Abstract: A system is disclosed, for administering a therapeutic agent locally and to a depth within cardiac tissue. An elongate, flexible catheter contains a flexible electric conductor and supports at its distal end an implantable electrode incorporating a penetrating element, typically a fixation helix or a linear needle that penetrates cardiac tissue as the electrode is implanted. A therapeutic agent is delivered through the electrode, to the cardiac tissue surrounding the penetrating element. The electrode acts as a sensor, electrically coupled through the flexible conductor, and monitors an electrical condition of the surrounding cardiac tissue. A controller is coupled to the sensor and to a pump or reservoir containing the therapeutic agent, to control delivery of the agent responsive to the sensed electrical condition. The implanted electrode further can be used to deliver RF current to ablate the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A temporary and retrievable radiopaque marker and discrete radiopaque marker for use on an implantable endoprosthesis. The elongate marker has a proximal end, a distal end, and a thickness. At least a portion of the marker is radiopaque and the marker is removably-attached to the implantable endoprosthesis.

Abstract: A body implantable stent is formed of a plurality of strands arranged in two sets of coaxial helices, wound in opposite directions to form multiple crossings. At selected crossings, the adjacent strands are welded to one another, while at the remaining crossings the strands are free for limited movement relative to one another. The welds are formed in patterns that preferably enhance radial strength and rigidity, while having a minimal impact on axial bending flexibility. Preferred weld patterns in this regard include rings or circumferential rows, and helices, particularly with a steeper pitch than that of the strands. Stent fabrication preferably involves resistance welding at the crossings, and use of a tool to reuniformly compress the stent around and against the distal end region of a balloon catheter used later to deliver the stent to a treatment site.

Abstract: A layered foundation for a play surface includes an upper layer formed of wood mulch or another landscaping loose-fill material, a support layer composed of multiple fragments of a resilient material such as vulcanized rubber, and a landscaping fabric sheet disposed between the upper layer and the support layer. The support layer, preferably 3-4 inches in depth, contributes considerably to the shock-absorbing capability of the foundation, to provide a foundation that meets or exceeds recommended levels of impact attenuation, yet has a total depth less than that considered necessary in conventional foundations or support systems. The support layer also effectively drains water from the upper layer, due to multiple, interconnected passages between fragments.

Abstract: The stent comprises a flexible self-expandable braided tubular wall having a proximal segment having an outer diameter, and a distal segment having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the proximal segment. An intermediate segment is formed between proximal and distal segments, which forms a truncated cone of which the base is forming the proximal end of the intermediate segment and of which the top is forming the distal end of the intermediate segment. A covering layer is arranged within the tubular wall.

Abstract: A portable music stand includes a panel assembly composed of hinged elongate panel sections, two spaced-apart elongate walls or shelves running along one of the panel sections, and opposed end walls mounted to that same panel section and to the shelves, thus to form a container with one open side. The music stand also includes a mounting assembly with a base, a telescoping column extending upwardly from the base, and a brace at the top of the column and releasably coupled to the panel assembly. When in an open, flat configuration, the panel assembly cooperates with the shelves to provide a desk to support sheet music and accessories. Alternatively, the panel sections can be pivoted to a closed position in which the panel sections are wrapped about the container to close it. The mounting assembly is collapsible into a configuration that fits inside the container, and thus can be carried within the closed container.

Abstract: A laser alignment target includes a disk shaped and transparent target body with an annular inclined mounting surface, a back plate having an annular inclined retaining surface, and a torroidal alignment member retained in a generally V-shaped groove formed by the mounting and retaining surfaces. The target body has an outer rim with an annular and transverse reference surface positionable against the end edge of a pipe section to axially align the target. With the target body positioned against the pipe section, the back plate is drawn axially toward the target body, compressing the alignment member between the mounting and retaining surfaces and an inside surface of the pipe section. The compression produces radial forces that tend to radially center and secure a target. The preferred alignment member is an elastically compressible gasket that provides a fluid tight seal. Alternative alignment members include a closely wound helical coil and an inflatable torroidal casing.

