Abstract: An ablation device comprising an ablation applicator adapted for ablating material from an object upon delivery of an ablation medium to the ablation applicator in an ablation mode, an ablation medium supply line adapted for supplying the ablation medium to the ablation applicator in the ablation mode, an ablation medium drain line adapted for draining the ablation medium received from the ablation applicator in the ablation mode, and a closure mechanism adapted for selectively enclosing a predefined volume in a fluidic path upon operating the ablation device in a no-flow mode or upon detecting a leak in the fluidic path, the fluidic path including the ablation applicator and being defined between the ablation medium supply line and the ablation medium drain line.

Abstract: A device (1) for endoscopic removal of stones or concrements from a bile and pancreatic duct or foreign bodies and polyps subsequent to polypectomy in the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract comprises a cable (9) guided in a tube (2) and further comprises, on its proximal end, an actuation element (3) for an axial displacement of the cable (9) within the tube (2). The cable (9) receives, on its distal end, a collecting basket (16) formed by at least four elastic basket wires (17), said basket wires (17) being bundled at one end on the cable (9) and at another end on a guide element (18). The basket wires (17) bear against the end of the tube (2) such that an axial displacement of the cable (9) leads to a loop-like contraction or expansion of the collecting basket (16) and to a twisting of the collecting basket (16) about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The device for mechanical lithotripsy and removal of stones that form in the bile duct or urinary system has a stone collection basket at a distal end of a tube and two actuators at the proximal end of the tube. A cable runs through the tube and connects each actuator to the basket. The actuators are screw drives and form a common structural unit that is concentric to the tube and the cable. One actuator controls the opening and closing of the basket while the other actuator controls the force transmitted through the cable to the basket to allow for crushing of the stone in the basket.

Abstract: An ablation device comprising a positioning catheter adapted to be positionable in a heart and comprising a fixation mechanism for fixing the positioning catheter in the heart, and an ablation catheter adapted to ablate material of the heart using the ablation catheter, wherein the ablation catheter is designed to ablate tissue along an isthmus of the heart, wherein the positioning catheter and the ablation catheter are provided to be movable relative to one another.

Abstract: A handle for an ablation device, the handle comprising a positioning control handle part adapted to be coupled to a positioning catheter of the ablation device and adapted to position the positioning catheter in an object, and an ablation control handle part adapted to be coupled to an ablation catheter of the ablation device and adapted to ablate material of the object using the ablation catheter, wherein the positioning control handle part and the ablation control handle part are adapted to be separable from one another.

Abstract: A device (1) for endoscopic removal of stones or concrements from a bile and pancreatic duct or foreign bodies and polyps subsequent to polypectomy in the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract comprises a cable (9) guided in a tube (2) and further comprises, on its proximal end, an actuation element (3) for an axial displacement of the cable (9) within the tube (2). The cable (9) receives, on its distal end, a collecting basket (16) formed by at least four elastic basket wires (17), said basket wires (17) being bundled at one end on the cable (9) and at another end on a guide element (18). The basket wires (17) bear against the end of the tube (2) such that an axial displacement of the cable (9) leads to a loop-like contraction or expansion of the collecting basket (16) and to a twisting of the collecting basket (16) about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A cooling device for cooling a catheter, the cooling device comprising a main cooling unit adapted for supplying the catheter with a main cooling medium and a precooling unit adapted for precooling the main cooling medium before supply of the main cooling medium to the catheter, wherein the main cooling unit comprises a cooling pathway through which a fluid is guidable as the main cooling medium, and comprising a control unit adapted for automatically controlling the main cooling unit and the precooling unit to perform a predetermined cooling procedure, wherein the control unit is adapted for activating the precooling unit before activating a supply of the main cooling medium by the main cooling unit to the catheter.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses monoclonal antibodies that bind to lipoteichoic acid (LTA) of Gram positive bacteria. The antibodies also bind to whole bacteria and enhance phagocytosis and killing of the bacteria in vitro. The invention also provides antibodies having human sequences (chimeric, humanized and human antibodies). The invention also sets forth the variable regions of three antibodies within the invention and presents the striking homology between them.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses protective monoclonal antibodies that bind to peptidoglycan of Gram-positive bacteria. The antibodies also bind to whole bacteria and enhance phagocytosis and killing of the bacteria in vitro and block nasal colonization by Gram-positive bacteria in vivo. The invention also provides human, humanized and chimeric antibodies. The invention also sets forth the heavy chain and light chain variable regions of an antibody within the invention.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses monoclonal and chimeric antibodies that bind to lipoteichoic acid of Gram positive bacteria. The antibodies also bind to whole bacteria and enhance phagocytosis and killing of the bacteria in vitro and enhance protection from lethal infection in vivo. The mouse monoclonal antibody has been humanized and the resulting chimeric antibody provides a previously unknown means to diagnose, prevent and/or treat infections caused by gram positive bacteria bearing lipoteichoic acid. This invention also encompasses a peptide mimic of the lipoteichoic acid epitope binding site defined by the monoclonal antibody. This epitope or epitope peptide mimic identifies other antibodies that may bind to the lipoteichoic acid epitope. Moreover, the epitope or epitope peptide mimic provides a valuable substrate for the generation of vaccines or other therapeutics.

