Abstract: Peel-away introducer sheath (100) having an adjustable diameter. The present disclosure is directed generally to introducer sheaths used in endoluminal catheterization for medical treatments. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed towards introducer sheaths that are expandable and can be peeled apart.

Abstract: A minimally invasive miniaturized percutaneous mechanical circulatory support system for transcatheter delivery of a pump to the heart that actively unloads the left ventricle by pumping blood from the left ventricle into the ascending aorta and systemic circulation. The pump may include a tubular housing, a motor, an impeller configured to be rotated by the motor, and a distal tip of the pump. The tip may include a guidewire lumen with a curved and/or extended contour. The system may have an insertion tool having a tubular body and configured to axially movably receive the circulatory support device, and an introducer sheath configured to axially movably receive the insertion tool. A coupling allows for connection and disconnection of the insertion tool and introducer sheath. The coupling may include hexagonal portions for self-alignment and haptic feedback.

Abstract: A cardiac assist system having a pumping device for moving blood, wherein a pumping capacity of the pumping device is adjustable using an adjustment signal based on laser doppler with an optical fiber. A measuring device measures a flow rate of the body fluid, the measuring device comprising at least one light source for outputting a light beam and at least one sensor element for detecting a reflected partial beam of the light beam. The measuring device is adapted to measure the body fluid using the reflected partial beam of the light beam. A determination device is adapted to determine the adjustment signal using the measurement signal. The device may include a bore opening to a blood flow channel, with an optical fiber extending through the bore.

Abstract: A minimally invasive miniaturized percutaneous mechanical circulatory support system for transcatheter delivery of a pump to the heart that actively unloads the left ventricle by pumping blood from the left ventricle into the ascending aorta and systemic circulation. The pump may include a tubular housing, a motor, an impeller configured to be rotated by the motor. The impeller may be rotated by the motor, via a shaft with an annular polymeric seal around the shaft, or via a magnetic drive. The system may have an insertion tool having a tubular body and configured to axially movably receive the circulatory support device, and an introducer sheath configured to axially movably receive the insertion tool.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanical circulatory support system for transcatheter delivery to the heart, having a removable guidewire aid to assist with inserting the guidewire along a path that avoids a rotating impeller. The system may comprise a catheter shaft and a circulatory support device carried by the shaft. The device may comprise a tubular housing, an impeller and the guidewire aid. The guidewire aid may include a removable guidewire guide tube. The guide tube may enter a first guidewire port of the tubular housing, exit the tubular housing via a second guidewire port on a side wall of the tubular housing on a distal side of the impeller, enter a third guidewire port on a proximal side of the impeller, and extend proximally through the catheter shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is a minimally invasive miniaturized percutaneous mechanical circulatory support system. The system may be placed across the aortic valve via a single femoral arterial access point. The system includes a low profile axial rotary blood pump carried by the distal end of a catheter. The system can be percutaneously inserted through the femoral artery and positioned across the aortic valve into the left ventricle. The device actively unloads the left ventricle by pumping blood from the left ventricle into the ascending aorta and systemic circulation. A magnetic drive and encased motor housing allows for purgeless operation for extended periods of time to treat various ailments, for example more than six hours as acute therapy for cardiogenic shock.

Abstract: A stop position damping device (13) for a sliding element (11) that is slidably arranged in a sliding direction (R) relative to a stationary element (12) includes a structural unit (14) and an activating part (15) that are connected to one of the two elements (11), (12) respectively. The structural unit (14) has a base carrier (21) at which a damping cylinder supporting arrangement (23) is pivotably mounted with one and around a first pivot axis (S1). At the opposite free end (24), the damping cylinder supporting arrangement (23) is supported without guidance at the base carrier (21) via a biasing element (25), wherein the biasing element (25) creates a torque around the first pivot axis (S1). In an area that is closer to the free end (24) as to the first pivot axis (S1), a catch part (45) can move in a length direction (L) relative to the damping cylinder supporting arrangement (23).

Abstract: A stop position damping device (13) for a sliding element (11) that is slidably arranged in a sliding direction (R) relative to a stationary element (12) includes a structural unit (14) and an activating part (15) that are connected to one of the two elements (11), (12) respectively. The structural unit (14) has a base carrier (21) at which a damping cylinder supporting arrangement (23) is pivotably mounted with one and around a first pivot axis (S1). At the opposite free end (24), the damping cylinder supporting arrangement (23) is supported without guidance at the base carrier (21) via a biasing element (25), wherein the biasing element (25) creates a torque around the first pivot axis (S1). In an area that is closer to the free end (24) as to the first pivot axis (S1), a catch part (45) can move in a length direction (L) relative to the damping cylinder supporting arrangement (23).

Abstract: A damper element for damping a translational movement of a component and for causing the component to stop at a stop position includes a housing, a carrier displaceably supported in the housing for movement in a translational direction, and a damper part for damping the translational movement. The damper part has a first end connected to the housing and a second end pivotably connected to the carrier, the carrier is pivotable about a pivot axis perpendicular to the translation direction between a first position and a second position, and the damper element further includes at least one spring biasing the carrier toward the first position.

Abstract: The compounds of formula (1), in which R1, R7, R8, R9, R10, R17, R18, R19, R20 and m have the meanings as given in the description, are novel effective inhibitors of type 4 and 5 phosphodiesterase.

