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: An actuator is provided. The actuator includes a rod having a socket portion at one distal end of the rod and a swivel cap. The swivel cap includes a base portion having an inner surface and an outer surface and a raised domed portion disposed on the inner surface of the base portion. The outer surface has an origin of the radius at the center of the plane that defines the outer surface of the base portion. The raised domed portion is mounted on the socket portion of the rod and has an origin of the radius on the plane that defines the outer surface of the base portion. A raised region is located on at least one of the raised domed portion or the socket portion. The swivel cap tilts relative to the rod in response to angular misalignment with a load to a tilt angle.

Abstract: A rotational atherectomy device for removing a stenotic tissue from the iliac artery of a patient. The device comprises a flexible, rotatable drive shaft having an elongated proximal portion, an elongated distal portion, and an abrasive element mounted to the drive shaft between the elongated proximal and distal portions of the drive shaft and configured for rapid rotation together with the drive shaft.

Abstract: A desuperheater spraying valve assembly includes an actuator coupled to a plug with a valve seat in the proximity of the plug. The plug is affixed to an actuator rod which transverses the body of the valve assembly. A spray tube may be affixed to the valve seat and at least one spray nozzle is affixed to the spray tube. The plug and the valve seat are conical in shape and when the plug is inserted into the valve, they form a seal.

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 rotational atherectomy device for removing a stenotic tissue from the iliac artery of a patient. The device comprises a flexible, rotatable drive shaft having an elongated proximal portion, an elongated distal portion. An abrasive element is mounted to the drive shaft between the elongated proximal and distal portions of the drive shaft and between and spaced away from a pair of counterweights which are mounted to said elongated portions of the drive shaft. The eccentric abrasive element and the counterweights are configured for rapid rotation together with the drive shaft, the drive shaft is configured to extend throughout an entire length of the iliac artery to be treated. One elongated portion of the drive shaft extends out of the patient through a first access opening located in a femoral artery which is ipsilateral to the treated artery. Another elongated portion of the drive shaft extending through a second access opening located in another peripheral artery of the patient.

Abstract: A valve plug includes a cylinder, a first plug seat, a second plug seat, and a convoluted portion. The cylinder has a first and second end. The first plug seat is disposed at the first end. The second plug seat is disposed proximal to the second end. The convoluted portion is disposed between the first seat and the second seat. The convoluted portion provides flexibility for the cylinder to flex between the first plug seat and the second plug seat.

Abstract: Linear pipe recovery/lay tensioners can include one or more pivot assemblies for rotatably moving an upper track away from a lower track to facilitate placement of a pipe segment between the two tracks. In addition, or alternatively, the tensioners can include one or more hydraulic cylinders that provide flexible suspension to the upper and lower tracks so the tracks can move and rotate as necessary due to differing pipe segment shapes. In addition, or alternatively, the upper and lower tracks include one or more gripping pads having one or more gripping members that can be sheathed by a compliant member until such time as the pipe segment compresses the compliant member causing the gripping member(s) to protrude from the compliant member and engage the pipe segment. Rotation of the tracks is controlled by a hydraulic pump capable of rotating the tracks at the same rate or at different rates.

Abstract: A rotational atherectomy device for abrading a stenotic lesion from a vessel of a patient comprises a flexible drive shaft which extends towards a distal end of the device, a distal fluid inflatable support element located at a distal end of the drive shaft and an abrasive element mounted to the drive shaft proximal to and spaced away from the distal fluid inflatable support element. Both the abrasive element and the distal fluid inflatable support element are rotatable together with the drive shaft and the drive shaft comprises a torque transmitting coil which defines a long lumen of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A valve is provided. The valve may include: an axially movable spool having a conical valve portion and dissipating disk portion; a valve housing defining a valve cavity in which the spool resides; a first port in the valve housing; a second port in the valve housing; a land defined by the housing; a wide portion in the housing; and a valve seat defined, at least in part, by the valve housing configured to form a seal with the conical valve portion, wherein the land, the wide portion, the conical valve portion, and the valve seat are dimensioned to cause the disk portion and the land to be proximate to each other when the valve section is near the valve seat and the disk portion is proximate to the wide portion when the valve section is away from the valve seat.

Abstract: A rotational device for removing a stenotic lesion from within a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The device comprises a flexible hollow drive shaft having a distal end insertable into the vessel and an abrasive element located on the drive shaft proximal to the distal end of the drive shaft to abrade a stenotic lesion when the drive shaft rotates. The hollow drive shaft defines a lumen for fluid supplied into the drive shaft to flow in an antegrade direction along the lumen and into the vessel from the drive shaft distal to the abrasive element so that the fluid entering the vessel flows in a retrograde direction over the abrasive element and the drive shaft to entrain debris abraded by the abrasive element for removal of said debris from the patient.

