Abstract: A water appliance including a water flow control unit for controlling a water flow. The control unit includes a flow restrictor and a leakage stop in serial fluid communication with the flow restrictor. The leakage stop cuts off the flow when a pressure difference between an inlet and an outlet of the flow restrictor is below a predetermined value.

Abstract: A water appliance (1) has a water flow control unit (2) for controlling a water flow. The control unit (2) includes a flow restrictor (6) and a leakage stop (12) in serial fluid communication with the flow restrictor (6). The leakage stop (12) cuts off the flow below a predetermined value of a pressure difference between an inlet (9) and an outlet (10) of the flow restrictor (6).

Abstract: A guidewire compatible for use with magnetic resonance systems is made from a non-metallic material with a high specific electric impedance, preferably constructed primarily of a glass body. Possible material selections for the glass body include quartz. Further enhancements to the present invention are as follows. Moreover, the glass body may be sheathed in a protective polymer layer, which is also non-metallic and tends to improve the physical characteristics of the guidewire. The sheath may preferably be reinforced with a number of reinforcing fibers, which may be made from carbon, borium, aramide and also various types of glass fibers. If necessary to obtain the desired physical performance of the guidewire, including high flexibility at the distal end, a distal portion of the guidewire may be constructed of metal components according to designs known in the art. Such a metal tip portion may be made of nitinol, and should be substantially shorter than the wavelength of the magnetic resonance field.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter having controllable stiffness or flexibility, and adapted for use with various contrast media. The stiffness of the catheter may be increased during the use of the catheter by applying a fluid under pressure at the proximal end of the catheter to thereby fill a cavity within the body of the catheter to thereby cause the region of the catheter defined by the cavity to become less flexible. When the fluid pressure is decreased, this region of the catheter becomes more flexible. The fluids to be applied inside the cavities may be a variety of types of contrast media, used with imaging techniques such as either MRI or X-ray fluoroscopy.

Abstract: The invention relates to an endovascular non-balloon flow-directed catheter comprising a tube-like body with a proximal and a distal end, a connecting member connected to the proximal end, and a tube-like distal section which is very flexible and does not retain its shape when external forces are applied to the distal end. As a result this tube-like distal section is guided and carried along by the surrounding flow, in particular, by the flow of surrounding blood.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a catheter having a tubular body with a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending therethrough. A predetermined length of the distal end of the body has varying bending stiffness in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions of the tubular body. The catheter further includes a pull wire extending through the lumen. The pull wire has a proximal end and a distal end. the distal end of the pull wire is attached to the distal end of the tubular body. Preferably the catheter has at least two strips of material extending longitudinally along the body. The strips of material are offset from each other in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions. These strips of material have a greater bending stiffness than the tubular body so that the distal end of the body has varying bending stiffness in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an angiography catheter comprising a hose-like body with at least one lumen debouching at the distal end in an end opening, wherein the distal end has a permanent curvature and a number of openings is arranged in the wall. At least some of the openings are herein arranged in the curvature in a side of the wall remote from the end opening. The angiography catheter can be of the so-called "pigtail" type, with a circular curvature through substantially 360.degree., wherein openings are arranged in the first 180.degree. of the curvature in the outward facing portion of the wall.

Abstract: Catheters manufactured by extrusion are described along with methods and devices for their manufacture. Catheters are manufactured according to the invention by simultaneously conveying a plurality of streams of different materials to a molding nozzle and merging the streams together to form a catheter. An apparatus for the manufacture of such catheters includes means for opening and closing the flow of materials in a controlled manner to thereby vary the composition within the finished extrusion profile. The finished extrusion profile is provided as a catheter containing at least one wall section having bands of different materials extending longitudinally along the length of the catheter.

Abstract: A switching mechanism is provided including a control member and a switching element which is coupled to the control member and by means of a coupling element can be moved between a first and a second position. The switching mechanism includes two coupling elements which are arranged in series in the switching direction, each coupling element being constituted by a hinging V-shaped member, a point of intersection of a V-shaped member being alternately located within range for action thereon by the control member.