Abstract: A braking system includes a brake pad that is coupled to a slider assembly that moves linearly within a guide. The slider assembly and guide are coupled to a first brake. A second brake actuator is coupled to the slider assembly, the guide and a second brake. When the first brake is actuated, the slider assembly is pressed against a rotating braking surface and the friction of the brake pad against the rotating braking surface can cause the slider assembly to move within the guide which actuates the second brake actuator. The second brake actuator then actuates the second brake. When the first brake is released, the slider assembly is removed from the rotating braking surface and the second brake actuator is released which releases the second brake.

Abstract: A user-controllable braking system, including a descent tether connectable to a support and configurable for descending a user; a rigid body configured to be connectable between the descent tether and a user for enabling control of the descent by the user; a pulley rotatably positioned on the rigid body, the descent tether positionable around the pulley; a brake member yieldably positioned on the rigid body adjacent the pulley; a bias member operatively associated with the brake member to bias the brake member away from the pulley; and a lever pivotally connected to the rigid body and operable to bear against the brake member to controllably overcome the bias member and controllably bear the brake member against a portion of the descent tether. Operation of the lever by the user enables the user to controllably bear the brake member against the portion of the descent tether positioned around the pulley to provide a braking force.

Abstract: A user insertion system, that includes (a) a belay tether connectable to a support and configurable for descending a user; (b) an attachment device installable onto the support between the support and the belay tether; (c) a user braking device connectable between the belay tether and the user; and (d) a tip resistant system.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell comprising providing a first semiconductor substrate with an epitaxial sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a solar cell deposited over the first semiconductor substrate using an MOCVD reactor; depositing a metal layer on top of the sequence of layers of semiconductor material, the metal layer including a top surface layer composed of gold or silver; providing a polymer film; depositing a first metallic adhesion layer that has a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially different from that of the top surface layer on one surface of the polymer film; depositing a second metal adhesion layer over the first metallic adhesion layer and having a different composition from the first layer and having no chemical elements in common; and adjoining the second adhesion layer of the polymer film to the metal layer of the sequence of layers and permanently bonding it thereto by a thermocompressive diffusion bonding technique.

Abstract: Devices produced by patterning electroless metals on a substrate are presented. An active catalyst layer on the substrate is covered with a patterned mask and treated with a deactivating chemical reagent, which deactivates the catalyst layer not covered by the mask. Once the patterned mask is removed, the electroless metal layer can be placed to have a patterned electroless metals. Alternatively, a substrate can be coated with a blocking reagent in a pattern first to inhibit formation of the catalyst layer before a catalyst layer can be placed over the blocking agent layer and then electroless metal layer is placed on the catalyst layer. The pattern of the blocking reagent acts as a negative pattern of the final conductive line pattern.

Abstract: A tip resistant system for use with a belay tether includes a user tether having a first length and configured to be connectable between a user and the belay tether. The user tether has a belay tether connector adjacent one end of the user tether, and a user connector adjacent an opposite end of the user tether. An auxiliary tether having a second length less than the first length of the user tether and configured to be connectable between the user and the user tether includes a user tether connector located adjacent a first end of the auxiliary tether, and an auxiliary user connector located adjacent a second end of the auxiliary tether opposite the user tether connector. The tip resistant system operates to maintain a user in a desired static attitude. A quick disconnect for use with a belay tether is also provided.

Abstract: A user insertion system, that includes (a) a belay tether connectable to a support and configurable for descending a user; (b) an attachment device installable onto the support between the support and the belay tether; (c) a user braking device connectable between the belay tether and the user; and (d) a tip resistant system.

Abstract: Methods and devices for patterning electroless metals on a substrate are presented. An active catalyst layer on the substrate can be covered with a patterned mask and treated with a deactivating chemical reagent, which deactivates the catalyst layer not covered by the mask. Once the patterned mask is removed, the electroless metal layer can be placed to have a patterned electroless metals. Alternatively, a substrate can be coated with a blocking reagent in a pattern first to inhibit formation of the catalyst layer before a catalyst layer can be placed over the blocking agent layer and then electroless metal layer is placed on the catalyst layer. The pattern of the blocking reagent acts as a negative pattern of the final conductive line pattern.

Abstract: The control device is used to control delivery of fluids from a multi-fluid delivery system during a medical injection procedure. The fluid delivery system includes an injector used to deliver injection fluids to a patient. The control device is operatively associated with the injector for controlling discrete flow rates of injection fluids delivered to the patient. The control device includes first and second actuators associated with the manual control device, and an electronic substrate disposed within the manual control device and having a conductive pattern. The first actuator is operatively associated with the conductive pattern. The conductive pattern includes a plurality of predetermined digital values corresponding to discrete flow rates of injection fluids to be delivered by the injector.

Abstract: An attachment device for installation onto a support, includes a pair of oppositely facing and laterally offset hooks rotatably mounted so as to be oppositely facing and laterally offset from one another; a stop defined on one of the hooks and located so that the other one of the hooks is prevented from rotating past the stop by contact with the stop; and a biasing member operatively associated with the pair of hooks for urging the hooks to rotate toward one another, and the stop limits rotation of the hooks to maintain the hooks relative to one another to define a yieldable guide that facilitates installation of the attachment device onto the support.

