Abstract: Rotational atherectomy devices and systems can remove or reduce stenotic lesions in blood vessels by rotating one or more abrasive elements within the vessel. The abrasive elements are attached to a distal portion of an elongate flexible drive shaft that extends from a handle assembly that includes a driver for rotating the drive shaft. In particular implementations, individual abrasive elements are attached to the drive shaft at differing radial angles in comparison to each other (e.g., configured in a helical array). The centers of mass of the abrasive elements can define a path that spirals around the drive shaft in a direction that is opposite to the wind direction of filars of the drive shaft, and opposite to the direction of rotation. In some embodiments, a concentric abrasive tip member is affixed to and extends distally from a distal-most end of the drive shaft.

Abstract: Rotational atherectomy devices and systems can remove or reduce stenotic lesions in blood vessels by rotating one or more abrasive elements within the vessel. The abrasive elements can be attached to a distal portion of an elongate flexible drive shaft that extends from a handle assembly that includes a driver for rotating the drive shaft. In particular implementations, individual abrasive elements are attached to the drive shaft at differing radial angles in comparison to each other (e.g., configured in a helical array). The centers of mass of the abrasive elements can define a path that fully or partially spirals around the drive shaft. In some embodiments, a distal stability element with a center of mass aligned with the longitudinal axis is fixedly mounted to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A mobile data processing device configured to assist in locating a user. The device comprises an enclosure and an attachment base for attaching the device to a garment, lanyard or strap wearable by a user. The attachment base moves between a first (“normal”) position and a second (“alert”) position with respect to the enclosure in response to an external force acting on the enclosure. The device further comprises a detector system for detecting removal of the attachment base from the normal position, and an alert signal generator configured to send an alert signal in response to said detection. The alert signal can be generated quickly by grabbing the enclosure and pulling the device downwards.

Abstract: A split ring includes a split ring body, the body having a first end and a second end; a first fastener hole defined by the first end of the split ring; a second fastener hole defined by the second end of the split ring; a gap defined by the first and second ends approaching each other wherein the first fastener hole and the second fastener hole are aligned to permit a fastener to extend through the first fastener hole, across the gap and through the second fastener hole; and a protrusion extending beyond the body of the split ring, the protrusion being located on the body opposite the gap. A method of forming a split ring includes: forming a split ring body; fixing onto the body a projection that projects above the body; and installing a closing mechanism into the split ring in order to allow the split ring to tighten over an object.

Abstract: This document describes rotational atherectomy devices and systems for removing or reducing stenotic lesions in blood vessels by rotating an abrasive element within the vessel to partially or completely remove the stenotic lesion material.

Abstract: Rotational atherectomy devices and systems can remove or reduce stenotic lesions in blood vessels by rotating one or more abrasive elements within the vessel. The abrasive elements can be attached to a distal portion of an elongate flexible drive shaft that extends from a handle assembly that includes a driver for rotating the drive shaft. In particular implementations, individual abrasive elements are attached to the drive shaft at differing radial angles in comparison to each other (e.g., configured in a helical array). The centers of mass of the abrasive elements can define a path that fully or partially spirals around the drive shaft. In some embodiments, a distal stability element with a center of mass aligned with the longitudinal axis is fixedly mounted to the drive shaft.

Abstract: This document describes rotational atherectomy devices and systems for removing or reducing stenotic lesions in blood vessels by rotating an abrasive element within the vessel to partially or completely remove the stenotic lesion material.

Abstract: This invention provides an adjustable bracket that can be used to attach auxiliary fuel tanks and other tanks to the bottom of a trailer or vehicle. The adjustable nature of the bracket allows it to be used on a variety of trailers, with different widths. The adjustable bracket comprises two parts with one sliding inside of the other. Each part has several slots that can be lined to create a bracket that is the ideal length to span the distance between the side panels of a trailer or vehicle. The bracket has holes in the bottom through which the bracket can be attached to a mounting retainer or strap that holds the tank in place.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus and system includes a hub, a plurality of blades, and a respective hinge for each blade to pivotally secure each blade to the hub. Each hinge including a lock having a tab and a detent to secure the respective blade in an operating conformation.

Abstract: A process for converting waste fibers to solid fuel is provided, including providing a supply of animal waste including the waste fibers in a predetermined quantity; washing the supply of animal waste for a predetermined washing period; dewatering the supply of animal waste by separating water from the waste fibers for a predetermined dewatering period; shedding the waste fibers for separating liquids from solids; compressing the dewatered and shed waste fibers to generate a plurality of briquettes; torrefying at least one of the plurality of briquettes in a torrefaction reactor using a heat source at a predetermined torrefying temperature for a predetermined torrefying period; removing the at least one of the plurality of briquettes from the reactor; and cooling the torrefaction reactor to reach a predetermined cooling temperature.

Abstract: An improved weight-set hanger system and method of securing the weight set hanger for use comprises three independent locking mechanisms that are built into an actuator/packoff assembly. These independent locking mechanisms comprise two locking rings, one of which fastens the actuator/packoff assembly to a spool body, and the other of which internally locks the hanger to the actuator/packoff assembly. A third locking mechanism comprises a plurality of screw down spring loaded lock pin assemblies, which, in an embodiment, are spaced out at 90 degree intervals.