Abstract: A rotational atherectomy device for removing a stenotic tissue from a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The device comprises a rotatable, flexible, hollow drive shaft having a fluid impermeable wall defining a lumen of the drive shaft and, an abrasive element mounted to a distal end portion of the drive shaft proximal to and spaced away from a distal support element formed at a distal end of the drive shaft. The distal support element is inflatable by pressurized fluid which flows in an antegrade direction through said lumen of the drive shaft and is least partially re-directed into the distal fluid inflatable support element. The distal fluid inflatable support element has an outer wall comprising an outflow opening.

Abstract: A rotational atherectomy device for removing a stenotic tissue from a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The device comprises a rotatable, flexible, hollow drive shaft having an open distal end. The drive shaft comprising a fluid impermeable wall, an abrasive element mounted to the drive shaft proximal to and spaced away from its distal end, the fluid impermeable wall being formed from a torque transmitting coil and at least one fluid impermeable membrane which define a lumen for the antegrade flow of pressurized fluid through the drive shaft and into a distal fluid inflatable support element to inflate said fluid inflatable support element. The distal fluid inflatable support element is located at the distal end of the drive shaft and has an outer wall comprising an outflow opening.

Abstract: A valve comprising sealing members configured to allow the valve to achieve an open position, a closed position, lower seat clean position and an upper seat clean position is described. A method including opening a valve, closing a valve, moving the valve to a lower seat clean position, and moving the valve to an upper seat clean position is described.

Abstract: A mixing system for mixing fluids or the like in a mixing vessel. The mixing system includes a fixed conduit connected to the top portion of the vessel extends into the vessel. The system also has a rotating shaft having disposed within the fixed conduit that rotates within the fixed conduit while the mixing system is in operation. An impeller is attached to the rotating shaft. The impeller blade has a flat central disk portion, at least a pair of extensions extending from a central disk portion, and at least two leading edges defined by the outer periphery of the disk portion. Each leading edge spans from one extension to an adjacent extension, and each leading edge has at least a portion at which the radius of the leading edge from the center increases to form a continuous increasing radius curve. Each leading edge forms an increasing radius spiral edge surface in between the extensions.

Abstract: A rotational atherectomy device for abrading a stenotic lesion from a vessel of a patient includes a flexible drive shaft (1) which extends towards a distal end of the device, a distal fluid inflatable support element (3, 3?) located at a distal end of the drive shaft and an abrasive element (5) mounted to the drive shaft proximal to and spaced away from the distal fluid inflatable support element. Both the abrasive element and the distal fluid inflatable support element are rotatable together with the drive shaft and the drive shaft includes a torque transmitting coil (2) which defines a long lumen of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A rotational atherectomy device for removing a stenotic tissue from the iliac artery of a patient. The device comprises a flexible, rotatable drive shaft having an elongated proximal portion, an elongated distal portion, and an abrasive element mounted to the drive shaft between the elongated proximal and distal portions of the drive shaft and configured for rapid rotation together with the drive shaft. The drive shaft is configured to extend throughout an entire length of the iliac artery to be treated and one elongated portion of the drive shaft extends out of the patient through a first access opening located in a femoral artery which is ipsilateral to the treated artery. Another elongated portion of the drive shaft extends through a second access opening located in another peripheral artery of the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary motor, comprising a plurality of vanes, an inner rotary member housing the plurality of vanes projecting from a central rotation axis of the inner rotor, a multi lobe member encompassing the inner rotary member and the plurality of vanes, where the multi lobe member comprises at least two lobes wherein each of the lobes comprises an inlet and an outlet for a working medium, and a plurality of chambers wherein each of the chambers is encompassed by an inner surface of the multi lobe member and an outer surface of the inner rotary member. Such devices in accordance with some embodiments of the invention provide that a plurality of inlets and outlets amplify the output torque of the motor, that any side load is absent or minimized, and that a faster and stronger rotational force is achieved compared to a conventional hydraulic motor having a single pair of inlet and outlet.

Abstract: A rotational atherectomy device for removing a stenotic tissue from a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The device comprises a rotatable, flexible, hollow drive shaft having a fluid impermeable wall defining a fluid impermeable lumen of the drive shaft and, an abrasive element mounted to a distal end portion of the drive shaft proximal to and spaced away from a distal support element formed at a distal end of the drive shaft, the distal support element being inflatable by pressurized fluid which flows in an antegrade direction through said lumen of the drive shaft and is at least partially re-directed into the distal fluid inflatable support element.

Abstract: A hydraulic flow sensing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes: a manifold; a hole in the manifold in fluid communication with a fluid pathway; a poppet valve in the hole in the manifold configured to move when fluid in the pathway flows; and a proximity switch configured to detect movement of the poppet valve. A method of operating a hydraulic circuit may also be provided.