Abstract: Medical devices or components thereof, and particularly intracorporeal devices for therapeutic or diagnostic uses, which are formed at least in part of a polymeric material and a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material, so that the medical device or component thereof is visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. In one embodiment, the medical device is a balloon catheter having an MRI visible balloon. In a presently preferred embodiment, there is an insufficient amount of the ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material within a wall of the balloon or coated onto a wall of the balloon to make the balloon radiopaque.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic traction apparatus for surgery, in particular for knee surgery, having at least one pair of working sections which can be adjusted relative to one another and at least one exchangeable piston in cylinder arrangement made of plastic whose piston is releasably coupled to the one working section and whose cylinder is releasably connected to the other working section and which is stiffened by an outer support mount supporting the cylinder from the outside and by at least one inner reinforcement insert which can be inserted into the cylinder together with the piston.

Abstract: A method of forming a catheter component, such as a balloon, in which the component has a thinned skirt section formed by expanding tubing to a radially enlarged outer diameter and then decreasing the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the radially enlarged skirt section before or during bonding of the skirt section to the catheter shaft. The method generally includes blow molding tubing in a balloon mold having a skirt portion with an inner diameter which is larger than an outer diameter of the thinned skirt section of the balloon, so that the balloon mold produces a balloon having a radially enlarged skirt section with a larger outer diameter than is desired for the finished balloon. By then decreasing the diameter of the radially enlarged skirt section, the resulting skirt section is thinned, to provide a balloon catheter having improved flexibility and low profile.

Abstract: A system and method for enforcing rights specifying manners of use of an item, include specifying by a recipient of an item a first rights expression indicating at least on of a desired manner of use of the item by the recipient and a condition of use of the item by the recipient; associating the rights expression with the item; and supplying the item to the recipient based on satisfaction of at least one of the desired manner of use of the item by the recipient and the condition of use of the item by the recipient.

Abstract: A compressed multiple band loop antenna that has multiple superimposed compressed loops. Each compressed loop is formed from numerous segments arrayed in multiple diverse directions so that the enclosed area of that loop and the overall size of the antenna are decreased. Multiple loops are arrayed and superimposed to provide multiple frequency bands of operation and are used to broaden the useful bandwidth of individual-bands. The small size of the compressed antenna facilitates its use in small mobile communications devices requiring internal antennas that operate in close proximity to conductive surfaces. Multiple loops are arrayed in several configurations that include nested and non-nested loops as well as closely located and spatially separated superimposed loops.

Abstract: A multi-band compressed loop antenna is formed of multiple, directly and/or indirectly connected, compressed loops for use in a communication device to exchange energy over multiple frequency bands of operation. Each loop is formed by multiple and numerous segments arrayed in multiple diverse directions which forms a compressed loop so that the area of the antenna is decreased by combining such compressed loops. The multiple loops provide for resonances in multiple discrete frequency bands of operation. The multiple loops are arrayed in different configurations that include nested (concentric) and non-nested (non-concentric) loops as well as closely located and separated loops on the same or different layers of single or multi-layer structures.

Abstract: Medical devices or components thereof, and particularly intracorporeal devices for therapeutic or diagnostic uses, which are formed at least in part of a polymeric material and a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material, so that the medical device or component thereof is visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. In one embodiment, the medical device is a balloon catheter having an MRI visible balloon. In a presently preferred embodiment, there is an insufficient amount of the ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material within a wall of the balloon or coated onto a wall of the balloon to make the balloon radiopaque.

Abstract: A loop antenna formed of an radiation loop and a reference loop. The reference loop is generally the same size, shape and electrical length as the radiation loop and is located in the near field of and in close proximity to the radiation loop. In communication devices having conductive surfaces, components, shielding and other conductive elements in close proximity to the radiation loop, the coupling to the radiation loop that tends to de-tune or otherwise interfere with the operation of the radiation loop is reduced by the reference loop.

Abstract: An external device for eluding masculine impotence, comprising: (A) SUPPORT, with a rigid core and a softer lining, it lies along the penis, to which it communicates its rigidity, since both are enveloped in a preservative. To avoid tautness, rubbing and pinching, the inner side of the preservative is previously wetted with an aqueous type lubricant. (B) FASTENER, made of rigid material, is attached to said support by means of two hinges, thus maintaining the support in its proper place despite the effort exerted during its use. (C) TIE, made of soft, flexible material, maintains the fastener well tightened to the body by pulling from it from the front and rear. It is useful for coitus performance when the erection is nonexistent or insufficient in intensity or duration.

Abstract: The invention consists of modified dryer section in a papermachine wherein elements normally found in the press section of the machine are included in the dryer section. The modification consists of the use of a press felt instead of a dryer felt and the addition of press rolls, adjacent to the dryer cylinders, forming nips through which the felt and the wet paper sheet to be dried are passed. Pocket ventilation rolls are also included to evaporate water absorbed by the felt from the paper sheet during passages through the nips. The dryer section incorporating these modifications can be viewed as a press-dryer hybrid. Improved dryer efficiency and lower costs per ton of paper produced are the results.