Abstract: A method of forming a balloon for medical purposes comprising co-extruding in a tubular shape a base structural layer of a member selected from the group consisting oft polyamides, polycarbonates, polyesters and copolymers thereof and a heat sealable layer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and copolymers thereof. The tubular member is then biaxially oriented by inflating the tube with a gas to a predetermined central diameter greater then the initial diameter of the tube and simultaneously heating the inflated tube to a temperature sufficient to biaxially orient the base structural layer. The member is then cooled the inflated tubular member and then elevated in temperature for a second time to the biaxially orienting temperature. The twice-heated tube is allowed to cool and the gas is withdrawn whereby the tubular member will assume a generally tubular shape and the main structural layer will remain biaxially orientated and the heat sealable layer will not be biaxially orientated.

Abstract: A prosthesis delivery system having a balloon catheter with an inflatable balloon on its exterior. The balloon is inflatable by injection of fluid through a lumen in the catheter and the balloon is initially partially constrained against inflation by a constraint. A tubular prosthesis is disposed on the catheter over at least a portion of the balloon and a portion of the constraint. The tubular prosthesis has a contracted condition and an expanded condition. The tubular prosthesis is initially disposed on the catheter in the contracted condition. Further, a balloon catheter includes a constraint so that the balloon may be sequentially,inflated for dilatation purposes such as in a valvuloplasty operation.

Abstract: A stent comprising a plurality of continuous filaments braided together, at least one filament comprising a tapered filament having at least one first region having a first, relatively-larger cross-sectional area and at least one second region having a second, relatively-smaller cross-sectional area. The stent itself may have a tapered diameter, such as from one end to the other.

Abstract: A method and stent for treating a lumen, the stent comprising a plurality of continuous filaments braided together, at least one filament comprising a tapered filament having at least one first region having a first, relatively-larger cross-sectional area and at least one second region having a second, relatively-smaller cross-sectional area. The stent itself may have a tapered diameter, such as from one end to the other.

Abstract: A multi-sheath delivery catheter and method for introducing a prosthesis into a body lumen involving use of (a) an outer sheath adapted to contain a portion of the prosthesis and having an inner surface with a non-round cross-section; (b) a middle sheath slideably disposed at least partly within the outer sheath and adapted to contain another portion of the prosthesis, the middle sheath having a distal end with a first handle attached to it that has a non-round cross-section corresponding to and engaging the non-round cross-section of the inner surface of the outer sheath; and (c) a pusher slideably disposed at least partly within the middle sheath and adapted to engage the prosthesis, whereby relative rotational movement between the outer sheath and the middle sheath is prevented by virtue of the engagement of the non-round cross-section of the first handle with the non-round cross-section of the inner surface of the outer sheath.

Abstract: A prosthesis delivery system having a balloon catheter with an inflatable balloon on its exterior. The balloon is inflatable by injection of fluid through a lumen in the catheter and the balloon is initially partially constrained against inflation by a constraint. A tubular prosthesis is disposed on the catheter over at least a portion of the balloon and a portion of the constraint. The tubular prosthesis has a contracted condition and an expanded condition. The tubular prosthesis is initially disposed on the catheter in the contracted condition. Further, a balloon catheter includes a constraint so that the balloon may be sequentially inflated for dilatation purposes such as in a valvuloplasty operation.

Abstract: A modular jack includes a substantially rectangular dielectric receptacle housing having a front face, a bottom board mounting wall, and a top, rear and a pair of side walls substantially surrounding a plug-receiving cavity. The cavity extends rearwardly from the front face for receiving a mating plug connector. In order to limit insertion of an undersized plug into a full-sized plug-receiving cavity in the receptacle housing, a stop surface is incorporated into a flexible stop member projecting from the housing and extending into the plug-receiving cavity. The stop surface is located within the cavity so as to ensure contact with a leading edge of an undersized plug upon insertion of the undersized plug into the cavity. A sliding surface is also incorporated into the flexible member. The sliding surface is located within the cavity so as to ensure contact with a leading edge of a plug upon insertion into the cavity of a mating plug having a width appropriate for mating with the jack.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing having a plurality of receptacles, including a top receptacle, for receiving a plurality of mating plugs. A light guide is operatively associated with each receptacle and its respective mating plug to signal a circuit condition thereof. All of the light guides have front ends viewable at the front of the housing above the top receptacle. Each front end has an indicator to visually indicate the receptacle with which the respective light guide is operatively associated.

