Abstract: Inflatable membranes may include a pattern layer, a fluorescent layer, and a window, the pattern layer comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the pattern layer comprising a pattern on the inner surface of the pattern layer, and at least a portion of the pattern layer formed by a transferrable material transferred from a casting plate to the inner surface. The fluorescent layer may include an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the fluorescent layer abutting the outer surface of the pattern layer and comprising a fluorescent material which, upon receiving of light, causes the fluorescent material to emit fluorescent light and causing the pattern to be detectable by a detector. The window may include a transparent material that spans an aperture formed in a distal end of the inflatable membrane.

Abstract: An inflatable membrane may include a pattern layer and a fluorescent layer, wherein the pattern layer comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and a pattern on the inner surface of the pattern layer, wherein at least a portion of the pattern layer formed by transferring a transferrable material from a casting plate to the inner surface, and wherein the fluorescent layer comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the fluorescent layer abutting the outer surface of the pattern layer and comprising a fluorescent material which, upon receiving of light, causes the fluorescent material to emit fluorescent light and causing the pattern to be detectable by a detector.

Abstract: An inflatable membrane may include a pattern layer and a fluorescent layer, wherein the pattern layer comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and a pattern on the inner surface of the pattern layer, wherein at least a portion of the pattern layer formed by transferring a transferrable material from a casting plate to the inner surface, and wherein the fluorescent layer comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the fluorescent layer abutting the outer surface of the pattern layer and comprising a fluorescent material which, upon receiving of light, causes the fluorescent material to emit fluorescent light and causing the pattern to be detectable by a detector.

Abstract: Inflatable membranes may include a pattern layer, a fluorescent layer, and a window, the pattern layer comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the pattern layer comprising a pattern on the inner surface of the pattern layer, and at least a portion of the pattern layer formed by a transferrable material transferred from a casting plate to the inner surface. The fluorescent layer may include an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the fluorescent layer abutting the outer surface of the pattern layer and comprising a fluorescent material which, upon receiving of light, causes the fluorescent material to emit fluorescent light and causing the pattern to be detectable by a detector. The window may include a transparent material that spans an aperture formed in a distal end of the inflatable membrane.

Abstract: A method includes applying a transferrable material to an outer surface of a casting plate to form a pattern on the outer surface of the casting plate. After applying of the transferrable material, a composite material is applied to the outer surface of the casting plate to form an inflatable membrane. The composite material covers at least a portion of the pattern and includes a florescent material and a pigment material. The inflatable membrane is cured to allow removal of the inflatable membrane from the casting plate. The inflatable membrane has an inner surface having the pattern detectable upon receiving of light causing the fluorescing material to emit florescent light.

Abstract: A method includes applying a transferrable material to an outer surface of a casting plate to form a pattern on the outer surface of the casting plate. After applying of the transferrable material, a composite material is applied to the outer surface of the casting plate to form an inflatable membrane. The composite material covers at least a portion of the pattern and includes a florescent material and a pigment material. The inflatable membrane is cured to allow removal of the inflatable membrane from the casting plate. The inflatable membrane has an inner surface having the pattern detectable upon receiving of light causing the fluorescing material to emit florescent light.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein include a first scanner comprising an inflatable membrane configured to be inflated with a medium to conform an exterior surface of the inflatable membrane to an interior shape of a cavity, the medium attenuating, at a first rate per unit length, light having a first optical wavelength, and attenuating, at a second rate per unit length, light having a second optical wavelength; an emitter configured to illuminate an interior surface of the inflatable membrane; a detector configured to receive light from the interior surface; a processor configured to generate a first electronic representation of the interior shape based on the received light; and a design computer configured to modify the first electronic representation into a three-dimensional shape by correlating pixels of the first electronic representation with corresponding distance information from the first scanner to the inflatable membrane for each pixel.

Abstract: A system includes a first scanner comprising an inflatable membrane configured to be inflated with a medium to conform an exterior surface of the inflatable membrane to an interior shape of a cavity, the medium attenuating, at a first rate per unit length, light having a first optical wavelength, and at a second rate per unit length, light having a second optical wavelength. The system comprises an emitter and detector configured to generate and receive light from the interior surface of the inflatable membrane, respectively. A processor is configured to generate a first electronic representation of the interior shape and a second electronic representation of a second shape based on the received light. A design computer is configured to combine the first and second electronic representation into a combined electronic representation corresponding to at least a portion of the interior shape based on at least one or more native references.

Abstract: A system includes a first scanner comprising an inflatable membrane configured to be inflated with a medium to conform an exterior surface of the inflatable membrane to an interior shape of a cavity, the medium attenuating, at a first rate per unit length, light having a first optical wavelength, and at a second rate per unit length, light having a second optical wavelength. The system comprises an emitter and detector configured to generate and receive light from the interior surface of the inflatable membrane, respectively. A processor is configured to generate a first electronic representation of the interior shape and a second electronic representation of a second shape based on the received light. A design computer is configured to combine the first and second electronic representation into a combined electronic representation corresponding to at least a portion of the interior shape based on at least one or more native references.

Abstract: A system includes a first scanner having an inflatable membrane configured to be inflated with a medium to conform an exterior surface of the inflatable membrane to an interior shape of a cavity. The medium attenuates, at first rate per unit length, light having a first optical wavelength, and attenuates, at a second rate per unit length, light having a second optical wavelength. An emitter is configured to generate light to illuminate the interior surface and a detector is configured to receive light from the interior surface. The scanner further includes a processor configured to generate a first electronic representation of the interior shape based on the light. A design computer is configured to modify the first electronic representation into a three-dimensional shape corresponding to at least a portion of the interior shape and a fabricator configured to fabricate, based at least on the modified first electronic representation, an earbud.

