Abstract: A medical device may include an insertion device having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough. The medical device may further include a snare device configured to transition between a contracted state within the lumen of the insertion device, and an expanded state extending distally of the insertion device. The snare device may include a loop including a pair of legs and a distal tip. The distal tip may include a plurality of stabilizers between the pair of legs.

Abstract: A method of making a catheter having a flexible outer tube and a lubricious inner tube bonded to the flexible outer tube. The catheter is formed of a distal outer tube formed of a first, flexible material, an inner tube having a lubricious inside wall surface formed of a second, lubricious material, and an outer tube wall surface compatible with heat bonding the inner tube outside wall surface to the outer tube wall surfaces. A preferred flexible material is polyether block amide (PEBA) and a preferred lubricious material is polyethylene.

Abstract: Method and system for generating letters and characters in a certain language using a standard Latin keyboard, according to which the letters of the certain language which have corresponding Latin letters are generated by pressing the corresponding Latin letter keys, using the standard ASCII code of the keyboard. The standard ASCII code is expanded to an extended code that can represent certain language letters which do not have corresponding Latin letters and certain language letters which do not have corresponding Latin letters but look similar to, or associated with, another certain language letters that do correspond to Latin letters, using the extended code. Certain language letters which do not have corresponding Latin letters are generated by typing the keys where the certain language letters are located on a standard Latin keyboard of the certain language, using the extended code.

Abstract: A catheter having a flexible outer tube and a lubricious inner tube bonded within the flexible outer tube. One catheter has a distal outer tube formed of a substantial portion of a first, flexible material, an inner tube having a lubricious inside wall surface formed of a second, lubricious material, and an outer tube wall surface compatible with heat bonding the inner tube outside wall surface to the outer tube wall surface. A preferred flexible material is polyether block amide (PEBA) and a preferred lubricious material is polyethylene. One catheter utilizing the invention includes a flexible distal outer tube having an orifice through the tube wall and an inner tube inserted through the orifice having a lubricious inner layer surrounded by a tie-layer, surrounded in turn by the same flexible material forming the outer tube.

Abstract: Method and system for generating letters and characters in a certain language using a standard Latin keyboard, according to which the letters of the certain language which have corresponding Latin letters are generated by pressing the corresponding Latin letter keys, using the standard ASCII code of the keyboard. The standard ASCII code is expanded to an extended code that can represent certain language letters which do not have corresponding Latin letters and certain language letters which do not have corresponding Latin letters but look similar to, or associated with, another certain language letters that do correspond to Latin letters, using the extended code. Certain language letters which do not have corresponding Latin letters are generated by typing the keys where the certain language letters are located on a standard Latin keyboard of the certain language, using the extended code.

Abstract: A catheter having a flexible outer tube and a lubricious inner tube bonded within the flexible outer tube. One catheter has a distal outer tube formed of a substantial portion of a first, flexible material, an inner tube having a lubricious inside wall surface formed of a second, lubricious material, and an outer tube wall surface compatible with heat bonding the inner tube outside wall surface to the outer tube wall surface. A preferred flexible material is polyether block amide (PEBA) and a preferred lubricious material is polyethylene. One catheter utilizing the invention includes a flexible distal outer tube having an orifice through the tube wall and an inner tube inserted through the orifice having a lubricious inner layer surrounded by a tie-layer, surrounded in turn by the same flexible material forming the outer tube.

Abstract: A catheter having a flexible outer tube and a lubricious inner tube bonded within the flexible outer tube. One catheter has a distal outer tube formed of a substantial portion of a first, flexible material, an inner tube having a lubricious inside wall surface formed of a second, lubricious material, and an outer tube wall surface compatible with heat bonding the inner tube outside wall surface to the outer tube wall surface. A preferred flexible material is polyether block amide (PEBA) and a preferred lubricious material is polyethylene. One catheter utilizing the invention includes a flexible distal outer tube having an orifice through the tube wall and an inner tube inserted through the orifice having a lubricious inner layer surrounded by a tie-layer, surrounded in turn by the same flexible material forming the outer tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a force and angle sensor for measuring the angle of rotation of a shaft (3) and a force exerted on a torsion rod (303), which interconnects two shaft parts (32, 33) of the shaft (3). In a housing (2), through which the shaft (3) runs, are arranged a main circuit board (4) arranged non-rotatably in relation to the housing (2) and which has a central opening (12), through which the shaft (3) runs, a first circuit board (5) for measuring the angle of rotation arranged non-rotatably on a first shaft part (32) on one side of the main circuit board (4), said first circuit board having a central opening (51) through which the first shaft part (32) runs, and a second circuit board (6) for measuring the force connected non-rotatably to the other shaft part (33) on the other side of the main circuit board (4), said second circuit board having a central opening (51) through which the other shaft part (33) runs.

