Abstract: A passenger aircraft security system provides double doors at the entrance to the cockpit and rearranges the adjacent galley and restroom and creates a vestibule or passageway between them fitted with parallel inner and outer doors with special locking devices so as to provide guarded access to the cockpit from the passenger cabin. Modified embodiments are disclosed for marine vessels and railway locomotives and subway cars.

Abstract: A passenger aircraft security system provides double doors at the entrance to the cockpit and rearranges the adjacent galley and restroom and creates a vestibule or passageway between them fitted with parallel inner and outer doors with special locking devices so as to provide guarded access to the cockpit from the passenger cabin. Modified embodiments are disclosed for marine vessels and railway locomotives and subway cars.

Abstract: A garment for supporting a woman's chest in the form a brassiere with breast supporting cups supported by an wire element of variable stiffness formed of a solid wire linearly joined to a cable of greater flexibility than the solid wire, and with the ends of the support wire having protective balls.

Abstract: A coaxial cable includes an inner conductor, a multifilament twisted and drawn or swaged tubular cable outer conductor, and a dielectric (insulative) material therebetween. According to one embodiment, the filaments of the multifilament twisted and drawn or swaged outer conductor are twisted about a central inner conductor provided with an insulative sheath. The outer conductor filaments are arranged such that when they are drawn or swaged, the compressive forces are directed on neighboring filaments and not directed radially inward toward the inner conductor, thereby preventing deformation of the inner conductor. According to another embodiment, each of the filaments is provided with an insulative sheath. According to other embodiments, a cable is formed with a central filament harder than the surrounding filaments. The central filament is withdrawn leaving behind a twisted and drawn or swaged tube with a hollow.

Abstract: A highly flexible radiopaque cable includes two, and preferably three or more strands of nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloy wire which are twined about a higher density core wire preferably made of at least one of silver, gold, tungsten, or platinum-iridium to form a wire rope. Other high density core wires may be used. The wire rope is drawn through successive dies to reduce its diameter until the outer surface of the cable is substantially smooth, the cross section of the cable is substantially circular, and the overall diameter of the wire rope is reduced by 20-50%. The cable is then annealed to remove the effects of cold working. The resulting cable has been found to have a substantially equal or improved flexibility (i.e., a lower modulus of elasticity) relative to single strand nickel-titanium wires of the same diameter and a higher radiopacity. In an alternative embodiment, no core wire is utilized, and the higher density wire is drawn with two or more strands of NiTi wire.

Abstract: A surgical snare instrument includes an elongated tubular sheath having proximal and distal ends, a flexible torqueable shaft having proximal and distal ends extending through and axially movable relative to the sheath, a snare loop at the distal end of the shaft, and a handle coupled to the proximal ends of the sheath and shaft for moving the shaft relative to the sheath and for rotating the shaft relative to the sheath so that the snare loop, when extended beyond the distal end of the sheath, is rotatable relative to the distal end of the sheath. The shaft is preferably a multifilament twisted and drawn cable. The filaments of the multifilament twisted and drawn cable are preferably either stainless steel, nickel-titanium alloy, or a combination of the two. Such a shaft has been demonstrated to provide the high torqueability necessary for controlled rotation of the snare loop.

Abstract: A hybrid cable includes an optical fiber and a multifilament twisted and drawn or swaged electrical conductor. According to one embodiment, the filaments of the multifilament twisted and drawn or swaged electrical conductor are twisted about the optical fiber and then drawn through one or more dies or swaged. In a second embodiment, a metal tube is drawn through one or more dies, an optical fiber is provided in the tube, and then the tube is drawn again with the optical fiber contained therein to result in a drawn filled tube having a central optical fiber. The drawn filled tube is then used a central filament and a plurality of conductive filaments are twisted and about the central filament and the twisted assembly is then drawn or swaged to result in a hybrid cable. In a third embodiment, a multifilament twisted and drawn or swaged cable is formed with a central filament harder than the surrounding the filaments.

