54results about How to "Reduce diameter" patented technology

One embodiment comprises an apparatus for applying energy to a hollow anatomical structure having an inner wall. The apparatus comprises an elongate shaft having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end; and a capacitive treatment element located near the distal end. The capacitive treatment element is sized for insertion into the hollow anatomical structure and placement near the inner wall. The capacitive treatment element is configured to create an electric field that extends at least partially into the inner wall. Other devices and methods for treatment of hollow anatomical structures are disclosed as well.

Clips of a self-closing type are used in annuloplasty procedures. Each clip is generally U-shaped with two end points separated from each other when it is constrained to be in an open configuration, but tends to coil up to assume its naturally closed configuration if the constraint is removed. A plurality of such clips in open configurations penetrate the tissue around the annulus circumferentially and then the constraint keeping them in the open configuration is removed such that they pull the tissue together between their two end points and this tends to reduce the diameter of the annulus. Such clips may be deployed each in the form of a clip assembly, having at least one of its end points connected to a needle through a flexible member and a release mechanism by which the clip can be easily released. The needle is caused to penetrate the tissue at one position and to come out therefrom at another circumferentially separated positions. Alternatively, a clip delivery device may be used with a plurality of such clips loaded to a clip-holder serving to keep them in open configurations. A pusher pushes the loaded clips out of the device one at a time. Self-closing clips can be used efficiently also in ring annuloplasty and valve replacement procedures.

An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient The filter element comprises a collapsible filter body 2 and a filter support 3 for the filter body. The filter body has an inlet end 4 and an outlet end 5, the inlet end 4 of the filter body has one or more inlet openings 6 sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body 2 and the outlet end 5 of the filter body has a plurality of outlet openings 107 sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body 2. The filter support 3 is movable between a collapsed position for movement through the vascular system, and an extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body in an expanded position The filter support 3 comprises a generally tubular support frame defined by at least one wire 16.

A valve such as an esophageal valve (1) has a normally closed configuration in which the valve (1) is closed and an open configuration in which the valve (1) is opened for flow through the valve (1). A support (102) for the valve (1) is adapted for mounting to a pre-deployed luminal prosthesis (140) intermediate a proximal end and a distal end of the predeployed luminal prosthesis (140).

An implantable medical lead is provided with a distal guidewire extension. A flexible distal guidewire extension, which may take the form of a helically wound wire around a tapered core, extends from the distal end of a lead body. The extension may exit a tip electrode, which may be a generally rounded electrode or an active fixation electrode. The distal guidewire extension is preferably insulated, but may be provided with an uninsulated segment for serving as an electrode.

An embolic protection device has a support frame incorporating tethering features for connecting the support frame distally and / or proximally and / or intermediately to a carrier. Tethers may also be used additionally or alternatively for connecting various elements of a support frame. The tethers may be used to connect a support hoop 503 to a tubular member 504. The tethers provide added safety and stability to the frame without any increase in the length of the device when wrapped down for delivery.

A medical device-includes a scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The scaffold is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes inflating the delivery balloon during a diameter reduction to improve scaffold retention and maintaining an inflated balloon during the diameter reduction and prior and subsequent dwell periods.

A cushion body of a rubber-like elastic element having cushioning function in which engagement holes including a cave and a pit are formed. The cave is formed so that a horizontal head of a T-shaped clip is inserted into a space provided at the side of a bottom surface portion. The pit is formed so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the cave, and to be opened in the bottom surface portion, permitting a vertical shaft of the clip to be inserted thereinto. The clip is formed with a plastic material and T-shaped and has a plurality of engaging claws flared toward the root portion from an end part of the vertical shaft of the T-shaped portion. The clip is engaged with the engagement holes of the cushion body.

Methods of controlling the degradation profile of a biodegradable stent scaffolding are disclosed. Disclosed methods include controlling features of the degradation profile including the time to loss of radial strength and the degradation time of the stent.

The decoy structure is formed of a central upper spine and lateral ribs, with a support rod resiliently attached to the approximate midpoint of the spine. The lower end of the support rod has a weighted base. A removable flexible cover is patterned to resemble the object game, and is open at the bottom. This allows the ribs to be curled inwardly toward one another with their distal ends and lower portions of the cover overlapping to reduce the structure diameter for compact storage. The support rod swings rearwardly through the open bottom of the structure, allowing the decoy to be stored in a small diameter tube. The decoy is quickly deployed by withdrawing it from its tube and tossing it to the desired location. The weighted base deploys downwardly, with aerodynamic drag holding the body above the base as it lands to orient the decoy properly in the field.

