Abstract: A tether connector configured to form an electrical connection with a sensor connector through a sterile barrier disposed over the sensor connector. The tether connector can include a housing, an electrical lead extending from the housing, and a first piercing element in the housing orthogonally connected to the electrical lead, the first piercing element configured to pierce the sterile barrier to form the electrical connection with the sensor connector.

Abstract: A catheter placement system including a catheter having a catheter tube distally coupled to a catheter hub having one or more extension legs proximally coupled to the catheter hub. The catheter tube defines one or more lumens where each of the one or more lumens is in fluid communication with one of the extension legs. The catheter placement system further includes a skin nicking device configured to transition between a sheathed configuration and a deployed configuration. The skin nicking device includes a needle defining a needle lumen, having a needle wall including one or more slots in fluid communication with an outside surface of the needle, and one or more blades configured to be aligned with the one or more slots, the one or more blades coupled to a distal end of one or more connecting members within the needle lumen.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a puncture includes a positioning member including a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into a puncture, an expandable element on the distal end, and a tension indicator on the proximal end. The tension indicator includes a distal housing portion fixed relative to the proximal end, and a proximal housing portion or handle movable proximally relative to the distal housing portion. The handle is biased towards the distal housing portion such that, when sufficient tensile force is applied between the expandable element and the handle, the handle moves away from the distal housing portion. During use, the distal end is introduced through a puncture into a vessel, the expandable element is expanded, and the positioning member is partially withdrawn until the expanded element contacts a wall of the vessel and the handle separates from the distal housing portion, indicating that sufficient tension is applied.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a puncture includes a cartridge, a pusher member, a sealant, and a tamping device on a proximal end of the cartridge. During use, the cartridge, sealant, and pusher member are advanced over a positioning member and into the puncture by advancing a cartridge hub carrying the tamping device. When further distal advancement of the cartridge is limited, the cartridge hub is further advanced, activating the tamping device, and causing the pusher member to advance relative to the sealant to compress the sealant within the puncture.

Abstract: Methods and devices to facilitate positioning of a catheter into a vessel. Devices include axially concentric assemblies of a piercing needle and a dilator that guides an outer catheter into a vessel, such as a blood vessel. The assemblies described herein can include retraction mechanisms and/or lock mechanisms to control needle positioning during catheterization processes as well as improved valves that prevent leakage of fluid from the proximal end of the devices. The devices and method include the use of novel valves to prevent undesired leakage of fluids through the proximal end of the catheter.

Abstract: Avalanche transceiver, and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for identifying a location of a victim buried in an avalanche includes: emitting a signal by a transmitting transceiver of the victim; receiving the signal by a receiving transceiver; and identifying an orientation from the receiving transceiver to the victim based on constructing a straight line from the receiving transceiver to the transmitting transceiver.

Abstract: A medical valve can include a housing that includes a sidewall and defines a chamber. The medical valve can include a septum coupled to the housing. The septum can include a proximal surface and a selectively openable closure positioned within the chamber. The medical valve can further include a plurality of projections that extend away from the sidewall and are configured to contact the proximal surface of the septum to oppose movement of a restricted portion of the septum in a proximal direction such that an aspiration cracking pressure required to open the closure to permit fluid flow through the septum in the proximal direction exceeds an infusion cracking pressure required to open the closure to permit fluid flow through the septum in the distal direction.

Abstract: A door holder and release assembly that is adjustable to account for different differences between the door and where the door holder and release assembly will be installed (e.g., a wall, the floor, another support location). The door holder herein has a base member, a holder member, and a connector. The base member may be configured for operative coupling with a wall or a door. The holder member may be configured for operative coupling with a release assembly on the wall or the door opposite the base member. Moreover, the holder member may be configured to be telescopically operatively coupled with the base member through the connector to position the holder member at varied distances from base member to allow for the accommodation of varying distances between a wall and the door, as well as for minor adjustments that a user may want to make.

