Abstract: A sliding pipe supporting arrangement (2) adapted to receive and support at least one pipe or jacketed pipe assembly comprising main support means (9) comprising at least one opening to support a pipe. The arrangement further comprises an assembly of spring arrangement (6) and ball transfer unit (7), coupled to the main support means so as to isolate differential displacement in lateral and vertical direction of the pipe. The assembly unit comprises a top plate (3), middle plate (4) and a bottom plate (5). The spring arrangement further comprises a plurality of springs positioned in between the top plate (3) and the middle plate (4) facilitating the vertical displacement of the pipe. The ball transfer unit (4) also comprises plural rollers positioned between the bottom plate (4) and middle plate (5) facilitating lateral displacement of the pipe and an expansion joint arrangement (8) placed in between pipe lengths of a pipe to attenuate the axial displacement of the said pipe.

Abstract: A sliding pipe supporting arrangement (2) adapted to receive and support at least one pipe or jacketed pipe assembly comprising main support means (9) comprising at least one opening to support a pipe. The arrangement further comprises an assembly of spring arrangement (6) and ball transfer unit (7), coupled to the main support means so as to isolate differential displacement in lateral and vertical direction of the pipe. The assembly unit comprises a top plate (3), middle plate (4) and a bottom plate (5). The spring arrangement further comprises a plurality of springs positioned in between the top plate (3) and the middle plate (4) facilitating the vertical displacement of the pipe. The ball transfer unit (4) also comprises plural rollers positioned between the bottom plate (4) and middle plate (5) facilitating lateral displacement of the pipe and an expansion joint arrangement (8) placed in between pipe lengths of a pipe to attenuate the axial displacement of the said pipe.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved billing and contract management method and a computerized enterprise resource management system for processing and management of rent-producing financial products, such as contracts and leases that are past the initial end term date, and that have not been renegotiated or extended, or, in other words, that have entered the “evergreen” period. Among other things, the method and computerized system of the present invention integrate processing of the “evergreen” contracts with a proprietary generalized ERP software product/solution such as Oracle™ E-Business suite's Lease Management system, and supplement the processing of regular contracts with the “evergreen” contract authoring and booking, processing, validation, billing, accounting, collections, modification and audit trailing of the changes made to the “evergreen” contract terms.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved billing and contract management method and a computerized enterprise resource management system for processing and management of rent-producing financial products, such as contracts and leases that are past the initial end term date, and that have not been renegotiated or extended, or, in other words, that have entered the “evergreen” period. Among other things, the method and computerized system of the present invention integrate processing of the “evergreen” contracts with a proprietary generalized ERP software product/solution such as Oracle™ E-Business suite's Lease Management system, and supplement the processing of regular contracts with the “evergreen” contract authoring and booking, processing, validation, billing, accounting, collections, modification and audit trailing of the changes made to the “evergreen” contract terms.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to an apparatus for moving the esophagus having an elongate body having a distal tip, a controlled curvature section, and a flexible section. A handle is coupled to the flexible section having means for adjusting the curvature of the controlled curvature section. Additionally, the length of the controlled curvature section is less than the length of the thoracic portion of the esophagus. Alternatively, there is an apparatus for moving the esophagus having a flexible elongate body having a distal tip, a controlled curvature section, and a proximal section. A bendable element is within the controlled curvature section that, when bent, moves and holds the controlled curvature section into a corresponding bent shape. There is provided various methods of adjusting the curvature of the esophagus during a therapeutic procedure in a treatment area outside of the esophagus.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a cardiac monitor having a housing; a plurality of electrodes within and extending from the housing; a state machine within the housing configured to digitialize and store in memory signals from the plurality of electrodes; a sealing surface and an adhesive on the sealing surface configured to form a watertight perimeter around the plurality of electrodes when the housing is affixed to a mammal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods of obtaining continuous cardiac information from a mammal. First, attach a self-contained, wearable, portable continuous cardiac monitor to the mammal to create a chamber containing electrodes used to detect cardiac signals from the mammal. Next, continuously detect without analyzing the cardiac signals from the mammal for at least 24 hours. Next, store information related to substantially all detected cardiac signals in the cardiac monitor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of analyzing cardiac information by collecting a plurality of self-contained, wearable, portable cardiac monitors each of the cardiac monitors electronically storing at least 24 hours of continuously detected and unanalyzed cardiac signals from a mammal. Next, retrieving cardiac information stored in each of the plurality of self-contained portable cardiac monitors. Next, forwarding retrieved cardiac information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treatment of layered tissue defects having a majority of the surfaces of the defect layers in contact generally involve use of a catheter having at least one energy transmission member at its distal end. The distal end of the apparatus also typically has a force applying member which can apply a force to the tissue defect. Often this force is a lateral force or vacuum which helps the tissue to appose itself. An exemplary method of closing a patent foramen ovale (PFO) involves positioning a closure device between layers of the PFO. Energy is then applied to the layered tissue defect with the closure device so as to substantially close the tissue defect. The energy is often monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency energy. A force may also be applied by the closure device to the layered tissue defect so as to bring the layered tissue defect together.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treatment of layered tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovale provide for applying energy to tissues adjacent to the PFO with a closure device that substantially closes the PFO. Apparatus generally includes an elongate flexible member having a proximal end and a distal end and an energy transmission member deployable from the elongate flexible member. The energy transmission member applies energy to the layered tissue defect at a first position and a second position adjacent to the first position so as to substantially close the layered tissue defect along at least a portion of the defect. Applied energy may be monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency energy or any other suitable energy, such as laser, microwave, ultrasound, resistive heating, direct heat energy, cryogenic or the like. PFO closure via energy-based approaches of the invention may help prevent stroke, treat migraine headache, and possibly treat or prevent other medical conditions.

