Abstract: An introducer assembly includes an elongate sheath sized for insertion into a blood vessel of a patient and a hub. The hub can be coupled to a proximal portion of the sheath and can include a first hub portion and a second hub portion. The hub can include various features to facilitate breaking apart or separating the introducer assembly from a patient. For example, the first hub portion can have a first notch which can facilitate breaking, splitting, or fracturing the hub. The second hub portion can partially surround the first hub portion and can include two wings and an opening disposed above the first notch. The first hub portion can be formed from a first material and second hub portion can be formed from a second material. In some embodiments, the second material can be stiffer than the first material to facilitate fracturing the hub.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to analyze a subscriber's sent e-mail packets to determine a subscriber identity associated with the e-mail packets. A database is then queried to determine a current sending rate of e-mails by the subscriber. A sending rate above an allowed threshold causes the upstream transmission of the e-mail packets to be blocked by injecting connection destroying packets. A subscriber remains blocked from upstream transmission of e-mails until the sending rate as determined by the ISP drops below a second, more stringent threshold. This automatic process is also accompanied by automated messaging to the subscriber with information as to the measures taken and remedial options.

Abstract: A method for providing watermark to subscribers is provided. The method comprises observing a request for a first content from a subscriber, determining if the subscriber can receive a watermark, generating a second content comprising the watermark if the subscriber can receive a watermark, causing the subscriber to fetch the first content, and causing the subscriber to fetch the second content comprising the watermark overlaying the first content.

Abstract: In a set-top-box system, messages from a service provider are stored and delayed until activity from a set-top-box remote is detected. Messages are then generated and provided to a television associated with the set-top-box. Delaying of the message display until set-top-box activity is detected allows short display times, thus preventing burn-in on some television screens, while providing a greater likelihood that messages will be viewed.

Abstract: An introducer sheath for percutaneous insertion of a heart pump includes a tubular sheath body having a wall, a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an inner lumen. The introducer sheath includes a hemostatic valve disposed in the proximal end portion and forming a liquid tight seal across the inner lumen of the tubular sheath body. The hemostatic valve includes a valve cavity having a distal end and a proximal end, a first annular restriction formed within the valve cavity and having a first diameter, and a second annular restriction formed within the valve cavity distal to the first annular restriction and having a second diameter. The distal end of the valve cavity is spaced from the second annular restriction by a gap distance and a third diameter of the valve cavity along the gap distance is about equal to or greater than the first and second diameters.

Abstract: Hemostasis valves and hemostasis valve assemblies can be coupled to a proximal end of an introducer sheath to prevent blood loss through the proximal end of the introducer sheath. Some hemostasis valve assemblies may include an elastomeric member with a variable-width channel that is designed to form a liquid-tight seal over elongate members of different diameter or a single elongate member of variable diameter.

Abstract: A method for providing watermark to subscribers is provided. The method comprises observing a request for a first content from a subscriber, determining if the subscriber can receive a watermark, generating a second content comprising the watermark if the subscriber can receive a watermark, causing the subscriber to fetch the first content, and causing the subscriber to fetch the second content comprising the watermark overlaying the first content.

Abstract: A sheath assembly for the insertion of a percutaneous pump includes a tubular sheath body dimensioned for insertion into a blood vessel through a vessel aperture. The tubular sheath body includes a wall having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, an inner surface defining a first lumen substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second lumen disposed within the wall between the inner surface and the outer surface and extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. The first lumen is dimensioned to allow passage of a portion of the percutaneous pump, and the second lumen is dimensioned for passage of a guidewire. A stylet is removably positioned to substantially occlude the second lumen. The stylet has a proximal end releasably secured to the sheath assembly.

Abstract: Antibodies are disclosed that bind to and inhibit the anti-coagulant function of TFPI and have a lower affinity for TFPI at pH 6.0 than at pH 7.4. The lower affinity at pH 6 improves circulating half-life (T½) due to reduced target mediated clearance, a process by which an antibody/antigen complex is endocytosed and trafficked to the lysosome where both components are degraded. The lower affinity at pH 6.0 results in disruption of the complex prior to lysosome targeting and allows for re-circulation of the antibody. Specific modifications to antibody binding by histidine residue substitution are disclosed along with methods of use.

Abstract: A heart valve implant is disclosed herein. The heart valve implant comprises an inflatable valve body, a shaft, an anchor assembly and an inflation (injection) port. Also disclosed herein, are methods of trans-apically and trans-septally delivering a heart valve implant within a heart such that the valve body can be inflated in situ to partially or completely restrict blood flow through a heart valve in a closed position. The inflation (injection) port permits inflation of the valve body with an adjustable amount of an inflation fluid to attain a desired degree of inflation of the valve body when disposed within the heart valve.

