Other

Medtronic Vascular, Inc.

Auto Splice Systems Inc.

Green; Douglas Mark

Douglas P Green

Kevin M Mauch

Robert Martin Bogursky

Giuseppe Bianca

Scott C Proctor

Richard Howe

John Hover

Percutaneous methods and apparatus for forming a venous valve from autologous tissue by creating at least one subintimal longitudinal dissection that forms at least one flap of intimal tissue are disclosed. In one method, a balloon catheter having a dissecting blade mounted thereon is delivered to a target site where a new venous valve is to be created. The balloon is inflated to deploy the blade against the vein wall, and the catheter is longitudinally translated such that the blade dissects a subintimal layer of the vein wall. The balloon is subsequently deflated such that the blade pulls a flap of the dissected tissue towards the vein lumen, thereby creating a leaflet and corresponding pocket/sinus in the vein that collectively act as a monocuspid venous valve. Methods of forming new bicuspid and tricuspid venous valves utilizing two or three dissecting blades mounted on the balloon are also disclosed.

Percutaneous methods and apparatus for creating native tissue venous valves

A feeder for a pick and place machine used in connection with the mounting of small discrete parts such as electrical and mechanical components comprises a frame and mechanisms connected to the frame for advancing a carrier tape product from a supply reel. The carrier tape product preferably includes a pair of spaced apart continuous parallel carrier tapes having a series of longitudinally spaced parts with opposite sides molded over adjacent inner side edges of corresponding ones of the carrier tapes so that each part bridges the two carrier tapes. The feeder further comprises a separation station mounted to the frame for receiving the carrier tape from the supply reel. Mechanisms in the separation station are provided for exerting a sufficient force between a part in the separation station and the carrier tape to physically separate the part from the carrier tape without substantially displacing the part from a predetermined location on the separation station so as to impair the ability of the head of a pick and place machine to pick up the part. Preferably the force is exerted by preventing the inner side edges of the tapes from moving upwardly, by restraining the outer side edges of the tapes from inward movement toward the part, and by deflecting the intermediate portions of the tapes upwardly, causing the inner side edges of the tapes to break away from the part.

Feeder for separating parts molded to a continuous carrier tape

Table

Dumbbell rack

An extremely versatile heavy duty exercise bench (10) integrates the functional features necessary for body development through weight lifting, by providing a manually operable, double adjustable, reversible, tiltable, and sliding seat configuration (15, 20). The seat mounting means (15) includes upwardly facing rails (32) which face complementary flanges (33) on a flange assembly (34) on the bottom of the seat (20). The flanges (33) ride upon the rails (32) and guide longitudinal movement of the seat (20), while leaving the seat (20) free to be lifted manually and reversed. A manually operable clamp (60) secures the seat (20) in position on the mounting means (15) when the seat (20) is in use. Hinges (36,37) and telescoping tubes (41,42) provide for independent adjustment of the tilting of the seat portions (21,22). The bench (10) also includes a dual foam seat construction (27,28), efficient and manually operable angled locking pins (50) for adjusting certain bench/seat positions, manually operable clamp means (60) for adjusting other bench/seat positions, and a combined spotter-tipover stand (80) for improved bench stability.

Heavy duty multi-function exercise bench

Growing community of inventors

League City, TX, United States of America

Douglas P Green