Abstract: An ablation catheter comprises a shaft and at least one ablation electrode which may be fixed or movable relative to the shaft. An insulating cap is placed over portions of the electrode which are susceptible to high current concentrations when RF energy is applied to the electrode. Typically, such portions occur in the region of abrupt surface transitions such as the edges of the electrode.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses apparatus and methods for mapping electrical activity within the heart. The present invention also encompasses methods and apparatus for creating lesions in the heart tissue (ablating) to create a region of necrotic tissue which serves to disable the propagation of errant electrical impulses caused by an arrhythmia.

Abstract: A handle for use with a catheter, the handle including a housing, a cable, and a guide. The housing has a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis that extends from the proximal end of the housing to the distal end of the housing. The cable is disposed in the housing and extends through the proximal end of the housing. A portion of the cable that is disposed in the housing is movable, under compression, in a first direction that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing. The guide is disposed in the housing and is adapted to prevent the portion of the cable from moving in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction when the portion of the cable is moved in the first direction. The handle is suitable for use with an electrophysiology catheter having an elongated shaft.

Abstract: A magnetic head cluster is provided along with a method of making a magnetic head cluster. The magnetic head cluster comprises a substrate having a plurality of magnetoresistive (MR) read and inductive magnetic write transducers and a plurality of terminals formed thereon. A plurality of lapping guides are also provided on the substrate between adjacent transducers.

Abstract: A catheter includes a pull wire which extends through two different lumen and attaches to the distal end of the catheter at an off-axis location. By tensioning the pull wire, the catheter can assume various complex curves, depending on the respective lumen through which the pull wire passes.

Abstract: A medical device including a catheter and a telescoping mandrel with a tip electrode extending therethrough, the telescoping mandrel being moveable relative to the catheter shaft to extend from the catheter shaft distal end, thereby positioning the tip electrode at a distance from the catheter shaft distal end.

Abstract: Catheter for mapping and/or ablation, and methods of using the same. According to one embodiment, catheter includes a metallic cap having a plurality of apertures and at least one electrode disposed in each aperture of the plurality of apertures. According to another embodiment, the catheter includes a non-conductive cap having a plurality of apertures and at least one electrode disposed in each aperture of the plurality of apertures. Electrodes may be paired, arranged along the length of the cap, or circumferentially arranged on the cap, according to various embodiments. According to a further embodiment, a method for treating a condition of a heart includes placing a catheter inside the heart, mapping a region of the heart using mapping electrodes on the catheter, and ablating using an ablation electrode disposed about the mapping electrodes of the catheter.

Abstract: Novel complexes having the formula (I) are disclosed, wherein M is a Group 6 metal and T is its oxidation state; X represents an atom or group covalenty or ionically bonded to M; b is the valency of the atom or group X; L is a group datively bound to M, and n is from 0 to 4; Z is oxygen or sulphur; A1 to A3 are each independently N or P or CR, with the provisio that at least one is CR; R1 is a polycyclic hydrocarbyl group; Q is CR5, PR5R5 or N; each R and R5 to R7 are all independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl or SiR′3 where each R′ is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl, substituted heterohydrocarbyl, and any two or more of each R and R5 to R7 may be linked to form cyclic substituents. These complexes have utility as catalysts for the polymerisation of 1-olefins.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning one or more selected portions of a surface of a cylinder of a printing press includes a plurality of brush elements disposed adjacent one another opposite the surface of the cylinder. A device for selectively moving one or more of the plurality of brushes to contact the selected portion or portions of the surface of the cylinder so as to clean the selected portion or portions is provided.

Abstract: A complex suitable for the polymerization of l-olefins is disclosed, having the Formula A wherein M is a transition metal, lanthanide or actinide; X represents an atom or group covalently or ionically bonded to the transition metal M; b is the valency of the atom or group X; Z1 is N or P; Z2 is N, P, N−, P−or NR5; Z3 is one of N, P, O, S, NHR3, NR3R4, OH, OR3, SH, SR3, PHR3, PR3R4, (NR3)−, O−, S−, (PR3)−, P(R3R4)O, NR3 or PR3 to the proviso that one of Z2 and Z3 is anionic; T is the oxidation state of the transition metal M when both Z2 or Z3 are neutral, and is one less than the oxidation state of M when one of Z2 or Z3 is anionic; A and B are independently hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl or substituted heterohydrocarbyl, and may together with Z2 form part of a heterocyclic substituent; B may be joined to Z3 by either a single or a double bond; R1 to R5 are each independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, substitute

Abstract: A polymerisation process for the preparation of vinylic polymers from the corresponding vinylic monomers which process comprises the step of reacting a vinylic monomer in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a) a metal complex of general formula (I) where A is selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, cobalt, chromium, manganese, titanium, zirconium, vanadium and the rare earth metals; L1, L2, L3 and L4 are ligands and b) a Lewis acid of general formula (II) wherein at least one of W, Y or Z is capable of forming a co-ordination bond with A and the others of W, Y and Z are bulky groups; D is selected from the group consisting of aluminium, magnesium, zinc and boron.

