Abstract: A hybrid microcontroller system for controlling a function of a device in an apparatus. The system controls the switching of the device so as to inhibit the formation of an abrupt transient spike between a pair of current switching contacts. Also, the system enables an operator from outside the system to enter a command relating to a function of the device, and for indicating to the operator outside the system the nature of the command thereof.

Abstract: A wallboard rasp having an expanded metal blade mounted to a molded plastic handle. The handle is configured with a downwardly-opening receiving groove for receipt of an upwardly-curved perimeter portion of the blade. Sections of the blade's perimeter may be crimped or heat staked within the groove. The groove may be formed between a downwardly-projecting outer lip and one or more downwardly-projecting inner ribs. Where the blade is formed with a substantially planar central portion, the ribs may have substantially planar downwardly-facing surfaces against which the blade's central portion may be supported when mounted on the handle. The grip portion of the handle is configured as a contoured, upwardly-extending body having a base with opposite knurled inset surfaces and a convex top flanged surface with spaced-apart grip ribs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for stenting bifurcated vessels. A proximal angled stent is configured for implanting in a side-branch vessel wherein the proximal angled stent has an angulated portion that corresponds to the angle formed by the intersection of the side-branch vessel and the main vessel so that all portions of the side-branch vessel at the bifurcation are covered by the proximal angled stent. A main-vessel stent is provided for implanting in the main vessel, wherein the main-vessel stent has an aperture or stent cell that aligns with the opening to the side-branch vessel to permit unobstructed blood flow between the main vessel and the side-branch vessel. Side-branch and main-vessel catheter assemblies are advanced over a pair of guide wires for delivering, appropriately orienting, and implanting the proximal angled stent and the apertured stent.

Abstract: A system and method provides a status indicator to a battery pack of a medical device. The battery pack includes a power supply capable of being connected to the medical device. The battery pack also includes an indicator to automatically indicate a status of at least a portion of at least one of the battery pack and the medical device. For example, the indicator can indicate a status of the power supply.

Abstract: A distal segment of a catheter shaft is adapted to be positioned against tissue in a biological organ. The distal segment has a tissue-contacting area intended to contact the tissue. One or more pressure sensors positioned within the tissue-contacting area provide pressure data indicative of the pressure exerted on the distal segment. The distal segment carries one or more electrodes and the pressure sensors are located either on an electrode or on the catheter shaft near an electrode. The pressure sensors provide pressure data to a processor that analyzes the data to determine if the tissue-contacting area of the distal segment is contacting the tissue. The pressure sensors may also provide temperature data indicative of the temperature at the sensor. A flow sensor, located opposite the pressure sensor on the shaft, provides data related to the flow rate of fluid through the organ.

Abstract: An intrasaccular device particularly adapted for treating body lumens. The intrasaccular device includes structure that provides a strong framework as well as improved covering across an opening to an aneurysm sac. The intrasaccular device is intended to retain foreign bodies within the aneurysm sac and includes members for accomplishing this objective. The intrasaccular device is also provided with structure that facilitates the alignment of a plurality of devices deployed within the sac.

Abstract: The adaptive brake application and initial skid detection system allows rapid brake application and prevents deep initial skids. Brake pressure is compared with a predetermined threshold brake pressure. Wheel velocity error signals are also generated to indicated the difference between the wheel velocity and a reference velocity signal. A pressure bias modulator integrator responsive to brake pressure signals adjusts the wheel velocity error signals to provide an anti-skid control signal. The pressure bias modulator integrator can also be initialized to the value of the measured brake pressure when the wheel velocity error signals indicate the beginning of a skid. Brake pressure difference signals are generated to indicate the difference between brake pressure and a commanded brake pressure, and an adjusted brake pressure error signal is generated in response to the brake pressure difference signals.

Abstract: A medical device or component thereof, and particularly intracorporeal devices for therapeutic or diagnostic uses, formed at least in part of a copolymer having a hard block and a polylactone soft block. In a presently preferred embodiment, the hard block of the copolymer is a polyester, and more specifically, the copolymer comprises a di-block copolymer of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and polycaprolactone. The copolymer is suitable for forming a variety of medical devices or medical device components, and is preferably used to form a catheter balloon, such as a balloon for an angioplasty or stent delivery catheter. However, a variety of medical devices or medical device components can be formed of the copolymer, including stent covers, vascular grafts, and shaft components.

Abstract: A mode coupling device is provided for coupling co-propagating modes in an optical waveguide to provide a gain flattening filter for use with an optical amplifier such as an erbium-doped fiber amplifier. The mode coupling device includes a plurality of long period grating sections having equal spatial periods, with adjacent grating sections separated by an interval of less than 10 periods in length. Also provided is a method for manufacturing the mode coupling device, including a method for determining the parameters of the device and a method for fine tuning the device to provide a loss spectrum closely matching the output spectrum of the optical amplifier. The mode coupling device is useful for flattening the gain of the optical amplifier.

