Abstract: A stent having a first filamentary element (20) with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and being spirally coiled in at least its central portion, and a second filamentary element (30) spirally coiled along its central portion and overlapping the first filamentary element to form a double helix is disclosed along with a method for forming such a stent. At least one end portion of the first filamentary element is ring-shaped to provide increased radial support at that end of the stent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for processing coded information stored on an integrated circuit card. A system includes a card reader adapted to receive the integrated circuit card and to read and write data values from an encrypted memory structure of the integrated circuit card. A processor electrically coupled to the card reader includes instructions for executing an algorithm that, in response to insertion of the integrated circuit card into the card reader, extracts information from one or more files stored in the encrypted memory, updates the files based on a current date and information extracted from the files. A display terminal electrically coupled to the processor displays information resulting from the execution of the algorithm. Thus, with the invention, it is possible to alter an operation on the basis of previous operations performed using the integrated circuit card.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating particles and particles thus obtained. According to the inventive method, the particles that are to be coated and at least one organo-metallic complex precursor of the coating material are brought into contact with each other in a liquid containing one or several solvents, whereby said particles are maintained in a dispersion in the liquid which is subjected to temperature conditions and supercritical pressure or slightly sub-critical pressure conditions; the precursor of the coating material is transformed in such a way that it is deposited onto the particles, whereupon the liquid is placed in temperature and pressure conditions so that it can eliminate the solvent in a gaseous state. The invention can be used to coat nanometric particles in particular.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating particles thus obtained. According to the inventive method, the particles that are to be coated and at least one organo-metallic complex precursor of the coating material are brought into contact with each other in a liquid containing one or several solvents, whereby said particles are maintained in a dispersion in the liquid which is subjected to temperature conditions and supercritical pressure or slightly sub-critical pressure conditions; the precursor of the coating material is transformed in such a way that it is deposited onto the particles, whereupon the liquid is placed in temperature and pressure conditions so that it can eliminate the solvent in a gaseous state. The invention can be used to coat nanometric particles in paticular.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for processing coded information stored on an integrated circuit card. A system includes a card reader adapted to receive the integrated circuit card and to read and write data values from an encrypted memory structure of the integrated circuit card. A processor electrically coupled to the card reader includes instructions for executing an algorithm that, in response to insertion of the integrated circuit card into the card reader, extracts information from one or more files stored in the encrypted memory, updates the files based on a current date and information extracted from the files. A display terminal electrically coupled to the processor displays information resulting from the execution of the algorithm. Thus, with the invention, it is possible to alter an operation on the basis of previous operations performed using the integrated circuit card.

Abstract: In this electrical connection device comprising a female contact (27) which comprises a base portion (28) having, in a first end region (28a), at least one pair of flexible contact blades (29, 30, 31) and, in a second end region (28b), at least one pair of wings (32, 33) adapted to be seated on an electrical current supply conductor, there is provided in the transition region (28c) between the first and second end regions, two wings (34) which are bent toward each other and which bear end to end against each other so as to form with the base portion a closed rigidifying ring (35) which opposes deformation of the first end region (28a) and the modification of the spacing of the contact blades (29, 30, 31) when the wings (32, 33) are seated on the electrical conductor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for processing coded information stored on an integrated circuit card. A system includes a card reader adapted to receive the integrated circuit card and to read and write data values from an encrypted memory structure of the integrated circuit card. A processor electrically coupled to the card reader includes instructions for executing an algorithm that, in response to insertion of the integrated circuit card into the card reader, extracts information from one or more files stored in the encrypted memory, updates the files based on a current date and information extracted from the files. A display terminal electrically coupled to the processor displays information resulting from the execution of the algorithm. Thus, with the invention, it is possible to alter an operation on the basis of previous operations performed using the integrated circuit card.

Abstract: In this electrical connection device comprising a female contact (27) which comprises a base portion (28) having, in a first end region (28a), at least one pair of flexible contact blades (29, 30, 31) and, in a second end region (28b), at least one pair of wings (32, 33) adapted to be seated on an electrical current supply conductor, there is provided in the transition region (28c) between the first and second end regions, two wings (34) which are bent toward each other and which bear end to end against each other so as to form with the base portion a closed rigidifying ring (35) which opposes deformation of the first end region (28a) and the modification of the spacing of the contact blades (29, 30, 31) when the wings (32, 33) are seated on the electrical conductor.

Abstract: A device and a method for processing coded information, including reading coded data from a chip card, reading a barcode reproduced on an item, and comparing the information read and information stored relating to a series of prespecified items. It also includes processing the results of these comparisons and writing, to the memory of the chip card, information arising on the one hand from the results of these comparisons and on the other hand from the date of purchase. Reading data from and writing information to the chip card is provided in respect of at least two different types of chip cards and includes identification of specific particulars and of acceptance or rejection of the chip cards on the basis of the specific particulars.

Abstract: A superconducting mixed valence copper oxide, having a formula of the type:(La.sub.2-x (Y.sub.x" Bi.sub.1-x").sub.x' Sr.sub.x-x').sub.1-e CuO.sub.4-y,where:0.ltoreq.x<0.30.ltoreq.x'.ltoreq.0.2 with x'<x0.ltoreq.x".ltoreq.10<y.ltoreq.0.10.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.0.005.