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February 27, 2012, 12:10 pm
Liston loses heavyweight championship boxing bout to Cassius Clay.
Denver's Sonny Liston was a 7-to-1 favorite and considered invincible when he lost his heavyweight championship title to Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) on February 25, 1964.
Liston claimed a shoulder injury prevented him from continuing in the seventh round, which gave the championship to Clay on a TKO.
Round Six and Interviews
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Late night host James Corden has surprised "Chewbacca mom" Candace Payne with the chance to meet the actor behind the "Star Wars" creature.
Payne's wildly popular video of her hysterically laughing while wearing a toy Chewbacca mask has gained more than 140 million views on Facebook since she posted it last week.
On Monday's "Late Late Show," Corden read a message to Payne from Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew, who says he has carved out time to meet her during an upcoming visit to her home state of Texas.
U.S. & World
Earlier in the show, Payne appeared in a skit alongside Corden and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" director J.J. Abrams in which the three wore the masks that emit Chewbacca's distinctive roar.
Payne said in her video she had bought the mask at her local Kohl's store as a gift to herself but worried her son might claim it as his own.
Payne's video broke a Facebook Live record and earned her the nickname "Happy Chewbacca Mom."
In the wake of the video, Kohl's representatives traveled to Payne's home and gave her more masks for her kids, "Star Wars" toys and $2,500 in gift cards. They also gave her 10,000 reward points for her birthday.

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King University and NCAA Compliance
King University is committed to complying with all NCAA rules and regulations in the management and conduct of its intercollegiate athletic department. The University acknowledges its responsibility for monitoring all aspects of its athletics programs to ensure NCAA compliance and to identify and report to the NCAA any areas in which the institution fails in that obligation. King University will fully cooperate at all times with the NCAA and take appropriate and recommended actions as necessary.
The University acknowledges that the responsibilities listed above are a collective endeavor of the institution and that effort is shared by the athletic department staff, student-athletes, individuals, institutional staff and groups representing the athletic interests of the institution. While acknowledging the collective effort the University also emphasizes that it is the individual's responsibility to practice a positive and ethical attitude toward NCAA compliance.
Important Information for Parents, Fans and Alumni
As a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II member, King University is responsible for the actions of all persons and organizations engaged in activities that promote King's athletic interests. Therefore the University must ensure that its coaches, student-athletes, faculty and staff, alumni, donors and friends abide by all NCAA regulations. It is especially important to note that recruitment of prospective student-athletes is the sole responsibility of King University coaches. Representatives of our athletics interests (boosters) cannot be involved in the recruiting process.
We therefore need your cooperation to ensure our full compliance with NCAA rules. Violations of NCAA rules could affect the eligibility of prospects or current King student-athletes, result in penalties being imposed on King by the NCAA, and lead to restrictions on your involvement with King's athletics programs. Here is some important information that you should know.
Who is a Representative of Athletics Interest (Booster)?
A representative of athletics interests is any individual, group or organization who has:
- Made any type of financial contribution to the King University athletics department or any "booster" organization.
- Assisted in recruiting a prospective student-athlete in any way.
- Participated in or is a member of any agency or organization promoting the institution's athletics program.
- Assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families.
- Been involved in any other way in promoting the institution's athletics program.
It is important to know that once booster status is established, you retain that identity indefinitely.
What is a Prospective Student-Athlete?
A prospective student-athlete is any student who has either begun classes in the 9th grade or who has received benefits that the institution does not generally provide to all prospective students. This definition includes junior college student-athletes as well.
What is an "extra benefit"?
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by a representative of athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or their relatives/friends a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Boosters are not permitted to provide enrolled student-athletes and prospective student-athletes, or their relatives/friends with any "extra benefits."
Examples of extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Providing cash or loans in any amount or signing/co-signing for a loan.
- Giving gifts of any kind, including birthday/holiday gifts.
- Any free or reduced-cost services, including entertainment or admission to professional events.
- Providing use of an automobile, or rides anywhere.
- Free or reduced-cost rent or housing.
- Employment arrangements for a student-athlete or a prospect's family/friends.
- Entertaining a prospect or their friends and families.
- Payment for work not performed or at a rate above the going rate.
- Payment of fees or expenses to attend camps/clinics.
You may provide the following:
- Provide an occasional family home meal to a student-athlete or entire team. This meal must take place in a home, not a restaurant and may be catered. Requests for these meals must be approved in advance by the compliance office.
- Employ a student-athlete under certain circumstances with prior approval from the athletics department. Both the student-athlete and the employer must sign a written statement prior to employment during the academic year and compensation can only be for work actually performed at a rate commensurate with the going rate for similar services.
What are representatives of athletic interest (boosters) permitted to do?
- You may notify coaches about prospects in their area but you may not contact the prospects.
- You may attend high school or 2-year college athletic contests or events where prospects may compete, but you cannot contact prospect or their relatives/guardians in any way.
- You may continue pre-existing relationships with prospects provided no recruitment takes place. Questions from the prospect about the athletic program should be directed to King coaches or the King Athletics Department.
- You may have a phone conversation with a prospect only if the prospect initiates the call. Such a call may not be prearranged by any staff member or booster.
As a booster you are not allowed to:
- Use the name or picture of a student-athlete to directly or indirectly advertise, recommend or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service.
- Provide extra benefits to a student-athlete or their family.
- Provide free or reduced rate housing for a student-athlete or family. Student-athletes are especially not allowed to house-sit for boosters.
- Contact prospects or their families in any way (in person, by phone, or in writing). This includes e-mail, message boards, or any messenger service.
- Provide prospects or their family/friends with any extra benefits.
- Send any materials to prospects, including newspapers, media guides, posters, programs, e-mails, etc.
- Contact a prospect's school in order to evaluate a prospect.
If you have any questions, please contact Bart Walker at email@example.com or call 423-652-6017


