Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, and a retractable agitation element. The basket may be rotatably positioned within the tub. The retractable agitation element may be positioned within the basket. The retractable agitation element may define a rotation axis. The retractable agitation element may include a lower shaft, an upper shaft, and a resilient fin. The upper shaft may be slidably mounted on lower shaft in telescoping cooperation to move axially along the rotation axis. The resilient fin may be movably attached to the lower shaft apart from the upper shaft.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, and a retractable agitation element. The basket may be rotatably positioned within the tub. The retractable agitation element may be positioned within the basket. The retractable agitation element may define a rotation axis. The retractable agitation element may include a lower shaft, an upper shaft, and a resilient fin. The upper shaft may be slidably mounted on lower shaft in telescoping cooperation to move axially along the rotation axis. The resilient fin may be movably attached to the lower shaft apart from the upper shaft.

Abstract: A resilient gasket for an appliance defines a longitudinal direction. The gasket includes a base, a pocket attached to the base, and at least one internal component located within a chamber defined by the pocket. The internal component includes a first leg extending along the longitudinal direction of the gasket from a first end of the internal component to a first side of an arcuate portion of the internal component and a second leg extending along the longitudinal direction of the gasket from a second end of the internal component to a second side of the arcuate portion of the internal component.

Abstract: A resilient gasket for an appliance defines a longitudinal direction. The gasket includes a base, a pocket attached to the base, and at least one internal component located within a chamber defined by the pocket. The internal component includes a first leg extending along the longitudinal direction of the gasket from a first end of the internal component to a first side of an arcuate portion of the internal component and a second leg extending along the longitudinal direction of the gasket from a second end of the internal component to a second side of the arcuate portion of the internal component.

Abstract: A resilient gasket having a multi-piece construction that can be readily manufactured. The gasket includes a body having at least one, non-attached component positioned inside that provides additional resiliency. The body and the non-attached, internal component can be constructed from materials having different properties so as to determine or tune the overall resiliency of the gasket. The gasket can be provided as rails surrounding an opening of the appliance.

Abstract: An expandable prosthetic device and method of delivery that allows the initial placement of multiple guidewires into selected target sites. The prosthesis includes a main body device. This main body device has a separate side branch guidewire lumen that passes through the main body device and through a side opening in the main body device. As the main body device is advanced, the side opening is self guided (by the side branch guidewire) and self-aligns to the side branch vessel ostium. The main body device is then deployed, leaving the side branch guidewire in place. A side branch device is then advanced along the side branch guidewire through the main body device, through the side wall opening and into the native side branch vessel. The side branch device can then be deployed to engage the main body device and the native side branch vessel.

Abstract: A conduit, such as an introducer sheath, catheter, or guide catheter, incorporating two or more separate lumens to prevent the entanglement of guidewires located at least partially within the conduit. The lumens are separated by at least one disruptable barrier that allows multiple lumens to be converted into fewer lumens prior to or as a device is advanced through the introducer sheath.

Abstract: An expandable prosthetic device and method of delivery that allows the initial placement of multiple guidewires into selected target sites. The prosthesis includes a main body device. This main body device has a separate side branch guidewire lumen that passes through the main body device and through a side opening in the main body device. As the main body device is advanced, the side opening is self guided (by the side branch guidewire) and self-aligns to the side branch vessel ostium. The main body device is then deployed, leaving the side branch guidewire in place. A side branch device is then advanced along the side branch guidewire through the main body device, through the side wall opening and into the native side branch vessel. The side branch device can then be deployed to engage the main body device and the native side branch vessel.

Abstract: Catheter for delivering an expandable prosthetic device. The catheter has a guidewire channel for delivering a side branch guidewire to a side branch target site. An expandable prosthetic device can be loaded on to the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: The present invention is a catheter device that includes a disruptable guidewire channel. The guidewire channel is configured to provide necessary trackability of the catheter along the guidewire during introduction of the catheter to a treatment site. Once treatment is completed, the guidewire channel can then be disrupted so as to free the guidewire from the catheter in situ. The apparatus of the present invention provides distinct advantages over existing over-the-wire and rapid exchange catheter introduction methods, including the ability to achieve much faster treatment implement exchanges, the ability to rapidly deliver multiple treatment implements in series, and the ability to maintain multiple treatment implements simultaneously at a treatment site using a single guidewire.

Abstract: A catheter, voice prosthesis assembly, and delivery method include an elongated flexible body having a hollow voice prosthesis tubing disposed on a first end of the elongated flexible body. A voice prosthesis is received in the hollow voice prosthesis tubing. The voice prosthesis having an interior esophageal flange at a first end and an exterior tracheal flange at a second end, with the voice prosthesis being received in the hollow voice prosthesis tubing with the interior esophageal flange being folded within the hollow voice prosthesis tubing and the exterior tracheal flange being disposed exterior to the hollow voice prosthesis tubing.

