Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis (100) comprises a housing component (110) and a valve component (130). The housing component (110) comprises a housing body (111) having a housing passage (112) extending therethrough. The housing body (111) is configured to be located in, or adjacent to and communicating with, a native valve orifice (16) of a heart (10) and to engage structure of the heart (10) to fix the housing body (111) in relation to the valve orifice (161). The housing component (111) is collapsible for delivery via catheter (2). The valve component (130) comprises a valve body (131) having a valve passage (132) extending therethrough. The valve body (131) is configured to be fixed within the housing passage (112) with the valve passage (132) extending along the housing passage (112).

Abstract: A medical apparatus including an endoscopic tool including first and second members longitudinally slidable relative to each other; and a control connected to a proximal end of the endoscopic tool. The control includes a housing and an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism is longitudinally slidably connected to the housing. The actuation mechanism has the first member and/or the second member connected thereto. The housing includes a connector configured to removably connect the housing to a control section of an endoscope.

Abstract: A medical apparatus including an endoscopic tool including first and second members longitudinally slideable relative to each other; and a control connected to a proximal end of the endoscopic tool. The control includes a housing and an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism is longitudinally slideably connected to the housing. The actuation mechanism has the first member and/or the second member connected thereto. The housing includes a connector configured to removeably connect the housing to a control section of an endoscope.

Abstract: A cable may include a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated conductors, a separator positioned between the twisted pairs, and a jacket formed around the twisted pairs and the separator. The separator may include a longitudinally extending spine positioned between the plurality of twisted pairs, and at least one prong respectively extending from the spine at each of a plurality of longitudinally spaced locations. Additionally, for each pair of adjacent longitudinally spaced locations, the at least one prong extending at a first of the pair of locations may extend in a first set of one or more directions and the at least one prong extending at a second of the pair of locations may extend in a second set of one or more directions that is different than the first set of one or more directions.

Abstract: A medical apparatus including an endoscopic tool including first and second members longitudinally slideable relative to each other; and a control connected to a proximal end of the endoscopic tool. The control includes a housing and a slider. The slider is longitudinally slideably connected to the housing. The slider has the first member and/or the second member connected thereto. The housing includes a connector configured to removeably connect the housing to a control section of an endoscope.

Abstract: A multifunctional medical device, apparatus or system that is capable of perforating a surgical procedure or operation and also capable of attracting, collecting, removing or reducing debris generated by the surgical procedure or operation, on a subject The apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes, two of which are configured to be in electrical communication with or being electrically connectable to opposite poles of a source of high voltage dc electricity to ionize, attract, collect, and remove or reduce debris. At least one of the electrodes is also configured to be part of a RF circuit to perform a surgical procedure or operation such as tissue cutting, cauterization tissue sealing or coagulating at a surgical site on the subject.

Abstract: Fiber optic ribbon assemblies having improved ribbon stack coupling are described. A fiber optic ribbon assembly may include a buffer tube and an optical fiber ribbon stack extending within the buffer tube. Additionally, at least one friction inducing component may be helically wrapped around the optical fiber ribbon stack along a longitudinal direction with gaps between longitudinally adjacent sections.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a stone fragment suction device. An apparatus includes a steerable access sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, a tip at the distal end, and a suction conduit positioned within a central lumen of the steerable access sheath from the distal end to the proximal end, the steerable access sheath containing an outer lumen surrounding the central lumen with one or more channels therethrough, an outer circumference of the outer lumen and an outer circumference of the central lumen forming concentric circles, the steerable access sheath further including a radiopaque material at the distal end or along a length of the steerable access sheath to enable tracking with a remote fluoroscopic device.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a workflow labor optimization system configured to enable a multiplicity of end-users to assign groups of specialized workers to perform diverse tasks that meet the needs of business clients. The workflow labor optimization system includes a work partitioning system that enables the end-users to divide new work into logical groups of tasks, arrange complimentary tasks into workitem sequences that are tailored to address the needs of the business clients, and organize the workitem sequences into workflows. A dependencies system enables the end-users to initiate work by establishing predecessors within individual workitems and by wiring tasks between different workitems. An interval system enables the end-users to control the progression of workitems by establishing due dates between various tasks comprising the workitems. A labor functionalization system enables the end-users to select workers from specialized labor pools and pair the workers with appropriate tasks.

Abstract: A cable may include a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated conductors and a separator positioned between the twisted pairs. The separator may include a longitudinally extending spine positioned between the plurality of twisted pairs, and a plurality of bristles may radially extend from the spine. A first portion of the bristles may extend between one or more sets of adjacent twisted pairs, and a second portion of the bristles may be compressed towards the spine by one or more of the plurality of twisted pairs. Additionally, a jacket may be formed around the twisted pairs and the separator.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly supports a diverter for landing in an existing multilateral junction. Once landed set down weight allows the BHA to progress through the diverter opening into a main bore, for example. A protective sleeve for the seal assembly lands on a shoulder above the targeted seal bore. Further advancing of the BHA moves the seal assembly out of the protective sleeve that has landed on the shoulder by the polished bore. Once the seals are in position in the bore a treatment can be accomplished. On picking up the seal assembly retracts into the protective sleeve and the BHA engages the diverter to bring the BHA and the diverter out of the borehole at the same time.

