Abstract: An expansible balloon catheter has at least a first exterior surface with a given coefficient of friction and a second exterior surface with a greater coefficient of friction. In a compact form only the first exterior surface is exposed to produce a low coefficient of friction during transfer of the collapsed or uninflated balloon to and across a lesion. When inflated, the second surface dominates the first surface and produces an increased coefficient of friction overall thereby to stabilize the balloon in the lesion.

Abstract: A medical visualization device for examination of an anatomical area through a body orifice for diagnosis or local therapeutic treatment. The device comprises a fiber optic handle and a distal tip which incorporates a viewing lens. The distal tip further comprises access means for insertion of hypodermic needle to perform an injection of therapeutic substances.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for treating an irregularity in a wall of a vessel of a patient defined by an irregular or afflicted wall portion with adjacent normal wall portions comprises a catheter having a distal end portion for being guided through the vessel to the site of the irregularity. A balloon associated with said distal end portion of the catheter for selective inflating to contact the walls of the vessel urges a stent carried by the distal end portion of the catheter in a constricted condition for passage through the vessel into an expanded form with the stent spanning the afflicted wall portion and contacting the adjacent wall portions. The catheter is formed with lumens for inflating the balloon, for receiving a guidewire for guiding the catheter through the vessel, and for connecting a port in the catheter proximate the afflicted wall portion to enable delivery of a therapeutic agent into the vessel to contact the stent and the irregular wall portion.

Abstract: Catheter apparatus for performing diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in the biliary tree includes a catheter with multiple lumens. A first lumen is adapted to receive a guidewire and can serve as a transport lumen for contrast agent. A second lumen carries a cutting wire for performing a sphincterotomy. A third lumen can be used as an inflation lumen for a distally located balloon. Expansion of the balloon occludes a portion of the biliary tree and allows the catheter to sweep any gallstones through the sphincter of Oddi into the duodenum.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivery and deployment of devices having abrading portions within a patient's lumen. A lumen in a flexible catheter that extends proximally from a distal end of the catheter receives the device in a compact form. At least one impervious segment positioned in the lumen overlies the abrading portions of the device to shield and buffer the surface of the lumen from the abrading portions. The segment is of a relatively short length so that the catheter remains relatively flexible therealong to enable relative ease in the transit of the catheter through the patient's lumen to a delivery site. Additional segments may be disposed in the catheter distally of the segment or the segment may move with the device to the distal end to buffer the walls of the catheter during the deployment of the device. Additional segments mate with the segment so that engaged ones of the segments are relatively radial deflectable.

Abstract: A variable length ureteral stent assembly. A central catheter tube forms a ureter stent with a retention structure for anchoring the stent in the ureter particularly within the bladder and kidney. The catheter tube is formed of a shape memory material and at least one of the retention structures includes a end portion of the catheter wrapped spirally into a multiple-turn planar coil having an axis that is transverse to the plane of the structure. The retention structure can then be partially unwound while still providing an anchoring function. Partially unwinding increases the length of an intermediate section of the ureteral stent.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting binders includes a binder insert securable in a binder having a planar portion with a first edge proximate a spine of the binder. A second portion of the binder insert extends from the first portion beyond the cover of a binder and has a transverse portion. The transverse portion slides within a tubular member with an elongated slot. When the tubular member is attached to a horizontal support surface, inserting the transverse portion in the tubular member enables the binder to be supported by the insert with the binder spine lying in a vertical plane.

Abstract: A system and method for providing on-line, real-time, transparent data migration from a first data storage system to a second data storage system. The first data storage system which had previously been coupled to a host, network or other data processing system is disconnected from the host and connected to a second data storage system. The second data storage system is coupled to the host or data processing system. The second data processing system includes a data map or table which indicates which data elements are stored on the second data storage system and which corresponding data elements on the first data processing device have been copied to the second data storage system. When the host, network or data processing system requests data from a data storage system, the second data storage system determines whether or not the data is stored on the second or first data storage system. If the data is stored on the second data storage system, the data is made available to the requesting device.

Abstract: A reclosable bag includes a detachable reclosure tie having a tail portion formed by a series of spaced elongated seals and a closed loop. Apparatus for forming the reclosure tie with a bag includes first and second sealing jaws with external and internal grippers for holding web material. The first sealing jaw carries cutting and perforating knives and a cooling block that directs cooling air onto the knives to prevent the knife temperature from rising to the melting temperature of the web material. Each sealing jaw contains a heating block with complementary sealing surfaces for forming various seals including the seals that form the tail portion of the reclosure tie.

