Abstract: A method for fusing a pair of insulated wires to one another, and a fused wire made by such method, in which the combined or major diameter of the fused wire equals, or very closely matches, the sum of the diameters of the individual wires prior to fusion. In the present method, a pair of wires, each having a coating of insulation that is substantially fully cured, are brought into close abutting contact with one another along a line contact, and thereafter pass through a heating device which heats the coatings above their a thermal transition point of at least one of the pair of wires to fuse the coatings of the wires together along the line contact.

Abstract: A collapsible air cleaner filter is provided. The filter includes a pleated media filter having a first end, a second end, and a filter media extending between the first and second ends, wherein the filter media includes a first plurality of flexible end portions and a second plurality of flexible end portions, the first and second plurality of flexible end portions are separated by a plurality of pleats, and the filter media extends a first length between the first and second plurality of flexible end portions, and an end member coupled to the first end of the pleated media filter, the end member extending a second length parallel to the first length, the first length being greater than the second length.

Abstract: An air cleaner comprises an enclosing structure having support members spaced a distance from top and bottom walls. A collapsible extended surface pleated media filter has end members and a pleated mechanical media filter. The end members have an outer surface and a thickness that is based on the distance that the support surfaces are spaced from the top and bottom walls to provide an effective seal against air flowing around the collapsible filter. The end members can have a seal structure provided on the outer surface that interacts with the top or bottom wall. The collapsible filter optionally includes flexible support member(s) on or in the pleated mechanical media filter that assist in keeping the pleats open. The pleated mechanical media filter can extend beyond the end member(s) and interact with portions of the frame to provide an effective seal against air flowing around the collapsible filter.

Abstract: An active air cleaning controller is connected to a forced air heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The active air cleaning controller uses call signals from a thermostat to the HVAC system and/or sensor signals to determine when, and for how long, the blower of the HVAC system has been active and whether to independently activate the blower. The active air cleaning controller uses at least the collected information regarding the blower run time to determine when to activate the blower, in addition to its use within the HVAC system, to cycle and thus clean the air in a living environment independently of call signals used to activate heating and/or cooling functions of the HVAC system.

Abstract: A bimetal composite wire including, in cross-section, an outer shell or tube formed of a first biodegradable material and an inner core formed of a second biodegradable material. When formed into a stent, for example, the first and second biodegradable materials may be different, and may have differing biodegradation rates. In a first embodiment, the first biodegradable material of the shell may degrade relatively slowly for retention of the mechanical integrity of a stent during vessel remodeling, and the second biodegradable material of the core may degrade relatively quickly. In a second embodiment, the first biodegradable material of the shell may degrade relatively quickly, leaving a thinner structure of a second biodegradable material of the core that may degrade relatively slowly.

Abstract: A wire having an outer shell and a core, the core including at least a first plurality of core segments that may be made of a first core material and a second plurality of core segments that may be made of a second core material different from the first core material. The first and second core segments are arranged in a periodic alternating arrangement along the length of the wire. The outer shell may be made of a metal, such as a biocompatible metal, and the core segments may be made of different materials to provide periodic material properties along the length of the wire.

Abstract: A wire having an outer shell and a core, the core including at least a first plurality of core segments that may be made of a first core material and a second plurality of core segments that may be made of a second core material different from the first core material. The first and second core segments are arranged in a periodic alternating arrangement along the length of the wire. The outer shell may be made of a metal, such as a biocompatible metal, and the core segments may be made of different materials to provide periodic material properties along the length of the wire.

Abstract: A method for fusing a pair of insulated wires to one another, and a fused wire made by such method, in which the combined or major diameter of the fused wire equals, or very closely matches, the sum of the diameters of the individual wires prior to fusion. In the present method, a pair of wires, each having a coating of insulation that is substantially fully cured, are brought into close abutting contact with one another along a line contact, and thereafter pass through a heating device which heats the coatings above their a thermal transition point of at least one of the pair of wires to fuse the coatings of the wires together along the line contact.

Abstract: A wire for use in medical applications. The wire is formed by forming a bundle from a plurality of metallic strands and positioning the bundle within an outer tube. The tube and strands are then drawn down to a predetermined diameter to form a wire for use in medical devices. The wire may be covered with an insulating material.

Abstract: Wire products, such as round and flat wire, strands, cables, and tubing, are made from a shape memory material in which inherent defects within the material are isolated from the bulk material phase of the material within one or more stabilized material phases, such that the wire product demonstrates improved fatigue resistance. In one application, a method of mechanical conditioning in accordance with the present disclosure isolates inherent defects in nickel-titanium or NiTi materials in fields of a secondary material phase that are resistant to crack initiation and/or propagation, such as a martensite phase, while the remainder of the surrounding defect-free material remains in a primary or parent material phase, such as an austenite phase, whereby the overall superelastic nature of the material is preserved.

