Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to systems and methods for intravascular lesion disruption. In an embodiment, a catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures upon a vascular lesion within or adjacent a blood vessel wall is included. The system includes a catheter configured to advance to a vascular lesion, the catheter including an elongate shaft that defines at least a first orifice for fluid flow; a balloon, coupled to the elongate shaft, that surrounds the first orifice where the balloon can expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to a treatment site; and a propulsion system configured to propel a fluid from the first orifice toward the balloon wall to create an inertial impulse in a vessel wall to transfer momentum to the vascular lesion. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: A method for matching a vehicle with a user including receiving a user ride request for a vehicle from a plurality of available vehicles from a user, receiving a threshold vehicle risk score preference for the user, receiving a user risk score for the user, receiving a threshold user risk score preference for the plurality of available vehicles, identifying a subset of the plurality of available vehicles having a vehicle risk score at or below the threshold vehicle risk score preference of the user and a threshold user risk score preference at or above the user risk score of the user, and presenting the user with ride options for selecting one of the subset of the plurality of available vehicles of the subset of available vehicles for the user ride request.

Abstract: A photoacoustic catheter adapted for placement within a blood vessel having a vessel wall includes an elongate shaft, a balloon and a photoacoustic transducer. The elongate shaft can extend from a proximal region to a distal region. The elongate shaft can include a light guide that is configured to be placed in optical communication with a light source. The balloon is coupled to the elongate shaft, and can be configured to expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the photoacoustic catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the photoacoustic catheter in position relative to a treatment site. The photoacoustic transducer can be disposed on a surface of the balloon and in optical communication with the light guide. The photoacoustic transducer can include a light-absorbing material and a thermal expansion material.

Abstract: A catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures at a treatment site within or adjacent a blood vessel wall includes a catheter, a fortified balloon inflation fluid and a first light guide. The catheter includes an elongate shaft and a balloon that is coupled to the elongate shaft. The balloon has a balloon wall and can expand to a first expanded configuration to anchor the catheter in position relative. The fortified balloon inflation fluid can expand the balloon to the first expanded configuration. The fortified balloon inflation fluid includes a base inflation fluid and a fortification component. The fortification component reduces a threshold for inducing plasma formation in the fortified balloon inflation fluid compared to the base inflation fluid. The fortification component can include at least one of carbon and iron. The first light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is positioned at least partially within the balloon.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying a wire around one or more objects, such as concrete reinforcing includes a wire feed roller configured to pass a wire around the objects to form a loop, a wire twister configured to twist the sides of the loop together, and a guiding surface arranged to deflect the wire as it is being twisted so that the ends of the wire finish pointing at least partially in the direction of the objects being tied.

Abstract: A method of drying sticks, a related apparatus, resultant product and its uses where the method involves presenting a plurality of sticks in parallel as a single layer, pressing each stick with a bank of pressing members on and/or into at least one face of the sticks, each with plurality of protuberances, thereby to constrain the sticks against crook, and drying the sticks when so constrained. Preferably each bank of pressing members is an underside of a frame or lattice of a stack of such frames or lattices able to receive such a single layer of sticks between adjacent overlying/underlying frames or lattices, the protuberances preferably being only downwardly directed.

Abstract: A method of drying sticks, a related apparatus, resultant product and its uses where the method involves presenting a plurality of sticks in parallel as a single layer, pressing each stick with a bank of pressing members on and/or into at least one face of the sticks, each with plurality of protuberances, thereby to constrain the sticks against crook, and drying the sticks when so constrained. Preferably each bank of pressing members is an underside of a frame or lattice of a stack of such frames or lattices able to receive such a single layer of sticks between adjacent overlying/underlying frames or lattices, the protuberances preferably being only downwardly directed.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying a wire around one or more objects, such as concrete reinforcing includes a wire feed roller configured to pass a wire around the objects to form a loop, a wire twister configured to twist the sides of the loop together, and a guiding surface arranged to deflect the wire as it is being twisted so that the ends of the wire finish pointing at least partially in the direction of the objects being tied.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying a wire 46; 52 around one or more objects such as concrete reinforcing bars 2 is disclosed. It comprises means for passing the wire 46; 52 in a loop around the bars and a rotatable head 4 for twisting the ends of the loop together. The head 4 has at least one gripping means such as a variable force clutch 32 for gripping the wire, the gripping means being adapted to provide a variable gripping force so as to apply a predetermined tension to the wire during at least a first phase of twisting. Also disclosed is pre-feeding the wire between tying operations; conditioning the surface of the wire; and using the electrical conductivity of the reinforcing bars to verify that the bars are present before tying.

Abstract: A method of drying sticks, a related apparatus, resultant product and its uses where the method involves presenting a plurality of sticks in parallel as a single layer, pressing each stick with a bank of pressing members on and/or into at least one face of the sticks, each with plurality of protuberances, thereby to constrain the sticks against crook, and drying the sticks when so constrained. Preferably each bank of pressing members is an underside of a frame or lattice of a stack of such frames or lattices able to receive such a single layer of sticks between adjacent overlying/underlying frames or lattices, the protuberances preferably being only downwardly directed.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying a wire 46; 52 around one or more objects such as concrete reinforcing bars 2 is disclosed. It comprises means for passing the wire 46; 52 in a loop around the bars and a rotatable head 4 for twisting the ends of the loop together. The head 4 has at least one gripping means such as a variable force clutch 32 for gripping the wire, the gripping means being adapted to provide a variable gripping force so as to apply a predetermined tension to the wire during at least a first phase of twisting. Also disclosed is pre-feeding the wire between tying operations; conditioning the surface of the wire; and using the electrical conductivity of the reinforcing bars to verify that the bars are present before tying.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying a wire (46, 52) around one or more objects such as concrete reinforcing bars (2) is disclosed. It comprises means for passing the wire (46, 52) in a loop around the bars and a rotatable head 4 for twisting the ends of the loop together. The head (4) has at least one gripping means such as a variable force clutch (32) for gripping the wire, the gripping means being adapted to provide a variable gripping force so as to apply a predetermined tension to the wire during at least a first phase of twisting. Also disclosed is pre-feeding the wire between tying operations; conditioning the surface of the wire; and using the electrical conductivity of the reinforcing bars to verify that the bars are present before tying.

