Abstract: The invention emulates the operation of a healthy urethra by providing a valve with a large differential between the opening pressure and the closing pressure. The differential is achieved by using a snap action created by the action of the urine flow on a force that drops off rapidly with displacement. A preferred way to achieve such as force is by using permanent magnets. The valve is installed simply by insertion into the urethra and can easily be removed. No surgical procedure is involved.

Abstract: An article to be inserted into the human body has a superhydrophobic surface. The superhydrophobic surface is coated with a water soluble thin but durable protective coat. One positioned inside the body the coating is rapidly dissolved by the blood or other fluids and exposes the superhydrophobic surface. To coat article the water based coating is mixed with a liquid capable of wetting the superhydrophobic surface but is still dissolvable or at least miscible in the coating. As an example, a glucose or sucrose solution in water is mixed with alcohol and used to coat the surface. After water and alcohol evaporation, a durable protective coat of sugar remains. After the coated article is inserted into the body, the coating is rapidly dissolved and absorbed by the body.

Abstract: The invention controls the break-off point of twisted wires to predictably break at the edge of the tightening tool. This is achieved by slightly weakening the wire at this point, using the pressure of the tightening tool and the shape of the jaw to introduce a controlled weak point. The tool creates uniform and strong twisted wire joints.

Abstract: Rapid heating of a surface of an object is achieved by moving the surface of the object proximate to one or more flexible baffles. The one or more flexible baffles are in fluid communication with a pressurized and heated flow of air. The one or more baffles are arranged to contact the surface of the object in the absence of the flow of air. The flow of air creates a gap between the one or more flexible baffles and the adjacent portions of the surface. The flow of air traveling through the gap heats these portions of the surface with a high thermal transfer efficiency. Objects to be heated may include substantially two-dimensional planar objects such as thin plates, as well as three-dimensional objects such as cylinders.

Abstract: An artificial valve is delivered percutaneously in the form of a hollow inflatable shell, which is later filled in situ with a suitable elastomer, similar to inflating a balloon. Since the shell is a flexible and mostly hollow balloon, it can be compressed and transported via a relatively small catheter. In order to inflate to the correct shape the hollow shell requires some ties between its walls. These ties are formed from a low density open cell foam or a specialized manufacturing process. The valve can combine elements with different stiffness as well as different materials. A positioning balloon can also be used in the process of placing the valve. The invention is particularly suited for cardiac valves but can be used for other artificial valves.

Abstract: Retractable parallels are mounted in slots cut into the jaws of a machine vice. When parallels are retracted the vice is similar to a regular vice. When parallels are in the extended position, they are used to support the workpiece is a similar manner to traditional parallels. Multiple sets of retractable parallels can be used at different elevations.

Abstract: An elastic structure is introduced percutaneously into the left ventricle and attached to the walls of the ventricle. Over time the structure bonds firmly to the walls via scar tissue formation. The structure helps the ventricle expand and fill with blood during the diastolic period while having little affect on systolic performance. The structure also strengthens the ventricular walls and limits the effects of congestive heart failure, as the maximum expansion of the support structure is limited by flexible or elastic members.

Abstract: An artificial mitral valve is made of a short piece of elastomeric tubing having a one round end and one flattened end. The tubing can be rolled up to a small diameter and fits snuggly into the mitral valve opening when expanded. The tubing attaches to a few rings made of thin flexible wire. When the rings are expanded inside the left atrium, they form a support structure holding the artificial valve in the correct position. The rings can be flattened and delivered via a catheter together with the valve. The artificial valve contains no rigid component, therefore it does not deform or damage the area around the defective mitral valve and can be installed even in highly calcified or deteriorated valves.

Abstract: An intra-cardiac mapping system is based on locating the ports through which blood flows in or out the heart chambers. For many procedures, such as ablation to cure atrial fibrillation, locating the pulmonary veins and the mitral valve accurately allows to perform a Maze procedure. The location of the ports and valves is based on using the convective cooling effect of the blood flow. The mapping can be performed by a catheter-deployed expandable net or a scanning catheter. The same net or catheter can also perform the ablation procedure.

