Abstract: A measurement module for glucose testing includes a glucose testing measurement module housing, a test strip receptacle formed in the housing, and a connector portion formed in the housing and shaped to permit mechanical removable attachment of the housing to a hand-held computer. Electronics determine the amount of glucose present in a sample of body fluid, when the test strip is positioned in the receptacle and the body fluid is placed on a test strip, and communicate the glucose amount to the hand-held computer via the connector portion.

Abstract: A stent delivery catheter system having a reinforcing tether member secured to the catheter such that the catheter is provided with an improved combination of an enhanced tensile strength together with other catheter performance characteristics such as low profile and high flexibility. The stent delivery system includes an elongated delivery catheter including a reinforcing tether member secured to the inner tubular member of the catheter. The tether member has a distal end length extending helically from the distal tip member or proximally adjacent to the proximal end of the distal tip member of the catheter and a portion that also extends axially through the stent holder region of the catheter. This reinforcing tether member provides enhanced tensile strength to the catheter.

Abstract: A guide wire for guiding a medical device within a patient is disclosed. The guide wire has a solid inner core made of high modulus material such as Conichrome® or a rhenium alloy, and an outer shell made of a flexible, kink resistant material such as a nickel-titanium alloy. Preferably, the modulus of elasticity of the inner core material is at least about 20 percent greater than that of the outer shell material. The outer shell is mechanically joined to the inner core through a drawing or cladding process. In various embodiments, the distal end of the guide wire can be tapered by grinding away the outer shell to expose the inner core. Because of its stiffness, it can be manually shaped by the physician or cardiologist.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen. The stent can be compressed or crimped onto a catheter to a very low profile since the peaks that are adjacent the curved portion of the undulating link are shorter than other peaks in the same cylindrical ring to prevent overlap yet still achieve a very low profile, tightly crimped stent onto a catheter.

Abstract: A plastic motion sickness receptacle is disclosed having a seamless perimeter defined by a tubular member folded at a first closed end, and an open end including means for closing the receptacle after use. The plastic tubular member comprises integrally formed walls that terminate in a base at said closed end with the edges of the walls cooperating to form a fluid-tight relationship. An outer surface of the receptacle may include indicia printed thereon including instructions for using the bag upon the occurrence of motion sickness.

Abstract: An automated security attendant for a mechanical gate includes an interface that queries a visitor as to the name and destination of the visitor, and then automatically proceeds with authentication of the visitor. The system includes cameras and recording equipment for capturing the visitor's face and license plates, and records this information along with a time and date stamp of the event. The visitor can be authenticated in accordance with a pre-stored list of names or license plates, or can be authenticated in real time through contact with authorized personnel. The system can further initiate two way conversation with between the visitor and the authorized personnel, and provide the authorized personnel with the image of the visitor's face and/or license plate. The system can also monitor the gate for damage and alert authorities where the security of the gate has been compromised.

Abstract: A simple, passive and rugged device for measuring the flow rate of liquid. A variable area obstruction valve, a differential pressure sensor and a densitometer are combined in a single housing to provide for a highly accurate and precise measure of mass flow.

Abstract: A refrigerator-oven combination for an aircraft galley food service system includes a housing with a thermally insulated compartment, a heating device for heating the compartment in a heating mode, and a refrigeration device for cooling the compartment in a refrigeration mode.

Abstract: A heat exchange fluid supply system for supplying a heat exchange fluid to an intravascular heat exchange catheter includes a disposable cassette having a bulkhead and an external heat exchanger, and which is configured to operate in combination with a reusable master control unit. The bulkhead includes a reservoir section and a pump section. The reservoir section is provided with a means to monitor the amount of heat exchange fluid that is in the system. The bulkhead provides the mechanism for priming the system with heat exchange fluid from an external source and for circulating fluid to the catheter in a closed circuit. The pump section is configured to allow for pumping of heat exchange fluid at a constant pressure.

Abstract: The device of the present invention includes one or more blanks in the form of flattened tubes, erected into tubular components and assembled together to simulate the shape of furniture pieces and which may be draped with a fitted cover to mock the desired furniture piece.

