Abstract: A chromatography cartridge with a packed bed is manufactured from an inner and outer chamber, the inner chamber being in an insert that is slidable into the outer chamber with openings in each such that a slurry that is originally placed in the interior of the outer chamber flows into the inner chamber as the parts are being pressed into each other. During the assembly, the particles in the slurry are compressed to fill the smaller volume of the inner chamber and excess liquid is discharged through ports in both chambers. The construction allows for a highly precise and reproducible column filling process with a minimum of steps and operator intervention and thereby low cost and reduced error.

Abstract: A fluid treatment device including a source of electrical voltage having a first and second terminal, a pulse generator connected to the first terminal and the second terminal and outputting a pulsed voltage wave signal between a third terminal and a fourth terminal, at least one coil positioned adjacent at least one fluid conduit, being electrically connected to the third and fourth terminals and at least one capacitor also being electrically connected to the third and fourth terminals to form a first circuit with an inductance L, a capacitance C and a resonant frequency. The pulse generator is arranged to generate a pulsed voltage wave with a frequency approximately equal to the resonant frequency. A further circuit element is arranged to cause the voltage pulse reaching the coil to repeatedly, alternate between a period of pulsed voltage at the frequency and a period of zero voltage, with each period extending for a time in a range of approximately 2 to 33 milliseconds.

Abstract: A method and apparatus configured to remove impurities from fuel is provided. The apparatus includes a housing disposed between a fuel tank and a diesel engine of the diesel powered vehicle. The housing defines a main body, an inlet port disposed at an end portion of the main body, and an outlet port disposed at an opposite end portion of the main body. A fuel diffuser is disposed within the main body of the housing and is in fluid communication with the inlet port. A fuel collector is disposed within the main body of the housing and is in fluid communication with the outlet port. A molecular sieve is disposed within the main body of the housing between the fuel diffuser and the fuel collector. The molecular sieve is adapted to remove impurities such as water from the fuel such that purified fuel is transferred to the engine and vehicle performance is improved.

Abstract: A filtration system for removing solid particles from a liquid that includes a liquid-containing tank and a spaced pair of filtration elements immersed in the liquid in the tank. Each filtration element is selectively connectable to a source of vacuum to draw liquid from the tank through a spaced pair of filter screens carried by the filtration element to filter out particles from the liquid, or, alternately, to a source of pressure to backwash the filter screens to clean collected particles therefrom. By providing a pair of filtration elements, one of any such elements can be kept operating in a filtration mode while the other is operating in a backwashing mode. An endless dragout conveyor is positioned in the tank beneath the filtration elements to collect and carry out particles that fall from or between the filtration units to an elevated external deposit location. Each filtration element has at least one filter screen, and preferably two or more spaced pairs of filtration screens.

Abstract: The present invention provides polysulfone-based hollow fiber membranes having high water permeable performance and for use in therapy of chronic renal failures, said hollow fiber membranes having high safety and high stability in performance and being excellent in module-fabricating workability. The present invention also provides a process for manufacturing the same. The present invention relates to a bundle of a plurality of selectively permeable polysulfone-based hollow fiber membranes wherein the amount of a hydrophilic polymer eluting from each hollow fiber membrane is not larger than 10 ppm, and wherein the content of the hydrophilic polymer in the outer surface of the hollow fiber membrane is 25 to 50 mass %, and this bundle is characterized in that any of extracted solutions from ten fractions of said bundle, obtained by dividing the bundle at substantially regular intervals along the lengthwise direction, shows a maximum value of smaller than 0.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a liquid pump for use with a fluid circulation system for a recreational water body. The liquid pump includes a strainer housing, a pump housing assembly secured to the strainer housing, and a lock ring fastened to the pump housing assembly. The pump housing assembly includes an outlet that is rotatable between a first position and a second position and further includes an annular protuberance defining an inlet. The strainer housing includes an outlet, and the annular protuberance extends through the outlet of the strainer housing into a chamber thereof. A clip is positioned within the chamber and releasably secures the annular protuberance so as to inhibit inadvertent disengagement of the strainer housing from the pump housing assembly.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a filter device in which a filter is directly fixed to a container, thus eliminating the use of a filter frame. A fuel filter 6 of a fuel supply system 60 includes a filter element 22 for filtering fuel and a filter case 21 made of resin which houses the filter element 22. Ends 22b and 22c of the filter element 22 are directly fixed to an inner wall surface of the filter case 21 by welding. Further, the filter case 21 is formed, on the inner wall surface, with a groove 34 at each end of a weld part 36 in a longitudinal (vertical) direction. The groove 34 serves to receive a melted resin squeezed out from the weld part 36. To isolate the weld part 36 from a (filtering) body 22a of the filter element 22, protrusive ribs 32 and 33 are provided on the inner wall surface of the filter case 21.