Abstract: A robotic catheter procedure system includes a bedside system and a workstation. The bedside system includes an actuating mechanism configured to engage and to impart movement to a percutaneous device. The workstation includes a user interface and a control system configured to be operatively coupled to the user interface, the bedside system, and a medical imaging system. The control system is responsive to a first input and to a second input, and the user interface receives the second input from a user. The control system is configured to generate a first control signal to the medical imaging system based on the first input, and the medical imaging system captures at least one image in response to the first control signal. The control system is configured to generate a second control signal to the actuating mechanism based on the second input, and the actuating mechanism causes movement of the percutaneous device in response to the second control signal.

Abstract: An acoustic horn arrangement including an acoustic horn, a first sound driver operable to drive the acoustic horn and a second sound driver further operable to drive the acoustic horn. The acoustic horn arrangement also including an interface region where sound from the second sound driver transfers into the acoustic horn to combine with sound from the first sound driver, wherein the interface region is adapted to reduce changes in a beam angle measure of the acoustic horn as a function of frequency.

Abstract: One embodiment is a system, comprising a first NAS device, a second NAS device. The first and second NAS devices may be configured to be paired with one another to enable an ongoing secure exchange of content (e.g., files, pictures, movies, audio recordings) and NAS settings (e.g., RAID settings, backup schedules, etc.) between the first and second NAS devices across a network. According to one embodiment, through this ongoing secure exchange of content and NAS settings, the second NAS device may become and may be thereafter maintained as a mirror of the first NAS device, such that the second NAS device may be maintained as a drop-in physical and functional replacement for the first NAS device in the event of a failure of the first NAS device.

Abstract: A method for abandonment of a subsea well includes: fastening a pressure control assembly (PCA) to a subsea wellhead; and deploying a tool string into the PCA. The tool string includes a packer and an upper perforator located above the packer. The method further includes: closing a bore of the PCA above the tool string with a solid barrier; and setting the packer against an inner casing hung from the subsea wellhead. The method further includes, while the PCA bore is closed, perforating a wall of the inner casing by operating the upper perforator. The method further includes injecting cement slurry into an inner annulus formed between the inner casing and an outer casing hung from the subsea wellhead.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for communicating at least one real-time specially-composed bulletin message to at least one subscriber of a provider of Internet services, comprising a first device, and a second device communicably coupled to the first device, wherein the first device: accesses only subscriber upstream traffic to a destination web site requested by the subscriber, wherein the first device inter-connects between the at least one subscriber and the destination web site, identifies the at least one subscriber's identification based on the accessed subscriber upstream traffic automatically provided by the subscriber, and provides the unique subscriber identification to the second device located at the provider of Internet services providing data services and management control to the first device, wherein the second device determines the subscriber associated with the unique subscriber identification.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to provide notification messages such as service updates to subscribers via redirected web pages. In order for the web pages to be treated as originating from the ISP, the ISP provides a shared secret in the browser message. The shared secret may be a secret not derivable by viruses or trojans in the subscriber computer, such as a MAC address of the subscriber modem.

Abstract: A robotic catheter system is provided. The robotic catheter system includes a housing and a drive assembly coupled to the housing. The drive assembly is configured to impart movement to a catheter device. The catheter system includes a release structure permitting the drive assembly to be decoupled and removed from the housing without removing the catheter device from a patient.

Abstract: A method for communicating in real-time to users of a provider of Internet access service, without requiring any installation or set-up by the user, that utilizes the unique identification information automatically provided by the user during communications for identifying the user to provide a fixed identifier which is then communicated to a redirecting device. Messages may then be selectively transmitted to the user. The system is normally transparent to the user, with no modification of its content along the path. Content then may be modified or replaced along the path to the user. For the purposes of establishing a reliable delivery of bulletin messages from providers to their users, the system forces the delivery of specially-composed World Wide Web browser pages to the user, although it is not limited to that type of data.

Abstract: An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to analyze a subscriber's sent e-mail packets to determine a subscriber identity associated with the e-mail packets. A database is then queried to determine a current sending rate of e-mails by the subscriber. A sending rate above an allowed threshold causes the upstream transmission of the e-mail packets to be blocked by injecting connection destroying packets. A subscriber remains blocked from upstream transmission of e-mails until the sending rate as determined by the ISP drops below a second, more stringent threshold. This automatic process is also accompanied by automated messaging to the subscriber with information as to the measures taken and remedial options.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a robotic catheter system including a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface is provided. The first engagement surface and second engagement surface are configured to engage a catheter device to allow the drive mechanism to impart motion to the catheter device. The first engagement surface is textured to facilitate gripping between the first engagement surface and the catheter device.