Abstract: A method of constructing a replacement valve for repairing a heart having an annulus separating upstream and downstream regions. The method includes obtaining a representative perimetrical length of the annulus and fabricating a frame having a hub and legs extending outward from the hub to anchors axially offset from the hub. The method includes fabricating an annular band having a circumferential length corresponding to the representative length and attaching the band to the legs. The method includes forming a flexible component having a convex face having a margin and an axially offset region. And a concave face and connecting the offset region to the hub and portions of the margin to the band and/or a portion of the frame. The valve component moves to an open position when upstream pressure is greater than downstream pressure and to a closed position when downstream pressure is greater than upstream pressure.

Abstract: A replacement valve for replacing a damaged heart valve having a plurality of cusps separating an upstream region from a downstream region of a passage. The replacement valve includes a flexible band having biocompatible scaffolding sized for contact with a wall surrounding the passage in the patient's heart. The valve includes a resilient element attached to the flexible band for expanding the flexible band to contact the wall of the passage. The valve includes regenerative struts spaced around the flexible band. Each strut extends from an outboard end joined to an inward face of the flexible band to a central end. The central ends of the struts are joined together. The valve includes a flexible regenerative membrane joined to adjacent struts. The membrane extends outboard to an inward face of the band. An outboard edge of the membrane is free to move between a closed position and an open position.

Abstract: A replacement valve for replacing a damaged heart valve having a plurality of cusps separating an upstream region from a downstream region of a passage. The replacement valve includes a flexible band having biocompatible scaffolding sized for contact with a wall surrounding the passage in the patient's heart. The valve includes a resilient element attached to the flexible band for expanding the flexible band to contact the wall of the passage. The valve includes regenerative struts spaced around the flexible band. Each strut extends from an outboard end joined to an inward face of the flexible band to a central end. The central ends of the struts are joined together. The valve includes a flexible regenerative membrane joined to adjacent struts. The membrane extends outboard to an inward face of the band. An outboard edge of the membrane is free to move between a closed position and an open position.

Abstract: A separating and contact assembly into which a sheathed or bundled wire cable may be inserted having separating fins to separate the component wires of the bundle guided through separate channels to terminal contact areas conductively coupled to relay contact areas.

Abstract: A separating and contact assembly into which a sheathed or bundled wire cable may be inserted having separating fins to separate the component wires of the bundle guided through separate channels to terminal contact areas conductively coupled to relay contact areas.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments describe pre-wired electrical devices for simplifying and expediting the wiring of structures. Much time and expense is devoted to wiring of structures during construction. Devices which can facilitate and speed-up this process are needed in the construction industry. Disclosed embodiments describe an apparatus designed to allow an electrician to install a pre-wired outlet and quickly connect it to an electrical power source during the early stages of construction. The apparatus then allows for a quick modification to complete the outlet for use, after the walls of the structure are complete. It accomplishes this by providing outlets with a pre-wired outlet within the housing, connected via relay wires to a connector housing that is adapted to quickly receive and secure transmission wires. Moreover, the apparatus comprises simplified connection port for accepting transmission wiring coupled to a pre-wired outlet.

Abstract: An artificial valve for repairing a damaged heart valve having a plurality of cusps separating upstream and downstream regions. The artificial valve includes a flexibly resilient frame with a plurality of peripheral anchors for anchoring the frame in position between the regions. The frame includes a central portion located between the anchors. The valve includes a flexible valve element attached to the central portion of the frame having an upstream side and a downstream side opposite the upstream side. The valve element moves to an open position when fluid pressure in the upstream region is greater than fluid pressure in the downstream region to permit downstream flow. The valve element moves to a closed position when fluid pressure in the downstream region is greater than fluid pressure in the upstream region to prevent flow reversal. The valve may be used in beating heart procedures, avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia.

Abstract: An artificial valve for repairing a damaged heart valve having a plurality of cusps separating an upstream region from a downstream region. The artificial valve includes a flexibly resilient frame sized and shaped for insertion in a position between the upstream region and the downstream region. The frame has a plurality of peripheral anchors for anchoring the frame in the position between the upstream region and the downstream region and a central portion located between the plurality of peripheral anchors. The valve also includes a flexible valve element attached to the frame and to the central portion of the frame having an upstream side facing the upstream region when the frame is anchored in the position between the upstream region and the downstream region and a downstream side opposite the upstream side facing the downstream region when the frame is anchored in the position between the upstream region and the downstream region.

