Abstract: Devices used to provide access the vasculature are disclosed. The devices may be configured to provide access to a blood vessel, such as an artery. The devices may include a catheter assembly disposed over a needle assembly. The devices may also include a barrel assembly coupled to the needle assembly. A guidewire may be displaceable by barrel assembly within a needle. The needle may include a proximal and distal port.

Abstract: A method of modification of a railcar to form a modified railcar can be described as comprising the steps of i) providing an existing aluminum body steel underframe donor railcar supported on a pair of trucks; ii) removing a donor car floor construction including either a) hopper discharge gates, and the outside hopper sheets, lower hopper floor and the partition floors forming the hopper chutes of the hopper style donor railcar, or b) the floor sheets and tubs of the gondola style donor cars; iii) forming a floor construction of the modified railcar which includes one of a) triple hopper independent transverse door floor construction, b) quad hopper independent transverse door floor construction, c) dual hopper independent longitudinal door floor construction, or d) flat bottom gondola floor construction, and iv) attaching the floor construction to the car to form the modified railcar.

Abstract: A method of modification of a railcar to form a modified railcar can be described as comprising the steps of i) providing an existing small cube covered hopper donor railcar supported on a pair of trucks; ii) removing a donor car floor construction including hopper discharge gates, and the outside hopper sheets, lower hopper floor and the partition floor forming the hopper chutes of the donor railcar; iii) forming a floor construction of the modified railcar which includes one of a) triple hopper independent transverse door floor construction, b) dual hopper independent longitudinal door floor construction, c) flat bottom gondola floor construction, d) dual hopper ballast car floor construction, and e) twin hopper taconite ore car floor construction, and iv) attaching the floor construction to the car to form the modified railcar.

Abstract: A vibratory screening machine includes replaceable screen assemblies. Compression mechanisms are used to secure replaceable screen assemblies to the vibratory screening machine. Each compression mechanism applies a force to a replaceable screen assembly that includes both a horizontal component and a downward vertical component. Each replaceable screen assembly is typically substantially flat prior to installation on a vibratory screening machine. The force applied to a screen assembly by one or more compression mechanisms causes the screen assembly to be pushed into engagement with underlying concave support members such that the screen assembly itself assumes a concave shape with the center of the screen assembly being lower than the side edges. The vertical downward component of the force helps to secure the screen assembly to the screening machine.

Abstract: Devices used to pressurize, depressurize, or otherwise displace fluid are disclosed. The devices may be configured to displace fluid in order to inflate or deflate a medical device, such as a balloon. The devices further include features and mechanisms for limiting pressure generation so as to avoid damage due to overpressurization.

Abstract: A vibratory screening machine includes replaceable screen assemblies. Compression mechanisms are used to secure replaceable screen assemblies to the vibratory screening machine. Each compression mechanism applies a force to a replaceable screen assembly that includes both a horizontal component and a downward vertical component. Each replaceable screen assembly is typically substantially flat prior to installation on a vibratory screening machine. The force applied to a screen assembly by one or more compression mechanisms causes the screen assembly to be pushed into engagement with underlying concave support members such that the screen assembly itself assumes a concave shape with the center of the screen assembly being lower than the side edges. The vertical downward component of the force helps to secure the screen assembly to the screening machine.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that record quantifiable data for physical exams that assess neurological function. A system includes four main components. First, it employs a flexible and customizable procedure administration and documentation system developed and deployed on a mobile platform to aid in the identification, administration, configuration, and instruction of a suite of procedures for assessing different aspects of vestibular health. Second, it leverages commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware with integrated sensor technology to allow non-vestibular experts to conduct assessment procedures by imposing constraints that ensure accurate and safe administration of VF assessment procedures. Next, it utilizes a gaming engine to both capture patient responses and to enable the accurate visual presentation of required stimuli for each of its assessments. Lastly, it leverages database storage and retrieval to visualize and aggregate data from multiple assessments and over many trials.

Abstract: A thermoplastic molding composition is disclosed comprising (A) at least one resinous component selected from the group consisting of (i) a homogeneous blend of polycarbonate resin and polycaprolactone and (ii) a copoly(carbonate-lactone) copolymer, and (B) at least one compound selected from a group consisting of benzopyrans, naphthopyrans, spirobenzopyrans, spironaphthopyrans, spirobenzoxazines, spironaphthoxazines, fulgides and fulgimides. The composition which contains the photochromic compound at an amount of 0.01 to 1.0 parts per hundred parts of weight of said (A) exhibits good photochromic properties.

Abstract: The assessment of clearance conditions in an operating turbine structure has provide difficult to achieve. The invention provides apparatus which enables the clearance between seal fins on rotating blades and adjacent fixed structure, to be observed during rotation, and comprises refracting prisms (30, 32) on the fixed structure arranged so as to straddle sealing fin (14) on the blades. The stage of blades on their associated disc are moved towards the fixed structure and light which is refracted through the prisms is obscured by the fins. In one embodiment, the ratio of obscured to unobscured light is utilised to generate electrical signals, which are then manipulated so as to indicate the magnitude of the clearance.