Abstract: An anastomosis is performed using a mounting structure mounted on the outside of at least one vessel. The mounting structure includes a flexible mounting structure that is attached to the vessel by a special instrument. A graft vessel is attached to the mounting structure either directly or by means of another mounting structure attached to the graft vessel. Tools for attaching a mounting structure to a vessel are disclosed, and a tool for attaching two mounting structures together is also disclosed. Methods for carrying out the anastomosis according to the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: An anastomosis is performed using a mounting structure mounted on the outside of at least one vessel. The mounting structure includes a flexible mounting structure that is attached to the vessel by a special instrument. A graft vessel is attached to the mounting structure either directly or by means of another mounting structure attached to the graft vessel. Tools for attaching a mounting structure to a vessel are disclosed, and a tool for attaching two mounting structures together is also disclosed. Methods for carrying out the anastomosis according to the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dilation catheter having a catheter shaft with an inner lumen for receiving a guidewire and an inflatable balloon member located at the distal portion of the shaft in fluid communication with the inner lumen. The catheter includes a distal seal disposed within the inner lumen of the shaft. The distal seal allows for movement of the guidewire relative to the inner lumen, while also providing for a fluid tight seal around the guidewire, independent of fluid pressure within the lumen, thereby both restricting a patient's blood from passing into the inner lumen and restricting media from the inner lumen from passing into the patient's bloodstream. A valve is located along the catheter shaft and adapted to engage the guidewire and provide for a fluid tight seal around the guidewire when fluid under pressure is applied to the interior of the balloon member.

Abstract: A surgical clamp having an elongate cavity to receive a replaceable pad. The pad includes a draw cord to draw the pad into place on the jaw. The pad is formed with an attachment member engagable in the elongate cavity of the jaw. The draw cord is preferably an extension of the attachment member.

Abstract: A plurality of embodiments of a distal perfusion device are disclosed, which device facilitates anastomosis constructions by maintaining a dry anastomosis site while simultaneously maintaining blood flow distally in the blood vessel to prevent ischemia and reduce overall patient trauma. The perfusion device is configured for installation into a blood vessel such as a left anterior descending coronary artery through an incision therein, to which is to be grafted a distal end of a blood vessel such as an internal mammary artery. The device includes a central member of selected configuration and material, terminating at either end thereof in respective selectively tapered end members. A lumen extending through the central member and end members, and selected perforations in the end members, maintain blood flow through the perfusion device.

Abstract: A data recording apparatus is constructed by: an input unit for receiving first and second digital data in which a ratio of sector sizes is not equal to an integer ratio; a block segmenting unit for inserting first data nA and second data mB (n and m are integers of 2 or more and n≠m) when it is assumed that a sector size of first data is set to A and a sector size of second data is set to B and for forming data of a block structure; a recording processing unit for performing an error correction encoding and a digital modulation to the data of the block structure; and a recording unit for recording the recording data from the recording processing unit to a data recording medium.

Abstract: A convertible connector arrangement for a video camera includes first and second connector portions. One of the connectors is configured for analog signals and the other for digital signals. The first and second connectors are joined along one side thereof to be pivotally mounted by a mounting member in an installation body, or frame. The mounting member and the joined connectors are configured such that the two connectors are disposed at a predetermined angle in relation to one another. According to pivotal movement of the mounting member, one of the two connectors may be operably disposed in an opening provided in the installation body. The other connection is thus inoperably stored within the video camera or VTR body. A locking mechanism is further provided to assure secure mounting and operability. A video camera utilizing the convertible connector arrangement may thus be selectably converted for analog or digital operation in a secure and efficient manner.

Abstract: A collapsible wire whisk including a handle and wire basket. The wire basket comprises a plurality of wires that are coupled to a wire holder slidably and twistably mounted within the handle. The handle is hollow and has a proximal end with two arcuate apertures through which the wires may be inserted. The wire holder is a hollow cylinder that has a plurality of holes circumferentially positioned on each end. Each end of each wire of the wire basket is threaded through one of the holes on each end of the wire holder. The wires are crimped both above and below the wire holder to keep the wire basket coupled to the wire holder, but the wires remain free to be twisted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a control transfer on a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device. A USB device includes a memory space for reading and writing data transmitted over a USB network. The memory space is shared between a plurality of endpoints. A host initiates a control transfer by transmitting a SETUP token to a first endpoint. The endpoint must accept the SETUP token. If the first endpoint does not expect the SETUP token, or if another endpoint is active, the device stores the token until a buffer is allocated and the first endpoint is made active.

Abstract: An evacuatable storage unit that includes a substantially rigid container having an open upper end, a flexible air tight liner attached to the inside of the container, and a port installed in a surface of the liner that allows air to pass out of the liner and prevents air from entering the liner. The liner has an upper portion that extends out beyond the open upper end of the container. The liner upper portion terminates in an opening for inserting compressible articles into the liner. The opening is closable to form an air tight seal. As air inside the liner is evacuated from the liner through the port (typically by using a household vacuum cleaner), the liner upper portion and compressible articles stored therein collapse into the container.

Abstract: A structure and process are provided for converting DC-DC voltages, which allows both buck and boost conversion utilizing a single switched capacitor array. In one embodiment of this invention, the switched capacitor array comprises multiple gain blocks, where the gain blocks are identical and stacked upon each other. The switches and capacitors are configured so that various combinations of series and parallel capacitor connections are possible, and thus both buck and boost conversions are attainable with one switched capacitor array. Other embodiments of the present invention use multiple gain blocks, configured such that the capacitor in each gain block can be connected to ground. As a result, a single charge state for a range of desired gains can be configured for use with a shared or common rest state, i.e., a capacitor configuration which is the same regardless of the desired gain.

