Abstract: A cable slitting tool for longitudinally slitting the web of an aerial interduct cable has preferably two guide rollers fitting with their circumference into a groove of the cable's longitudinal web such that the rollers are guided along the groove while they are pressed against the groove by a circular blade penetrating the web from opposite side. The rollers are rotationally free held in a top body and the blade is held in a base body. Both bodies are slide ably adjustable and tightened with respect to each other by a screw. The bodies are held in alignment to each other and the blade's cutting edge is pointing in slitting direction with a wedge angle providing pressure contact between rollers and web groove during slitting. A sliding guide provides additional guidance against eventual roller run out in case of excessive cable bend.

Abstract: A boot with a flexible actuator can be used to provide improved protection and ease of use for an electrical connector plug. The plug, such as an RJ45 plug connected to a data or communications cable, can have an extended latch member adapted to releasably engage a connection mechanism of a receptacle into which the plug is placed. A receiving portion of the actuator can engage the extended end of the latch member, whereby damage to the latch member due to snagging or catching on nearby objects is prevented. The actuator also functions as an extension of the latch mechanism, providing additional area for a user to depress the latch in order to remove the plug from the receptacle. The actuator can have a substantially smooth shape that prevents the actuator from catching on surrounding objects.

Abstract: A boot with a flexible actuator can be used to provide improved protection and ease of use for an electrical connector plug. The plug, such as an RJ45 plug connected to a data or communications cable, can have an extended latch member adapted to releasably engage a connection mechanism of a receptacle into which the plug is placed. A receiving portion of the actuator can engage the extended end of the latch member, whereby damage to the latch member due to snagging or catching on nearby objects is prevented. The actuator also functions as an extension of the latch mechanism, providing additional area for a user to depress the latch in order to remove the plug from the receptacle. The actuator can have a substantially smooth shape that prevents the actuator from catching on surrounding objects.

Abstract: The lubrication process for a wire wrap hand tool can be improved by including a lubrication mechanism in the tool housing. In one such tool, the lubrication mechanism is an opening positioned in the housing that allows the needle portion of a syringe to pass into the housing near a moveable component of the drive assembly of the tool. The syringe then can dispense an appropriate amount of lubricant in order to properly lubricate the component(s) of the drive assembly without having to disassemble the tool. This approach can prevent the loss or contamination of parts internal to the tool, while preventing a loss of productivity due to the disassembly and reassembly of the tool.

Abstract: A composite expandable stent for delivery into a vessel carrying blood comprising an expandable support frame having first and second end portions. A porous imprevious polymer sleeve having inner and outer surfaces extending over the support frame. A coating is disposed on at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the polymer sleeve for enhancing endothelial cell growth on the device and polymer sleeve. The stent can be cylindrical or tapered.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating and rendering skins are described. In one described embodiment, a skin is defined using at least one skin definition that defines the skin in a hierarchical tag-based language.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating and rendering skins are described. In one described embodiment skins can be defined as sets of script files, art files, media files, and text files. These files can be used to create new and different skin appearances, layouts and functionalities. The files are organized for use using a hierarchical tag-based data structure, an example of which is an XML data structure. The data structure is processed to provide an object model. The object model can be a scriptable object model that enables script to execute to provide an interactive, dynamic skin that can respond to internal and external events. In one embodiment, a computer architecture used for rendering the skin includes a layout manager that processes an intermediate representation of the XML data structure to provide the scriptable object model. Various components of the scriptable object model can include a script engine for receiving and executing script, and one or more rendering elements.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating and rendering skins are described. In one described embodiment, an XML data structure comprises multiple tag pairs, individual tag pairs being associated with and referencing information that can be utilized to render a skin.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating and rendering skins are described. In one described embodiment, a method of providing a skin model for use in rendering a skin comprises receiving a skin definition file that contains information associated with a skin, and one or more other files that are associated with the skin; providing at least some of the one or more other files directly into computer memory, without the files entering a computer file system; and processing the skin definition file to provide a hierarchical data structure that describes the skin.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating and rendering skins are described. In one described embodiment, a skin-organizing method comprises providing one or more file types that define different aspects of a skin; and organizing the files types using a hierarchical tag-based structure.

Abstract: There is provided a method for exchanging data between a first device and a second device via a network. The method includes (a) communicating a request for the data from the second device to the first device, (b) communicating an identifier for the data from the first device to the second device, (c) communicating the identifier from the second device back to the first device, and (d) communicating the data from the first device to the second device, after the communication of the identifier from the second device back to the first device. The request, the identifier, and the data are formatted in accordance with a protocol that is common to both of the first device and the second device. There is also provided a system for a first device to exchange data with a second device via a network.

Abstract: A device for removing stenosis from arteries includes a catheter body for delivering a cutter to the area of the stenosis. A screw is mounted on the distal end of the body for entering and fixedly holding the stenosis. An annular cutting means is moved forward around the screw to cut the stenosis which is held by the screw. The catheter is then removed with the cut stenosis trapped inside the cutter.