Abstract: A method of drying sticks, a related apparatus, resultant product and its uses where the method involves presenting a plurality of sticks in parallel as a single layer, pressing each stick with a bank of pressing members on and/or into at least one face of the sticks, each with plurality of protuberances, thereby to constrain the sticks against crook, and drying the sticks when so constrained. Preferably each bank of pressing members is an underside of a frame or lattice of a stack of such frames or lattices able to receive such a single layer of sticks between adjacent overlying/underlying frames or lattices, the protuberances preferably being only downwardly directed.

Abstract: A method of drying sticks, a related apparatus, resultant product and its uses where the method involves presenting a plurality of sticks in parallel as a single layer, pressing each stick with a bank of pressing members on and/or into at least one face of the sticks, each with plurality of protuberances, thereby to constrain the sticks against crook, and drying the sticks when so constrained. Preferably each bank of pressing members is an underside of a frame or lattice of a stack of such frames or lattices able to receive such a single layer of sticks between adjacent overlying/underlying frames or lattices, the protuberances preferably being only downwardly directed.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying a wire (46, 52) around one or more objects such as concrete reinforcing bars (2) is disclosed. It comprises means for passing the wire (46, 52) in a loop around the bars and a rotatable head 4 for twisting the ends of the loop together. The head (4) has at least one gripping means such as a variable force clutch (32) for gripping the wire, the gripping means being adapted to provide a variable gripping force so as to apply a predetermined tension to the wire during at least a first phase of twisting. Also disclosed is pre-feeding the wire between tying operations; conditioning the surface of the wire; and using the electrical conductivity of the reinforcing bars to verify that the bars are present before tying.

Abstract: A method of treatment of a disease of the human or animal body mediated by PARP comprising administering to such a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula: or an isomer, salt, solvate, chemically protected form, and prodrug thereof, wherein: A and B together represent an optionally substituted, fused aromatic ring; RC is represented by -L-RL, where L is of formula: —(CH2)n1-Qn2-(CH2)n3— wherein n1, n2 and n3 are each selected from 0, 1, 2 and 3, the sum of n1, n2 and n3 is 1, 2 or 3 and Q is selected from O, S, NH, C(?O) or —CR1R2—, where R1 and R2 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen or optionally substituted C1-7 alkyl, or may together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a C3-7 cyclic alkyl group, which may be saturated (a C3-7 cycloalkyl group) or unsaturated (a C3-7 cycloalkenyl group), or one of R1 and R2 may be attached to an atom in RL to form an unsaturated C3-7 cycloalkenyl group which comprises the carbon atoms to which R1 and R2 are a

Abstract: A method of treatment of a disease of the human or animal body mediated by PARP comprising administering to such a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula: or an isomer, salt, solvate, chemically protected form, and prodrug thereof, wherein: A and B together represent an optionally substituted, fused aromatic ring; RC is represented by —L—RL, where L is of formula: —(CH2)n1-Qn2-(CH2)n3— wherein n1, n2 and n3 are each selected from 0, 1, 2 and 3, the sum of n1, n2 and n3 is 1, 2 or 3 and Q is selected from O, S, NH, C(?O) or —CR1R2—, where R1 and R2 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen or optionally substituted C1-7 alkyl, or may together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a C3-7 cyclic alkyl group, which may be saturated (a C3-7 cycloalkyl group) or unsaturated (a C3-7 cycloalkenyl group), or one of R1 and R2 may be attached to an atom in RL to form an unsaturated C3-7 cycloalkenyl group which comprises the carbon atoms to which R1 and R2 are a

Abstract: A water meter has a measurement insert disposed in a meter housing, a measurement display, an intake connection and a discharge connection. An impeller is disposed on a shaft in a measurement insert housing, also referred to as impeller bowl. A first shaft end of the shaft interacts with the measurement display. The meter housing has, on a side facing away from the first shaft end, referred to as a lower side below, recesses or openings for receiving fasteners for fastening a cover, and a calibrating device for adjusting the measurement display. The calibrating device is inserted into at least one of the openings that can be closed by the cover.

Abstract: A multi-piece safety wheel includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, interlocking bosses and tabs on the inner rim portion and outer rim portion. In the event of improper disassembly of the wheel with an inflated tire mounted thereon, any failure of the wheel assembly fasteners will result in the outer rim portion separating from the inner rim portion a sufficient distance to vent air pressure from within the tire, at which point the interlocking bosses and tabs resist further movement of the outer rim portion. The outer rim portion is thereby resisted from becoming a potentially dangerous projectile. A method of safely deflating the tire upon improper disassembly of the multi-piece safety wheel is also provided.

Abstract: A water meter has a measurement insert disposed in a meter housing, a measurement display, an intake connection and a discharge connection. An impeller is disposed on a shaft in a measurement insert housing, and a first shaft end of the shaft interacts with the measurement display. A supporting part is disposed between the meter housing and the measurement insert housing. Because of the supporting part, forces, acting in the axial direction of a second shaft end of the shaft through the measurement insert housing, can be absorbed and the forces can be conducted into the meter housing.