Abstract: Multiple component heart valves and apparatus and methods for implanting them are provided. The heart valve generally includes a first annular prosthesis and a second valve prosthesis. The first prosthesis includes an annular member compressible from a relaxed condition to a contracted condition to facilitate delivery into a biological annulus, the annular member being resiliently expandable towards the relaxed condition. The first prosthesis also includes guide rails extending therefrom. The second prosthesis includes an annular frame, valve elements, and receptacles for receiving respective guide rails therethrough when the second prosthesis is directed towards the first prosthesis. In addition, a valve holder may releasably carry the valve prosthesis that includes channels for receiving respective guide rails therethrough when the guide rails are received through the valve prosthesis.

Abstract: A heart valve assembly includes an annular prosthesis and a plurality of guide shields removably attached around a circumference of the annular prosthesis. A plurality of elongate guide rails extend from the annular prosthesis, which are releasably retained by the guide shields. During use, the annular prosthesis is directed into a biological annulus, e.g., with the guide rails retained by the guide shields, and secured to tissue surrounding the biological annulus using fasteners. The guide rails are released from the guide shields, and a valve prosthesis is advanced over the leaders and through a passage defined by the guide shields towards the annular prosthesis. The guide rails may include retentions elements that secure the valve prosthesis to the annular prosthesis. The guide shields are removed from the annular prosthesis, the guide rails are separated from the annular prosthesis, and are removed from the biological annulus.

Abstract: A valve introducer is provided for delivering a valve prosthesis into a biological annulus. During use, a gasket member is introduced into the biological annulus, and secured relative to the biological annulus. A distal end of a valve introducer is introduced into a passage communicating with the biological annulus, and disposed adjacent the gasket member. A valve prosthesis is advanced through the valve introducer towards the gasket member, and secured to the gasket member. In one embodiment, the valve introducer and valve prosthesis have corresponding shapes, requiring the valve prosthesis to be oriented to properly align the valve prosthesis before advancing the valve prosthesis into the valve introducer. Optionally, the valve introducer is compressed or otherwise manipulated to reduce a profile of the distal end before introduction into the passage, which may facilitate introducing the valve introducer through the passage, e.g., past the sino-tubular junction.

Abstract: A heart valve assembly includes a prosthesis for receiving a prosthetic valve to replace a preexisting natural or prosthetic heart valve within a biological annulus adjacent a sinus cavity. The prosthesis includes an annular member, a sewing cuff extending radially outwardly from the annular member and a plurality of guide rails extending from the prosthesis. The prosthetic valve includes an annular member, at least one valve and receptacles for receiving the guide rails. Locking tabs positioned on the guide rails engage with locking windows in the receptacles to attach the prosthetic valve with the prosthetic valve.

Abstract: A fastener delivery tool includes a loading chamber for receiving a fastener having a pair of tines overlapping one another to define a loop in a parent or relaxed state. A retaining member retains the fastener in the loading chamber. The fastener delivery tool also includes a tongue, pusher member, and an ejection track communicating with the loading chamber. An actuator causes the tongue to move to engage the tines of the fastener to transform the fastener from the relaxed state to a constrained state defining a U-shape. The actuator also causes the pusher member to release the retaining member and advance the fastener down the ejection track in the constrained state. The tool also includes a trigger for ejecting the fastener completely from the ejection track. The fastener may be used to secure a prosthetic heart valve or components thereof into surrounding tissue, e.g., within a tissue annulus.

Abstract: A heavy fraction oil is catalytically cracked by contacting the oil with a catalyst mixture consisting of 60 to 95 wt % of a base cracking catalyst containing an ultra stable Y-type zeolite and less than 0.5 wt % of rare-earth metal oxide, and 5 to 40 wt % of an additive containing a shape-selective zeolite, in a fluid catalytic cracking apparatus under conditions that a reaction zone outlet temperature is in the range of 580 to 630° C., the catalyst/oil ratio is in the range of 15 to 40 wt/wt, and the contact time of hydrocarbons in the reaction zone is in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 seconds, wherein the yield of light-fraction olefins can be enhanced.

Abstract: A heavy fraction oil is catalytically cracked by contacting the oil with a catalyst mixture consisting of 60 to 95 wt % of a base cracking catalyst containing an ultra stable Y-type zeolite and less than 0.5 wt % of rare-earth metal oxide, and 5 to 40 wt % of an additive containing a shape-selective zeolite, in a fluid catalytic cracking apparatus having a regeneration zone, a down flow-type reaction zone, a separation zone, and a stripping zone, and under conditions that a reaction zone outlet temperature is in the range of 580 to 630° C., the catalyst/oil ratio is in the range of 15 to 40 wt/wt, and the contact time of hydrocarbons in the reaction zone is in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 seconds. According to the fluid catalytic cracking process, the yield of light-fraction olefins can be enhanced.

Abstract: A vacuum gas oil treated with hydrogen, with the hydrogen partial pressure higher than 80 kg/cm2G, is catalytically cracked in a fluid catalytic cracking apparatus having a regeneration zone, reaction zone, separation zone, and stripping zone, under conditions that a reaction zone outlet temperature is in the range of 550 to 630° C. and a contact time of hydrocarbons in the reaction zone is in the range of 0.01 to 1.0 sec. According to the fluid catalytic cracking process, a yield of light fraction olefins can be enhanced while a yield of coke can be lessened.