Abstract: In a fluid filter cartridge, and a method for manufacturing a fluid filter cartridge, a drain fitting is attached by a crimped joint to a housing of the filter cartridge. The drain fitting is loosely fitted into the housing, prior to forming the crimped joint. The drain fitting has an outer periphery thereof which includes a crimping recess therein and the housing includes a crimped portion thereof which is formed into the crimping recess of the drain fitting to form the crimped connection. The crimping recess further includes anti-rotation features in the form of raised ribs about which the crimped portion of the housing is formed for resisting rotation of the drain fitting with respect to the housing.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a filtering mesh for an oil well, a sand control sleeve and a sand control screen pipe using the filtering mesh. The filtering mesh at least comprises a bottom diffusion mesh (20) and one or more twill weave meshes (21) fixed on the bottom diffusion mesh (20); one or more twill weave meshes (21) are applied in filtrating solid particulates in a stratum fluid, and the bottom diffusion mesh (20) is applied in diffusing the filtrated fluid. The bottom diffusion mesh (20) is a woven mesh or a punching steel plate mesh with 5-50 meshes; the aperture of the twill weave mesh (21) is 40-400 micron. The present invention also relates to a sand control sleeve formed of the filtering mesh, a tubular inner protective shroud (19) and a supporting ring (15). This invention further relates to a sand control screen pipe formed of the filtering mesh, a multi-holes base pipe (1), a tubular inner protective shroud (19), an outer protective shroud (3) and a supporting ring (15).

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for separating blood into components, may be expanded to include other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component.

Abstract: A waste material processing system includes a closed container for holding waste material having a first passage in which the waste material flows in a first direction, the first passage having first and second ends, the first end including an inlet for waste material, a second passage in which the waste material flows in a direction opposite the first direction, the second passage having first and second ends, the second end including an outlet. The first passage is separated from the second passage by a divider, the second end of the first passage being adjacent the first end of the second passage, and the first end of the first passage being adjacent the second end of the second passage. A heating device is positioned in the first passage and/or the second passage to heat the waste material with a gas and to induce the waste material to move in a corkscrew-like fashion.

Abstract: A process has steps of one or more of aerobic treatment to remove COD and nitrify a waste stream, anoxic treatment to denitrify a waste stream, anoxic treatment to remove selenium and anaerobic treatment to remove heavy metals and sulphur. The process may be used to treat, for example, FGD blow down water. The process may further include one or more of (a) membrane separation of the waste stream upstream of the anoxic digestion to remove selenium, (b) dilution upstream of the biological treatment step, (c) physical/chemical pretreatment upstream of the biological processes or dilution step to remove TSS and soften the waste stream, or (d) ammonia stripping upstream of the biological treatment steps or dilutions step. These processes may be provided in a variety of suspended growth or fixed film reactors, for example a membrane bioreactor or a fixed film reactor having a GAC bed.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide an effective technique for detecting the quality of water with high accuracy. A representative water treatment apparatus includes an aerobic treatment region that treats water aerobically, a downstream region in which the water aerobically treated in the aerobic treatment region flows, a water quality sensor that is submerged in the downstream region and detects the water quality and a sensor washing arrangement that washes the water quality sensor by supplying the water of the downstream region to the water quality sensor at a flow rate higher than water flowing around the water quality sensor. As a result, sludge generated due to aerobic treatment can be prevented from being deposited on the water quality sensor and/or deposited sludge can be removed, so that the accuracy of water quality detection of the water quality sensor can be enhanced.