Abstract: A catheter, voice prosthesis assembly, and delivery method include an elongated flexible body having a hollow voice prosthesis tubing disposed on a first end of the elongated flexible body. A voice prosthesis is received in the hollow voice prosthesis tubing. The voice prosthesis having an interior esophageal flange at a first end and an exterior tracheal flange at a second end, with the voice prosthesis being received in the hollow voice prosthesis tubing with the interior esophageal flange being folded within the hollow voice prosthesis tubing and the exterior tracheal flange being disposed exterior to the hollow voice prosthesis tubing.

Abstract: The present invention is a catheter device that includes a disruptable guidewire channel. The guidewire channel is configured to provide necessary trackability of the catheter along the guidewire during introduction of the catheter to a treatment site. Once treatment is completed, the guidewire channel can then be disrupted so as to free the guidewire from the catheter in situ. The apparatus of the present invention provides distinct advantages over existing over-the-wire and rapid exchange catheter introduction methods, including the ability to achieve much faster treatment implement exchanges, the ability to rapidly deliver multiple treatment implements in series, and the ability to maintain multiple treatment implements simultaneously at a treatment site using a single guidewire.

Abstract: An expandable prosthetic device and method of delivery that allows the initial placement of multiple guidewires into selected target sites. The prosthesis includes a main body device. This main body device has a separate side branch guidewire lumen that passes through the main body device and through a side opening in the main body device. As the main body device is advanced, the side opening is self guided (by the side branch guidewire) and self-aligns to the side branch vessel ostium. The main body device is then deployed, leaving the side branch guidewire in place. A side branch device is then advanced along the side branch guidewire through the main body device, through the side wall opening and into the native side branch vessel. The side branch device can then be deployed to engage the main body device and the native side branch vessel.

Abstract: The present invention is a catheter device that includes a disruptable guidewire channel. The guidewire channel is configured to provide necessary trackability of the catheter along the guidewire during introduction of the catheter to a treatment site. Once treatment is completed, the guidewire channel can then be disrupted so as to free the guidewire from the catheter in situ. The apparatus of the present invention provides distinct advantages over existing over-the-wire and rapid exchange catheter introduction methods, including the ability to achieve much faster treatment implement exchanges, the ability to rapidly deliver multiple treatment implements in series, and the ability to maintain multiple treatment implements simultaneously at a treatment site using a single guidewire.

Abstract: An expandable prosthetic device and method of delivery that allows the initial placement of multiple guidewires into selected target sites. The prosthesis includes a main body device. This main body device has a separate side branch guidewire lumen that passes through the main body device and through a side opening in the main body device. As the main body device is advanced, the side opening is self guided (by the side branch guidewire) and self-aligns to the side branch vessel ostium. The main body device is then deployed, leaving the side branch guidewire in place. A side branch device is then advanced along the side branch guidewire through the main body device, through the side wall opening and into the native side branch vessel. The side branch device can then be deployed to engage the main body device and the native side branch vessel.

Abstract: An expandable prosthetic device and method of delivery that allows the initial placement of multiple guidewires into selected target sites. The prosthesis includes a main body device. This main body device has a separate side branch guidewire lumen that passes through the main body device and through a side opening in the main body device. As the main body device is advanced, the side opening is self guided (by the side branch guidewire) and self-aligns to the side branch vessel ostium. The main body device is then deployed, leaving the side branch guidewire in place. A side branch device is then advanced along the side branch guidewire through the main body device, through the side wall opening and into the native side branch vessel. The side branch device can then be deployed to engage the main body device and the native side branch vessel.

Abstract: A deflecting guide catheter for use in minimally invasive medical procedures such as the treatment of mitral valve regurgitation by reshaping the mitral valve annulus using one or more plications of annular or adjacent tissue each fixed by a retainer is described. The catheter includes an elongated tubular portion having various durometers along its length and at least one puller wire attached to an anchor band near the distal end. The deflecting guide catheter is used to provide a means for guiding a plication device or other medical instrument into a desired position within the vasculature or heart chambers of a patient.

Abstract: Novel delivery systems suitable for delivering, for example, implantable devices. Delivery system comprises a three-catheter system in conjunction with at least one floating connector. Delivery system may be particularly suitable for delivering septal occlusion devices to a patient's heart.

Abstract: An interventional delivery system with a first catheter having at its distal end a side branch vessel segment; a second catheter attached around the first catheter and having at its distal end a main vessel segment; a side branch vessel device attached to side branch vessel segment of the first catheter; and main vessel device attached to the main vessel segment of the second catheter. The main vessel device and the side branch vessel device are able to be simultaneously delivered to a treatment site.