Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system for temperature control of the human body. The system includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat transfer element, thereby heating or cooling blood. The heated or cooled blood then heats or cools the patient's body or a selected portion thereof. In particular, methods and devices, including software, are provided for administering cooling or rewarming and controlling the same based on a projected control temperature measured by a temperature sensor within the catheter.

Abstract: A process for preparing polyisocyanate prepolymers containing allophanate structural units that includes reacting a) one or more polyisocyanates with b) one or more polyetherpolyols containing less than or equal to 0.02 milliequivalent of unsaturated end groups per gram of polyol and having a polydispersity of from 1.0 to 1.5 and/or an OH functionality of greater than or equal to 1.9 to provide an NCO-functional polyurethane prepolymer containing urethane groups that are partly or fully allophanatized by further reaction with c) polyisocyanates, which may be different from those from a), and d) catalysts and optionally adding e) acidic additives before, during and/or after the allophanatization. The polyisocyanate prepolymers can be used to produce coatings, adhesive bonds and/or seals. The coatings include one or more of the polyisocyanate prepolymers, and at least one diol or polyol and/or at least one linear and/or cyclic, aliphatic, araliphatic and/or aromatic diamine or polyamine.

Abstract: A method of preparing and stabilizing polyisocyanates that contain allophanate groups that are based on aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic polyisocyanates. The method includes reacting a) one or more aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic polyisocyanates with b) one or more polyhydroxy compounds to give an NCO-functional polyurethane prepolymer whose resultant urethane groups are reacted further with c) aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic polyisocyanates, which may be different from those of a), and d) in the presence of catalysts and are thereby fully or partly allophanatized, and before, during and/or after the allophanatization, adding e) acidic additives. The polyisocyanates can be used in coatings, adhesive bonds or seals. Such coatings include the stabilized polyisocyanate prepolymers, at least one diol or polyol and/or at least one linear and/or cyclic, aliphatic, araliphatic and/or aromatic diamine or polyamine. The coatings can be used to coat substrates.

Abstract: A process for preparing polyisocyanate prepolymers containing allophanate structural units and prepolymers prepared thereby. The process includes the steps of reacting a) one or more aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic polyisocyanates with b) one or more polyhydroxy compounds to give an NCO-functional polyurethane prepolymer, whose resultant urethane groups are fully or partly allophanatized; reacting the prepolymer with c) polyisocyanates, which may be different from those of a), and using d) zinc(II) compounds as catalysts. The prepolymers can be used to produce coatings, adhesive bonds and/or seals. The coatings can include A) one or more of the prepolymers and B) at least one diol or polyol and/or C) at least one linear and/or cyclic, aliphatic, araliphatic and/or aromatic diamine or polyamine. The coatings can be used to coat substrates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions containing defined sol-gel materials as anti-stick coatings and to apparatus for preparing and processing polymers, such as rubbers, characterized in that they possess such an anti-stick coating containing a hydrophobic sol-gel material.

Abstract: A fluid level detector system, which may measure the amount of fluid in a reservoir, and may further trigger an alarm when the fluid level in the cassette reaches a low level condition. The cassette's reservoir may contain a transient sterile solution, which is moving through the cassette to be either cooled or heated in the heat exchanger area. The detection scheme includes a ring magnet housed in a float assembly located in the fluid reservoir of the cassette and, e.g., two magnetic sensors, such as may form a Hall effect integrated circuit, which may be fixed within the console.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for heating or cooling at least a selected portion of a patient's body. The method begins by inserting a catheter through the urethra and into the bladder of the patient. A heated or chilled fluid is conducted through a supply lumen of the catheter and into the bladder. The fluid is evacuated from the bladder through a return lumen of the catheter. Finally, a quantity of urine is monitored which flows out of the bladder and through the return lumen of the catheter. The rate of fluid flowing through the supply lumen of the catheter may be adjusted in a manner that is based at least in part on the monitored quantity of urine flowing out of the bladder.

Abstract: The invention describes a process for coating a substrate with at least two layers, characterized by the following steps: a) applying a first layer comprising a first inorganic component to a substrate or to one of at least one layer applied to a substrate; b) treating the first layer with a plasma; c) applying a second layer comprising a second inorganic component to the first layer treated with plasma in accordance with b).