Abstract: In a water treatment apparatus, microorganisms propagating on wood charcoal are activated by micro-nano bubbles contained in treatment water. Water treatment is carried out with the activated microorganisms propagated on the wood charcoal. Thereby, a stable treatment is achieved. Organic matters adsorbed by the wood charcoal are decomposed by the activated microorganisms propagated on the wood charcoal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved membrane pervaporation and vapor permeation system in which the vacuum is produced by a fluid passing through a Venturi-type nozzle. The fluid is chosen from solvents that have little or no affinity for the permeate molecules. It is applicable over process feed rates, and can be used for the separation of aromatic species from hydrocarbon.

Abstract: The invention consists of a water treatment process using selective and regenerable weak base anion exchange resins to remove any number of complex anions, especially oxyanions including perchlorate, nitrate, chlorate, arsenate, selenate, and chromate, from aqueous solutions. The treatment process is comprised of three key processes including 1) pretreatment to lower pH, 2) ion exchange, and 3) post treatment to adjust pH and alkalinity. The invention also includes processes for regenerating weak base anion resins and treatment of the residuals generated. This invention employs pressurized treatment, carbon dioxide management, and reuse of regenerating solution to minimize pumping and treatment costs.

Abstract: A process for removing fluoride ions from a fluoride ion-contaminated aqueous solution and an apparatus useful for carrying out that process, both of which utilize modified alumina particles are disclosed. The modified alumina particles contain alumina complexed with iron or manganese, or both.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to device, method, and system for separation and/or detection of biological cells and biomolecules using micro-channels, magnetic interactions, and magnetic tunnel junctions. The micro-channels can be integrated into a microfluidic device that may be part of an integrated circuit. Magnetic interactions used for the separation are created, in part, by magnetic stripes associated with the micro-channels. Detection of biological cells and biomolecules is effectuated by a magnetic tunnel junction sensor that comprises two ferromagnetic layers separated by a thin insulating layer. The magnetic tunnel junction sensor can be integrated into a silicon based device, such a microfluidic device, an integrated circuit, or a microarray to achieve rapid and specific separation and/or detection of biomolecules and cells.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the capture, detection, separation, isolation and quantification of contaminants in a starting material. Also disclosed are competitive assay methods for the detection and quantification of contaminants in a starting material. Kits for use with the method are disclosed as well. A system for capturing, separating and/or concentrating contaminants from a material is also presented. The system captures, separates and/or concentrates contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, other microorganisms, and/or larger items, such as insects, from a variety of materials, such as food, and environmental and clinical materials. In general, the system uses a rotating magnetic field to mix the material with magnetic particles to capture the target contaminants, and a fixed magnetic field to separate and concentrate the captured target contaminants.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment system for use on a marine vessel comprising an aerobic fixed film biological reactor, a tubular flocculator and a dissolved air flotation (DAF) unit. The process units desirably include means for reducing erratic movement of the wastewater due to sea-induced movement of the marine vessel. The DAF unit includes a plurality of inclined baffles arranged to create a plurality of parallel inverted U-shaped flow paths that effect combined co-current and counter-current flotation separation while reducing erratic movement of the wastewater. The selection of process units and operating conditions advantageously reduces the footprint of the wastewater treatment system and reduces cost and complexity associated with the handling of wastewater treatment chemicals.

Abstract: A vessel and method for removing immiscible fluid from contaminated water, the vessel comprising: at least one chamber; an injection line in fluid communication with an inlet of the one chamber; bubble generation means in fluid communication with the injection line for injecting gas bubbles into the injection line and allowing mixing in the injection line of the gas bubbles and the contaminated water to form an inlet fluid; an inlet weir within the chamber adjacent the inlet; an immiscible fluid weir within the chamber; a trough for collecting the immiscible fluid and allowing the immiscible fluid to flow out of the at least one chamber through an immiscible fluid outlet; and a cleaned water outlet generally at the bottom of the chamber; wherein when the inlet fluid is injected into the chamber, it passes through the inlet and over the inlet weir, the cleaned water flows downwardly toward the cleaned water outlet, and a remaining mixture of the immiscible fluid and the gas bubbles floats through the chamber t

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating wastewater. The apparatus comprises a reactor having a flow channel generally centrally located in a reactor and immersed in the water or wastewater in the reactor. An agitator is disposed within the flow channel and induces water or wastewater to enter the open upper end thereof and to move downwardly through the flow channel where the water or wastewater is discharged via a flow divider. A reagent is injected into the water or wastewater and the agitator within the flow channel serves to mix the reagent with the water or wastewater passing therethrough and in the process causes at least a slightly turbulent and downward axial flow through the flow channel.

