Abstract: Intravascular delivery system is designed for a safe and efficient access to secondary and tertiary vascular structures, such as the branches of the coronary sinus, to enhance the delivery and deployment of various catheters, such as, for example, pacemaker electrical leads. The over-the-wire system features a straight, or alternatively shaped, micro-catheter distal tip of an inner catheter that seamlessly cooperates with a peel-away reinforced outer catheter. The inner catheter and the peel-away reinforced outer catheter are advanced in their engaged mode of operation towards (or beyond) the target site. Subsequently, the inner and outer catheters are disengaged, and the inner catheter is removed from the outer catheter. A pacemaker lead may be advanced over the wire inside the outer catheter to the target site for deployment. Subsequently, the outer catheter is easily split and may be rapidly removed from the blood vessel.

Abstract: A programmable network device is described. The programmable network device executes software modules resident on its hardware to support assorted applications and network management services. These modules may be dynamically loaded, unloaded, or modified without interrupting network traffic routed through the device. The loading and unloading of modules can be administered remotely, via a network backbone, service provider network, LAN, or other internetwork coupled to the device. Alternatively, administrators may alter the operating parameters of individual management modules via the network to effect performance gains or modify existing operating parameters.

Abstract: Mold release agents and methods for molding plastics are provided. They are especially applicable to polyurethane-based reaction injection molding (RIM) systems. The mold release agent includes the lithium, sodium, or potassium salt, or a mixture thereof, of an oligomer of monomeric units or a mixture of said oligomers, the monomeric units being selected from the group consisting of carboxylic fatty acids having at least 14 carbon atoms, preferably 14 to 24 carbon atoms, the salt of the oligomer preferably being soluble in water or water/alcohol. Preferably, the Li and Na salts of C.sub.36 and C.sub.44 dicarboxylic fatty acids are used. Preferred embodiments of the present invention permit the use of water without alcohol in the formulation.