Abstract: There is provided a catalyst that is highly resistant to sulfur and nitrogen compounds and active for hydrogenation and shows a low hydrocracking rate and a long service life as well as a method of converting aromatic hydrocarbons in hydrocarbon oil containing sulfur and nitrogen compounds into saturated hydrocarbons by using such a catalyst. A method of hydrogenating aromatic hydrocarbons in hydrocarbon oil containing 80 wt % or more of a fraction having a boiling point of 170 to 390° C. and said aromatic hydrocarbons is characterized in that the hydrocarbon oil is brought into contact with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst containing clay minerals having principal ingredients of Si and Mg as carrier and at least one of the VIII-group metals of periodic table as active metal.

Abstract: A heavy fraction oil is catalytically cracked by contacting the oil with a catalyst containing an ultrastable Y-type zeolite, in a fluid catalytic cracking apparatus having a regenerating zone, a reaction zone, a separation zone and a stripping zone and under conditions that a reaction zone outlet temperature is in a range of 550 to 700.degree. C., a catalyst/oil ratio is in a range of 15 to 100 wt/wt, and a difference between a regenerating zone catalyst concentration phase temperature (1) and the reaction zone outlet temperature (2) is in a range of 5 to 150.degree. C. According to the fluid catalytic cracking process, an amount of dry gases generated by the thermal cracking of the heavy fraction oil can be lessened while a yield of light fraction olefins can be enhanced.

Abstract: A process of producing a fuel gas for fuel cells, which comprises the steps of: a) treating kerosine having a sulfur content not higher than 5 ppm with a desulfurizing agent to reduce the sulfur content of said treated kerosine to 0.2 ppm or less and b) contacting said treated kerosine from step a) with a steam reforming catalyst to provide a fuel gas mainly composed of hydrogen, said desulfurizing agent in step a) comprising a copper-nickel alloy having a copper to nickel ratio by weight of 80:20 to 20:80 and at least one carrier selected from the group consisting of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZnO and MgO, and the total content of copper and nickel in terms of metals in said desulfurizing agent being in the range of 40 to 70% by weight.

Abstract: A process for the fluid catalytic cracking of heavy fraction oils containing heavy metals such as Ni and V, which comprises withdrawing a portion of ferrite-containing catalyst particles circulating in a fluid catalytic cracking apparatus, separating the thus withdrawn catalyst particles into metals-richly deposited catalyst particles and metals-poorly deposited ones by using a magnetic separator and then returning the metals-poorly deposited catalyst particles, together with fresh ferrite-containing catalyst particles, into said cracking apparatus.

Abstract: Resin compositions containing (a) unsaturated polyester, (b) polymerizable monomer, (c) thermoplastic resin, (d) a polymerization initiator, and (e) hollow glass microspheres with a true density of 0.5 to 1.3 g/cm.sup.3 and an elution alkalinity of 0.05 meq/g or less; molding materials obtained by impregnating glass fibers with such resin compositions; and molded products obtained by curing such molding materials.The molding materials have a superior workability and are useful for the production of parts to be coated, such as automotive external body panels. The molded products are light in weight and are highly resistant to water. Defective adhesion of coating or blisters does not occur.

Abstract: Quickly curable unsaturated polyester composition with improved surface characteristics and stability in storage contains 20-40 weight parts of unsaturated polyester, 20-60 weight parts of vinyl monomer, 0.01-1.0 weight parts of BHT (ditertiary butyl hydroxy toluene), and 10-40 weight parts of thermoplastic resin such that the total is 100 weight parts. In addition, 0.001-0.1 weight parts of compound with effect of inhibiting polymerization at temperatures over 100.degree. C. are contained against the total of 100 weight parts. Molding materials are obtained by impregnating glass fibers with such compositions and products are obtained by curing such molding materials.

Abstract: A method of producing a catalyst for converting hydrocarbons involves spray-drying a slurry containing crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite and magnesium silicate mineral. The magnesium silicate mineral functioning as a metal trap contains 10 to 60 wt % of magnesium as an oxide. The magnesium silicate mineral has been treated with a phosphorus-containing solution.

Abstract: A catalyst for the steam reforming of hydrocarbons characterized in that 0.1-2 wt. % of ruthenium is carried on a carrier which comprises 5-40 wt. % of ceria or rare element oxides containing ceria as the main ingredient and 60-95 wt. % of alumina, and that an atomic ratio of cerium to ruthenium (Ce/Ru) in the catalyst is in the range of from more than 10 to 200.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of manufacturing a hydrocarbon conversion catalyst by spray-drying a slurry containing alumina-magnesia and a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite, which is characterized in that the alumina-magnesia is treated with phosphoric acid containing solution before or after the slurry is subjected to a treatment of spray-drying.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon conversion with a catalyst comprising 3 to 40 weight percent of a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite and 60 to 97 weight percent of an alumina-magnesia matrix having a magnesia content of 2 to 50 weight percent.

Abstract: Provided is a hydrocarbon conversion catalyst comprising 3 to 40 weight percent of a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite and 60 to 97 weight percent of an alumina-magnesia matrix having a magnesia content of 2 to 50 weight percent.