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Medical device
A collapsible filter element (40) for a transcatheter embolic protection device (1). The filter element (40) comprises a collapsible filter body (41) which is movable between a collapsed stored position for movement through a vascular system and an expanded position for extension across a blood vessel such that blood passing through the blood vessel is delivered through the filter element (40). A proximal inlet portion of the filter body (41) has two inlet openings (50) sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body (41), and a distal outlet portion of the filter body (41) has a plurality of small outlet openings (51) to allow through-passage of blood, but to retain embolic material within the filter body (41). The filter body (41) is of an oriented polymeric material.
Latest Salviac Limited Patents:
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/887,893, filed Jun. 25, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference now U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,591.
This invention relates to a filter element for a transcatheter embolic protection device.
The invention is particularly concerned with filter elements for transcatheter embolic protection devices of the type described in our WO-A-9923976. One type of such embolic filter comprises a filter body mounted on an associated collapsible support frame which can be collapsed against the guide wire by means of a catheter for deployment of the filter through a patient's vascular system. Upon retraction of the catheter the support frame and filter body expand outwardly from the guidewire across a blood vessel within which the filter is positioned to filter blood flowing through the blood vessel.
A practical problem that arises with filter elements of such embolic protection devices is that they should be able to accommodate blood vessels of different diameter as it would be impractical to manufacture a large range of filters each of different size to accommodate all possible diameters of blood vessel. To provide flexibility and accommodate a range of vessel sizes with a given size of filter a relatively soft and elastic filter body material can be used. It is, however, important that the filter when deployed maintains its shape during use and to prevent distortion or collapsing of the filter body in use. Because of this and also the need for adequate strength in the body material, the walls of the filter body tend to be relatively thick. This presents a problem in that the filter then has a relatively large crossing profile when in the collapsed delivery position, which is undesirable.
The present invention is directed towards overcoming these and other problems.STATEMENTS OF INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a collapsible filter element for a transcatheter embolic protection device, the filter element comprising:
- a collapsible filter body which is movable between a collapsed stored position for movement through a vascular system and an expanded position for extension across a blood vessel such that blood passing through the blood vessel is delivered through the filter element;
- a proximal inlet portion of the filter body having one or more inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body;
- a distal outlet portion of the filter body having a plurality of outlet openings to allow through-passage of blood, but to retain embolic material within the filter body;
- the filter body being of an oriented polymeric material.
In one embodiment of the invention the filter element comprises a collapsible support frame, the support frame being movable between a collapsed position for movement through the vascular system and an extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body in the expanded position. Preferably the filter body is independent of the support frame. Ideally the filter body comprises a membrane.
In one case the filter body has a stored axial orientation in excess of 15%. Preferably the filter body has a stored axial orientation in excess of 20%. Most preferably the filter body has a stored axial orientation in excess of 30%. Ideally the filter body has a stored axial orientation in excess of 40%.
In a preferred embodiment the material is biaxially oriented.
The filter body may have a stored biaxial orientation in excess of 30%. Preferably the filter body has a stored biaxial orientation in excess of 60%. Most preferably the filter body has a stored biaxial orientation in excess of 80%. Ideally the filter body has a stored biaxial orientation in excess of 100%.
In another embodiment of the invention the ultimate tensile strength of the oriented polymeric material of the filter body is at least 15,000 psi (103.425 MPa). Preferably the ultimate tensile strength is at least 25,000 psi (172.375 MPa). Most preferably the ultimate tensile strength is at least 35,000 psi (241.325 MPa). Ideally the ultimate tensile strength is at least 40,000 psi (275.8 MPa).
The material of the filter body may be of polyester or polyamide. The material of the filter body is preferably of polyester.
In one embodiment the material of the filter body is selected from polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT) and polynapthylterephthalate (PNT). The material of the filter body is preferably of PET.
In another embodiment the material of the filter body is of polyamide.
In one case the material of the filter body is an elastomer. Preferably the material of the filter body is a polyurethane.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the polymeric material of the filter body is oriented at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the material.
The material of the filter body may be oriented by stretch blow moulding.
Desirably the filter body comprises a proximal body section, a distal body section and an intermediate body section interconnecting the proximal and distal body sections.
In one embodiment of the invention the frame comprises a plurality of engagement segments, the engagement segments being spaced-apart longitudinally and transversely when the filter is in the deployed expanded configuration to urge the filter body into apposition with the vessel wall. The engagement segments preferably define at least one at least partially substantially helical engagement track.
According to another aspect the invention provides a method for manufacturing a filter body for a transcatheter embolic protection device comprising forming a filter body of oriented polymeric material.
The filter body may be formed by applying an axial stretching force to a hollow body of polymeric material.
The filter body may be formed by applying a circumferential force to a hollow body of polymeric material.
Ideally the method comprises stretch blow moulding a polymeric material.
In one embodiment of the invention the polymeric material is oriented at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the material or one of its phases, and below the melting temperature of the material.
The method preferably comprises the step of conditioning the formed filter body. Ideally the conditioning is carried out at a temperature in the region of the crystallization temperature of the material.
Desirably the method comprises providing inlet and outlet holes in the body of oriented material. Ideally the holes are provided by
filling the formed body with a filler material;
machining holes in the filled body; and
removing the filler material.
In one case the filler material is a soluble material, such as polyethylene glycol.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to
The filter element 90 comprises a collapsible filter body 41 and a frame 42 mounted to the elongate sleeve 43. A proximal end 44 of the filter body 41 and a proximal end 45 of the frame 42 are both fixedly attached to a proximal end 96 of the sleeve 43, in this case by means of an adhesive bond. A distal end 47 of the filter body 41 and a distal end 48 of the frame 42 are free to slide over a distal end 49 of the sleeve 43.
The filter body 41 has a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end. The inlet end of the filter body 41 has one or more, in this case two, large inlet openings 50, and the outlet end has a plurality of, in this case approximately three hundred, small outlet openings 51 sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body 41.
The filter support frame 42 is movable between a collapsed position for movement of the filter element 40 through a vascular system and an extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body 41 in an expanded position. The frame 42 has a distal section 52, an intermediate section 53 for urging the filter body 41 in the expanded position into apposition with a vascular vessel wall, and a proximal section 54 extending proximally and radially inwardly of the intermediate section 53.
At least part of the proximal section 54 of the frame 42 is spaced distally of the inlet openings 50 in the filter body 41 to accommodate inflow of embolic material through the inlets 50 and into the expanded filter body 41.
The frame 42 is preferably of a shape memory material, such as Nitinol, or of a superelastic material, and may have a plating of gold or other dense material around the Nitinol. The frame elements facilitate movement of the frame 42 between the collapsed position and the extended outwardly projecting position. The frame 42 is electropolished.
The sleeve 43 defines a lumen 56 extending therethrough for movement over the guidewire 2. The distal end 499 of the sleeve 43 is engageable with a stop such as a stop on the guidewire 2. The sleeve 43 is typically of polyimide.
The sleeve 43 acts as a barrier between the lumen 56 through which a guidewire may be exchanged, and the internal annular volume of the filter body 41 within which embolic material is retained. In particular, the proximal end 46 of the sleeve 43 is proximal of the inlets 50, and the distal end 49 of the sleeve 43 is distal of the small outlets 51. This ensures that all blood flows into the filter body 41 through the inlets 50, through the filter body 41 and out of the filter body 41 through the small outlets 51 which are sized to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body 41. The sleeve 43 prevents escape of any embolic material from the filter body 41 into the lumen 56, for example, during exchange of medical devices over a guidewire received within the lumen 56, or during retrieval of the filter element 40.
A guide olive 57 is provided for atraumatic delivery of the filter element 40 through a vascular system, the guide olive 57 forms an extension of the distal end 47 of the filter body 41 and tapers distally inwardly for a smooth transition profile.
Two gold marker bands 59, 60 are provided mounted to the sleeve 43. One marker band 59 is fixedly attached to the olive 57 and one marker band 60 is fixedly attached to the proximal end 45 of the frame 42. The marker bands 59, 60 assist in visualization of the filter element 40 during an interventional procedure.
A transition element 61 is fixedly mounted to the proximal end 46 of the sleeve 43, in this case by means of an adhesive bond. The transition element 61 is sized to fit the lumen of a delivery catheter to provide a smooth stiffness transition and prevent kinking.
The sub assembly of a support frame 42 and filter body 41 is loaded into a delivery catheter. On deployment, the support arms are freed to expand and the filter body 41 apposes the vessel wall.
When the filter element 40 has been deployed in a blood vessel, the catheter can be removed leaving a bare guidewire proximal to the filter 40 for use with known devices such as balloon catheter and stent devices upstream of the filter 40.
For retrieval, the filter 40 is collapsed and retrieved into a retrieval catheter. The guidewire may be left in place for further catheter advancement or may be withdrawn with or subsequent to the withdrawal of the retrieval catheter.
Referring to
According to the invention the cuter filter body 110 is of a biocompatible oriented polymeric material. The preferred materials of the invention are thermoplastic polymers. Preferably the materials have an excellent ability to store orientations, and have high strength and are flexible. Ideally the material is of the polyamide, polyurethane, polyether-amide or polyester families. Within these families materials with high ultimate tensile strength and a good ability to store induced molecular orientations at room and body temperature are preferred.
The high strength polyesters are the preferred materials of the invention. PET and PBT are the preferred polyesters. PET is the most preferred material. The grade of PET selected will depend on the level of orientation required. As the molecular structure of PET is consistent the most important difference between different grades is the molecular weight. High molecular weights are favored where the stretch ratios are low. Lower molecular weights are preferred where the stretch ratios are high.
PET is preferred because it has a high ultimate tensile strength in its isotropic state (12,000 psi), its ability to store orientations and the amplification of its strength properties in the oriented state. PET has a high glass transition temperature (Tg) (approx. 65° C.) and this is advantageous in that it ensures that orientations are stored at body temperature. PET is also the preferred material because it has good flexibility in thin walled configurations. A number of suppliers provide grades of PET suitable to form membranes of this invention. The preferred grades are unreinforced homopolymer grades. A preferred grade of PET is supplied by RTP Company under the name RTP 1100 Polyethylene Terephthalate. The material has an ultimate tensile strength of 10,000 psi. A preferred grade of PET is supplied by DSM under the trade name Eralyte®. This grade is the most preferred material of the invention due to its very high ultimate tensile strength of 12,300 psi.
PBT can also be used for the manufacture of membranes per this invention. PBT has an isotropic ultimate tensile strength in the region of 56 MPa. It has a similar structure to PET except that the polymethylene sequence is longer. It has a lower Tg than PET of approximately 22-43° C. Commercial PBT materials are manufactured by BASF under the trade name Ultradur® and supplied by Albis Corp.
Nylons are also an excellent family of material from which to manufacture the membranes of this invention. The nylon materials possess high tensile strength and have an excellent ability to store orientation. Unlike PET which has a high Tg, Nylons have a Tg lower than room temperature. Polyamides however are highly crystalline and it is the stability of the crystalline structure that allows Nylons to store orientations. The most important Nylons include Nylon 6, Nylon 6,6, Nylon 6,10, Nylon 6,12, Nylon 11 and Nylon 12.
Nylon 11 and Nylon 12 are the preferred Nylon materials. These materials are preferred as they are easier to process and have good resistance to moisture in vivo. Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6 are difficult to process due to their sharp melting transition and their hygroscopic properties. Moisture acts as a plasticizer with these materials and this makes the induced orientations unstable and the membrane will shrink over time. These problems are overcome when Nylon 11 and Nylon 12 are employed. Nylon 11 has an ultimate tensile strength of approximately 52 MPa. Nylon 12 has an ultimate tensile strength of approximately 54 MPa. Suitable commercial grades of Nylon 11 are supplied by Elf Atochem under the Rilsan® trade name. Suitable grades include Rilsan® BESHV Nylon 11. Nylon 11 grades are also available from compounding companies such as RTP Company under the name RTP Nylon-11. Suitable commercial grades of Nylon 12 are supplied by Elf Atochem under the trade name Rislan® AESN nylon 12.
The PEBA family is also a family of material from which to manufacture the membranes of this invention. PEEA materials are a family of copolymers and are manufactured by the block copolymerization of polyether and polyamide. The PEBA range of materials is supplied by Elf Atochem under the trade name PEBAX® and by Creanova under the trade name VESTAMID®. Suitable grades of PEBA have hardness values in excess of 55 D. The preferred materials in this family are the 65 D and 75 D grades.
The PEBA family is a preferred family of materials per this invention. The polyurethane family is a more preferred family. Nylon 11 and Nylon 12 are even more preferred and PET is the most preferred material of the invention. PET is the most preferred material of the invention because it has a very high isotropic tensile strength, it has excellent ability to store orientations, stored orientations are highly stable at body temperature, and the amplification of PET's strength properties associated with the orientation process is most significant. The use of oriented PET allows membrane thicknesses to be reduced by up to 75% relative to isotropic PET.
The membranes utilized in the invention are made from a material that facilitates the storage of high levels of orientation but is still relatively flexible. Materials that are efficient at storing orientation at body temperature are particularly desirable. It is not so much the hardness of the material that is important as the forces the material will exert on the surface of the vessel. Relatively stiff materials when processed to very thin membrane configurations apply very little forces to the vessel and are thus atraumatic to the vessel. One ratio that is important is the ratio of the material hardness and its ultimate properties. It is also possible to characterize the material based on a flexural modulus and/or tensile modulus. This invention provides materials and processes that provide unique combinations of these desirable properties for use as filter membranes. The storage of orientation allows soft materials to be used and still achieves high strengths. It also allows these materials to be manufactured into very thin walled and thus low profile systems. These are very desirable features for filter membranes.
It is particularly preferred that the filter membrane be of an oriented polyester which are a particularly preferred class of high strength materials. PET is particularly preferred as it has ultimate tensile strength values in the region of 80 Mpa. In the invention these materials are converted into a membrane configuration and simultaneously high levels of orientation are induced into the materials. The resulting membranes will have ultimate strength values which are from 130% to in excess of 200% to in excess of 300% of the materials isotropic strength value.
Orientation is achieved by stretching the material during the forming process. The stretching thins out the membrane while orienting the molecules in the direction of stretch. If the stretch is axial then the membrane will be oriented in the axial direction. If the stretch is applied on two axes then the membrane will be bi-axially oriented.
Orientation in the axial direction is particularly desirable in the membranes of this invention. High level of axial orientations allows the manufacture of membranes with high axial strengths. As the membranes of this invention are stressed primarily in the axial direction in use the anisotropy of strength properties is a particularly advantageous feature. The process of the invention is designed to maintain high levels of axial orientation. Maximizing the level of stretch in the axial direction and maximizing the ratio of axial to circumferential stretching helps to achieve this.
Starting with an extrusion tubing whose diameter is greater than the final profile of the device is a novel strategy for achieving a low profile. However the larger the starting diameter of the tubing the smaller the circumferential stretching required. This allows the ratio of axial to circumferential stretch to be maximized which allows the generation of high axial strengths, which allows very thin walled membranes to be used.
The diameter of the necks may be reduced in a swaging operation, by bonding while the outer diameter is constrained or by slitting the necks and recombining at a smaller diameter. Alternatively the necks may be post formed to a smaller diameter.
The use of orientation allows the filter membrane to be made from a soft material and with a thin wall thickness. The ability to make very thin membranes provides the additional benefit that the ratio of the coating thickness to the membrane thickness increases. This further improves the memory of the membrane as described in our WO 00/67668A, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Referring to
In terms of the materials of this invention the level of stored orientation is most critical. In the invention the level of stored orientation is maximized so as to achieve the optimum balance of strength and flexibility.
The storage of orientations in the material is a complex materials and process related phenomenon. The orientations may be molecular or crystal in character. In general orientations are induced at temperatures well above the Tg of the material and are stored best at temperatures below the Tg of the material. Orientations can also be stored through strain crystallization processes. This involves providing the appropriate level of thermal energy to the material while it is in the stretched configuration to facilitate crystallization of the material. This process is especially important in crystalline material or in two phase materials. Polyurethanes are important two phase materials where there is a crystallizing hard phase and a soft phase.
