Abstract: Medical devices, such as endoprostheses, and methods of making the devices are disclosed. The endoprostheses comprise a tubular member capable of maintaining patency of a bodily vessel. The tubular member includes a mixture of at least two compositions, where the presence of the second composition gives the mixture a greater hardness than that of the first composition alone. The first composition includes less than about 25 weight percent chromium, less than about 7 weight percent molybdenum, from about 10 to about 35 weight percent nickel, and iron. The second composition is different from the first and is present from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of the mixture.

Abstract: Medical devices, such as endoprostheses, and methods of making the devices are disclosed. The endoprostheses comprise a tubular member capable of maintaining patency of a bodily vessel. The tubular member includes a mixture of at least two compositions, where the presence of the second composition gives the mixture a greater hardness than that of the first composition alone. The first composition includes less than about 25 weight percent chromium, less than about 7 weight percent molybdenum, from about 10 to about 35 weight percent nickel, and iron. The second composition is different from the first and is present from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of the mixture.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for producing flexible fibers (30) of superconducting material includes a crucible (12) for containing a charge of the superconducting material. The material is melted in the crucible (12) and falls in a stream (18) through a bottom hole (16) in the crucible (12). The stream (18) falls through a protecting collar (22) which maintains the stream (18) at high temperatures. The stream (18) is then supplied through a downwardly directed nozzle (26) where it is subjected to a high velocity of a heated gas (36′) which breaks the melted superconducting material into ligaments which solidify into the flexible fibers (30). The fibers (30) are collected by directing them against a collection filter (32).

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for producing flexible fibers (30) of superconducting material includes a crucible (12) for containing a charge of the superconducting material. The material is melted in the crucible (12) and falls in a stream (18) through a bottom hole (16) in the crucible (12). The stream (18) falls through a protecting collar (22) which maintains the stream (18) at high temperatures. The stream (18) is then supplied through a downwardly directed nozzle (26) where it is subjected to a high velocity of a heated gas (36') which breaks the melted superconducting material into ligaments which solidify into the flexible fibers (30). The fibers (30) are collected by directing them against a collection filter (32).

Abstract: A chromium aluminum and/or silicon diffusion coating is applied to a high temperature substrate such as a boiler tube by induction heating at a predetermined frequency of a known coating preparation such as pack cementation of the coating on the substrate to provide an improved coating of predetermined thickness with increased corrosion resistance.

Abstract: An improved method for the efficient incorporation of a metal such as silver in a superconducting material includes blending the metal with a high temperature superconductor or precursor powder and consolidating the same into pellets. The pellets are charged directly into a heating assembly where it is melted and heated sufficiently to a uniform temperature prior to fiberization. Droplets of the melted blend fall through a collar into a nozzle where they are subjected to a high velocity gas to break the melted material into ligaments which solidify into improved flexible fibers having the metal homogeneously disThis invention was made with Government support under a contract with the Department of Energy (DOE) and Ames Laboratory, Contract No. SC-91-225, our reference No. CRD-1272. The Government has certain rights in this invention.

Abstract: Metal strip 9 cast directly from the melt onto a cylindrical casting drum 20 is made more uniform in thickness and in structure by making the temperature of the casting surface more uniform. This is accomplished by a novel arrangement of coolant channels 25 beneath the casting surface 10. The channels generally run circumferentially around the casting surface 10, parallel to and spaced from adjacent channels. At least one coolant inlet 21 and one coolant outlet 22 supply and withdraw coolant to each channel. Inlets (21a, 21b) and outlets (22a and 22b) of adjacent channels are staggered circumferentially from the inlets and outlets of the adjacent channels so that the cooler regions around inlets are staggered to balance the temperature across and around the surface.