Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to drug-coated balloon catheters for treating strictures in body lumens and methods of using the same. A drug-coated balloon catheter for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site of a body lumen stricture includes an elongated balloon having a main diameter. The balloon catheter includes a coating layer overlying an exterior surface of the balloon. The coating layer includes one or more water-soluble additives and an initial drug load of a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: At least some embodiments of the technology are directed to an automated slide processing apparatus configured to apply at least one reagent to a specimen carried by a microscope slide. The slide processing station can include a support element with a support surface, at least one vacuum port, and a sealing member having a non-round shape. In an uncompressed state, the scaling member can extend upwardly beyond the support surface. In a compressed state, the scaling member can be configured to maintain an airtight seal with a backside of the microscope slide as the microscope slide is pulled against the support surface by a vacuum drawn via the at least one vacuum port.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for securing data storage by slicing swapped data portions into data fragments and shuffling a physical storage location of the data fragments. One method comprises obtaining at least one data item; dividing the at least one data item into a plurality of data portions; swapping respective positions of at least two of the data portions of the at least one data item; slicing the plurality of data portions, following the swapping, into a plurality of data fragments; and shuffling a distribution of the data fragments across a plurality of storage nodes in a storage system by moving at least one data fragment from a current physical storage location on a current storage node to a different physical storage location on a different storage node. A predefined number of the plurality of data fragments may be needed to reconstruct the data item.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to drug-coated balloon catheters for treating, preventing, or reducing the recurrence of a stricture and/or cancer, or for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), in a non-vascular body lumen and methods of using the same. A drug-coated balloon catheter for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site of a body lumen stricture includes an elongated balloon having a main diameter. The balloon catheter includes a coating layer overlying an exterior surface of the balloon. The coating layer includes one or more water-soluble additives and an initial drug load of a therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the balloon catheter includes a length-control mechanism which stretches and elongates the balloon when it is in a deflated state, giving the balloon a smaller cross-sectional deflated profile for tracking through the body lumen and for removal after treatment.

Abstract: A microphone module comprises a housing, an audio bus, and a first plurality of microphones in communication with the audio bus. The microphone module further comprises a module processor in communication with the first plurality of microphones and the audio bus. The module processor is configured to detect the presence of an array processor in communication with the audio bus, detect the presence of a second microphone module in communication with the audio bus, and configure the audio bus to pass audio signals from both the first plurality of microphones and the second microphone module to the array processor.

Abstract: A rope-cocker rope retainment assembly for a crossbow that operably and selectively retains a rope with the crossbow frame, while cocking the crossbow.

Abstract: A projectile launching device having a bowstring carrier operably coupled with a bowstring carrier traverse assembly. The bowstring carrier traverse assembly having a motor operable with a spool and a connecting component, wherein when the bowstring is not retaining a bowstring and the bowstring carrier is in the cocked position, the traverse assembly selectively returns the bowstring carrier to the at-rest position.

Abstract: A crossbow having a crossbow frame and a bow assembly. The bow riser of the bow assembly having a launch deck surface and a bore below the launch deck surface. The crossbow frame having a launch deck surface and a coupling rod below the launch deck surface. The coupling rod is sized to cooperate with the bore, and the coupling rod is axial to and concentric with the bore. The bow riser is axially coupled to the crossbow frame by the coupling rod, the bow assembly has a first position for shooting a projectile and a second position for storage or transportation. Any suitable device may be used to lock the angular orientation between the bow assembly and the crossbow frame, such as pins, plungers, springs, detents and the like in the first and second positions.

Abstract: The crossbow preferably includes a rail, a riser, two energy storing components, (such as two limbs), two cams, and a bowstring harness. The bowstring harness is operably coupled with the cams. A halo-type cable hub is operably coupled with the bow riser or rail. The bowstring harness is operably coupled with the halo-type cable hub. The halo-type cable hub has a first side and a second side, an upper portion and a lower portion, and is of a material that is stronger than the material of the riser and rail. The first and seconds sides are preferably built as mirror images of each other at a centerline of the rail.

Abstract: The crossbow preferably includes a rail, a riser, two energy storing components, (such as two limbs), two cams, and a bowstring harness. The bowstring harness is operably coupled with the cams. A halo-type cable hub is operably coupled with the bow riser or rail. The bowstring harness is operably coupled with the halo-type cable hub. The halo-type cable hub has a first side and a second side, an upper portion and a lower portion, and is of a material that is stronger than the material of the riser and rail. The first and seconds sides are preferably built as mirror images of each other at a centerline of the rail.