Abstract: A method for forming a surgical retrieval basket includes cold forming a section of each of a plurality of axially extending wires in a predetermined shape. Securing the wires together proximate the sections with a cavity defined between the sections of the plurality of the wires forms an enlarged portion of a surgical retrieval basket. The retrieval basket comprises a plurality of wires normally encased in a compact form within a sheath whereupon displacement of the sheath to free a portion of the wires enables the wires to form an enlarged retrieval basket. The wires forming the retrieval basket are cold formed in a predetermined shape and are secured together in a predetermined fashion to define the retrieval basket.

Abstract: A bidirectional catheter with a deflectable tip at a distal end includes a handle at a proximal end and a tubular member extending between the tip and the handle. The handle includes a first piston member slidably mounted in a handle base with proximal ends of steering wires secured in the handle. The steering wires extend through the tubular member with respective distal ends thereof secured to circumferentially spaced portions of the distal end tip. Axial displacement of the piston member in a second direction conversely urges deflection of the distal end tip in a second direction by tensioning the other wire relative to the first wire. The piston member can include another piston member slidable in the first piston member with the proximal ends of the steering wires secured in the first mentioned piston member and the handle member, respectively, and with the other piston member supporting a proximal end of the tubular member.

Abstract: Catheter apparatus for performing diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in the biliary tree includes a catheter with multiple lumens. A first lumen is adapted to receive a guidewire and can serve as a transport lumen for contrast agent. A second lumen carries a cutting wire for performing a sphincterotomy. A third lumen can be used as an inflation lumen for a distally located balloon. Expansion of the balloon occludes a portion of the biliary tree and allows the catheter to sweep any gallstones through the sphincter of Oddi into the duodenum.

Abstract: A push-button switch includes a base, a cover and a button subassembly. The button subassembly attaches to the underside of and extends through an opening of the cover. The cover includes tabs that extend from each side with a locking element further extending from an inner surface of each tab that engages slots in the base to hold the base and cover together. The switch can include different length fixed contacts and rivets in place of contact pads. The contacts can include the fixed contacts extending in parallel horizontal planes and the same or spaced transverse planes. The switch can also employ a pivot arm and an adjustable member to control the gap between the fixed contacts and moveable contacts.

Abstract: A barbecue adapted for portability and being gas-fired. A parallel smoker plate assembly intermediate a gas burner and a cooking plane enhances heat transfer to provide even cooking heat across the entire cooking area. Each of two parallel plates in the smoker plate assembly have offset aperture patterns that facilitate the transfer of heat while preventing the accumulation of liquids from any food in the combustion chamber. A burner assembly with an open-ended tube receives fuel from a pressurized gas bottle having a regulator and discharge tube that readily connects to a detaches from one end of the barbecue. When detached, the gas bottle, regulator and discharge tube stow readily within the barbecue. Integral, pivotal leg structures lying within the combustion chamber shift between stowed positions where they are positioned interiorly of the exterior surface of a barbecue and supporting positions where they stably support the barbecue on a surface.

Abstract: A catheter for the administration of a liquid agent at a target site includes a catheter tube, a handle and a conduit that extends through a central volume formed in the handle. The catheter includes a guidewire lumen and two parallel liquid agent transfer lumens. The conduit seals into the proximal end of the guidewire lumen and to the handle at a first entry port and spans the central volume. The tube therefore prevents the transfer of any liquid agent into the guidewire lumen and provides a passageway for enabling the catheter to transfer over the guidewire. With two transfer lumens the catheter tube provides a maximum transfer flow rate while maintaining the ability of the catheter to resist kinking and bending.

Abstract: A liquid-filled seal for sewer pipes. The seal comprises a hollow trapezoidal cavity formed by spaced circumferentially extending walls and radially extending walls of elastomer or other material formed of substantially uniform thickness. Additional materials extending radially from the circumferentially extending walls form inner and outer annular sealing ribs that contact portions of adjacent pipes thereby to effect a seal between those sections. A non-compressible liquid fills the cavity thereby to promote uniform sealing pressure around the periphery of the pipes notwithstanding the relative position of the adjacent pipe sections.