Abstract: A process for removing selenium from a water stream, in particular a waste water stream, by: 1) the addition thereto of a ferric salt, followed by 2) the addition of a cupric salt and pH adjustment to a pH value in the range of from about 6.5 to about 8.0, thereby forming a copper-and-selenium-containing precipitate, and 3) removing the copper-and-selenium-containing precipitate to thereby form a treated water stream, is disclosed. The optional precipitation and removal of excess copper ions is also disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic, self-regulating method of water treatment for use in water circulating towers in which water is evaporated, and make up water is added, with components which synergistically function to cut chemical, energy, water, corrosion, pollution, and maintenance costs, by passing the water through a water conditioning unit to prevent adhering evaporation scale deposits along with their content of concentrated biofouling nutrients from forming on the flooded surfaces of the tower and its associated water flow circuit, adding.

Abstract: Unilube's “Enhanced water removal from used oils” is an in-house developed process and has been proven successful upon commissioning of Unilube's own ‘Pre-treatment unit’ using this technology in Dammam (Saudi Arabia). Unilube has its own refinery for recovery of Base oils (Vaxon Technology). The yield % of base oils (Ratio of base oil recovered to the actual feed consumed) has improved from 45% to 55% upon commissioning of this pre-treatment unit. Untreated used oil with average water of 20% is treated to obtain treated oil with less than 3% water. The plant process flow can handle dirty used oil with cost effective recovery systems incorporated in the basic design.

Abstract: A liquid/solid separator system mounted on a mobile cart and connected to a process tank for reducing the rate at which fluids are consumed in manufacturing processes. The system may include automation and also may include a shear-stepped screen including tilted wire wedge wires arranged at varying cant angles. The system may include a fine screen basket received in a settling box.

Abstract: A skimmer used to remove both heavy and light oil from a body of water or for the removal of either light or heavy oil and a method of operation of the skimmer. The heavier oil is removed from a first location on a rotating member and the lighter oil is removed from a second location on the rotating member. The oil removed at both locations is collected at a single location and a pump removes the oil from the skimmer.

Abstract: A scraper adjustment mechanism and method for a filter that permits an operator to adjust the distance between the scraper and a filter surface without the need to have access to the filter/scraper interface, or fasteners within the filter.

Abstract: A positioning rack for mounting thin-type electrothermal straps includes a main frame with a tubular base from which a plurality of support arms extend radially. A plurality of blade plates are removably mounted to the support arms and each have positioning recesses and separation portions so as to position electrothermal straps. Each of the blade plates is formed with two guide slots each having an end formed with a locking groove. Each of the support arms has two locking members each having a locking post detachably inserted into the locking groove. A catch block is formed on a distal end of the locking post and rested on a surface of a respective blade plate. Thus, each of the blade plates is removed from the respective support arm easily and conveniently without needing aid of a tool.

Abstract: A system for mounting equipment into enclosures includes one or more longitudinal rails with bent flanges and a plurality of holes within the flanges. A side bracket mounts to the equipment, and also to the flanges of the rails. The side bracket has bent ears with slots therein, which mate with a portion of the plurality of holes in the rail flanges. The system permits three axis adjustment of the equipment, and in particular, fasteners inserted through the holes and slots permit the side to side adjustment of the equipment.

Abstract: A channel for managing equipment cables that includes opposing first and second members and a third member extending between and connecting the first and second members. Each of the first and second members includes first and second inner and outer surfaces. At least one cable receiving area is defined between the first and second inner surfaces of the first and second members. First and second equipment mounting elements extend from each of the first and second outer surfaces of the first and second members. The first and second equipment mounting elements are connectable to equipment. A base support is coupled to at least one of the first and second members.

Abstract: A fastening mechanism for fastening a circuit board to an electronic device is proposed, including: a carrier used for carrying the circuit board; at least one fastening member having a first retaining portion that is connected to said carrier for coupling to at least one side of said circuit board; at least one guiding member disposed on said carrier that extends away from the direction of said fastening member; an active member disposed on said at least one guiding member that consists of a second retaining portion for coupling to an opposite side of said circuit board; and a sheathing member used for correspondingly coupling with said guiding member, thereby allowing said active member to move along said guiding member by means of the sheathing member to jointly fasten a variety of circuit boards of different sizes with said fastening member.

