3564results about How to "Reduce stiffness" patented technology

A catheter comprising an outer shaft comprising a first section of electroactive polymer. The first section of electroactive polymer affecting either the flexibility of the catheter or the steerability of the catheter.

A physiological sensing stethoscope suitable for use in high-noise environments is disclosed. The stethoscope is designed to be substantially matched to the mechanical impedance of monitored physiological activity and substantially mismatched to the mechanical impedance of air-coupled acoustic activity. One embodiment of the stethoscope utilizes a passive acoustic system. Another embodiment utilizes an active Doppler system. The passive and active systems can be combined in one stethoscope enabling switching from a passive mode to an active mode suitable for use in very high-noise environments. The stethoscope is suitable for use in environments having an ambient background noise of 100 dBA and higher. The passive includes a head having a housing, a flexural disc mounted with the housing, and an electromechanical stack positioned between the housing and the flexural disc in contact with the skin of a patient. The active system detects Doppler shifts using a high-frequency transmitter and receiver.

In some embodiments, a lighting element comprising at least first and second solid state light emitters, a first heat sink structure with a fold region between first and second heat sink regions, and at least one light emitter on each of the heat sink regions, and methods of making. In some embodiments, a lighting element, comprising plural heat sink regions on respective regions of a flexible circuit board, and plural light emitters on respective regions of the flexible circuit board, and methods of making. In some embodiments, heat sink structures comprising plural heat sink regions and a circuit board with plural regions, and lighting elements comprising them. In some embodiments, a heat sink structure, comprising plural heat sink regions and an internal flow guide structure, and lighting elements comprising same. Also, other lighting elements, lamps and heat sink structures.

Particular aspects provide novel devices for bone tissue engineering, comprising a metal or metal-based composite member/material comprising an interior macroporous structure in which porosity may vary from 0-90% (v), the member comprising a surface region having a surface pore size, porosity, and composition designed to encourage cell growth and adhesion thereon, to provide a device suitable for bone tissue engineering in a recipient subject. In certain aspects, the device further comprises a gradient of pore size, porosity, and material composition extending from the surface region throughout the interior of the device, wherein the gradient transition is continuous, discontinuous or seamless and the growth of cells extending from the surface region inward is promoted. Additional aspects provide a device for bone tissue engineering, comprising a metal or metal-based composite member/material comprising an interior porous structure, wherein the pore size, porosity and material composition is selected to provide a device having an optimal density and/or elastic modulus and/or compression strength for a specific recipient. Novel methods for fabricating the devices are also provided.

Catheters having selectively insertable or selectively activatable and releasable stiffening mechanisms are provided. In general, the catheter is inserted, navigated and withdrawn from a subject in a relaxed, flexible condition and stiffening mechanisms are deployed to prevent the catheter from shifting during placement or operation of an accessory device or tool through the catheter. Stiffening members(s) may be inserted into and removed from one or more longitudinal channel(s) provided in proximity to the catheter wall and generally coaxial with the primary catheter lumen to change the stiffness properties of the catheter. The properties, configuration and size of the stiffening members and channels may be varied to vary the stiffness properties of the catheter and stiffening members may be constructed from materials having shape change properties or materials that change conformation or stiffness with application of heat, current or electrical field. Stiffening mechanisms may also employ energy absorbing and viscoelastic polymer materials having variable stiffness properties depending on ambient conditions.

A device used in conjunction with fixation hardware to provide a two-stage process to address the competing needs of immobilization and re-establishment of normal stress-strain trajectories in grafted bone. A method of determining a patient-specific stress/strain pattern that utilizes a model based on 3D CT data of the relevant structures and cross-sectional data of the three major chewing muscles. The forces on each of the chewing muscles are determined based on the model using predetermined bite forces such that a stiffness of cortical bone in the patient's mandible is determined. Based on the stiffness data, suitable implantation hardware can be designed for the patient by adjusting external topological and internal porous geometries that reduce the stiffness of biocompatible metals to thereby restore normal bite forces of the patient.

A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load by working in tension comprising a generally annular inner ring, a generally annular outer ring, and an interconnected web having a plurality of web elements and comprising a plurality of generally polygonal openings. Web elements are sized, oriented and comprised of a material that facilitates buckling when subjected to a compressive load. By buckling, those elements in a deformed portion of the tire between a wheel and a footprint region where the tire contacts a surface can assume a significantly reduced portion of the load, if any. This causes web elements in other portions of the interconnected web to operate in tension to support the load.