Abstract: Fatigue damage resistant metal or metal alloy wires have a submicron-scale or nanograin microstructure that demonstrates improved fatigue damage resistance properties, and methods for manufacturing such wires. The present method may be used to form a wire having a nanograin microstructure characterized by a mean grain size that is 500 nm or less, in which the wire demonstrates improved fatigue damage resistance. Wire manufactured in accordance with the present process may show improvement in one or more other material properties, such as ultimate strength, unloading plateau strength, permanent set, ductility, and recoverable strain, for example. Wire manufactured in accordance with the present process is suitable for use in a medical device, or other high end application.

Abstract: A wire having an outer shell and a core, the core including at least a first plurality of core segments that may be made of a first core material and a second plurality of core segments that may be made of a second core material different from the first core material. The first and second core segments are arranged in a periodic alternating arrangement along the length of the wire. The outer shell may be made of a metal, such as a biocompatible metal, and the core segments may be made of different materials to provide periodic material properties along the length of the wire.

Abstract: A dehumidifier system is connected to an interior space of a building through supply and return ducts, either directly and/or through an HVAC system. Controllable dampers can be used to select how the dehumidifier system is connected to the interior space and the HVAC system. The dehumidifier determines the dew point of the ambient air from temperature and relative humidity measurements taken at location(s) of relative humidity and temperature sensors. Based on the determined dew point, the dehumidifier system determines whether to operate. The temperature and relative humidity sensors can be located in the interior space or within the dehumidifier, where they project into the air stream flowing through the dehumidifier. The dehumidifier system operates in response in part to blower calls to the HVAC system and controls the HVAC system and a ventilation system to distribute the dehumidified air and outside air throughout the building.

Abstract: A wire for use in medical applications. The wire is formed by forming a bundle from a plurality of metallic strands and positioning the bundle within an outer tube. The tube and strands are then drawn down to a predetermined diameter to form a wire for use in medical devices. The wire may be covered with an insulating material.

Abstract: A wire for use in medical applications. The wire is formed by forming a bundle from a plurality of metallic strands and positioning the bundle within an outer tube. The tube and strands are then drawn down to a predetermined diameter to form a wire for use in medical devices. The wire may be covered with an insulating material.

Abstract: A method for constructing a metal wire with embedded filaments or cavities therein for biomedical applications. The method includes first drilling nonconcentric apertures in a symmetrical pattern in a metal rod and then embedding filaments in the apertures. The metal rod is then drawn and thermally-treated to form a metal wire with embedded filaments therein. The filaments may advantageously provide fatigue resistance, radiopacity, and electrical conductance to the metal wire. The method optionally provides an additional step for withdrawing or removing the filaments using various methods to create cavities for cavity access within the metal wire. The metal wire may be finished to provide access to the cavities or filaments embedded therein. The cavities may then be filled with a therapeutic drug for elution inside the human body or used for passage of body fluids.

Abstract: A dehumidifier system is connected to an interior space of a building through supply and return ducts, either directly and/or through an HVAC system. Controllable dampers can be used to select how the dehumidifier system is connected to the interior space and the HVAC system. The dehumidifier determines the dew point of the ambient air from temperature and relative humidity measurements taken at location(s) of relative humidity and temperature sensors. Based on the determined dew point, the dehumidifier system determines whether to operate. The temperature and relative humidity sensors can be located in the interior space or within the dehumidifier, where they project into the air stream flowing through the dehumidifier. The dehumidifier system operates in response in part to blower calls to the HVAC system and controls the HVAC system and a ventilation system to distribute the dehumidified air and outside air throughout the building.

Abstract: A method for constructing a metal wire with embedded filaments or cavities therein for biomedical applications. The method includes first drilling nonconcentric apertures in a symmetrical pattern in a metal rod and then embedding filaments in the apertures. The metal rod is then drawn and thermally-treated to form a metal wire with embedded filaments therein. The filaments may advantageously provide fatigue resistance, radiopacity, and electrical conductance to the metal wire. The method optionally provides an additional step for withdrawing or removing the filaments using various methods to create cavities for cavity access within the metal wire. The metal wire may be finished to provide access to the cavities or filaments embedded therein. The cavities may then be filled with a therapeutic drug for elution inside the human body or used for passage of body fluids.

Abstract: A humidifier features a two piece reversible housing which is snap fit together for holding a water panel assembly and a water feed tube to supply water to a water distribution structure disposed on top of the water panel assembly. The water panel assembly is provided with an overflow arrangement for controlling any overflow of water in the water distribution structure.

Abstract: An air flow detection apparatus useful in operating an accessory item in an HVAC system includes a sensor printed circuit board assembly having a first thermistor adapted to be exposed to an air flow and associated with a first pair of heating resistors. A second thermistor is placed in parallel with the first thermistor and is adapted to be hidden from the air flow and is associated with a second pair of heating resistors. A control printed circuit board assembly is interconnected with the sensor printed circuit board assembly and has a voltage regulator circuit for applying a DC voltage source to a power regulator circuit and a sensor monitoring circuit interfaced therewith.