Abstract: The compounds of formula (1) in which R1, R7, R8, R9, R10, R17, R18, R19, R20 and m have the meanings as given in the description, are novel effective inhibitors of type 4 and type 5 phosphodiesterase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polysilicon rod for FZ applications obtainable by deposition of high-purity silicon from a silicon-containing reaction gas, which has been thermally decomposed or reduced by hydrogen, on a filament rod. The polysilicon rod contains, surrounding the filament rod, an inner zone having but few needle crystals, small in size, an outer zone having a relatively small amount of larger needle crystals, and a smooth transition zone between the inner and outer zones. The polysilicon rods are obtained in high yield and can be refined in one pass in an FZ process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polysilicon rod for FZ applications obtainable by deposition of high-purity silicon from a silicon-containing reaction gas, which has been thermally decomposed or reduced by hydrogen, on a filament rod. The polysilicon rod contains, surrounding the filament rod, an inner zone having but few needle crystals, small in size, an outer zone having a relatively small amount of larger needle crystals, and a smooth transition zone between the inner and outer zones. The polysilicon rods are obtained in high yield and can be refined in one pass in an FZ process.

Abstract: A scheme for ultrafast magnetization reversal in an in-plane magnetized layer (3) is disclosed. For that, an external magnetic field {right arrow over (H)}ex is applied such that the magnetization {right arrow over (M)} precesses around the external magnetic field {right arrow over (H)}ex and the external magnetic field {right arrow over (H)}ex is maintained until the precession suffices to effect the magnetization reversal. The external magnetic field {right arrow over (H)}ex is applied approximately perpendicular to the magnetization {right arrow over (M)}.

Abstract: A brake unit for automotive vehicles with electric drive is configured in the shape of a multiple-circuit compound system consisting of hydraulic friction brakes of brake circuits (I, I', I", III, III', III") and of an electroregenerative brake system (circuit II, II', II"). In a vehicle with a driven and a non-driven axle, three brake circuits exist, one brake circuit of which (I, I', I") is comprised of a pedal-actuated hydraulic brake pressure master unit (2) and of friction brakes (3, 4) acting upon the non-driven wheels. The second brake circuit (II, II', II") which represents an electroregenerative brake system is directly or indirectly coupled to the brake pedal and acts upon the driven wheels. The third brake circuit (III, III', III") which is comprised of friction brakes (10, 11) also acts upon the driven wheels. The actuation of the wheel brakes (10, 11) is connected to the second and third brake circuits.

Abstract: A device for actuating the control valve (14) of a hydraulic power steering system for automotive vehicles, the rotary motion of a steering wheel being transmitted by means of a steering shaft (2) and the steering torque being transmitted by a relative rotation between the steering shaft (2) and a pinion shaft (4), and wherein the control valve (14) is a linear slide valve. A sleeve (6) embracing the steering shaft (2)and the pinion shaft (4) converts the relative rotation between the two shafts into an axial displacement axially and helically extending coulisse-type guides (7, 8), angularly disposed to one another, within which pins (9, 10), rigidly coupled to the steering shaft (2) and the pinion shaft (4), are received.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the boiling temperature of a brake fluid to in turn determine the water content therein includes an electrically heatable sensor element (13) immersed into the fluid under test, a power source (12) supplying a current of a constant amplitude, and a measuring system (15) for measuring the voltage drop on the sensor element (13). A stable cellular convection heat transfer mechanism into the surrounding fluid arises, with the voltage drop across the sensor element (13) being indicative of the boiling point of the fluid. The sensor element is in the form of a linear conductor (13', 20, 21) clamped on either end. The sensor element also may comprise a plurality of linear conductors (13', 20, 21) of this type connected in parallel or in series.

Abstract: A controllable hydraulic vibration damper for automotive vehicles comprising a working cylinder which contains damping fluid and which is subdivided into two working chambers by a damping piston with a piston rod, the damper comprising at least one channel disposed outside of the working chambers, a valve assembly having at least one controllable valve, and a compensating chamber, which vibration damper is a simple structure and has an optimal control for the rebound and compression travel, and a first working chamber in permanent communication with the channel and the compensating chamber, while the second working chamber is connected with the channel and the compensating chamber by a valve assembly including an electronically and a series of one way acting valves.

Abstract: In order to avoid energy losses, particularly in the case of actuating operations characterized by energetic cycles, it is suggested to insert a double-lever cam-and-roller transmission mechanism between a hydraulic accumulator and a hydraulic pressure consumer which mechanism has the effect that the accumulator pressure and the consumer pressure are always balanced. The consumer is therefore actuatable by means of slight control forces, the energy used thus remaining at a minimum. Thus, only the slight actuating energy of the control forces and the unavoidable hysteresis loss of the system need to be compensated for.

Abstract: A controllable vibration damper for automotive vehicles is disclosed having a damping piston which is axially slidably and sealedly guided in a damping tube, and which subdivides the damping tube filled with a damping medium into two working chambers. The connection between the two working chambers is provided with at least one non-regulated first valve and at least one controllable second valve, which valves are arranged acting hydraulically in parallel in respect to one another. In order to be able to regulate the effective damping force continuously in wide ranges, for the adjustment of damping hardness, the controllable valve will periodically open and close in rapid sequence in dependence upon pulsed control signals.