Abstract: Methods for the conditioning of bioprosthetic material employ bovine pericardial membrane. A laser directed at the fibrous surface of the membrane and moved relative thereto reduces the thickness of the membrane to a specific uniform thickness and smoothes the surface. The wavelength, power and pulse rate of the laser are selected which will smooth the fibrous surface as well as ablate the surface to the appropriate thickness. Alternatively, a dermatome is used to remove a layer of material from the fibrous surface of the membrane. Thinning may also employ compression. Stepwise compression with cross-linking to stabilize the membrane is used to avoid damaging the membrane through inelastic compression. Rather, the membrane is bound in the elastic compressed state through addition cross-linking. The foregoing several thinning techniques may be employed together to achieve strong thin membranes.

Abstract: Methods for the conditioning of bioprosthetic material employ bovine pericardial membrane. A laser directed at the fibrous surface of the membrane and moved relative thereto reduces the thickness of the membrane to a specific uniform thickness and smoothes the surface. The wavelength, power and pulse rate of the laser are selected which will smooth the fibrous surface as well as ablate the surface to the appropriate thickness. Alternatively, a dermatome is used to remove a layer of material from the fibrous surface of the membrane. Thinning may also employ compression. Stepwise compression with cross-linking to stabilize the membrane is used to avoid damaging the membrane through inelastic compression. Rather, the membrane is bound in the elastic compressed state through addition cross-linking. The foregoing several thinning techniques may be employed together to achieve strong thin membranes.

Abstract: In the field of a slide rail for tensioning and guiding an endless drive member, comprising at least one bore and a screw captively held in the bore, permitting the captive mounting of screws even in thin-walled slide rails is provided. A sleeve is mounted in the bore and the sleeve comprises engagement elements at its end facing the rail, said engagement elements being engaged with the wall of the bore, and a stop collar lying against a stop surface formed at the slide rail, and lock elements are embodied in the sleeve which engage the thread of the screw and lock the screw at least in an assembly position, wherein said slide rail is thin-walled. Furthermore, an assembly method is provided for manufacturing the slide rail with a captively held screw and to the loss prevention device per se.

Abstract: The invention relates to metallic effect pigment, the metallic effect pigment having at least one diffractive structure and at least one layer which comprises metal nanoparticles and metal oxide phase, the metal of the metal oxide phase and the metal of the metal nanoparticles in this at least one layer being identical. The invention further relates to a process for preparing these metallic effect pigments, to a coating composition, and to a coated article.

Abstract: Some disclosed suture securement devices comprise a flat, thin, generally planar body that has one or more suture engagement slots extending into the body from a perimeter inlet for receiving sutures laterally into the device. The slots can be resiliently widened to receive a suture and then released to clamp onto the suture. Some embodiments include two or more such suture engagement slots that independently receive and secure different sutures. Some embodiments include one or more locking tabs that have a closed position that retains the slots against widening and blocks the inlet to the slot. In some embodiment two or more slots are position next to each other on the same side of the device, while in other embodiments slots are positioned on opposite sides of the device. Other types of suture securement devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle includes at least two light sources and a driver, which is arranged to vary the light intensities of the light sources with a phase shift to one another periodically between a minimum and a maximum and in the course of a period to set intermediate values between the maximum and the minimum. In a phase of the period, in which the first light source reaches the maximum of its light intensity, the light intensity of the second light source is situated at an intermediate value and increases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching tissue to bone in a shifted position without requiring surgical detachment of muscle or connective tissue joining the tissue layer to the bone layer. The skin layer is gently pulled in a non-surgical manner and a fastener of the invention is driven through the skin layer into the bone layer to effect a “skin tightening” procedure.

Abstract: A method for producing a tensioning or guide rail with a base body, and a vibration absorber arranged on the base body is provided, comprising the steps of: providing a base body, at least partially embedding the base body into plastic material that is in a flowable state, and hardening the plastic material to obtain a vibration absorber that is captively arranged on the base body. The method also relates to a respective rail and to a continuous drive for a combustion engine.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for providing access to, and sealing of, a body organ includes an implant device. An implant device has a main body having an internal access lumen, with a plurality of prongs extending from a distal end of the main body. The main body can include two lumens, one slidable within the other, to form a single continuous lumen with an adjustable length. The main body has an expanded configuration with an expanded diameter, and an unexpanded configuration with an unexpanded diameter. The prongs have a generally straight configuration where they extend distally of the distal end of the main body, and a bent configuration where the prongs bend around so that their tips extend proximally of the distal end of the main body. The device may include a hemostatic barrier to prevent fluid leakage therethrough when the main body is in the unexpanded configuration.

Abstract: A multiple-fire securing device includes a hollow outer shaft, a reloader, a reloader movement assembly, a rail, and securing structures each defining an inner securing orifice. The reloader longitudinally moves within the outer shaft and has a distal end shaped to temporarily contact one of the securing structures. The rail is disposed within the reloader and has an installing location. The securing structures are disposed on the rail. The reloader movement assembly moves the reloader longitudinally in a distal direction to deliver a first securing structure to the installing location from a first proximal position and moves the reloader proximally away from the installing location without the first securing structure to a position in which the distal end of the reloader temporarily contacts a second one of the securing structures. The second and successive securing structures are moved one at a time to the installing location.

Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle with a light-emitting surface, which when viewed from the direction of a main beam is divided into a main area that emits the main beam and two elongated edge areas. A first edge area serves as a turn signal and is spaced apart from the main area by the second edge area. The second edge area serves as the daytime running light.

Abstract: A headlamp assembly of a vehicle with a headlamp fastening device is described. The headlamp assembly has a transparent headlamp cover on a front side. A headlamp housing is closed on the front side by the headlamp cover. The headlamp assembly is configured to mechanically connect with the vehicle body via the headlamp fastening device. The headlamp fastening device has a guide rail, on which the headlamp assembly is arranged so as to be pivotable contrary to the direction of travel and so as to be able to be withdrawn in the direction of travel.

Abstract: A metallic effect pigment comprising at least three layers: A) a layer A which comprises at least one metal MA and has an average oxygen content OA, based on the total amount of MA and OA in the layer A, B) a layer B comprising at least one metal MB and having an average oxygen content OB of 0 to 77 atom %, more particularly of 0 to 58 atom %, based on the total amount of MB and OB in the layer B, C) a layer C which comprises at least one metal MC and has an average oxygen content OC, based on the total amount of MC and OC in the layer C, the average oxygen content OAC in layers A and C being determined in accordance with the formula (I) O AC = 1 2 ? ( O A M A + O A + O C M C + O C ) ( I ) and being situated within a range from 2 to 77 atom %, more particularly from 25 to 58 atom %. The disclosure further relates to processes for preparing this effect pigment and also to its use.

Abstract: Methods for the conditioning of bioprosthetic material employ bovine pericardial membrane. A laser directed at the fibrous surface of the membrane and moved relative thereto reduces the thickness of the membrane to a specific uniform thickness and smoothes the surface. The wavelength, power and pulse rate of the laser are selected which will smooth the fibrous surface as well as ablate the surface to the appropriate thickness. Alternatively, a dermatome is used to remove a layer of material from the fibrous surface of the membrane. Thinning may also employ compression. Stepwise compression with cross-linking to stabilize the membrane is used to avoid damaging the membrane through inelastic compression. Rather, the membrane is bound in the elastic compressed state through addition cross-linking. The foregoing several thinning techniques may be employed together to achieve strong thin membranes.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for providing access to, and sealing of, a body organ includes an implant device. An implant device has a main body having an internal access lumen, with a plurality of prongs extending from a distal end of the main body. The main body can include two lumens, one slidable within the other, to form a single continuous lumen with an adjustable length. The main body has an expanded configuration with an expanded diameter, and an unexpanded configuration with an unexpanded diameter. The prongs have a generally straight configuration where they extend distally of the distal end of the main body, and a bent configuration where the prongs bend around so that their tips extend proximally of the distal end of the main body. The device may include a hemostatic barrier to prevent fluid leakage therethrough when the main body is in the unexpanded configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metallic effect pigment, which metallic effect pigment has a substantially homogeneous chemical composition comprising at least one metal M and having an average content of oxygen of from 25 to 58 atomic percent, based on the total content of M and oxygen. The invention further relates to a method for the production of said metallic effect pigment.

Abstract: A device and method for deploying self-cinching surgical clips. The device accesses at least two layers of tissue or material from only one side of the tissue or material and punctures through the two layers of tissue or material. The various configurations of clips disclosed herein are made of a superelastic material such as Nitinol, and have a constrained and a relaxed state, and no sharp edges or tips so as to reduce tissue irritation following deployment. The clip is disposed within the housing of the delivery device and held in a constrained state by a tube assembly until deployment wherein the clip assumes its relaxed state, where the ends of the clip are brought into close approximation, thereby securing the layers of tissue or material together.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for providing access to, and sealing of, a body organ includes an implant device. An implant device has a main body having an internal access lumen, with a plurality of prongs extending from a distal end of the main body. The main body can include two lumens, one slidable within the other, to form a single continuous lumen with an adjustable length. The main body has an expanded configuration with an expanded diameter, and an unexpanded configuration with an unexpanded diameter. The prongs have a generally straight configuration where they extend distally of the distal end of the main body, and a bent configuration where the prongs bend around so that their tips extend proximally of the distal end of the main body. The device may include a hemostatic barrier to prevent fluid leakage therethrough when the main body is in the unexpanded configuration.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to implantable sealing devices, delivery apparatuses, and methods of their use, for closing surgical openings or defects in a sidewall of a vessel in a subject. In several embodiments, the disclosed implantable sealing devices, delivery apparatuses, and methods can be used to close a surgical opening in a sidewall of the heart.

Abstract: A device and method for deploying self-cinching surgical clips. The device accesses at least two layers of tissue or material from only one side of the tissue or material and punctures through the two layers of tissue or material. The various configurations of clips disclosed herein are made of a superelastic material such as Nitinol, and have a constrained and a relaxed state, and no sharp edges or tips so as to reduce tissue irritation following deployment. The clip is disposed within the housing of the delivery device and held in a constrained state by a tube assembly until deployment wherein the clip assumes its relaxed state, where the ends of the clip are brought into close approximation, thereby securing the layers of tissue or material together.