Abstract: An arrow head cluster is created utilizing an injection mold. An upper cluster cavity is formed in an upper die member and a lower cluster cavity is created in a lower die member. The upper and lower cluster cavities, when joined create a cluster cavity. The cluster cavity is used to create the arrow head cluster, after molten material is injected into the injection mold. The cluster cavity includes a plurality of chambers for creating a plurality of arrow heads. The plurality of chambers are connected to each other with a plurality of flow channels and a support frame. The injected material includes metals, ceramic and plastic. The materials are injected into the cluster cavity through the plurality of flow channels. The plurality of flow channels allow the material to flow evenly through the plurality of cluster cavities.

Abstract: An arrow head cluster is created utilizing an injection mold. An upper cluster cavity is formed in an upper die member and a lower cluster cavity is created in a lower die member. The upper and lower cluster cavities, when joined create a cluster cavity. The cluster cavity is used to create the arrow head cluster, after molten material is injected into the injection mold. The cluster cavity includes a plurality of chambers for creating a plurality of arrow heads. The plurality of chambers are connected to each other with a plurality of flow channels and a support frame. The injected material includes metals, ceramic and plastic. The materials are injected into the cluster cavity through the plurality of flow channels. The plurality of flow channels allow the material to flow evenly through the plurality of cluster cavities.

Abstract: A molded arrow assembly preferably includes an insert and an outsert for an arrow or an insert/outsert assembly. The molded arrow assembly may include an insert having a cylindrical body with a first end and a second end. The second end may be dimensioned to fit within a bore of an arrow shaft. The first end may terminate in a prong containing male threads. The insert/outsert assembly may also include an outsert having a cylindrical wall with an arrow shaft end and an arrowhead end. The cylindrical wall may also include a center bore extending between the arrow shaft end and the arrowhead end. The center bore may contain a threaded region containing female threads. The threaded region may be located intermediate of the arrowhead end and the arrow shaft end and may extend between a top shoulder and a bottom shoulder.

Abstract: A trigger-traverse crossbow. The crossbow has a trigger latch block slidingly connected to the flight track. The trigger latch block is configured to engage and retain the bowstring. A cocking mechanism is configured to draw the trigger latch block with the bowstring from an initial position near a forward end of the flight track to a cocked position. A one-way retention mechanism is configured to immobilize the trigger latch block against linear movement in a forward direction along the flight track. A trigger-traverse mechanism is configured to slide the trigger latch block in a forward direction to its initial position after the bowstring is released. In one embodiment, the cocking mechanism includes a cocking lever pivotally connected to the crossbow body along with one pair or two pairs of cocking hooks that move in response to the rotation of the cocking lever.

Abstract: A molded arrow assembly preferably includes an insert and an outsert for an arrow or an insert/outsert assembly. The molded arrow assembly may include an insert having a cylindrical body with a first end and a second end. The second end may be dimensioned to fit within a bore of an arrow shaft. The first end may terminate in a prong containing male threads. The insert/outsert assembly may also include an outsert having a cylindrical wall with an arrow shaft end and an arrowhead end. The cylindrical wall may also include a center bore extending between the arrow shaft end and the arrowhead end. The center bore may contain a threaded region containing female threads. The threaded region may be located intermediate of the arrowhead end and the arrow shaft end and may extend between a top shoulder and a bottom shoulder.

Abstract: A repeating crossbow having a pump-action reloading mechanism. The crossbow includes an elongated body with a shooting track and a holding chamber configured to house one or more projectiles. A hatch is coupled to the body and configured to move between a first position aligned with the shooting track and a second position at least partially aligned with the holding chamber. A palm rest is slidingly connected to the elongated body. Sliding the palm rest in a rearward direction causes the hatch to move from the first position into the second position. A biasing member within the holding chamber ejects a projectile onto the hatch. Sliding the palm rest in a forward direction to return to its default position causes the hatch to return to its first position, bringing the projectile into alignment with the shooting track.

Abstract: An improved slingshot band having a tapered outer contour. The slingshot band has a tubular body having a first fork end and a second pouch end. The tubular body comprises a first layer of an elastic polymer. The first layer has a constant thickness. The tubular body further comprises a second layer of an elastic polymer. The second layer has a greater thickness near the fork end of the tubular body and lower thickness near the pouch end of the tubular body. The increased thickness of the section of the tubular body near the fork end of the slingshot band reinforces the most vulnerable section of the slingshot band against failure, thereby extending its longevity.