Abstract: A low profile inflation valve located inside a balloon catheter that enables a user to inflate the balloon and exchange other medical apparatus over the catheter while the balloon remains inflated. The low profile inflation valve of the present invention includes a first tube having a lumen and at least one region of decreased inner diameter, and a structure movably located inside the lumen of said first tube, wherein said region of decreased inner diameter of said first tube forms a seal with a portion of said structure.

Abstract: A low profile inflation valve includes a first tube having a lumen and at least one region of decreased inner diameter, and a structure, which may be a tube, movably located inside the lumen. The region of decreased inner diameter of the first tube forms a seal with a portion of the structure. A method of making a low profile inflation valve using a first tube and second tube comprises the steps of creating an aperture in at least one side of the second tube; placing the second tube inside the first tube, the first tube being made of thermoplastic material; applying heat to a localized area of the first tube; and compressing the first tube to form a region of reduced internal diameter, the reduced diameter forming a seal with the outside diameter of the second tube.

Abstract: A platen 23, 96 having a series of channels 174 which are in fluid communication with a vacuum and a fluid source. The grooves 174 preferably extend through an end of the platen 23 to the atmosphere such that the vacuum has a maximum value. The platen 23, 96 is used in a printer-processor 10 which has a printing unit 11 and a processing unit 12. A light source 18 directs light 64 toward light-sensitive photographic printing material 22 held by the platen 23, 96. A transport system 132 conveys the print material 22 from the platen 23, 96 to the entrance 29 of the processor 12.

Abstract: A photographic printer 20 is disclosed for projecting an image carried by a negative to a light sensitive medium 40. The apparatus 20 includes a novel mixing chamber 24, lens carrier 35, and light sensitive web material reel 39, 47. The mixing chamber 24 includes four walls 103a-103d defining a volume and oriented relative to one another wherein the edge of one wall 103 is proximate the face of an adjacent wall 103. This orientation daisy chains around the volume whereby the walls 103 may be moved relative to one another to continuously change the volume so as to correspond to various size negatives and/or masks. The lens stack 35 includes a plurality of concentric shafts 126-131 arranged about a solid shaft 125 with each concentric shaft 126-131 being rotatable separately from the other concentric shafts 126-131. A deck 14-145 is cooperatively attached to each concentric shaft 126-131 with each deck 140-145 having a plurality of lens carriers 55 connected thereto.

Abstract: A photographic printer 20 is disclosed for projecting an image carried by a negative to a light sensitive medium 40. The apparatus 20 includes a novel mixing chamber 24, lens carrier 35, and light sensitive web material reel 39, 47. The mixing chamber 24 includes four walls 103a-103d defining a volume and oriented relative to one another wherein the edge of one wall 103 is proximate the face of an adjacent wall 103. This orientation daisy chains around the volume whereby the walls 103 may be moved relative to one another to continuously change the volume so as to correspond to various size negatives and/or masks. The lens stack 35 includes a plurality of concentric shafts 126-131 arranged about a solid shaft 125 with each concentric shaft 126-131 being rotatable separately from the other concentric shafts 126-131. A deck 14-145 is cooperatively attached to each concentric shaft 126-131 with each deck 140-145 having a plurality of lens carriers 55 connected thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for printing and processing photographs is disclosed. The printer-processor has a printing unit 11 and a processing unit 12. A light source 18 directs light 64 toward light-sensitive photographic printing material 22. The negative 19 is held by a rotatable negative carrier 20. The optics 21 for the printer-processor 10 are mounted upon a rotatable lens carousel assembly 63 having a plurality of lens decks 65. The printing material 22 is supported by one or two platens 23, 96, each having a plurality of vacuum grooves 174 to hold the print material 22. A transport system 132 conveys the print material 22 from the platen 23, 96 to the entrance 29 of the processor 12. The transport system 132 includes a pre-accumulation conveyor system 147 and a post-accumulation conveyor system 149, between which is a holding area 40 and accumulation system 148 for accumulating exposed print material 22.