When sufficient thermal energy is provided stored orientations will relax. The storage of orientation is characterized per this invention by measuring the linear shrinkage of the membrane at temperatures well in excess of the Tg of the material. The membrane is placed in an oven at the material relaxation temperature and the level of shrinkage is measured in the two axis of the surface. The level of shrinkage provides a measure of the level of orientation in the sample. The level of stored orientation is calculated as follows:
While it is not a primary purpose of the invention to generate circumferential orientation low levels of circumferential orientation has a stabilizing effect on the filter. A filter which has high levels of axial orientation and no circumferential orientation would be prone to longitudinal tearing even when loaded in the axial direction. This is not desirable. However due to the nature of the process some circumferential orientations will inevitably be present. Where high inflation ratios are used the level of circumferential orientation will be increased. This can present a problem in that high levels of circumferential orientation reduce the levels of axial orientation. Axial and circumferential orientations are competitive phenomenon. Thus where high inflation ratios are used it is an object of the current invention to minimize the level of circumferential orientation. This can be achieved by a number of techniques.
- Use the largest initial tubing OD possible. This minimizes the blow ratio which reduces the level of circumferential orientation. Techniques have been described earlier in the invention, which allow large diameter necks to be reduced post stretch blow moulding.
- Circumferential orientations can be converted into axial orientations if the axial stretch occurs after the circumferential stretch. This principle can be used during the stretch blow process to control the level of axial orientation.
- A process which starts with a tubing that is highly oriented in the circumferential direction (shrink tubing), and is shrunk onto a core while being stretched axially provides a method of turning high initial levels of axial orientations into high levels of axial orientation at the end of the process.
In a preferred embodiment the membrane is manufactured in a process consisting of some or a combination of the following steps: 1. Tube extrusion, 2. Stretch Blow moulding, 3. Filling/Moulding/Casting, 4. Laser Machining, 5. Core Removal, 6. Forming, 7. Neck Swaging, 8. Assembly, 9. Surface Priming/Activation, 10. Coating.
In another embodiment the membrane is a laminate construction. The laminate construction may consist of soft layers and hard layers. The hard layer has the advantage that it has an ability to retain orientation. The soft layer has excellent memory properties.
The manufacturing process for the construction of the filter membranes of this invention consists of the following steps:
Tube Extrusion:
A thermoplastic polymer is extruded into concentric tubing. The tubing may be extruded as a homogenous material, as a material with reinforcing fillers, as a material with radiopacifying fillers, as a multi-layer co-extruded tubing or as a combination of the above. Very tight control of tolerances is critical at this stage. Tight control may be achieved by extruding the tubing onto a solid mandrel and removing the mandrel at the end of the step. Additional control may be achieved by employing a gear pump extrusion system.
Stretch Blow Moulding:
The tubing is placed in a heated die, and is inflated and stretched. The inflation process pushes the softened material to the wall of the die and introduces circumferential orientation into the material. The axial stretch process introduces axial orientation into the membrane. The stretch and blow processes may be carried out in stages, independently or simultaneously. The temperature at which the materials are oriented and formed varies depending on the polymer. However, typically the stretch and blow temperatures are above the Tg of the material or one of its phases and below the Tm of the material.
The membrane material is temperature conditioned to stabilize the orientations. This is normally carried out at a temperature greater than the stretching temperature and in the region of the crystallization temperature (Tc).
The formed membrane is then filled with a soluble filler polymer. The soluble filler material has the characteristic that it is soluble in a solvent to which the membrane material is resistant. The preferred filler material per this invention is polyethylene glycol (PEG), and the preferred solvent is a combination of water and a surfactant. Preferably the surfactant is a mixture of a nonionic surfactant and an anionic surfactant. Preferably the content of nonionic surfactant is 5-15% and the content of anionic surfactant is 15-30%. The remainder is water.
Laser Machining:
The filled membrane then has at least one large hole machined through the blood inlet end of the membrane and has multiple small holes machined through the blood outlet end of the membrane. The PEG material provides the membrane with structure during handling, it ensures that the membrane can only occupy one configuration and it prevents undesirable scorching.
Core Removal:
The filler material is then dissolved in water-surfactant solution to leave the finished membrane. The solution details are described above. Preferably the solution is warm during the cone removal process. However, the solution temperature should be kept below the Tg of the membrane.
As discussed earlier it is desirable to carry out the stretch blow moulding step using relatively large diameter tubing. This ensures that a high level of axial orientation is possible and the membrane can be fabricated with exceptionally thin wall thicknesses.
Prior to the assembly of the membrane and the Nitinol support it is necessary to reduce the profile of the large diameter necks. This can be achieved using a number of techniques as follow:
- The neck may be swaged to reduce its profile.
- A thin walled metallic marker band may be placed over the neck and both elements swaged together. This is a particularly desirable approach as a low profile is achieved and the marker band is more radiopaque and thus highlights the extremities of the filter assembly.
- The neck may have one or more longitudinal slots cut along its length. These slots reduce the effective circumference of the neck. The neck may thus be bonded to the Polyamide shaft and Nitinol support at a lower profile.
- The neck may be stretched or post formed to reduce its OD.
The inner tube, the support structure and the filter membrane are assembled using standard techniques.
Surface Priming/Activation:
The surface of the filter assembly is prepared for coating by one or a combination of the following methods:
- Solvent activation
- Plasma treatment
- Coating with a surface primer
- UV treatment
- Other standard surface activation methods
The filter assembly is coated with a hydrophilic coating. The performance of the coating may be assessed by water contact angle analysis. Preferably the contact angle is less than 40°, more preferably less than 30° and more, preferably less than 20°.
The filter body material may also be a polyurethane or PEBAX based material. There are a series of commercially available polyurethane materials that may be suitable. These are typically based on polyether or polyester or polycarbonate or silicone macroglycols together with diisocyanate and a diol or diamine or alkanolamine or water chain extender. Examples of these are described in EP-A-461,375 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,065. In addition, polyurethane elastomers manufactured from polycarbonate polyols as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,622 (Szycher) are also suitable.
The filter material may also be 3 polycarbonate urethane, an example of which may be prepared by reaction of an isocyanate, a chain extender and a polycarbonate copolymer polyo of alkyl carbonates. This material is described in our WO 9924084 A.
In another embodiment the membrane material is selected for its softness and recoverability. The membrane is then processed in a manner that leads to a high level of orientation. This allows the fabrication of a membrane that is soft but very strong. The high strength of the material allows the membrane to be fabricated in a very thin wall thickness. Polyurethane's are the preferred material for this embodiment. Materials of this embodiment will have hardness values from 80 A to 55 D. Suitable materials are listed in the table below.
High strength polyurethanes with hardnesses in excess of 55 D are suitable alternatives to PET in the manufacture of high modulus, flexible membranes. These polyurethanes have a better ability to store orientations than the softer grades and their strength properties can thus be amplified to a greater extent. The materials have ultimate tensile strength values as outlined in table I below.
The polymeric oriented filter membranes of the invention offer very considerable advantages as follows:
Delivery Profile
The wall thickness of the filter membrane contributes significantly to the delivery profile of the filter assembly. The profile of the filter assembly can thereby be minimized. The required wall thickness of the membrane is primarily determined by the need for robustness. The filter assembly has sufficient strength to be retrieved into a retrieval catheter with its trapped embolic load. The forces of retrieval depend on the size of the embolic load. Failure of the filter membrane during the retrieval step would likely result in the liberation of a bolus of embolic material. This is a critical failure and could result in serious patient injury or death. The incorporation of high levels of axial orientations allows the profile of the device to be significantly reduced. The use of a 3-dimensional support structure provides excellent vessel apposition as described in our WO 00/67669A.
Reducing the profile of the device makes it easier to pack the material of the device into a retrieval system. This has the effect of reducing the retrieval forces. This reduces the safety threshold for membrane strength. The additional strength achieved by inducing orientations in the membrane increases the safety of the device. The processing of the membrane in a fashion which yields in excess of 25% axial and circumferential orientation increases the strength of the resulting membrane. Strengths as high as 70-80 MPa are achievable using the soft polyurethanes described, while strengths in excess of 200 MPa and 300 MPa are achievable using PET.
Atraumatic materials are desirable for filter membranes because they are in direct contact with the vessel wall. Usually this is achieved by using soft materials. However, it is the local pressure that the membrane applies to the wall of the vessel that determines the level of trauma. In this invention vessel trauma is minimized by using very thin walled, high strength and flexible membrane materials. The materials are optimized for their strength to hardness ratio. However the use of axially and biaxially orientated membranes allows the use of low relative hardness materials while still achieving desirable robustness and low profile properties.
Vessel Apposition
It is desirable that filter membranes have good apposition to the wall of the vessel. Good vessel apposition is achieved by using an inner 3-D metallic support structure. The metallic support structure gently presses the membrane against the wall while the membrane flexibility prevents vessel trauma.
Filter Membrane Memory
The membranes of some embodiments of this invention use relatively soft materials with high levels of orientation. This means that the strength is maximized while the wall thickness of the membranes is minimized. This is achieved without significantly impacting the flexural modulus of the membrane. The memory properties of membranes of this invention are superior to non-oriented membranes. This is because it is possible using the invention to produce membranes with high strength but reduced wall thickness. This reduced wall thickness means that a hydrophilic coating will represent a more significantly proportion of the total wall thickness. This means that the hydrophilic coating has a more profound affect on the memory properties of the filter.
The filter member of the invention provides apposition to the vessel into which it is placed. Vessel apposition ensures that the blood flows through the filter rather than around the periphery of the filter. The filter also applies a low pressure to the vessel surface. Such low pressure ensures that the filter is non-traumatic to the vessel. The membrane can also be wrapped to a small diameter delivery configuration. This small diameter delivery configuration facilitates the crossing of the diseased area. The filter assembly is flexible in the wrapped configuration (trackable) which makes lesion crossing easier. The filter is sufficiently robust to withstand loading into a delivery configuration, to withstand the forces of deployment and to withstand the forces of retrieval of the assembly.EXAMPLE I
An extrusion grade PET with a starting tensile strength of 12,000 psi is extruded into a tube. The tubing OD was approximately 0.95 mm. The tube is cut into lengths of greater than 75 mm.
A stretch blow mould was machined from brass. The mould had a neck ID was 0.98 mm. The maximum body dimension of the mould was 4.20 mm. The length of the mould was 13.84 mm. The mould contained a circumferential groove in its mod section. The shape of the mould was consistent with the shape of the membrane blank 90 of
The mould was mounted onto a stretch blow-moulding machine. The mould is heated in a controlled fashion. The tubing is placed inside the mould with its ends projecting out either side of the mould. The ends of the tubing were gripped while maintaining the ability to pressurize the tube lumen pneumatically.
When the tubing reached an equilibrium temperature with the mould the tubing was stretched in the axial direction. Inflation of the lumen stretched the filter in the circumferential direction. The level of circumferential orientation is determined by the blow ratio which in this case was approximately 4.3:1.
The stretch ratio in the axial direction is more difficult to calculate due to the fact that the temperature of the tubing is different at different points along the gauge length.
The membrane was stabilized by increasing the mould temperature for a short period. The mould was then cooled below the glass transition temperature (65° C.), thus freezing in the induced orientation of the PET membrane. The formed membrane blank 90 (
Filling of Membranes
The heat-sealed PET filter membrane neck sections were trimmed-off and the filter blank 90 was mounted onto a dispensing tip 95 (supplied by EFD) with the distal end of the membrane facing luer 96. The tip 95 was modified by introducing two stepped slots 97 midway along the hypotube section of the dispensing tip. The two slots 97 are at 180° to each other.
A polyurethane collar 99 was then slid onto the end of the dispensing tip to prevent the filter membrane from sliding-off and secondly to assure that the mid-section of the filter body blank 90 is located at the slotted section of the dispensing tip 95. The slots 97 in the hypotube provide apertures for the filling material to flow out and fill the membrane. The dispensing tip has a luer fitting 96 which provides an easy interface with the filling system.
The material used for filling the filler membrane blank 90 polyethylene glycol (molecular weight=1500) from Sigma Aldrich. Polyethylene glycol flakes (PEG) were placed in a heated dispensing chamber and heated to 51° C., the filling material was in a molten state and the temperature of the liquid PEG had stabilized to 51° C., the membrane-slotted hypotube assembly was fitted onto the heated dispensing chamber. The filling time was 2.5 seconds. The dispensing pressure for the molten PEG was 1.20 bar. Filling material 110 is injected through the dispensing tip 95, exiting through the slots 97 to fill the membrane blank 90 (
A water bath was placed directly underneath the filling barrel. This water bath was connected to a water chiller that continuously replenished the water of the bath at a controlled temperature of 15° C. After filling was complete the filter and filler material were immersed into a cooling bath for a period of 47 seconds.
Laser Machining
The filled filter membrane blank 90 was then laser machined as illustrated in
Core Removal
The PEG filling material 110 was then removed from inside the membrane. This was achieved by dissolving the PEG material in a solvent system in a bath 130. The PEG material was dissolved in a number of steps:
- The bulk of the material was removed with a HPLC grade water wash. This was carried out by immerging the filter membranes in water at 50° C. for 5 minutes.
- The filter membranes were flushed with 10 ml HPLC grade water using a syringe.
- An extraction step was employed to remove all remaining PEG. The extraction solvent was a mixture of HPLC grade water and 0.5% surfactant. The surfactant was composed of <5% amphoteric surfactants, 5-15% non-ionic surfactants and 15-30% ionic surfactants in a water matrix. Approximately 400 ml of extraction solvent was used per filter membrane. The extraction solvent was maintained at a temperature of 50° C. during the extraction. The membranes were removed after 1 hour.
- Each filter membrane was flushed with 10 mm of HPLC grade water to remove any residues of the extraction solution.
- The filter membranes were washed in HPLC grade water for 1 hour at 50° C. Fifty filters were washed in 1000 ml water.
- The filter membranes were dried in an oven at 45° C. for 2 hours.
Samples of membrane filters 130 (
The body lengths of four membrane filters were measured using a toolmakers microscope. The membranes were then placed into a fan-assisted oven with a preheated temperature setting of 220° C. The membranes were removed after 3 hours and the body lengths were measured. The stored axial orientation was calculated as described above. The average level of stored axial orientation was 34.5%.
Samples of membranes from the same batch were evaluated for ultimate axial tensile strength. The strength measurements were made in the web region. The samples were prepared by cutting one web so as to focus the tensile load on the other web. The width and thickness of the web was measured. The cross sectional area of the web was calculated based on these measurements. A Zwick Z0D5 model tensile test machine was used with a 500N load cell. The instrument was set to record the maximum load. The samples were gripped using toolmakers clamps and the toolmakers clamps were mounted to the machine base and cross-head. A fine grade emery cloth was used to ensure a positive grip. After sample mounting the cross head distance was zeroed and the test started. A test speed of 50 mm/min was used. The samples were tested at ambient temperature. The results demonstrated ultimate tensile strength values in excess of 40,000 psi. This represents an increase of 330% in the tensile strength of the material arising from the invention. These strength characteristics allow membranes with exceptional advantages to be achieved.
The use of orientation in the filter membrane has a number of very significant user advantages as described above. As it is possible to use a much thinner membrane the wrapping efficiency is increased and it is possible to achieve greatly reduced delivery profiles. Furthermore with reference to
The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.
1. A method for manufacturing a filter body for a transcatheter embolic protection device comprising forming a filter body of oriented polymeric material and the step of conditioning the formed filter body, wherein the conditioning is carried out at a temperature in the region of the crystallisation temperature of the material.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter body is formed by applying an axial stretching force to a hollow body of polymeric material.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter body is formed by applying a circumferential force to a hollow body of polymeric material.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising stretch blow moulding a polymeric material.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is oriented at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the material or one of its phases, and below the melting temperature of the material.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising providing inlet and outlet holes in the body of the oriented material.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the holes are provided by
- filling the formed body with a filler material;
- machining holes in the filled body; and
- removing the filler material.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the filler material is a soluble material, such as polyethyleneglycol.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 31, 2003
Date of Patent: Nov 18, 2008
Patent Publication Number: 20040093013
Assignee: Salviac Limited (Dublin)
Inventors: Eamon Brady (Elphin), Ronald Kelly (The Pigeons Athlone)
Primary Examiner: Suzanne E. McDowell
Attorney: Sughrue Mion, PLLC
Application Number: 10/402,320
International Classification: B29D 22/00 (20060101);