Abstract: A self-powered medical device, for example a pacemaker uses the variations of blood pressure inside the heart or a major artery to create a mechanical resonance in an electromagnetic or piezoelectric generator. The resonance extends the time power is generated during the cardiac cycle. The pressure variations compress a bellows carrying the resonant generator. The inside of the bellows may be evacuated to a partial or full vacuum, and a spring restores the bellows to the desired equilibrium point, acting against the blood pressure. The current pulses are stored in a capacitor. Eliminating the battery allows dramatic miniaturization of the medical device to the point it can be implanted at the point of desired stimulation via a catheter.

Abstract: Making the volume of the arterial system increase elastically with blood pressure reduces high systolic blood pressure peaks. This volumetric elasticity is achieved by the action of a spring controlling the aortic cross-section thus controlling the aortic volume. The spring can be implanted percutaneously. The device is powered by the blood pressure itself and requires no other energy source or control circuits. The device can have an open structure or a sealed-wall structure, the latter also serve to protect against aortic aneurism. Non-linear volumetric elasticity can be used to assist the heart.

Abstract: In an ink jet printing apparatus for high speed/high quality printing, an ink jet ink having a high concentration of solids the range of about 20-70 wt. %, and exhibiting shear-thinning characteristics.

Abstract: A self-powered pacemaker uses the variations of blood pressure inside the heart or a major artery to create a periodic change in the magnetic flux inside a coil. The pressure variations compress a bellows carrying a magnet moving inside a coil. The inside of the bellows is evacuated to a partial or full vacuum, and a spring restores the bellows to the desired equilibrium point, acting against the blood pressure. The current pulses are stored in a capacitor. Eliminating the battery allows dramatic miniaturization of the pacemaker to the point it can be implanted at the point of desired stimulation via a catheter. The invention includes means of compensating for atmospheric pressure changes.

Abstract: An automatic atherectomy system uses the rotary burr at the tip of a catheter as a sensing device, in order to measure both the electrical conductivity and permittivity of the surrounding tissue at multiple frequencies. From these parameters it is determined which tissue lies in the different directions around the tip. A servo system steers the catheter tip in the direction of the tissue to be removed. In non-atherectomy applications the rotary tip can be replaced with any desired tool and the system can be used to automatically steer the catheter to the desired position. The steering is done hydraulically, by pressurizing miniature bellows located near the catheter tip.

Abstract: A device for closing holes in tissue is delivered via a catheter to the inside of a body lumen such as a heart. An elastic barbed clip is expanded, pulled into the tissue and released, pulling the tissue with it. The operation is fully reversible.

Abstract: A device for closing holes tissue is delivered via a catheter to the inside of a body lumen such as a heart. An elastic barbed clip is expanded, pulled into the tissue and released, pulling the tissue with it. The operation is fully reversible.

Abstract: A computer-to-plate (CTP) machine is operated using processless printing plates. A plate bender is built directly into the CTP, bending the plate after imaging in order to make it ready for mounting on the printing press, eliminating all intermediate steps. For presses requiring punched holes in addition to the bend in the plate, the required holes are also punched in the CTP machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling droplets allows the phase difference between a calibration signal and its signature signal on a detector to be minimized, or the amplitude of the signature signal to be maximized, by adjusting the droplet charging means of the device, or the droplet generation means, and the signals on either. The apparatus converts a stream of fluid into a stream of droplets under the influence of a droplet stimulation signal imposed onto the droplet generating means. Droplets are subsequently signal-wise charged under the influence of a droplet charging signal imposed on the droplet charging means. The charged droplets are then deflected. The calibration signal is imposed onto the stream of droplets. The calibration signal has characteristics that do not appreciably affect the trajectory of the stream of droplets, thereby ensuring that the placement accuracy of the individual droplets is a maintained.

Abstract: A stent is capable of expanding both radially and axially during deployment. The stent can be balloon expandable or self expanding. In the balloon expandable version, circumferentially expandable structures are connected with folded links. When stent pulled axially, those links allow axial expansion without reducing radial expansion. A specially designed balloon, also capable of radial and axial expansion, is used to deploy the stent. A self-expanding version of this stent can be deployed without a balloon.

Abstract: A computer-to-plate (CTP) machine is operated using processless printing plates. A plate bender is built directly into the CTP, bending the plate after imaging in order to make it ready for mounting on the printing press, eliminating all intermediate steps. For presses requiring punched holes in addition to the bend in the plate, the required holes are also punched in the CTP machine.