Abstract: Embodiments of an expandable sheath can be used in conjunction with a catheter assembly to introduce a prosthetic device, such as a heart valve, into a patient. Such embodiments can minimize trauma to the vessel by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the introducer sheath to accommodate the delivery apparatus, followed by a return to the original diameter once the prosthetic device passes through. Some embodiments can include a sheath with inner and outer layers, where a folded portion of the inner layer extends through a slit in the outer layer and a portion of the outer layer overlaps the folded portion of the inner layer. Some embodiments include an elastic outer cover positioned outside the outer layer. Embodiments of the present expandable sheath can avoid the need for multiple insertions for the dilation of the vessel, thus offering advantages over prior art introducer sheaths.

Abstract: Methods and devices for blocking orifices and occluding cavities within a patient are provided. The device in one variation comprises first and second tubular members attached to a collapsible sealing element. The device can be placed through an orifice and the collapsible sealing element can be collapsed to seal the orifice. An embolic may be introduced distal to the sealing element to occlude a cavity. The device may incorporate a locking mechanism which can be engaged to lock the sealing element into the collapsed position. The device may incorporate a valve to prevent flow through the tubular members, for example to prevent egress of the embolic from a cavity. The device can be detached to provide a permanent seal of the orifice, and can retain the embolic within the cavity. The device may be used in conjunction with a stent or other retention device to assist the sealing element in maintaining the seal.

Abstract: A dental drill is disclosed which allows for an osteotomy to be formed in a shape which closely matches the cylindrical shape of many dental implants. In so doing, the implant engages more tissue of the resulting osteotomy, thus resulting in greater ability for the tissue to penetrate and fuse with the implant while also reducing the chances of infection and reducing the overall recovery time. In addition, by forming the dental drill with a relatively obtuse angulation between the termini of the drill flutes, the cutting forces are spread across a larger cutting area thus reducing wear on the drill itself. Moreover, by spreading the cutting force over a larger area, the heat generated by the drill is reduced and thus the discomfort afforded to the patient is reduced.

Abstract: Embodiments of an expandable sheath can be used in conjunction with a catheter assembly to introduce a prosthetic device, such as a tissue heart valve, into a patient. Such embodiments can minimize trauma to the vessel by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the introducer sheath to accommodate the delivery apparatus, followed by a return to the original diameter once the prosthetic device passes through. Some embodiments can comprise a sheath with inner and outer tubular layers, and an intermediate tubular layer comprising a shape memory alloy. Other embodiments comprise one or more layers having one or more longitudinal notches or cuts to facilitate expansion of the sheath. Embodiments of the present expandable sheath can avoid the need for multiple insertions for the dilation of the vessel, thus offering advantages over prior art introducer sheaths.

Abstract: A slam-shut safety device includes a valve body, a valve disc, a reset pin, a and a guide collar. The valve disc is shiftable between an open position spaced away from a valve seat, and a closed position seated against the valve seat. The reset pin operatively is coupled to the valve disc and shiftable between an untripped position placing the valve disc in the open position and a tripped position placing the valve disc in the closed position. The guide collar includes a hollow cylindrical portion slidably supported in a guide bore and extending at least partly over the reset pin at a location adjacent to the valve disc. The guide collar is shiftable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the guide bore for providing added structural integrity and protecting the reset pin from bending forces.

Abstract: A dental drill is disclosed which allows for an osteotomy to be formed in a shape which closely matches the cylindrical shape of many dental implants. In so doing, the implant engages more tissue of the resulting osteotomy, thus resulting in greater ability for the tissue to penetrate and fuse with the implant while also reducing the chances of infection and reducing the overall recovery time. In addition, by forming the dental drill with a relatively obtuse angulation between the termini of the drill flutes, the cutting forces are spread across a larger cutting area thus reducing wear on the drill itself. Moreover, by spreading the cutting force over a larger area, the heat generated by the drill is reduced and thus the discomfort afforded to the patient is reduced.

Abstract: A disaster-proof data safe with multiple, insulated, surrounding solid structural metal walls for housing functioning digital electronic computing, data processing, data storage, communications and high power density blade server systems has one or more coaxial helical coil coolant tubes circulating a coolant liquid encircled around an interior hexahedral, housing space for removing heat generated in the housing space and insulating the housing space from sources of heat external to the safe. Features of the safe include a plurality of longitudinal heat sink bars thermally coupled to the encircling helical coil coolant tubes supported either by the helical coil coolant tubes or the interior structural metal sidewalls of the housing space. The helical coil coolant tubes and the heat sink bars are preferably composed from metals such as copper, aluminum and their alloys that have a high thermal conductivity and that retain structural integrity at temperature ranging up to 500° C.

Abstract: An example loading regulator having an internal relief valve apparatus includes a body having a loading diaphragm disposed between a first casing and a second casing. The first casing and a first side of the loading diaphragm define a first chamber and the second casing and a second side of the loading diaphragm define a second chamber. A relief valve assembly is coupled to the loading diaphragm. The relief valve assembly includes a relief valve seat having an aperture that forms a passageway to fluidly couple the first chamber and the second chamber and a relief valve plug movably coupled to the relief valve seat. The relief valve seat is to move relative to the relief valve plug to a bleed position to allow the flow of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber in response to an outlet pressure substantially greater than a pressure at which the loading regulator enters a lock-up condition.

