Abstract: An apparatus for moving an object disposed within a body lumen. The apparatus includes a first sheath, a coupling member and at least one contraction member for engaging at least a portion of the object. The coupling member is movable relative to the first sheath between a retracted position and a capture position. In the retracted position, a distal portion of the coupling member is disposed within the first sheath. In the capture position, the coupling member distal portion is disposed outside the first sheath. The coupling member is also selectively attachable to the object in at least the capture position. When the coupling member is attached to the object and the contraction member is directly engaged with the object, a predetermined coupling member movement relative to the contraction member radially contracts at least a portion of the object thereby facilitating movement of the object within the body lumen.

Abstract: Tool arrangement for the production of helical teeth in gear wheels, wherein a roughing hob (20), at least one deburring cutter (16, 18) and a finishing hob (12) can be fastened on a common mandrel (14) in a predetermined rotational position relative to one another, and the teeth of the finishing hob, which are situated along a helical line, each have a different cross section such that the engagement angle of the right or left flanks decreases continuously starting from a maximum value of the first tooth up to the last tooth, and the maximum engagement angle of the right flanks of the first or last tooth coincides with the minimum engagement angle of the left flanks, and vice versa.

Abstract: An LED light and communication system includes at least one optical transceiver, the optical transceiver including a light support and a processor. The light support has a plurality of light emitting diodes and at least one photodetector attached thereto. The processor is in communication with the light emitting diodes and the at least one photodetector, where the processor is constructed and arranged to illuminate at least one of the light emitting diodes to generate a light signal which in turn includes at least one embedded data packet. The at least one embedded data packet communicates global positioning system (GPS) location information.

Abstract: An LED light and communication system includes at least one optical transceiver, the optical transceiver including a light support and a processor. The light support has a plurality of light emitting diodes and at least one photodetector attached thereto, the light emitting diodes receiving power from a power source. The processor is in communication with the light emitting diodes and the at least one photodetector, the processor capable of illuminating the light emitting diodes to simultaneously create at least one first light signal, and at least one second light signal, the first light signal being observable to the unaided eyes of an individual and the second light signal not being observable to the unaided eyes of the individual. The second light signal includes at least one data packet. The at least one data packet comprises global positioning system (GPS) location information.

Abstract: An intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system may define a security zone or group of zones. The system may identify vehicles and individuals entering or exiting the zone through image recognition of the vehicle or individual as compared to prerecorded information stored in a database. The system may alert security personnel as to warrants or other information discovered pertaining to the recognized vehicle or individual resulting from a database search. The system may compare images of a suspect vehicle, such as an undercarriage image, to standard vehicle images stored in the database and alert security personnel as to potential vehicle overloading or foreign objects detected, such as potential bombs. The system may track individuals or vehicles within a zone or between zones. The system may further learn the standard times and locations of vehicles or individuals tracked by the system and alert security personnel upon deviation from standard activity.

Abstract: Apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve, including: a replacement valve adapted to be delivered endovascularly to a vicinity of the heart valve; an expandable anchor adapted to be delivered endovascularly to the vicinity of the heart valve; and a lock mechanism configured to maintain a minimum amount of anchor expansion. The invention also includes a method for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. In some embodiments the method includes the steps of: endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an expandable anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve; expanding the anchor to a deployed configuration; and locking the anchor in the deployed configuration.

Abstract: A balloon catheter may comprise a primary inflation balloon and a secondary inflation balloon located to one side of the primary inflation balloon. The secondary balloon comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion located closer to the primary balloon. The second portion has a greater size than the first portion, and a portion of the second portion extends outwardly beyond the first portion and overhangs the first portion. In some embodiments, a cross-sectional shape of the secondary balloon in an inflated state comprises a mushroom shape.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods controllably cool blood vessels and other body lumens. The blood vessel will often be treated for atherosclerotic or other diseases by inflating a balloon so as to engage the surrounding luminal wall. Controlled cooling of the balloon effected by a change in phase of a cryogenic fluid within the balloon typically a change from a liquid phase to a gas phase can be provided with a controlled, gradual inflation of the balloon. A single control system can be used for any of a variety of alternative selectable balloon catheters having significantly differing cooling fluid flow characteristics.

Abstract: A wind energy plant with a rotor, which is coupled to a gear via a rotor shaft, the rotor shaft being double bearing mounted via one rotor side bearing and one gear side bearing, wherein a connection between the rotor shaft and gear is provided at the gear side of the gear side bearing, and the gear side bearing props up on a machine carrier via at least one supporting equipment and the gear is detachably connected with the supporting equipment.

Abstract: A tube-in-tube assembled parison for preparation of an elongated medical device. The parison if formed by assembling in tube-in-tube fashion a first tube of orientable polymer material and a second tube formed of orientable polymer material disposed around the first tube, with an adhesive tie layer disposed between the first and second tubes. The tubes are brought into contact to form a unitary parison. The adhesive may allow movement between the polymer layers during balloon blowing. The first tube, or the second tube, or both, may have been longitudinally pre-stretched after formation thereof but before assembly of the parison.

