Abstract: Endovascular apparatus for determining the condition of a vessel in a body comprises an elongate waveguide element such as a wire and an activation unit comprising a source of ultrasonic energy to activate the waveguide element, hence transmitting ultrasonic energy to an active distal section of the waveguide element. A signal acquisition system acquires feedback signals from the apparatus for interpretation of vessel condition. The signal acquisition system comprises at least one acoustic sensor for acquiring acoustic feedback signals generated by, the apparatus when the waveguide element is activated. Data sets may be generated from acoustic and non-acoustic feedback signals and combinations of, or comparisons between, those data sets can characterise the condition of the vessel, including any lesion such as a blockage in the vessel.

Abstract: An elongate endovascular element for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: a proximal section; a distal tip section of smaller diameter than the proximal section; and a distally-tapering intermediate section extending between the proximal and distal tip sections; wherein the tapered intermediate section has a length that is substantially ?/2 or a multiple of ?/2, where ? is a wavelength of a driving frequency that will produce longitudinal resonance in the element.

Abstract: An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: an elongate endovascular element such as a wire; an ultrasonic transducer, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element for ultrasonically exciting a distal tip portion thereof to facilitate the crossing through the obstruction, and one or more damping features, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element to attenuate lateral displacement of the endovascular element at positions away from the distal tip portion.

Abstract: An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises an elongate endovascular element such as a wire. The element has a proximal section, a distal tip section of smaller diameter than the proximal section; and a distally-tapering intermediate section extending between the proximal and distal tip sections . The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer, mechanically coupled to the proximal section of the element for ultrasonically activating the element, hence exciting the distal tip section to facilitate crossing through the obstruction. A catheter surrounds the element, leaving at least part of the distal tip section of the element protruding distally beyond a distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises an elongate endovascular element such as a wire. The element has a proximal section, a distal tip section of smaller diameter than the proximal section; and a distally-tapering intermediate section extending between the proximal and distal tip sections. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer, mechanically coupled to the proximal section of the element for ultrasonically activating the element, hence exciting the distal tip section to facilitate crossing through the obstruction. A catheter surrounds the element, leaving at least part of the distal tip section of the element protruding distally beyond a distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: an elongate endovascular element such as a wire; an ultrasonic transducer, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element for ultrasonically exciting a distal tip portion thereof to facilitate the crossing through the obstruction, and one or more damping features, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element to attenuate lateral displacement of the endovascular element at positions away from the distal tip portion.

Abstract: An elongate endovascular element for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: a proximal section; a distal tip section of smaller diameter than the proximal section; and a distally-tapering intermediate section extending between the proximal and distal tip sections; wherein the tapered intermediate section has a length that is substantially ?/2 or a multiple of ?/2 , where ? is a wavelength of a driving frequency that will produce longitudinal resonance in the element.

Abstract: An elongate endovascular element for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: a proximal section; a distal tip section of smaller diameter than the proximal section; and a distally-tapering intermediate section extending between the proximal and distal tip sections; wherein the tapered intermediate section has a length that is substantially ?/2 or a multiple of ?/2, where ? is a wavelength of a driving frequency that will produce longitudinal resonance in the element.

Abstract: An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises an elongate endovascular wire and a coupling. The coupling when in use transmits ultrasonic energy along the wire from an ultrasonic energy source to an active tip at a distal end of the wire. The coupling is arranged to couple the source to the wire at any of a plurality of discrete operational positions along the length of the wire for said transmission of ultrasonic energy to the active tip.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided in which a communications device is operable to provide an improved user experience or to improve the performance and/or operation of the communications device through use of an enriched user profile. In one aspect, the communications device may predict an event occurrence by interpreting an enriched user profile including an attribute and an enhanced informational element. The communications device may modify a functionality of a component of the device based on the predicted event occurrence. In one aspect, component modification may include presenting the contextually relevant informational element on a user interface.

