Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Sherwood Services Ag

Covidien Ag

John Shanahan

Raymond A Fredricks

Douglas Raymond Martin

Michael J Spearman

Brian M Spearman

Keith Allen Roberts

John Henry Burban

Edward Badillo

David James Liller

John H Burban

Keith A Roberts

David Michael Bevan

Peter Joseph Catalano

Peter J Catalano

A hand-held device is used to deliver and hydrate a temporary polymeric implant having a length, an outer surface and a cross-section, with a disruptable cover over the implant. A lumen may pass through the entire length, the lumen having a surface forming an equivalent diameter in the polymeric stent. The temporary polymeric implant includes a first aqueous-swellable, biocompatible and biodegradable composition (e.g., polymer) having a thickness. The aqueous-swellable and biodegradable polymer retaining structural integrity for at least 1 hours up to thirty days when swollen and kept moist by a moist aqueous environment. Barrier layers of biodegradable polymer(s) may be used to prevent migration of liquids into the lumen.

Tool for placement of degradeable ostial stent

Tool for placement of degradable ostial stent

A vehicle and a method for controlling a vehicle transmission is provided. The vehicle has at least one wheel and a positionable acceleration device. The vehicle includes an engine being responsive to the position of the acceleration device, wherein the engine provides torque to the wheel. In one embodiment, a transmission is coupled to the engine and the wheel, wherein the transmission provides multiple speed ratios and is configured to operate in a continuously variable mode. The vehicle also includes a controller that communicates with the engine and the transmission. The controller senses the position of the acceleration device, determine a shift schedule based on the position of the acceleration device, and set an engine speed limit for the engine. The controller also generates signals for the transmission to provide the speed ratio based on the engine speed limit while the transmission operates in the continuously variable mode.

Vehicle engine speed control for a continuously variable transmission

A system and method for approaching the intervertebral disc through a percutaneous insertion from the back of a patient for thermal or electromagnetic treatment of an intervertebral disc, includes an elongated probe member having a guidable region adjacent its distal end with an undulating groove defined in its outer surface. The undulating groove is dimensioned to facilitate bending of the guidable region in at least one radial direction of movement relative to a longitudinal axis of the thermal probe. Preferably, the guidable region includes a plurality of undulating grooves, whereby adjacent undulating grooves are longitudinally spaced with respect to each other. The undulating grooves each define a sinusoidal configuration which may be arranged about an undulating axis extending in oblique relation to the longitudinal axis. The guidable region also includes a longitudinally extending backbone which resists bending of the guidable region in a radial direction of movement. The apparatus may also include a cannula to facilitate introduction of the thermal probe into the intervertebral disc. The cannula includes an arcuate end portion dimensioned to arrange the guidable region of the thermal probe at a desired orientation within the annulus fibrosis.

Apparatus and method for treatment of an intervertebral disc

A system and method for controlling an engine in a vehicle to facilitate heat transfer to a passenger compartment is provided. A number of conditions are examined, and if it is found that one or more of these conditions matches a corresponding predetermined condition, the spark timing of the engine is retarded. In addition, a charge motion control valve is opened, thereby increasing the amount, and reducing the turbulence, of the air entering the engine. This facilitates hotter combustion within the engine, and therefore faster heat transfer to the vehicle passenger compartment.

System and method for controlling an engine in a vehicle

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Medford, MA, United States of America

John Shanahan