Abstract: An electrode for use in a welding process may comprise a finite length electrode core. The electrode core may be encapsulated at least partially within a coating comprising a flux material. One end of the electrode core may be tapered from a first diameter D to a second smaller diameter D1. The tapered end may further be covered with a coating that enhances the arc starting capabilities of the electrode.

Abstract: An electrode for use in a welding process may comprise a finite length electrode core. The electrode core may be encapsulated at least partially within a coating comprising a flux material. One end of the electrode core may be tapered from a first diameter D to a second smaller diameter D1. The tapered end may further be covered with a coating that enhances the arc starting capabilities of the electrode.

Abstract: An implant assembly having an articulating surface and an axial cavity arranged to receive an end of a bone, the axial cavity being generally circular in cross section in a plane normal to the axis of the implant, and including a spacing element detachable from the implant. At least a portion of the interior surface of the cavity is roughened and is arranged to abrade bone when the end of the bone is received in the cavity. The spacing element is arranged to prevent the implant from fully seating on the end of the bone such that the implant and the end of the bone are in a predetermined spaced apart arrangement.

Abstract: An implant assembly having an articulating surface and an axial cavity arranged to receive an end of a bone, the axial cavity being generally circular in cross section in a plane normal to the axis of the implant, and including a spacing element detachable from the implant. At least a portion of the interior surface of the cavity is roughened and is arranged to abrade bone when the end of the bone is received in the cavity. The spacing element is arranged to prevent the implant from fully seating on the end of the bone such that the implant and the end of the bone are in a predetermined spaced apart arrangement.

Abstract: An electrode for use in a welding process may comprise a finite length electrode core. The electrode core may be encapsulated at least partially within a coating comprising a flux material. One end of the electrode core may be tapered from a first diameter D to a second smaller diameter D1. The tapered end may further be covered with a coating that enhances the arc starting capabilities of the electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stent-graft prosthesis with a toroidally expandable sleeve (34) which has at least two opening attachments (36 and 37) and is made of flexible material for internal lining of an arterial aneurysm (1) and, where appropriate, with an aortic insert (23) associated with the sleeve (34), in the form of a vascular prosthesis with expandable supporting structures (39, 40) for fixing the aortic insert (23) in the sleeve (34) in the region of the opening attachments (36 and 37) thereof. The sleeve is designed as foldable toroid. The shape of the sleeve in the unfolded state is adapted to the shape of an aneurysm.

Abstract: An electric arc device and methods to build up, clad, join, or overlay an alloyed metal onto a parent metal with minimal admixture. The methods employed in the electric arc device provide a high frequency waveform with a high amplitude pulse, a low amplitude background current, and a special shorting routine, to alleviate the problem of generating too much ad-mixture. A fast transition from a peak current level to a background current level along with a shorting response and a plasma boost pulse reduces the droplet size and reduces the heat input required to achieve good welding performance.

Abstract: The invention concerns parenteral pharmaceutical forms of administration containing polypeptide in the form of microparticles and a process for the production thereof. The microparticles according to the invention contain as a biodegradable polymer an ABA triblock copolymer the A block of which is a copolymer of lactic and glycolic acid and the B block of which represents a polyethylene glycol chain, together with additives that are selected from the group comprising serum proteins, polyamino acids, cyclodextrins, cyclodextrin derivatives, saccharides, amino sugars, amino acids, detergents or carboxylic acids as well as mixtures of these additives. The microparticles according to the invention continuously release the polypeptide over a relatively long time period even when the amounts of polypeptide they include are small or susceptible to aggregation.