Abstract: A vascular graft in the form of a tube or flat sheet of biocompatible material having an outer covering of deflectably secured material such as porous film, fibers, discrete pieces of material, or combinations thereof. Two different types of fibers may also be used. The vascular graft may be of tubular form for replacing or bypassing entire segments of veins or arteries or alternatively may be in the form of a flat sheet useful for repairing portions of the circumference of veins or arteries. The tube or flat sheet of biocompatible material and the outer covering of deflectably secured material are preferably of porous polytetrafluoroethylene. The inventive vascular graft is useful for dialysis access in that it offers a reduction in blood leakage when the vascular graft is punctured by a dialysis needle and the needle is subsequently removed. It is also useful for reducing suture hole bleeding resulting from holes created through the graft by penetration of the graft with a suture needle.

Abstract: A tubular intraluminal graft in the form of a tubular diametrically adjustable stent having a tubular covering of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene which is less than 0.10 mm thick. The covering may be on the exterior surface of the stent, or on the interior surface of the stent, or both. The covering may be affixed to the stent by an adhesive which is preferably fluorinated ethylene propylene.

Abstract: A method of making a mechanical cable having a steel wire core, a layer of fluoropolymer adhesive covering the steel wire core, and an outer layer of porous PTFE covering the layer of fluoropolymer adhesive. The mechanical cable may be a component of a mechanical cable system wherein the mechanical cable slides axially or rotates within a surrounding support tube. The support tube preferably has an inner surface comprised of non-porous PTFE. The support tube may optionally incorporate a contamination seal at the ends of the support tube to reduce the entrance of contaminating dirt and water into the system. The layer of porous PTFE covering the steel wire core may optionally be filled with a lubricating and abrasion resistant filler such as graphite.

Abstract: A vascular graft in the form of a tube or flat sheet of biocompatible material having an outer covering of deflectably secured material such as porous film, fibers, discrete pieces of material, or combinations thereof. Two different types of fibers may also be used. The vascular graft may be of tubular form for replacing or bypassing entire segments of veins or arteries or alternatively may be in the form of a flat sheet useful for repairing portions of the circumference of veins or arteries. The tube or flat sheet of biocompatible material and the outer covering of deflectably secured material are preferably of porous polytetrafluoroethylene. The inventive vascular graft is useful for dialysis access in that it offers a reduction in blood leakage when the vascular graft is punctured by a dialysis needle and the needle is subsequently removed. It is also useful for reducing suture hole bleeding resulting from holes created through the graft by penetration of the graft with a suture needle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmission of data. A four bit data word is converted into an eight bit code word having a run-length of (0,1) which includes four binary ones and four binary zeros is defined where the start and end bits comprise a 01 or 10 pair to ensure the (1,0) run-length across word boundaries. A hashing code is used to generate the code words and decode received code words.

Abstract: A holder for a prosthetic heart valve is disclosed. The holder, comprising a holder assembly disposed at the distal end of an elongate handle, includes a plurality of distally-projecting fingers adapted to engage the commissure posts of a stented prosthetic valve. The commissure-engaging fingers are movable in a radially-inward direction toward the longitudinal axis of the holder. A mechanism is provided for retaining the fingers in an inwardly-moved position. When the commissure posts of the valve are coupled to the fingers, inward movement of the fingers causes the commissure posts to be deflected inward with respect to the valve, improving the implanting surgeon's access to the valve's suture ring and surrounding tissue.

Abstract: An implantable lead in the form of an electrical conductor wire having an insulating layer of impervious plastic surrounding the surface of the electrical conductor wire and further having an exterior surface covering of porous PTFE. The impervious plastic insulating layer is preferably a thermoplastic and most preferably a thermoplastic fluoropolymer such as ETFE, FEP or PFA. The exterior surface covering of porous PTFE offers improved flexibility and biocompatibility in comparison to conventional lead wires having silicone exterior surfaces, while the impervious plastic insulating layer prevents loss of insulating integrity resulting from wetting out of the porous PTFE exterior surface by body fluids. Methods of making the implantable lead are also described.

Abstract: An improved mechanical control cable system of the push-pull type. Conventional push-pull cable systems typically include straight portions and curved portions. These conventional systems incorporate a push-pull cable having a metal wire housing enclosing at least the curved portion of the system and frequently both the curved and straight portions. These metal wire housings frequently incorporate a tubular polymeric liner only within the metal wire housing. The improved system has a continuous tubular polymeric liner enclosing both the curved and straight system portions while only the curved system portions are further enclosed by a metal wire housing.