Abstract: A rack for holding stem glasses of the type comprising a stem portion interconnecting a foot portion and a cup portion. The rack is elongated and defines first and second horizontally spaced-apart ends. The rack comprises elongated lower and upper rails both extending between the first and second rack ends, the upper rail being positioned vertically over the lower rail in the operative position of the rack. The rack also defines an elongated foot channel formed between the lower and upper rails and sized for accommodating the foot portion of the stem glass. An elongated insertion slot is also made between the lower and upper rails, the insertion slot being narrower than the foot channel. Furthermore, the rack also defines an elongated clearance positioned above the foot channel for allowing the foot portion of the stem glass to partially and temporarily enter therein when a glass is being inserted or removed from the rack.

Abstract: A retractable hanging apparatus that includes an engagement structure, such as a bar, upon which an article is hung or secured, with the engagement structure being suspended by one or more lines that are attached to a roller assembly rotatably mounted between two brackets. The roller assembly may be mounted to brackets alone or disposed inside a housing structure. The line or lines are secured to a roller assembly so that the article may be lowered to a particular height or may be elevated as desired. A braking system for preventing sudden retraction of the lines also is described.

Abstract: According to various aspects of the present disclosure, various shelf embodiments are disclosed that include a rod member connected thereto using one or more hook members. In some embodiments, a shelf includes a plurality of hook members supporting a rod member so as to provide free sliding movement of clothes hangers on the rod member. The hook members may be integrally connected, such as by welding, etc., to support members of the wire shelf so as to support the rod member for use in, for example, hanging items thereon.

Abstract: A rack for holding articles includes a plurality of sets of vertical battens, a plurality of sets of horizontal battens that are clamped together with the plurality of sets of vertical battens, a long connecting screw piece that extends through each set of horizontal and vertical battens, and a supplementary connecting screw that connects the front horizontal batten and the front vertical batten. The screw piece defines a pivot axis for folding the battens.

Abstract: A cut lever apparatus that automatically actuates a lock lift assembly to either lock or unlock a coupler knuckle of a freight car coupler. The apparatus includes a cylinder member having a piston disposed therein. A bracket member is attachable to the freight car coupler to support the cylinder. A linkage member is connected to the piston of the cylinder and the lock lift assembly to convert a lateral motion of the piston to a curvilinear motion of the lock lift assembly to either lock or unlock the coupler knuckle. A valve member is connected to the cylinder for communicating a pressurized fluid to the cylinder when a predetermined signal is sent to the valve and preventing pressurized fluid from entering the cylinder in an absence of the predetermined signal. Pressurized fluid in the cylinder is vented to atmosphere when the valve shuts off supply of pressurized fluid thereto.

Abstract: A bottle having a storage chamber defined by spaced upper and lower surfaces and planar sidewalls; a conical ceiling in said upper surface having an opening at the top thereof; a conical convex recess in said lower surface for receiving the conical ceiling of the next adjacent bottle when stacking said bottles, and means for interlocking the sides and upper and lower surfaces of the bottles when stacked.

Abstract: A dispensing package includes a container having a neck finish with an axis, a non-circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the axis, and at least one circumferentially extending external engagement element on the neck finish. A closure has a wall received over the container neck finish. The wall has a non-circular cross section corresponding to the non-circular cross section of the neck finish and at least one internal circumferentially extending engagement element in engagement with the external engagement element on the neck finish. The internal circumferentially extending engagement element and/or the external circumferentially extending engagement element has a shallow lead-in angle to enable press-fit of the closure onto the container neck finish and a steep back angle to retard removal of the closure from the neck finish. Rotation of the closure on the neck finish is prevented by the non-circular cross sections of the neck finish and the closure wall.

Abstract: A sports water bottle includes a container, a lid, a resilient member and a spout. The lid is mounted onto the container detachably and has a tube and an upper rim. The tube has an outer surface. The upper rim is formed around the outer surface, has an inner surface and defines a recess. The resilient member has a stationary end and a slidable end. The stationary end is mounted on the inner surface of the upper rim. The slidable end is mounted in the recess. The spout is mounted onto the lid slidably and inserted into the tube. The slidable end of the resilient member can be pushed to bend up the resilient member to push up the spout to drink water from the container. Pushing the stationary end of the resilient member is a more sanitary way to push up the spout.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high density printed circuit board and a method of manufacturing the same which enable a thin printed circuit board to be manufactured and can overcome problems occurring in a conventional method of manufacturing a printed circuit board because a conventional CCL is not used as a raw material. The high density printed circuit board includes a first insulating layer having a constant thickness, and a pair of first circuit layers embedded in two sides of the first insulating layer, respectively.