Abstract: Internal combustion (“IC”) engine system for high fuel conversion efficiency and low exhaust emissions, particularly although not exclusively with gaseous fuels. An IC engine operates at approximately stoichiometric (?=1) air/fuel mass ratios. A higher-than-normal compression ratio for typical stoichiometric operation is possible for the engine, due to the introduction of an inert (i.e., not chemically reactive in the combustion process) gas into the air/fuel mixture. The inert gas slows the combustion rate to avoid uncontrolled combustion rates and engine “knock.” The elevated compression ratio yields higher fuel conversion efficiency. Stoichiometric air/fuel ratio permits catalytic processing of the exhaust gas stream to reduce CO, NOx, and HC emissions via a combination of non-selective catalytic reduction process.

Abstract: A method for ultra wideband (UWB) communication in which UWB pulses are transmitted to multiple users during a single time interval used in a time division multiple access (TDMA) system. In one disclosed form of the invention, multiple subintervals or sub-divisions of each TDMA time interval are allocated to the transmission of multiple UWB pulses representing multiple data bits to be transmitted to the same user. Multiple subintervals of the same TDMA time interval are allocated to the reception of multiple return UWB pulses from the same user. In another disclosed form of the invention, multiple subintervals of each TDMA time interval are allocated to the transmission of multiple UWB pulses representing data bits to be transmitted to multiple respective users. Multiple subdivisions in the same TDMA time interval are allocated to the reception of return UWB pulses from the respective multiple users.

Abstract: An ultra wideband (UWB) communication system and method for its use, allowing multiple users to communicate with the system without significant interference. The system includes multiple element antenna array, through which UWB pulses are transmitted to selected multiple users, by means of a selected combination of spatial multiplexing, frequency reuse and time slot reuse.

Abstract: A method for ultra wideband (UWB) communication in which UWB pulses encode binary data as either normal or inverted (anti-podal) pulses. In the case of pulses of a carrier signal, each pulse has the carrier signal either inverted or in phase, that is, shifted by 180°, or not. For example, a binary “1” may be encoded as a normal or non-inverted pulse and a binary “0” as an inverted pulse. After each carrier pulse is rectified and filtered, detection is effected using a threshold value of zero, resulting in increased immunity to noise, compared with detection of unidirectional pulses. In one aspect of the invention, data pertaining to multiple communication channels are encoded in time-divided portions of each UWB pulse.

