Abstract: A heart valve stiffening ring of this disclosure includes a split ring that allows assembly over a channel-shaped heart-valve-orifice-forming angular heart valve body, with the split ring having an outer peripheral tapered thread, which allows adjustment of pressure between the split ring and the orifice-forming annular body. A solid ring or nut has complementary tapered threads to mate with the outer peripheral tapered thread of the split ring and is adjustable for tightening of interfit thereof to bring about correct pressure for desired tightening effect with a moment of inertia in bending of the outer channel to make the orifice stronger so that orifice outer diameter thereof can be a maximum value. The angle of taper is substantially 3 degrees with respect to the center line. This heart valve stiffening ring can be employed in place of a heart valve locking ring of U.S. Design Pat. No. 376,206-Reif issued Dec. 3, 1996.

Abstract: A heart valve stiffening ring having a clasp with first and second radial ends interengageable complementary to each other from unlocked position into interlocked position relative to annular members the heart valve and fabric tube respectively cloth wrapped around the suture heart valve stiffening ring as well as a filler ring as an outer annular ring of material are fitted concentrically around the metal stiffening ring per se and collectively are surrounded by the fabric tube of cloth wrapped around the heart valve locking ring and a filler ring surrounding the heart valve radially inwardly thereof. The locking ring serves as a stiffening ring located radially intermediate the filler ring and heart valve locking ring surrounded by the fabric tube respectively cloth wrapped around the assembly of the suture ring collectively therewith. At least two suture lines fix the fabric tube in place.

Abstract: A pivot mechanism for a mechanical heart prosthesis includes internal recesses on an inside surface of an orifice ring having portions thereof near the recesses tapered to reduce flow resistance and minimize turbulence to improve hemodynamic efficiency of the heart valve prosthesis, to reduce its hemolytic potential, and possibly reduce its thrombogenicity by having no regions of stasis within the recess. The pivot mechanism for the mechanical heart valve prosthesis enables contact between the entire length of tabs of the heart valve leaflets and the sides of the recesses when the leaflets are in both the fully open and fully closed positions. This increases the contact area between the tabs and the recesses, reducing the magnitude of the contact stresses and, therefore, improving the durability of the device.

Abstract: A universal rotator for heart valve prothesis is provided including a heart valve rotator body having a handle portion that extends in a direction remote from a polycarbonate plastic rotator. The rotator body is suitably joined to the end of the handle and includes a transverse slot with semi-circular wedge-shaped extensions adapted to engage a mitral heart valve and an aortic heart valve for rotation. The rotator is used to spin a subassembly of a heart valve within a sewing cuff and locking ring to a more favorable position. The rotator can be used with both sides of the heart valve corresponding to either the mitral or aortic positions. The universal heart valve rotator for bileaflet mechanical heart prostheses can be used to rotate both mitral and aortic valves with a single instrument.

Abstract: A tensioning device is so constructed that even thin-wall parts to be clamped can be secured and clamped reliably radially as to a driving shaft. During tensioning procedure, radial forces need not be taken up by a part to be clamped. For this purpose a force taking-up part is provided which is seated in a region of tensioning cones upon this part to be clamped or secured. For this reason very thin-wall construction can be employed and nevertheless reliable clamping radially upon the driving shaft can occur because the force taking-up part hinders and prevents that any thin-wall part is radially widened and expanded. With the tensioning device therefore it is also possible to clamp thin-wall parts, as for example thin-wall hollow shafts, with coarse-tolerance driving shafts and with driving shafts of differing basic diameter to be clamped radially in a reliable manner.

Abstract: The endotracheal tube stabilizer device consists of a head frame with three projections and a separate endotracheal tube clamping/securing device. The endotracheal tube stabilizer device is arranged structurally in a configuration such that an endotracheal tube can be securely positioned while allowing for freedom of movement of the patient and support of the ventilatory tubing. The three pronged head frame is composed of a hardened, yet flexible material which is padded, and is able to be sprung aside to allow for the insertion of the patients head, securing it in a firm, yet cradling manner. The superior-central projection of the head frame is positioned over the top medial aspect of the head.

Abstract: A valve arrangement is so constructed that a pressure limitation is attainable with minimal parts expenditure and without additional structural volume in a cost advantageous manner. On a shift piston of a pathway valve, a valve member of a pressure valve is arranged therewith. The pressure valve is installed within the structural volume of the pathway valve. Via a slight modification of the shift piston of the pathway valve and installation of the valve member as a single additional structural part there is eliminated additional pressure valve structure and system connection thereof necessary with known valve arrangement. With that the inventive valve arrangement fulfills preconditions made as to a mass product including particularly nominal structural volume, nominal number of structural parts, nominal disturbance susceptibility and extremely cost-advantageous production manufacturing.

Abstract: A laser apparatus with a laser oscillator and a subsequently connected la intensifier which has an inlet region for the laser beam to be intensified coming from the laser oscillator and an outlet for the intensified laser beam and which is provided with a folding mirror that lies opposite to the inlet region for the laser beam to be intensified. The inlet region for the laser beam to be intensified is an opening in a further folding mirror which is located opposite to the other folding mirror. The outlet for the intensified laser beam likewise is an opening in one of the two folding mirrors. The opening width of the inlet opening and the outlet opening in relation to the mirror surface of the particular folding mirror is small. The cross section of the laser beam inside the laser intensifier is at least partially greater by a multiple than in the region of the inlet opening and outlet opening.

Abstract: A motor vehicle water pump lubricating chamber arrangement having a housing in which a pump shaft is rotatably journalled which carries a running wheel at a free end thereof and which in a lower region adjoining the running wheel has at least one seal. In a region above the lower seal between the pump shaft and the housing there is provided a chamber filled with lubricating medium so that any fluid lubricant which can otherwise discharge around the shaft will have such fluid caught in the lubricating medium chamber rather than escaping with any trace and track of escaping fluid along any external surface of the water pump which could mislead someone to prematurely replacing the water pump when such replacement is not yet necessary. The pump shaft is journalled free of play via roller bearings including roller bodies pressed into the raceways provided on the pump shaft and on the housing respectively.

Abstract: A piston-slide valve including a housing in which a piston with at least one oil groove and control edge is guided shiftable or slidable in a bore characterized thereby that the oil groove of the piston is manufactured via wire erosion. Also the control edges of the piston are manufactured by wire erosion. The bore of the sleeve bushing is manufactured by wire erosion. The piston is made out of a needle roller. The piston has a length of approximately 13 mm and a diameter of approximately 2 mm. The wire for eroding of the piston as well as the sleeve bushing has a diameter of approximately 2/10 mm. Longitudinal sides of a multiple edged groove base or bottom of the oil groove of the piston and control edges therewith are formed in a first working step procedure and the remaining longitudinal edges of the oil groove and the remaining control edges are formed in a further working step. The piston occupies one position and another working position displaced by 900.degree. from each other.

Abstract: A proportional magnet valve is provided with which manufacturing tolerances can be equalized and balanced by having an armature with an adjustment member axially adjustable. Consequently it is made possible to adjust every magnet valve that is mass produced so that a predetermined coil current corresponds to a predetermined magnet force and with that corresponding to a predetermined working pressure of a magnet valve. Because of adjustment capability of the armature, no close or narrow manufacturing tolerances must be maintained to permit cost advantageous production of the magnet valve. Also, an exchange of a magnet valve upon wear or damaging thereof is possible in a simple and straight forward manner because the novel magnet valve can be adjusted exactly without difficulty.