Abstract: A wind energy plant with a rotor, which is connected to a gearbox and/or a generator via a rotor shaft, wherein the rotor shaft is bearing mounted on a carrier unit via two taper roller bearings in an O arrangement, characterized in that each taper roller bearing has an inner and an outer race, wherein the inner races and the outer races are secured in their distance to each other in the axial direction with respect to the rotational axis of the rotor shaft via an adjustment device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a door hinge system which includes an integral exposed vertically oriented pin as a portion of a doorframe bracket, and a central latch bracket as engaged to a door. The pivotal manipulation of the door engages the latch of the central latch bracket to the pin, to secure the door to the doorframe. The central latch bracket includes a channel for receipt of the pin which is securely and releasably retained in the channel by the leading cam edge of the latch and safety slide. Disengagement of the latch from the pin enables a door to be easily separated from doorframe for re-hanging at a future time.

Abstract: A filling apparatus for a rotary tablet press, which itself being arranged stationarily is associated to a circulating die plate of a rotor of the tablet press, with a filling chamber, which features an upper inlet opening for powder-shaped compression material and a filling opening aligned with die bores of the die plate, and with a conveying means in the filling chamber driven by a drive motor, wherein the filling chamber is circular, one single disc-shaped filling wheel is rotatably mounted around a vertical axis in the filling chamber, which has plural wings on the perimeter, spaced apart in the perimeter direction, which sweep over the filling opening upon rotation of the filling wheel, and the inlet opening is arranged in a distance above the filling wheel, preferably approximately centered with the axis of the filling wheel.

Abstract: A method for the removal of wood pulp and other adhering substances from waste plastics in the recycling of all types of waste plastics, of mixed plastics (MKS) in particular, in which foils and pieces from thicker plastic parts of if necessary pre-sorted waste plastics are mechanically pre-shredded into flakes or particles up to a preset size, wherein oversizes are sorted out, the shredded product is charged into a disc refiner together with water, wherein the proportion of flakes and other particles is at least 10% of the total volume, substances adhering on the flakes are rubbed down by the co-operating discs of the refiner to a large extent, and are then present as separate substances, and the substances rubbed down are separated from the plastic particles by a suitable separation method.

Abstract: Disclosed is an implantable or insertable medical device comprising (a) a substrate and (b) a hydrogel polymer coating at a least a portion of the surface of the substrate, wherein the hydrogel polymer is adapted to render the medical device visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) upon insertion or implantation of the medical device into a patient. Also disclosed is the use of such a hydrogel coated implantable or insertable medical device in a medical procedure, wherein during or after insertion or implantation of the medical device in a patient, the position of the medical device is viewed under MRI. The use of a hydrogel polymer for coating a medical device wherein the hydrogel polymer is adapted to render a medical device coated with the hydrogel polymer visible under MRI and a hydrogel polymer adapted to render a medical device coated therewith visible under MRI are also disclosed.

Abstract: Inductive measuring arrangement for coin validation in free-fall coin-operated devices, in which at least one elongate coil arrangement on one side of the drop path of the coins extends transversely to the drop path, two coaxial elongate coils being arranged adjacent to one another, a shell core which is E-shaped in cross section being provided, which receives the coils between its outer arms, and a central arm extending, either not at all or only partially, into the outer coil.

Abstract: A wireless headset has a body, an ear clip, and at least two devices for converting at least two different sources of energy into electrical power. The body includes an RF integrated circuit in electrical communication with an antenna and a baseband circuit, the baseband circuit being in electrical communication with a microphone and a speaker. The at least two devices for converting at least two different sources of energy into electrical power are in electrical communication with the RF integrated circuit and the baseband circuit. The ear clip is engaged to the body. The at least two sources of energy are selected from the group consisting of solar energy, thermoelectric energy, piezoelectric energy, and vibration energy.

Abstract: An inventive repositionable stent may comprise a plurality of adjacent serpentine bands connected to one another by at least one permanent connector strut and by at least one disengagable connector strut. The stent may self-expand within a bodily lumen to an intermediate deployment diameter, wherein the stent is constrained from further expansion by the at least one disengagable connector strut. The stent may be repositioned within the bodily lumen while in the intermediate deployment configuration. The disengagable connector strut may be disengaged via electrolytic detachment, whereupon the stent may expand to a full deployment diameter.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus for real-time alignment of packaging surfaces can include two or more sensors for detecting the positioning of carton surfaces and a servo system. The servo system can include a servo motor and a controller. The servo system records the positioning of the carton surfaces and calculates a difference in position. The controller compares the calculated value with a predetermined value and if necessary, the servo motor turns a correction wheel to align the carton surfaces.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to medical devices and related methods. In some embodiments, the methods include applying a material to the balloon and then removing the material from one or more regions of the balloon.