Abstract: Aspects of an expandable sheath can be used in conjunction with a catheter assembly to introduce a prosthetic device, such as a heart valve, into a patient. Such aspects can minimize trauma to the vessel by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the introducer sheath to accommodate the delivery apparatus, followed by a return to the original diameter once the prosthetic device passes through. Some aspects can include a sheath with a tubular inner liner wound in a spiral configuration such that a plurality of protrusions is disposed in an overlapping portion of the sheath. The disclosed sheath is configured to expand from a predetermined rest diameter dr to an expanded diameter de during application of a radial outward force by passage of a medical device through the sheath.

Abstract: A vehicle alarm system configured to avoid false alarms while maintaining the vehicle alarm system armed. The vehicle alarm system includes: at least a first sensor configured to detect at least a first living object; a processing circuitry operatively connected to the least a first sensor configured to cause the vehicle alarm system to: detect at least a first living object inside of a vehicle by the at least first sensor; and reduce, or unarm, at least a first alarm function of the vehicle alarm system in response to detecting the at least first living object, while at least a second alarm function of the vehicle alarm system is configured to be armed.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes an annular frame that is radially collapsible and expandable between a radially collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. The frame has a plurality of circumferentially extending rows of angled struts, each row of angled struts comprising angled struts arranged in a zig-zag pattern. The prosthetic heart valve further includes a leaflet structure positioned within the frame and secured thereto, and an outer sealing member mounted outside of the frame. The sealing member has an undulating outflow edge portion forming a plurality of triangular projections that are connected to and shaped to correspond to the zig-zag pattern of one of the rows of angled struts. The outer sealing member is sized to fit snugly against the outer surface of the frame when the frame is in the expanded configuration.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for a peristaltic pump is provided. Each of a first pair of roller assemblies includes a first roller portion having a first diameter and a second roller portion having a second diameter. The first diameter is larger than the second diameter. Each of a second pair of roller assemblies includes a first roller portion having a first diameter and a second roller portion having a second diameter. The first diameter is smaller than the second diameter. The first and second pairs of roller assemblies are positionable around a circumference of a hub such that the first roller portion of the first pair of roller assemblies is aligned with the first roller portion of the second pair of roller assemblies and the second roller portion of the first pair of roller assemblies is aligned with the second roller portion of the second pair of roller assemblies.

Abstract: Aspects of an expandable sheath can be used in conjunction with a catheter assembly to introduce a prosthetic device, such as a heart valve, into a patient. Such aspects can minimize trauma to the vessel by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the introducer sheath to accommodate the delivery apparatus, followed by a return to the original diameter once the prosthetic device passes through. Some aspects can include a sheath with a tubular inner liner wound in a helical scroll slidable configuration. The disclosed sheath is configured to expand from a predetermined rest diameter dr to an expanded diameter de during the application of a radial outward force by passage of a medical device through the sheath.

Abstract: Various systems, devices, and methods are described herein pertaining to expandable sheaths. Sheath aspects are described that include a flexible sheath tip that is expandable and bendable. In some aspects, the sheath includes a radially expandable proximal end and a radially expandable distal end. In some aspects, the sheath tip includes a plurality of layers that expand to accept a medical device traveling axially and bi-directionally therethrough with minimal deformation of the sheath tip.

Abstract: Aspects of an expandable sheath can be used in conjunction with a catheter assembly to introduce a prosthetic device, such as a heart valve, into a patient. Such aspects can minimize trauma to the vessel by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the introducer sheath to accommodate the delivery apparatus, followed by a return to the original diameter once the prosthetic device passes through. Some aspects can include a sheath with a tubular inner liner wound in a spiral configuration at least a portion of the outer surface of the sheet comprises a plurality of bonding sites that are at least partially embedded within the sheet and disposed such that the outer surface of the sheet in the overlapping portion is substantially free of the plurality of bonding sites.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle, where one or more key devices are associated with the vehicle. The one or more associated key devices are adapted for allowing a user of the vehicle to initiate a vehicle starting operation. The method includes the steps: initiating a vehicle shut-off sequence after initiation of the vehicle starting operation, where the vehicle shut-off sequence is initiated upon receipt of a shut-off request, where the vehicle shut-off sequence includes a searching operation for detecting associated key devices within a boundary of the vehicle; and controlling the vehicle to entering a conditional operation mode when detecting that no associated key devices are within the boundary, wherein the conditional operation mode is authorizing a pre-determined vehicle activity preventing a non-operational state of the vehicle.

Abstract: Pipe inspection systems are disclosed. In one embodiment a pipe inspection system includes a camera head, a push-cable, a cable storage drum, and a wireless transmitter configured to automatically capture images or video frames and transmit them to an external device.