Abstract: A coaxial cable includes an inner conductor made of a number of conductive strands which are twined to form a wire rope which is drawn through a die to reduce its diameter until the outer surface of the cable is substantially smooth and the cross section of the cable is substantially circular, an outer conductor concentrically around the inner conductor, and a dielectric between the inner and outer conductors. The strands of the cable may be a single metal or alloy wires, or may be plated wires. The outer conductor may be a highly flexible metallized tape which is helically wrapped around the dielectric. As such, the coaxial cable has substantially greater flexibility. According to a second embodiment, a coaxial cable includes inner and outer conductors, and a dielectric therebetween. The dielectric includes an outer cross-sectional shape which is preferably different from an inner cross-sectional shape of the outer conductor.

Abstract: Medical devices are provided which utilize a highly flexible cable of two and preferably three or more strands of wire, at least one of which is a nickel-titanium alloy strand. The strands are twined to form a wire rope which is drawn through successive dies to reduce its diameter until the outer surface of the cable is substantially smooth. A cable of all nickel-titanium alloy strands has been found to have an improved elasticity over a superelastic nickel-titanium wire of the same diameter. The cable is used in medical devices in which increased elasticity of a wire-like element is desired. Twisted and drawn cables incorporating a strand of a radiopaque metal or alloy with one or more nickel-titanium strands may be used in devices in which radiopacity of a flexible portion of the device is desired.

Abstract: Surgical basket instruments according to the invention generally include a sheath (catheter), a shaft extending through and axially movable relative to the sheath, a basket assembly coupled to a distal end of the shaft, and a handle coupled to a proximal end of the shaft and adapted for facilitating movement of the shaft relative to the sheath such that the basket assembly may be moved out of and into the distal end of the sheath. The basket assembly is formed from a plurality of circumferentially spaced flexible wires or cables which facilitate entrapping of urological and gastrointestinal calculi. The shaft is made of a hollow compacted cable formed from a flexible yet strong shape memory material such as a nickel-titanium alloy. The hollow (channel) in the shaft receives at least one fiber optic couplable to a laser beam for destroying calculi.

Abstract: An electrically conductive cable includes a number of conductive strands which are twined to form a wire rope. The wire rope is drawn through a die to reduce its diameter until the outer surface of the conductor is smooth and the cross section of the conductor is substantially circular. According to a presently preferred embodiment, the electrically conductive cable is successively drawn through four dies of decreasing diameter so that the overall diameter of the wire rope is reduced by at least approximately 18 percent. The resulting electrically conductive cable has the tensile strength advantage and the low resistance advantage of a solid conductor with the flexibility advantage of a wire rope cable. In addition, the smooth outer surface of the electrically conductive cable according to the invention is easily insulated with an extruded material.

Abstract: A highly flexible cable includes two, and preferably three or more strands of nickel-titanium alloy wire which are twined (twisted) to form a wire rope. The nickel-titanium alloy wire rope is drawn through successive dies to reduce its diameter until the outer surface of the cable is substantially smooth, the cross section of the cable is substantially circular, and the overall diameter of the wire rope is reduced by 20-50%. The cable is then annealed to remove the effects of cold working. The resulting cable has been found to have an improved flexibility (i.e., a lower modulus of elasticity) relative to single strand nickel-titanium wires of the same diameter.

Abstract: Medical devices are provided which utilize a highly flexible cable of two and preferably three or more strands of wire. The strands are twined to form a wire rope which is drawn through successive dies to reduce its diameter until the outer surface of the cable is substantially smooth. A cable so-formed has improved elasticity. The cable is used in medical devices in which increased elasticity of a wire-like element is desired. Twisted and drawn cables incorporating a strand of a radiopaque metal or alloy may be used in devices in which radiopacity of a flexible portion of the device is desired. Twisted and drawn cables incorporating a strand of a metal or alloy having high electrical conductance may be used in devices in which electrical conductivity of a flexible portion of the device is desired.

Abstract: Electrical cables of the present invention include cables made from plated filaments which are first twisted together and then drawn through reducing dies (or swaged). The cables exhibit a conductivity comparable to cables having greater diameter and weight. The smaller diameter of the cables of the invention allows them to be used as leads for electronic components in order to achieve reduced parasitic capacitance without increased resistivity or reactance or component package size. The cold working of the cables of the invention provides them with enhanced flexibility and fatigue strength. The combination of materials used in the cables of the invention provides them with resistance to corrosion and the adverse affects of aging as well as enhanced conductivity. Cables formed according to the invention with a hollow tube core can be self-cooling, or easily cooled by flowing coolant through the hollow core.