Abstract: In a medical treatment device implanted within the body of a patient, a system and method for organizing storage of the device's firmware in ROM, RAM, and EEPROM such that a ROM-based system is implemented initially using pointers stored in RAM, which RAM-based pointers point to ROM-based functions. When revisions to the functionality of the treatment device are desired, code is downlinked via an external programmer and telemetry to link to RAM, and one or more pointers, as appropriate, which pointers point to the downlinked code in RAM, are downlinked to RAM. In this manner, revisions to the firmware of an implanted medical treatment device can be downlinked to the device thereby eliminating the need to explant the device in certain circumstances. The amount of code placed in ROM is maximized, with only pointers to functions and new or revised code segments stored in RAM as needed.

Abstract: This invention provides smooth delivery and accurate positioning of prostheses in the body. In embodiments, systems are provided that include elongate members extending generally along the axis of a supporting catheter to a free ends. The elongate members extend through openings in the prosthesis to maintain the position of the prosthesis on the catheter. The prosthesis can be released from the catheter by relative axial motion of the catheter and the elongate members such that the free ends are removed from the openings in the prosthesis. In embodiments, the elongate members hold the distal end of a self-expanding stent at a desired axial location and in radial compaction as a restraining sheath is withdrawn. The friction between the sheath and stent puts the stent under tension, which reduces the radial force on the sheath wall, allowing smoother retraction. Proximal portions of the stent radially expand and axially shorten.

Abstract: This invention provides smooth delivery and accurate positioning of prostheses in the body. In embodiments, systems are provided that include elongate members extending generally along the axis of a supporting catheter to a free ends. The elongate members extend through openings in the prosthesis to maintain the position of the prosthesis on the catheter. The prosthesis can be released from the catheter by relative axial motion of the catheter and the elongate members such that the free ends are removed from the openings in the prosthesis. In embodiments, the elongate members hold the distal end of a self-expanding stent at a desired axial location and in radial compaction as a restraining sheath is withdrawn. The friction between the sheath and stent puts the stent under tension, which reduces the radial force on the sheath wall, allowing smoother retraction. Proximal portions of the stent radially expand and axially shorten.

Abstract: The liner retainer assembly includes a cylinder that is mounted on a module of the fluid end of a pump. The cylinder has an aperture for receiving a liner and a retaining piston. A retaining nut is secured on the end of the retaining piston and engages one end of the liner. The retaining piston forms a fluid cavity and a spring cavity within the cylinder. The spring cavity houses a plurality of springs which bias the piston, retaining member, and liner towards the module, thus providing a resilient securing force. The fluid cavity communicates with a supply of hydraulic fluid for biasing the piston away from the module to relieve the springs. By pressurizing the fluid cavity, the springs are compressed to disengage the retaining member from the liner and allow the unthreading of the retaining member and then the removal of the liner.

Abstract: Entertainment content complementary to a musical recording is delivered to a user's computer by means of a computer network link. The user employs a browser to access the computer network. A plug-in for the browser is able to control an audio CD or other device for playing the musical recording. A script stored on the remote computer accessed over the network is downloaded. The script synchronizes the delivery of the complementary entertainment content with the play of the musical recording.

Abstract: A method of forming a balloon for medical purposes including co-extruding in a tubular shape a base structural layer of polyamides, polycarbonates, polyesters and copolymers thereof and a heat sealable layer of polyethylene and copolymers thereof. The tubular member is then biaxially oriented by inflating the tube with a gas to a predetermined central diameter greater then the initial diameter of the tube and simultaneously heating the inflated tube to a temperature sufficient to biaxially orient the base structural layer. The member is then cooled the inflated tubular member and then elevated in temperature for a second time to the biaxially orienting temperature. The twice-heated tube is allowed to cool and the gas is withdrawn whereby the tubular member will assume a generally tubular shape and the main structural layer will remain biaxially orientated and the heat sealable layer will not be biaxially orientated.

Abstract: A self-expanding metal wire stent made of shape memory alloy such as nitinol in which a plurality of spaced sections of closed cells are interconnected by straight sections of wire which may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent or may be disposed angularly with respect thereto.