Abstract: An anterior cervical plate is disclosed, along with threaded fasteners for securing the plate to vertebrae or other osseous material. The cervical plate has several pockets or apertures, preferably at least four, to receive a corresponding number of the fasteners. The pockets have spherical surfaces, and the fasteners have heads with similarly sized spherical surfaces, which when engaged permit each of the fasteners to be oriented at a variety of projection angles with respect to the plate. In connection with each pocket, the cervical plate incorporates a fastener retaining feature. The feature can take the form of a cantilevered tab or a beam supported at its opposite ends, in each case plastically deformable between an open position for admitting the fastener and a closed position for preventing retraction.

Abstract: A body compatible stent is formed of multiple filaments arranged in two sets of oppositely directed helical windings interwoven with one another in a braided configuration. Each of the filaments is a composite including a central core (24) and a case (26) surrounding the core (24). The core is formed of a radiopaque and relatively ductile material, in particular gold or a gold alloy. The outer case (26) is formed of a relatively resilient material, e.g. a cobalt/chromium based alloy. Favorable mechanical characteristics of the stent are determined by the case (26), while the core (24) enables in vivo imaging of the stent. The composite filaments are formed by a drawn filled tubing process in which the core (24) is inserted into a tubular case (26) of a diameter substantially more than the intended final filament diameter. The composite filament is cold-worked in several steps to reduce its diameter, and annealed between successive cold-working steps.

Abstract: A prosthetic stent with a tubular wall having local inwardly or outwardly formed elevations. Stents having such elevations have a higher mechanical stability if bend according to the curvature of the body vessels to be supported or repaired. Also a method for manufacturing a stent with such elevations is described.

Abstract: An apparatus for classifying polydisperse aerosols includes aerosol and sheath gas conduits for conducting a sample aerosol and a sheath gas toward a merger area. At the merger area the sheath gas and about ten percent of the sample aerosol merge, then travel through a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) and along a tubular electrode of the DMA. Selected particles, i.e. particles having electrical mobilities within a narrow range, pass through a collection aperture of the electrode. The DMA output, an aerosol consisting of the selected particles, is provided to a condensation particle counter or other device for determining the aerosol concentration. The remainder of the sample aerosol is conducted away from the merger area along a bypass flow conduit. The bypass flow and an improved aerodynamic design provide for a slit at the merger area that is sufficiently narrow to minimize unwanted electric field penetration at the slit and DMA entrance.

Abstract: A magnetic data storage medium includes a dedicated transducing head contact zone for engaging an air bearing slider, primarily when the disk is stationary. The contact zone is textured with at least one elongate ridge extending in the circumferential direction. When a single ridge is formed, it runs in a spiral path in multiple turns with a predetermined radial pitch at least ten times the nominal ridge width. The ridge protrudes axially outward from a nominal surface plane of the contact zone, and is rounded and free of sharp edges. The ridge, or plurality of ridge sections, can be formed by a texturing process that includes directing a laser beam, focused, onto the contact zone surface. While the disk is rotated to maintain a constant circumferential speed relative to the laser, it also is translated radially to provide the desired radial pitch. The laser is operated in a CW (continuous wave) mode, to create a more uniform ridge.

Abstract: A facility monitoring system includes a monitoring station receiving inputs from different control panels, each panel supporting detectors and other devices. Data from the panels are scanned, segmented into categories and presented in a standard format including a category identifying devices by type and state or condition. The monitoring station stores graphic information including site maps and floor plans to provide backgrounds, and device images positionable on the backgrounds to accurately depict device locations in the facility.

Abstract: Magnetic data storage disks, particularly along dedicated transducing head contact regions, are laser textured according to a process in which beam shaping optical components impart an elliptical or otherwise elongated cross-section to the laser beam. Consequently, individual texturing features such as rims and nodules are elliptical or elongate, with more gradual height gradients in directions parallel to their major axes. The texturing features further are oriented with respect to the direction of transducing head accelerations and decelerations, which yields high performance in terms of reduced flying height, improved glide avalanche, reduced dynamic friction, reduced stiction and better wear characteristics. Texturing features are formed in a variety of patterns, including patterns with adjacent features contacting one another. A further refinement involves forming features with substantially different slopes on opposites sides of a maximum height region.

