Abstract: A kit for manufacture of a tissue anchor comprises (a) a helical tissue-engaging element, including a helical portion, and a transverse bar extending from an end of the helical portion, across a chord of a circular projection of the helical portion, and (b) a head, comprising first and second arms, each of the first and second arms including: (A) a root portion; and (B) a transverse portion extending from the root portion, each terminating at an arm end, such that the arm ends of the transverse portions of the first and second arms are directed away from each other, and the transverse portions are substantially parallel to one another; and (iv) a gap formed between the transverse portions of the first and second arms, substantially parallel to the transverse portions of the first and second arms. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method involves delivering an elongate shaft to a target tissue location, the elongate shaft comprising a flex portion configured to move between a first state and a second state, moving the flex portion from the first state to the second state to facilitate driving a first tissue anchor into the target tissue location, and moving the flex portion from the second state to the first state while maintaining contact between the flex portion and the first tissue anchor.

Abstract: A system comprises an anchor (20) comprising an inner helical tissue-engaging element (24); an outer helical tissue-engaging element (22); and a head assembly (29). The head assembly comprises a first head (25), fixed to a proximal end of the inner tissue-engaging element, and a second head (26), fixed to a proximal end of the outer tissue-engaging element. The system further comprises a driver (28), reversibly interfacing with and engaging the first head and the second head, in order to anchor the anchor in the target tissue. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for use with a valve of a heart. An implant (100) includes a wing (120); a flexible frame (124); and a pair of anchor receivers (150). A pair of shafts (660) are transluminally advanced through a catheter (40), while the shafts are each engaged with a respective anchor receiver (150), to deploy the implant out of the catheter such that the wing extends away from the anchor receivers and over a first leaflet of the valve and toward an opposing leaflet of the valve, with a contact face (122) of the wing facing the first leaflet. A pair of drivers (70) secure the implant using a pair of anchors (30) to anchor each anchor receiver to tissue at respective sites of the heart. Other implementations are also described.

Abstract: An implantable device includes one or more anchors. The anchors are configured to capture one or more leaflets of a native heart valve. The one or more anchors are configured to draw native valve leaflets into the device. The anchor portion can be extendable and retractable. The one or more anchors can be closed to secure the implantable device to the native valve leaflets.

Abstract: A brewing vessel comprises a brewing vessel body and an inner structure positioned in the brewing vessel body, wherein the inner structure is provided with a primary filter. The brewing vessel comprises a secondary filter positioned corresponding to the inner structure. The mesh of the secondary filter has filtration holes smaller than that of the primary filter, and the secondary filter filters out at least some coffee sediment that failed to be filtered by the primary filter.

Abstract: A method comprises rolling a medical implant to reduce a profile of the medical implant. The medical implant comprises a first end and a second end. The method further comprises inserting the medical implant into a catheter, delivering the catheter to a treatment location within a human body, and removing the medical implant from the catheter.

Abstract: A puncture needle can comprise an elongate portion, a puncture component associated with a distal end of the elongate portion, and a spacer associated with a distal portion of the elongate portion, where the spacer can be configured to contact a wall of the delivery catheter lumen to prevent contact between the puncture component and the wall. A puncture needle can comprise an elongate portion and a puncture component associated with a distal end of the elongate portion, where the puncture component comprises a blade edge on a distal edge, and where the puncture component is configured to be advanceable through a lumen of a delivery catheter without the blade edge sticking to a wall of the lumen.

Abstract: A brewing vessel comprises a brewing vessel body and an inner structure positioned in the brewing vessel body, wherein the inner structure is provided with a primary filter. The brewing vessel comprises a secondary filter positioned corresponding to the inner structure. The mesh of the secondary filter has filtration holes smaller than that of the primary filter, and the secondary filter filters out at least some coffee sediment that failed to be filtered by the primary filter.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a clamp having a band for substantially surrounding an object between a first end with a first opening and a second end with a second opening, a bracket, and a fastener. The bracket includes a base with a bottom surface for placement on a surface of the object and a wall. The base also includes a first base aperture for receiving the first end and a second base aperture spaced from the first base aperture for receiving the second end. The wall has a wall opening and extends substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the base. The fastener extends through the wall opening, the first opening and the second opening to secure the first end to the second end and moves the first end towards the second end to tighten the band and the base of the bracket to the surface of the object.