Abstract: A method for making a guide panel for a vertical probe card in batch includes the steps of a) preparing a non-metal substrate, b) forming a shielding layer having a plurality of openings on the substrate, c) etching a part of the substrate corresponding to the openings of the shielding layer by an anisotropic etching so as to form bind holes with a predetermined depth on the substrate, d) grinding the substrate to open the blind holes by a back side thinning technology so as to form micro feed through holes on the substrate, and e) removing the shielding layer so as to obtain the desired guide panel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming an etching mask. According to the present invention, there is provided a method of forming an etching mask, comprising the steps of: depositing a hard mask film containing silicon on a substrate; depositing a photoresist on the hard mask film; patterning the photoresist; and etching the hard mask film using the photoresist pattern as an mask and using an etching gas including a CHxFy(x, y=1, 2, 3) gas. At this time, an etch selectivity of the hard mask film to the photoresist pattern can be increased using a mixed gas including CH2F2 and H2 gases when etching the hard mask film under the photoresist pattern used in a wavelength of 193 nm or less.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling the temperature of a plasma chamber inside wall or other surfaces exposed to the plasma by a plurality of temperature control systems. A plasma process within the plasma chamber can be controlled by independently controlling the temperature of segments of the wall or other surfaces.

Abstract: A charge-free method of forming a nanostructure at low temperatures on a substrate. A substrate that is reactive with one of atomic oxygen and nitrogen is provided. A flux of neutral atoms of least one of oxygen and nitrogen is generated within a laser-sustained-discharge plasma source and a collimated beam of energetic neutral atoms and molecules is directed from the plasma source onto a surface of the substrate to form the nanostructure. The energetic neutral atoms and molecules in the beam have an average kinetic energy in a range from about 1 eV to about 5 eV.

Abstract: A substrate treating method includes heating a substrate having an ion-implanted film formed on a surface thereof in an oxygen environment, and removing the film from the surface of the substrate by supplying a treating solution containing sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide solution or a treating solution containing ozone to the substrate after the heating step.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a rotor shaft using a welding process. The method includes positioning a first rotor shaft section adjacent a second rotor shaft section, and using a submerged arc welding process with an included weld preparation angle of between about 0° and about 30° to join the first and second rotor shaft sections together.

Abstract: Device for preparing a multilayer printed circuit board for the drilling of contact bores, which contact bores connect the contact surfaces of at least a first layer of the multilayer printed circuit board to contact surfaces of at least a second layer of the multilayer printed circuit board. The device for preparing a multilayer printed circuit board for the drilling of contact bores includes a device for determining a layer offset between the at least a first layer and the at least a second layer of the multilayer printed circuit board. The device for preparing a multilayer printed circuit board includes a device for applying at least one reference mark to the multilayer printed circuit board, and a device for determining drilling coordinates for the contact bores in relation to the at least one reference mark and based upon the determined layer offset.

Abstract: Elongate medical devices such as guidewires can be formed from a core wire and a preformed distal cap that is configured to fit over a distal end of the core wire. The distal cap can be attached using a variety of techniques. In particular, the distal cap can be attached to the core wire using laser welding.

Abstract: A plasma spray device is provided. The plasma spray device includes a plasma chamber region for having a plasma formed and a throat region coupled to the plasma chamber region. The throat region has an end surface and an axial bore. The axial bore is formed substantially along a longitudinal axis of the throat region, and has a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The axial bore at the end surface is for ejecting a plasma stream. The axial bore may include a plurality of grooves formed substantially along the longitudinal axis of the throat region. The cross-sectional shape of the axial bore may alternatively be defined by a plurality of overlapping substantially circular lobes. The plasma stream has a flow that is lineated before the plasma stream is ejected from the axial bore. The plasma stream has an overall particle pattern angle of less than about 50° after the plasma stream exits the axial bore.