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Galaxy Ace Plus S7500 will not be getting the official Android 4.0 ICS or Android 4.1 Jelly Bean updates, but that doesn't mean Samsung will not update the current Android 2.3.6 on it. You can now install Android 2.3.6 DXLG1 official stock firmware. Official ROM can be useful when you have installed a custom firmware and want to revert back to stock firmware.
As you read further, we will guide you through the entire process of how to update Galaxy Ace Plus GT-S7500 to Android 2.3.6 DXLG1 (Malaysia) official firmware using ODIN. Make sure you backup all your data from the tips and tools given below as you will have to wipe everything in order to install this firmware. Let's continue with the tutorial below.
Disclaimer: All the tools, mods or ROMs mentioned below belong to their respective owners/developers. We (TeamAndroid.com) or the developers are not to be held responsible if you damage or brick your device. We don't have you on gun point to try out this tutorial 😉
This ROM is completely stock with no third-party changes or apps included in it. You can use this firmware to unroot your Android device with the official update.
Android 2.3.6 DXLG1 Firmware Details:
Version: 2.3.6
Date: 2012-07-16
Regions: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam
Make sure you have installed all your USB drivers for the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus to connect it with the computer. Download Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus USB drivers! Apart from just the USB drivers, there are a few more things that you need to take care of.
1. You need to enable USB debugging mode. This helps to connect your Android phone with the PC. See here: How to Enable USB Debugging.
2. Your phone battery should be 80-85% charged. If your phone goes off suddenly because of battery, during flashing ROMs or installing mods and updates — your phone might go dead permanently. See here: How to Check Battery Percentage.
3. Backup all your important data that you might need as soon as your flash a new ROM, or make a backup for just in case, you never know when anything might go wrong. See below on how to backup data:
- Backup your SMS messages. How? –> How to Backup/Restore SMS Messages.
- Backup Contacts, Gmail and Google Data. How? –> Sync with Google Sync.
- Backup Call History. How? –> How to Backup Call History.
- Backup WhatsApp Messages. How? –> How to Backup/Restore WhatsApp Messages.
- Backup APN Settings: GPRS, 3G, MMS Settings.
Data can also be backed up using Samsung KIES for their devices, but if you backup data manually, you get more options what top choose from and it is very easy to move data across Android devices from different manufacturers, i.e moving Samsung Galaxy Note backup data to HTC One X.
4. Your phone should be factory unlocked. Additional instructions for locked Android devices will be added in the tutorial for unlocking devices.
Now, let's proceed with the tutorial below and install Android 2.3.6 DXLG1 firmware on Galaxy Ace Plus S7500.
How to Install Android 2.3.6 DXLG1 on Galaxy Ace Plus S7500
We have put together a detailed step-by-step instructions guide on how to update Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus S7500 to Android 2.3.6 DXLG1 Gingerbread. If you are used to installing official updates through ODIN on Samsung Galaxy devices, then this should not be any different for you.
Please read every line carefully and make sure you read the entire tutorial once before actually performing it on your phone.
To Remember:
- This tutorial is only for Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus S7500. Please don't try this on any other variants of the phone.
- This tutorial will wipe out all your data.
- Make sure you backup all your data in your phone before proceeding.
Rooting Warning: This is an official Android 2.3.6 DXLG1 update for Galaxy Ace Plus S7500, which means you will lose root as soon as you install this update. You will again have to root Galaxy W to gain full system access and be able to install root apps again. We will post a full tutorial on how to root Galaxy Ace Plus S7500 on 2.3.6 soon.
Complete Step-By-Step Instructions:
Step 1 – Download Android 2.3.6 S7500DXLG1 for Galaxy Ace Plus to your computer and extract the zip file.
Step 2 – Download ODIN v1.85 which will help you to install Android 2.3.6 on Samsung Galaxy Galaxy Ace Plus.
Step 3 – Switch off your phone. Now go to Download Mode. How? Press and hold the Volume Down + Home buttons together, and then press the Power button till you see the green Android robot.
Step 4 – Make sure you have your Galaxy Ace Plus USB drivers installed on your computer.
Step 5 – Open ODIN on your computer. Connect your phone to your computer while your phone is in the Download Mode.
Step 6 – If your phone is connected successfully, one of the ID:COM boxes will turn yellow with the COM port number. This step might take some time.
Step 7 – Now select the files that you have to flash/install on your phone. These files are to be found from the extracted files in Step 1.
- Click on 'PDA' and select file with 'CODE' in its name.
- Click on 'Phone' and select file with 'MODEM' in its name. Ignore this step if there is no such file.
- Click on 'CSC' and select file with CSC' in its name. Ignore this step if there is no such file.
- Click on 'PIT' and select the .pit file. Ignore this step if there is no such file.
Step 8 – In ODIN, check the Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time options. As for the Re-Partition option, check it ONLY if you selected a .PIT file in the above step.
Step 9 – Now click on the Start button in ODIN. Installation process will start and would take a few minutes to complete.
Step 10 – After the installation is completed, your phone will restart. After you see the home screen, unplug your phone from the computer.
That's it. Your Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus has now been updated to Android 2.3.6 build DXLG1 software update. Go to Settings > About phone to verify.
If you run into any problems, feel free to drop us a comment below and we will reply you back ASAP with the fix or the solution to your problem.