Abstract: Luminance information and a subset of chrominance information associated with a video signal are encoded into a first encoded video signal. The subset of chrominance information does not include all of the received chrominance information. At least the remaining chrominance information that is associated with the video signal but is not encoded into the first encoded video signal is encoded into a second encoded video signal. The second encoded video signal could include all of the chrominance information, and not only the remaining chrominance information. In either case, a full set of chrominance information for the video signal is encoded.

Abstract: Video/audio production processing control synchronization apparatus and methods are provided. Processing control commands that are provided to a first installation of production processing equipment for controlling production processing of edit units of first production signals are echoed to another installation, or possibly multiple other installations, of production processing equipment. Timing information associated with the edit units is also provided to the other installation(s), to enable production processing of delayed production signals by the other installation(s) to be synchronized with the production processing by the first installation of production processing equipment. Multiple production processing equipment installations can be controlled and synchronized from a single control interface.

Abstract: Video/audio production processing control synchronization apparatus and methods are provided. Processing control commands that are provided to a first installation of production processing equipment for controlling production processing of edit units of first production signals are echoed to another installation, or possibly multiple other installations, of production processing equipment. Timing information associated with the edit units is also provided to the other installation(s), to enable production processing of delayed production signals by the other installation(s) to be synchronized with the production processing by the first installation of production processing equipment. Multiple production processing equipment installations can be controlled and synchronized from a single control interface.

Abstract: A low-k interconnect dielectric layer is strengthened by forming pillars of hardened material in the low-k film. An E-beam source is used to expose a plurality of pillar locations. The locations are exposed with a predetermined power and exposure time to convert the low-k film in the selected locations to pillars having higher hardness and strength than the surrounding portions of the low-k film.

Abstract: A method of diverting void diffusion in an integrated circuit includes steps of forming an electrical conductor having a boundary in a first electrically conductive layer of an integrated circuit, forming a via inside the boundary of the electrical conductor in a dielectric layer between the first electrically conductive layer and a second electrically conductive layer of the integrated circuit, and forming a slot between the via and the boundary of the electrical conductor for diverting void diffusion in the electrical conductor away from the via.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for redirecting void diffusion away from vias in an integrated circuit design includes steps of forming an electrical conductor in a first electrically conductive layer of an integrated circuit design, forming a via between a distal end of the electrical conductor and a second electrically conductive layer of the integrated circuit design, and reducing tensile stress in the electrical conductor to divert void diffusion away from the via.

Abstract: A method for correcting operation of the sleep oscillator (116) of a wireless communications device (100). Sleep oscillator frequency is estimated (412) so as to compensate for estimated temperature induced errors. In estimating temperature induced errors, errors (504) in sleep oscillator frequency are treated as being temperature induced errors (522), but probable multipath errors are bounded (410, 520) to predetermined sleep clock error maxima (602) corresponding to sleep duration over which the error occurred.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an extreme low-K circuit structure formed on a substrate having a plurality of electrically conductive structures. A lattice structure of bracing material configured to support the electrically conductive structures is formed on the substrate and also can define regions of extreme low-K dielectric space between the electrically conductive structures. Additionally, methods for creating dielectric structures on a substrate are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the substrate temperature of a substrate during processing of the substrate at a process energy. A chuck temperature input receives temperature measurements from temperature sensors at a substrate chuck, and a temperature set point input receives temperature set points. The temperature set points define a range of temperatures within which the apparatus maintains the substrate temperature. A chuck temperature controller output sends control signals to a chuck temperature controller, which signals are operable to selectively increase and decrease the chuck temperature. A process energy output sends control signals that are operable to selectively increase and decrease the process energy during the processing of the substrate. A controller compares the temperature measurements received from the temperature sensors at the substrate chuck through the chuck temperature input to the temperature set points received through the temperature set point input.