Abstract: Nucleic acids encoding fusion proteins that contain an unwanted antigen and a leader sequence for cell secretion are described. Also described are expression cassettes, vectors, cells, and cell lines containing the nucleic acids, as well as methods of using the nucleic acids to treat autoimmune, allergic and other diseases and disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: A deployment control apparatus to control deployment of an array at an end of a catheter includes a pair of walls, a slider assembly, and a deployment shaft. The walls project from a first surface of the interior of a handle. The slider assembly includes a rigid body, an elastomeric element, a tab, and a knob. The elastomeric element is connected to the rigid body and at least partially disposed between the walls to frictionally engage with a surface of each wall. The knob is connected to the rigid body and is configured to maintain the elastomeric element between the walls. The deployment shaft connects the rigid body to the array, wherein a force applied to the knob sufficient to overcome the frictional engagement between the elastomeric element and the surface of each wall causes movement of the slider assembly and the deployment shaft to control deployment of the array.

Abstract: A mapping catheter including an elongate catheter body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a handle connected to the proximal end of the catheter body, an electrode array connected to the distal end, a deployment shaft, and an irrigation system. The catheter body includes at least one lumen. The irrigation system includes a manifold and a thin, polymeric irrigation tube. The manifold is disposed within the handle and is connectable to a source of irrigation fluid. The irrigation tube is connected to the manifold and extends around the deployment shaft from the manifold to the distal end of the catheter through the catheter body lumen. The irrigation tube forms an annular lumen between an inner surface of the irrigation tube and an outer surface of the deployment shaft. The annular lumen is configured to carry irrigation fluid from the manifold to the array.

Abstract: An ablation catheter comprises a shaft having a proximal end portion, and a distal end portion having a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis of the ablation catheter. An ablation electrode is located at the distal end of the shaft. A mapping region including a plurality of mini-electrode sets disposed about the shaft is located proximal to the ablation electrode. Each of the mini-electrode sets includes a plurality of mini-electrodes. The ablation catheter further includes a deflection region proximate to or within the mapping region.

Abstract: A steering control apparatus includes a first wire and a second wire extending from a distal end of a catheter to a steering assembly. The steering assembly includes a steering knob disposed at an exterior of the handle, a cylindrical steering shaft projecting from the steering knob and into the interior of the handle, a first cylindrical drum disposed within the handle and connected to the first wire, and a second cylindrical drum within the handle and connected to the second wire. The first drum is configured to engage the steering shaft to produce tension on the first wire. The first drum is coaxial with the steering shaft. The second drum is configured to engage the steering shaft to produce tension on the second wire. The second drum is coaxial with the steering shaft and axially adjacent to the first drum.

Abstract: A mapping catheter including an elongate catheter body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a handle connected to the proximal end of the catheter body, an electrode array connected to the distal end, a deployment shaft, and an irrigation system. The catheter body includes at least one lumen. The irrigation system includes a manifold and a thin, polymeric irrigation tube. The manifold is disposed within the handle and is connectable to a source of irrigation fluid. The irrigation tube is connected to the manifold and extends around the deployment shaft from the manifold to the distal end of the catheter through the catheter body lumen. The irrigation tube forms an annular lumen between an inner surface of the irrigation tube and an outer surface of the deployment shaft. The annular lumen is configured to carry irrigation fluid from the manifold to the array.

Abstract: A steering control apparatus includes a first wire and a second wire extending from a distal end of a catheter to a steering assembly. The steering assembly includes a steering knob disposed at an exterior of the handle, a cylindrical steering shaft projecting from the steering knob and into the interior of the handle, a first cylindrical drum disposed within the handle and connected to the first wire, and a second cylindrical drum within the handle and connected to the second wire. The first drum is configured to engage the steering shaft to produce tension on the first wire. The first drum is coaxial with the steering shaft. The second drum is configured to engage the steering shaft to produce tension on the second wire. The second drum is coaxial with the steering shaft and axially adjacent to the first drum.

Abstract: A deployment control apparatus to control deployment of an array at an end of a catheter includes a pair of walls, a slider assembly, and a deployment shaft. The walls project from a first surface of the interior of a handle. The slider assembly includes a rigid body, an elastomeric element, a tab, and a knob. The elastomeric element is connected to the rigid body and at least partially disposed between the walls to frictionally engage with a surface of each wall. The knob is connected to the rigid body and is configured to maintain the elastomeric element between the walls. The deployment shaft connects the rigid body to the array, wherein a force applied to the knob sufficient to overcome the frictional engagement between the elastomeric element and the surface of each wall causes movement of the slider assembly and the deployment shaft to control deployment of the array.