The invention relates to methods and devices for plicating the tricuspid valve leaflets to bicuspidize the valve.

A fastener assembly includes a protective cover having an annular part, a cap, and a connecting strip interconnecting elastically the annular part and the cap. A fastening member has a head, a retention flange extending radially and outwardly from a bottom end of the head, an abutting flange that is reduced in diameter and that extends co-axially from the retention flange, and a screw rod that is reduced in diameter and that extends co-axially from the abutting flange. The abutting flange has a thickness greater than that of the annular part of the cover and a diameter smaller than that of a through-hole in the annular part of the cover. The retention flange has a diameter greater than that of the through-hole in the annular part of the cover.

A fiber optic cable assembly including a mid-span access location, a cable having at least fiber therein, and a tether attached and spliced to at least one fiber of the cable. The access location and portions of the cables are substantially encapsulated within a flexible body having dimensions sufficient to accommodate a slack coil or loop of bend performance optical fiber therein. A method for making a fiber optic cable assembly including an access location, distribution cable, tether and slack coil of optical fiber maintained within a flexible overmolded body while providing an assembly having a cross-sectional diameter less than about 1.25 inches.

A retainer clenches on tubing to secure a fitting and form a compression seal and connection therebetween. The retainer has first and second portions joined by a hinge and is movable from an open position to a closed position. The closed position defines an aperture in which the tubing and fitting are clenched. The retainer has a small aspect ratio with respect to the diameter and axial width of the retainer. A rib circumscribes and extends radially into the aperture to place a pre-load on the tubing to intensify a compression force of the retainer.

An electronically-controlled throttle body includes a throttle valve having a valve disc, fixed on a valve shaft rotatably supported in a body inside which an air-intake passage is formed, for varying an opening area of the air-intake passage; a reduction gear mechanism connected to the valve shaft of the throttle valve; and a motor connected to the reduction gear mechanism; rotational drive power from the motor is transmitted to the valve shaft via the reduction gear mechanism, and the opening area of the air-intake passage is varied by rotatably moving the valve disc. The reduction gear mechanism includes a planetary gear mechanism and a spur gear reduction gear mechanism, rotational drive power from the motor is decelerated by the planetary mechanism, and the decelerated rotational drive power is further decelerated by the spur gear reduction gear mechanism, and then transmitted to the valve shaft.

Disclosed herein is a method for modifying a surface of a polymeric substrate, comprising providing a substrate, exposing at least one surface of the substrate to energy to form surface radical forming groups on the surface, treating the substrate with a fluid comprising at least one type of monomer and subjecting the treated substrate to activation energy to cleave at least some of the radical forming groups and initiate graft polymerization of the monomer. The graft polymerization initiated thereby does not require added photoinitiator.

Disclosed are a machine with a grinding wheel and a dressing surface and related method. The dressing surface is movable in at least two axes of translation relative to the grinding wheel. The rotational speed of the grinding wheel and dressing surface preferably are under the control of a computer control system, whereby the speed of rotation of the dressing surface may be adjusted as the diameter of the dressing wheel and as the diameter of the grinding wheel is decreased during use. The machine may be used in continuous or intermittent dressing operations.

In a gas discharge tube 1 of the present invention, a focusing electrode portion 14 and a discharge limiting portion 30 are electrically insulated, and the discharge limiting portion 30 comprises a discharge limiting opening 31 which opposes an arc ball shaping concave portion 16. Thus the formation of a discharge path from a cathode portion 20 to the concave portion 16 is ensured and a starting discharge can be reliably generated. Further, by means of the discharge limiting opening 31 which opposes the concave portion 16, an arc ball S can be continuously maintained in an appropriate shape even when a lamp is illuminated, and thus the arc ball S can be shaped with stability, thereby stabilizing the luminance and light quantity.

The prestressed flanged leaktight connection device comprises a first flange (130) presenting a first contact surface (111), a second flange (140) presenting a second contact surface (121) situated facing the first contact surface (111), a sealing gasket (160) received in a gasket housing (170) formed between the first and second contact surfaces and clamping elements (150) for clamping together the first and second flanges (130, 140). The first and second contact surfaces present a localized bearing zone (Z1) forming a dog situated in the vicinity of the sealing gasket (160). At least one (111) of the first and second contact surfaces presents, in the localized bearing zone (Z1) a surface of specified shape, e.g. conical, such that before tightening of the tightening elements (150), contact between the first and second flanges (130, 140) at the localized bearing zone (Z1) is limited to a fraction of the surface of the localized bearing zone (Z1), whereas after tightening of the tightening elements (150; 250) the contact is distributed evenly over all of the localized bearing zone (Z1).

