Abstract: A lift conduit bender handle for use with a conduit bender for bending a workpiece is disclosed. The lift conduit bender handle includes a bracket having two plates in quadrant configuration facing each other. Each plate includes holes. Further, the lift conduit bender handle inserts through the bracket and connects to the holes with the help of handrails while being positioned at a desired angle. The handle further includes a handle bracket. The handle bracket includes a set screw for tightening the handle. The handle connects to a bender head of a conduit bender. The bender head includes a conduit-receiving groove for receiving a workpiece or conduit or pipe. The lift conduit bender handle applies force on the workpiece around the bender head such that the workpiece gets sandwiched and the workpiece is forced to take the shape of the conduit-receiving groove.

Abstract: An ambulatory respiratory assist device utilizes a cuirass worn on the chest and/or abdomen and supported by a hip belt so that it does not place a load on the patient's shoulders. The belt also supports a ventilator that includes a pump and its power supply, valving, controls and auxiliary equipment. The device is optionally integrated with auxiliary features such as chest wall vibration, which can be achieved by utilizing cuirass pressure modulation, with shoulder or upper arm supports for simulating the “tripod position”, with positive pressure ventilation apparatus, or with patient monitoring. Shoulder or upper arm supports can extend directly from the belt to the shoulders or upper arms, utilized independently of the cuirass, and optionally integrated with one or more of the above-mentioned auxiliary features.

Abstract: An ambulatory respiratory assist device utilizes a cuirass worn on the chest and/or abdomen and supported by a hip belt so that it does not place a load on the patient's shoulders. The belt also supports a ventilator that includes a pump and its power supply, valving, controls and auxiliary equipment. The device is optionally integrated with auxiliary features such as chest wall vibration, which can be achieved by utilizing cuirass pressure modulation, with shoulder or upper arm supports for simulating the “tripod position”, with positive pressure ventilation apparatus, or with patient monitoring. Shoulder or upper arm supports can extend directly from the belt to the shoulders or upper arms, utilized independently of the cuirass, and optionally integrated with one or more of the above-mentioned auxiliary features.

Abstract: A radio frequency heating system having a radio frequency amplifier supplying power to a radio frequency heating chamber and a matching network includes a controller monitoring forward and reflected power, phase and amplitude of the power supply to the heating chamber and adjusting the power supplied by the radio frequency amplifier and/or the impedance of the matching network in accordance with predetermined values of the reflected power, and/or phase and amplitude.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically fixing sutures used in the surgical replacement of a heart valve, including a first cylinder having a first end and a second end and an interior surface and an exterior surface, and first means for securing fixing suture formed on the exterior surface adjacent to the second end of the first cylinder. The apparatus also includes a second cylinder having second means for securing fixing suture formed on an interior surface of the second cylinder, such that the second means corresponds to and fixedly engages the first means for securing fixing suture, and the first means and the second means secure fixing sutures therebetween.

Abstract: A system for performing vascular surgery includes a first retractor blade and a second retractor blade and a fulcrum device. The first retractor blade includes a first grasping bar, and the second retractor blade comprises a second grasping bar. The first retractor blade and the second retractor blade are adapted to engage opposing edges of a subcostal incision in a patient. The fulcrum device includes a first fulcrum slot and a second fulcrum slot formed through opposing edges of the fulcrum device. The first fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the first grasping bar and the second fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the second grasping bar, such that the fulcrum device is adapted to apply leverage from the first retractor blade and the second retractor blade to spread the edges of the incision and to allow access to a chest cavity of the patient.

Abstract: A system for performing vascular surgery includes a first retractor blade and a second retractor blade and a fulcrum device. The first retractor blade includes a first grasping bar, and the second retractor blade comprises a second grasping bar. The first retractor blade and the second retractor blade are adapted to engage opposing edges of a subcostal incision in a patient. The fulcrum device includes a first fulcrum slot and a second fulcrum slot formed through opposing edges of the fulcrum device. The first fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the first grasping bar and the second fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the second grasping bar, such that the fulcrum device is adapted to apply leverage from the first retractor blade and the second retractor blade to spread the edges of the incision and to allow access to a chest cavity of the patient.

Abstract: A system for performing vascular surgery includes a first retractor blade and a second retractor blade and a fulcrum device. The first retractor blade includes a first grasping bar, and the second retractor blade comprises a second grasping bar. The first retractor blade and the second retractor blade are adapted to engage opposing edges of a subcostal incision in a patient. The fulcrum device includes a first fulcrum slot and a second fulcrum slot formed through opposing edges of the fulcrum device. The first fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the first grasping bar and the second fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the second grasping bar, such that the fulcrum device is adapted to apply leverage from the first retractor blade and the second retractor blade to spread the edges of the incision and to allow access to a chest cavity of the patient.

Abstract: A method for automatically fixing sutures to secure a valve sleeve including an annular cuff and a replacement heart valve to an annulus formed in a patient's heart, includes the steps of removing an existing heart valve thereby forming an annulus in the patient's heart, and placing a first cylinder having a first end and a second end and an interior surface and an exterior surface and comprising first securing means formed on the exterior surface adjacent to the second end of the first cylinder, in which the first cylinder includes a valve sleeve having an annular cuff, such that the annular cuff surrounds the exterior surface adjacent to the first end of the first cylinder. Moreover, the method includes creating a blood-tight seal between the cuff of the valve sleeve and the annulus, and securing the plurality of sutures between the first cylinder and the second cylinder.

