Abstract: A filter disposed at the distal end of an elongate guidewire. Catheters are provided for delivering the filter to, and retrieving the filter from, a treatment site. The catheters can be over-the-wire or single operator exchange. The catheters include a housing for receiving the filter therein. The housing has an atraumatic distal end.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bioprocess engineering solution for a product removal process for use in a biofermentation. The invention discloses a process for withdrawing an aliquot of broth from a biofermentation vessel during at least a portion of the biofermentation, removing biocatalyst and water, chromatographically separating biofermentation products from the withdrawn broth using water as an eluent, and returning the remaining components of the broth back to the biofermentation vessel. Process chromatography permits highly selective separation of the target molecule, preventing feedback inhibition of the biofermentation.

Abstract: A filter disposed at the distal end of an elongate guidewire. Catheters are provided for delivering the filter to, and retrieving the filter from, a treatment site. The catheters can be over-the-wire or single operator exchange. The catheters include a housing for receiving the filter therein. The housing has an atraumatic distal end.

Abstract: A manufacturing method provides ink-jet writing engine modules for use with a compatible hard copy engine module, a hard copy apparatus based thereon, and methods of manufacturing, operation, and use. Fluidic and electronic partitioning for ink-jet hard copy apparatus is redefined. Modular separation of a hard copy engine from a writing engine allows a replaceable writing module containing all of the key elements of the ink-jet writing system based on writing system technology requirements, particularly for those most likely to age or fail as a result of time, frequency of use, or end-user actions.

Abstract: Devices and methods for percutaneous translumenal minimally invasive coronary surgery, particularly bypass surgery involving the following basic steps: determining a proper location for treatment, navigating a suitable device to the treatment site, creating an extravascular opening and pathway, guiding and/or monitoring the progress of creating the opening and pathway, and maintaining the extravascular opening and pathway. One or more extravascular openings and/or pathways may be created to define a fluid path or bypass around the vascular restriction. For example, an intravascular catheter for creating an extravascular opening in a vessel wall includes an elongate shaft adapted for intravascular navigation, an anchoring mechanism disposed on the distal end of the shaft, and a tissue penetrating member having a proximal end slidably disposed in the shaft and a distal end including a tissue penetrating mechanism.

Abstract: Embolic protection sheath and method of using the same. In some embodiments, the present invention includes an elongate shaft, an embolic protection filter coupled to the shaft, and a sheath disposed over at least a portion of the shaft.

Abstract: Methods and devices for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel are disclosed. A catheter for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel in accordance with the present invention includes an elongate shaft and a housing fixed to the elongate shaft proximate a distal end thereof. A tip member is slidingly disposed within a cavity defined by the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the tip member is configured such that the housing is substantially centered about the guidewire. In another preferred embodiment, the tip member is slidingly disposed within the housing, and the tip member may be moved between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A printing media cartridge for a drum-type hard copy apparatus has printing media supply within the drum. Printable sheet lengths of printing medium are extracted from the interior of the drum through a slot such that individual prints can be produced using the drum outer surface as a platen. Removing a print from the platen extracts the next sheet length from within the drum which is then automatically wrapped back onto the drum's outer surface and aligned for the next print cycle. Printer control encoding is provided with the cartridge.

Abstract: A printing media cartridge for a drum-type hard copy apparatus has printing media supply within the drum. Printable sheet lengths of printing medium are extracted from the interior of the drum through a slot such that individual prints can be produced using the drum outer surface as a platen. Removing a print from the platen extracts the next sheet length from within the drum which is then automatically wrapped back onto the drum's outer surface and aligned for the next print cycle. Printer control encoding is provided with the cartridge.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a replaceable printing component for an ink-jet printing system having at least one replaceable printing component. The replaceable printing component includes an electrical storage device responsive to printing system control signals for transferring information between the printing component and the ink-jet printing system. The electrical storage device includes a storage portion containing a plurality of data fields associated with the replaceable printing component. Included in the electrical storage device is a plurality data values stored in each of the plurality of data fields. Also included is a control portion responsive to control signals for selectively transferring a block of data values having a preselected size between the ink-jet printer and the storage portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides ink-jet writing engine modules for use with a compatible hard copy engine module, a hard copy apparatus based thereon, and methods of manufacturing, operation, and use. Fluidic and electronic partitioning for ink-jet hard copy apparatus is redefined. Modular separation of a hard copy engine from a writing engine allows a replaceable writing module containing all of the key elements of the ink-jet writing system based on writing system technology requirements, particularly for those most likely to age or fail as a result of time, frequency of use, or end-user actions.

