Abstract: An instrument for manipulating a vessel in a patient includes a cannula having a lumen for providing insufflation to create a working space in the tissue of a patient, and a first manipulator for manipulating a vessel located within the working space. The first manipulator is slidably movable within the cannula from a stowed position, where the first manipulator is substantially disposed within the cannula, to a forward position, where at least a portion of the first manipulator is disposed outside the cannula. The first manipulator is rotatable when in the forward position to an extended position.

Abstract: A method and device for reducing signal drift on a balloon catheter mounted pressure sensor by adjusting for signal gain and/or zero offset, and by separately calibrating the constant signal component and the time-varying signal component of an uncalibrated source signal to produce a calibrated source signal.

Abstract: A vacuum reservoir, for use with an intra-aortic balloon pump or other system, containing a muffling means having a honeycomb-like cell structure or other flow straightening structure.

Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon catheter having a collapsible variable diameter inner tube.

Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) having improved automated electrocardiogram (ECG) based intra-aortic balloon deflation timing. Said IABP capable of automatically determining to either deflate the intra-aortic balloon upon the detection of the next cardiac cycle (non-predictive deflation) or at an earlier point derived from predicting the occurrence of the next cycle (predictive deflation). This automated determination is based upon a quantitative assessment of the performance of the intra-aortic balloon pump in predicting the prevailing cardiac rhythm.

Abstract: A mounting device for securing transport patient connected equipment, specifically an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), in the typically crowded medical transport vehicle. An engagement stud on the IABP slides into a spring-loaded latch connected to a vehicle mounted base. The engagement stud configuration allows the user to engage the IABP from any desired direction, i.e. slide the pump from any of the four sides onto the mount. No effort is required from the user beyond the pushing motion for locking the IABP onto the mount.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for insertion of a catheter, such as an IAB catheter, into a blood vessel such that the cross-sectional area of the catheter will be minimized while the circumference of the catheter is maximized. The apparatus is formed as an oval tube of flexible plastic. When placed in a blood vessel, the catheter retains its oval configuration to minimize obstruction to blood flow. During inflation of the balloon bladder at the end of the catheter, the catheter retains its general oval shape. When the catheter is placed in the blood vessel by pre-loading the catheter over a guide wire and inserting the catheter and guide wire without an introducer sheath into the blood vessel both the catheter and its leading balloon bladder are approximately of the same perimeter thereby reducing the possibility of arterial bleeding.

Abstract: A Device and method are provided to split a single chambered IAB device into at least two IAB distinct chambers, that work in conjunction with each other, each being smaller than the single chamber, but the combination of the two chambers may be greater than the single chamber.

Abstract: A single-piece bifurcated graft for insertion into the femoral artery and further into the aorta with approximately one half of the graft inverted inside out after positioning within the artery. There is no central section like other bifurcated grafts. Instead, two bifurcated sections are joined at the top. Upon introduction, the graft is attached to the aortic wall in the middle section, the vicinity of the renal arteries, and the inversion process takes place. This process allows deployment of the second half of the graft into its final inverted position. While stents are located only at the openings of the graft, additional stents may be deployed inside the graft if necessary.

Abstract: An insertion guide wire with an anchor formed in the distal end for precisely locating a subcutaneous arterial wound and inserting a guide sheath adjacent to said arterial wound. The hemostatic material can then be placed outside the wound. When the guide sheath is properly placed, the anchor can be released and the guide wire removed. The hemostatic material can then be placed outside the wound, leaving no foreign object in the lumen of the artery.

Abstract: A stent graft device for use with a insertion catheter for repair of defects in arteries and other lumens within the body. The stent graft is expandable upon deployment and during deployment the stent graft is retained in a smooth and set position within the artery.

Abstract: A catheter gard unit is disclosed herein which includes a flexible tapered introduction guide. The distal end of the tapered introduction guide, in a sheath procedure, is placed over a guide wire and into a sheath, both of which have been pre-placed within a patient's body. In a sheathless procedure, the distal end of the tapered introduction guide is placed adjacent the skin of the patient and over the pre-placed guide wire. The gard unit comprises a body with a passageway therethrough for the passage of the catheter tube. A resilient slidable seal is mounted upon the tapered introduction guide of the gard unit. The slidable seal is adapted to slid over and seal the connection between the introduction guide, through which the catheter is placed, and a hemostasis valve of the sheath, after insertion of the sheath into the patient's body and thereby form a liquid seal between the introduction guide and the sheath.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sequence a "two-up" imaging drum for four color process color is provided. The sequencing provides enough separation between the receivers to operate an image fixing station as a slower throughput speed then the linear speed of the receivers exiting the transfer station and thereby provide more fusing energy and higher image quality without appreciable loss in productivity. The sequence also provides for better registration, by maintaining the receiving member conforming to the transfer drum during the total toning process.

Abstract: In a reproduction apparatus, such as a copier, having a fusing station which includes a heated coated fuser roller and a pressure roller forming a nip for fusing a receiver passing through said nip, the fusing station is mounted for lateral movement in relation to the movement of the receiver through the nip.

Abstract: A laminating apparatus for laminating a material such as paper stock. Once the paper stock is laminated an image is transferred to the laminated paper stock. A flexure plate is provided to maintain the paper stock or the laminated paper stock free of creases or wrinkles. The image transferred to the laminated paper stock appears as if the image had been printed on said paper stock.

Abstract: A laminating apparatus is provided to laminate a material such as paper stock. Once the paper stock is laminated an image is transferred to the laminated paper stock. The image transferred to the laminated paper stock appears as if the image had been printed on said paper stock.

Abstract: A scanning system that uses two cameras or scanners and two original document paths. If the system is to be used in a duplex mode, the original document is transmitted over a single document path while a first camera scans one side of the document and a second camera scans the other side of the document. If the system is to be used in a simplex mode, the original document is placed on either of the paths or, if a series of original documents are to be simplex scanned, both paths may be utilized at the same time. In this manner and with the use of mirrors, either camera may scan one side of the original document, one side of two original documents may be scanned at substantially the same time or two sides of the original document may be scanned at substantially the same time.