Abstract: A composite stent graft has a balloon expandable stent portion (3), a tubular graft material portion (1) inside or outside of the balloon expandable stent portion and self expanding stents (5) associated with the tubular graft material portion. Part (7) of the balloon expandable stent portion can extend beyond the proximal end (9) of the tubular graft material portion. The tubular graft material can be polytetrafluoroethylene, Dacron, Thoralon™, polyamide, small intestine submucosa, collagenous extracellular matrix material, or any other suitable biocompatible material. A method of deploying which includes flaring a part (7) of the balloon expandable stent portion is also discussed.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for maintaining, on a first computing device, consumer identification and billing information concerning a user. A directory of ecommerce merchants is maintained on a second computing device. The first computing device and the second computing device are interfaced via a distributed computing network. The user is enabled to select an ecommerce merchant defined within the directory of ecommerce merchants. The order of goods/services from the selected ecommerce merchant to the user using the consumer identification and billing information maintained on the first computing device is facilitated.

Abstract: A stent graft (1) including a tubular wall (3) with at least one fenestration (40) including a peripheral (37) reinforcement around at least part of the fenestration. There can also be a tubular extension (15). The side arm includes a stent (19) and a cover (17) and extends from and is in fluid communication with the fenestration and the stent graft. The stent may be a self expanding stent. The ring and/or tubular extension provides better support and sealing for an extension arm. The fenestration (40) can be circular or if towards the ends of the stent graft may be in the form of a U-shape (50) with an open end.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrical wedge connector wedge. The electrical wedge connector wedge includes a first end, a second end, a first conductor groove, and an opening. The second end is opposite the first end. The wedge includes a generally tapered shape from the second end to the first end. The first conductor groove extends between the first end and the second end. The opening extends into the second end. The opening is adapted to receive at least a portion of an explosive charge for driving the wedge into an electrical wedge connector shell.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to database systems and, more particularly, to database systems with version controlled data. A version controlled database program resides on a computer readable medium, having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include defining a version object software layer. The version object software layer may be configured to read and write data of a version controlled database to a physical storage medium, maintain one or more versions of at least one element of the data, and provide access to the data. The operations may also include defining a database management software layer. The database management software layer may be configured to read and write data to the version object software layer and provide a database access interface for accessing the data.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to database systems and, more particularly, to database systems with version controlled data. A version controlled database program resides on a computer readable medium, having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include defining a version object software layer. The version object software layer may be configured to read and write data of a version controlled database to a physical storage medium, maintain one or more versions of at least one element of the data, and provide access to the data. The operations may also include defining a database management software layer. The database management software layer may be configured to read and write data to the version object software layer and provide a database access interface for accessing the data.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a method for calibrating a torque measurement for a rotatable object is disclosed, wherein the method includes coupling the rotatable object to a structure, the structure including a member extending along a length of a surface of the rotatable object, coupling the rotatable object to an adapter and applying a known torque to the rotatable object via the adapter. The method also includes measuring a first rotational displacement via a first sensor coupled to the member at a first axial location of the rotatable object, measuring a second rotational displacement via a second sensor coupled to the member at a second axial location of the rotatable object and determining first and second angular displacements of the rotatable object based on the first and second rotational displacements.

Abstract: A method for treating wastewater through the use of powdered natural lignocellulosic materials (PNLM) and/or powdered kenaf (PK). The method includes mixing particulate kenaf with influent wastewater, oxygenating the wastewater, reacting the wastewater and clarifying the wastewater, resulting in improvement in the microbial population in the wastewater.

Abstract: A method for treating wastewater through the use of powdered natural lignocellulosic materials (PNLM) and/or powdered kenaf (PK). The method includes mixing particulate kenaf with microorganisms to form an effector composition, mixing the effector composition with influent wastewater, oxygenating the wastewater, reacting the wastewater and clarifying the wastewater, resulting in improvement in the microbial population effector composition in the wastewater.

Abstract: An endoluminal stent graft deployment system incorporating an anchor wire system for temporary anchoring of a stent graft on a delivery device. The anchor wire system has an anchor wire extending from the distal end of the device and releasably retained to the portion of the stent graft by a releasable retention system. The releasable retention system includes a bead on the proximal end of the anchor wire and an anchor release wire which has fastening arrangement to retain the release wire distally of the bead. The anchor release wire extends to a distal end of the deployment system so that the anchor wire release wire can be withdrawn thereby releasing the anchor wire.

Abstract: A stent arrangement (12) and a stent graft (2) for curved lumens of the body. The stent graft has a tubular body (4) of a graft material, at least a portion of which may be arcuate to define an inner curved side (4b) and an outer curved side (4a) at least when deployed into the curved vessel. The stent graft has a plurality of self expanding stents (10, 12, 13) affixed thereto with a greater distance (11a) between the stents on the outer curved side than on the inner curved side. The stents can be normal, tapered on one or both ends or skewed. When mounted onto a deployment device a twist (152, 154) may be provided in the graft material between adjacent stents to nest the stents.

