Abstract: Catalysts comprising a Ta layer having an outer layer with a layer comprising Pt directly thereon, wherein the Ta layer has an average thickness in a range from 0.04 to 30 nanometers, wherein the layer comprising Pt has an average thickness in a range from 0.04 to 50 nanometers, and wherein the Pt and Ta are present in an atomic ratio in a range from 0.01:1 to 10:1. Catalyst described herein are useful, for example, in fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies.

Abstract: A method of removing vascular blockage includes providing a catheter system, comprising an outer catheter, a bypass catheter, and a guidewire. In the catheter system, the bypass catheter is slidably disposed within the outer catheter. The method includes positioning a distal end of the catheter system at a proximal end of an occlusion located within a vessel and moving the bypass catheter through the occlusion so that a medicated treatment solution may be delivered through the bypass catheter to an area of the brain or other tissue served by the vessel blocked by the occlusion. Both during and after the delivery of medicated treatment solution to the blocked part of the vessel with the bypass catheter, the physician may engage the occlusion with the perforated segment of the outer catheter so that a thrombolytic agent can be delivered at the occlusion to disintegrate it and then removing at least a portion of the occlusion from the vessel.

Abstract: An intracranial stent includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a tubular sidewall extending there between and a patch covering at least a portion of the sidewall; wherein the patch is capable of diverting blood flow past the neck of an intracranial aneurysm. The patch may be made of a photon-activatable material or a tightly woven metal material with a density greater than a density of the sidewall itself.

Abstract: An intracranial stent includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a tubular sidewall extending there between and a patch covering at least a portion of the sidewall; wherein the patch is capable of diverting blood flow past the neck of an intracranial aneurysm. The patch may be made of a photon-activatable material or a tightly woven metal material with a density greater than a density of the sidewall itself.

Abstract: A method of removing vascular blockage includes providing a catheter system, comprising an outer catheter, a bypass catheter, and a guidewire. In the catheter system, the bypass catheter is slidably disposed within the outer catheter. The method includes positioning a distal end of the catheter system at a proximal end of an occlusion located within a vessel and moving the bypass catheter through the occlusion so that a medicated treatment solution may be delivered through the bypass catheter to an area of the brain or other tissue served by the vessel blocked by the occlusion. Both during and after the delivery of medicated treatment solution to the blocked part of the vessel with the bypass catheter, the physician may engage the occlusion with the perforated segment of the outer catheter so that a thrombolytic agent can be delivered at the occlusion to disintegrate it and then removing at least a portion of the occlusion from the vessel.

Abstract: A composition for increasing collateral circulation includes a pharmaceutically acceptable synthetic cerebrospinal fluid. The pharmaceutically acceptable synthetic cerebrospinal fluid includes a density altering agent. The synthetic cerebrospinal fluid has a density different from a density of naturally-occurring cerebrospinal fluid. The density-altering agent includes about 5 to about 8.25 percent by volume of dextrose. The composition also includes a vasodilator.

Abstract: A method for increasing collateral circulation includes providing a pharmaceutically acceptable synthetic cerebrospinal fluid that has a density different than that of the patient's naturally-occurring cerebrospinal fluid. The synthetic cerebrospinal fluid includes a vasodilator. The method further includes administering the synthetic cerebrospinal fluid to an intrathecal space of a patient through a lumbar access point to reach the intrathecal space of a patient.

Abstract: A method of removing vascular blockage includes providing a catheter system, comprising an outer catheter, a bypass catheter, and a guidewire. In the catheter system, the bypass catheter is slidably disposed within the outer catheter. The method includes positioning a distal end of the catheter system at a proximal end of an occlusion located within a vessel and moving the bypass catheter through the occlusion so that a medicated treatment solution may be delivered through the bypass catheter to an area of the brain or other tissue served by the vessel blocked by the occlusion. Both during and after the delivery of medicated treatment solution to the blocked part of the vessel with the bypass catheter, the physician may engage the occlusion with the perforated segment of the outer catheter so that a thrombolytic agent can be delivered at the occlusion to disintegrate it and then removing at least a portion of the occlusion from the vessel.

Abstract: An intracranial stent includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a tubular sidewall extending there between and a patch covering at least a portion of the sidewall; wherein the patch is capable of diverting blood flow past the neck of an intracranial aneurysm. The patch may be made of a photon-activatable material or a tightly woven metal material with a density greater than a density of the sidewall itself.

Abstract: A method for increasing collateral circulation includes providing a pharmaceutically acceptable synthetic cerebrospinal fluid that has a density different than that of the patient's naturally-occurring cerebrospinal fluid. The synthetic cerebrospinal fluid includes a vasodilator. The method further includes administering the synthetic cerebrospinal fluid to an intrathecal space of a patient through a lumbar access point to reach the intrathecal space of a patient.