A thin-wall hollow form for concrete to in-situ pour hollow non-beam floor is composed of top plate, peripheral wall and bottom plate, and is characterized by that its bottom plate contains at least one thin strip for improving its resistance to impact and collision. Its advantages are simple structure, high strength, toughness and resistance to deformation and vibration, light weight and low cost.

Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic disk drive which has improved electrical properties owing to a reduction in the loss of transmission line, improved vibration properties owing to a reduction in the stiffness of wiring around the head, and a flat impedance in the transmission line. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive comprises a suspension; a magnetic head coupled with the suspension and configured to write and read information to and from a magnetic recording medium; and a transmission line disposed on the suspension to transmit writing and reading information to and from the magnetic head. The transmission line includes a writing line and a reading line, a lower conductor disposed underneath the writing line and the reading line, and an insulating layer interposed between the lower conductor and the writing and reading lines. The lower conductor comprises copper or copper-based alloy and has a thickness of substantially less than 25 μm, desirably about 2-12 μm, and more desirably about 5 μm.

A disposable undergarment having a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core disposed therebetween. The core is placed in a crotch region and has front and rear end zones and a middle zone. Side portions of a first elastic member extend in the vicinity of front ends of transversely opposite side edge portions of the crotch region while a middle portion of the first elastic member extends across the front end zone. Side portions of a second elastic member extend in the vicinity of rear ends of the edge portions while a middle portion of the second elastic member extends across the rear end zone. The contraction of the first and second elastic members in the middle portions thereof is effectively used to maintain the front and rear end zones of a core in close contact with the wearer's skin.

A gas turbine vane to improve vane performance by addressing known failure mechanisms. A cooling circuit to the trailing edge of a vane airfoil is fed from the outer diameter platform, which prevents failure due to an oxidized and eroded airfoil trailing edge. The gas turbine includes an outer diameter platform, a hollow airfoil and an inner diameter platform with a plurality of cooling tubes extending radially through the airfoil. The cooling tubes are open at the outer diameter end and closed with covers at the inner diameter end. The inner diameter platform is also cooled and includes a meterplate for a portion of the cooling passageway and includes an undercut to improve thermal deflections of the inner diameter platform.

A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face. The body has an impact-influencing structure in the form of a channel positioned on at least one surface of the body. A majority of a force generated by impact with a ball is absorbed by the impact-influencing structure, and a majority of a response force generated by the head upon impact with the ball is generated by the impact-influencing structure. The face may have increased stiffness as compared to existing faces, and may include a stiffening structure to create the increased stiffness, such as a porous or cellular stiffening structure.

A system and method for performing spinal fusion using vertebral connecting rods constructed of a shape memory material, such as shape memory alloy. The connecting rod is cooled below its phase transition temperature, which is chosen to be just below body temperature, and is inserted through a curved guide tube previously inserted into the back of the patient. The guide tube is located so as to deliver the connecting rod at its desired location between the preinserted pedicle screw heads. The rod, being in its flexible state below the transition temperature, negotiates the curve and exits the guide tube in a straight form and parallel to the patient's spine. As it heats up to body temperature, it regains its original straight shape and its original rigidity, and is ready for connecting its associated vertebrae to each other.

A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load by working in tension. The tire can comprise a generally annular inner ring, a generally annular outer ring, and a web having a plurality of web elements. The tire can further comprise a layer or layers fabric material acting as a bonding agent to bond tire components together.

In an elevator installation, an apparatus and a method use a support end connection for fastening a support device to an elevator car, a counterweight and/or a building. The support device has at least one cable or cable strand enclosed by a cable casing and is held in a wedge pocket by a wedge. The cable casing is formed of thermoplastic material or an elastomer and at least one of a region of the wedge or the wedge pocket is provided with a longitudinal wedge groove and a region of the wedge, of the wedge pocket or the cable casing has a reduced coefficient of friction. The support device is preferably a multiple cable.

A spinal implant including porous and solid portions is disclosed. The implant includes porous portions on upper and lower surfaces and in an interior thereof. Methods of manufacturing and implanting such implants are also disclosed.