Abstract: An improved medical device reduces the loss of longitudinal length during expansion of a stent-graft from a compressed state to an expanded state. For example, the stent-graft is placed over a cover that provides resistance to expansion of the balloon during inflation, which reduces longitudinal compressing forces exerted on the stent-graft.

Abstract: An audit monitoring and product drop system for retrofitting into an existing vending machine and a method of operating a vending machine is disclosed. A product drop sensor is provided to detect when a product to be dispensed drops through a product drop area of the vending machine. When a product dispensing mechanism is actuated, the output of the product drop sensor is monitored to determine whether a product to be dispensed drops through the product drop area within a predetermined time interval after the product dispensing mechanism is actuated. Transactional information relating to the products dispensed and the funds received are stored in a memory means only if a product drop is sensed by the product drop sensor within the predetermined time period.

Abstract: An audit monitoring and product drop system for retrofitting into an existing vending machine and a method of operating a vending machine is disclosed. A product drop sensor is provided to detect when a product to be dispensed drops through a product drop area of the vending machine. When a product dispensing mechanism is actuated, the output of the product drop sensor is monitored to determine whether a product to be dispensed drops through the product drop area within a predetermined time interval after the product dispensing mechanism is actuated. Transactional information relating to the products dispensed and the funds received are stored in a memory means only if a product drop is sensed by the product drop sensor within the predetermined time period.

Abstract: Method of operating a bill and coin changer wherein an existing bill validator from an existing bill acceptor and validator is replaced with a new bill validator which is operable to recognize both new style and old style United States currency. The bill validator is connected directly to the test vend inputs of an existing microprocessor control and a microprocessor control is conditioned so that when the new bill validator accepts and validates currency an output is provided from the bill validator to a test vend input of the microprocessor control which has a value which corresponds to the value of the currency validated in the bill validator, and wherein the microprocessor control, in response to the test vend input from the bill validator, dispenses a predetermined amount of change which is controlled by the value of the validated currency.