Abstract: A disease diagnosing method and a disease diagnosing system are provided in the disclosure. The disease diagnosing method includes: obtaining continuous images of a body skin and generating a time domain signal according to an average pixel value of a region of interest in each frame of the continuous images; transforming the time domain signal to a frequency domain signal and combining the time domain signal and the frequency domain signal to a time frequency signal; retrieving multiple first features of a first high dimensional space of the time frequency signal to obtain multiple second features of a second high dimensional space; and use the second features as feature vectors to map to a high dimension feature space, and classifying the second features as one of the multiple categories of a disease corresponding to the region of interest in the body skin according to a hyperplane of the high dimension feature space.

Abstract: A method and a wearable apparatus for disease diagnosis are provided. The method is applied to the wearable apparatus with an image capturing unit and a display unit. In this method, a plurality of input images in a field of view of the wearable apparatus are captured by using the image capturing unit, wherein each of the input images contains an array of pixels. The variations of the pixel values in a time domain are analyzed. The pixel variations within a specific frequency range are magnified and the magnified pixel variations are added onto the original ones to generate an output image. The output image is overlapped with a current image in the field of view of the wearable apparatus and displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable polymeric stent with time dependent structure and properties and methods of treating a diseased blood vessel with the bioabsorable polymeric stent are disclosed. The structure and properties of the stent change with time and allow the vessel to be restored to a natural unstented state. The bioabsorbable stent loses mechanical integrity in a controlled manner due to modification of selected structural elements.

Abstract: A method and a wearable apparatus for disease diagnosis are provided. The method is applied to the wearable apparatus with an image capturing unit and a display unit. In this method, a plurality of input images in a field of view of the wearable apparatus are captured by using the image capturing unit, wherein each of the input images contains an array of pixels. The variations of the pixel values in a time domain are analyzed. The pixel variations within a specific frequency range are magnified and the magnified pixel variations are added onto the original ones to generate an output image. The output image is overlapped with a current image in the field of view of the wearable apparatus and displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stent, comprising: a plurality of radially-expandable rings arranged along a longitudinal axis, wherein each radially-expandable ring may comprise a plurality of bar arms and a plurality of crowns, and adjacent crowns are connected by the bar arms therebetween; and a plurality of connectors between the radially-expandable rings for connecting such radially-expandable rings; wherein a cross-sectional shape of the bar arms, the crowns or the connectors may comprise helical structures, specific cross-sectional shapes, or a combination thereof. New stent manufacturing techniques, such as the 3D additive printing, could be used for making these proposed stents feasible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stent, comprising: a plurality of radially-expandable rings arranged along a longitudinal axis, wherein each of the radially-expandable rings may include a plurality of bar arms and a plurality of crowns, the adjacent crowns being connected by the bar arms therebetween, and a plurality of connectors being disposed in between and connecting the radially-expandable rings, wherein the bar arms may include a first material, and the crowns may include a second material which may be different from the first material. Novel techniques for manufacturing a stent, such as 3D additive printing methods, could be used for realizing the disclosed stents.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable polymeric stent with time dependent structure and properties and methods of treating a diseased blood vessel with the bioabsorable polymeric stent are disclosed. The structure and properties of the stent change with time and allow the vessel to be restored to a natural unstented state. The bioabsorbable stent loses mechanical integrity in a controlled manner due to modification of selected structural elements.

Abstract: A drug eluting depot stent is provided. The stent has two free ends and a tubular body connected therebetween. The tubular body includes a series of rings having undulating structures. Each of the undulating structure has a bar arm and a crown connected thereto. The bar arm has a first end portion, a second end portion and a mid-section defined therebetween. The bar arm has opened regions defined at the first end portion, the mid-section, and the second end portion, respectively. The opening ratio of the mid-section is larger than that of the two end portions. With the aforementioned structure, the stress concentration at the crown region can be re-distributed towards the bar arm, and thus effectively prolonging the fatigue life of the stent.

Abstract: An expandable stent is implanted in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The stent includes a plurality of rings connected by links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen. The stent can be compressed or crimped onto a catheter to a very low profile since links are integrally formed from a portion of the struts forming the rings. The stent is constructed so that the cylindrical rings are very close together in order to provide maximum scaffolding, and if the stent has a drug coating, to provide a uniform drug delivery over the length of the stent. The connecting links are integrally formed from a portion of the struts forming the rings so that the links can have a maximum length thereby providing increased longitudinal flexibility of the stent.

Abstract: A non-destructive composite material inspection apparatus and method thereof inspect the fiber direction and fracture toughness. The apparatus includes a light module and a stereoscopic microcamera module. The light module generates a polarized light that has a polarization orientation projecting to an inspection area on the surface layer of the composite material. The stereoscopic microcamera module captures the reflection light from the inspection area and outputs an image. When the polarization orientation and the fiber direction are parallel, the image is a bright field image. When the polarization orientation and the fiber direction are orthogonal, the image is a dark field image. The bright and dark field images show the fiber direction and toughened particle distribution and the toughness of the composite material is then predicted.

