Abstract: A stent has adjacent circumferential rings of struts. Adjacent rings being connected by a plurality of connectors. The stent having a hybrid of peak to valley and peak to peak connectors.

Abstract: Medical devices and delivery systems for delivering medical devices to a target location within a subject. In some embodiments the medical devices can be locked in a fully deployed and locked configuration. In some embodiments the delivery systems are configured with a single actuator to control the movement of multiple components of the delivery system. In some embodiments the actuator controls the independent and dependent movement of multiple components of the delivery system.

Abstract: A stent has adjacent bands being connected by connectors. Each band has a plurality of interconnected struts. The width of a portion of a strut end region is greater than the width of a portion of the strut medial region. Adjacent strut end regions within a band are connected at a turn. Each connector has first and second connector end regions, and a connector medial region. The width of a portion of the first connector end region or second connector end region is greater than the width of a portion of the connector medial region. The first connector end region is engaged to one turn of a first band and the second connector end region is engaged to one turn of a second longitudinally adjacent band, the first and second bands having connected turns and unconnected turns, the connected turns having a greater width than the unconnected turns.

Abstract: A stent delivery system includes a catheter with an axially extending inner core and outer sheath. Axially spaced rings extending from a relatively narrow diameter portion of the inner core proximate the distal end thereof. The rings engage proximal portions of a compacted stent disposed within the sheath and over the core and rings. A proximal handle of the system has a first portion that supports the sheath and a second portion that supports the core for relative displacement of the core and the sheath. Retraction of the sheath relative to the core uncovers the stent engaged by the rings which tends to remain stationary relative to the core so that upon partial retraction of the sheath a distal end of the stent expands to its expanded form. Further retraction of the sheath deploys the stent, retracting the core returns the distal portion of the stent into the sheath.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises an inner tube, a medical balloon and an inflation lumen. The medical balloon is disposed about the inner tube and in fluid communication with the inflation lumen. A collapsible portion of the inner tube is constructed to collapse inward upon delivery of an inflation fluid to the medical balloon to secure the inner tube to the guidewire.

Abstract: A stent delivery system which includes a stent delivery catheter, the stent delivery catheter having a stent mounting region, the stent mounting region having an inflatable portion. A stent is disposed about the stent mounting region, the stent having an unexpanded position and an expanded position. At least one stent retaining sleeve is also included having first and second ends, the first end being attached to the stent delivery catheter, the at least one stent retaining sleeve disposed about at least a portion of the stent in the unexpanded position, the stent retaining sleeve being constructed and arranged to retract toward the attached first end when the stent is expanded.

Abstract: A radially expandable stent comprising a plurality of spaced band-like elements and intersecting links is disclosed. The band-like elements have a generally serpentine configuration to provide continuous waves of generally sinusoidal character to each band-like element. The waves are characterized by a plurality of peaks and troughs taking a generally longitudinal direction along the cylinder such that the waves in the band-like elements open as the stent is expanded from a first diameter to a second diameter. The intersecting links are substantially U-shaped and terminate in first and second shanks. The first shank of a link emanates from a region between a peak and trough on a band-like element and the second shank of the link emanates from a region between a peak and trough on an adjacent band-like element.

Abstract: Vacuum concentrator, comprising a vacuum chamber with a closure which may be sealed in an airtight manner, a centrifuge rotor arranged in the vacuum chamber with at least one receiver for at least one vessel for samples to be dried, a drive motor arranged outside the vacuum chamber for driving the centrifuge rotor, a vacuum pump connected to the vacuum chamber, a tempering device associated with the vacuum chamber for tempering the at least one sample in the vacuum chamber, a pressure sensor associated with the vacuum chamber for detecting the pressure inside the vacuum chamber and an electrical control and evaluating device which is connected to the drive motor, the vacuum pump, the tempering device and the pressure sensor, for detecting the end point of the vacuum concentration by means of the pressures detected by the pressure sensor in the vacuum chamber and terminating the vacuum concentration when the end point is determined.

Abstract: An optical sensor system on an apparatus for treating liquids, with a device for projecting light to at least one illumination position in space, at least one device for imaging the at least one illumination position on at least one photo detector in order to supply a measurement signal depending on the received light, wherein the device for projecting is a device for simultaneously projecting light to plural illumination positions and/or the device for projecting is a device for simultaneously projecting light under different angles to the same illumination position, and/or plural photo detectors are existent, and an analysing unit connected to the at least one photo detector for analysing the at least one measurement signal.