Abstract: An artificial valve for repairing a damaged heart valve having a plurality of cusps separating upstream and downstream regions. The artificial valve includes a flexibly resilient frame with a plurality of peripheral anchors for anchoring the frame in position between the regions. The frame includes a central portion located between the anchors. The valve includes a flexible valve element attached to the central portion of the frame having an upstream side and a downstream side opposite the upstream side. The valve element moves to an open position when fluid pressure in the upstream region is greater than fluid pressure in the downstream region to permit downstream flow. The valve element moves to a closed position when fluid pressure in the downstream region is greater than fluid pressure in the upstream region to prevent flow reversal. The valve may be used in beating heart procedures, avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia.

Abstract: A heart assist device intended for the long term support of certain late-stage cardiac failure states, particularly those known in the practice of cardiology to be called a dilated cardiomyopathy. A method is described wherein a "viscous cardioplasty jacket" is fashioned to provide a buttressing effect to the ventricular heart walls to thus render a more efficient cardiac contractile mechanism whereby the patient is afforded improved heart function to allow increased physical activities. Such a viscous compliant enclosure of the ventricular heart masses can be utilized concurrently with recognized drug therapy which is sometime lacking in beneficial effect for these patients and is far less traumatic than the currently practiced surgical cardiomyoplasty (CMP) procedure. Application of this device may be accomplished through a relatively non-invasive endoscopic procedure in a more refined methodology of anatomical implantation of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for manually engaging a primary clutch of a constantly variable transmission, which contains a fixed piston assembly enclosed within a movable cylinder assembly. The fixed piston assembly contains cylindrical center cup with a flange integrally connected to a first stepped cylindrical section, and a second stepped cylindrical section integrally connected to the first stepped cylindrical section. Several orifices extend through the first cylindrical section. A piston is connected to the second stepped cylindrical assembly. A movable cylinder is lcoated within the first stepped cylindrical section and is contiguous with the piston.

Abstract: A light assembly is described which includes connection to a mode switch capable of instantaneously switching the light source from a visible light source to an infrared light source and vice versa without the need for physically changing filters or lamp heads. The light may include a redundant system of multiple visible light filaments and infrared light filaments.

Abstract: An artificial bone substitute composition consisting of fibrous collagen in a calcium sulfate matrix for incorporation in the human body for ultimate replacement by the body in a metabolic turnover and which can be rendered porous by a foaming agent. Such a composition is adaptable for osseous repair by adjusting the collagen and the calcium sulfate in varying ratios to suit particular applications and including admixtures of growth factors. The composition is prepared in a method of formulating a resorbable material by immobilizing a collagen material having mechanical strength characteristics within a calcium sulfate material and subjecting the composition to a hydration reaction which passes through a fluid state to a moldable state and to a solid.

Abstract: A cardiac assist envelope for endoscopic application to permit the anatomic insertion of the envelope through an endoscopic cannula in which the body of the envelope is formed of a flexible but inelastic material and has form shaping spring elements embedded in the material to allow for folding of the envelope for endoscopic insertion and spring back of the material to a configuration necessary for cardiac assist function through a single driver conduit with shuttle gas flow divisions.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device for documenting compressive forces on the right and left ventricular surface of a heart in terms of pressure reactions transmitted from fluid contents in sacs adjacent to these ventricular surfaces to apparatus for displaying the reactions, and a method of monitoring these pressure forces and their effects on the ventricular surfaces for circulating the blood from the ventricular blood pools into the right and left arterial systems.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device to be inserted through the pericardial sac for receiving a human heart in aligned position relative to the anterior interventricular line of the anterior descending coronary artery between the right and left ventricular surfaces, the device has a shell of a flexible and substantially inelastic form forming the visible surface of the device, an inner elastic membrane presenting to the ventricular heart surfaces a flexible surface for actuating the ventricular surfaces in a normal cardiac cycle, an opening in the shell to permit placement of the device around the heart with the inner elastic membrane presented to the ventricular surfaces, and provision for securing the shell to the pericardial sac in a desired position.

Abstract: A mortar joint pointing guide having a mortar supporting plate formed with a front opening defined by an elongated horizontal margin and end flanges presenting margins at right angles to the horizontal margin so that a clear opening frames a horizontal and two vertical joints of a brick for guiding the application of the pointing mortar. The guide has a centrally located handle and a front margin extension for cooperation with the handle to steady the guide in use, and in addition the sides and rear margins of the guide are formed with low flanges to retain mortar on the plate.