Abstract: The present invention provides ink-jet writing engine modules for use with a compatible hard copy engine module, a hard copy apparatus based thereon, and methods of manufacturing, operation, and use. Fluidic and electronic partitioning for ink-jet hard copy apparatus is redefined. Modular separation of a hard copy engine from a writing engine allows a replaceable writing module containing all of the key elements of the ink-jet writing system based on writing system technology requirements, particularly for those most likely to age or fail as a result of time, frequency of use, or end-user actions.

Abstract: The present invention provides ink-jet writing engine modules for use with a compatible hard copy engine module, a hard copy apparatus based thereon, and methods of manufacturing, operation, and use. Fluidic and electronic partitioning for ink-jet hard copy apparatus is redefined. Modular separation of a hard copy engine from a writing engine allows a replaceable writing module containing all of the key elements of the ink-jet writing system based on writing system technology requirements, particularly for those most likely to age or fail as a result of time, frequency of use, or end-user actions.

Abstract: A filter disposed at the distal end of an elongate guidewire. Catheters are provided for delivering the filter to, and retrieving the filter from, a treatment site. The catheters can be over-the-wire or single operator exchange. The catheters include a housing for receiving the filter therein. The housing has an atraumatic distal end.

Abstract: The present invention provides ink-jet writing engine modules for use with a compatible hard copy engine module, a hard copy apparatus based thereon, and methods of manufacturing, operation, and use. Fluidic and electronic partitioning for ink-jet hard copy apparatus is redefined. Modular separation of a hard copy engine from a writing engine allows a replaceable writing module containing all of the key elements of the ink-jet writing system based on writing system technology requirements, particularly for those most likely to age or fail as a result of time, frequency of use, or end-user actions.

Abstract: A pincer grasp therapy device comprises a flat or wedge-shaped board having a groove with compartmentalizing walls and a plurality of grasping pieces in the groove. The groove is deep enough to require careful alignment of fingers used to grasp the grasping pieces in the groove. Variations of the invention are provided for both beginning and advanced pincer grasp therapy. The device is immobilized by use of suction cups on a bottom surface of the device.

Abstract: A cable splice case or other article for environmental sealing comprises a composite material having multifilament fibers therein, which fibers are blocked in order to prevent passage of fluid through the material in a direction parallel to its major surfaces.

Abstract: An impressed current corrosion protection system comprises a distributed anode in the form of a conductive core (4) covered with a conductive polymeric coating (6) and surrounded by packed coke (8) contained within a polymeric jacket (18). This outer jacket is typically a fabric having a specified resistance to acid conditions and chlorine conditions.

Abstract: A pipe and tube cleaning system, particularly useful for cleaning scale from pipes and tubes used in oil and gas production operations and containing naturally occurring radioactive materials in the scale, includes an elongated closable tub for supporting a section of pipe or tube for combined hydraulic jet blast and mechanical cutting and cleaning action by a lance insertable within the pipe to remove scale from the interior of the pipe. A slurry of particulate material removed from the pipe and the cleaning liquid (water) is collected in the tub and discharged to a particle size reduction and filtering system which reduces the particle size of the material to form a slurry of very fine particles which may be disposed of through an injection well. Some of the slurry may be returned to the system for use as cleaning liquid. Pipe is loaded into and removed from the tub by a pipe handling mechanism including retractable supports with ramp surfaces which position the pipe for movement into and out of the tub.

Abstract: Facsimile image-scaling and -smoothing method and apparatus are described. They scale a received facsimile image along a given axis to increase the printed image resolution therealong, while smoothing the scaled image to reduce visually objectionable ticks. They do so by analyzing received image data with respect to adjacent received lines having disparate pixel counts and by filling in pixels therebetween in accordance with predefined fill rules that are designed also to smooth the output image to be printed. Various predefined rules are applied to produce intermediate results some or all of which are comprehended by the scaling/smoothing algorithm to produce the final smoothed, scaled output pixel image. Preferably such analyzing and filling in accordance with such rules are performed by a hybrid hardware and firmware subsystem within a receiving facsimile machine or facsimile-receiving printer.