Abstract: This invention relates to porous polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter PTFE) materials having the property of rapid recovery and a method for producing these materials. The microstructure of the porous PTFE material consists of nodes interconnected by fibrils, substantially all of the fibrils having a bent or wavy appearance. Articles made from these materials are particularly suitable for use in the medical field, but are also useful in other areas such as filtration and fabric applications.

Abstract: A portable bicycle stand repair capable of being removably attached to a smooth and approximately vertical surface such as the side of a motor vehicle. The portable bicycle repair stand incorporates at least one suction cup capable of being removably and securely attached to a smooth surface such as a sheet metal or glass vehicle surface. The lower end of the bicycle repair stand rests on the surface of the ground. A rotatably attached bicycle frame clamp is used to securely and releasably grip a bicycle frame and allows the bicycle to be rotated into a desired position and locked into place. The portable bicycle stand optionally incorporates height adjusting means.

Abstract: A catheter guidewire having a covering of a fluoropolymer tape. The tape may be applied either helically or longitudinally to the outer surface of the guidewire or to the surface of the wire from which the guidewire is made. Such a covering is inert, lubricious, flexible, will not flake, and can be applied as an extremely thin coating. Additionally, such a covering allows the guidewire to tolerate the application of greater force before uncoiling and wire breakage occurs.Other catheter guidewire devices having fluoropolymer tape coverings are also described.

Abstract: This invention relates to porous polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter PTFE) materials having the property of rapid recovery and a method for producing these materials. The microstructure of the porous PTFE material consists of nodes interconnected by fibrils, substantially all of the fibrils having a bent or wavy appearance. Articles made from these materials are particularly suitable for use in the medical field, but are also useful in other areas such as filtration and fabric applications.

Abstract: A surgical tool to assist in handling and implantation of flexible annuloplasty rings. The holder takes the form of an oblate ring to which the annuloplasty ring is mounted. The annuloplasty ring is retained on the holder by means of radially extending fingers and sutures.

Abstract: This invention relates to porous polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter PTFE) materials having the property of rapid recovery and a method for producing these materials. The microstructure of the porous PTFE material consists of nodes interconnected by fibrils, substantially all of the fibrils having a bent or wavy appearance. Artricles made from these materials are particularly suitable for use in the medical field, but are also useful in other areas such as filtration and fabric applications.

Abstract: A process for making a metal fuse link in a MOS or CMOS process which includes depositing a refractory metal or metal alloy over an already deposited multi-level oxide and patterning the deposited metal or metal alloy so that it has a fusing segment between and integral with expanded segments such that the length and cross sectional area of the fusing segment is sufficiently small so that the fusing current therethrough is less than 20 milliamperes. The fuse and surrounding circuitry is covered with a passivation layer and contacts formed in the passivation layer to the expanded segments.

Abstract: Semiconductor particles are distributed in a single level layer orientation in a glass sheet with portions of each particle exposed at both surfaces of the sheet. A metal layer on one surface of the sheet is in ohmic contact with the body of each particle and forms a common electrode.

Abstract: Semiconductor particles are distributed in a single level layer orientation in a glass sheet with portions of each particle exposed at both surfaces of the sheet. A metal layer on one surface of the sheet is in ohmic contact with the body of each particle and forms a common electrode.

Abstract: Light-emitting p-n junction diode elements in the form of ion implanted spheres are mounted to a surface of an insulating substrate member. Metallic coatings are provided on both the semiconductor material and the implanted region for electrical contact. A transparent conductor material is then further disposed over the diode structure connecting diodes and forming an array.

Abstract: Light emitting diodes in a substantially semispherical form having an outer shell-like region of semiconductor material of one conductivity type and a subsurface body of semiconductor material of an opposite conductivity type forming a p-n junction are mounted to a surface of an insulating substrate member extending therefrom to allow a portion of each diode element to protrude past the outer surface of the substrate. Metallic coatings are provided on both the outer shell-like semiconductor material having one conductivity and a second metallic coating is provided on the subsurface body semiconductor material having a second conductivity for electrical contact. A transparent conductive material is further disposed over the diode structure connecting diodes formed in an array.