Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlled dispensing of consumable supply items, such as office supplies, wherein the quantity of items added or removed from the apparatus is determined by sensing a change in weight of items within the apparatus. The apparatus may be in the form of a cabinet having a plurality of doors, each door having a secured position preventing access to the items within the cabinet. The cabinet may be configured to unlock less than all of the doors to allow limited access to the items based on various factors, such as user identification and item cost.

Abstract: A sewing machine is provided which is capable of sewing reinforcing wire to tubular grafts in order to form stent grafts. A bobbin (which may be seated in a shuttle) carries a bottom thread through the bore of the tubular graft and forms a stitch in combination with a top thread carried on a needle which pierces the graft wall.

Abstract: A control mechanism comprises an elongate handle 10 having an external thread 12 and a barrel 20 with internally projecting pins 21 threaded over handle 10. Rotation of barrel 20 causes handle 10 to move back and forth along its longitudinal axis to retract and advance a catheter sheath to which handle 10 is coupled, thereby enabling an implant to be deployed by the catheter. Rotation movement of barrel 20 and longitudinal movement of handle 10 can be disassociated to enable speedy retraction or advancement of the catheter sheath.

Abstract: A graft is provided with a flexible sheet (10) of graft material to which is sewn a reinforcing wire (12), preferably of shape-memory alloy. Sewing of the wire (12) is carried out while the sheet (10) is substantially planar, thus by conventional embroidery machines. The sheet (10) is subsequently rolled into a tubular shape.

Abstract: A graft is provided with a flexible sheet (10) of graft material to which is sewn a reinforcing wire (12), preferably of shape-memory alloy. Sewing of the wire (12) is carried out while the sheet (10) is substantially planar, thus by conventional embroidery machines. The sheet (10) is subsequently rolled into a tubular shape.

Abstract: A graft is provided with a flexible sheet of graft material to which is sewn a reinforcing wire, preferably of shape-memory alloy. Sewing of the wire is carried out while the sheet is substantially planar, thus by conventional embroidery machines. The sheet is subsequently rolled into a tubular shape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a measurement path of 2N measurement ports comprises presenting a high reflect calibration standard at each measurement port and measuring a reflection characteristic for each measurement port, presenting a line calibration standard and a through calibration standard between each one of N direct pairs of the measurement ports and measuring forward and reverse reflection and transmission responses and calculating a load match error coefficient for each measurement port, and presenting only the through calibration standard between indirect pairs of measurement ports and calculating the forward and reverse transmission tracking for each indirect pairs of measurement ports.

Abstract: A sewing machine is provided which is capable of sewing reinforcing wire to tubular grafts in order to form stent grafts. A bobbin (which may be seated in a shuttle) carries a bottom thread through the bore of the tubular graft and forms a stitch in combination with a top thread carried on a needle which pierces the graft wall.

Abstract: A tubular graft/stent comprises a tubular sheath having at intervals along its length a plurality of ring-like rigid members, which are attached to the sheath around their respective circumferences and are made of a shape memory material, so that when the members change shape the sheath adopts a new cross section in conformity with the members along the sheath's whole length. The members may be discontinuous to allow the adoption of a contracted shape in the martensitic phase and an expanded shape in the austenitic phase. A graft may also have a branched side tube which can be inverted so as to be housed within the sheath.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlled dispensing of consumable supply items, such as office supplies, wherein the quantity of items added or removed from the apparatus is determined by sensing a change in weight of items within the apparatus. The apparatus may be in the form of a cabinet having a plurality of doors, each door having a secured position preventing access to the items within the cabinet. The cabinet may be configured to unlock less than all of the doors to allow limited access to the items based on various factors, such as user identification and item cost.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a measurement path of a vector network analyzer having at least two reference receivers, and a total of 2N measurement ports, where N is an integer comprises the steps of presenting a high reflect calibration standard at each measurement port and measuring a reflection characteristic for each measurement port. The method further comprises the steps of presenting a line calibration standard and a through calibration standard is presented between N direct pairs of the measurement ports and measuring reflection and transmission responses to each standard. From these measurements, the method calculates directivity, source match, and reflection tracking error coefficients for each one of the measurement ports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlled dispensing of consumable supply items, such as office supplies, wherein the quantity of items added or removed from the apparatus is determined by sensing a change in weight of items within the apparatus. The apparatus may be in the form of a cabinet having a plurality of doors, each door having a secured position preventing access to the items within the cabinet. The cabinet may be configured to unlock less than all of the doors to allow limited access to the items based on various factors, such as user identification and item cost.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided an N-port automatic calibration device comprising N-ports, wherein each port is adapted to be coupled to a port of an N-port multiport test set. The N-port automatic calibration device comprises a single-pole, N−1 throw switch having a single-pole coupled to a first port of the automatic calibration device and having each throw of the N−1 throws coupled to a corresponding port of the automatic calibration device. In addition, the N-port automatic calibration device comprises at least one single-pole, double-throw switch, having a single-pole coupled to a second port of the N-ports of the automatic calibration device, having a first throw coupled to a first load impedance, and having a second throw coupled to a throw of the N−1 throws of the single-pole, N−1 throw switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlled dispensing of consumable supply items, such as office supplies, wherein the quantity of items added or removed from the apparatus is determined by sensing a change in weight of items within the apparatus. The apparatus may be in the form of a cabinet having a plurality of doors, each door having a secured position preventing access to the items within the cabinet. The cabinet may be configured to unlock less than all of the doors to allow limited access to the items based on various factors, such as user identification and item cost.

Abstract: A device is provided for piercing a graft and artery wall in order to retain the graft on the artery. The device has a central section with an abutment surface for contacting the inner wall of the graft and two elongate members with distal ends for contacting the outer wall of the artery when the device is pierced through the graft and artery. The elongate members are biased so as to urge the abutment surface into the graft and retain the graft on the artery.

Abstract: An occlusion device comprising an occluding barrier, anchor means and means for retaining orientation. Preferred embodiments comprise means for urging the anchor means into position.

Abstract: A tubular graft/stent comprises a tubular sheath having at intervals along its length a plurality of ring-like rigid members, which are attached to the sheath around their respective circumferences and are made of a shape memory material, so that when the members change shape the sheath adopts a new cross section in conformity with the members along the sheath's whole length. The members may be discontinuous to allow the adoption of a contracted shape in the martensitic phase and an expanded shape in the austenitic phase. A graft may also have a branched side tube which can be inverted so as to be housed within the sheath.