Abstract: Stent including a plurality of radially-expandable rings disposed adjacent one another along a longitudinal axis to define a tubular member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and an intermediate portion, each of the radially-expandable rings including a plurality of strut members defining a series of crowns proximate opposite ends thereof. The stent includes a number of first interconnection members, each first interconnection member extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis between a crown of a first radially-expandable ring and a crown of a second radially-expandable ring. The stent includes a number of second interconnection members, each second interconnection member extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis between a crown of the second radially-expandable ring and a crown of a third radially-expandable ring. The number of first interconnection members is different than the number of second interconnection members.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable polymeric stent with time dependent structure and properties and methods of treating a diseased blood vessel with the bioabsorable polymeric stent are disclosed. The structure and properties of the stent change with time and allow the vessel to be restored to a natural unstented state. The bioabsorbable stent loses mechanical integrity in a controlled manner due to modification of selected structural elements.

Abstract: System including a delivery catheter and a stent disposed at a distal end of the delivery catheter. The stent includes a plurality of radially expandable rings disposed adjacent to one another to define a tubular member having a proximal end portion, and a distal end portion, and a middle portion, each of the radially expandable rings including a plurality of strut members. The middle portion of the tubular member include a plurality of interconnection members extending between longitudinally adjacent expandable rings, the number of the plurality of the interconnection members being greater than that of the end portion of the tubular member. The stent also includes a transition section between the end portion and the middle portion, the transition section including at least one open cell and at least one closed cell. The stent can be self-expandable or balloon expandable.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable polymeric stent with time dependent structure and properties and methods of treating a diseased blood vessel with the bioabsorable polymeric stent are disclosed. The structure and properties of the stent change with time and allow the vessel to be restored to a natural unstented state. The bioabsorbable stent loses mechanical integrity in a controlled manner due to modification of selected structural elements.

Abstract: System including a delivery catheter and a stent disposed at a distal end of the delivery catheter. The stent includes a plurality of radially expandable rings disposed adjacent to one another to define a tubular member having a proximal end portion, and a distal end portion, and a middle portion, each of the radially expandable rings including a plurality of strut members. The middle portion of the tubular member include a plurality of interconnection members extending between longitudinally adjacent expandable rings, the number of the plurality of the interconnection members being greater than that of the end portion of the tubular member. The stent also includes a transition section between the end portion and the middle portion, the transition section including at least one open cell and at least one closed cell. The stent can be self-expandable or balloon expandable.

Abstract: Stent designs for use in peripheral vessels, such as the carotid arteries, are disclosed. The stents consist of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis and interconnected by one or more interconnecting members placed so that the stent is flexible in a longitudinal direction. The cylindrical elements are generally serpentine wave pattern transverse to the longitudinal axis between alternating valley portion and peak portions, the valley portion including alternating double-curved portions and U-shaped portions. The interconnecting members are attached to the double-curved portions to connect a cylindrical element to an adjacent cylindrical element and interconnecting members are attached to the U-shaped portions to connect the cylindrical element to the other adjacent cylindrical element. The designs include an eight crown and six crown stent which exhibit flexibility and sufficient radial strength to support the vessel.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable polymeric stent with time dependent structure and properties and methods of treating a diseased blood vessel with the bioabsorable polymeric stent are disclosed. The structure and properties of the stent change with time and allow the vessel to be restored to a natural unstented state. The bioabsorbable stent loses mechanical integrity in a controlled manner due to modification of selected structural elements.

Abstract: An expandable stent is implanted in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The stent includes a plurality of rings connected by links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen. The stent can be compressed or crimped onto a catheter to a very low profile since links are integrally formed from a portion of the struts forming the rings. The stent is constructed so that the cylindrical rings are very close together in order to provide maximum scaffolding, and if the stent has a drug coating, to provide a uniform drug delivery over the length of the stent. The connecting links are integrally formed from a portion of the struts forming the rings so that the links can have a maximum length thereby providing increased longitudinal flexibility of the stent.

Abstract: Stent designs for use in peripheral vessels, such as the carotid arteries, are disclosed. The stents consist of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis and interconnected by one or more interconnecting members placed so that the stent is flexible in a longitudinal direction. The cylindrical elements are generally serpentine wave pattern transverse to the longitudinal axis between alternating valley portion and peak portions, the valley portion including alternating double-curved portions and U-shaped portions. The interconnecting members are attached to the double-curved portions to connect a cylindrical element to an adjacent cylindrical element and interconnecting members are attached to the U-shaped portions to connect the cylindrical element to the other adjacent cylindrical element. The designs include an eight crown and six crown stent which exhibit flexibility and sufficient radial strength to support the vessel.

Abstract: A core crush resistant prepreg for use in making a fiber reinforced composite panel structure is provided. The prepreg comprises a woven fabric consisting essentially of carbon fiber tow strands impregnated with a hardenable polymeric resin composition. Typically the fabric has an areal weight of from about 180 to about 205 grams per square meter. The prepreg has an average fiber tow aspect ratio of less than about 15.4, a prepreg thickness of at least about 0.245 mm, and a prepreg openness of at least about 1.2 percent but less than about 6.0 percent. Preferably, the resin composition is predominantly viscous in nature and has a tan &dgr; value of between 0.9 and 2.0 at an elevated temperature between 70° C. and 140° C., and an average epoxy functionality of greater than 2.0. A method for evaluating core crush resistance properties of a prepreg is also provided.