Abstract: A jig and a method for modifying a casing in a turbine system are disclosed. The jig includes a body and a protrusion extending from the body. The protrusion is configured for engaging a hole defined in a spot face on the casing. The jig further includes at least one machining passage defined in the body, the machining passage provided for machining the casing therethrough, and at least one alignment feature configured on the body, the at least one alignment feature provided for aligning the jig with respect to the casing. The method includes engaging a jig with a hole defined in a spot face on the casing, aligning the jig with respect to the casing, and machining at least one installation hole into the casing through the spot face.

Abstract: A deployment system for introducing stent grafts which have a side arm or into which a side arm can be deployed. For instance the stent graft can be deployed into the thoracic arch of a patient. The deployment system including an introducer (1), an auxiliary catheter (13) disposed within the introducer and an auxiliary guide wire (14) disposed within the auxiliary catheter. The auxiliary guide wire extends to adjacent the proximal end (6) of the introducer an can be extended from the proximal end of the introducer so that it can be snared from a side branch artery (56) to assist with deployment of a side arm (23) of the stent graft into the side artery or for the deployment of a side arm stent graft into the stent graft.

Abstract: A laparoscopic vascular conduit arrangement has an elongate graft tube (1, 10) which is placed through a body cavity into a body vessel using a laparoscopic port sheath (70) with a distal valve (73) and a second sheath (80) with distal valve (86, 87). The graft tube (1, 10) extends through the laparoscopic port sheath so that the distal end (108) of the graft tube extends out of its valve and the proximal end of the graft tube extends out of the proximal end of the laparoscopic port sheath. The second sheath (80) is deployed into the distal end (108) of the graft tube (1, 10) such that the first valve (73) seals around the graft tube and the second sheath (84). The proximal end of the graft tube can be deployed into the vessel of the body to allow access into the vessel through the graft tube via the second valve. The conduit can be removed after use or used to provide vascular bypass.

Abstract: A connector installation apparatus including a frame, a ram and a gas spring. The frame includes an anvil section. The anvil section is adapted to have a first connector part located at the anvil section. The ram is movably connected to the frame. The ram includes a front section adapted to have a second connector part located at the front section. The gas spring includes a piston head on a rear end of the ram, and a portion of the frame forming two variable chambers with the piston head.

Abstract: A stent graft introducer (1) which includes a handle arrangement which by telescopic movement of a slide or slide portions (104, 106) into a handle portion (100) causes controlled sequential deployment of a stent graft (14). Stops (218, 217, 218, 219) ensure actions are carried out in a selected order. A sheath (116) of the introducer is fixed to a slide portion such that with retraction of the slide portion the sheath is withdrawn from a stent graft retained on the introducer and at a selected position trigger wires retaining the stent graft onto the introducer are also released. Interconnections between the slides and the handle are provided to prevent relative rotation and re-extension after full retraction.

Abstract: A Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) produces an analog reference value from a first reference input. The analog reference value and an output value are used to produce an analog error signal. An Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) converts the analog error signal to a digital value. The ADC has higher level of resolution than the DAC. An error encoder adjusts the digital value to produce a digital error value using a second reference input.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a method for calibrating a torque measurement for a rotatable object is disclosed, wherein the method includes coupling the rotatable object to a structure, the structure including a member extending along a length of a surface of the rotatable object, coupling the rotatable object to an adapter and applying a known torque to the rotatable object via the adapter. The method also includes measuring a first rotational displacement via a first sensor coupled to the member at a first axial location of the rotatable object, measuring a second rotational displacement via a second sensor coupled to the member at a second axial location of the rotatable object and determining first and second angular displacements of the rotatable object based on the first and second rotational displacements.

Abstract: A stent graft (1) has at least one fenestration (13) or low profile side arm (34). A guide assembly (17) surrounds the fenestration or low profile side arm. The guide assembly has a continuous wall extending laterally away from the outer surface of the stent graft. The continuous wall is substantially elliptical or circular and extends distally of the fenestration at a distal end of the wall and being coincident with a proximal part (25) of the periphery of the fenestration or low profile side arm at a proximal end of the wall (23). The wall acts to define a guide area to guide a flexible probe extended from a side branch vessel to enter the fenestration or low profile side arm. Where there are two fenestrations or low profile side arms there can be a single continuous wall (50) around both or separate walls for each. The wall may have a peripheral wire reinforcement (19).

Abstract: A vascular band (1) comprises a biocompatible flexible material (2) and a plurality of radiopaque bars (4) extending transversely across the width of the material and spaced apart along the length of the biocompatible material. The bars provide some rigidity to the flexible material in the width direction thereby preventing buckling of the band in use and the radiopaque nature of the bars enable visualisation of a landing zone for a stent graft during deployment thereof. The bars can be crimped or woven, into the material. The band can be stitched, stapled, or hooked around a vessel.