Abstract: A method for producing an anisotropic conductive film, which includes mixing a base polymer with an initiator and a first solvent to obtain a first mixture, dispersing conductive microspheres in an alcohol or a second solvent containing a surfactant to obtain a second mixture, mixing the first mixture with a monomer, a binder, and the second mixture to obtain a third mixture, and laminating the third mixture on a carrying film, followed by drying, so as to obtain the anisotropic conductive film. An anisotropic conductive film produced by the method and a composition for forming the anisotropic conductive film are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing a silver-coated polymer microsphere includes admixing a polymer microsphere with a dipping solution containing water, a protic solvent, a tin compound, and hydrochloric acid and subsequently subjecting a resultant first mixture to ultrasonication so that a tin adsorption layer is formed on a surface of the polymer microsphere, immersing the polymer microsphere having the tin adsorption layer in a silver complex solution to obtain a second mixture, diluting the second mixture with water to form a diluted second mixture, and dropping a reducing solution into the diluted second mixture, so that a silver coating layer is formed on a surface of the tin adsorption layer of the polymer microsphere.

Abstract: Provided is a reflective intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) flexible board, which includes: a flexible film; and a plurality of unit cells formed on the flexible film, in which each of the plurality of unit cells includes an IC for adjusting a reflection phase, a line pattern for driving the IC, and first and second antenna patterns formed symmetrically to each other based on the IC or the line pattern.

Abstract: Provided is a method for transmitting power in wireless communication using reconfigurable intelligent reflecting surfaces (RIS) of an electronic device, which includes: determining a value of a reflection coefficient of each unit cell or tile by scanning each tile of a reconfigurable intelligent reflecting surface (RIS) by a signal radiated through a transmitter; sending a beam to the reconfigurable intelligent reflecting surface (RIS) by controlling the transmitter; and multi-focusing an electromagnetic wave signal incident on the reconfigurable intelligent reflecting surface (RIS) on a plurality of receivers by setting an on/off state in each unit cell of the reconfigurable intelligent reflecting surface (RIS) based on the determined control parameter value, in which the tile is a partial array of the RIS having the same size, and supports far-field communication for the plurality of receivers.

Abstract: Among other things, techniques, systems, methods and computer readable storage medium with executable instructions relating to the viewing of data from and the controlling of the operation of an inspection camera at a remote computing device that is connected to the inspection camera via a network are described. Various features may be realized by using an installable software application or a web browser at the remote computing device. Features of the invention also pertain to a smart cable storage drum comprising a push cable, an inspection camera, and a network transceiver configured to communicate with a remote computer.

Abstract: Among other things, techniques, systems, methods and computer readable storage medium with executable instructions relating to the viewing of data from and the controlling of the operation of an inspection camera at a remote computing device that is connected to the inspection camera via a network are described. Various features may be realized by using an installable software application or a web browser at the remote computing device. Features of the invention also pertain to a smart cable storage drum comprising a push cable, an inspection camera, and a network transceiver configured to communicate with a remote computer.

Abstract: Provided is a reflective intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) flexible board, which includes: a flexible film; and a plurality of unit cells formed on the flexible film, in which each of the plurality of unit cells includes an IC for adjusting a reflection phase, a line pattern for driving the IC, and first and second antenna patterns formed symmetrically to each other based on the IC or the line pattern.

Abstract: A vehicle alarm system configured to avoid false alarms while maintaining the vehicle alarm system armed. The vehicle alarm system includes: at least a first sensor configured to detect at least a first living object; a processing circuitry operatively connected to the least a first sensor configured to cause the vehicle alarm system to: detect at least a first living object inside of a vehicle by the at least first sensor; and reduce, or unarm, at least a first alarm function of the vehicle alarm system in response to detecting the at least first living object, while at least a second alarm function of the vehicle alarm system is configured to be armed.

Abstract: A protein memory cell and a protein memory system are provided. The protein memory cell includes: first and second electrodes disposed to be spaced apart from each other on a micro channel; a gap region defined between the first and second electrodes on the micro channel; an outer region defined as an opposite side to the gap region based on the first or second electrode on the micro channel; and a photosensitive protein changing conductivity between the first and second electrodes while moving between the gap region and the outer region depending on structural conversion of a chromophore.

Abstract: A method of forming a film stack with reduced defects is provided and includes positioning a substrate on a substrate support within a processing chamber and sequentially depositing polysilicon layers and silicon oxide layers to produce the film stack on the substrate. The method also includes supplying a current of greater than 5 ampere (A) to a plasma profile modulator while generating a deposition plasma within the processing chamber, exposing the substrate to the deposition plasma while depositing the polysilicon layers and the silicon oxide layers, and maintaining the processing chamber at a pressure of greater than 2 Torr to about 100 Torr while depositing the polysilicon layers and the silicon oxide layers.

Abstract: Camera heads for use in pipe inspection systems are disclosed. In one embodiment a camera head includes a body, an image sensor disposed in the body for generating images of an interior of a pipe or cavity in which the camera head is inserted, and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the image sensor to automatically capture images or video frames by the camera head within the object.