Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising fatty acid bis-amide, inorganic particulate such as pumice, cellulosic particulate, thermoplastic and maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin. The combination of an ethylene bis-amide and a minor amount of pumice produces cellulosic-thermoplastic composite that has superior extrusion properties over conventional metal stearate/ethylene bis-stearamide (EBS) compositions such as improved flex strength and resistance to water absorption.

Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising fatty acid bis-amide, inorganic particulate such as pumice, cellulosic particulate, thermoplastic and maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin. The combination of an ethylene bis-amide and a minor amount of pumice produces cellulosic-thermoplastic composite that has superior extrusion properties over conventional metal stearate/ethylene bis-stearamide (EBS) compositions such as improved flex strength and resistance to water absorption.

Abstract: A capillary pump is provided for producing pressurized and unpressurized vapor emissions from liquid feed. In its simplest form, the capillary pump incorporates a liquid feed intake, a porous vaporization component, and a heat transfer component. Additional components, such as an insulator component, a feed pre-heat component, a liquid feed reservoir and/or delivery system, an integrated or associated heater component, a vapor collection chamber, a heat distribution component, an orifice component and/or vapor release component, may also be associated with or integrated in the improved capillary pumps. Capillary pump arrays are provided, and numerous applications for capillary pumps are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising fatty acid bis-amide, inorganic particulate such as pumice, cellulosic particulate, thermoplastic and maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin. The combination of an ethylene bis-amide and a minor amount of pumice produces cellulosic-thermoplastic composite that has superior extrusion properties over conventional metal stearate/ethylene bis-stearamide (EBS) compositions such as improved flex strength and resistance to water absorption.

Abstract: An apparatus is usable for guiding and stabilizing a body implantable medical device. The apparatus includes a guide wire with an enlarged distal tip. The enlarged distal tip may include a compliant portion to prevent tissue abrasion or perforation. The implantable device includes an open lumen configured to longitudinally advance along the guide wire. A sleeve is disposed over the guide wire and slidably deployable over the enlarged tip of the guide wire. When the implantable device is in final position, the open lumen encompasses at least part of the enlarged tip of the guide wire. The sleeve can be moved over at least part of the enlarged tip and create an interference between the tip and the open lumen, thereby stabilizing the implantable device.

Abstract: A capillary pump is provided for producing pressurized and unpressurized vapor emissions from liquid feed. In its simplest form, the capillary pump incorporates a liquid feed intake, a porous vaporization component, and a heat transfer component. Additional components, such as an insulator component, a feed pre-heat component, a liquid feed reservoir and/or delivery system, an integrated or associated heater component, a vapor collection chamber, a heat distribution component, an orifice component and/or vapor release component, may also be associated with or integrated in the improved capillary pumps. Capillary pump arrays are provided, and numerous applications for capillary pumps are disclosed.

Abstract: A reconfigurable non-pilot aircrew training system is provided. The system comprises an air-based system comprising a plurality of student workstations and at least one instructor workstation, wherein each workstations runs a simulation engine that controls models of different sensors/systems associated with a plurality of different aircraft in order to provide training simulations for different aircrew personnel classifications. Individual workstations can be grouped into “virtual crews” to train in a particular simulated exercise. State information blocks associated with each model allow for the configuration, monitoring and recording of simulations. A corresponding ground-based training system is also provided, which is adapted for debriefing of in-flight simulation data that was collected during training with the air-based system.

Abstract: A guide wire for advancing a medical device such as a catheter through a patient's body lumen which has an elongated core with proximal and distal core section, a flexible tubular member such as a coil on the distal end. The wire core includes surface textures that are translated into the overlying coating. Alternatively, the coating has its own surface texture. The surface textures include randomly or non-randomly spaced bumps, divots, ridges, helical grooves, longitudinal grooves, undulations, etc.

Abstract: A guidewire or section thereof, that has a core member or the like with a plurality of contiguous tapered segments having taper angles that are configured to produce a linear change in stiffness over a longitudinal portion of the device. The device may also have a core section with a continuously changing taper angle to produce a curvilinear profile that is configured to produce a linear change in stiffness of the core over a longitudinal portion of the device. An embodiment has a plurality of radiopaque elements that may be intermittent, continuous or in the form of a helical ribbon for scaled measurement of intracorporeal structure under flouroscopic imaging. Another embodiment has at least one layer of polymer over the distal end of the device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell system comprising at least one longitudinally extending tubular solid oxide fuel cell and a longitudinally extending heater mounted in thermal proximity to the fuel cell to provide heat to the fuel cell during start up and during operation as needed. The heater and fuel cell can be encased within a tubular thermal casing; the inside of the casing defines a first reactant chamber for containing a first reactant, such as oxidant. The fuel cell comprises a ceramic solid state electrolyte layer and inner and outer electrode layers concentrically arranged around and sandwiching the electrolyte layer. The outer electrode layer is fluidly communicable with the first reactant, and the inner electrode layer is fluidly isolated from the first reactant and fluidly communicable with a second reactant, such as fuel.