Abstract: A coupler includes a saddle, a channel, a tissue clamp, and a flange. The channel has a first end of substantially elliptical cross-section connected to the saddle and a second end of substantially circular cross-section. The tissue clamp is positioned around the channel. The flange is formed adjacent to the second end of the channel. A conduit coupling device is formed by securing flanges of two couplers together with a clamping ring.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a strainer based upon a four-way, two-position rotary cylindrical plug valve having a hollow plug. The normal entry port for the sealing plug of the plug valve is a circular radial hole passing from the exterior of the plug into the interior cavity of the plug. The normal exit port for the sealing plug is a regular array of small holes across from and coaxial with the normal entry hole. The ports for the valve body are in two pairs positioned at 90° from each other, with the axes of the ports lying in the same transverse plane as the ports of the valve plug.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically fixing sutures used in the surgical replacement of a heart valve, including a first cylinder having a first end and a second end and an interior surface and an exterior surface, and first means for securing fixing suture formed on the exterior surface adjacent to the second end of the first cylinder. The apparatus also includes a second cylinder having second means for securing fixing suture formed on an interior surface of the second cylinder, such that the second means corresponds to and fixedly engages the first means for securing fixing suture, and the first means and the second means secure fixing sutures therebetween.

Abstract: A method for automatically fixing sutures to secure a valve sleeve including an annular cuff and a replacement heart valve to an annulus formed in a patient's heart, includes the steps of removing an existing heart valve thereby forming an annulus in the patient's heart, and placing a first cylinder having a first end and a second end and an interior surface and an exterior surface and comprising first securing means formed on the exterior surface adjacent to the second end of the first cylinder, in which the first cylinder includes a valve sleeve having an annular cuff, such that the annular cuff surrounds the exterior surface adjacent to the first end of the first cylinder.

Abstract: A method for accessing data files with an in-vehicle control system from a remote source over a communication link. The communication link is established between an in-vehicle control system and the remote source. The method includes: establishing the communication link between the in-vehicle control system and the remote source to facilitate retrieving the data files from the remote source to the in-vehicle control system; retrieving at least one of the data files from the remote source over the communication link, wherein each of the data files may include text and numeric data; identifying the text and numeric data of each of the data files; generating a phonemic representation of the text and numeric data of the data files; and storing the data file retrieved from a remote source in a memory device.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically fixing sutures used in the surgical replacement of a heart valve, includes a first cylinder having a first end and a second end and an interior surface and an exterior surface. An annular lip is formed on the exterior surface adjacent to the second end of the first cylinder. The apparatus further includes a second cylinder having second securing means formed on an interior surface of the second cylinder, such that the second securing means corresponds to and are adapted to fixedly engage the first securing means.

Abstract: A suture placement device includes a crook-shaped needle having a suture passage through which a suture thread passes; a suture opening in a tip portion of the needle, from which the suture thread exits the needle; and a bend in the needle including an open portion of the suture passage. The bend defines a suture capture zone in which the suture thread is separated from the needle. A shuttle includes a shuttle body and a shuttle hook. The shuttle hook is formed at a distal end of the shaft. The needle and the shuttle extend from the barrel, and the barrel includes a source of the suture thread and a rotating shaft or cable that causes the shuttle to traverse over the needle. A guide groove guides the shuttle over the needle. The shuttle hook engages the suture thread in the suture capture zone and draws the suture thread to the barrel.

Abstract: A system for providing user interface functionality based on a location of a vehicle including a first vehicle electronic system and a second vehicle electronic system includes a user interface having at least one configurable input device, the user interface coupled to the first vehicle electronic system and the second vehicle electronic system, a control circuit coupled to the user interface and configured to determine a functionality of the at least one configurable input device, a navigation data source coupled to the control circuit and configured to provide location data for the vehicle and a memory coupled to the control circuit and the navigation data source, the memory configured to store location data associated with the first vehicle electronic system, wherein the control circuit determines the functionality of the at least one configurable input device based on the location of the vehicle and the location associated with the first vehicle electronic system.

Abstract: A virtual presence station may be positioned at a desired physical location and operates to communicate over a communications network with a remote user and with a unit under test and/or a test controller. The virtual presence station operates to communicate data to the remote user that is a function of the physical position of the virtual presence station, and further operates responsive to data from a remote user to control the test controller and/or the unit under test. The virtual presence station may include a computer, a high-resolution digital camera, a network Web camera, a wireless telephone, a test area, a portable cart, and a portable power source.

Abstract: A system for performing vascular surgery includes a first retractor blade and a second retractor blade and a fulcrum device. The first retractor blade includes a first grasping bar, and the second retractor blade comprises a second grasping bar. The first retractor blade and the second retractor blade are adapted to engage opposing edges of a subcostal incision in a patient. The fulcrum device includes a first fulcrum slot and a second fulcrum slot formed through opposing edges of the fulcrum device. The first fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the first grasping bar and the second fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the second grasping bar, such that the fulcrum device is adapted to apply leverage from the first retractor blade and the second retractor blade to spread the edges of the incision and to allow access to a chest cavity of the patient.

Abstract: A coupler includes a saddle, a channel, a tissue clamp, and a flange. The channel has a first end of substantially elliptical cross-section connected to the saddle and a second end of substantially circular cross-section. The tissue clamp is positioned around the channel. The flange is formed adjacent to the second end of the channel. A conduit coupling device is formed by securing flanges of two couplers together with a clamping ring.