Abstract: A method of removing vascular blockage includes providing a catheter system comprising an outer catheter with a serrated cutting element at its distal end, a bypass catheter, and a guidewire. In the catheter system, the bypass catheter is slidably disposed within the outer catheter. The method includes positioning a distal portion of the catheter system at a proximal end of an occlusion located within a vessel and moving the bypass catheter through the occlusion so that a medicated treatment solution may be delivered through the bypass catheter to an area of the brain or other tissue served by the vessel blocked by the occlusion.

Abstract: A pump for delivering a fluid, created by cooling and pressurizing a fluid, into the intrathecal space of a patient, the pump comprising an input channel, an input reservoir in fluid communication with the input channel, a cooling apparatus configured to remove heat from the fluid and a pressurizing mechanism configured to impart pressure to the fluid, an output reservoir, and an output channel, and wherein the output channel is configured to be in fluid communication with a first lumen of a catheter and wherein the first lumen of the catheter is configured to be disposed within the intrathecal space of the patient.

Abstract: A device and method of treating an aneurysm in a cranial artery of a patient includes providing a coil delivery system having a bypass catheter with a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an intermediate portion. The bypass catheter also includes a bypass lumen extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion and a coil delivery lumen that extends from the proximal end portion to a coil delivery opening in a side wall of the bypass catheter. The coil delivery system also includes an embolic coil or multiple coils capable of being deployed separately through the coil delivery opening and electrolytically detached, and at least one balloon disposed about an outer surface of the bypass catheter and capable of substantially preventing blood flow around the outer surface of the bypass catheter when inflated.

Abstract: A stabilization device includes a base, a column, and a table support structure, wherein the column is disposed within the base and is movable within the base along a vertical axis. The table support structure is connected to the column and comprises a substantially planar top surface. The stabilization device may be positioned under an extension of a patient support table and adjusted along the vertical axis so that a substantially planar top surface of the table support structure is disposed flush against a substantially planar bottom surface of the extension.

Abstract: A method of removing vascular blockage includes providing a catheter system comprising an outer catheter with a serrated cutting element at its distal end, a bypass catheter, and a guidewire. In the catheter system, the bypass catheter is slidably disposed within the outer catheter. The method includes positioning a distal portion of the catheter system at a proximal end of an occlusion located within a vessel and moving the bypass catheter through the occlusion so that a medicated treatment solution may be delivered through the bypass catheter to an area of the brain or other tissue served by the vessel blocked by the occlusion.

Abstract: A pump for delivering a fluid, created by cooling and pressurizing a fluid, into the intrathecal space of a patient, the pump comprising an input channel, an input reservoir in fluid communication with the input channel, a cooling apparatus configured to remove heat from the fluid and a pressurizing mechanism configured to impart pressure to the fluid, an output reservoir, and an output channel, and wherein the output channel is configured to be in fluid communication with a first lumen of a catheter and wherein the first lumen of the catheter is configured to be disposed within the intrathecal space of the patient.

Abstract: A method of removing vascular blockage includes providing a catheter system. comprising an outer catheter, a cutting catheter having a serrated distal end, a bypass catheter, and a guidewire. In the catheter system, the bypass catheter is slidably disposed within the cutting catheter and the outer catheter. The method includes positioning a distal end of the catheter system at a proximal end of an occlusion located within a vessel and moving the bypass catheter through the occlusion so that a medicated treatment solution may be delivered through the bypass catheter to an area of the brain or other tissue served by the vessel blocked by the occlusion.

Abstract: A passive skin detection system includes a main body which houses a collection optics system having an image splitting device, a visible light filter mechanism having a plurality of narrow band filters and an image capture system. The image capture system stores visible light data as a plurality of digital images formed from a plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of digital images is associated with visible light passed through a respective one of the plurality of narrow band filters. An image processing system, operatively connected to the image capture system, compares relative intensities of each of the plurality of digital images to identify one or more of the plurality of pixels having an absorption bandwidth indicating a presence of skin. The processing system determines whether a person, identified by his skin, is present in any of the images captured by the detection system.

Abstract: A device and method for delivering a treatment solution includes a bi-directional catheter comprising at least a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein the first lumen comprises a proximal end having an inflow portal and a distal end having an outflow portal, and the second lumen comprises a side wall having at least one inflow portal allowing for fluid communication from an outer surface of the side wall to an inner surface of the side wall and the second lumen further comprises a proximal end having an outflow portal. The device and method further include a pump having an input channel, a reservoir for receiving and containing the treatment solution, a cooling apparatus for cooling the treatment solution, and an output channel. The outflow portal of the second lumen of the catheter is in fluid communication with the input channel of the pump and the output channel of the pump is in fluid communication with the inflow portal of the first lumen.

Abstract: A method for increasing collateral circulation includes providing a pharmaceutically acceptable synthetic cerebrospinal fluid that has a density different than that of the patient's naturally-occurring cerebrospinal fluid. The synthetic cerebrospinal fluid includes a vasodilator. The method further includes administering the synthetic cerebrospinal fluid to an intrathecal space of a patient through a lumbar access point to reach the intrathecal space of a patient.