Abstract: A device for catheterization is disclosed. Such a device includes a hollow catheter, a cylindrical sheath, and a flange through which the catheter passes. Before insertion, the sheath begins at a first opening near the catheter tip and extends into the catheter to a first circumferential fold, then back towards the catheter tip to a second circumferential fold about the tip to the exterior surface, and ends at a second opening attached to the flange. As the device is inserted up to a length, the flange abuts the cavity opening, and a corresponding length of the sheath deploys from the catheter interior, around the first and second circumferential folds, to the catheter outer surface. Once fully inserted, all, or a substantial portion, of the sheath initially positioned within the catheter has been deployed to the outer surface, thereby forming a protective barrier between the catheter and the surrounding tissues.

Abstract: An autonomous controller for a vehicle. The controller has a processor configured to receive position signals from position sensors and to generate operation control signals defining an updated travel path for the vehicle. The controller has a programmable interface providing communication among the position sensors, the operation control mechanisms, and the processor. The controller is configured to normalize inputs to the processor from the position sensors and to generate compatible operation control signals applied as the inputs to the operation control mechanisms. The processor and the programmable interface define a self-contained unit configurable for operation with a variety of different remote sensors and different remote operation control mechanisms.

Abstract: A navigation and control system including a sensor configured to locate objects in a predetermined field of view from a vehicle. The sensor has an emitter configured to repeatedly scan a beam into a two-dimensional sector of a plane defined with respect to a first predetermined axis of the vehicle, and a detector configured to detect a reflection of the emitted beam from one of the objects. The sensor includes a panning mechanism configured to pan the plane in which the beam is scanned about a second predetermined axis to produce a three dimensional field of view. The navigation and control system includes a processor configured to determine the existence and location of the objects in the three dimensional field of view based on a position of the vehicle and a time between an emittance of the beam and a reception of the reflection of the emitted beam from one of the objects.