Abstract: An introducer deploys an endoluminal device in a distal location from a proximal location. The introducer comprises a retrograde portion, an anterograde portion axially moveable relative to the retrograde portion, a shaft having a distal tip and an anterograde sheath attached to the distal tip, and anchoring means in at least one of the retrograde portion or the anterograde portion for anchoring the device during deployment from its proximal end to its distal end. An inner sheath may be mounted concentrically over the shaft with the endoluminal device mounted concentrically over the inner sheath. The anchoring device may comprise an inflatable balloon mounted radially inside the retrograde portion, a tether, or an extended portion of the endoluminal device confined by a notch in the interface of two sheaths in the retrograde portion of the introducer, or may comprise a holder in the anterograde portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an endoscope including multiple lumens for tissue acquisition and removal and related methods of use.

Abstract: A motor controller automatically determines a motor input power setting based upon manually entered motor output values. The motor controller includes an interface and an input power determining module that determines the motor input power setting from the entered motor output values. A display portion provides a visual display of the determined motor input power setting to facilitate using the determined setting to control motor operation.

Abstract: “Resonance Force Sensor” has broad—and in some cases revolutionary—applications throughout aerospace, maritime, transportation, and industrial force sensing as a low cost, embedded, robust, self-calibrating strain-pressure sensor. Applications include but are not limited to structural load measurement, structural health monitoring, fluid and gas line pressure measurement, batch process manufacturing, and other force-sensing applications. When a complex structure, e.g. an aircraft or ground vehicle structure, is so instrumented, the present invention serves as the primary sensory component for a highly accurate, automatic, on-board vehicular weight and balance system. This sensor system can also be used in non-vehicular structures to measure axial, radial or flexural loading, and hence gravitational mass loading, of structural elements and structural systems.

Abstract: A device, such as a catheter, for intraluminally delivering a distensible stent includes a first elongate tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; a band circumferentially disposed over at least a circumferential portion of the first tubular member at the proximal end, the band having at least one projection for releasably engaging a portion of a radially distensible stent; and a second elongate tubular member slidably disposed over the first tubular member and the band. Desirably, the at least one projection is a low-profile, lobate-projection. shaped projection. The band may include two opposed projections, where the two opposed projections may be circumferentially disposed at about 180° from one and the other. Desirably, the band includes a metal, for example, stainless steel.

Abstract: A method for deployment of a multi-part endoluminal device includes deploying a first portion of the device sequentially from its distal end to its proximal end, then deploying a second portion of the device sequentially from its proximal end to its distal end so that its distal end overlaps the first portion proximal end. The system for deploying the endoluminal device includes a first introducer loaded with a first endoluminal device and adapted to deploy the first device sequentially from the distal end to the proximal end, and a second introducer loaded with a second endoluminal device and adapted to anchor the second endoluminal device proximal end while deploying the second endoluminal device sequentially from the proximal end to the distal end.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding stacks of plastic packaging bags, including a wicket and a securing device for securing the packaging bags to the wicket. The wicket includes a pair of elongated leg members, and a cross-member connecting together the leg members. Each of the leg members has a series of locking portions for selectively locking the securing device to the leg members at pre-determined distances from the cross-member. The securing device includes a pair of securing buttons having a bore sized and shaped to be slidable onto the leg members over the locking portions. The locking portions are pairs of aligned locking tabs shaped to prevent the securing buttons from sliding back off the leg members. A cartridge comprising a plurality of wickets coupled together by break away tabs can be used to automate a bag-stacking operation. The wicket and securing buttons are made to be recycled along with the bags lips left after bags are torn off, reducing waste.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring a load in a structural element include placing at least one actuator and sensor on the structural element. The actuator is capable of exciting a wave of a predetermined frequency in the structural element and the sensor is capable of sensing the wave excited in the structural element. A computer control unit is applied to operate the actuator so as to excite a wave in the structural member in at least a first frequency, and to operate the sensor so as to measure at least one of a change in a resonance frequency in the structural element as a result of a change in loading on the structural member and a change in phase angle in the wave sensed by the sensor as a result of a change in loading on the structural member.

Abstract: An ESD protection system for I/O cells of an integrated circuit. The I/O cells of a bank of cells include a first type of I/O cells having ESD trigger circuits and a second type of I/O cells having ESD clamp devices. In one embodiment, the ESD trigger circuits of the first type are located at the same area of an active circuitry floor plan as the area in the floor plan for the ESD clamp devices of the I/O cells of the second type.