Abstract: Techniques related to data collaboration between different entities are disclosed. In an embodiment, a graph may be displayed in a computer graphical user interface. The graph may include nodes and edges. Each node may represent a distinct data object. Each edge may represent one or more relationships between the two distinct data objects. Based on one or more redaction criteria, a portion of the graph may be identified to be redacted before the graph is exported. Display of the graph in the computer graphical user interface may be updated to remove display of the portion of the graph. After the updating, a request to export the graph may be received. Responsive to receiving the request, a machine-readable representation of a redacted graph may be exported.

Abstract: A cable may include a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated conductors, a separator positioned between the twisted pairs, and a jacket formed around the twisted pairs and the separator. The separator may include a longitudinally extending spine positioned between the plurality of twisted pairs, and one or more respective projections extending from the spine at each of a plurality of longitudinally spaced locations. Each projection at a given spaced location may extend between a respective set of adjacent twisted pairs. Additionally, a respective longitudinal gap of at least approximately twenty centimeters may be present between each adjacent pair of longitudinally spaced locations.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for executing a software method within a graphics processing unit (GPU) that minimizes the number of clock cycles during which the graphics engine is idled. The function of the software method is performed by a firmware method that is executed by a processor within the GPU. The firmware method is executed to access and optionally update the state stored in the GPU. Unlike execution of a conventional software method, execution of the firmware method does not require an exchange of information between a CPU and the GPU. Therefore, the CPU is not interrupted and throughput of the CPU is not reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multifunctional medical device, apparatus or system that is capable of performing a surgical procedure or operation and also capable of removing or reducing smoke particles generated by the surgical procedure or operation on a subject, the apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes, two of which are configured to be in electrical communication with or being electrically connectable to opposite poles of a source of high voltage dc electricity to ionize, and remove or reduce smoke particles, and at least one of which is also configured to be part of a RE circuit to perform a surgical procedure or operation such as tissue cutting, cauterization, tissue sealing or coagulating at a surgical site on the subject. Also disclosed is a method of employing the above disclosed device, apparatus or system or variations thereof to perform a surgical procedure or operation at a surgical site and to remove or reduce smoke particles generated during the surgical procedure or operation.

Abstract: A fishing lure adapted to mimic sea turtle hatchlings in size, shape and movement is provided. The replica lure may provide a plurality of planar lure members that sandwich a proximal portion of a hook so that the distal portion is disposed adjacent to and underneath the mimicked sea turtle profile. The proximal end of the hook may provide a built up portion that is sandwiched, thereby providing voids between some of the plurality of lure members further mimicking the profile of a baby sea turtle, while also enabling a seesaw effect when the replica lure and/or hook is bitten by a fish.

Abstract: The device of according to the present invention is a device for holding a single crystal silicon seed. The device or holder contains a plurality of strips to clamp a seed crystal in the seed crystal holder; and a base supporting the plurality of strips. The plurality of strips each has a free end which contacts a single crystal silicon seed and an end opposite the free end which joins the base and becomes integral therewith. The plurality of strips are bent or folded in such that they exert pressure on a seed crystal when the seed crystal is inserted among the plurality of strips.

Abstract: Cables incorporating discontinuous separators or separation fillers are described. A cable may include a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated electrical conductors, and a separator may be disposed between at least two of the plurality of twisted pairs. The separator may include a plurality of discrete sections respectively positioned along a longitudinal length of the cable and each section may optionally include electrically conductive material. A jacket may be formed around the plurality of twisted pairs and the separator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conversion of signals from a first type of image sensor to a second type of camera control unit is presented. A first interface is provided for enabling electrical communication between the conversion module and an image sensor, the image sensor being interchangeable between a Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) and a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor. A second interface is provided for enabling electrical communication between the conversion module and a camera control unit (CCU). Also provided is conversion circuitry in communication with the first interface and the second interface, the conversion circuitry receiving signals of a first type from the first interface, converting the signals of a first type to signals of a second type and providing the signals of a second type to the second interface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a stone fragment suction device. An apparatus includes a steerable access sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, a tip at the distal end, and a suction conduit positioned within a central lumen of the steerable access sheath from the distal end to the proximal end, the steerable access sheath containing an outer lumen surrounding the central lumen with one or more channels therethrough, an outer circumference of the outer lumen and an outer circumference of the central lumen forming concentric circles, the steerable access sheath further including a radiopaque material at the distal end or along a length of the steerable access sheath to enable tracking with a remote fluoroscopic device.