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The first two villains that came to my mind are actually the real heroes of the movies in my opinion. Stan Winston has created some of the most memorable characters ever to appear on film, and these two characters in particular are among his best. His brilliant knowledge for making incredibly realistic creatures come to life made my childhood just a little more terrifying since watching those movies at an inappropriate age. Thank you Stan Winston for scaring the crap out of me as a kid, and for inspiring a generation of young people to pick up their pencils or clay or a keyboard or whatever we could get our hands on, and start creating.
Here are my prints inspired by the films "Alien" and "Predator" that will be available at the gallery:
"Facehugs For Everyone!"
To purchase a print, click HERE!
"The Hungry Little Hunter"
To purchase a print, click HERE!
If you're unfamiliar with Crazy 4 Cult, it's an awesome series that Gallery 1988 has been doing annually for several years now. There is a new book that just came out that compiles a lot of incredible artwork from some extremely talented artists. You can pick the book up by clicking HERE.
"Crazy 4 Cult: Say Hi To The Bad Guy"
Gallery 1988 West
7308 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046


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Frost Heaves
DEAR TIM: I live in a warm part of the nation that rarely gets freezing weather, but I own a second home where it does get cold. In the spring I'm going to build a room addition and a deck. Living where it's warm I never knew there were things called frost heaves. Is it true frost in the ground can cause problems with foundations, cracked concrete, and interior cracks in houses and structures? What causes frost heaves? What soil is most susceptible? What can be done to prevent frost heave damage? Jodie G., Miami, FL
DEAR JODIE: Mother Nature often puts on a display of her many powers. Some are terrifying to witness, and I submit to you hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, etc. Frost heaves are a show of force that happens quietly, covertly and with little warning if you've never been harmed by them. The weather turns, leaves fall, snow flutters from the sky and the next thing you know, you can't open or close a door because frost has heaved the soil causing part of a slab or foundation to lift upwards.
Frost heaving can wreak havoc with houses, barns, sheds, roadways, concrete slabs, basically anything that's connected to the Earth in a place where the ground freezes. Just as the phrase implies, the frost heaves, or lifts, things up. The problem is, the lifting may not be equal around the structure.
I'll never forget a house I purchased about thirty years ago. It was vacant and I purchased it to restore and resell. Up on a hill behind the house was a detached garage. One winter day I went up to work on the garage and was stunned to see the garage floor raised up about 4 inches from where it had been just weeks before. That was my baptism to the power of frozen ground.
Water in soil combined with below-freezing temperatures is what causes frost heaves. Different soil types are more susceptible to frost heaving. Obviously, those soils that can hold more water will react more vigorously to frost. This means sandy, loamy soils can lift higher, on average, than dense clay soils. Where I now live in New Hampshire, the soil is very sandy and loamy. Believe me, it really lifts up in the winter.
There are lots of things that can be done to prevent damage caused by frost heaving. Foundations for any structure need to be placed below the historic frost level in that region. But be aware the historic frost line can be exceeded if the weather is extraordinary.
For example, right now here in New Hampshire it's the second week of January. There's been virtually no snow this season, yet it's been cold. If these conditions persist, the frost can be driven deeply into the soil. Snow cover actually acts as an insulator. If it had snowed early and heavily in the season, the frost might be fairly shallow in the soil now.
The frost can drive deeply into soil that's adjacent to a natural spring. Subsurface water that continues to flow through the winter under the soil feeds the ice lenses under the surface that jack up the soil like a ratcheting auto jack that lifts a car when you have a flat tire.
For these reasons, you may want to put the bottom of a foundation footer a foot or more below the historic frost line of the area where you intend to build. It's vital that the foundations, piers, etc. are shaped properly to prevent frost heave damage. This means that the foundations should be wider at the bottom than at the top.
If you dig a vertical shaft in the soil for a deck pier that's not as wide at the bottom than it is at the top, it will have the appearance of an ice cream cone. Frost can easily push that concrete pier out of the ground just like you squeezing the cone out of your hand.
But if the pier is wider at the bottom than the top, you can see the frost will have a very hard time lifting it up as the pier acts like a wedge anchor.
You can surround your structure with a linear french drain to capture and divert subsurface water that tries to saturate the soil around and under your structures. If you keep the soil pretty dry as you head into winter, there is little fuel to feed the ice lenses that create the frost heaves.
Concrete slabs that are prone to lifting from frost should contain plenty of reinforcing steel. A typical patio or sidewalk slab should have #4 bars (one-half-inch in diameter) placed on a minimum of 2-foot centers both directions. These bars should be in the middle of the concrete slab. They help lift the concrete slab all at once keeping it in the same plane. This prevents cracking and if cracks do happen, the steel rods keep the cracks from opening up.
You can temporarily slow the creation of frost in soil by covering it with special outdoor insulated blankets. These blankets are waterproof and help slow the heat loss of the soil into the atmosphere. They're good if you need to protect the soil from overnight freezing assuming you're going to pour concrete in cold weather.
You can discover several past columns with great illustrations about Linear French Drains here on my AsktheBuilder website. Just type Linear French Drain into the AsktheBuilder search engine.
Column 917
3 Responses to Frost Heaves
In July 2013 I had a new cement driveway installed taking out the asphalt and a new stoop and side walk to the driveway installed. My home is a Ryan built bi-level home with a decline slope into the garage. I know it was a cold and snowy winter but where the new cement driveway meets the garage floor and beyond the drains, the cement raised 1.5 inches and the now to clear out my garage floor with water and salt I have trouble since the driveway is higher than the garage floor and I can not get the water and salt to the drains. On my stoop the cement cracked diagonally, even though it has expansion cuts and rebar inside the cement. The other homes I my street have not done this. I am also worried that when the ground is thawed the cement will drop and crack more. Plus my contractor said he used 4 inch concrete reinforced cement class C mix. Why did it raise, crack? Do you have any advice for me now that the warranty has expired? THANKS I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT
I have a deck over a two car garage. I looking to install garage door opener on both I was told that the garage door opener would damage my foundation.