Abstract: A system includes a first scanner having an inflatable membrane configured to be inflated with a medium to conform an exterior surface of the inflatable membrane to an interior shape of a cavity. The medium attenuates, at first rate per unit length, light having a first optical wavelength, and attenuates, at a second rate per unit length, light having a second optical wavelength. An emitter is configured to generate light to illuminate the interior surface and a detector is configured to receive light from the interior surface. The scanner further includes a processor configured to generate a first electronic representation of the interior shape based on the light. A design computer is configured to modify the first electronic representation into a three-dimensional shape corresponding to at least a portion of the interior shape and a fabricator configured to fabricate, based at least on the modified first electronic representation, an earbud.

Abstract: A method includes applying a transferrable material to an outer surface of a casting plate to form a pattern on the outer surface of the casting plate. After applying of the transferrable material, a composite material is applied to the outer surface of the casting plate to form an inflatable membrane. The composite material covers at least a portion of the pattern and includes a florescent material and a pigment material. The inflatable membrane is cured to allow removal of the inflatable membrane from the casting plate. The inflatable membrane has an inner surface having the pattern detectable upon receiving of light causing the fluorescing material to emit florescent light.

Abstract: A system includes a first scanner having an inflatable membrane configured to be inflated with a medium to conform an exterior surface of the inflatable membrane to an interior shape of a cavity. The medium attenuates, at first rate per unit length, light having a first optical wavelength, and attenuates, at a second rate per unit length, light having a second optical wavelength. An emitter is configured to generate light to illuminate the interior surface and a detector is configured to receive light from the interior surface. The scanner further includes a processor configured to generate a first electronic representation of the interior shape based on the light. A design computer is configured to modify the first electronic representation into a three-dimensional shape corresponding to at least a portion of the interior shape and a fabricator configured to fabricate, based at least on the modified first electronic representation, an earbud.

Abstract: A method includes applying a transferrable material to an outer surface of a casting plate to form a pattern on the outer surface of the casting plate. After applying of the transferrable material, a composite material is applied to the outer surface of the casting plate to form an inflatable membrane. The composite material covers at least a portion of the pattern and includes a florescent material and a pigment material. The inflatable membrane is cured to allow removal of the inflatable membrane from the casting plate. The inflatable membrane has an inner surface having the pattern detectable upon receiving of light causing the fluorescing material to emit florescent light.

Abstract: A system includes a first scanner having an inflatable membrane configured to be inflated with a medium to conform an exterior surface of the inflatable membrane to an interior shape of a cavity. The medium attenuates, at first rate per unit length, light having a first optical wavelength, and attenuates, at a second rate per unit length, light having a second optical wavelength. An emitter is configured to generate light to illuminate the interior surface and a detector is configured to receive light from the interior surface. The scanner further includes a processor configured to generate a first electronic representation of the interior shape based on the light. A design computer is configured to modify the first electronic representation into a three-dimensional shape corresponding to at least a portion of the interior shape and a fabricator configured to fabricate, based at least on the modified first electronic representation, an earbud.

Abstract: An autotransfusion apparatus for collecting salvaged blood includes an upper chamber for collecting blood and a lower chamber for receiving blood from the upper chamber. The upper chamber is subjected to a vacuum to withdraw blood from a patient. Particles and lipids are removed from the collected blood by a particle filter and a lipid separator. A selector valve located between the vacuum port and the lower chamber, and between the lower chamber and a vent, selectively couples lower chamber either to the vacuum source or the vent. The lower chamber receives blood from the upper chamber through a pressure-operated drain valve only when the lower chamber is coupled to the vacuum source. Coupling the lower chamber to the vent while the upper chamber is subjected to the vacuum source causes a pressure differential between the chambers, closing the pressure-operated drain valve.

Abstract: A balloon for an inter aortic balloon pump having an elongate tapered section extending from a proximal end of minimal diameter and progressively increasing in diameter toward the distal end. The tapered section is of greater wall thickness with the wall thickness becoming progressively thinner toward the distal end.

Abstract: Intra-aortic balloon apparatus is disclosed including a single chamber balloon sealably attached to the end of a catheter for non-surgical insertion into the aorta through the skin as by the standard Seldinger technique. In the preferred embodiment, the extreme end of the balloon is fixedly attached to one end of a separate substantially circumferentially rigid but longitudinally flexible tube open at both ends and disposed within and extending the length of the catheter. The opposite end of the tube remote from the balloon is fixedly attached to means for effecting rotation of the tube within the catheter and thereby result in controlled sequential wrapping and unwrapping of the balloon about the tube. In use, the balloon is pumped in conventional manner via the catheter and access through the tube is provided to the interior of the aorta at the extreme end of the balloon.

Abstract: Extracorporeal blood pumping apparatus for use, for example in cardiopulmonary bypass procedures, left ventricle assist, hemodialysis and the like. The pulsatile pump apparatus may comprise an elongated driver balloon and a similar blood pumping balloon positioned side by side in a rigid casing or housing having preferably a one-way air valve. The inlet and/or outlets of both balloons are off-set and sloping ballon end portions are provided, inter alia, to minimize folding and/or rubbing during use. The driver balloon is provided with a port for coupling to a pressure-vacuum source and the blood pumping balloon is provided with an inlet port and an outlet port and both balloons are of such a cross sectional size and construction as to provide non-occlusive action by the blood pumping balloon.