Abstract: A tire applicator for applying treatment fluid to sidewall of a vehicle tire, which is constructed with an applicator head including a dispenser housing having a bottom distribution plate and an applicator pad affixed thereto, and which may be configured to complementally and releasably receive an associated container.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for acquiring an image from within a body lumen are provided. Systems embodying features of the invention include an intracorporeal imaging component for acquiring imaging information, an image information recording component, and an image information playback component. Methods for acquiring image information from within a body lumen include steps of acquiring imaging information, storing image information, and playing back imaging information. Imaging information may be played back as acquired, or non-sequentially, or composite images may be formed by combining, filtering, enhancing, or subtracting images and the composite images displayed. Devices embodying features of the invention include optical imaging components such as an optical IGW, an optical imaging recording component, and an optical image playback component. The systems, methods and devices are suitable for use with angiopoplasty, stent delivery, and other intracorporeal clinical procedures.

Abstract: A catheter balloon formed of a polymeric material such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) bonded to a second layer formed of a low tensile set polymer and/or impregnated with a low tensile set polymer. In a presently preferred embodiment, the low tensile set polymer is a silicone-polyurethane copolymer elastomer or a diene polymer elastomer. The low tensile set polymer has high strength, low modulus, high elongation, and low tensile set. The diene or silicone-polyurethane has a low tensile set, which facilitates deflation of the balloon to a low profile deflated configuration. One aspect of the invention provides improved attachment of the diene to the ePTFE. In one embodiment, the second layer is formed of a diene mixed with a bonding promoter such as a vulcanizing agent which is covalently bonded to the diene.

Abstract: In general, a smear-resistant ink composition according to the present invention comprises: (1) water; (2) at least one glycol selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, and propylene glycol; (3) a pyrrolidone selected from the group consisting of 2-pyrrolidone and 3-pyrrolidone; and (4) at least one colorant that produces a detectable fluorescent color when the ink composition is applied to paper. Preferably, the pyrrolidone is 2-pyrrolidone. In one preferred embodiment, the at least one glycol comprises diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. In another preferred embodiment, the at least one glycol comprises diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol. The composition can comprise other ingredients, such as a basic color stabilizer, a resin, a resin modifier that is a carbonate salt, a biocide, and a nonionic surfactant. The colorants can be formulated to produce a pink, yellow, blue, green, purple, or orange color; other colors are possible.

Abstract: A box for conveniently storing and dispensing material has a front wall, a back wall, a first and a second side wall, a first one of the side walls having an opening and an inside surface, a top and a bottom flap, and a slide that is in contact with the inside surface of the first side wall, with the slide having an opening. The front wall, back wall, first and second side walls, and top and bottom flaps are interconnected so as to form a box, the slide being movable between an open position in which the slide opening substantially aligns with the side wall opening and a closed position in which the slide opening is entirely out of alignment with the front wall opening, thereby closing the box. As one option, the slide may have sides which are cut to extend generally parallel to the top flap when the box is in the form of a flat blank prior to box formation.

Abstract: The paracardiac blood pump is destined for protruding through the cardiac wall into the heart with a portion of its housing (10) and for suctioning blood from the heart. The blood is pumped into one of the blood vessels connected with the heart through a line that extends outside the heart. A cannula (30) is arranged in front of the inlet (17) of the pump ring (16). The housing (10) and the cannula (30) have approximately the same outer diameters of 13 mm at most. The housing, together with the cannula (30), can thus be inserted into the heart through a puncture hole that is produced in the cardiac wall without removing material.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having an elongated shaft and a balloon mounted on the distal portion of the shaft, the balloon having a working section and proximal and distal end portions that extend inwardly with respect to the working section and which are secured to the catheter shaft within the working section. The end portions are therefore inverted recesses on each end of the balloon. A stent may be disposed about the balloon to form a stent deploying system. The proximal and distal end portions may contain a tapered portion, which tapers from the balloon working section to the catheter shaft with decreasing transverse dimension. The end portions may be connected to the working section with connecting fibers. This design allows for improved expansion and stent placement in the vasculature.

Abstract: An optical storage media management system and process for storing and organizing a relatively large collection of optical discs in the form of a display binder with a plurality of display sheets including associated indicia matching a positional identifier indicating the location of the disc. In one embodiment, the binder is used in conjunction with a table of contents indicating the position of individual optical discs in relation to the binder contents and a centralized database for storing optical disc information in a categorized format in cooperation with a computerized table of contents generator for generating the table of contents for the binder.

Abstract: An intraluminal catheter having at least a section of the catheter shaft being relatively transparent, and the method of manufacture thereof. In a presently preferred embodiment, the intraluminal catheter is a balloon catheter having a transparent shaft section formed of a polyetheretherketone polymeric material. The substantially transparent shaft section, of the catheter, is amorphous, and is substantially free of water marks and gels that would limit the transparency.

Abstract: A new endoluminal prosthesis for use in sealing a vascular graft to corporeal lumen provides for a flattened bulbous tail at the end of each cell of the prosthesis. The flattened bulbous tails reduce the amount of wear between the prosthesis and the softer material of the vascular grafts or corporeal lumen walls. A method of manufacturing a stent from a flat sheet of material is also included.