Abstract: A catheter balloon having improved steerability is disclosed having a transition between a soft distal tip and a relatively stiffer working portion of a balloon carrying a stent, in the form of a support sleeve on the inner member. The support sleeve provides stiffness to the taper portion of the balloon and also allows precise location of a radio opaque marker. The support sleeve can have a varying thickness or be made of a combination of materials to yield an increasing or decreasing stiffness along the support sleeve to provide an even smoother transition along the balloon's length.

Abstract: A fluid-energy mill for size reduction of a material includes a manifold defining a grinding chamber having a first radius extending from a center of the grinding chamber, a gas inlet, a feed inlet, and an outlet. The feed inlet is positioned such that the material enters the grinding chamber tangent to a second radius extending from the center and larger than the first radius. The fluid-energy mill includes a cover for enclosing the grinding chamber. The manifold defines a non-circular groove around the grinding chamber, and a seal is positioned within the groove. The grinding chamber is cycloid-shaped. The manifold defines a protective pocket and a barrier at a region where the material enters the grinding chamber. The feed inlet includes a feed gas inlet, a material funnel, and a venturi. An intersection of the feed gas inlet and the material funnel form an elliptical hole. The feed inlet is oriented at an angle of about 30 degrees or more to a horizontal.

Abstract: A fluid-energy mill for size reduction of a material includes a manifold defining a grinding chamber having a first radius extending from a center of the grinding chamber, a gas inlet, a feed inlet, and an outlet. The feed inlet is positioned such that the material enters the grinding chamber tangent to a second radius extending from the center and larger than the first radius. The fluid-energy mill includes a cover for enclosing the grinding chamber. The manifold defines a non-circular groove around the grinding chamber, and a seal is positioned within the groove. The grinding chamber is cycloid-shaped. The manifold defines a protective pocket and a barrier at a region where the material enters the grinding chamber. The feed inlet includes a feed gas inlet, a material funnel, and a venturi. An intersection of the feed gas inlet and the material funnel form an elliptical hole. The feed inlet is oriented at an angle of about 30 degrees or more to a horizontal.

Abstract: A fluid-energy mill includes a one-piece manifold defining a grinding chamber, a gas inlet, a feed inlet, and a feed outlet. The fluid-energy mill includes a cover for enclosing the grinding chamber. The manifold defines a non-circular groove around the grinding chamber, and a seal is positioned within the groove. The grinding chamber is cycloid-shaped, and the feed inlet is positioned such that feed enters the grinding chamber tangent to a circle larger than a diameter of the grinding chamber. The manifold defines a protective pocket and a barrier at a region where feed enters the grinding chamber. The feed inlet includes a feed gas inlet, a feed particle funnel, and a venturi. An intersection of the feed gas inlet and the feed particle funnel form an elliptical hole.

Abstract: The absorption of a spacer material in a Fabry-Perot type structure is changed to achieve an optical switching function. In one embodiment, the spacer material is a semiconductor material and an electronic control signal changes the Fabry-Perot between a transmissive state and a reflective state. In the reflective state, the device operates as a switch can be modeled as a mirror on a substrate of quasi-infinite thickness. In a further embodiment, a wavelength-selective optical component is placed between the input of the switch and the Fabry-Perot structure to improve the spectral response of the switch.

Abstract: A controllable pitch marine propeller includes a hub body having a forward section provided with holes for bolts and locating and torque pins and a frontal surface that mates with a hub flange and an internal flange that defines an annular cavity and receives a cup-shaped cross-head. A hub flange and propeller shaft assembly comprises separate hub flange and shaft members joined by at least one weldment formed in a tapered weld cavity and protected by a liner shrink-fitted on the perimeter of the hub flange and a removable plate sealed to the hub liner and the shaft liner.

Abstract: A controllable pitch marine propeller comprises a hub body carrying a plurality of propeller blades for rotation about pivot axes disposed radially of the hub axis, a force rod extending into the hub body from the propeller shaft, and a cross-head affixed to the force rod and coupled to each propeller blade by a pin and slideway such that the propeller pitch is controlled by fore and aft movements of the force rod. The hub body has a tubular mount spigot that receives the aft end of the shaft with the shaft and mount spigot terminating aftward of the pivot axes of the blades. The cross-head is generally cup-shaped, having a base portion affixed to the force rod aftward of the pivot axes of the blades and a tubular portion extending forewardly from the base portion and surrounding aftward portions of the spigot in telescoping relation. The cross-head in supported in plain bearing relation by the hub body for fore and aft movements.