Abstract: A highly flexible radiopaque cable includes two, and preferably three or more strands of nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloy wire which are twined about a higher density core wire preferably made of at least one of silver, gold or platinum-iridium to form a wire rope. The wire rope is drawn through successive dies to reduce its diameter until the outer surface of the cable is substantially smooth, the cross section of the cable is substantially circular, and the overall diameter of the wire rope is reduced by 20-50%. The cable is then annealed to remove the effects of cold working. The resulting cable has been found to have a substantially equal or improved flexibility (i.e., a lower modulus of elasticity) relative to single strand nickel-titanium wires of the same diameter and a higher radiopacity. In an alternative embodiment, no core wire is utilized, and the higher density wire is drawn with two or more strands of NiTi wire. In another embodiment, the higher density wire is radioactive.

Abstract: A garment adapted to support a female chest includes a pair of frontal cup portions of flexible material adapted to cover the chest area of a wearer, each of the cup portions having a perimeter. A multifilament twisted and drawn or swaged cable support element is attached to a portion of the perimeter to provide support for each cup in a manner which is comfortable to the wearer. The multifilament twisted and drawn or swaged cable support element is preferably comprised of a plurality of nickel-titanium wires or a plurality of stainless steel wires, which were formed by first twisting multiple filaments together and then drawing the twisted filaments through multiple dies and/or swaging to form a cable. The multifilament twisted and drawn or swaged cable provides superior support and comfort.

Abstract: Electrical cables of the present invention include cables made from plated filaments which are first twisted together and then drawn through reducing dies (or swaged), filaments which are twisted together around a core material which melts or deforms during drawing of the cable through reducing dies, filaments which are twisted around a tube prior to drawing through reducing dies, and cables which are made from combinations of these methods. The cables exhibit a conductivity comparable to cables having greater diameter and weight. The smaller diameter of the cables of the invention allows them to be used as leads for electronic components in order to achieve reduced parasitic capacitance without increased resistivity or reactance or component package size. The cold working of the cables of the invention provides them with enhanced flexibility and fatigue strength.

Abstract: A stent includes a cylindrical tubular form and a plurality of foil members coupled about to the exterior of the tubular form. The foil members are spaced apart around the circumference of the tubular form to provide spaces between the segments when the stent is in an expanded state, the spaces permitting the tubular form to be contracted to a small diameter for delivery to an implant site. According to a first embodiment, the stent is self-expanding, and the tubular form is formed from a resilient wire, preferably having a plurality of longitudinal back and forth bends. According to a second embodiment, the stent is self-expanding and comprised of a plurality of tubular portions linked together, each of the portions having a plurality of foil members coupled about the circumference of the portion. According to a third embodiment, the stent is pressure expandable, and the tubular form of the stent is made from a malleable slotted tube or one or more malleable wires.

Abstract: A flexible intravascular guidewire comprises a plurality of filaments braided together and drawn through a die to a reduced cross-sectional area of circular shape. Preferably, one or more of the filaments is coated with a radiopaque material prior to drawing it through the dye. According to a preferred embodiment, each of the filaments is made from the same metallic material; alternatively, the filament material may differ, e.g., to provide flexibility and torsional stiffness characteristics which are unachievable in a metal monofilament, or in a multifilament wire of the same filament materials.

Abstract: A surgical snare instrument includes a tubular sheath having proximal and distal ends, a flexible shaft having proximal and distal ends extending through and axially movable relative to the sheath, a snare loop at the distal end of the shaft, and a handle assembly coupled to the proximal ends of the sheath and shaft for moving the shaft axially relative to the sheath. The handle assembly is provided with cautery capability to provide a cautery current to the snare loop. The snare loop is trained to have a proximal portion which extends along an angle or curve relative to the tubular member and a distal portion which is substantially parallel to the tubular member. As such, when the snare loop is axially moved beyond the distal end of the sheath, the distal portion of the snare loop; i.e., that portion which is adapted to engage a polyp, is oriented substantially parallel, yet non-axial, with the tubular member.