Abstract: A tubular graft/stent comprises a tubular sheath having at intervals along its length a plurality of ring-like rigid members, which are attached to the sheath around their respective circumferences and are made of a shape memory material, so that when the members change shape the sheath adopts a new cross section in conformity with the members along the sheath's whole length. The members may be discontinuous to allow the adoption of a contracted shape in the martensitic phase and an expanded shape in the austenitic phase. A graft may also have a branched side tube which can be inverted so as to be housed within the sheath.

Abstract: A composite structural reinforcing strip is affixed to a structure to be reinforced (such as a bridge span, foundation pillar, or similar structure) by the use of several fasteners which extend through the strip and into the structure. The reinforcing strip preferably includes elongated continuous parallel fibers which have lengths extending along the length of the strip, and nondirectional fibers distributed transversely across the strip, with a polymer matrix affixing the parallel and nondirectional fibers. The strip may be placed on the structure to be reinforced, and may be attached thereon by actuating a common powder-actuated fastener gun to send fasteners through the strip and into the structure.

Abstract: A stair is pivotable from a lowered position allowing a user to climb the stair from a lower level to an upper level, into a stowed position wherein the stair is lifted from the lower level so that the plane of the stair is approaches the ceiling situated between the lower and upper level. The stair, which is preferably not articulated (i.e., the stair does not fold), rotates between the lowered and stowed positions about a pivot fixed in association with the ceiling. A drive cable, which preferably extends from the stair top or from a drive arm extending from the stair top, is anchored to surrounding structure in the upper level. A drive motor drives the drive cable to draw the stair top downwardly, thereby raising the stair bottom about the pivot.

Abstract: A funeral home director or other party who wishes to generate a personalized memorial item (for example, a casket display) is provided with stock display sheets, which are most preferably formed of adhesive label sheets having easily peelable/removable precut display sheet print fields. The director is provided with software allowing text and images to be designed, edited, and printed onto the display sheet print fields in a form representing how the director would like such text and images displayed on the memorial item if it was personalized. The printed display sheet print fields may then each be affixed to a corresponding memorial item print field on the memorial item.

Abstract: A plasma generator includes several plasma sources distributed in an array for plasma treatment of surfaces. Each plasma source includes first and second conductive electrodes. Each second electrode has a gas passage defined therein, and one of the first electrodes is situated within the gas passage in spaced relation from the second electrode, with each gas passage thereby constituting the free space for plasma generation between each pair of first and second electrodes. An insulating layer is interposed between the first and second electrodes to facilitate plasma formation via dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in the gas passages between the first and second electrodes. The first electrodes may be provided in a monolithic structure wherein they all protrude from a common bed, and similarly the second electrodes may be monolithically formed by defining the gas passages within a common second electrode member.

Abstract: A vacuum chamber includes chamber walls separating a chamber interior and a chamber exterior, with one or more access ports defined in the chamber walls. A viewing tube extends from the chamber exterior into the chamber interior and terminates in a window. A positioner for imaging devices is then provided within the viewing tube, and is thus situated at least partially within the chamber interior with its imaging device(s) oriented towards the window of the viewing tube to allow imaging of areas within the vacuum chamber. The positioner preferably allows translation and/or rotation of an imaging device within the viewing tube within two perpendicular planes oriented along the axis of the viewing tube, thereby allowing the imaging device to view an area of interest from more angles oriented about the area of interest than would otherwise be possible if the imaging device was situated outside the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: Couplers for joining actuators to valves are configured to allow their affixment to different makes and models of actuators and valves, thereby allowing an off-the-shelf S coupling solution and avoiding the need to specially construct a coupler which is only adapted to connect whatever valve and actuator that are desired for coupling. The couplers include a shaft/stem bore which accommodates the torque-transmitting components of the valve and actuator to be coupled, and sets of affixment holes surround the shaft/stem bore, with these affixment holes being arrayed in patterns matching those of different common valves and actuators. Thus, a coupler may affix to different valves or actuators provided the appropriate affixment holes are chosen. The couplers may be formed as single-piece or multi-piece units.

Abstract: A container for shipping and/or display of flowers includes a watertight or water-resistant inner receptacle for holding flowers and water; an outer shipping and display sleeve which protects the flowers and inner receptacle during shipping and display; and a holding unit which supports the inner receptacle within the outer sleeve at least during shipping. These components may be made of paperboard (e.g., corrugated cardboard) if desired. For shipping, the inner receptacle (with flowers and water) may be placed in the holding unit, which may then be placed in the outer sleeve for shipping purposes. Upon arrival, the holding unit and inner receptacle may be removed from the outer sleeve, which may be converted into a display pedestal for the holding unit and inner receptacle if desired.