An expandable stent that can transform between a collapsed state and an expanded state is described. The stent includes a first cross-sectional shape and a second cross-sectional shape. The first cross-sectional shape is a non-convex shape when the stent is in the collapsed state. Alternatively, the second cross-sectional shape is a convex shape when the stent is in an expanded state. The stent can be formed of super elastic Nitinol, which allows it to be shape set in the desired shape. Due to its shape setting properties and the non-convex cross-section, the stent is capable of dramatically reducing its cross-sectional radial profile which is beneficial in a variety of procedures.

A combine harvester has at least one cleaning device which includes at least one sieve and one cleaning fan, at least one conveyor device for conveying at least a portion of the crop material that exits the cleaning device into a higher region of the combine harvester and including at least one elevator having a lower intake region and an upper transfer region, the crop material being conveyed in the elevator via conveyor plates which are situated on a circulating chain, and the elevator includes, in its lower region, at least two interspaced deflection axles for the circulating chain, which are oriented transversely to the longitudinal extension of the combine harvester.

There is provided a plastic extrusion sizing tube having a cylinder with a split along its length to allow for radial expansion and reduction of the sizing tube. The cylinder has holes to allow an extrusion within the cylinder to be drawn to the cylinder by a vacuum outside the cylinder. The cylinder also has extensions on opposite sides of the split with an adjustment screw connecting the extensions. The diameter of the cylinder can be expanded or reduced when the adjustment screw is turned in respective directions. A set screw can be connected to one of the extensions. The diameter of the cylinder can be expanded or reduced when the set screw is turned in respective directions. The diameter of the cylinder can be locked in a desired position when the adjustment screw and the set screw are turned in the same direction. The adjustment screw and the set screw can be located in a flange at one end of the cylinder. The holes in the cylinder can be slots.

An air / water channel is split into smaller-diameter branch channels before the air / water channel enters a bending portion so as to create a space within a joint ring constituting the bending portion. A forceps channel having the largest outer diameter among internal components of the joint rings is disposed at the center of the joint rings. In addition to the branch channels, optical fibers as a light guide, a signal line, and the like are arranged around the forceps channel within the joint rings. By eliminating the created space, a diameter of the joint rings is reduced and thus a diameter of an insertion section is reduced.

To prevent a phenomenon that an alignment film material is difficult to flow into the through-hole where a diameter of a through-hole for connecting between a pixel electrode and a source electrode is reduced.A liquid crystal display device comprising a TFT substrate having pixels each including a common electrode formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film formed so as to cover the common electrode, a pixel electrode having a slit and formed on the interlayer insulating film, a through-hole formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, and a source electrode electrically conducted to the pixel electrode via the through-hole. A taper angle at a depth of D / 2 of the through-hole is equal to or more than 50 degrees. The pixel electrode covers part of a side wall of the through-hole but does not cover the remaining part of the side wall of the through-hole. This configuration facilitates the alignment film material to flow into the through-hole, thereby solving a thickness unevenness of the alignment film in vicinity of the through-hole.

A compressor housing for a turbocharger including an intake port, a scroll chamber, and a shroud part. The shroud part includes an annular abradable seal, and an annular abradable seal fixing part. The abradable seal fixing part includes a press-fitting recessed portion into which the abradable seal is press-fitted, and a grooved portion formed at a forward side of the press-fitting recessed portion with respect to a press-fitting direction of the abradable seal. The abradable seal includes a press-fit abutting portion press-fitted into the press-fitting recessed portion, abutting against an inner circumferential surface of the press-fitting recessed portion, and a bulging portion at a forward side of the press-fit abutting portion with respect to the press-fitting direction. The outside diameter of the bulging portion is larger than the inside diameter of the press-fitting recessed portion but smaller than the inside diameter of the grooved portion.

An atmospheric pressure ionization source is provided. The atmospheric pressure ionization source comprises a chamber housing, a spray probe that produces a spray cone along a spray axis within the chamber, and an exhaust port opposite the spray probe on the housing. The exhaust port includes at least two segments, a first segment of the exhaust port is disposed between a second segment and an opening through the housing that receives the spray cone. The first segment defines a first axis that is co-axial with the spray axis, and the second segment defines a second axis that is angled relative to the first axis.

A storage facility includes a storage rack including a plurality of storage sections and a gas supply portion that supplies an inactive gas to containers stored in the storage sections. Struts are installed at left and right ends of the storage rack and between adjacent ones of the storage sections, and placement portions are fixed to mutually adjacent ones of the struts. Each vertical pipe included in the gas supply portion is fixed to one of the struts to which the placement portion to which the inactive gas is supplied by the vertical pipe is fixed.