Abstract: The Rainbed is a freestanding, independent structure that harvests, stores and distributes water to irrigate the integrated garden bed throughout one typical 17 week growing season per year. A Rainbed installation requires a level surface and works best in direct sunlight. A Rainbed is comprised of one or two rainwater collector panels, a storage tank, a hand-operated piston pump, and a raised bed garden box. The Rainbed is engineered to store all the water necessary to provide the irrigation needs of the garden bed over a 17 week growing season. The average annual rainfall in most urban locations on the planet is sufficient for achieving sustainability. The Rainbed is engineered to perform in climates with 13 inches or more of annual rainfall.

Abstract: A vascular access sheath is provided for introducing catheters, stents, and other interventional devices into blood vessels. The invention comprises a stiff tubular catheter segment, which is designed to remain outside the body, having two hemostatic valves, most preferably of an iris valve design disposed at each end. A flexible sheath extends from one of the valves for insertion into the blood vessel. In operation, the valves are opened and closed one at a time, to allow relatively large devices to be introduced into the blood vessel without the valve pressing against the devices and with minimal loss of blood.

Abstract: A vascular access sheath is provided for introducing catheters, stents, and other interventional devices into blood vessels. The invention comprises a stiff tubular catheter segment, which is designed to remain outside the body, having two hemostatic valves, most preferably of an iris valve design disposed at each end. A flexible sheath extends from one of the valves for insertion into the blood vessel. In operation, the valves are opened and closed one at a time, to allow relatively large devices to be introduced into the blood vessel without the valve pressing against the devices and with minimal loss of blood.