Abstract: Internal combustion (“IC”) engine system for high fuel conversion efficiency and low exhaust emissions, particularly although not exclusively with gaseous fuels. An IC engine operates at approximately stoichiometric (&lgr;=1) air/fuel mass ratios. A higher-than-normal compression ratio for typical stoichiometric operation is possible for the engine, due to the introduction of an inert (i.e., not chemically reactive in the combustion process) gas into the air/fuel mixture. The inert gas slows the combustion rate to avoid uncontrolled combustion rates and engine “knock.” The elevated compression ratio yields higher fuel conversion efficiency. Stoichiometric air/fuel ratio permits catalytic processing of the exhaust gas stream to reduce CO, NOx, and HC emissions via a combination of non-selective catalytic reduction process.

Abstract: A tappet (1) for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine is so designed as to be switchable for different valve lifts and includes an outer circular ring shaped section (5) which encloses a circular section (6). Both sections (5, 6) are acted upon by cams of different lifts, and selectively interconnectable together by coupling elements (9). According to the invention, a juncture (12) for hydraulic fluid is positioned in the skirt (2) and extending from a feed bore (13) in the cylinder head (4) at a lowest point of the tappet (1), when viewed in direction of gravity, in order to install the tappet (1) in an extreme slanted disposition. In opposition thereto, a port (21) of the channel (27), following the juncture (12), is arranged at a highest section of the tappet (1), when viewed in the direction of gravity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piston pump for thick matter such as concrete, sewage sludge, excavated tunnel material and similar. The inventive piston pump has at least one hydraulically operated pump cylinder (10, 12). The pump piston (30) of said pump cylinder (10, 12) is connected to the piston (38) of a hydraulic drive cylinder (26, 28) by a common piston rod (34). A water box (42) is situated between the pump cylinders (10, 12) and the drive cylinders (26, 28), the piston rod (34) passing through said water box (42) for cleaning purposes. Said water box (42) has an assembly opening (44) at the top end, said opening being accessible from above, and a closeable water outlet nozzle (66) located at the bottom end. The water box also has an assembly opening located at the bottom end for easier assembly. Said bottom-end assembly opening (54) can be closed in such a way that it is liquid-tight by means of a removable base plate (52).

Abstract: A tappet for the valve drive of an internal combustion engine, includes a cup-shaped housing (1) and an insert which is arranged inside the housing (1) and has an outer sleeve (4), which bears upon the cylinder wall, and an inner guide tube (5). Displaceably guided in the guide tube (5) is a hydraulic clearance compensation element (7), with the insert forming with the cylinder wall (2) of the housing (1) an oil channel (17) which extends from a bottom-distant inlet opening (18) of the cylinder wall (2) to a port adjacent an oil chamber (13, 15) and neighboring the bottom (3). In accordance with the invention, the oil channel (19) on the insert is designed as a helical groove formed in the outer sleeve (4).

Abstract: A two-part tappet is designed to be adaptable to different cam contours. Radial bores (11, 12) are provided in the base sections (2, 3) for receiving at least one radially shiftable piston (13) for coupling the sections (2, 3).

Abstract: A tappet (1) for a valve operating mechanism for an internal combustion engine comprising a thin-walled jacket (3) guided in a bore (5) of a cylinder head (6) and provided in the cam direction with a circular ring-shaped bottom (4) which surrounds a circular bottom (16) of a concentrically arranged guide sleeve (7) in whose bore (9) a clearance compensation element (10) is arranged for longitudinal displacement, the jacket (3) comprising the circular ring-shaped bottom (4) and the guide sleeve (7) comprising the circular bottom (16) being engageable by cams of differing pitch and relatively displaceable axially with respect to each other and with respect to the bore (5) of the cylinder head (6), and a first, central cam (14) of smaller pitch and at least one cam (15) of larger pitch selectively engaging the circular bottom (16) and the circular ring-shaped bottom (4) respectively, characterized in that means are arranged in the jacket (3) which prevent an axial rotation of the tappet (1) in the bore (5) of th