Abstract: A device for collecting urine includes a container kept at vacuum, an interface locatable at the urethral opening of a person and a pump operable to create a vacuum within the container. A sensor senses the presence of urine at the interface and opens a valve to allow the pumping of urine from the interface to the container.

Abstract: A combustion chamber valve, such as an intake valve or an exhaust valve, is briefly opened during the compression and/or power strokes of a 4-stroke combustion cycle in an internal combustion engine (in particular, a diesel or CI engine). The brief opening may (1) enhance mixing withing the combustion chamber, allowing more complete oxidation of particulates to decrease engine emissions; and/or may (2) delay ignition until a more desirable time, potentially allowing a means of timing ignition in otherwise difficult-to-control conditions, e.g., in HCCI (Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition) conditions.

Abstract: The ability to perform Assembly/Disassembly analysis of one or more components of the geometric model (e.g., a CAD model) of a multi-component assembly is helpful for design, construction and tear-down, maintenance (in-place and replacement), and reuse/recycling of the assembly. To facilitate assembly and disassembly analysis of geometric models, methods have been developed which allow generating, editing, validating and animating/digitizing assembly/disassembly sequences and directions for 3D geometric models, e.g., CAD models. These methods allow assembly/disassembly analysis to be performed based on non-contact geometric reasoning (i.e., spatial reasoning rather than contact reasoning) to determine an optimal non-interfering sequence (a valid sequence) to disassemble/assemble the modeled components.

Abstract: A pressure plate extractor for testing of soils and other porous solids has a pressure chamber defined by pressure chamber sidewalls resting above a pressure chamber base. A drain plate is situated on the pressure chamber base with its bounding edge surrounded by a seal and situated inwardly from the pressure chamber sidewalls, which rest atop the seal. When the pressure chamber sidewalls are urged towards the pressure chamber base, thereby compressing the seal and preventing air from passing between the pressure chamber sidewalls and pressure chamber base, the seal laterally expands to firmly engage the bounding edge of the drain plate, thereby preventing air from passing between the pressure chamber sidewalls and the drain plate. A substantially leak-free pressure chamber results, with low probability of drain plate failure because the pressure chamber sidewalls do not bear directly upon it.

Abstract: A centrifuge includes a rotor around which a plurality of bobbins rotate. Each bobbin bears one or more fluid-carrying passages through which liquid analyte is passed for centrifuging. Supporting the bobbins on the rotor is a support member which provides a cylindrical inner surface. The inner surface supports the bobbins on rotation thereof to prevent high frictional torques from the bearings of the bobbins.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mesh-free engineering analysis of geometric models is described. The method and apparatus, which are preferably software-based and implemented on personal computers or other programmable processing devices, represent geometric models by implicit mathematical functions. The implicit functions allow interpolation of all desired boundary conditions over the geometry without meshing, and the boundary conditions may then may be combined with a piecewise continuous model of the solution structure (i.e., the analysis problem). By solving for elements of the solution structure (its basis or coordinate functions) which satisfy the given boundary conditions either exactly or approximately, the solution structure will define the behavior and boundary conditions (exactly or approximately) throughout the geometric model.

Abstract: A dynamometer is coupled to a single cylinder version of a multi-cylinder engine. The dynamometer control system calculates the instantaneous dynamic torques (e.g., inertial, combustion, and/or other torques) that would normally be generated in the multi-cylinder engine. The control system then inputs the torque from the missing cylinders of the engine to the dynamometer, preferably by a hydraulic system capable of accurately applying these torque pulses. By inputting energy to the engine as well as receiving it, the single-cylinder engine can replicate the rapid transients that are experienced in multi-cylinder engine operation, and can therefore be made to have an instantaneous speed profile matching that of the multi-cylinder engine.

Abstract: An expandable device, e.g. a stent for insertion into a passage, e.g. a blood vessel or artery, is disclosed. The device has a body (20) formed of a flexible material. The body is convertible from a collapsed condition in which it is of a size to be inserted into the passage into an expanded condition in which the body (20) is fixed relative to the passage. A passage (28) is provided within the body so as to extend over at least a region of the latter. An inlet (32) is provided in the body (20) in communication with the passage therein. The inlet (32) enables a rigidifying material to be introduced into the passage (28) in the body (20) so that at least the region of the body (20) in which the passage is provided can be rigidified whereby to maintain the body in its expanded condition.

Abstract: A holder and dispenser for golf ball markers includes a body which may be clipped onto a user's belt, waistband, golf bag, or other article. The body has one or more pockets defined therein, with the pockets being configured to snugly and removably receive disc-shaped (or other) golf ball markers. The user may withdraw golf ball markers from the holder for use when needed, and may replace them when the markers are no longer used.