Abstract: A tile support structure and method for finishing the ceiling of a building. The support structure includes a plurality of adjacently spaced elongated bracket members secured to a building's overhead framing members and a plurality of adjacently spaced elongated cross members disposed transversely to and supported by the adjacently spaced bracket members thereby defining a supporting grid for supporting a plurality of tiles.

Abstract: The present invention taught, enabled, described, illustrated and claimed herein comprises a continuous cover-type debris/fluid separation apparatus which is easily installed in existing, conventional trough-type gutter structures. The apparatus is configured to capture a small amount of water between two ridge features in a what is termed herein a “static pool.” The first ridge is preferably formed adjacent the outer part of the gutter structure and the second ridge is formed adjacent the inner part of the gutter structure (i.e., adjacent a terminal edge of the roof of a building). The first ridge has an apex portion that is preferably is disposed at a higher elevation than an apex portion of the second ridge. The portion of the cover structure disposed between the first ridge and the second ridge thus defines the static pool region. As rainwater flowing from the terminal edge of the roof begins to fill the static pool region the rainwater naturally seeks level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of coating a packaging container with a coating composition having crosslinkable polyester-polyurethane polymer with at least two carbamate sites, and a crosslinker. The method includes coating a generally planar substrate with the coating composition, curing and forming a container or a portion of a container. The present invention also provides a coating composition and coated substrates.

Abstract: An improved seed belt housing to reduce seed skip and method for same. The seed belt housing having a modified back panel with an area of impact absorbing material disposed at least in the area where the seed normally hits the back panel of the seed belt housing after being discharged by the seed meter. The impact absorbing material having the properties to dampen, absorb, or reduce the amount of bounce or ricochet otherwise experienced by the seed after hitting the back panel of the seed belt housing.

Abstract: A self-expanding stent formed from helically wound and braided filaments of bioabsorbable polymers such as PLA, PLLA, PDLA, and PGA.

Abstract: A braided self-expandable stent-graft-membrane made of elongated members forming a generally tubular body. A membrane layer and graft layer are disposed on a endoprosthesis such as a stent. The membrane layer is substantially impermeable to fluids. The outermost layer is biocompatible with the body tissue. The innermost layer is biocompatible with the fluid in the passage. An embodiment includes a graft layer disposed on the inside of a stent and a membrane layer disposed on the outside of the stent. The innermost layer is biocompatible with the fluid in the passage. The stent-graft-membrane is used at a treatment site in a body vessel or organ where it is desirous to exclude a first fluid located outside the endoprosthesis from reaching a second fluid located in the lumen. The membrane may be made of silicone or polycarbonate urethane. The graft may be braided, woven, spun or spray-cast PET, PCU, or PU fibers. The layers may include ePTFE or PTFE.

Abstract: A controlled system comprises a plurality of peripheral operating devices connected to an electrical power supply. Each of a plurality of local controllers is mounted near an associated peripheral operating device, and is connected in series with the power supply to the associated peripheral. Each of a plurality of sensors is connected to a local controller and is operative to send sensor information to the connected local controller. An interface is operative to enable each local controller to communicate with each other local controller. Each local controller is operative to receive information from a connected sensor and from other local controllers, send information from the connected sensor to other local controllers, and control power to the associated peripheral operating device in response to information received from the connected sensor or other local controllers.

Abstract: A catheter is formed with a layered wall construction including an inside tube formed of a low friction polymer, a polymeric outside tube, and a metallic reinforcement braid embedded in the wall between the inside and outside tubes. The braid is composed of multiple elongate flexible strands preferably of stainless steel, wound in two opposite directions and interbraided with one another. Each strand has a rectangular transverse profile, with a profile width at least three times the profile thickness. The strands are wound with their thicknesses directed radially of the catheter wall, permitting the catheter wall to be formed at a reduced thickness while maintaining favorable structural characteristics including pushability, torqueability, flexibility and resistance to kinking. As a result, the catheter's outside diameter can be reduced without reducing its interior lumen, or alternatively a larger interior lumen can be provided in a catheter of a given size.

Abstract: A prothesis for transluminal implantation consists of a flexible tubular interbraided structure of metal or polymeric monofilaments, and polymeric multifilament yarns. The prosthesis can be elastically deformed to reduce its diameter through axial elongation. The monofilaments and multifilament yarns are arranged in axially spaced apart helices, concentric on a common central axis of the prosthesis. The monofilaments are selectively shaped before their interbraiding with the multifilament yarns, either by an age-hardening or other heat-setting stage, or a cold-working stage that controllably plastically deforms the strands. The shaped structural strands cooperate to impart to the prosthesis its nominal shape and resilience. The textile strands cooperate to provide a sheeting that occupies interstices between adjacent structural strands, to reduce permeability and thereby enhance the utility of the prosthesis as a vascular graft.

Abstract: A cable tie dispenser for holding a supply of individual cable ties and which allows removal of individual cable ties therefrom while firmly, yet removably, holding the remaining supply of cable ties. The cable tie dispenser includes members of compressible resilient material disposed within the dispenser case which compresses around at least a portion of the length of the cable ties sandwiched therebetween to maintain a firm and substantially uniform pressure on the cable ties. The compressible resilient material expands to fill the void left by any removed cable ties thereby ensuring that even the last cable tie remaining within the dispenser is firmly restrained and will not fall out of the dispenser until it is purposefully removed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlled delivery of seeds between the seed meter of an agricultural planter to an open seed furrow. Seeds are received individually and in a sequence from a seed meter into a housing. The seeds are conveyed in sequence through the housing by a conveyor at a controlled speed to a location proximate the open furrow, then gently released into the open furrow as the agricultural planter moves forward. The controlled delivery of the seed to the furrow ensures more accurate seed placement within the furrow at the desired seed spacing, thereby improving crop yield potential.

Abstract: A magnetic data transducing head slider is provided with a transversely extended crossbar or other barrier near the leading edge. The barrier is deposited onto the air bearing surface of the slider using photolithographic techniques that enable precise determination of the barrier dimensions and the barrier set-back from the leading edge. The barrier set-back, width and thickness can be selected to control the transducer flying height and the pitch of the slider relative to the data recording surface of a magnetic disk when the slider is aerodynamically supported relative to the disk. The barrier also acts as a shield to minimize particulate contamination.

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: A bioabsorbable implantable endoprosthesis having elongate elements including hollow, cavity or porous portions adapted to accumulate by-product from the degradation of the bioabsorbable material and shortening the diffusion distance for water absorption and thereby relatively increasing the degradation of the structure.

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 temporary bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker for use on an implantable endoprosthesis. The bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker is adapted to be disposed on or adjacent an implantable endoprosthesis in a body lumen for a predetermined amount of time until the bioabsorbable and radiopaque materials are absorbed or dispersed in the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stent-graft with a bioabsorbable structure and a permanent graft for luminal support and treatment of arterial fistulas, occlusive disease, and aneurysms. The bioabsorbable structure is formed from braided filaments of materials such as PLA, PLLA, PDLA, and PGA and the graft is formed from materials such as PET, ePTFE, PCU or PU.