Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatus for releasably gripping at least one elongated item and being used in pulling the elongated item(s) through at least one space includes a body and at least three gripping members associated with the body. The gripping members are moveable relative to the body and capable of engaging at least one elongated item.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are expandable surgical implants that may be expanded one or more times by directly or indirectly uncinching one or more expansion loops. Use of the expandable surgical implant permits a physician to expand, with minimal invasion, a surgical implant that was over-tensioned by a surgeon during implantation or became over-tensioned due to changes in the patient's anatomy.

Abstract: A mobile vehicle inspection system includes a moving device; a driving device for driving the moving device to move during scanning inspection; a radiation source disposed on the moving device for emitting a ray; a rotary table pivotally disposed on the moving device; an upright post installed on the rotary table at a lower end of the upright post; transverse detector beam having an end connected with an upper end of the upright post; the upright detector beam having an upper end connected with the other end of the transverse detector beam, and extending downwards from the other end of the transverse detector beam so that the upright post, the transverse detector beam and the upright detector beam constitute a frame of a substantial inverted “U” shape, a ray emitted from the radiation source so as to inspect a vehicle to be inspected which passes through the inverted-“U”-shaped frame.

Abstract: A cargo security inspection system inspecting an object moving through the system, including: a mechanical conveyance unit carrying, conveying, and defining a travel path of the object in the system; a radiation-generating unit generating ray beams for transmitting through the object; and a data collecting unit collecting transmission data about the rays having already transmitted through the object and processing the transmission data; wherein the travel path includes at least two linear sub-paths at an angle relative to each other; the data collecting unit includes at least two detector arrays receiving ray beams, each detector array corresponding to one linear sub-path, a receiving plane of each of the detector arrays disposed parallel to its corresponding linear sub-path; and in use, the radiation-generating and data collecting units remain stationary, and the object travels along its travel path and only translates on the at least two linear sub-paths without any rotation.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatus for releasably gripping at least one elongated item and being used in pulling the elongated item(s) through at least one space includes a body and a plurality of gripping members associated with the body. The gripping members are moveable relative to the body and capable of engaging at least one elongated item.

Abstract: Bioresorbable medical implants are designed to have different resorption rates over time or over the topography of the implants. The resorption of the medical implants are controlled by including layers having differing resorption rates. The layers resorb sequentially over time through sequential exposure to body fluids. A resorption-controllable medical implant includes a series of two or more layers. The first layer includes a first bioresorbable material. The second layer includes a second bioresorbable material and resorbable particles of a first kind dispersed within the second bioresorbable material. Additional layers of bioresorbable material alone or including resorbable particles may be added to slow or speed resorption and achieve desired control over the resorption of the implant. Resorbable particles can be added in differing amounts or kinds in various segments of the implant to provide topographically differing resorption rates.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, urological medical devices are provided, which comprise a prostatically beneficial agent selected from alpha-adrenergic blockers, antispasmodic agents, anticholinergic/antimuscarinic agents, calcium channel blockers, anti-inflammatory agents, hormone-affecting agents, anti-cancer agents, and combinations thereof, among others. The urological medical devices are adapted for implantation or insertion into a subject's urinary tract, whereupon at least a portion of the prostatically beneficial agent is released into the subject's prostatic urethra. The release profile of the prostatically beneficial agent is effective to treat a prostatic disorder, for example, benign prostate hypertrophy, prostate cancer or prostatitis, among others. Other aspects of the invention are directed to treating prostatic disorders.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, urological medical devices are provided, which contain one or more urologically beneficial agents selected from alpha-adrenergic blockers, calcium channel blockers, and combinations thereof, among others. The urological devices are adapted for implantation or insertion into a subject's urinary tract, whereupon at least a portion of the urologically beneficial agent is released. Such agents are urologically beneficial, for example, in that they may relieve pain and/or discomfort associated with the medical device and/or act as stone expulsion agents (i.e., they facilitate stone passage), among other benefits. According to an aspect of the present invention, a method of treating kidney stones is provided which comprises: (a) diagnosing the presence of kidney stones within a subject and (b) implanting or inserting a urological medical device into the subject which contains at least one urologically beneficial agent.

Abstract: The resorption of a medical implant can be controlled with the use of particles embedded in a resorbable bulk material forming the implant or portion thereof. The implant can be removed from a body of a mammal by natural biological mechanisms after use. The resorption of the implant can involve swelling and/or hydrolyzing of the particles within the implant upon contact with a body fluid such that porosity and flow of fluid within the bulk material of the implant is increased. Resorption of the implant may also involve the use of particles with magnetic properties embedded within the implant such that an applied magnetic field causes the particles to vibrate within the bulk material thereby increasing the porosity and thus the flow of fluid, hence facilitating resorption of the implant. The resorption rate of the implant can be controlled by modulating swelling, hydrolysis, or movement of the embedded particles.

