Abstract: Universal cards are used in place of all the other traditional cards which a person may want to carry. The universal card can include a short range communications transceiver to communicate with a mobile device. The mobile device can include a user interface and an e-wallet application so that the user can interface with the e-wallet application for programming the universal card via the short range communication link. Once programmed, the universal card emulates a function of a traditional card.

Abstract: An introducer sheath assembly comprises a tubular sheath member having a deflectable distal end portion and a sheath member lumen, a handle assembly including a steering mechanism for deflecting the distal end portion of the sheath member, and a hemostasis valve assembly. The hemostasis valve assembly includes a side port member configured to be connected to a fluid source for introducing fluid into the sheath member lumen. The side port member is axially rotatable relative to the handle assembly and the sheath member such that the side port member can remain rotationally fixed relative to the fluid source as the handle assembly and the sheath member are rotated relative to the fluid source. The side port member may also be made transparent to allow for easy visualization of air bubbles, and is also configured to allow for evacuation of any visualized air bubbles.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern an introducer sheath assembly comprising a tubular sheath member having a deflectable distal end portion and a sheath member lumen, and a handle assembly including a steering mechanism for deflecting the distal end portion of the sheath member. The distal end portion of the sheath member can deflect in different directions along a plane by selective tension in one of two pull wires. The selective tension can be caused by selective proximal or distal axial translation of a shuttle assembly relative to the tubular sheath member. The selective proximal or distal axial translation can be controlled by selective clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of a control knob.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern an introducer sheath assembly comprising a tubular sheath member having a deflectable distal end portion and a sheath member lumen, and a handle assembly including a steering mechanism for deflecting the distal end portion of the sheath member. The distal end portion of the sheath member can deflect in different directions along a plane by selective tension in one of two pull wires. The selective tension can be caused by selective proximal or distal axial translation of a shuttle assembly relative to the tubular sheath member. The selective proximal or distal axial translation can be controlled by selective clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of a control knob.

Abstract: An introducer sheath assembly comprises a tubular sheath member having a deflectable distal end portion and a sheath member lumen, a handle assembly including a steering mechanism for deflecting the distal end portion of the sheath member, and a hemostasis valve assembly. The hemostasis valve assembly includes a side port member configured to be connected to a fluid source for introducing fluid into the sheath member lumen. The side port member is axially rotatable relative to the handle assembly and the sheath member such that the side port member can remain rotationally fixed relative to the fluid source as the handle assembly and the sheath member are rotated relative to the fluid source. The side port member may also be made transparent to allow for easy visualization of air bubbles, and is also configured to allow for evacuation of any visualized air bubbles.

Abstract: Universal cards are used in place of all the other traditional cards which a person may want to carry. The universal card can include a short range communications transceiver to communicate with a mobile device. The mobile device can include a user interface and an e-wallet application so that the user can interface with the e-wallet application for programming the universal card via the short range communication link. Once programmed, the universal card emulates a function of a traditional card.

Abstract: Systems and methods for embedding and extracting data in a digital signal content are disclosed. In the various embodiments, a system includes a processing unit configured to receive the digital signal content and the data, and an encoder configured to embed the data into the digital signal content. In other of the various embodiments, a system includes a processing unit configured to receive a digital signal content having embedded data, and a decoder configured to extract the data from the digital signal content.

Abstract: Systems and methods for embedding and extracting data in a digital signal content are disclosed. In the various embodiments, a system includes a processing unit configured to receive the digital signal content and the data, and an encoder configured to embed the data into the digital signal content. In other of the various embodiments, a system includes a processing unit configured to receive a digital signal content having embedded data, and a decoder configured to extract the data from the digital signal content.

Abstract: A bi-directional system for actively deflecting the distal tip of a catheter includes a reconfigurable tube that is positioned proximal to the catheter's distal tip. The tube is formed with slits that are arranged to allow the tube to be transformed from a relaxed, cylindrical configuration to a plurality of deflected configurations. First and second pull wires are provided, with each wire having a respective distal end that is attached to the distal end of the tube. Each wire extends to a catheter handle where it is attached to a respective reel. The reels can be rotated, back and forth, to selectively deflect or relax the tube. To ensure a smooth recovery after a relatively large deflection, a mechanism is disclosed for delaying an application of tension on one of the pull wires until at least a portion of any tension on the other pull wire is released.

Abstract: An active system for deflecting a distal portion of a catheter into a hoop configuration includes an elongated catheter body having a proximal portion and a distal portion that is formed with a lumen. A thin-walled tube, which is typically made of a metallic material, is positioned in the lumen. The tube includes a cylindrical wall and includes a plurality of lateral slits that are typically formed in the tube wall and arranged such that the tube can be transformed between a relaxed, cylindrical configuration and a deflected configuration wherein the tube is substantially hoop shaped. One end of a deflection wire is attached to the tube and the other wire end is attached to a reel that is rotationally mounted onto a catheter handle housing. In use, the reel is rotated to axially retract the wire and transform the tube into a hoop configuration.

