Abstract: A storm shield apparatus for protecting persons, animals, or property within a bathing structure includes a retractable shield that is selectively moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The shield is moveable along first and second tracks. In some embodiments, the first and second tracks are disposed on opposing longitudinal end walls proximate the bathing structure, and the shield includes flexible roll-top shield sections. A trough with multiple panels may be positioned under the bathing structure to provide an additional barrier to prevent flying debris from penetrating the bathing structure from its sides, longitudinal ends or bottom. The trough mates with the shield in some embodiments to form a protective enclosure.

Abstract: A storm shield apparatus for protecting persons, animals, or property within a bathing structure includes a retractable shield that is selectively moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The shield is moveable along first and second tracks. In some embodiments, the first and second tracks are disposed on opposing longitudinal end walls proximate the bathing structure, and the shield includes flexible roll-top shield sections. A trough with multiple panels may be positioned under the bathing structure to provide an additional barrier to prevent flying debris from penetrating the bathing structure from its sides, longitudinal ends or bottom. The trough mates with the shield in some embodiments to form a protective enclosure.

Abstract: A storm shield apparatus for protecting persons, animals, or property within a bathing structure includes a retractable shield that is selectively moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The shield is moveable along first and second tracks. In some embodiments, the first and second tracks are disposed on the bathing structure, and the shield includes a plurality of nesting arcuate shield sections. In other embodiments, the tracks are positioned on opposing longitudinal end walls proximate the bathing structure, and the shield rolls over the bathing structure along the tracks. A trough with multiple panels may be positioned under the bathing structure to provide an additional barrier to prevent flying debris from penetrating the bathing structure from its sides, longitudinal ends or bottom. The trough mates with the shield in some embodiments to form a protective enclosure.

Abstract: Stabilizing an object in the body of a patient involves the injection of a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) material or other flowable material into the body of the patient so that the material contacts the object. The LCST material or other flowable material then forms a gel in the body such that the object is contained at least partially within the gel and thereby stabilized by the gel such that the object can then be easily fragmented within the body and/or retrieved from the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical retrieval device with a basket that has at least one leg that is frangible (i.e., easily breakable) and/or able to dissociate from at least one other leg upon the application of a predetermined force to the basket. The invention allows an operator to release captured material (e.g., a stone) from the basket when the device is still inserted in the body. In an embodiment, the basket legs associate by a magnetic interaction that can be overcome by applying a predetermined force to the basket. In another embodiment, at least a portion of at least one basket leg is made from, or coated with, a substance that is adhesive or that joins at least two legs together when the substance is solid but which melts, dissolves or weakens upon the application of an electrical, thermal or chemical change.

Abstract: Stabilizing an object in the body of a patient involves the injection of a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) material or other flowable material into the body of the patient so that the material contacts the object. The LCST material or other flowable material then forms a gel in the body such that the object is contained at least partially within the gel and thereby stabilized by the gel such that the object can then be easily fragmented within the body and/or retrieved from the body.

Abstract: Stabilizing an object in the body of a patient involves the injection of a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) material or other flowable material into the body of the patient so that the material contacts the object. The LCST material or other flowable material then forms a gel in the body such that the object is contained at least partially within the gel and thereby stabilized by the gel such that the object can then be easily fragmented within the body and/or retrieved from the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical retrieval device with a basket that has at least one leg that is frangible (i.e., easily breakable) and/or able to dissociate from at least one other leg upon the application of a predetermined force to the basket. The invention allows an operator to release captured material (e.g., a stone) from the basket when the device is still inserted in the body. In an embodiment, the basket legs associate by a magnetic interaction that can be overcome by applying a predetermined force to the basket. In another embodiment, at least a portion of at least one basket leg is made from, or coated with, a substance that is adhesive or that joins at least two legs together when the substance is solid but which melts, dissolves or weakens upon the application of an electrical, thermal or chemical change.