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Hey everyone! I have an assigment due next Monday, and in this assignment I must create an ASCII triangle in Java. I've managed to do that, but for extra credit I have to do something like this:
Here is the code I have so far:
/********************************************************************** * Program: Triangles * Author: * * Programming Assignment #2 * Date: * * This program prompts the user to input the length of the side of an * equilateral triangle that is larger than 2. An equilateral triangle * will then be created using the ASCII character "*" (ASCII graphics) * * Input: * Side of the equilateral triangle * * Output: * An equilateral triangle made in ASCII graphics **********************************************************************/ import java.io.*; import java.util.*; public class Triangle { public static void main(String[] args) { //Variable declarations - i is the main LCV (Loop Control Variable) int triangleside = 0, triangleheight = 0, i, j, side; String intriangleside = null, option = null; boolean Start = true; //Prepares input Console console = System.console(); //Welcomes the user to the program System.out.println("Welcome to the ASCII triangle drawing program!"); //Loop that controls whether the main part of the program should start or not while(Start==true) { try { intriangleside = console.readLine("Enter the length of the triangle's side: "); triangleside = Integer.parseInt(intriangleside); side = triangleside; //Tells the user that a number greater than or equal to two is required if one is input if (triangleside<2) { System.out.println("Sorry, please choose a number greater than or equal to 2."); } //Draws the triangle if the value is 2 or above else { System.out.println("Here is your triangle: "); System.out.println(); //Loop that controls how many lines are made for(i=triangleside; i>0; i--) { //Loop that controls how many spaces are in each line for(triangleheight=i; triangleheight<side; triangleheight++) { System.out.print(" "); } //Loop that controls how many stars are in each line for(triangleside=0; triangleside<i; triangleside++) { System.out.print("* "); } System.out.println(); } } Start=false; option = console.readLine("Would you like to make another triangle? Please type either 'Yes' or 'No': "); if (option.equals("Yes")) { Start=true; } else if (option.equals("No")) { System.out.println("Goodbye!"); System.exit(0); } } /*Finds if an inappropriate response (Ex: Typing in 1 when prompted for a yes or no answer) is given *and closes the program if one isn't*/ catch(Throwable e) { System.out.println("Please type in an appropriate response next time. Goodbye!"); System.exit(0); } } } }
Apparently I have to make a larger triangle out of the smaller ones, but I'm not quite sure how to approach it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