Abstract: In an aspect, a client device detects a set of proximate client devices. The client device classifies, for each respective proximate client device in the set of proximate client devices, a relationship relative to an operator of the client device based on a local evaluation of one or more interactions between the client device and at least one proximate client device from the set of proximate client devices in response to the detecting. The client device determines whether to automatically trigger a communicative action with one or more proximate client devices from the set of proximate client devices based on the classifying.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning paint roller sleeves comprises an open top drum (2) having a base and side walls for holding a quantity of liquid; a detachable cover (3) for sealing said open top drum; and a removable section (11) comprising a plurality of vertical substantially cylindrical compartments (12) for receiving paint roller sleeves and having a central vertical substantially cylindrical compartment (14). The base of the removable section is positioned above the base of the drum.

Abstract: In an aspect, a client device detects a set of proximate client devices. The client device classifies, for each respective proximate client device in the set of proximate client devices, a relationship relative to an operator of the client device based on a local evaluation of one or more interactions between the client device and at least one proximate client device from the set of proximate client devices in response to the detecting. The client device determines whether to automatically trigger a communicative action with one or more proximate client devices from the set of proximate client devices based on the classifying.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided in which a communications device is operable to provide an improved user experience or to improve the performance and/or operation of the device through use of an enriched user profile. In one aspect, the communications device may obtain an attribute including a user specific informational element from a component operable on the communications device. The communications device may generate a profile synopsis from the attribute by abstracting at least a portion of the user specific informational element from the attribute, and transmit the profile synopsis. The communications device may receive an enhanced informational element derived from an aggregation of profile synopses from a plurality of devices and may generate an enriched user profile by augmenting the attribute with at least a portion of the received enhanced informational element.

Abstract: Aspects disclosed include systems and methods for context based battery charging. In one aspect, context information about usage patterns of an electronic device is used to customize charging a rechargeable battery. In one aspect, a predictive engine accesses context information and generates a predicted charge duration. A charging application customizes charging parameters in a battery charger based on the predicted charge duration. In some aspects, the charging application may generate suggestions to a user to improve battery charging.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning paint roller sleeves comprises an open top drum (2) having a base and side walls for holding a quantity of liquid; a detachable cover (3) for sealing said open top drum; and a removable section (11) comprising a plurality of vertical substantially cylindrical compartments (12) for receiving paint roller sleeves and having a central vertical substantially cylindrical compartment (14). The base of the removable section is positioned above the base of the drum.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided in which a communications device is operable to obtain an attribute associated with an enriched user profile including three or more informational elements. In one aspect, at least one of the three or more informational elements may include a contextual sub-element. The communications device may be operable to populate an organizational matrix using the three or more informational elements, and determine a repetitious structure based at least in part on analysis of the populated organizational matrix. In one aspect, the device may determine a relevance value associated with the attribute based at least in part on the determined repetitious structure and predict a second attribute based at least in part on the determined relevance and the repetitious structure. In one aspect, the device may query the organizational matrix using a querying criterion.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided in which a communications device is operable to provide an improved user experience or to improve the performance and/or operation of the communications device through use of an enriched user profile. In one aspect, the communications device may predict an event occurrence by interpreting an enriched user profile including an attribute and an enhanced informational element. The communications device may modify a functionality of a component of the device based on the predicted event occurrence. In one aspect, component modification may include presenting the contextually relevant informational element on a user interface.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided in which a communications device is operable to provide an improved user experience or to improve the performance and/or operation of the device through use of an enriched user profile. In one aspect, the communications device may obtain an attribute including a user specific informational element from a component operable on the communications device. The communications device may generate a profile synopsis from the attribute by abstracting at least a portion of the user specific informational element from the attribute, and transmit the profile synopsis. The communications device may receive an enhanced informational element derived from an aggregation of profile synopses from a plurality of devices and may generate an enriched user profile by augmenting the attribute with at least a portion of the received enhanced informational element.

Abstract: By adaptive questioning in a way that is entertaining, recommendations can be presented to a subscriber even with a limited amount of user profile information. Moreover, the questioning can allow a subscriber to learn something about himself. Each interaction can be short as well as light hearted and fun in order to accommodate intermittent usage with frequent interruptions. Intermixing questions/recommendation selections that are focused on gaining profile information as well as being somewhat random can unexpectedly learn something about the subscriber while keeping the user experience entertaining. Personal details can be avoided and tools for editing stored personal information can enhance a sense of privacy in order to induce trust. Questions and other responses can lead to other questions in a manner that allows characterizing a subscriber so that recommended offerings can be selected that are appropriate.