Abstract: Methods for treating anatomic tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovale generally involve positioning a distal end of a catheter device at the site of the defect, exposing a housing and energy transmission member from the distal end of the catheter, engaging the housing with tissues at the site of the defect, applying suction or other approximating tool to the tissue via the housing to bring the tissue together, and applying energy to the tissue with the energy transmission member or to deliver a clip or fixation device to substantially close the defect. Apparatus generally include a catheter body, a housing extending from a distal end of the catheter body for engaging tissue at the site of the defect, and further adapted to house a fusing or fixation device such as an energy transmission member adjacent a distal end of the housing, or a clip or fixation delivery element.

Abstract: Methods for treating anatomic tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovale generally involve positioning a distal end of a catheter device at the site of the defect, exposing a housing and energy transmission member from the distal end of the catheter, engaging the housing with tissues at the site of the defect, applying suction or other approximating tool to the tissue via the housing to bring the tissue together, and applying energy to the tissue with the energy transmission member or to deliver a clip or fixation device to substantially close the defect. Apparatus generally include a catheter body, a housing extending from a distal end of the catheter body for engaging tissue at the site of the defect, and further adapted to house a fusing or fixation device such as an energy transmission member adjacent a distal end of the housing, or a clip or fixation delivery element.

Abstract: Methods for treating anatomic tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovate generally involve positioning a distal end of a catheter device at the site of the defect, exposing a housing and energy transmission member from the distal end of the catheter, engaging the housing with tissues at the site of the defect, applying suction or other approximating tool to the tissue via the housing to bring the tissue together, and applying energy to the tissue with the energy transmission member or to deliver a clip or fixation device to substantially close the defect. Apparatus generally include a catheter body, a housing extending from a distal end of the catheter body for engaging tissue at the site of the defect, and further adapted to house a fusing or fixation device such as an energy transmission member adjacent a distal end of the housing, or a clip or fixation delivery element.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to fast dry ambient temperature curable coating compositions especially suited for use in automotive refinish applications. A binder component of the two pack coating composition includes an epoxy resin having at least one acetoacetate functionality and at least one epoxy group, and one or more reactive components provided with at least two acetoacetate functionalities. Some of the suitable reactive components include structured reactive diluent, an acrylic polymer, a polyester, or a combination thereof. A crosslinking component of the coating composition includes polyamine, a blocked polyamine or a mixture thereof. The present invention is further directed to a method of producing a coating on a substrate from the coating composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to fast dry ambient temperature curable coating compositions especially suited for use in automotive refinish applications. A binder component of the two pack coating composition includes an epoxy resin having at least one acetoacetate functionality and at least one epoxy group, and one or more reactive components provided with at least two acetoacetate functionalities. Some of the suitable reactive components include structured reactive diluent, an acrylic polymer, a polyester, or a combination thereof. A crosslinking component of the coating composition includes polyamine, a blocked polyamine or a mixture thereof. The present invention is further directed to a method of producing a coating on a substrate from the coating composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polymers and photoresist compositions that contain such polymers as a resin binder component. The polymers of the invention include repeating units that contain an acetalester or ketalester moiety. Preferred photoresists of the invention are chemically-amplified positive-acting compositions that contain a polymer with acetalester or ketalester unit as a resin binder component and that can react to provide solubility differences in the presence of photo-generated acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polymers and chemically-amplified positive-acting photoresist compositions that contain such polymers as a resin binder component. The polymers of the invention include acid labile groups that contain isobornyl moieties and groups that contribute to aqueous development of a photoresist such as phenolic groups.

Abstract: Methods are provided to prepare photoresists without isolation of various components, i.e. in a "one-pot" procedure. Preferred one-pot preparation methods of the invention include preparing a photoresist resin binder in a selected photoresist solvent and, without isolation of the resin binder from the solvent, adding a photoactive component and any other desired photoresist materials to the resin binder in solution to thereby provide a liquid photoresist composition in the solvent in which the resin binder was prepared. The invention also provides novel methods for synthesizing resist resin binders, particularly phenolic polymers that contain phenolic OH groups covalently bonded to another moiety such as acid labile groups or inert blocking groups.