Abstract: The balloon of an angioplasty dilatation balloon catheter is covered by inner and outer balloon protector sleeves. The inner balloon protector sleeve has an expansion slit to facilitate application over the balloon.

Abstract: A method for forming a balloon for use in a balloon catheter by depositing a film over the exterior surface of a substrate. The film includes a plurality of layers in which one of the layers is a polyimide and another is made of a metallic material which heats in response to the application of electromagnetic energy. The substrate is removed to leave a balloon in the desired shape.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for use in angioplasty includes an elongated flexible thin walled metal tube which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. A core member of smaller outer diameter than the metal tube is attached to the distal end of the tube to provide support for and guiding of the balloon section.

Abstract: A method of testing a dilatation balloon catheter prior to use which comprises purging and priming the balloon catheter with a balloon protector in place about the balloon.

Abstract: A dilating guide wire for use in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTCA) has a very small outside diameter which permits it to be used with a PTCA catheter for treatment of tight stenoses in the coronary arteries that cannot be treated by conventional PTCA catheters alone. The dilating guide wire is small enough to pass through the through lumen of the PTCA catheter and extend beyond the distal tip thereof for predilating the stenosis to permit subsequent crossing and dilation by the PTCA catheter. Means may be provided for selectively imparting an axial force to the balloon of the dilating guide wire to cause axial stretching thereof, thereby reducing its profile and facilitating withdrawal of the balloon of the dilating guide wire back into the PTCA catheter.

Abstract: A photographic print sorter has a series of print slides along which the photographic prints are driven by drive rollers. Deflectors which are movable into the flow path are positioned between the print slides selectively deflect the prints into good, reject and remake print trays. Each print slide has a recess below each drive roller. The radius of each drive roller is betwen about 0.005 inches and about 0.045 inches greater than the distance from the axis of the drive shaft to the transport plane defined by the top surface of the print slide. This creates an interference fit between the drive rollers and the photographic print as the print is driven over the print slide.

Abstract: A photographic slide mounter cuts photographic film transparencies from a photographic film web and inserts the transparencies into slide mounts. A slide mount is advanced along a slide track to a position adjacent a knife where the slide mount is flexed to provide an insertion opening. The film web is advanced along a film track until a leading end of the web is partially inserted into the insertion opening. A first plurality of rollers are positioned over the film track and a second plurality of rollers are positioned under the film track to prevent transverse curl of the film web as it is advanced toward the insertion opening. A pair of curved shoes is mounted over the film track proximate the knife to prevent longitudinal curl of the film web as it is advanced through the knife and into the insertion opening. The knife is provided with tapered portions to align the web as it passes the knife.

Abstract: A holding device for securing a photographic paper roll core concentrically about a rotatable shaft has a resilient clamping ring positioned concentrically about the shaft. An annular shoulder is fixed on the shaft on one side of the resilient clamping ring and a cylindrical compression sleeve is positioned concentrically about the shaft on the other side of the resilient clamping ring with the cylindrical compression sleeve being movable in axial direction along the shaft. A spring bias apparatus normally urges the cylindrical compression sleeve away from the shoulder so that the resilient clamping ring is in a first radially retracted position. The holding device has a lever-actuated cam assembly for urging the cylindrical compression sleeve toward the shoulder upon actuation of the cam assembly.

Abstract: A data printer prints alphanumeric information on photographic slide mounts. Data printer includes a platform and a pair of parallel guide rails which define a slide track along which slide mounts are advanced. The platform has a printing aperture through which a print head prints alphanumeric characters onto a bottom surface of the slide mount positioned at the printing station. A pair of generally parallel conveyor belts are positioned above the platform and extend along the slide track so that a slide mount at the print station is held between the lower runs of the belt and the platform. An eject motor is actuated when the final slide mount of a customer order has been printed. The eject motor drives the conveyor belt and drives the slide mount out of the printing station and into a slide mount collecting basket. An adjustable platen is also positioned above the slide track over the printing aperture to limit upward deflection of the slide mount during printing on the bottom surfaces of the slide mount.

Abstract: A slide mounter includes a magazine for holding a stack of slide frames. A slide ejector pushes the lowermost slide within the magazine out of the magazine and into a slide track, where the slide frame is opened to permit insertion of a film transparency. A slide separator separates the stack of slides into an upper stack above a predetermined level and a lower stack below the predetermined level within the magazine. An out-of-slides inhibitor connected to the slide separator prevents movement of the slide ejector when the slide separator moves to a position indicating that there are no further slides in the upper stack.

Abstract: An improved photographic print stacking tray device includes a print tray concavely bowed transversely to the direction of travel and a central deflector. As the individual photographic prints are discharged from a conveying line onto the print tray, the central deflector pushes the central portion of each print downwardly while the side edge portions of each print are deflected upward by the print tray so that each print is bowed, thereby giving each print greater beam strength in the direction of travel.