Abstract: A method for a positioning server configured to locate positioning devices and to maintain information on users, who are associated with respective positioning devices. The server receives one or more alert messages from an alerting positioning device. Each alert message conveys identifying information of the alerting positioning device. The server uses the identifying information to retrieve a location estimate of the alerting positioning device. The server forms a first set of other positioning devices in a vicinity of the alerting positioning device and sends an assist request message to the positioning devices in the first set. The assist request message indicates the location estimate of the alerting positioning device and/or said descriptive information.

Abstract: Visual-inertial odometry uses visual input from a camera and inertial motion measurements to track the motion of an object. This technique can be applied to surveying urban environments, such as a curb or streetscape, that are impractical to survey with a surveyor's wheel, GPS, or imagery from cars. Making visual-inertial odometry measurements of a curb with a handheld surveying device yields relative measurements from a starting point to an ending point on the curb. These relative measurements can be pinned to an absolute coordinate frame using measurements of gravity made while acquiring the visual-inertial odometry measurements and absolute measurements of the starting and ending points.

Abstract: A swivel assembly for an actuator includes: a rod defining a socket, the rod defining an arcuate surface at the floor of the socket; a cap dimensioned to fit into the socket, the cap defining a convex arcuate surface dimensioned to correspond to the arcuate surface of the floor of the socket; a first extended surface defined by the rod, the first extended surface, defined at least in part, by side portions of the socket providing depth to the socket; a second extended surface defined by the cap providing an extended length to the cap to allow the cap to extend out of the socket when the convex arcuate surface of the cap contacts the arcuate surface of the floor of the socket; and a cylinder assembly operatively connected to a piston and the cap to permit the piston and cap to move axially along a longitudinal axis of the cylinder assembly to move inwardly and outwardly of the cylinder assembly.

Abstract: An actuator is provided. The actuator includes: a housing having an interior elongated hole; a rod dimensioned to fit in the elongated hole; a piston dimensioned to fit in and move along the elongated hole while connected to the rod; mating structure located on at least one of the piston and rod, the mating structure configured to allow the rod to attach to the piston in a manner to create clearance between the rod and the piston to allow the rod and piston to move with respect to each other. A method of attaching a piston to a rod in an actuator may also be provided. The method may include: fitting the piston to the rod; providing a clearance between the piston and the rod; fastening the piston to the rod in a loose manner as to preserve the clearance and allow the piston to move with respect to the rod.

Abstract: A process for converting waste fibers to solid fuel is provided, including providing a supply of animal waste including the waste fibers in a predetermined quantity; washing the supply of animal waste for a predetermined washing period; dewatering the supply of animal waste by separating water from the waste fibers for a predetermined dewatering period; shedding the waste fibers for separating liquids from solids; compressing the dewatered and shed waste fibers to generate a plurality of briquettes; torrefying at least one of the plurality of briquettes in a torrefaction reactor using a heat source at a predetermined torrefying temperature for a predetermined torrefying period; removing the at least one of the plurality of briquettes from the reactor; and cooling the torrefaction reactor to reach a predetermined cooling temperature.

Abstract: A pneumatic system for operating a hydraulic valve is provided. The system may include: a first piston set; a first connector attached to the first piston operably connecting the first piston; a first spring biasing the first piston to move in an axial direction; a second port in the first housing; a second piston set with in a second cavity defined by a second housing; a second connector attached to the second piston, a second spring biasing the second piston to move in an axial direction; a first port in the second housing; and a second port in the second housing configured to provide fluid communication with in the second cavity at a second end of the second piston.

Abstract: An atherectomy system for removing a stenotic lesion from within a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The system comprising an atherectomy device for reducing the lesion and a separate elongate drainage catheter for evacuating from the treated vessel embolic particles released into the vessel from the stenotic lesion during its reduction by the atherectomy device during an atherectomy procedure. The atherectomy device and the separate elongate drainage catheter are each configured for introduction into the patient's vasculature though separate openings in at least one peripheral artery of the patient.

Abstract: An actuator has: a rod having a socket portion at one distal end of the rod; and a swivel cap including: a base portion having an inner surface and an outer surface having an origin of the radius at the center of the plane that defines the outer surface; a raised domed portion disposed on the inner surface of the base portion and mounted in the socket portion of the rod; a raised region located on at least one of the raised domed portion or the socket portion; wherein the swivel cap tilts relative to the rod in response to angular misalignment with a load to a tilt angle; a housing having an interior elongated hole wherein the rod is dimensioned to fit in the elongated hole; a piston dimensioned to fit in and move along the elongated hole while connected to the rod; and mating structure located on at least one of the piston and rod, the mating structure configured to allow the rod to attach to the piston in a manner to create clearance between the rod and the piston to allow the rod and piston to move with re

Abstract: A process is provided for converting waste fibers to solid fuel. The process includes providing a supply of animal waste including the waste fibers in a predetermined quantity, subjecting the supply of animal waste to anaerobic digestion, producing a waste byproduct, dewatering the waste byproduct, and compressing the dewatered waste byproduct to form briquettes.