Abstract: An ablation catheter which is compatible with MRI systems, including a shaft and a distal tip assembly, each being made of MRI compatible material, at least one electrode supported on the tip assembly, the electrode being made of MRI compatible material, and at least one MRI compatible wire connected to the electrode and extending from the electrode to the proximal end of the shaft, the wire being made of MRI compatible material.

Abstract: A method of treating cardiac arrhythmia, including guiding a distal end portion of a catheter, the distal end portion having a distal tip and accommodating at least one elongated ablation electrode into a desired intracardiac region, for example, from the inferior vena cava into the right atrium of a human heart, and then from the right atrium into the right ventricle of the heart, pulling the catheter backwards, for example, towards the inferior vena cava, until the distal tip engages a edge of an intracardiac orifice, for example, the tricuspid annulus whereby the at least one ablation electrode engages a target tissue, for example, the isthmus of tissue between the tricuspid annulus and the inferior vena cava, deflecting the distal tip into a hook-shaped configuration, and activating the at least one ablation electrode to produce a substantially continuous lesion on the target tissue.

Abstract: Catalyst systems useful for the polymerization of 1-olefins are disclosed, which contain nitrogen-containing transition metal compounds comprising the skeletal unit depicted in Formula (B), wherein M is Fe[II], Fe[III], Ru[II], Ru[III] or Ru[IV]; X represents an atom or group covalently or ionically bonded to the transition metal M; T is the oxidation state of the transition metal M and b is the valency of the atom or group X; R1, R2, R3, R4 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl or substituted heterohydrocarbyl; R5 and R7 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl or substituted heterohydrocarbyl.

Abstract: An optoelectronic module including a skeleton structure, a platform portion, and a vertical portion is provided. The skeleton structure has a socket portion and the vertical portion extends from the socket portion to a transverse back plate. The platform portion has a first array of recesses arranged to receive a plurality of pins extending from a first circuit board disposed on the optoelectronic module.

Abstract: A complex suitable for use as a catalyst in the polymerisation of olefins is disclosed, having the Formula (I) wherein M is a transition metal; X represents an atom or group covalently or ionically bonded to M; T is the oxidation state of M; b is the valency of the atom or group X; A1 to A3 are each independently N or P or CR, with the proviso that at least one but no more than two of them are independently CR; Y1 and Y2 are each independently CR′ or PR′R″; Z is oxygen or NR5, R5 and R7 and each R, each R′ and each R″ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl, substituted heterohydrocarbyl or SiR303 where each R30 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl; but excluding those complexes having the formulae (1) and (2) where in both cases R4 and R6 are Me, R5 and R7 are 2, 4, 6-trimethylphenyl, M is Fe, T is II, X is Cl a

Abstract: A catalyst composition for the polymerization of radically polymerisable monomer is disclosed, which comprises (i) an initiator having a radically transferable atom or group and (ii) a component of Formula (I): {Fe[T]L}.(T/b)X, wherein Fe is iron and T its oxidation state, L is a ligand of Formula (II): R 1—N═CH—(CH 2 ) n —CH═N—R 2, in which R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from C 1 C 10 alkyl, aryl and substituted aryl, and n is 0 or 1; X represents an atom or group covalently or ionically bonded to Fe; b is the valency of the atom or group X.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of zinc alkyl chain growth products via a catalyzed chain growth reaction of an alpha-olefin on a zinc alkyl, wherein the chain growth catalyst system employs a group 3-10 transition metal, or a group 3 main group metal, or a lanthanide or actinide complex, and optionally a suitable activator. The products can be further converted into alpha-olefins by olefin displacement of the grown alkyls as alpha-olefins from the zinc alkyl chain growth product, or into primary alcohols, by oxidation of the resulting zinc alkyl chain growth product to form alkoxide compounds, followed by hydrolysis of the alkoxides.

Abstract: A process for producing a transition metal complex of formula (B) wherein M is Fe[II], Fe[III], Co[I], Co[II], Co[III], Mn[l], Mn[II], Mn[III], Mn(IV], Ru[II], Ru[III] or Ru[IV]; X represents an atom or group covalently or ionically bonded to the transition metal M; T is the oxidation state of the transition metal M and b is the valency of the atom or group X; R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl or substituted heterohydrocarbyl; and when any two or more of R1-R7 are hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl or substituted heterohydrocarbyl, the two or more can be linked to form one or more cyclic substituents; comprising reacting together in a single stage reaction components comprising (1) precursors capable of forming Ligand (B) and (2) a compound of the formula M[T]-(T/b

Abstract: A tire condition monitoring system (1) comprises a wheel transmitter unit (2) for each wheel of a vehicle. The transmitter unit is mountable in the wheel and has sensors (9, 10) for sensing pressure and temperature in and rotation of the wheel. Signals from the sensors are processed by a processor (9) to produce data which is transmitted via a radio frequency transmitter (23). The data is transmitted with data representing a unit identity code. Transmitted data is received by a receiver unit (5, 6, 7) where it is analyzed to determine the condition of the tire. The receiver unit includes a user operable input for setting threshold limits for the temperature and/or pressure such that if a threshold is passed an alarm is sounded. Each wheel transmitter unit includes a power supply and is arranged so that power is only applied during the sensing and transmission of data. Intervals between transmissions of data can be varied depending on whether rotation of the wheel has been sensed.