Abstract: A power transmission structure maintenance apparatus is disclosed. The power transmission structure maintenance apparatus includes a first climber; a second climber spaced from the first climber; a carrier assembly positioned between the first and second climbers and slidably connected at a first end to the first climber and at a second end to the second climber; and a carriage positioned on the carrier assembly and including a robotic arm. The carriage is moveable along the carrier assembly to position the robotic arm in a pre-determined position along a power transmission structure to allow the robotic arm to perform maintenance on the power transmission structure.

Abstract: A cement head is disclosed that includes a cement head body that houses a moveable cage which protects a cement plug until the cement plug is released into a cement flow path. The cage is moveable between a first position in which cement slurry flows around the cage, and a second position in which cement slurry flows through the cage to facilitate launch of the cement plug into a wellbore. The cage may include a lifting device to assist with moving the cage from the second position to the first position after launch of the cement plug. The cement head may be a modular design that includes multiple cement head bodies, and may also include a pressure balanced plug launch indicator and torque keys.

Abstract: A device and method of treating proliferative disorders such as pancreatic cancer are described. Devices comprise an expandable mesh with two axial wings that seal against the inside of an enclosing blood vessel, creating an enclosed diffusion volume in the area subtended by the wings while permitting normal flow in the blood vessel through the ends of the mesh. A coaxial lumen provides for a guide wire, treatment drug tube, one or more flexible hypotubes and optionally electrical wires. The diffusion volume is set by the angle subtended by the wings causing the drug delivery to be radically directed toward a targeted tumor. Iontophoresis and electroporation electrodes on the mesh are used to directionally drive the drug through adjacent tissue and to temporarily increase the permeability of tissue through which the drug flows.

Abstract: A shooting-stability platform with three rotational degrees of freedom is disclosed. The platform improves shooting accuracy and safety by lessening recoil effects. And because of the rotational degrees of freedom, the operator still has substantial freedom to position the firearm as desired.

Abstract: A shooting-stability platform with three rotational degrees of freedom is disclosed. The platform improves shooting accuracy and safety by lessening recoil effects. And because of the rotational degrees of freedom, the operator still has substantial freedom to position the firearm as desired.

Abstract: A system configured to provide cathodic protection to buried and/or submerged metal components and/or structures, such as pipes is disclosed. The system includes a cathodic protection apparatus having at least one upright support and a plurality of sacrificial anodes secured to the at least one upright support in a vertical orientation to provide variable cathodic protection to the metallic structures.

Abstract: A system configured to provide cathodic protection to buried and/or submerged metal components and/or structures, such as pipes is disclosed. The system includes a cathodic protection apparatus having at least one upright support and a plurality of sacrificial anodes secured to the at least one upright support in a vertical orientation to provide variable cathodic protection to the metallic structures.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assessing subgrade corrosion is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to assess soil corrosivity and subgrade corrosion of a structure without disturbing the site where the structure resides and includes a probe having a plurality of electrodes and sensors configured to conduct environmental and corrosion measurements at the site, and a controller having a potentiostat contained therein to determine a corrosion rate at the site, wherein the corrosion rate provides an indicator of the amount of corrosion of the structure over time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for evaluating power transmission conductors is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to evaluate a charged power transmission conductor at a distance and includes a telescope assembly configured to transmit light to the conductor and receive a reflected light, in response to the transmitted light, from the conductor. The apparatus further includes control electronics configured to analyze the reflected light and determine a ratio based on two pre-determined frequencies, wherein the ratio is correlated with levels of iron oxide corrosion to confirm the presence of oxides that have leached through strands of the conductor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assessing subgrade corrosion is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to assess soil corrosivity and subgrade corrosion of a structure without disturbing the site where the structure resides and includes a probe having a plurality of electrodes and sensors configured to conduct environmental and corrosion measurements at the site, and a controller having a potentiostat contained therein to determine a corrosion rate at the site, wherein the corrosion rate provides an indicator of the amount of corrosion of the structure over time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for evaluating power transmission conductors is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to evaluate a charged power transmission conductor at a distance and includes a telescope assembly configured to transmit light to the conductor and receive a reflected light, in response to the transmitted light, from the conductor. The apparatus further includes control electronics configured to analyze the reflected light and determine a ratio based on two pre-determined frequencies, wherein the ratio is correlated with levels of iron oxide corrosion to confirm the presence of oxides that have leached through strands of the conductor.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a medicament, such as a liposome or micelle-encapsulated therapeutic agent or medicament, to an obstruction within a vascular segment or a body passageway. The apparatus may include a substantially cylindrically shaped expansion member. A distance between the proximal and distal ends of the expansion member may be altered to transform the expansion member between a diametrically contracted configuration to a diametrically expanded configuration. The liposome or micelle-encapsulated therapeutic agent or medicament can be coated on the expansion member and/or incorporated into a substrate coated on the expansion member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter with an expandable distal end for delivering one or more medicaments. The catheter is manufactured with materials of construction that allow the transfer of electrical energy from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal expandable end. The catheter also has a means for controlling or manipulating the expandable distal end to expand and contract into various configurations. The distal end of the catheter is processed by a specific method of manufacturing whereby the expandable distal end is coated with one or more layers of a hydrogel copolymer wherein at least one layer of which coating encapsulates one or more medicaments and zero or more charged carriers to facilitate the electrophoretic and electro-osmostic mobilities of the medicaments.