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system for temperature control of the human body. The system includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat transfer element, thereby heating or cooling blood. The heated or cooled blood then heats or cools the patient's body or a selected portion thereof. In particular, strategies for optimizing the rewarming of patients for various medical procedures are provided, including stroke, neurosurgery, and myocardial infarction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system for temperature control of the human body. The system includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat transfer element, thereby heating or cooling blood. The heated or cooled blood then heats or cools the patient's body or a selected portion thereof. In particular, strategies for optimizing the rewarming of patients for various medical procedures are provided, including stroke, neurosurgery, and myocardial infarction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic article with a coating containing at least one zinc oxide-containing layer and at least one abrasion-resistant outer layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system for temperature control of the human body. The system includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat transfer element, thereby heating or cooling blood. The heated or cooled blood then heats or cools the patient's body or a selected portion thereof. In particular, methods and devices, including software, are provided for administering cooling or rewarming and controlling the same based on a projected control temperature measured by a temperature sensor within the catheter.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system for temperature control of the human body. The system includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat transfer element, thereby heating or cooling blood. The heated or cooled blood then heats or cools the patient's body or a selected portion thereof. In particular, strategies for optimizing the rewarming of patients for various medical procedures are provided, including stroke, neurosurgery, and myocardial infarction.

Abstract: An enhanced method and device are provided to treat atrial fibrillation or inhibit or reduce restenosis following angioplasty or stent placement. A balloon-tipped catheter is disposed in the area treated or opened through balloon angioplasty immediately following angioplasty. The balloon, which can have a dual balloon structure, may be delivered through a guiding catheter and over a guidewire already in place. A fluid such as a perfluorocarbon flows into the balloon to freeze the tissue adjacent the balloon, this cooling being associated with reduction of restenosis. A similar catheter may be used to reduce atrial fibrillation by inserting and inflating the balloon such that an exterior surface of the balloon contacts at least a partial circumference of the portion of the pulmonary vein adjacent the left atrium. In any embodiment, the working fluid may be degassed, and optionally re-gassed, prior to use. An in-line sensor may be employed to monitor the presence of dissolved gases in the working fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polyurethane prepolymers (PU prepolymers) of low viscosity containing NCO groups blocked with compounds containing phenol groups and to their use for producing polyurethane polymers. The PU prepolymers are prepared by reacting one or more diisocyanates or polyisocyanates with at least one isocyanate-reactive compound with a functionality of at least 1.5 to form an NCO-functional polyurethane prepolymer and subsequently blocking the free NCO groups with at least one hydrocarbon resin containing phenolic OH groups and/or one optionally substituted phenol in the presence of a catalyst which comprises at least one triorganoamine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions containing inorganic UV absorbers and to coatings produced therefrom for the long-term protection of materials, especially plastics, against photochemical degradation.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel blocked polyurethane prepolymers, to a process for their preparation, to reactive systems prepared therefrom that cure at room temperature, and to their use.

Abstract: An earphone for use with portable communication devices (PCDs), particularly cellular phones, where the electro-magnetic (EM) radiation of the device is distanced from the head of the user, while acoustic waves are collected and brought through an acoustic tube to the ear of the user. The earphone may employ a coupler where the coupler contains a microphone and speaker acoustically insulated from each other. The coupler is positioned distant from both the ear of the user and the PCD. The coupler delivers acoustic waves to an acoustic tube for transmittal to the ear.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining an effective thermal mass of a patient. The effective thermal mass is employed to determine a gain factor used in a feedback control system controlling patient temperature. The method begins by inducing hypothermia or hyperthermia in at least a selected portion of the patient with a device having a heat transfer surface. Next, power is transferred between the device and the patient. A change in temperature over time, which arises in the selected portion of the patient, is measured while performing the step of inducing hypothermia or hyperthermia. Finally, an effective thermal mass is calculated based on the measured power and the measured temperature change over time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for heating or cooling at least a selected portion of a patient's body. The method begins by inserting a catheter through the urethra and into the bladder of the patient. A heated or chilled fluid is conducted through a supply lumen of the catheter and into the bladder. The fluid is evacuated from the bladder through a return lumen of the catheter. Finally, a quantity of urine is monitored which flows out of the bladder and through the return lumen of the catheter.