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The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Wednesday fined the operator of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Plains Township for two violations.
The board says an investigation found discrepancies in the slot machine master list that Downs Racing, LP, submitted to the board and also permitted required documents to be shredded.
Downs Racing was fined $90,000 for the first offense, the board said in a statement.
According to a consent agreement and stipulation of settlement between the board and casino, the board's Bureau of Gaming Laboratory Operations inspected 50 slot machines on the casino floor in August to review software and compare information contained on the slot machine master list.
Six of the machines had settings that differed from those specified on the list, according to the document. The firmware on the machines had not been updated since June 20, 2011, and contained inconsistencies, the document says.
The casino fixed the discrepancies when they were discovered, the document says.
The casino was also fined $35,000 for allowing documents required to be kept for five years to be shredded. As a result, the documents were unavailable for auditors, the board said.
Downs Racing officials also failed to notify the board of the shredding incident even though they were aware of it soon afterward, the board said.
The board approved the fines at a meeting Wednesday in Harrisburg.
Attempts to reach Mike Bean, president and general manager of the casino, were unsuccessful.
It is not the first time the casino has been in trouble. Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs has been fined for underage gambling six times since 2007, including an $80,000 fine in December 2011 after three underage players were found playing blackjack.
In response to those incidents, the casino agreed to implement a policy requiring that all table games players who give the appearance of being under age 30 show identification.
email@example.com, 570-821-2058


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"Twice as mean and 10 times as deadly as he ever was in the movies," says an article out this morning. In the Empire at War, Boba Fett is in a short mission. So, are you going to give it a try?
"There's also a short mission where you, as the Rebel commander, must first defeat the enemy fleet in an asteroid field before mounting a ground assault on the Imperial base at Tatooine. Watch out for Boba Fett in that one - he's twice as mean and 10 times as deadly as he ever was in the movies."
Source: The Star Online - TechCentral
You can download the demo at LucasArts.com.


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It seems like only a few short weeks ago that the first chunk of season 3 of The Walking Dead ended, mostly because it did end only a few short weeks ago. Still, now the second half of the season is only a few short weeks away, premiering on February 10, and AMC just released the first trailer for it, showcasing... well, a lot of gunfire and a lot of people being upset including
Angry Pirate Santa Herschel (the two things may be somewhat related). There don't seem to be a lot of zombies, though. I wonder if the Walking Dead may want to consider walking into another talent agency, maybe see if someone can get them a little bit more screentime.
[Via Warming Glow]


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Brits Kill Chances For War With Iran
by: MJ Rosenberg on August 30th, 2013 | 4 Comments »
Something remarkable happened in London yesterday. Members of Parliament prevented Prime Minister Cameron from joining in a U.S.-led attack on Syria. For the first time since Vietnam, the British government, reflecting the views of the British people, is refusing to be led into war by the United States.
Prime Minister David Cameron says "I get it." The British don't want to attack Syria which means he just can't do it,
This is huge.
But even more huge is the precedent it sets for Iran. If a relatively small action in the Middle East is rejected out of fear of a larger entanglement, what are the chances that the British people can be led into an infinitely larger war in Iran? And what are the chances that the British government will even try?
This rising up against another Middle East war will also make it impossible for President Obama to drag America into a war with Iran. Yes, the Israel lobby, the defense contractors and the neocons will try, but no politician can afford to ignore strong opposition from the public, especially now that the Brits have shown the way.
The British "no" could not have been sustained if many Conservatives had not joined with Labor to reject war. That phenomenon will likely also be replicated here. The neocon hold on the Republicans seems to be loosening, with Rand Paul leading the way. Add some Republicans to grassroots Democratic opposition to war and there is no majority for war.
The one difference between the U.S. and U.K. is that our politicians are bought off with campaign contributions from the pro-war crowd. But that will not work if it is clear that the public as a whole says "no" to war and makes Congress feel the heat (the way Labor chief Ed Miliband felt it and was forced to change his position).
Something is happening. I don't want to be overly optimistic but, to me, it looks like the war party will not get the war it craves with Iran. The Syrian attack will happen, with or without the Brits, but it will not be followed by war with Iran. The neocons better enjoy Syria; there will be no Iran sequel.


text:
MadSerg necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 52 diseños de 14 diseñadores freelance.
We are building a new product for web, android and iphone. A wallpaper app/website. We need a nice looking, fresh design. We've been in the industry for many years and know what works, and what doesn't. We are a small team of designers, programmers and marketers. Our focus is on mobile apps right now, so we can not devote enough time to our website. We need some one to help us!
Our market is all ages. The design needs to be light and simple for everyone to understand. Use of icons is a big plus but dont over do it. The most important element of the website should be wallpapers itself, so emphasize on that the most.
Design needs to be light, colorful and fun! This is a wallpaper website and it needs to have a simple, fast loading design. We would like you to stick to our existing navigation elements we already have on our site. And that means you are welcome to use any creative way to display website elements, as long as the navigation of categories, breadcrumb and top navigation is intact.
We like colors: black, white and blue + some red or green. But if you have a great color combo in mind, do not be afraid to suggest!
You are free to create any variation of the logo. This would be a plus!
We also need some space/icons for our social network links (facebook, twitter, etc)
1. homepage - top navigation, login/password box with links to login/register pages, resolution links, wallpapers list, category links, statistics block.
2. wallpaper page - everything that homepage has + breadcrumb, wallpaper, download links/buttons, wallpaper details, rating, comments block, related wallpapers list.
We love the new design of http://www.iconspedia.com/ I think something like that would work great for us!


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Think of this like asking what your friend weighs—unless she's your BFF since birth, you just don't make the inquiry. Same goes for the specific carats on your friend's new ring. Truth be told, I wouldn't even know what size my own diamond is had I not peeked at the specs on the certificate that came with it, and I assume many other women simply don't even know. 2. "OMG yours is so big compared to mine."
Really? Why would you tell a chick something she already knows (because she has eyes)? An engaged friend of mine told me that some girl, within two seconds of meeting her, grabbed her hand, then glared at her own fiancé to say, "Hers is bigger than mine!" Nice way to spread the awkward, and make your guy to feel like total a**. 3. "Can you send me a picture of your ring so I can send it to my boyfriend?"
Sure, because my engagement is all about your non-engagement. 4. "Your ring is so cute."
Cute is a great word for describing a puppy, a small child, a mini-cupcake—basically anything tiny. While the size of a ring doesn't matter (only the size of the couple's love for each other…awwww), it's rude to point out the itty-bitty-ness of the stone. Also, never say something like, "Oh, that's a nice starter ring—you can always upgrade later." 5. "Took him long enough!"
Okay, so we all know the guy dragged his feet—or at least it appears that way to everyone else. But judge-y comments like this one are just not appropriate—or very nice, ya hear? 6. "How long have you been together?"
An engaged woman recently told me that while this can be a totally innocent question, more often than not, "it's usually asked in a judge-y, you-need-to-justify-your-engagement-with-years-of-prior-commitment kind of way." Or, the question is used to compare the state of the asker's relationship with your own, as in, "well this guy proposed after nine months, so why hasn't mine?" 7. "Have you set a date yet?"
Oh, you mean in the two seconds since we've been engaged? 8. "Can I be a bridesmaid?"
Unless you are the engaged woman's adorably precocious 12-year-old cousin, you should never ask this. 9. "I can't wait for the wedding/bridal shower/bachelorette!"
Uh, slow your roll, sister. Something about engagements magically makes acquaintances think they are closer to you than they actually are. To save yourself hurt feelings—and to save the affianced in question some major awkwardness—wait for your invite before inquiring about these events. 10. "Are you sure you want to marry him?"
The only person allowed to ask this is your mom or your BFF and they are allowed to ask it exactly one time —and one time only—just to make certain that you're not secretly wracked with guilt, stress, or what have you worrying that you're making a huge mistake. Anyone else? Negatory. 11. "Are you pregnant?"
Um, #rude. 12. "You are so lucky!"
This is meant nicely, I'm sure, but the idea that lifelong love has something to do with hitting some kind of life jackpot is a little insulting. Most couples I know work hard to make their relationships as great as they are and there's nothing lucky about that.
<-- unable to find migrated image -->strong>13. "Are you sure you want that chocolate? Don't you have to diet for your wedding or something?"
This is usually said by some (single) frenemy who wants to make the engaged chick in question feel like sh*t for not being on some super-strict pre-wedding eating (er, not eating) regimen. Keep your body negative comments to yourself. 14. "OMG you should totally do X at your wedding!"
Look, maybe you got married before Pinterest launched and now all you want in life is to go back in time and fill all of your reception tables with mason jar vases wrapped in twine. But unsolicited advice is not appreciated—especially when the bride-to-be is already trying to dodge the countless opinions of her parents and future in-laws. 15. "Well...(long pause)...as long as you're happy."
Passive aggressive much? Look, if you don't have anything nice to say, then shut up. Don't mention the divorce rate, the stats on the average length of first marriage, et cetera, et cetera. We know the odds. We don't need reminding. Especially on our wedding days. A friend told me that, while she was bridesmaid in another pal's wedding, some bitter family member approached the group while they were getting ready and proclaimed that, "in four years you'll hate your husband but you'll still love these girls." Mean!


