Abstract:
Endocardial mapping and ablation system for introduction into a chamber of a heart formed by a wall and having a passage leading thereto. The system is comprised of a catheter probe having a distal extremity. A plurality of electrodes are carried by the distal extremity for mapping the wall of the chamber. An ablation catheter is provided having a distal extremity. The ablation catheter has control capabilities whereby the distal extremity can be bent separately of movement of the catheter probe to come into close proximity to the wall of the heart. The distal extremity of the ablation catheter is provided with capabilities for ablating a portion of the wall of the heart to eliminate an arrythmia in the heart.
Abstract:
A shock absorbent protective GLOVE (24) to be used as an underglove in conjunction with a baseball/softball mitt, which extends above the wrist and up the lower forearm. The hand section (22) of the GLOVE (24) contains thin quasi-liquid, shock absorbent, flexible material with shape memory properties covering the fingers, the base of the fingers and the palm or the metacarpal bones of the hand. The wrist section (18) of the GLOVE (24) contains shock absorbent material of closed cell and shape memory properties covering the carpal bones and thus the ulna nerve where it enters the hand at the wrist. The forearm section (12,14) of the GLOVE (24) contains at least one layer of shock absorbent material patterned to optimize flexibility and protection of the lower ulna and radius bones as well as the front surface of the lower forearm.
Abstract:
A method of enhancing the appearance of a polished surface of an artifact is provided in which the artifact is formed from a non-ferrous alloy, in particular, but not exclusively, a precious metal alloy, chosen to exhibit a martensitic and a parent phase structure. The surface, or relevant part thereof, is polished in one of the phases, usually the parent phase, followed by heat treatment to effect a phase transformation, generally to the martensitic phase. This phase change causes a visible surface effect to the polished surface which may be described as a spangle effect.
Abstract:
A current-limiting dropout fuseholder includes multiple current paths through the fuse body. A primary current path includes a high current fusible element. A secondary current path in parallel with the primary path includes a triggering conductor that extends outside the fuse body and is connected to a moveable support. The second current path further includes a first spark gap for severing the triggering conductor upon the occurrence of a fault and the shifting of the fault current from the primary current path to the second current path. A second spark gap formed between the primary and the second current paths ensures that the fault current flows across the first spark gap for a time sufficient to sever the triggering conductor, thereby ensuring that dropout will occur.
Abstract:
The fuseholder includes a current limiting fuse mounted within a fuse body and a lower contact and hinge assembly. The fuse body has contact assemblies mounted on each end thereof. The lower contact assembly on the fuse body is mounted on a hinge which is rotatably supported on an interchangeable cutout mounting. The current limiting fuse includes a fuse element spirally wound around a spider which extends the length of the fuse body. The fuse element includes a high current fusible element and a low current fuse element. The fusible element includes a plurality of spaced reduced areas and is supported on the spider by support surfaces which are located between adjacent reduced areas of the fusible element. An auxiliary wire also extends the length of the fuse body about the spider. The hinge includes a hinge member rotatably mounted on the interchangeable cutout mounting, a connective member supporting the contact assemblies and fuse body with current limiting fuse, and a latch for latching the hinge member to the connective member in a contracted position. The latch is connected to a trigger wire attached to the lower end of the auxiliary wire to maintain the hinge and connective members in their contracted position. Upon the melting of the trigger wire due to a current overload, the trigger wire releases the latch thereby allowing the connective member to move to an extended position with respect to the hinge member such that the current limiting fuse drops out of the interchangeable cutout mounting.
Abstract:
An apparatus for mapping the wall of a chamber of the heart having blood therein. The apparatus includes a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities and at least one lumen extending therethrough. A basket assembly is carried by the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member and is movable between contracted and expanded positions. The basket assembly has a plurality of elongate flexible circumferentially spaced-apart arms with proximal and distal extremities. A plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart electrodes are carried by each arm for engaging the wall of the heart. Spacing members coupled to the arms and extending between the arms are provided for establishing a desired substantially uniform circumferential spacing between the arms when the basket assembly is in expanded position in engagement with the wall of the heart. Openings are provided between the arms and the spacing members through which blood can flow.
Abstract:
A catheter including an elongated highly flexible hollow lumen and a guide wire positioned within the lumen, the guide wire fabricated from nickel-titanium shape-memory alloy, the guide wire having greater than three percent (3%) elasticity over the temperature range of use of the catheter allowing high-elastic deformation at low stress and low rolling and sliding frictional resistance of the guide wire when moved and bent within the lumen producing a high degree of tactile control is disclosed.
Abstract:
An elongate deformable structure, that can be used as part of an eyeglass frame, for example, comprises a central core member made from a shape memory alloy. A plurality of annular members are threaded onto the core member. At least one of the annular members has at least one transverse surface disposed obliquely to the axis of the bore through it.
Abstract:
This invention relates to novel fabrics characterized by thermal insulation properties which change in response to changes in environmental temperature. The fabrics contain hollow inflatable elements having entrapped therein a gas and a solvent material which can be converted from liquid to solid phase by temperature changes within the environment of usage, said solvent material dissolving more of the gas when in the liquid phase than in the solvent phase. The elements contain more gas than can be dissolved by the solvent material within the elements when this material is in the solid phase and thus lowering the environmental temperature, so as to convert said material from the liquid to the solid phase, results in the expulsion of gas formerly dissolved in the liquid phase. The expelled gas inflates the inflatable elements within the fabric and increases the thermal-insulating properties of the fabric.
Abstract:
Ablation catheter comprising an elongate member with proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end is arranged to apply a high energy electrical shock from a plurality of locations along the length of said distal end and wherein said distal end is curved. Preferably the distal end of the elongate member extends in a circle segment.