Abstract: An introducer deploys an endoluminal device in a distal location from a proximal location. The introducer comprises a retrograde portion, an anterograde portion axially moveable relative to the retrograde portion, a shaft having a distal tip and an anterograde sheath attached to the distal tip, and anchoring means in at least one of the retrograde portion or the anterograde portion for anchoring the device during deployment from its proximal end to its distal end. An inner sheath may be mounted concentrically over the shaft with the endoluminal device mounted concentrically over the inner sheath. The anchoring device may comprise an inflatable balloon mounted radially inside the retrograde portion, a tether, or an extended portion of the endoluminal device confined by a notch in the interface of two sheaths in the retrograde portion of the introducer, or may comprise a holder in the anterograde portion.

Abstract: A delivery system comprising an endoluminal device, an outer sheath that radially surrounds the endoluminal device, a pusher positioned at one end of the endoluminal device, and a linkage between the pusher and the outer sheath that coordinates movement of the outer sheath in a first direction with simultaneous movement of the pusher in a second direction opposite the first direction. This delivery system is particularly useful for endoluminal devices that foreshorten, and may comprise the outer sheath moving a first distance (d1) and the pusher moving a second distance (d2), where d2/d1 is approximately equal to the foreshortening ratio. The delivery system of this invention enables a foreshortening device, such as a vena cava filter, or stent, graft, or combination thereof, to be deployed with its end in a precise deployment location without foreshortening causing the end to move from the deployment location as the stent expands.

Abstract: A multi-lumen catheter comprising a first lumen extending through the catheter to a first distal opening, and a second lumen extending through the catheter to a second distal opening distal to the first distal opening so that an extending portion of a septum separating the lumens extends distally past the first distal opening. A tip is overmolded on the extending portion and includes a first ramp adjacent to the first distal opening and a second ramp adjacent to the second distal opening. The ramps direct fluids exiting the openings away from a longitudinal axis of the catheter.

Abstract: A device for removing a thrombus filter from a blood vessel is disclosed. A device in accordance with the present invention includes a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, a wire having a first end and a second end, the wire being partially disposed within the lumen of the shaft, a portion of the wire extending beyond the distal end of the shaft and forming a loop, and a portion of the wire extending beyond the proximal end of the shaft.

Abstract: A motor controller automatically determines a motor input power setting based upon manually entered motor output values. The motor controller includes an interface and an input power determining module that determines the motor input power setting from the entered motor output values. A display portion provides a visual display of the determined motor input power setting to facilitate using the determined setting to control motor operation.

Abstract: A distal tip for a catheter comprises first and second lumens extending therethrough, wherein in an operative configuration, the first and second lumens are coupled to first and second lumens of a dual lumen catheter with a first opening of the distal tip fluidly connected to the first lumen for inflow of fluid from a body lumen into which the distal tip is inserted in a normal mode of operation and for outflow of fluid thereto in a reverse mode of operation and a second opening fluidly connected to the second lumen. The second opening is disposed distally from the first opening and separated therefrom by a selected stagger distance for outflow of fluid therefrom when the catheter is in the normal mode of operation and for inflow of fluid from the body lumen in a reverse mode of operation.

Abstract: A suturing device is used for fixing an implantable element in place. The suturing device includes an array of hypotubes, each of which includes a fastener for fastening the implantable device to the body, and an advancement device for advancing the fasteners through the array of tubes.

Abstract: An endoluminal graft is wrapped axially upon itself to form a low profile, which facilitates endoluminal delivery. Apparatus and systems for making and using such grafts are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for removing a thrombus filter from a blood vessel is disclosed. A device in accordance with the present invention includes a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, a wire having a first end and a second end, the wire being partially disposed within the lumen of the shaft, a portion of the wire extending beyond the distal end of the shaft and forming a loop, and a portion of the wire extending beyond the proximal end of the shaft.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for purposefully modifying the accessibility of information encoded upon an optical medium for indicating a state or history of the optical medium and/or a state or history of an item associated therewith. In one embodiment, the optical medium is purposefully damaged when the information is initially accessed so that upon subsequent access attempts of the information on the optical medium, a previous access of the information is detected by the purposefully induced errors. Thus, there is provided an effective technique for limiting illegal duplication and/or use of, e.g., software, movies, and music on compact disks and digital versatile disks. The present invention provides verification of persons and/or financial transaction cards during financial transactions. In another embodiment, a compact data storage device is disclosed having the approximate dimensions of a credit card that is capable of storing large amounts of data (e.g., 50-100 Megabytes).

Abstract: A device for removing a thrombus filter from a blood vessel is disclosed. A device in accordance with the present invention includes a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, a wire having a first end and a second end, the wire being partially disposed within the lumen of the shaft, a portion of the wire extending beyond the distal end of the shaft and forming a loop, and a portion of the wire extending beyond the proximal end of the shaft.