Abstract: A water heater including a storage tank including a water inlet and a water outlet, a pump, an upper temperature sensor, a lower temperature sensor, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to receive an upper temperature signal and a lower temperature signal, compare the upper temperature signal to a sum of a setpoint temperature threshold minus a temperature differential, and compare the lower temperature signal to a high limit temperature threshold. The electronic processor is further configured to activate the pump in response to the first upper temperature signal being less than the sum of the setpoint temperature threshold minus the temperature differential and the first lower temperature signal being less than the predetermined high limit temperature threshold.

Abstract: A deflectable catheter with biased deflection characteristics has an elongated catheter body having a micro-injection molded spine that is configured with a center core, outwardly extending opposing struts, and one or more sets of longitudinally-aligned and discrete fins, wherein the struts resist deflection of the spine in a first plane and bias deflection of the spine in a second plane, wherein parameters of the discrete fins define deflection characteristics of the spine in the second plane.

Abstract: A catheter having an internal advancing mechanism that can advance stiffening wires or other devices, has a catheter with a catheter body, a tip section distal the catheter body, a device extending through at least the catheter body, and a control handle proximal the catheter body, where the control handle has an advancing mechanism with a threaded member, an adjustment member, and a guided member to which the device is connected, and the advancing mechanism is configured to advance and retract the device along the catheter body as controlled by a user. Each of the threaded member and the adjustment member has a generally cylindrical configuration. The threaded member has an outer surface configured with a helical guide channel. The adjustment member is configured to guide the guided member to move within the helical guide channel to advance and retract the device. The adjustment member can be rotatable over the threaded member by the user to control advancement and retraction of the device.

Abstract: A water heater system includes a primary heat exchanger including a tank and at least one flue, and a secondary heat exchanger including a core and a flue gas flow path. The water heater is operable in a heating mode in which a combustor produces hot flue gas and a water pump flows water through the core of the secondary heat exchanger and into the tank, and in a non-heating mode in which the combustor and the water pump are inoperative. The flue gas flows from the combustor through the at least one flue to heat the water in the tank and then through the flue gas flow path to heat water in the core before being exhausted.

Abstract: A sheath introducer for use with a catheter, has a hub and a tube through which the catheter extends, and a lock assembly which has a rotational knob that actuates a plurality of prongs arranged in a radial pattern around a hole in the hub that receives the catheter, wherein the prongs synchronously rotate in one direction to grip the catheter or in the other direction to release the catheter.

Abstract: A water heater including a storage tank including a water inlet and a water outlet, a pump, an upper temperature sensor, a lower temperature sensor, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to receive an upper temperature signal and a lower temperature signal, compare the upper temperature signal to a sum of a setpoint temperature threshold minus a temperature differential, and compare the lower temperature signal to a high limit temperature threshold. The electronic processor is further configured to activate the pump in response to the first upper temperature signal being less than the sum of the setpoint temperature threshold minus the temperature differential and the first lower temperature signal being less than the predetermined high limit temperature threshold.

Abstract: An irrigated electrophysiology catheter has a tip electrode having a shell, and a support member configured to plug the shell and support one or more tip components and/or facilitate their functions. Advantageously, the support member has an electrically-conductive interface portion and an insert-molded portion, wherein the interface portion, typically constructed of a precious metal alloy, is structurally minimized, yet still configured for electrical connection with the shell and the lead wire, so as to reduce the amount and hence the cost of its manufacture, whereas the insert-molded portion is constructed of a significantly less-costly material and is readily configured with micro-complex 3-D geometry adapted to support tip structure and functions including irrigation, force sensing and temperature sensing, as a further cost savings in the manufacturing of the tip electrode by reducing materials, labor and time.

Abstract: A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal a mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a linear control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The linear control assembly has a linear control member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the linear control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly.

Abstract: A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a rotational control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The rotational control assembly has an outer rotational member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the rotational control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly.

Abstract: A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal a mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a linear control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The linear control assembly has a linear control member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the linear control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly.

Abstract: A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a rotational control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The rotational control assembly has an outer rotational member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the rotational control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly.

Abstract: A gas-fired appliance includes a tank configured to store a fluid to be heated, a powered anode extending into the tank and configured to generate an electric anode current, and a combustion chamber including a burner configured to generate products of combustion. The appliance also includes an exhaust structure, a heat exchanger, and an electronic processor coupled to the powered anode. The products of combustion flow from the combustion chamber to the exhaust structure via the heat exchanger. The electronic processor is configured to determine a duty cycle of the burner, determine whether the duty cycle of the burner exceeds a predetermined threshold, increase a magnitude of a protection parameter of the powered anode from a first value to a second value when the duty cycle of the burner exceeds the predetermined threshold, and control the powered anode according to the second value of the protection parameter.

Abstract: Air brake tubing is provided having an air brake tube body comprising at least one layer formed from a composition comprising a copolyester, polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate; and a thermoplastic polyurethane.

Abstract: Air brake tubing is provided having an air brake tube body comprising at least one layer formed from a composition comprising a copolyester, polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate; and a thermoplastic polyurethane.

Abstract: A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a rotational control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The rotational control assembly has an outer rotational member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the rotational control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly.

Abstract: A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal a mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a linear control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The linear control assembly has a linear control member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the linear control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly.

Abstract: A catheter is adapted to ablate tissue and provide lesion qualitative information on a real time basis, having an ablation tip section with a generally omni-directional light diffusion chamber with one openings to allow light energy in the chamber to radiate the tissue and return to the chamber. The chamber is irrigated at a positive pressure differential to continuously flush the opening with fluid. The light energy returning to the chamber from the tissue conveys a tissue parameter, including without limitation, lesion formation, depth of penetration of lesion, cross-sectional area of lesion, formation of char during ablation, recognition of char during ablation, recognition of char from non-charred tissue, formation of coagulum around the ablation site, differentiation of coagulated from non-coagulated blood, differentiation of ablated from healthy tissue, tissue proximity, and recognition of steam formation in the tissue for prevention of steam pop.

Abstract: A catheter having an internal advancing mechanism that can advance stiffening wires or other devices, has a catheter with a catheter body, a tip section distal the catheter body, a device extending through at least the catheter body, and a control handle proximal the catheter body, where the control handle has an advancing mechanism with a threaded member, an adjustment member, and a guided member to which the device is connected, and the advancing mechanism is configured to advance and retract the device along the catheter body as controlled by a user. Each of the threaded member and the adjustment member has a generally cylindrical configuration. The threaded member has an outer surface configured with a helical guide channel. The adjustment member is configured to guide the guided member to move within the helical guide channel to advance and retract the device. The adjustment member can be rotatable over the threaded member by the user to control advancement and retraction of the device.

Abstract: A burner system for a furnace. The system may have a wedged or other shaped burner box. An air-fuel mixer may be attached to a smaller end of the burner box at virtually any angle relative to a direction of a gas and air mixture leaving the larger box end. A burner head may be attached to the larger end of the box. The burner head may be sufficient for numerous heater sections of a heat exchanger. A spacer and a radiation shield may be situated between the burner head and heat exchanger. An addition of the radiation shield may reduce the operating temperature of the burner box, burner head and/or spacer. A fan may move the gas and air mixture from the mixer, through the box and the burner head. The mixture may be ignited into a flame which is moved into the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a rotational control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The rotational control assembly has an outer rotational member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the rotational control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly.