Abstract: A catheter stabilization and interrogation device includes a flexible substrate with a proximal portion, a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion, and an intermediate portion located, at least partially, between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The intermediate portion conforms to a patients body, and a bottom surface of the substrate has an adhesive to secure the device to a patient. A stabilizer secured to the proximal portion stabilizes the catheter relative to the patients vasculature and a receptacle located within and/or upon the distal portion receives an interacting element and positions the interacting element relative to the catheter. A monitoring device, constructed within at least the intermediate portion, monitors at least one event within the patient.

Abstract: A low profile catheter system includes a catheter hub with a stabilization surface that is located on an underside of the catheter hub and stabilizes the catheter hub on a patient. A substantially linear flow path extends from an opening at the distal end of the catheter hub to an inlet located within an intermediate portion of the catheter hub. The flow path allows fluid to flow between the distal end and the intermediate portion. The intermediate portion receives a base connector having a fluid path. The fluid path has a first opening and is fluidly connected to the inlet of the flow path in the catheter hub and a biasing member biases the first opening toward the inlet when the base connector is received by the intermediate portion.

Abstract: A one-piece medical connector has a unitary body. The unitary body includes a rigid portion that forms a housing. The unitary body also includes a resilient portion located at least partially within the housing. At least a movable portion of the resilient portion is configured to move relative to the rigid portion. Movement of the resilient portion selectively permits fluid flow through the connector. The rigid portion and the resilient portion form a one-piece unitary connector.

Abstract: A valving device includes a body with an inlet, an outlet and an internal fluid path extending from the inlet to the outlet. Within the internal fluid path, the valving device has a valve mechanism with an open mode that allows fluid flow through the valve mechanism between the inlet and outlet and closed mode that prevents fluid flow through the valve mechanism. The valve mechanism has a first surface facing the inlet and a second surface facing the outlet. The body at least partially defines a flow corral. The flow corral(s) is/are located distal to the valve mechanism and redirect fluid passing through the valving device back toward the second surface of the valve mechanism to flush the underside of the valve mechanism.

Abstract: A patient access site securement system includes a housing with an inlet, an outlet and an internal fluid path between the inlet and the outlet. The housing also has a connecting portion that connects to a catheter and/or a fluid line attached to the catheter. A contact surface is located on an underside of the housing and positions the patient access site securement system on the patient. A first reservoir with an interior holds a liquid and transitions from a first state to a second state. The interior is in fluid communication with the inlet when the reservoir is in the second state to allow the liquid to flow from the inlet, through the internal fluid path and exit the outlet. The liquid interacts with the contact surface and/or the patient to alter a level of securement between the catheter and the patient.

Abstract: A machine tool chip removal device including a coupling interface to couple with a rotatable spindle of a machine tool to facilitate rotation of the machine tool chip removal device about an axis at a rotational speed. The chip removal device can also include a main fluid channel with an opening to receive pressurized fluid from the machine tool. The chip removal device can further include a first fluid delivery channel and a second fluid delivery channel to direct fluid in different directions. Each fluid delivery channel can be in fluid communication with the main fluid channel. In addition, the chip removal device can include one or more valves associated with the first and second fluid delivery channels to selectively allow fluid passage from the main fluid channel to the fluid delivery channels. The one or more valves can be actuated by varying fluid pressure and/or rotational speed.

Abstract: A vascular access site management system includes a stabilization body and a flow housing that is rotatable relative to the stabilization body. The flow housing may have a flow path extending through it to allow fluids to be introduced into or extracted from a patient via a catheter connected to the vascular access site management system. The vascular access site management system may also include a needle free connector fluidly connected to the flow housing via a section of tubing.

Abstract: A device for stabilizing a patient catheter includes a docking pod with a body, an inlet, an outlet, an internal fluid path between the inlet and the outlet, and a securement surface located on an underside of the docking pod. A docking pod adhesive layer located at least partially on the securement surface of the docking pod may secure the docking pod to the patient such that the securement surface and the docking pod adhesive layer form a generally planar or concave surface when secured to the patient. A valve mechanism located within the internal fluid path of the docking pod may control fluid flow through the docking pod. The device may also have a luer connector that is fluidly connected to the outlet of the docking pod and configured to be connected to the catheter.

Abstract: A multi-purpose covering for use with a medical device having a housing and an access port includes a substrate with a first end and a second end. The substrate defines the structure of the covering. The covering also includes a first securing portion nearer the first end of the substrate for securing at least one protective cap to the substrate, and a second securing portion nearer the second end for securing the substrate to the medical device. To protect the access port when the covering is sealed to the medical device, the covering can also include a sealing portion configured to be releasably secured to the medical device.