Abstract: A containers/vehicles inspection system with adjustable radiation X-ray angle relates to the technical field of radiation inspection. The present invention comprises a detector arm rack equipped with detectors, a second collimator, a pulling device, and an accelerator rack with the accelerator. X-ray produced by the accelerator is right opposite to the calibrator, the first collimator and the second collimator all of which are arranged in order, wherein, said accelerator rack is further composed of a horizontal regulation mechanism for moving the base forward and afterward horizontally, a vertical regulation mechanism for moving the bending framework up and down vertically, a rotary regulation mechanism for rotating the cantilever, a pitching regulation mechanism for driving the accelerator to make pinching movement, as well as a framework formed by a base, a vertical arm, a bending framework and a cantilever.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a reversible plate positioning device for a stationary radiation imaging trailer system, comprising a left platform (7-1) and a right platform (7-2) that can be connected with a trailing part (4) of a trailer frame and ground locking part (12), the left platform (7-1) and right platform (7-2) provided with slopes (1) for the uploading of a vehicle to be detected respectively at the front ends and with positioning recesses (9) at the middle of an upper surface, each positioning recess (9) being provided with a wheel-locking device (2), wherein, each wheel-locking device (2) comprises of a pivotable crank plate (10) that is hinged to the positioning recess (9) and can rotates about the pivot axis thereof, a chain (15) connected with the crank plate (10), a pull-rod (14) connected with the chain (15), and a fixing sleeve (6) corresponding to the pull-rod (14), in which a spring (13) is provided in the fixing sleeve (6), and when the vehicle to be detected is located in the positio

Abstract: A mobile vehicle inspection system includes a moving device; a driving device for driving the moving device to move during scanning inspection; a radiation source disposed on the moving device for emitting a ray; a rotary table pivotally disposed on the moving device; an upright post installed on the rotary table at a lower end of the upright post; traverse detector beam having an end connected with an upper end of the upright post; the upright detector beam having an upper end connected with the other end of the traverse detector beam, and extending downwards from the other end of the traverse detector beam so that the upright post, the traverse detector beam and the upright detector beam constitute a frame of a substantial inverted “U” shape, a ray emitted from the radiation source so as to inspect a vehicle to be inspected which passes through the inverted-“U”-shaped frame.

Abstract: A combined mobile container inspection system, comprising: a radiation source; a chassis; a rotatable deck provided at an end of the upper surface of said chassis and rotatable with respect to said chassis, provided with a parallelogram bracket formed by a hingedly-connected four-bar linkage mechanism, wherein the cross link of the parallelogram bracket extends to form a horizontal cross arm with detectors, the other end of said horizontal cross arm is connected with a vertical upright arm, which is vertical or parallel to said horizontal cross arm; and a sliding deck provided at the rear end of the rotatable deck and movable upwardly and downwardly, said sliding deck is provided, in turn, with the radiation source, the X-ray therefrom is always right in the face of the detectors provided in the horizontal cross arm and vertical upright arm, calibrator and collimator.

Abstract: A cargo security inspection system inspecting an object moving through the system, including: a mechanical conveyance unit carrying, conveying, and defining a travel path of the object in the system; a radiation-generating unit generating ray beams for transmitting through the object; and a data collecting unit collecting transmission data about the rays having already transmitted through the object and processing the transmission data; wherein the travel path includes at least two linear sub-paths at an angle relative to each other; the data collecting unit includes at least two detector arrays receiving ray beams, each detector array corresponding to one linear sub-path, a receiving plane of each of the detector arrays disposed parallel to its corresponding linear sub-path; and in use, the radiation-generating and data collecting units remain stationary, and the object travels along its travel path and only translates on the at least two linear sub-paths without any rotation.

Abstract: Techniques are described which decrease DRC (design rule check) marking time, e.g., in a circuit interconnect router, by capitalizing on repetitious relationships between interconnect elements (and/or circuit components) in a circuit design, by recording previously calculated markings and reusing the markings on subsequent marking iterations or processes. Marking information corresponding to each marking point includes indications of what types of interconnect elements or circuit components can be positioned at the marking point location without violating a design rule. With a dynamic caching process, once the marking computations have been completed for an element and the corresponding points in the vicinity, those values are stored in a cache. The next time the router encounters another instance of a known element-to-point relationship, the stored values are reloaded and applied to the current point.

Abstract: A medical device is designed to be placed in a patient's body and release one or more therapeutic agents therefrom. The medical device includes an elongated member defining a passage for passing bodily fluids therethrough and at least one enclosed internal space for containing one or more therapeutic agents therein. The elongated member may further define one or more pores in fluid communication with the enclosed internal space. The medical device can deliver one or more therapeutic agents at a desired level or volume, over a desired period of time, and from a desired location of the device. Therapeutic agents may be released through the body of the medical device by diffusion and/or through the one or more pores.

Abstract: The resorption of a medical implant can be controlled with the use of particles embedded in a resorbable bulk material forming the implant or portion thereof. The implant can be removed from a body of a mammal by natural biological mechanisms after use. The resorption of the implant can involve swelling and/or hydrolyzing of the particles within the implant upon contact with a body fluid such that porosity and flow of fluid within the bulk material of the implant is increased. Resorption of the implant may also involve the use of particles with magnetic properties embedded within the implant such that an applied magnetic field causes the particles to vibrate within the bulk material thereby increasing the porosity and thus the flow of fluid, hence facilitating resorption of the implant. The resorption rate of the implant can be controlled by modulating swelling, hydrolysis, or movement of the embedded particles.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided, which contain one or more polymeric carrier regions. These polymeric carrier regions, in turn, contain a polymer, a low solubility therapeutic agent, and a solubilizing agent.

Abstract: Disclosed are mesh materials adapted for use in an implantable sling. The mesh materials include biodegradable and non-degradable components that may be adapted to facilitate scar-tissue in-growth as the biodegradable components degrade.

Abstract: A medical device is designed to be placed in a patient's body and release one or more therapeutic agents therefrom. The medical device includes an elongated member defining a passage for passing bodily fluids therethrough and at least one enclosed internal space for containing one or more therapeutic agents therein. The elongated member may further define one or more pores in fluid communication with the enclosed internal space. The medical device can deliver one or more therapeutic agents at a desired level or volume, over a desired period of time, and from a desired location of the device. Therapeutic agents may be released through the body of the medical device by diffusion and/or through the one or more pores.