Abstract: A composition is disclosed that comprises: (a) at least one saturated-fatty acid bis-amide of the structure: wherein R1 and R2 are independently saturated hydrocarbyl groups comprising from 11 to 35 carbon atoms, (b) at least one unsaturated-fatty acid bis-amide of the structure: wherein R3 and R4 are independently unsaturated hydrocarbyl groups comprising from about 11 to about 35 carbon atoms; (c) at least one particulate cellulosic material; (d) at least one thermoplastic resin; (e) at least one coupling agent for coupling the particulate cellulosic material (c) to the thermoplastic resin (d); (f) optionally, at least one inorganic particulate material; and, (g) optionally, at least one additional lubricant.

Abstract: An expandable frame for an embolic filtering device used to capture embolic debris in a body vessel includes a first half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop and a second half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop. The partial loops cooperatively form a composite loop for attachment of a filtering element which will expand in the body vessel to capture embolic debris entrained in the fluid of the vessel. The expandable frame and filtering element can be mounted on a filter support structure, such as a coiled wire, and mounted on a guide wire. The expandable frames includes an articulation region which helps to distribute the strain which can be developed when the frame moves between an expanded and deployed position. The expandable frame may include further strain distributing bends which help distribute strain and increase the bendability of the frame.

Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising fatty acid bis-amide, inorganic particulate such as pumice, cellulosic particulate, thermoplastic and maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin. The combination of an ethylene bis-amide and a minor amount of pumice produces cellulosic-thermoplastic composite that has superior extrusion properties over conventional metal stearate/ethylene bis-stearamide (EBS) compositions such as improved flex strength and resistance to water absorption.

Abstract: A plurality of tubular solid oxide fuel cells are embedded in a solid phase porous foam matrix that serves as a support structure for the fuel cells. The foam matrix has multiple regions with at least one property differing between at least two regions. The properties include porosity, electrical conductivity, and catalyst loading.

Abstract: An item sorting system and method, the system comprising: at least one sender handling unit by which at least one sender applies imprints to items to be delivered to at least one receiver, wherein an imprint as applied to an item includes a sorting identifier; and at least one receiver sorting unit for sorting received items in accordance with a sorting protocol as determined from the sorting identifiers of the respective imprints, wherein each sorting protocol provides for the sorting of each of the received items into one of a plurality of groups such as to allow for different handling of the items of each of the respective groups.

Abstract: An apparatus is usable for guiding and stabilizing a body implantable medical device. The apparatus includes a guide wire with an enlarged distal tip. The enlarged distal tip may include a compliant portion to prevent tissue abrasion or perforation. The implantable device includes an open lumen configured to longitudinally advance along the guide wire. A sleeve is disposed over the guide wire and slidably deployable over the enlarged tip of the guide wire. When the implantable device is in final position, the open lumen encompasses at least part of the enlarged tip of the guide wire. The sleeve can be moved over at least part of the enlarged tip and create an interference between the tip and the open lumen, thereby stabilizing the implantable device.

Abstract: A capillary pump is provided for producing pressurized and unpressurized vapor emissions from liquid feed. In its simplest form, the capillary pump incorporates a liquid feed intake, a porous vaporization component, and a heat transfer component. Additional components, such as an insulator component, a feed pre-heat component, a liquid feed reservoir and/or delivery system, an integrated or associated heater component, a vapor collection chamber, a heat distribution component, an orifice component and/or vapor release component, may also be associated with or integrated in the improved capillary pumps. Capillary pump arrays are provided, and numerous applications for capillary pumps are disclosed.

Abstract: A guide wire having an elongate core member with a flexible body member disposed about and secured to a core paddle in the distal core section of the elongated core member. A shaping element having a proximal portion is juxtaposed to and secured to the core paddle. The portion of the shaping element distally adjacent to the juxtaposed proximal portion and core paddle has a bending stiffness comparable to the combined bending stiffness of the juxtaposed proximal portion and core paddle. The distal portion of the shaping element may taper so as to have a reduced cross-sectional area in the distal direction, where the portion of the shaping element distally adjacent to the juxtaposed proximal portion and core paddle is enlarged.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for quickly and accurately determining the amount of metal to be removed from the lower portion of an engine block when the engine is to be stroked, i.e. have a longer, replacement, connecting rod installed to increase the engine's cylinder displacement.

Abstract: An intracorporeal device, preferably a guidewire, and method of making same that has an elongate inner core element with an outer layer of material disposed about the core element. The layer of material can be applied as a braid, strand or smooth layer of material, and is preferably a metal. If the layer of material is applied as a braid or strand, it may be subsequently cold drawn so as to create a smooth layer from the braid or strand. The inner core element, may be homogeneous, or may consist of drawn filled tubing with at least two layers of material, preferably biocompatible metals. In this way, the multiple layer distal section of the elongate core can be shaped or ground so as to achieve the desired mechanical properties and provide surfaces for attachment of components that are readily bonded or soldered to.