Abstract: A catheter having a flexible outer tube and a lubricious inner tube bonded within the flexible outer tube. One catheter has a distal outer tube formed of a substantial portion of a first, flexible material, an inner tube having a lubricious inside wall surface formed of a second, lubricious material, and an outer tube wall surface compatible with heat bonding the inner tube outside wall surface to the outer tube wall surface. A preferred flexible material is polyether block amide (PEBA) and a preferred lubricious material is polyethylene. One catheter utilizing the invention includes a flexible distal outer tube having an orifice through the tube wall and an inner tube inserted through the orifice having a lubricious inner layer surrounded by a tie-layer, surrounded in turn by the same flexible material forming the outer tube.

Abstract: Catheters having improved flexibility control, which can be provided by a slidable core wire disposed within the catheter and by shafts formed from segmented spine wires disposed within polymeric tubes. One catheter is an angioplasty catheter including an axially slidable core wire disposed within an inflation lumen, and having a pressure seal disposed about the core wire extending proximally from the catheter proximal end. The slidable core wire can provide a varying degree of stiffness to the catheter. The catheter can have greater stiffness when the core wire is axially distally extended and less stiffness when the core wire is retracted. One catheter has a shaft including a spine wire or stiffening element within an outer polymeric tube. The spine wire can include multiple segments having alternating wide and narrow segments, with the wide segments contacting the outer tube and contributing stiffness to the shaft and with the narrow segments contributing flexibility to the shaft.

Abstract: Catheters having improved flexibility control, which can be provided by a slidable core wire disposed within the catheter and by shafts formed from segmented spine wires disposed within polymeric tubes. One catheter is an angioplasty catheter including an axially slidable core wire disposed within an inflation lumen, and having a pressure seal disposed about the core wire extending proximally from the catheter proximal end. The slidable core wire can provide a varying degree of stiffness to the catheter. The catheter can have greater stiffness when the core wire is axially distally extended and less stiffness when the core wire is retracted. One catheter has a shaft including a spine wire or stiffening element within an outer polymeric tube. The spine wire can include multiple segments having alternating wide and narrow segments, with the wide segments contacting the outer tube and contributing stiffness to the shaft and with the narrow segments contributing flexibility to the shaft.

Abstract: A catheter and subassemblies for catheters having improved proximal regions, and mid-regions including hypotube having distally increasing flexibility. One catheter has a kink resistant proximal shaft not including hypotube and including an outer tube disposed over a braid disposed over an inner tube. One catheter includes a proximal shaft having a 12-inch long strain relief disposed about a tubular region formed of hypotube. Another catheter includes a proximal hypotube shaft having a set curve imparted through bending and annealing, resulting in a catheter hypotube shaft having reduced spring and decreased kink radius. A catheter subassembly includes a hypotube shaft having a helical cut into the hypotube wall to increase flexibility over the length of the cut. One helical cut extends through the hypotube wall and includes a polymeric sleeve thereover to allow the cut hypotube to function as an inflation fluid delivery tube.

Abstract: A catheter having a flexible outer tube and a lubricious inner tube bonded within the flexible outer tube. One catheter has a distal outer tube formed of a substantial portion of a first, flexible material, an inner tube having a lubricious inside wall surface formed of a second, lubricious material, and an outer tube wall surface compatible with heat bonding the inner tube outside wall surface to the outer tube wall surface. A preferred flexible material is polyether block amide (PEBA) and a preferred lubricious material is polyethylene. One catheter utilizing the invention includes a flexible distal outer tube having an orifice through the tube wall and an inner tube inserted through the orifice having a lubricious inner layer surrounded by a tie-layer, surrounded in turn by the same flexible material forming the outer tube.

Abstract: A catheter and subassemblies for catheters having improved proximal regions, and mid-regions including hypotube having distally increasing flexibility. One catheter has a kink resistant proximal shaft not including hypotube and including an outer tube disposed over a braid disposed over an inner tube. One catheter includes a proximal shaft having a 12-inch long strain relief disposed about a tubular region formed of hypotube. Another catheter includes a proximal hypotube shaft having a set curve imparted through bending and annealing, resulting in a catheter hypotube shaft having reduced spring and decreased kink radius. A catheter subassembly includes a hypotube shaft having a helical cut into the hypotube wall to increase flexibility over the length of the cut. One helical cut extends through the hypotube wall and includes a polymeric sleeve thereover to allow the cut hypotube to function as an inflation fluid delivery tube.

Abstract: An automotive steering column switch comprises a turn signal switch (1) whose turn signal lever (7) is pivotable about a pivot (6) arranged on the switch housing (5) of the turn signal switch (1) and the end section (8) of which switch, on the housing side, is equipped with a spring-loaded locking element (11). The locking element (11) coacts with a locking-follower track (19) formed on the switch housing (5) and is in mesh with a release (16) mounted on the switch housing (5) and serving to reset the turn signal lever (7). To reduce the manufacturing and assembly expense, the release (16) has a follower track (26) on which bears in sliding fashion the spring-loaded locking element (11) of the turn signal lever (7), has a sliding element (31) which coacts in sliding manner with a guide element (33) formed on the end section (8) of the turn signal lever (7), and has two mutually spaced lateral recesses (37) adapted to engage corresponding lugs (40) formed on the switch housing (5).