Abstract: A magnetic data storage medium includes a dedicated transducing head contact zone for engaging an air bearing slider, primarily when the disk is stationary and also during disk accelerations and decelerations. The contact zone has a dual baseline texture, formed by first creating a recessed region within the transducing head contact zone, and then by forming multiple nodules or other texturing features within the recessed region. The texturing features project upwardly from a recessed surface of the recessed region, and also project above an upper surface of the disk by an amount less than the texturing feature height. Consequently, the texturing features are large enough to counteract stiction due to liquid lubricant meniscus formation, yet also have heights sufficiently low relative to the upper surface to allow reduced transducer flying heights.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiopaque catheter tip and catheter assembly having radiopaque elements associated with a catheter. The preferred materials for the radiopaque elements are made of a 90% platinum and 10% nickel composite structure or a 90% platinum and 10% iridium composite structure.

Abstract: A food product for animal consumption is prepared from an animal by-product, preferably a complete avian carcass. A heated hydrolyzing agent is applied by spray or dip coating to the carcass exterior. After initiation of hydrolysis, the carcass is ground, enhanced by additives, then steam heated to a temperature of about 200 degrees F. The heated by-product is provided as a slurry or as dry particulates to a twin screw extruder. As it is transported across several zones of the extruder, the by-product is thoroughly dispersively mixed and subjected to high pressures and temperatures, vented to release moisture, neutralized with a neutralizing agent, and blended under high temperatures and pressures sufficient to completely sterilize what has become a highly uniform and homogeneous by-product mass. The by-product mass is extruded and cut into pellets, which then are dried to a moisture content at or below 10 percent.

Abstract: An electrical circuit package including disk drive operation and control circuitry is formed in multiple layers, including a compliant circuitry layer coextensive with the package, and additional conductive and dielectric layers to form relatively stiff circuit panels bonded to the compliant layer and spaced apart from one another. Portions of the compliant layer, between confronting edges of adjacent circuit panels, provide compliant joinder segments. Each joinder segment electrically couples its associated pair of circuit panels, and structurally couples the panels in a manner that permits a selective, non-coplanar orientation of the panels relative to each other. Thus, the panels are electrically and structurally coupled in a manner that facilitates testing the circuit package as a single unit, followed by installation of the package to a disk drive housing with the circuit panels integral with the housing and in the desired non-coplanar arrangement.

Abstract: A reflow soldering system includes a reflow station with one or more soldering containers. Each container includes a base and a cover reciprocable to either open or close the container. When open, the container receives a printed circuit board/electrical circuit component assembly for reflow soldering, or permits the exit of such assembly after soldering. When closed, the container provides a fluid-tight seal between the chamber inside and the immediate outside environment. Container opening and closure are synchronized with an input conveyor providing assemblies to the container and an output conveyor removing the soldered assemblies, both of which are operated by a control system at a controlled rate of speed. When the container is closed, its internal environment is precisely controlled through heating elements in the container and several conduits for supplying air (heated if desired), for supplying an inert gas, and for drawing a vacuum.

Abstract: An implantable devices for the effective elimination of an arrhythmogenic site from the myocardium is presented. By inserting small biocompatible conductors and/or insulators into the heart tissue at the arrhythmogenic site, it is possible to effectively eliminate a portion of the tissue from the electric field and current paths within the heart. The device would act as an alternative to the standard techniques for the removal of tissue from the effective contribution to the hearts electrical action which require the destruction of tissue via energy transfer (RF, microwave, cryogenic, etc.). This device is a significant improvement in the state of the art in that it does not require tissue necrosis. In one preferred embodiment the device is a non conductive helix that is permanently implanted into the heart wall around the arrhythmogenic site.