A patient support apparatus comprises a base and a support frame. The patient support apparatus also comprises a lift assembly that operates to lift and lower the support frame relative to the base. The lift assembly comprises lift members that extend and collapse to lift and lower the support frame. A timing link is pivotally connected to one of the lift members and pivotally connected to the base. Guides operate to guide movement of the lift members during operation. Retention assemblies are arranged between pivoting components of the lift assembly.

The present invention relates to a medical aid or sports aid (100), comprising a Bowden cable (10, 40), wherein the Bowden cable (10, 40) comprises a core (11, 41), wherein the core (11, 41) runs at least in a partial region in a casing (12, 42), wherein the casing (12, 42) is stretchable at least in a partial region, and the use of a Bowden cable (10, 40), having a core (11, 41) for tensioning a medical aid or a sports aid (100), wherein the core (11, 41) runs at least partially displaceably in a casing (12, 42) and the casing (12, 42) is stretchable.

Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes a pump-outlet tube shaped to define one or more blood-outlet openings and including a narrower section, and a wider section, which is proximal to and wider than the narrower section, and which is shaped to define at least a portion of each of the blood-outlet openings such that a normal vector to the portion has a distally-facing component. The pump-outlet tube is inserted, through the subject's aorta, into the subject's left ventricle such that the pump-outlet tube traverses an aortic valve of the subject with the blood-outlet openings being disposed within the aorta. An impeller is disposed within the narrower section of the pump-outlet tube and is configured to pump blood of the subject, through the blood-outlet openings, from the left ventricle into the aorta. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are provided, including inserting a drive-cable-bearing tube, which includes one or more inwardly-facing ceramic portions, into a body of a subject and through an aorta of the subject, such that the inwardly-facing ceramic portions are within an aortic arch of the subject, while a drive cable, which is coupled to an intracorporeal device at a distal end of the drive-cable-bearing tube and includes one or more outwardly-facing ceramic portions, passes through the drive-cable-bearing tube such that the outwardly-facing ceramic portions are aligned with the inwardly-facing ceramic portions. The drive cable is rotated within the drive-cable-bearing tube, thereby rotating the intracorporeal device, while the outwardly-facing ceramic portions are aligned with the inwardly-facing ceramic portions. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including inserting a drive-cable end of a drive cable, which includes a plurality of coiled wires, and a hollow-shaft end of a hollow shaft, which hollow-shaft end is shaped to define multiple shaft pores, into opposing ends of a coupling tube having a wall shaped to define multiple tabs. The drive cable is coupled to the shaft by pushing at least some of the tabs into the shaft pores, respectively. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including an axial shaft configured for insertion into, and rotation within, a subject's body. A delivery tube extends to the axial shaft, from outside the subject's body, while the axial shaft is within the subject's body. An impeller is coupled to the axial shaft such that, as the axial shaft rotates, the impeller pumps blood of the subject. Proximal and distal radial bearings surround the axial shaft, proximally and distally to the impeller respectively, the proximal and distal radial bearings being configured to radially stabilize the axial shaft while the axial shaft rotates. A proximal bearing housing houses the proximal radial bearing and is coupled to the delivery tube. A drive cable rotates the axial shaft while extending through the delivery tube, and is coupled to the axial shaft within the proximal bearing housing. Other applications are also described.

The invention relates to a ceramic insert (1) for sliding pairs in endoprosthetics. Said insert (1) has an outer face and an inner face; on the inner face, a hemispherical sliding area (2) is formed for accommodating a spherical sliding partner. In order to be able to reduce the thickness of the metal shell plus the insert such that the pelvic bone does not have to be milled as deep down, according to the invention, the insert (1) is designed as a ring or in an annular form.

A flexible, elongated catheter tube having distal and proximal ends and a laser cut section there between. The laser cut section makes up a majority of the catheter length and is cut in a continuous helical pattern forming interlocking teeth which can be sinusoidal, triangular, square or likes shapes, preferably sinusoidal. The interior of the catheter tube has a polymeric bi-layer of a nylon or like polymer at the interface of the tube interior and a Teflon or like polymer forms the interior lumen of the catheter. The exterior of the tube has a thin polymer coating of nylon or the like. A short portion of the distal end is uncut and is followed by a narrower terminal section which can be tapered for better blockage penetration. The interlocking teeth disengage and reengage in a fish scale manner without undergoing plastic deformation and without substantial polymer separation.

The current disclosure presents embodiments directed to, among others, a support and/or clamp (60) for receiving a cylindrical element (e.g., a bearing (90)), which can include a base (62), a pair of opposed receiving members (64) projecting from the base (62) and spaced apart from one other to establish a receiving area (66) configured with a size and shape to removably receive at least one of a circular, cylindrical and spherical object therein, and at least one of a detent (24) and magnet (40) arranged within at least a portion of the receiving area (66), the detent (24) and/or magnet (40) configured to at least one of temporarily retain the object within the receiving area (66) and establish a sound associated with the receiving of the object.

Systems and methods related to hydrodynamic bearings for use in X-ray sources are provided. In one aspect, a hydrodynamic bearing system includes a sleeve assembly including a cross-member fluidically dividing a first interior cavity from a second interior cavity, a first shaft positioned in the first interior cavity, and a second shaft positioned in the second interior cavity. The hydrodynamic bearing system may further include a first journal bearing including a first fluid interface surrounding at least a portion of the first cantilever shaft and configured to support radial loads and a second journal bearing including a second fluid interface surrounding at least a portion of the second cantilever shaft and configured to support radial loads.