Abstract: A connector for implementing multi-faceted interconnection according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first dielectric layer between a first circuit layer and a second circuit layer, a first copper pillar layer connecting the first circuit layer and the second circuit layer in the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer on the first circuit layer, a third circuit layer on the second dielectric layer, and a vertical second copper pillar layer connected to the third circuit layer, wherein an opening is formed in the second dielectric layer to expose the first circuit layer, and the second copper pillar layer exposes side faces facing side end faces of the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: An automated system for creating a road from sand, gravel or aggregate in conjunction with expandable webbing is provided in which expandable webbing and sand, gravel or aggregate may be positioned and deployed by the system to form a road surface. A series of pins may restrain and transport the webbing. An automatic welder may connect sections of webbing. A hopper, conveyor and auger may receive and distribute the sand, gravel or aggregate. The sand, gravel and aggregate may be combined with the expandable webbing and then settled into place in the ground using a vibration plate.

Abstract: A water treatment system having a base assembly and a treatment assembly. The treatment assembly of the system may be configured to filter particulates from water. The base assembly may include a UV reactor operable to disinfect water for consumption.

Abstract: A method for making a badge includes laminating a printed substrate with a back side laminate sheet and a front side laminate sheet and disposing a barrier sheet between at least one of the back side laminate sheet and the printed substrate and the front side laminate sheet and the printed substrate. And a side loading pocket section is formed between at least one of the back side laminate sheet and the printed substrate and the front side laminate sheet and the printed substrate.

Abstract: The various examples are directed to establishing a secure session between a device and a server. The device and the server may establish a session key. The session key may be used for encrypting data. After authenticating the session key, the server may transmit secure session data to the device, and the device may store the secure session data. The server may transmit information for deriving, based on secure session data, the session key to a different server. The device may transmit the secure session data to the server, or to the different server, to re-establish the secure session. The different server may derive, using the information and based on the secure session data, the session key. The different server may re-establish, using the session key, the secure session.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and devices to facilitate positioning of a catheter into a vessel and selectively controlling flow of fluids through the catheter until desired using one or more valves.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for a latent-heat exchanger chamber, usable in distillation devices, which comprises an evaporator in a capillary evaporation regime on the inner face thereof and a condenser in a capillary condensation regime on the outer face thereof, with a system for the dosed supply of liquid into microgrooves or micro undulations of the inner evaporator face, preventing the formation of thin films of water on the evaporator face, the arrangement achieving high latent-heat transfer coefficients.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and kits for implanting a vascular graft to perform hemodialysis treatments on patients with renal failure are disclosed. The kits can include access devices comprised of an access catheter having a guidewire lumen and stylet lumen, a guide tube having a curved distal end, a stylet, an actuator handle and a vascular graft. The methods describe techniques for using the described kits and devices for performing vascular procedures, such as percutaneous implantation of the vascular graft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ladder assembly for equipment, the ladder assembly comprising a ladder pivotally mounted to a mount; an actuation mechanism that includes a drive that engages a rotational actuator, the rotational actuator operatively connected to the ladder; wherein the drive causes rotation of the rotational actuator causing the ladder to pivot about the mount.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of transvascular retrograde access placement and to devices that facilitate these methods. For purposes of the present invention, transvascular retrograde access placement generally comprises the insertion of a vascular catheter into a central blood vessel through the puncturing of the central blood vessel from the inside of the central blood vessel with a needle or other similarly configured device, or a needle-tipped guidewire of the present invention, and exiting that needle from the patient through the skin rather than the traditional approach of inserting a needle from the outside of the skin surface to the inside of a blood vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and device for desalination by liquid water jet compression, which is a phase-change desalination with a high-efficiency latent heat exchanger in which the pressure of the primary saturated vapor is increased until obtaining the secondary saturated vapor by injecting translational and rotational kinetic energy via pressurized water jets, so as to leave an unobstructed path through which the vapor flows at high speed in order to achieve a high flow rate and high efficiency.

Abstract: A latch bolt with a bolt head that is removably mounted on a latch tail through the use of a bolt head adjustment mechanism. The bolt head adjustment mechanism may comprise one or more locking members (e.g., within the bolt head, the latch tail, and/or independent from the other components of the latch bolt) that allow the bolt head to be removed, rotated, and reassembled while the latch bolt is located within the case of the mortise lock. The bolt head may comprise an anti-friction latch that is configured to pivot within the flanges of the bolt head in a way that maintains contact between the anti-friction lock and the strike plate.