procedures, such as dilatation and other methods clear from the description, and for placing implants such as stents or occlusive members into tubular organs, open regions of the body, and other body sites. The diameter and effective length of the implanted stents may, in some variations, be chosen during the procedure without removing the device, or any of its constituent parts, from the patient typically by expanding or inflating a member perhaps in combination with restraint of at least some portion of an expandable member. The system generally includes either or both of: a.) a balloon catheter having at least one balloon, generally distally located, and b.

Abstract: Described here is a very low profile medical device system having one or more adjustable length (and, optionally, adjustable diameter) balloons, system accessories, and system components. Also described are methods for using the system and its parts, such as by performing procedures, such as dilatation and other methods clear from the description, and for placing implants such as stents or occlusive members into tubular organs, open regions of the body, and other body sites. The system includes at least one balloon integral with a guide member, which balloons are adjustable in length and optionally in diameter. The system may be used to introduce and to deploy implants of types such as those that maintain the patency of an open anatomical structure, install a graft, occlude a selected volume, isolate a region, treat a region in a lumen with a surgical procedure or medicinal materials, or collect other (desirable or undesirable) occlusive members at a site.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for temporal comparison of skin surface images which is fully automatic and based on robust parameters, using a CCD camera provided with telecentric optics to enabling the capture of images with constant magnification independent of the camera-object distance. The camera is linked to a PC with a frame grabber for storing the image and processing means for calibrating light and for calculating statistics of the image. The illumination source provides a homogeneous illumination of the skin, and the light is calibrated by transforming an acquired image into the model image which would have resulted if illumination of the object were solely by the reference (white) light. Three monochromatic images are produced, one for each of three color channels. The three images are grabbed and processed, and a combination of these three images gives the true color (red, green and blue or RGB) image.