Abstract: A prosthetic valve delivery apparatus can comprise a handle, a gearbox, an input torque shaft and a plurality of output torque shafts. The input torque shaft can extend distally from the handle and can have a distal end portion operatively connected to the gearbox. The output torque shafts can be operatively connected to and extend distally from the gearbox. Rotation of the input torque shaft can cause rotation of the output torque shafts via the gear box.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a delivery apparatus handle, such as for a mechanical heart valve frame can comprise an actuation knob with a toggle mechanism that can toggle the actuation knob from a first state in which the actuation knob is operable to cause the linear or rotational movement of multiple elements or sets of elements, such as tubes that are attached to, e.g., a mechanical heart valve frame to cause expansion or collapsing of the frame, to a second state in which only a single element or set of elements is moved, allowing for additional operations, such as, e.g., locking the frame and/or releasing it from the delivery apparatus.

Abstract: A single-exposure ptychography system is presented. The system comprises an optical unit defining an light input plane, an imaging plane, and an object plane between the light input and output planes. The optical unit comprises at least a first focusing assembly, whose front focal plane defines a location of the light input plane; and a diffraction arrangement at a predetermined position with respect to the light input plane. The diffraction arrangement is configured to create from input plane wave light structured light in the form of an array of illuminating beams forming a predetermined illumination pattern in the object plane; thereby providing that each of the illuminating beams creates a different intensity pattern in a known region at the light output plane.

Abstract: An assembly can comprise a radially expandable and compressible annular frame, at least one linear actuator assembly coupled to the frame and at least one locking mechanism coupled to the frame. The linear actuator can be configured to apply a distally directed force and/or a proximally directed force to the frame to radially expand or compress the frame. The locking mechanism can comprise a first sleeve member connected to the frame at a first location, a second sleeve member having internal threads and being connected to the frame at a second location, and a first screw configured to engage the internal threads of the second sleeve member to retain the frame in a radially expanded state.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are described herein to provide improved steerability for delivering a prosthesis to a body location, for example, for delivering a replacement mitral valve to a native mitral valve location. The delivery system can include a number of advantageous steering and delivery features, in particular for the transseptal delivery approach.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of delivery capsules for delivering prosthetic implants around the relatively tight bends of a catheter. In particular, disclosed herein are delivery capsules including a tubular layer for holding the heart valve, a frame enclosing the tubular layer and an elongate element coupled to the frame for allowing the tubular layer and frame to expand. For example, the frame may be biased to expand and withdrawal of the elongate element from openings in the frame can release the frame to expand into a larger diameter. Another embodiment includes a helical wire wrapped around the capsule for easy delivery through bends and a second helical wire that is advanced between windings of the first helical wire to selectively stiffen the capsule for withdrawal. Other embodiments include sock-like capsules that can be crumpled into shorter lengths by pulling a pull line attached to the capsule.

Abstract: A method of transmitting light is disclosed. The method comprises: transmitting a first light pulse into a medium to form in the medium a filamented region that is capable of guiding light, and transmitting a second light into the filamented region, wherein the second light is a pulsed light or continues wave light, and wherein the second light is transmitted at least 10 nanoseconds after the first light pulse.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for reconstructing an input field where the latter is sensed by a measurement system. The method comprises: providing measured data corresponding to output field of said measurement system; providing data about sparsity of the input field, and data about effective response function of the measurement system; and processing the measured data based on said known data, the processing comprising: determining a sparse vector as a function of said measured data, said data about the sparsity of the input field, and said data about the effective response function; and using the sparse vector for reconstructing the input information. The invention allows for sub-wavelength resolution in imaging applications, and allows for detection of very short pulses by slow detectors in some other applications.

Abstract: A method and storage device for assessing execution of trim commands are provided. In one embodiment, a trace of trim and write commands sent to a storage device are obtained. For each trim command in the trace, a subsequent write command to a same logical block address (LBA) as the trim command is identified, and an elapsed time between the trim and write commands is calculated. This information can be used to display a histogram and/or to optimize when the storage device executes trim commands and/or when the host device issues trim commands.

Abstract: A method of transmitting light is disclosed. The method comprises: transmitting a first light pulse into a medium to form in the medium a filamented region that is capable of guiding light, and transmitting a second light into the filamented region, wherein the second light is a pulsed light or continues wave light, and wherein the second light is transmitted at least 10 nanoseconds after the first light pulse.