Abstract: A method for controlling a pressurized water nuclear reactor is provided, including core producing thermal power, sensors for acquiring the mean temperature of the primary coolant and for calculating the thermal power, actuators for controlling the axial distribution of power, the control method including: a first control phase for controlling the reactor during normal operation by controlling the mean temperature of the primary coolant so as to make it correspond to a reference temperature profile (Pref) dependent on the thermal power of the reactor; and a second control phase, referred to as stretchout, that occurs after normal operation of the reactor in order to control the reactor in stretchout by controlling the axial distribution of power, the mean temperature varying freely in a temperature range delimited by an upper limit and a lower limit.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a surface (12) of a piece of nuclear power plant equipment includes scanning the surface (12) with an acquisition field (20) of a matrix array camera (14). The acquisition field (20) moves relative to the surface (12) at a movement speed. The method also includes acquiring, by means of the matrix array camera (14), an image (22) of the acquisition field (20), with a certain acquisition frequency. Each image (22) includes a first number of lines of pixels. The method also includes extracting, from each image (22), a first set of lines, the first set comprising a second number of continuous lines of pixels, the second number being between 2 and the first number; and constituting a final image (32) of the surface (12) by juxtaposing the lines extracted from each image (22). The movement speed, the acquisition frequency, the first number of lines and the second number of lines are chosen such that the final image (32) covers the entire surface (12) without interruption.

Abstract: A medical valve has a housing with an inlet housing and an outlet housing. The interior of the inlet housing and/or the outlet housing has a contact surface. A resilient element sits within the housing and controls fluid flow through the inlet. The resilient element has a proximal portion with a normally closed aperture configured to open when actuated by a medical device. The resilient element also has a distal portion adjacent to the outlet, and a central portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The central portion has a wall that defines a fluid chamber in the open mode and in the closed mode. The wall has at least one projection extending radially outward. The projection maintains compressive contact with the contact surface of the housing and applies an inwardly compressive force on the resilient element, increasing the wall stiffness.

Abstract: A medical valve transitions between an open mode that permits fluid flow, and a closed mode that prevents fluid flow. To that end, the medical valve has a housing with an inlet and an outlet, a rigid member movably mounted within the housing, and a resilient member with a sealing portion. The housing also has at least one relief zone that is in fluid communication with the outlet when the valve is in the closed mode. The rigid member may have a proximal end, a distal end, and a flow channel. The relief zone may be radially outward from the sealing portion. The sealing portion may seal the valve and prevent fluid from passing through the valve when in the closed mode.

Abstract: An assembly for acting on the outer surface of a tube, and corresponding method are provided. The assembly includes a carrier; at least one inspection or maintenance tool; the carrier includes at least one rolling body; an actuator. The carrier further includes a device for connecting the carrier to the tube, arranged so that the tube absorbs at least 50% of the weight of the carrier and the tool.

Abstract: A packing seal is provided for a system for sealing the shaft of a primary motor-driven pump unit of a nuclear reactor, intended to ensure sealing between the primary circuit and the atmosphere. The packing seal including a rotary active surface and a floating active surface, in which a face of the floating active surface and/or the rotary active surface is micro- or nano-structured by an array of holes or pillars, each hole or pillar having lateral dimensions and a height of between 10 nm and 5 ?m, the distance between two consecutive holes or pillars being between 10 nm and 5 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel polypeptide libraries that are conformationally constrained in an anti-parallel, helix-turn-helix arrangement. The invention further relates to methods of generating and screening such libraries for biological, pharmaceutical and other uses.

Abstract: A vibration-inhibiting bar is provided that is interposed between bends of the tubes of two adjacent banks of tubes of a U tube bundle of a steam generator and includes at least one internal element, referred to as a damping element, designed to mechanically damp the vibrations of the tubes; and at least one external element, referred to as percussion element, in contact with the damping element, the percussion element being designed to be in contact with the bends of the tubes of the bundle.

Abstract: A method for thermochemically treating a part while masking a portion and corresponding mask are provided. The method includes the steps of providing a mask comprising a body with a seat, at least a deformable sealing washer located in the seat, and a tightening bushing, the body having a cavity, placing a first portion of the part in the cavity, a second portion of the part being located in a passage in the sealing washer, and a third portion of the part being located outside the mask, moving the tightening bushing to its tightened position so that the sealing washer is deformed and applied against the second portion of the part, and applying a thermochemical treatment to the third portion of the part.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement, in particular for a safety I&C system of a nuclear power plant, keeps a proven diagram-centric project-specific engineering approach known from CPU-based systems while reaping the benefits of FPGA technology. To this end, the circuit arrangement includes: a generic FPGA with a plurality of logic blocks, and at least one dedicated PLD which operates as an application-specific switch-matrix for the logic blocks.