Abstract: Captive panel fasteners are configured to be held captive on a panel by multiple retaining elements. The fasteners include longitudinal grooves along a cylindrical portion of the fastener, a retaining ring over the cylindrical portion, a primary structure for retaining the retaining ring on the cylindrical portion, and secondary structure for retaining the cylindrical portion within a bore of the panel. The retaining ring includes radially inwardly extending opposing prongs that fit into the longitudinally extending grooves. A stop point may be provided in the longitudinally extending grooves, or an end of the fastener may be flared, to retain the retaining ring on the fastener. The prongs may also be slightly flexible and flared to grip the longitudinally extending grooves. The secondary structure can include one or more spring loaded pins in the fastener extending externally outward.

Abstract: A system for delivering a medical device, such as an angioplasty balloon, includes two catheter shafts. The distal portion of a first shaft includes a first balloon and is narrower than the proximal portion. A second catheter shaft includes a second balloon and is connected to a medial portion of the first shaft. The second shaft includes a guidewire passageway which is in communication with the passageway of a third shaft that is removably connected to the first shaft. The distal tips of the first and second balloons are connected together to allow the system to be advanced to an anatomical site using a single guidewire. A second guidewire may be used to separate the distal ends of the balloons and to position the balloons at vascular bifurcation. A stent can be crimped onto the balloons such that inflation of the balloons implants the stent within the bifurcation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual lumen catheter shaft having a first dual lumen section and a second dual lumen section with a transition section therebetween. The present invention further provides a method of forming a dual lumen catheter shaft.

Abstract: An expandable stent is implanted in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen for rupturing a fibrous cap to controllably release vulnerable plaque. The invention provides for a an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by links. The stent includes struts and links of varying strengths about the circumference of the stent. The weaker struts and links require less force to open and, hence, may apply more stress to rupture the fibrous cap while the stronger struts and links protect the healthy portions of the body lumen. In another embodiment, the stent may include stress concentrators positioned on outer surfaces of the links. The stress concentrators are aligned with the fibrous cap prior to stent expansion so that upon stent expansion, the stress concentrators induce stress to rupture the fibrous cap, thereby releasing the vulnerable plaque.

Abstract: A sleeve supports a shaft. A housing member is arranged so as to surround the sleeve and make the end of the sleeve protrude. A base member holds the housing member and fixes a stator core so as to surround the housing member. A hub drives a recording disk by being rotated integrally with the shaft, with a magnet being fixed to an annular portion concentric with the shaft so as to face the stator core fixed to the base member. A thrust member is rotated integrally with the hub, and a descender portion and a ring portion.

Abstract: A stent is formed by encasing or encapsulating metallic rings in an inner polymeric layer and an outer polymeric layer. At least one polymer link connects adjacent metallic rings. The stent is drug loaded with one or more therapeutic agent or drug, for example, to reduce the likelihood of the development of restenosis in the coronary arteries. The inner and outer polymeric materials can be of the same polymer or different polymer to achieve different results, such as enhancing flexibility and providing a stent that is visible under MRI, computer tomography and x-ray fluoroscopy.

Abstract: A fireproof, bi-directional decompression panel includes a frame member and a pressure relief panel member that is releasably retained to the frame member to removably cover a decompression vent opening of an aircraft partition, such as a sidewall of an aircraft cargo compartment. During a decompression event, the pressure relief panel member is released bi-directionally in either of two opposing directions from the frame member when a predetermined pressure differential exists across the partition. The decompression panel assembly is fire resistant, and has reduced weight and fewer parts than prior conventional decompression panel assemblies.

Abstract: A scaling factor for scaling an output of a first electrochemical cell, is determined in order to compensate for the effect on the output caused by an variation in value of a property of a working electrode of the first cell from a reference value of that property. A measured value for the property is obtained from a portion of material formed so as to have substantially the same value of the property as does the working electrode and the measured value is processed to generate the scaling factor.

Abstract: An adaptive receiver to provide reliable estimates of the symbols for the high-order MQAM and MPSK modulated signals received in the presence of amplitude fading and phase dynamics induced due to time-varying atmospheric or terrestrial multipath fading encountered in wireless communication channels. The adaptive receiver encompasses an adaptive tracking loop comprised of adaptive channel fade envelope estimator derived from the high-order modulated signal, a novel phase detector to separately estimate the phase due to the fading channel and the reference oscillator from that due to the data modulation present in the received signal without the need of any pilot symbol or pilot carrier, and a Kalman filter, a fixed-lag smoother and a smoothed symbol detector.

Abstract: With reference to FIG.