Abstract: A steerable delivery system is provided for delivering a replacement heart valve to a native heart valve location. The steerable delivery system includes an outer sheath assembly having a capsule along a distal end portion for retaining the replacement heart valve in a compressed configuration. The capsule is constructed to provide both compression resistance and flexibility. The capsule may be formed with an outer polymer layer, a metal middle layer located on a radially inner surface of the outer polymer layer, and an inner liner located on a radially inner surface of the metal middle layer. A fluoroelastomer layer is provided for bonding the inner liner to the metal middle layer. The metal middle layer is preferably a metal hypotube.

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 steerable delivery system can contain a steerable rail configured for multi-plane bending to direct a distal end of the delivery system.

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 valve to a native valve location in a heart. Disclosed are a number of features that can improve steerability or release of the prosthesis into the body location. In one preferred delivery system, a proximal handle can be manipulated to apply tension to a pair of diametrically opposed axial runner wires extending through lumens in a wall of a flexible tubular shaft. By applying tension to a pair of axial runner wires, the tubular shaft can be stiffened along a plane extending substantially through the pair of axial runner wires, while the shaft is permitted to freely bend in a perpendicular plane. This feature advantageously provides the ability to adjust the steerability and flexibility of a tubular shaft to meet the requirements of a particular procedure.

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. Disclosed are a number of features that can improve steerability or release of the prosthesis into the body location.

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 steerable delivery system can contain a steerable rail configured for multi-plane bending to direct a distal end of the delivery system.

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 steerable delivery system can contain a steerable rail configured for multi-plane bending to direct a distal end of the delivery system.

Abstract: A dummy head temporality replaces a sprinkler head in a sprinkler system. The dummy head provides for accurate alignment and sizing of a hole in a drywall and in relation to a sprinkler conduit in the sprinkler system. The dummy head is used to prevent breaking an actual sprinkler head while construction workers do an installation of a ceiling to be painted or covered by drywall joint compound of mud, which saves in service fees and redoing the location of the drywall hole for the inner ring to be placed in the drywall hole.

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. Disclosed are a number of features that can improve steerability or release of the prosthesis into the body location.

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 steerable delivery system can contain a steerable rail configured for multi-plane bending to direct a distal end of the delivery system.

Abstract: A dummy head temporality replaces a sprinkler head in a sprinkler system. The dummy head provides for accurate alignment and sizing of a hole in a drywall and in relation to a sprinkler conduit in the sprinkler system. The dummy head is used to prevent breaking an actual sprinkler head while construction workers do an installation of a ceiling to be painted or covered by drywall joint compound of mud, which saves in service fees and redoing the location of the drywall hole for the inner ring to be placed in the drywall hole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for improving write throughput in a redundant array of mass storage devices using a cache memory to store redundant terms or code words generated when data is written to one or more devices in the array. The cache memory improves the write-throughput performance of the array by eliminating the need to perform a read-modify-write operation on check data stored in the mass storage devices of the array each time a write request is made. As a result, write-throughput of the system, particularly at peak demand periods, is improved.