Abstract: A mechanical dilatation and medicament delivery device for enlarging a flow passage of a vessel by dilating and delivering a therapeutic agent or medicament to an obstruction in the vessel. The present invention comprises a substantially cylindrically shaped expansion member and includes a means engaged to the expansion member for altering the distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the expansion member thereby transforming the expansion member between a diametrically contracted configuration to diametrically expanded configuration. A therapeutic agent or medicament is coated on either the expansion member, or incorporated into a substrate coated on the expansion member.

Abstract: The present method comprises the steps of advancing the coated expansion member to the obstruction in a vessel and applying opposed forces on said expansion member in an axial direction to move the expansion member to an expanded configuration wherein the expansion member dilates the obstruction and the expansion member either passively or actively delivers a therapeutic agent or medicament to the obstruction.

Abstract: A mechanical dilatation and medicament delivery device for enlarging a flow passage of a vessel by dilating and delivering a liposome or micelle-encapsulated therapeutic agent or medicament to an obstruction in the vessel. The present invention comprises a substantially cylindrically shaped expansion member and includes a means engaged to the expansion member for altering the distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the expansion member thereby transforming the expansion member between a diametrically contracted configuration to diametrically expanded configuration. A liposome or micelle-encapsulated therapeutic agent or medicament is coated on either the expansion member, or incorporated into a substrate coated on the expansion member.

Abstract: A mechanical dilatation and medicament delivery device for enlarging a flow passage of a vessel by dilating and delivering a liposome or micelle-encapsulated therapeutic agent or medicament to an obstruction in the vessel. The present invention comprises a substantially cylindrically shaped expansion member and includes a means engaged to the expansion member for altering the distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the expansion member thereby transforming the expansion member between a diametrically contracted configuration to diametrically expanded configuration. A liposome or micelle-encapsulated therapeutic agent or medicament is coated on either the expansion member, or incorporated into a substrate coated on the expansion member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter with an expandable distal end for delivering one or more medicaments. The catheter also has a means for controlling or manipulating the expandable distal end to expand and contract into various configurations to apply pressure and achieve good contact against the walls of structures into which it is advanced. The distal end of the catheter is processed by a specific method of manufacturing whereby the expandable distal end is coated with one or more layers of a polymer wherein the surface layer of which coating carries one or more medicaments at very high concentration and zero or more excipients to facilitate the diffusional penetration of the medicaments into contacted tissues.

Abstract: A mechanical dilatation and medicament delivery device for enlarging a flow passage of a vessel by dilating and delivering a therapeutic agent or medicament to an obstruction in the vessel. The present invention comprises a substantially cylindrically shaped expansion member and includes a means engaged to the expansion member for altering the distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the expansion member thereby transforming the expansion member between a diametrically contracted configuration to diametrically expanded configuration. A therapeutic agent or medicament is coated on either the expansion member, or incorporated into an substrate and then coated on the expansion member.

Abstract: A mechanical dilatation and medicament delivery device for enlarging a flow passage of a vessel by dilating and delivering a charged paclitaxel analogue therapeutic agent or medicament to an obstruction in the vessel. The present invention comprises a substantially cylindrically shaped expansion member and includes a means engaged to the expansion member for altering the distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the expansion member thereby transforming the expansion member between a diametrically contracted configuration to diametrically expanded configuration. A charged paclitaxel analogue therapeutic agent or medicament is coated on either the expansion member, or combined/incorporated into a substrate coated on the expansion member.