Abstract: Connection devices for connecting a drainage gutter to a further functional element (10), for example to an inlet box, are known, which comprise an adapter plate (20) to which the drainage gutter can be connected. In order to ensure simple assembly on the building site in combination with a high degree of tightness, it is proposed to provide a cast-in part (40) which can be tightly cast into a wall of the functional element (10) and comprises fastening devices by means of which the adapter plate (20) can be fixedly connected to the cast-in part (40) in such a way that a flow space (2) of the drainage gutter can be tightly connected to an interior of the functional part (10) via a transfer space.

Abstract: Devices and methods for locking and/or cutting tethers during a tissue modification procedure are described. In some variations, a tether may be used to tighten or compress tissue by bringing two pieces or sections of the tissue together. The tether, which may be under tension, may be locked to maintain the tension, and excess tether may be severed, using one or more of the devices and/or methods. The devices and/or methods may be used, for example, in minimally invasive procedures.

Abstract: A positionable stent-graft delivery system includes a stent-graft, a tip capture mechanism radially constraining a proximal portion of an anchor stent ring of the stent-graft, and a positioning mechanism for positioning the tip capture mechanism. The positioning mechanism includes tensioner guides and cords. To position the tip capture mechanism, a cord is retracted through the respective tensioner guide, e.g., by the physician. Retraction of the cord, in turn, pulls the tip capture mechanism towards a distal end of the tensioner guide. In this manner, the stent-graft is readily repositioned.

Abstract: Methods and devices for successively advancing a plurality of catheters over a guide element to a body tissue are described. In some of the methods, the guide element may be attached to the body tissue, which may be accessible minimally invasively. In certain variations, the guide element may not be detached from the body tissue after the catheters have been advanced over the guide element. The methods may further comprise deploying at least one implant from at least one of the plurality of catheters. In some variations, a method may comprise advancing a first delivery catheter to a first region of a body tissue, deploying a first anchor from the first delivery catheter, where the first anchor is attached to a guide element, proximally withdrawing the first delivery catheter, advancing a second delivery catheter over the guide element, and deploying a second anchor from the second delivery catheter.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for testing the surface of hard disk platters having vertically oriented magnetic domains is disclosed. According to the method of the present invention, all of the magnetic domains on the surface of the disk to be tested are oriented in the same direction, so that the magnetic field intensity adjacent to the surface is ideally uniform. The surface is then scanned using a read head to identify perturbations in the magnetic field intensity which correlate to surface defects.

Abstract: An intravascular delivery catheter includes a middle member or manipulator to ameliorate the effect of buckling of the graft cover during the tracking or positioning of the delivery device within a body flow lumen to deploy an exclusion device, such a stent graft. The delivery device/catheter includes a region or regions of lower resistance to bending than other portions of the delivery device, which are positioned, within the delivery device, to preferentially bend the delivery system at locations where buckling will have minimal effect upon the deployment of the exclusion device from the delivery system.