Abstract: A phone for pets and pet owners is taught which allows the owner to call the house and “talk” to the pet. The owner can then see a video image of the pet in front of the pet phone to verify presence and happiness. The device can also present the owner's scent to the pet and deliver treats on remote command. In some embodiments, the pet can initiate the phone call.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical prosthesis having a low profile for delivery into a body lumen. The stent includes a plurality of geometric cells defining the stent, which has first and second opposed open ends; and a plurality of wire strands woven to form a plurality of crossed regions defining the geometric cells. Each wire strand has strand ends and the strand ends are disposed at the second end of the stent.

Abstract: The present invention provides an implantable prosthesis and more specifically, an implantable tubular textile prosthesis comprising a biocompatible fabric having inner and outer surfaces and first and second ends; the fabric having a textile construction comprising cold drawn PTFE yarns having a substantially uniform denier and high molecular orientation. Use of cold drawn PTFE yarns result in implantable prostheses that have excellent abrasion resistance, strength and lubricity properties. Useful textile constructions include weaves, knits, braids, filament windings, spun windings and combinations thereof. The prostheses of the present invention are lubricious and have characteristics that closely resemble the properties of a natural body lumen.

Abstract: A composite vascular graft is provided, which incorporates bioactive agents that can be controllably delivered to the implantation site to deliver therapeutic materials and/or to reduce infection of the implant. The vascular graft of the present invention includes a luminal layer of ePTFE; and a biodegradable polymer layer including a bioactive agent, such as an antimicrobial agent. The biodegradable polymer layer is posited on the external surface of the luminal ePTFE layer. The graft also includes a fabric layer, which is posited on the external surface of the biodegradable layer. The graft is particularly useful as an arterial-venous graft for hemodialysis procedures.

Abstract: Filter pipette tip with a small tube with a relatively large aperture at one end for attaching to a pipette, a relatively small aperture at the other end for the passage of liquid and a through-channel between the large aperture and the small aperture and a porous filter arranged in the through-channel, filling up a portion of the through-channel and comprising at least two layers arranged in series in the direction of the through-channel of which a fine-pore layer has a pore size of a maximum of approximately 20 ?m and a coarse-pore layer a pore size of approximately 20 to 50 ?m, the two layers having different pore sizes.

Abstract: A wind energy plant with a nacelle, a rotor, which features at least one rotor blade adjustable in its blade pitch angle, a central control device for controlling the wind energy plant and a control unit disposed in the rotor for controlling the blade pitch angle of the at least one rotor blade, wherein the central control device and the control unit in the rotor can exchange data with each other via a data link, which comprises at least one first sending and receiving device at the nacelle side and at least one second sending and receiving device at the rotor side, wherein a wireless network connection with a safety-oriented communication protocol is provided between the at least one first sending and receiving device and the at least one second sending and receiving device, and that one monitoring- and communication device at a time is associated to the first and/or the second sending and receiving device, which can monitor the function of the sending and receiving device and initiate a predetermined action

Abstract: A method for the operation of a wind farm having two or more wind energy plants, which has a farm control which presets a desired value for an electric variable of the wind farm which has to be generated, wherein the farm control calculates an average increase of the real values of the electric variable for at least one time interval continuously, and compares it with a maximum value for the increase of the electric variable in the respective time interval, the farm control determines a proposal of a desired value for each predetermined time interval, based on a real value of the electric variable which was averaged continuously over the time interval, and in the case that the average increase in the at least one time interval is smaller than the maximum value in the corresponding time interval, the farm control determines a new desired value of the electric variable of the wind farm, with a selection of the desired value as the smallest of several proposals for a desired value.

Abstract: A medical device, at least a portion of which is formed from a polymer composition including at least one liquid crystal block copolymer having at least one A block and at least one B block wherein the A block is formed of mesogenic repeat units and the B block is a soft block.

Abstract: A powder press, with a press frame, which comprises an upper and lower frame section, an upper linear drive attached to the upper frame section and a lower linear drive attached to the lower frame section, wherein the drives are connected to an upper and lower punch plate or a die table, respectively, wherein the punch plates have a clamping system for an upper or a lower punch, a die clamping system on a die table with a die, and at least one force measuring device for measuring the pressing force on at least one punch, characterized in that at least one force measuring device is disposed between a punch plate and the associated clamping system.

Abstract: A drug eluting stent comprising a multilayer tubular structure which includes at least one intermediate layer having reservoirs therein for deposition of a drug, the intermediate layer eluting drug in a lateral direction, and methods of making the same.