Abstract: The present invention is a radiator element composed of a metal foam for use within a radiant burner. The radiator element is comprised of a homogenous network about a plurality of inter-connected cells thereby forming a gas-permeable metal foam. The homogeneous network may be composed of a metal or metal alloy capable of withstanding combustion temperatures typical of fuel-air reactions and resisting damage produced by flashback. Inter-connected cells include irregular-shaped voids, circular-shaped voids, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is a radiator element composed of a metal foam for use within a radiant burner. The radiator element is comprised of a homogenous network about a plurality of inter-connected cells thereby forming a gas-permeable metal foam. The homogeneous network may be composed of a metal or metal alloy capable of withstanding combustion temperatures typical of fuel-air reactions and resisting damage produced by flashback. Inter-connected cells include irregular-shaped voids, circular-shaped voids, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An automated engagement system for coupling the plunger of a syringe to a drive arm is provided. A pressure integrity test of the syringe assembly is automatically conducted after engagement. After a position sensor communicates a signal indicating the presence of a properly installed syringe assembly to a processor, a display prompts the operator to vent and then close a stopcock in the fluid line. The processor then controls the drive arm of the system to move into engagement with the plunger of the syringe assembly, and to move the plunger forward into the syringe barrel. The drive arm stops when a pressure sensor produces a signal indicating a positive pressure in the fluid line. The processor then controls the drive arm to move the plunger in a reverse direction until a negative pressure is detected. After this confirmation of pressure integrity in the syringe assembly, the processor controls the drive to move forward until a non-negative pressure is detected by the pressure sensor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a power processor which operates in three modes: an inverter mode wherein power is delivered from a battery to an AC power grid or load; a battery charger mode wherein the battery is charged by a generator; and a parallel mode wherein the generator supplies power to the AC power grid or load in parallel with the battery. In the parallel mode, the system adapts to arbitrary non-linear loads. The power processor may operate on a per-phase basis wherein the load may be synthetically transferred from one phase to another by way of a bumpless transfer which causes no interruption of power to the load when transferring energy sources. Voltage transients and frequency transients delivered to the load when switching between the generator and battery sources are minimized, thereby providing an uninterruptible power supply.

Abstract: In the present invention, an iterative process is provided for cone-beam tomography (parallel-beam and fan-beam geometries are considered as its special cases), and applied to metal artifact reduction and local reconstruction from truncated data, as well as image noise reduction. In different embodiments, these iterative processes may be based upon the emission computerized tomography (CT) expectation maximization (EM) formula and/or the algebraic reconstruction technique (ART). In one embodiment, generation of a projection mask and computation of a 3D spatially varying relaxation factor are utilized to compensate for beam divergence, data inconsistence and incompleteness.

Abstract: The time duration of the inflation and deflation cycles for a syringe assembly for an inflation system are measured and displayed. An inflation cycle is initiated when a increase-pressure switch is depressed. A timer will begin timing the inflation cycle when the increase-pressure switch is released and a predetermined initial pressure is detected in a tube of the syringe assembly. A deflation cycle is initiated when a decrease-pressure switch is depressed. The timer will stop measuring the inflation cycle and then begin timing the deflation cycle when the decrease-pressure switch is released and a predetermined neutral pressure is detected in a tube of the syringe assembly. Rapid deflation can be achieved by depressing a rapid-decrease-pressure switch. Upon actuation of the rapid-decrease-pressure switch, the timer immediately stops measuring the inflation cycle and begins timing the deflation cycle.

Abstract: A method of affixing a material on a substrate to the inner surface of a bore tube of magnets for a superconducting supercollider includes the steps of bonding a gas-absorbing material to a thin metallic substrate and forming the substrate and the material into a partly tubular configuration having an inner surface and an outer surface, the material being on the inner surface. The partly tubular configuration is shaped in a manner whereby the partly tubular configuration is expandable in diameter. The partly tubular configuration is inserted coaxially into the tube with the outer surface of the partly tubular configuration in proximity with the inner surface of the tube. Hoop compressor stress is applied to the inner surface of the partly tubular configuration, thereby forcing the partly tubular configuration against the inner surface of the tube. The bore tube is maintained at cryogenic temperature.

Abstract: A motor controller for providing a constant rate of change of pressure during inflation and deflation of an expandable member of a catheter for use in a body lumen by an automated inflation system is disclosed. The system conforms the rate of change of pressure to a set point value by means of a feedback loop controller, and makes possible consistent inflations and deflations using an automated system regardless of variations in catheter volume and compliance characteristics. Safety features such as maximum pressure and balloon rupture alarms are also disclosed.

Abstract: A programmable manifold system for controlling pressure and fluid delivery within and through a catheter for use in a body lumen is disclosed. By means of a feedback loop controller, the system delivers known volumes of media through the catheter and into the body lumen and the system conforms the rate of change of pressure within the catheter to a desired value and makes possible consistent expansions and deflations using an automated or semi-automated system regardless of variations in catheter volume and compliance characteristics.