Abstract: The present invention is directed to distal tip designs for catheter, wherein distal tip material is positioned about an inner shaft. The distal tip material may also be used as a tie layer for thermally bonding two incompatible materials together, such as a waist portion of a balloon to the inner shaft.

Abstract: Medical device polymeric tubing segments suitable for forming catheter shafts or as balloon parisons are formed with discrete regions having different orientation relative to each other. Wall thickness may also be varied of the length of the segment.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of uniaxially expanding a fluoropolymer product including the steps of expanding a green fluoropolymer product in a first direction to create a first-expanded fluoropolymer product, and expanding the first-expanded fluoropolymer product in the same first direction. As a result with the subject invention, it has been found that ultra-high expansion and a variety of different porous/fibril structures can be achieved by using subsequent expansion steps in the same direction. Various considerations exist with such methodology, including the selection of rates of expansion of both steps, the amount of expansion of both steps, pre-heating and cutting the product between expansion steps. Although the present invention can be used with various fluoropolymer products, it is particularly well-suited for use with PTFE.

Abstract: An expandable medical balloon for use in combination with a catheter assembly, the balloon having a torque in a first and second unexpanded state, and to methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: A method for the measurement of the temperature of a plastified plastic material at the exit of an extruder, characterized in that the function of the sound velocity in dependence of the temperature is measured and memorized for at least one plastified plastic material, the sound velocity is measured during the extrusion of the plastic material, and the respective temperature is determined from the velocity measurement values and the function.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a pipetting device with a throw-off system for detachably connecting with at least one pipette tip, at least one displacement device, a driving device for driving a displacement member of the displacement device and an adjustment device with a lead screw nut and a lead screw for adjusting the metering volume.

Abstract: A catheter assembly comprises at least one catheter shaft and a balloon. The catheter shaft comprises a substantially cylindrical portion and at least one tapered portion. The tapered portion forms an angle with the cylindrical portion of about 1 degree to about 25 degrees. At least one of the waists of the balloon is sealingly engaged to the tapered portion.

Abstract: A dilatation balloon formed with at least one layer, the layer including at least one polymeric material and at least one material which is a heating medium, the heating medium sensitive to an electromagnetic field.

Abstract: A stent comprising a serpentine portion extending about the circumference of the stent, the serpentine portion having a first end and a second end, the serpentine portion having a plurality of turns at the first end and a plurality of turns at the second end and struts extending therebetween, at least one of the turns at the first end, at least one of the turns at the second end, at least one of the struts therebetween, or some combination thereof having a plurality of shaped recesses thereon.

Abstract: Described herein are medical devices which are configured for implantation or insertion into a subject, preferably a mammalian subject. The medical devices contain one or more multilayer regions, which contain: (a) one or more (typically a plurality of) charged nanoparticle layers and (b) one or more (typically a plurality of) charged polyelectroyte layers. Such multilayers have a number of desirable attributes, including high strength, non-compliance, and flexibility. Also described herein are methods of making such devices.

Abstract: A locking element for a dispenser for discharging a medium, with an insert body, which has an outlet channel and an exit opening for the medium to be discharged, and a piston element which has a piston head co-operating with a piston seat and at least one elastic resilient leg, characterized in that a sealing element is arranged in the outlet channel, which forms the piston seat, and the piston element with the at least one resilient leg is arranged in an enlarging channel portion of the outlet channel, wherein the piston head is pre-tensioned against the piston seat and is pushed out of the piston seat by the exiting medium.

Abstract: A wind energy plant and method for installing a rotor hub on a rotor shaft. At the end of the rotor shaft facing the rotor hub, a locking disk is attached on the rotor shaft, which has a multiplicity of bores for the preliminary attachment of the rotor hub, for installing it, the rotor hub is made to sit close to the locking disk, if required, the bores in the locking disk are made to overlap with corresponding bores in the rotor hub by rotating the rotor shaft and/or the rotor hub, starting from the rotor shaft side, the rotor hub is preliminarily screwed together with the locking disk through the bores of the locking disk and of the rotor hub, and starting from the interior space of the rotor hub, the rotor hub is definitely screwed together with the locking disk and the rotor shaft.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for using a universal support consisting of one or more modules having a deformable enclosure (3) connected to a vacuum source (5) through an orifice. Said enclosure is of concave shape forming a chamber (6) provided with a flexible body (7). The method consists in the following series of steps: applying a vacuum to the chamber (6) so that the deformable enclosure (3) collapses; positioning the part which is to be supported; breaking the vacuum in the chamber (6); and applying a vacuum inside the deformable enclosure (3).

Abstract: Systems and methods for coating medical devices are provided that allow for relatively precise control over the deposition area and coating uniformity with improved efficiency. A microdrop source is used to provide a flow of coating microdrops. A charging electrode disposed near the outlet of the coating source gives each microdrop an electrostatic charge. As the microdrop travels toward the medical device to be coated, a control electrode alters the trajectory of the microdrop. The invention can include a scanner to scan or image the medical device as the coating is applied and a control system to adjust parameters of the deposition process based on information provided by the scanner.

Abstract: The invention is a pipe joint that is particularly suitable for joining pipes composed of materials having a low surface energy and excellent resistance to solvents. The major components are an extrudable adhesive; a first pipe having a socket with an inside diameter, where said socket has a mouth, a self-centering bottom, and a substantially cylindrical wall with an inlet, an outlet, and an inner annular channel; a second pipe having an insertion section with an end and an outer annular channel, said second pipe having an outside diameter that is less than the inside diameter of the socket, where the difference in diameters defines a cap and where the outer annular channel lines up with the inner annular channel therein forming an interlocking keyway; and a flanged annular ring, where said annular ring has an inside diameter that enables it to be slid over the second pipe and a thickness that is comparable to the gap, and where the flange has a width that is sufficient to cap the mouth of the socket.

Abstract: An anchoring assembly part for a wind turbine tower, which part is in a ring- or ring segment shape and prefabricated from a concrete material, and which has at least one projecting reinforcement element for the connection with a lower tower portion made of a concrete material, and at least one bore for receiving an anchor bolt for the detachable connection with an upper tower portion made of steel, an anchor sleeve with an internal thread for screwing in the anchor bolt being arranged in said bore.

Abstract: A radially expandable prosthesis for implantation in a lumen comprises a tubular wall having an inner surface and an outer surface. The tubular wall is provided with cuts to form solid struts which have a thickness and which enables the prosthesis to expand. The solid struts have reservoirs made therethrough in the form of perforating holes for containing a therapeutic agent. The perforating holes each have an inner opening and an outer opening of substantially the same size. The prosthesis, including said perforating holes, has a smooth electrochemically polished surface.

Abstract: Methods of making multi-furcated grafts and, more particularly, a bifurcated graft from at least one ePTFE member are provided. Also provided are grafts made according to such methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for certifying and subsequently authenticating original physical or digital documents. The concept of the evidence lies in the dual nature of a physical information item and a digital information item, one being the reference for the other that cannot lie amended at the risk of the evidence being lost. For a physical original document associated with a bubble seal there is a corresponding time-and-date-stamped, proprietary paperless reference counterpart. For a time-and-date-stamped, proprietary digital original document there is a corresponding reference counterpart in the form of a bubble seal.