Abstract: A stop is used for limiting the drill depth of an osteotomy drill bit within a bore in bone. This stop may have a generally tubular body for being releasably mounted on the drill bit and have a cam slot disposed at the body and used for defining a plurality of axial positions. The cam slot is configured for releasably securing a cam follower associated with a drill assembly that extends radially relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill bit assembly to axially secure the stop to the drill bit assembly. Additionally, the stop includes an apical end section that is configured to engage bone adjacent to the bore and limit the apical motion of the drill bit.

Abstract: A device for bridging a neck of an aneurysm, comprises a junction region, one or more radially extending array elements secured to the junction region, each array element having an unfolded shape and a delivery shape; and a cover attached to the junction region, and extending over the delivery shape of the array elements, wherein each array element is attached at one end to the junction region and the array elements are constructed and arranged to unfold the cover when assuming their unfolded shape, and wherein the device further comprises a tip, and each array element is attached at another end to the tip, the tip comprising an opening through which a vaso-occlusive device or occlusion fluid may be delivered.

Abstract: An electrophoretic medium comprises a continuous phase and a discontinuous phase. The discontinuous phase comprises a plurality of droplets, each of which comprises a fluid and at least one charged particle disposed within the fluid and capable of moving through the fluid upon application of an electric field to the electrophoretic medium. The continuous phase surrounds and encapsulates the discontinuous phase and comprising a polymeric binder and a salt, the salt having an anion containing at least one fluorine atom and having a water solubility of at least about 0.25 per cent by weight at 25° C.

Abstract: This invention pertains to methods and apparatus for accessing an electronic device by a data terminal, as well as a computer program product, an electronic device and a data terminal.

Abstract: Internal valve apparatus are described. An example internal valve includes a body having a valve seat disposed in a fluid flow passageway between an inlet and an outlet. A flow control member is operatively coupled to the body and movable between a first position to engage the valve seat to restrict fluid flow through the valve and a second position to move away from the valve seat to allow fluid flow through the valve. A removable actuator is coupled to the body and operatively coupled to the flow control member to cause the flow control member to move between the first and second positions. A portion of the removable actuator is cantilevered in the fluid flow passageway between the inlet and the outlet when the removable actuator is coupled to the body.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a neck bridge for bridging the neck of an aneurysm includes a junction region, a number of radially extending array elements attached to the junction region, and a cover attached to one or both of the junction region and an array element. The array elements are configured to be positioned within the aneurysm after the neck bridge is deployed from a delivery device. In a second embodiment, the neck bridge includes a junction region and a braided or mesh-like structure secured to the junction region. The braided or mesh-like structure is made from an elastic material.

Abstract: Internal valve apparatus are described. An example internal valve includes a body having a valve seat disposed between an inlet and an outlet. A flow control member operatively coupled to the body moves between a first position in which the flow control member engages the valve seat to restrict the flow of fluid through the valve and a second position in which the flow control member is spaced from the valve seat to allow the flow of fluid through the valve. The example internal valve further includes a removable actuation member disposed within the body and responsive to a fluid pressure to cause the flow control member to move between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A method for protection of a chip card from unauthorized use includes: inputting a first identification into a chip card terminal, producing a cipher of at least one first communication parameter using a first symmetric key derived from the first identification, a protected first communication channel being definable between the chip card terminal and the chip card, using the communication parameter, transmitting the cipher via a predefined communication channel from the chip card terminal to the chip card, attempting to decrypt the cipher using a second symmetric key by means of the chip card, the result of decryption only being the first communication parameter if the first symmetric key is identical to the second symmetric key so that the protected first communication channel can only be defined between the chip card terminal and the chip card if the first identification is correct.

Abstract: A disaster-proof data safe with multiple, insulated, surrounding solid structural metal walls for housing functioning digital electronic computing, data processing, data storage, communications and high power density blade server systems has one or more coaxial helical coil coolant tubes circulating a coolant liquid encircled around an interior hexahedral, housing space for removing heat generated in the housing space and insulating the housing space from sources of heat external to the safe. Features of the safe include a plurality of longitudinal heat sink bars thermally coupled to the encircling helical coil coolant tubes supported either by the helical coil coolant tubes or the interior structural metal sidewalls of the housing space. The helical coil coolant tubes and the heat sink bars are preferably composed from metals such as copper, aluminum and their alloys that have a high thermal conductivity and that retain structural integrity at temperature ranging up to 500° C.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a neck bridge for bridging the neck of an aneurysm includes a junction region, a number of radially extending array elements attached to the junction region, and a cover attached to one or both of the junction region and an array element. The array elements are configured to be positioned within the aneurysm after the neck bridge is deployed from a delivery device. In a second embodiment, the neck bridge includes a junction region and a braided or mesh-like structure secured to the junction region. The braided or mesh-like structure is made from an elastic material.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a neck bridge for bridging the neck of an aneurysm includes a junction region, a number of radially extending array elements attached to the junction region, and a cover attached to one or both of the junction region and an array element. The array elements are configured to be positioned within the aneurysm after the neck bridge is deployed from a delivery device. In a second embodiment, the neck bridge includes a junction region and a braided or mesh-like structure secured to the junction region. The braided or mesh-like structure is made from an elastic material.

Abstract: An electrosurgical wand is described, for treating a target tissue using electrosurgical energy, which has an elongate shaft with a handle end and a distal end. A first active electrode surface is disposed on the distal end of the shaft and a first digester electrode surface is recessed away from the first active electrode surface and electrically connected with the first active electrode surface. An aspiration aperture is also disposed adjacent the first active electrode surface and fluidly connected with an aspiration lumen, wherein the first digester electrode surface is disposed within the aspiration lumen.