Abstract:
A device for closing holes in tissue is delivered via a catheter to the inside of a body lumen such as a heart. An elastic barbed clip is expanded, pulled into the tissue and released, pulling the tissue with it. The operation is fully reversible.
Abstract:
A miniature implanted defibrillator ignites an explosive charge when it senses an erratic heart rhythm. The defibrillator can be delivered percutaneously into the heart or can be implanted in the vicinity of the heart via minimally invasive surgery. The shock created by the exploding charge defibrillates the heart. Single use and multiple use devices are possible. The same principle can be used for a disposable external defibrillators.
Abstract:
Rapid heating of a surface of an object is achieved by moving the surface of the object proximate to one or more flexible baffles. The one or more flexible baffles are in fluid communication with a pressurized and heated flow of air. The one or more baffles are arranged to contact the surface of the object in the absence of the flow of air. The flow of air creates a gap between the one or more flexible baffles and the adjacent portions of the surface. The flow of air traveling through the gap heats these portions of the surface with a high thermal transfer efficiency. Objects to be heated may include substantially two-dimensional planar objects such as thin plates, as well as three-dimensional objects such as cylinders.
Abstract:
A computer-to-plate (CTP) machine is operated using processless printing plates. A plate bender is built directly into the CTP, bending the plate after imaging in order to make it ready for mounting on the printing press, eliminating all intermediate steps. For presses requiring punched holes in addition to the bend in the plate, the required holes are also punched in the CTP machine.
Abstract:
The invention relies on the visual persistence of the human eye to perceive a circle when a laser spot is rotated rapidly. A diode laser spot projector is temporarily attached to the spindle of a machine tool and projects a sharp spot on the work piece. As the spindle rotates, an image of a circle is formed which is perfectly centered with the axis of rotation of the spindle. The work piece is moved until the projected circle lines up with the desired location for machining. The size of the projected circle can be changed by adjusting the position of the laser beam or by changing the distance between the spindle and work piece. The jig can accommodate a wide range of chuck and collet diameters.
Abstract:
Making the volume of the arterial system increase elastically with blood pressure reduces high systolic blood pressure peaks and can also assist the pumping function of the heart by reducing load on the heart. This volumetric elasticity is achieved by the action of a spring controlling a volume. The spring can be implanted on the outside of the aorta and the volume is elastically controlled by squeezing the aorta or the spring can be installed inside an elongated elastic sealed vessel inserted into the aorta. Such a sealed vessel will respond to increase in blood pressure by reducing its volume, thus preventing the blood pressure from rising. When the latter method is used the device can be inserted into the aorta via a major artery without the need for major surgery. In both cases the device is powered by the blood pressure itself and requires no other energy source or control circuits.
Abstract:
An apparatus for generating a pressure wave for activating a fusion reaction in fusionable material in a liquid medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of pressure wave generators having respective moveable pistons, the pistons having respective control rods connected thereto. The apparatus also includes a plurality of transducers coupled to the liquid medium and means for causing the pistons of respective ones of the plurality of the pressure wave generators to be accelerated toward respective ones of the plurality of transducers. The apparatus further includes means for causing restraining forces to be applied to respective control rods to cause respective pistons to impact respective transducers at respective desired times and with respective desired amounts of kinetic energy such that the respective desired amounts of kinetic energy are converted into a pressure wave that converges toward the fusionable material in the liquid medium.
Abstract:
A computer-to-plate (CTP) machine is operated using processless printing plates. A plate bender is built directly into the CTP, bending the plate after imaging in order to make it ready for mounting on the printing press, eliminating all intermediate steps. For presses requiring punched holes in addition to the bend in the plate, the required holes are also punched in the CTP machine.
Abstract:
A flexographic press of conventional design is used to print on a container, with the container to be printed upon replacing the web and the impression roll of the conventional press. In order to maintain the registration between the print stations, the container is placed into a carrier and stays registered to the carrier until all colors are printed. The carrier is moved between the different print stations and is registered to each print station independently. All print stations are set up to print in exactly the same place relative to the carrier, thus registration is achieved.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for a multi-channel imaging system wherein the beams of light corresponding to each channel can be individually auto-focussed. Individual channel focussing permits image data to be recorded on a surface of variable depth, such as the patterned surfaces of semiconductor wafers and masks. A light source illuminates an array of reflective, deformable, micromachined ribbons and the ribbons reflect the light to form beams for the various channels. An auto-focus detector determines the depth profile of a recording surface and focus data for each channel is fed back to the ribbon array. The focus data for a particular channel is used to control the deformation of a corresponding ribbon and consequently, the focal length of the reflected beam. The individual beams can be modulated with image data by an external modulator or by the ribbon array itself. In this manner, the beams for each channel can be focussed at different points in space, so as to effectively record the data onto a patterned recording surface.