Abstract: An athetectomy catheter is disclosed having a composite cutter which is capable of cutting material, including hardened plaque, from a biological conduit. The composite cutter has a cutter and a sensor mount. The cutter has a proximal end and a distal end with a cutting edge. The proximal end of the cutter bonds with the sensor mount. The sensor mount is adaptable for holding a sensor and attaching to a cutter torque cable of an atherectomy catheter. Typically, the atherectomy catheter has a cutter housing with a window. The composite cutter is positioned in the cutter housing and moves in response to movement of the cutter torque cable to cut material from the biological conduit via the window.

Abstract: A device and method for the localized treatment of vasculature with drugs and medicaments is described herein. Centrifugal force is used to drive a material from a reservoir to the outer surface of the application device and thereby deliver the treatment substance to the chosen area.

Abstract: An athetectomy catheter is disclosed having a composite cutter which is capable of cutting material, including hardened plaque, from a biological conduit. The composite cutter has a cutter and a sensor mount. The cutter has a proximal end and a distal end with a cutting edge. The proximal end of the cutter bonds with the sensor mount. The sensor mount is adaptable for holding a sensor and attaching to a cutter torque cable of an atherectomy catheter. Typically, the atherectomy catheter has a cutter housing with a window. The composite cutter is positioned in the cutter housing and moves in response to movement of the cutter torque cable to cut material from the biological conduit via the window.

Abstract: A device and method for the localized treatment of vasculature with drugs and medicaments is described herein. Centrifugal force is used to drive a material from a reservoir to the outer surface of the application device and thereby deliver the treatment substance to the chosen area.

Abstract: An intravascular directional atherectomy device is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end and an axial lumen therebetween. A housing having an open interior and an aperture on a lateral side thereof is attached to the distal end of the catheter body. An atheroma severing device is disposed within the housing. The device includes a cutter that is slidably disposed on a saddle which is connected to the housing. A track member is disposed in the axial lumen of the catheter body and has a distal end connected to the housing. Slidable movement of the atheroma severing device severs the stenotic material that has been urged within the aperture. The saddle enables the inflexible portion of the housing to be minimized in order to fit in the very tortious regions of biological conduits.

Abstract: A method for providing a conductive metal deposit on the surface of a dielectric substrate by applying a composition comprising a mixture of a salt and amine or amide compound to the substrate and subjecting the composition to a continuous wavelength laser beam.

Abstract: A means for elimination or compression of trapped air spaces in osmotically powered pumps is disclosed in which the housing of the pump is constructed of movable portions so that movement of the said housing portions will force air out of the device or compress it to such an extent that activation of the pump will result in the minimum lag time between activation of the pump and infusate flow.

Abstract: A method for making a porous structure including forming a plurality of particles into a desired shape, the particles being in a size range from about 40 to about 400 microns and including from about 5 to about 100 percent by weight of microporous particles of a synthetic thermoplastic polymeric material and from about 0 to about 95 percent by weight of nonporous synthetic thermoplastic polymeric material; and subjecting the particles to an effective pressure from about 200 to about 8000 pounds per square inch, while retaining the particles in the desired shape, for a sufficient length of time to produce an integral porous structure having substantial physical integrity.

Abstract: Novel microporous polymers in forms ranging from films to blocks and intricate shapes from synthetic thermoplastic polymers, such as, olefinic, condensation, and oxidation polymers, are disclosed. In one embodiment the microporous polymers are characterized by a relatively homogeneous, three-dimensional cellular structure having cells connected by pores of smaller dimension. Also disclosed are microporous polymer products which contain relatively large amounts of functionally useful liquids and behave as solids.

Abstract: A concentrated antistatic composition adapted for incorporation into various polymers such as olefins is prepared by admixing a liquid ethoxylated amine antistatic agent, such as an N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)alkenyl or mixed alkenyl and alkyl (C.sub.6 -C.sub.18) amine, with various polymers such as, for example, polypropylene, heating to form a homogeneous liquid and rapidly cooling the mixture to form a solid antistatic agent. A normally liquid antistatic agent can thus be simply and readily blended into a polymer such as polyethylene as a dry, solid product to impart antistatic properties to the blended resin.

Abstract: Novel microporous polymers in forms ranging from films to blocks and intricate shapes from synthetic thermoplastic polymers, such as, olefinic, condensation, and oxidation polymers, are disclosed. In one embodiment the microporous polymers are characterized by a relatively homogeneous, three-dimensional cellular structure having cells connected by pores of smaller dimension. Also disclosed is a process for making microporous polymers from such thermoplastic polymers by heating a mixture of the polymer and a compatible liquid to form a homogeneous solution, cooling said solution under non-equilibrium thermodynamic conditions to initiate liquid-liquid phase separation, and continuing said cooling until the mixture achieves substantial handling strength. Also disclosed are microporous polymer products which contain relatively large amounts of functionally useful liquids and behave as solids.

Abstract: A concentrated antistatic composition adapted for incorporation into various polymers such as olefins is prepared by admixing a liquid ethoxylated amine antistatic agent, such as an N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) alkenyl or mixed alkenyl and alkyl (C.sub.6 -C.sub.18)amine, with various polymers such as, for example, polypropylene, heating to form a homogeneous liquid and rapidly cooling the mixture to form a solid antistatic agent. A normally liquid antistatic agent can thus be simply and readily blended into a polymer such as polyethylene as a dry, solid product to impart antistatic properties to the blended resin.

Abstract: A concentrated antistatic composition adapted for incorporation into various polymers such as olefins is prepared by admixing a liquid ethoxylated amine antistatic agent, such as an N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) alkenyl or mixed alkenyl and alkyl (C.sub.6 -C.sub.18) amine, with various polymers such as, for example, polypropylene, heating to form a homogeneous liquid and rapidly cooling the mixture to form a solid antistatic agent. A normally liquid antistatic agent can thus be simply and readily blended into a polymer such as polyethylene as a dry, solid product to impart antistatic properties to the blended resin.