Vital Signs, Inc.

Svelte Medical Systems, Inc.

William A Easterbrook, Iii

David R Fischell

Robert E Fischell

Rajesh Kalavalapally

The present invention is a hybrid stent design using half-slot circumferential sets of strut members with short (&#x3c;1.5 mm) slot length that has minimal fish scaling and excellent stent retention and flexibility. These half-slot circumferential sets of strut members are connected one to the other with helical connectors similar to those of the Palmaz stent. One important difference in the design of the stent of the present invention is that the helical connectors are attached to every other crown (rather than connected to every crown) to further improve stent flexibility. By appropriately varying the strut width of both the connected and unconnected curved crowns to be greater at the center than at their ends, an increased radial strength can be provided for a given maximum strain that is imparted to the stent when it is expanded to its maximum diameter.

Hybrid stent with helical connectors

Improved plastic laryngoscope blade providing increased resistance to torsional deformation and for being coupled to a laryngoscope handle, the blade includes a plastic body including a generally curved spatula portion, a web portion extending outwardly from an edge portion of the spatula portion, and a flange portion extending inwardly from an outer portion of the web portion and residing at least partially over a portion of the spatula portion, and a coupling provided on an end of the spatula portion for coupling the blade to the handle.

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Westwood, NJ, United States of America

William A Easterbrook, Iii