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Matthew Mullin
Class of 1996
Major/Minor: Environmental Studies
Matt works for the Environmental Defense Fund in Washington, DC. He began his career with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in 1995 as a summer intern and in 1997 was hired as a full time field educator. Over the next ten years, Mr. Mullin gained senior level positions within CBF, finally holding the position of Director of Operations. Mr. Mullin sat on the Education Senior Management Team as well as the department's Agenda Setting Team and many of the organization's interdepartmental initiative teams.
In July 2007, Mr. Mullin co-founded the Willow Oak Group, LLC, an environmental consulting firm based in Annapolis, MD offering services in developing innovative, professional solutions to complex problems. The company specializes in providing program support and program development in the education, management and habitat conservation sectors, and developing and growing enterprising ventures in the environmental markets and renewable energy sectors.
In November 2007, Mr. Mullin was hired as the Maryland Director for the Chesapeake Bay Commission. The Commission is a tri-state legislative authority that advises the General Assemblies of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia as well as the U.S. Congress in developing sound policies and law related to the Chesapeake Bay. Mr. Mullin directed all Commission initiatives in Maryland on science, policy and legislative matters, and directly advised members of the Maryland General Assembly and Maryland members of the U.S. Congress. In addition, his responsibilities included researching and analyzing environmental issues and regularly briefing Commission members, government leaders, and other Chesapeake Bay stakeholders.
In May of 2010, Mr. Mullin was hired by the Environmental Defense Fund as their Chesapeake Bay Director in their Oceans Program, a position he currently holds. In this capacity, Mr. Mullin directs and oversees all EDF Oceans Program activity in the Chesapeake Bay. This work focuses on providing market-based solutions to complex Chesapeake Bay fishery issues by working with various stakeholders to help restore the Bay's key fish populations, protect important fishery habitat, and revitalize the Bay's marine ecosystems.
Mr. Mullin is a member of the National Scholars Honor Society, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and a Minor in Biology from Washington College in Chestertown, MD, a graduate-level Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University, and a Master's of Science in Environmental Sciences & Policy from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He served on Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's Transition Team, which served to advise the Governor-elect in transition to gubernatorial office. He holds numerous professional memberships and appointments, including Chair of Washington College's Center for Environment & Society Advisory Board and the College's Alumni Board, and is Co-Chair of the Washington College Annapolis Alumni Chapter.
Matt enjoys trail running, canoeing and kayaking, both downhill and cross-country skiing, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, and actively competes in adventure racing and off-road triathlons. He and his wife, Karen, reside outside of Annapolis, MD with their daughters, Maggie and Catie, and Border collie, Jackson.


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Feathered Nest Friday
23 comments
Happy New Year!!!! I can't wait to see what you'll be up to in 2015!! LOVE the DIY little planked table!! Miss you a bunch!! xoxoReplyDelete
Thanks so much for the feature - such an honor to be included here !ReplyDelete
And thanks for another great party
Thanks so much for hosting Courtney!!ReplyDelete
I love the plank table you created! It's lovely. Isn't it so much fun when you can take an old forgotten piece and give it new life? You did a fabulous job! Thank you for hosting Feathered Nest Friday!ReplyDelete
-Allison at Thrifty Castle
So much prettiness. Thanks for hosting this lovely party, Courtney. Hope 2015 is your best year yet.ReplyDelete
Thank you for hosting, Courtney!ReplyDelete
thank you for hosting!!!!! i lovoooove all your pictures!!!!! happy new year, hugs, angie from germanyReplyDelete
Thanks so much for hosting, Courtney. Happy New Year to you.ReplyDelete
Courtney, thank you for continuing your FNF party each week. It's such an inviting an inspiring platform for us all to share. I loved Sarah's Paris-themed dinner this week. Have a terrific weekend. I just want to stay wrapped up in blankies and read all weekend - brrrr!ReplyDelete
Thanks for the party Courtney. Have a nice weekend.ReplyDelete
Courtney, I'm extremely honored to be a feature on French Country Cottage. Merci Beaucoup!ReplyDelete
Your party is always a wealth of inspiration. I may need to go buy a bouquet of peonies. Yours are exquisite.
- AnonymousJanuary 8, 2015 at 6:36 PM
Thank you for hosting the party! Love those burlap ruffled pillows, I'm going to go check them out. Liz from www.HomeToCottage.comReplyDelete
So glad you have been taking time to relax and enjoy the beach!...Can't wait to see more of that beautiful inn you stayed in!...Thanks for hosting and have a great weekend Courtney!ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting Courtney! Have a great weekend!ReplyDelete
Thanks so much for hosting Courtney! Have a great weekend. -KristiReplyDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 9, 2015 at 2:03 AM
Thank you for a great party!ReplyDelete
Thanks a lot Courtney for featured my shelf and hosting! Beautiful inspirations, have a wonderful weekend!ReplyDelete
Hi Courtney, Thanks for the party and have a great weekend.ReplyDelete
Hello beautiful! We are thrilled to stop by and be a part of your party. Please take a moment and party with us . We love partying with you.ReplyDelete
Happy Friday! Lou Lou Girls
Happy New Year Courtney! And a very heartfelt "thank you" for featuring our burlap pillows this week :) It is very appreciated. I look forward to following your adventures this year :)ReplyDelete
Courtney my and mom and I have been so inspired by the look and feel of many of your rooms. We recently completed my moms Master Bedroom makeover and would love for you to see it. Come on by when you get a chance. We really wanted to paint the walls white but we left them a light Lavender color mixed with lots of white and newly painted grey furniture :) http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/2015/01/master-bedroom-furntiture-makeover.htmlReplyDelete
Karin :)
Thank you, for the beautiful party!ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting.ReplyDelete


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Em & all his friends
Eminem and Jay Z played a show last night sponsored by Guitar Hero at the Wiltern. Celebrities spotted: Ali Larter and Amy Smart, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves, Ashlee Simpson, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jeremy Piven, and a very good friend of Ebola Hilton, Adrian Grenier. Am mentioning this for the 3 people left who still want him as a boyfriend. You do NOT want him as a boyfriend. How could you want someone who has defended that f-cking disease?
Anyway, photos also attached of a crusty Slim Shady, per usual, out and about Hollywood before the performance. Many of you have noted that he's working the manorexic look these days. Yes totally. Since getting clean, it's like he's addicted to being skinny now. When he was using, he had ballooned to over 200 pounds. One extreme to the other...
As for what happened with Bruno at the Movie Awards, EW.com is reporting that, yes, indeed it was a stunt. Of course it was a stunt. As I wrote yesterday, he was mic'd!
There are those who are trying to suggest that Eminem was in on it but did not know that Bruno would only be wearing a thong…
Oh he knew. And he was fine with it. It's Sacha Baron Cohen. It's a f-cking honour to prank with Sacha Baron Cohen.
Besides, these days, even Eminem has to hustle harder to sell an album.
Photos from Wenn.com and VLUV/IAKONA/London Ent/Splashnewsonline.com