Abstract: In-vivo devices, systems and methods for the detection of blood within in-vivo bodily fluids. The methods include irradiating in-vivo fluids passing through a gap in a housing of an in-vivo device introduced to the GI tract of a subject with a plurality of illumination sources positioned on a first side of a gap; detecting with at least one light detector positioned on the opposite side of the gap and facing the illumination sources, light irradiated by the illumination sources; transmitting a plurality of values representing the light detected over time; converting these values to blood concentration values over time, and comparing the blood concentration values to a predetermined threshold value. Based on the comparison, the method includes determining the type of bleeding profile, such that if a plurality of blood concentration values measured consecutively is above the threshold value, the bleeding profile indicates bleeding.

Abstract: A method and a software product for use in a communications network for sorting and displaying together characterizing images of a plurality of messages, wherein the plurality of messages comprises e-mail messages and/or messages that are based on information retrieved from one or more e-mail messages, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first plurality of e-mail messages addressed to a specific user; analyzing content of the first plurality of e-mail messages and generating a characterizing image for each of a second plurality from among the first plurality of messages, wherein the characterizing images will be displayed to the specific user together with the characterizing images of other messages belonging to the second plurality of messages; displaying the characterizing images generated in a plurality of cells arranged in a displaying grid, wherein each of the characterizing images is displayed at a separate cell of the displaying grid.

Abstract: A method and storage device for assessing execution of trim commands are provided. In one embodiment, a trace of trim and write commands sent to a storage device are obtained. For each trim command in the trace, a subsequent write command to a same logical block address (LBA) as the trim command is identified, and an elapsed time between the trim and write commands is calculated. This information can be used to display a histogram and/or to optimize when the storage device executes trim commands and/or when the host device issues trim commands.

Abstract: A method and storage device for detection of streaming data based on logged read/write transactions are provided. In one embodiment, a storage device classifies data as belonging to one of at least three classes based on a set of characteristics and then applies operational parameters to the data depending on the class of the data. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: A method and host device for assessing execution of trim commands are provided. In one embodiment, a trace of trim and write commands sent to a storage device are obtained. For each trim command in the trace, a subsequent write command to a same logical block address (LBA) as the trim command is identified, and an elapsed time between the trim and write commands is calculated. This information can be used to display a histogram and/or to optimize when the storage device executes trim commands and/or when the host device issues trim commands.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for reconstructing an input field where the latter is sensed by a measurement system. The method comprises: providing measured data corresponding to output field of said measurement system; providing data about sparsity of the input field, and data about effective response function of the measurement system; and processing the measured data based on said known data, the processing comprising: determining a sparse vector as a function of said measured data, said data about the sparsity of the input field, and said data about the effective response function; and using the sparse vector for reconstructing the input information. The invention allows for sub-wavelength resolution in imaging applications, and allows for detection of very short pulses by slow detectors in some other applications.

Abstract: A technological platform in which “clips” or short segments of play from a game may be automatically extracted and optionally analyzed, for example to support later searching of such clips for a clip having one or more features of interest.

Abstract: Inspection of objects such as semiconductor wafers can include comparisons of shapes between inspection and reference images. As part of the inspection process, relative values may be assigned to pixels within each image based on comparison of such pixels to neighboring pixels. For instance, the pixels may be ranked by relative brightness in each image. Alternatively, directional vectors may be defined based on slopes between pixels and their neighbors. Various comparison metrics may be utilized to determine the degree of correlation between the relative values for pixels in the inspection image and corresponding pixels in the reference image. Relative values may be combined with conventional techniques as part of an inspection process. The inspection may be performed using an optical inspection tool that uses conventional techniques to identify defect candidates, with relative value analysis performed on areas containing defect candidates to confirm or deny the existence of a defect.

Abstract: Inspection of objects such as semiconductor wafers may proceed on a cell-to-cell or die-to-die basis. An image of a wafer may be obtained and the cells or dies shown therein can be inspected using any combination of appropriate die-to-die or cell-to-cell inspection methods. For example, one or more areas may be designated for cell-to-cell inspection. For each cell type, a reference image can be generated by obtaining an image of the area and displacing the image by an amount equal to the repetition vector for that cell type in opposite directions. The displaced images and the original image can be combined into a single reference image. The original image can then be compared to the reference image. In some embodiments, the displaced images are also compared to the reference image to statistically determine the presence or absence of defects.

Abstract: All-optical quasi-phase matching (QPM) uses a train of counterpropagating pulses to enhance high-order harmonic generation (HHG) in a hollow waveguide. A pump pulse enters one end of the waveguide, and causes HHG in the waveguide. The counterpropagation pulses enter the other end of the waveguide and interact with the pump pulses to cause QPM within the waveguide, enhancing the HHG.