Abstract: Disclosed is a MOS transistor having a polysilicon gate structure in which an overlying metal interconnect completely shorts the gate area. In one embodiment, the gate is formed from multiple fingers joined in a serpentine pattern and separated by oxide-filled spaces. Overlying the fingers and oxide-filled spaces is an interconnect comprising a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first metal layer overlies the fingers and oxide-filled spaces and the second metal layer overlies the first metal layer. Both metal layers form a stack that simultaneously shorts the fingers. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating such a polysilicon gate structure in a MOS transistor using a series of masks. Once the gate and fingers are defined, a conformal oxide is deposited over the fingers and in the spaces between the fingers. The conformal oxide is anisotropically etched to produce a planarized profile of the fingers and oxide-filled spaces.

Abstract: A method is shown for a central node to flow control one or more end stations operating under a medium access control protocol wherein the central node transmits a signal to the end stations that causes the end stations to defer a data transmission, and wherein the central node halts the transmission to reset a protocol timer in the end stations, and wherein the central node resumes transmission before expiration of another protocol timer that would cause the end stations to commit to attempting a data transmission onto the communications medium and the end stations can thereby be held in a flow control state without loss of transmission packets.

Abstract: The eye pillows of the present invention, used for therapeutic treatment of a user's eye and accu-pressure points around the user's eye, each include a hollow shell formed of a pliable material, and a predetermined amount of particulate material having a predetermined weight contained in the shell. The amount and weight of the particulate material and the pliability of the shell are selected so that when the pillow is placed over a user's eye, the shell conforms to, fills in, and applies evenly distributed pressure to the eye socket around the user's eye, including evenly distributed pressure to accu-pressure points around the eye. The pillows can be individually applied, connected together with a strap or head band, or even removably or integrally attached to a larger pillow or mask.

Abstract: The running real time length of combined video and audio signal programs is shortened or lengthened by deleting or repeating individual fields or frames and corresponding amounts of audio segments. The video and audio portions of the programming material are separated and subjected to processing through a pair of program time changing units. The video portion is processed by deleting individual fields or frames on a manual, periodic or automatic basis. Manual deletion is done by an operator observing the program material on a monitor. Periodic deletion is performed automatically after the operator specifies the total amount of time (or number of fields or frames) to be deleted, with every ith frame or field deleted regardless of content. Automatic deletion is done in a fashion similar to periodic deletion, but the fields or frames are examined and are deleted on the basis of the amount of between frame motion.

Abstract: A charge pump circuit is provided which includes a plurality of successively coupled charge pump stages. Each of these successively coupled charge pump stages receives at least one input signals and at least one clock input signals, and in accordance therewith, conveys at least one output signal. Significantly, at least one output signal of a prior charge pump stage is substantially equal to at least one input signal of a next adjacent charge pump stage, so that the prior adjacent charge pump stage will be effectively shut off, so that reverse current flow can be prevented through the charge pump circuit.

Abstract: A metal surface having optimized reflectance is created utilizing the following process steps alone or in combination: 1) performing alloy/sintering of the metal-silicon interface prior to a chemical mechanical polish of the intermetal dielectric before the reflective metal electrode is formed; 2) chemical-mechanical polishing the intermetal dielectric layer again after vias are formed; 3) forming a metal adhesion layer composed of collimated titanium over the underlying dielectric; 4) depositing metal upon the adhesion layer at as low a temperature as feasible to maintain small grain size; 5) depositing at least the first layer of the reflectance enhancing coating on top of the freshly deposited metal prior to etching the metal; and 6) depositing the initial layer of the reflective enhancing coating at a temperature as close as possible to the temperature of formation of the metal electrode layer in order to suppress hillock formation in the metal. Deposition of the REC serves two distinct purposes.

Abstract: A device for occlusion of a body passageway and subsequent perfusion of the body passageway with arterial return blood, cardioplegia and other fluid is disclosed. The device of the present invention is an expandable cannula comprising a flexible, expandable tubular elongate body having a first diameter and a second diameter, wherein the expandable cannula is inserted having a first diameter and then expanded to a second diameter to provide perfusion flow to the body passageway through at least one arterial return aperture provided on the distal end of the expandable tubular elongate body in fluid communication with a perfusion lumen provided within the cannula. The device may be further provided with one or more additional lumens for providing additional functions to the vessel lumen and may also include an expandable occluding member fixed at the distal end of the cannula for isolating the surgical area from the rest of the arterial system.

Abstract: An aquatic autosampler device for frequent collection of discrete samples of microorganisms at various locations and depths. The aquatic autosampler device moves a filter disk within a filter housing from a filter carousel into a filter housing holder. The filter housing holder, slidably mounted on a linear shuttle, moves the filter housing into a process position, where a syringe draws fluid in through a valve manifold and through the filter disk to collect samples on the filter disk. Reagents may then be passed over the filter disk to enable image-based identification and quantification of the cells on the filter disk. An imaging system on the autosampler may capture a fluorescent image of the microorganisms on the filter disk and store the image in a control computer. The filter housing may then be returned to the filter carousel for storage and further lab processing.