Abstract: A method of determining fractional flow reserve (FFR) in a blood vessel having stenosis includes injecting fluid into the blood vessel upstream of the stenosis using a power fluid injector, measuring pressure drop across the stenosis, and calculating FFR from measured pressure drop. The injected fluid may comprise a contrast medium. Further actions may include placing a pressure sensor proximal of the stenosis, injecting fluid into the blood vessel upstream of the stenosis using the power fluid injector, and measuring pressure in the blood vessel proximal of the stenosis. The pressure sensor may then be repositioned to a position distal of the stenosis, fluid may be reinjected into the blood vessel upstream of the stenosis using the power fluid injector, and pressure may be measured in the blood vessel distal of the stenosis.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for use with a fluid delivery system having good sensitivity at low pressure, but also configured to remain in operating condition after being exposed to high pressures is disclosed herein. In one variation, the pressure sensor includes a fluid path set, a deformable element associated with the fluid path set and configured to deform in response to an external pressure, and a pressure transducer for monitoring deformation of the deformable element. In certain embodiments, the pressure sensor is configured to measure fluid pressure within the range of between about 0 mm Hg to about 300 mm Hg. However, the sensor pressure is also be configured to remain functional after being exposed to pressure in excess of about 60,000 mm Hg.

Abstract: The control device is used to control delivery of fluids from a multi-fluid delivery system during a medical injection procedure. The fluid delivery system includes an injector used to deliver injection fluids to a patient. The control device is operatively associated with the injector for controlling discrete flow rates of injection fluids delivered to the patient. The control device includes a housing, first and second actuators associated with the housing, and an electronic substrate disposed within the housing and having a conductive pattern. The first actuator is operatively associated with the conductive pattern. The conductive pattern includes a plurality of predetermined digital values corresponding to discrete flow rates of injection fluids to be delivered by the injector. The second actuator is operatively associated with the electronic substrate and initiates output signals to the injector corresponding to desired mixture ratios of the injection fluids to be delivered by the injector.

Abstract: Methods and devices for patterning electroless metals on a substrate are presented. An active catalyst layer on the substrate can be covered with a patterned mask and treated with a deactivating chemical reagent, which deactivates the catalyst layer not covered by the mask. Once the patterned mask is removed, the electroless metal layer can be placed to have a patterned electroless metals. Alternatively, a substrate can be coated with a blocking reagent in a pattern first to inhibit formation of the catalyst layer before a catalyst layer can be placed over the blocking agent layer and then electroless metal layer is placed on the catalyst layer. The pattern of the blocking reagent acts as a negative pattern of the final conductive line pattern.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for use with a fluid delivery system having good sensitivity at low pressure, but also configured to remain in operating condition after being exposed to high pressures is disclosed herein. In one variation, the pressure sensor includes a fluid path set, a deformable element associated with the fluid path set and configured to deform in response to an external pressure, and a pressure transducer for monitoring deformation of the deformable element. In certain embodiments, the pressure sensor is configured to measure fluid pressure within the range of between about 0 mm Hg to about 300 mm Hg. However, the sensor pressure is also be configured to remain functional after being exposed to pressure in excess of about 60,000 mm Hg.

Abstract: A method of determining fractional flow reserve (FFR) in a blood vessel having stenosis includes injecting fluid into the blood vessel upstream of the stenosis using a power fluid injector, measuring pressure drop across the stenosis, and calculating FFR from measured pressure drop. The injected fluid may comprise a contrast medium. Further actions may include placing a pressure sensor proximal of the stenosis, injecting fluid into the blood vessel upstream of the stenosis using the power fluid injector, and measuring pressure in the blood vessel proximal of the stenosis. The pressure sensor may then be repositioned to a position distal of the stenosis, fluid may be reinjected into the blood vessel upstream of the stenosis using the power fluid injector, and pressure may be measured in the blood vessel distal of the stenosis.

Abstract: A flow sensor system for ventilation treatment comprises a flow conduit configured to allow gas flow between a first region and a second region, the flow conduit defining a lumen for the gas flow; a flow restrictor disposed within the lumen of the flow conduit between the first region and the second region; a first absolute pressure sensor disposed adjacent to the first region of the flow conduit and configured to measure a pressure of the gas flow at the first region of the flow conduit; and a second absolute pressure sensor disposed adjacent to the second region of the flow conduit and configured to measure pressure of the gas flow at the second region of the flow conduit.

Abstract: Methods and devices for patterning electroless metals on a substrate are presented. An active catalyst layer on the substrate can be covered with a patterned mask and treated with a deactivating chemical reagent, which deactivates the catalyst layer not covered by the mask. Once the patterned mask is removed, the electroless metal layer can be placed to have a patterned electroless metals. Alternatively, a substrate can be coated with a blocking reagent in a pattern first to inhibit formation of the catalyst layer before a catalyst layer can be placed over the blocking agent layer and then electroless metal layer is placed on the catalyst layer. The pattern of the blocking reagent acts as a negative pattern of the final conductive line pattern.

Abstract: Devices and methods for metalizing temperature sensitive materials including fabrics are provided. Contemplated method begins with a step of applying a catalyst solution on the temperature-sensitive material to form an at least partially catalyst-coated substrate. Then the catalyst-coated substrate is incubated at a relatively low temperature. Optionally, in some embodiments, the low temperature incubated substrate is incubated at a relatively high temperature. Then, a layer of an electroless metal is deposited on the at least partially catalyst-coated substrate using an electroless metal deposition technique.

Abstract: A method of determining fractional flow reserve (FFR) in a blood vessel having stenosis includes injecting fluid into the blood vessel upstream of the stenosis using a power fluid injector, measuring pressure drop across the stenosis, and calculating FFR from measured pressure drop. The injected fluid may comprise a contrast medium. Further action may include placing a pressure sensor proximal of the stenosis, injecting fluid into the blood vessel upstream of the stenosis using the power fluid injector, and measuring pressure in the blood vessel proximal of the stenosis. The pressure sensor may then be repositioned to a position distal of the stenosis, fluid may be reinjected into the blood vessel upstream of the stenosis using the power fluid injector, and pressure may be measured in the blood vessel distal of the stenosis.