Abstract: A balloon catheter that may include a catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter shaft having a core having an outer surface, the core extending to the distal end of the catheter shaft, the catheter shaft having a tubular member disposed about the core, the tubular member having an inner surface and an outer surface, and an inflation lumen between the tubular member inner surface and the tubular member outer surface, and an inflatable member having a proximal cone, a distal cone and a central section therebetween, the central section having proximal and distal ends, the proximal and distal cones defining an inflation cavity, the inflatable member further comprising a proximal waist affixing the proximal cone to the outer surface of the tubular member and a distal waist affixing the distal cone to the outer surface of the core, wherein the inflatable member is configured such that the distance along the longitudinal axis between the distal end of the central section and the distal wais

Abstract: An embodiment of a medical retrieval device includes a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, a handle at the proximal end of the sheath, and a basket. The basket has a collapsed position when the basket is within the sheath and collapsed and an expanded position when the basket is positioned beyond the distal end of the sheath and expanded. The basket includes a plurality of legs, at least one leg having a frangible portion wherein the at least one leg breaks upon application of a predetermined force to the basket. A distal portion of the plurality of legs may be formed from a single piece of material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical retrieval device with a basket that has at least one leg that is frangible (i.e., easily breakable) and/or able to dissociate from at least one other leg upon the application of a predetermined force to the basket. The invention allows an operator to release captured material (e.g., a stone) from the basket when the device is still inserted in the body. In an embodiment, the basket legs associate by a magnetic interaction that can be overcome by applying a predetermined force to the basket. In another embodiment, at least a portion of at least one basket leg is made from, or coated with, a substance that is adhesive or that joins at least two legs together when the substance is solid but which melts, dissolves or weakens upon the application of an electrical, thermal or chemical change.

Abstract: A communications system for transmitting optical signals between an optical transceiver (20) disposed on an aircraft and a ground-based computer system. The communications system includes a fiber optic cable (30) having one end coupled to the ground-based computer system and another end coupled to a magnetic attachment head (40). The magnetic attachment head secures the fiber optic cable to the aircraft and aligns the fiber optic cable with the optical transceiver.

Abstract: An idler roll assembly comprises a unitary, solid roller formed essentially of ultra-high molecular weight high-density polyethylene resin mounted without separate bearing components for rotation on a shaft member and also for movement about the shaft member within allowed tolerances and boundaries, to provide a maintenance free roller assembly which also assists in improved operation of systems of which the roller assembly is a component part.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensor for determining the position of a shaft 10 that is supported by a bearing 12 includes a sensor circuit 14 and at least one fiber 16 that extends from the sensor circuit to a point proximate but slightly separated from the shaft surface, with a portion of the optical fiber extending through and being carried by the bearing. Target areas 18, 20 and 22 are located on shaft 10 so as to correspond to the positions to be determined. Each target area consists of an angled recess that is constructed and arranged, relative to the numerical aperture and orientation of the optical fiber, so as to substantially nonreflective insofar as the optical fiber is concerned, thus providing a sharp contrast to the highly reflective background of the shaft surface.

Abstract: A proximity sensing system including an improved variable inductance measuring technique to provide an indication of the proximity of a target object to a remote sensor unit 10 which includes a sensor inductor. A variable inductance measuring apparatus measures the inductance of the sensor inductor, which inductance corresponds to the proximity of a target object. The variable inductance measuring network includes a sensor current pulse generator 20 which, in each of successive system periods, establishes a time-varying current through the sensor unit 10. A sensor control loop stage 30 senses when the resulting sensor voltage reaches a predetermined level and then captures the sensor current so as to clamp the sensor voltage at this level. A retrieval stage 40 then determines the rate of change of the sensor current at the time the sensor current is zero, establishing a calibrated analog voltage of the inductance of the sensor inductor which is substantially temperature independent.

Abstract: 1.

Abstract: A linear eddy current loss (ECL) proximity distance measuring gauge comprising an ECL oscillator and a linearizing DC feedback circuit is disclosed. As the distance between a magnetic target and the ECL coil increases and changes the impedance of the ECL tuned circuit, the linearizing DC feedback circuit shunts current away from the tuned circuit and controls the rate at which oscillation amplitude varies with a change in target distance. The amplitude control created by the linearizing DC feedback circuit results in oscillation amplitude being linearly related to the distance between the target and the ECL coil. A peak detector circuit detects oscillation amplitude and applies a directly related DC voltage to a buffering emitter follower output circuit. Thus, output voltage is linearly related to target distance.