Abstract: In a rotating disk reactor for growing epitaxial layers on substrate or other CVD reactor system, gas directed toward the substrates at gas inlets at different radial distances from the axis of rotation of the disk has both substantially the same gas flow rate/velocity and substantially the same gas density at each inlet. The gas directed toward portions of the disk remote from the axis may include a higher concentration of a reactant gas than the gas directed toward portions of the disk close to the axis, so that portions of the substrate surfaces at different distances from the axis receive substantially the same amount of reactant gas per unit area, and a combination of carrier gases with different relative molecular weights at different radial distances from the axis of rotation are employed to substantially make equal the gas density in each region of the reactor.

Abstract: A VPE reactor is improved by providing temperature control to within 0.5° C., and greater process gas uniformity via novel reactor shaping, unique wafer motion structures, improvements in thermal control systems, improvements in gas flow structures, improved methods for application of gas and temperature, and improved control systems for detecting and reducing process variation.

Abstract: A VPE reactor is improved by providing temperature control to within 0.5° C., and greater process gas uniformity via novel reactor shaping, unique wafer motion structures, improvements in thermal control systems, improvements in gas flow structures, improved methods for application of gas and temperature, and improved control systems for detecting and reducing process variation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endoprosthesis comprising a radially distensible, tubular stent comprising opposed open ends and a stent wall structure having opposed exterior and luminal surfaces; and a continuous and seamless ePTFE tubular covering having a node and fibril structure securably disposed to at least one of the stent surfaces, the graft covering comprising at least two laminated layers, wherein the laminated layers include at least one region where the laminated layers are not securely bonded; and the at least one region has a different bending flexibility from the tubular graft covering.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endoprosthesis comprising a radially distensible, tubular stent comprising opposed open ends and a stent wall structure having opposed exterior and luminal surfaces; and a continuous and seamless ePTFE tubular covering having a node and fibril structure securably disposed to at least one of the stent surfaces, the graft covering comprising at least two laminated layers, wherein the laminated layers include at least one region where the laminated layers are not securely bonded; and the at least one region has a different bending flexibility from the tubular graft covering.

Abstract: A method for providing dilation resistance to an implantable tubular graft includes the steps of (a) providing a graft having opposed open ends and a textile wall extending in a lengthwise direction therebetween defining a graft diameter, wherein the textile wall has radially extending yarns having a radial extent which inter-engage longitudinally extending yarns having a longitudinal extent to define a textile pattern and further wherein the radially extending yarns are obliquely oriented to the lengthwise direction of the graft, thereby defining a first acute angle from the lengthwise direction of the graft; (b) providing an elongate tubular mandrel having a diameter which differs from the graft diameter by a factor of at least 1.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing messages (12) with embedded advertising (20) that are sent by a sender (10) to a recipient (14) who share an affiliation (27) with a common organization (24) are disclosed.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing a pop-up repelling region (e.g., frame) for use in a screen sharing session that includes providing, or creating a region on a screen, during a screen sharing session, that includes a view of at least one application within the region and repelling from the view in the frame of all other applications.

Abstract: In a rotating disk reactor for growing epitaxial layers on substrate or other CVD reactor system, gas directed toward the substrates at gas inlets at different radial distances from the axis of rotation of the disk has both substantially the same gas flow rate/velocity and substantially the same gas density at each inlet. The gas directed toward portions of the disk remote from the axis may include a higher concentration of a reactant gas than the gas directed toward portions of the disk close to the axis, so that portions of the substrate surfaces at different distances from the axis receive substantially the same amount of reactant gas per unit area, and a combination of carrier gases with different relative molecular weights at different radial distances from the axis of rotation are employed to substantially make equal the gas density in each region of the reactor.

Abstract: A stent and method for making the stent are provided. The stent comprises regions of differing numbers of braided filaments to provide a stent with different dimensions and/or properties in different regions along the stent length. A preferred stent comprises a first and second plurality of braided filaments each braided together. The second plurality of braided filaments is braided into the first plurality of braided filaments to form a region of different properties than the first. A preferred embodiment is a stent having a narrower diameter along a more flexible region and a broader diameter along a more rigid region. Also included is a method of constructing a braided stent in accordance with the above.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for the selectable repainting of updatable network distributable imagery. A method for selectably repainting updatable network distributable content can include establishing a repainting selection selected from the group consisting of continuous repainting and delayed repainting. The method further can include rendering a complete view of the updatable network distributable content. The method yet further can include receiving portions of an image update to the complete view. Finally, the method can include repainting the complete view as the portions are received if the repainting selection indicates continuous repainting, and otherwise delaying a repainting of the complete view until a threshold portion of the portions have been received.