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White Mountains (NH/ME) > Mount Osceola > Climber's Log
Mount Osceola Climber's Log
[ Sign the Climber's Log ]
|Mt. Osceola
Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2008
|Climbed Mt. Osceola only from the Tripoli Rd. trailhead.
|Posted Oct 25, 2008 8:17 pm
|Mount Osceola
Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2007
|Climbed with East Osceola via the Mount Osceola Trail from Tripoli Road. An excellent dayhike in near perfect weather. Great views of the Sandwhich Range from the open ledges below Osceola's summit.
|Posted Aug 12, 2008 4:43 pm
|As advertised
Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2008
|From the south (Osceola Tr from Tripoli Rd):
Popular, easy wooded hike to a very fine VFTT.
Trail is badly eroded, should have expected that given the high use.
|Posted Jun 14, 2008 9:49 pm
|Nice Quick Trip
Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2007
|We made a quick trip out of a nice late summer hike. Always love the view down into the Greeley Ponds area.
|Posted May 26, 2008 12:00 am
|did them both
Date Climbed: Oct 25, 2007
|I took the Osceola trail and hit Osceola first, and then made my way to East Osceola. There are some great views of the Twin and Franconia Ranges from the trail between the two. I went up the chimney on the way back. It was fun!
|Posted May 16, 2008 3:07 pm
|Osceola from the Kanc
Date Climbed: Feb 16, 2008
|We did this same climb in June about 7-8 years ago. We decided to give it a go in the dead of winter. Needless to say we had the place to ourselves. The snow was deep and unbroken. Fortunate for us this trail is on the leeward side of the mountain in regards to the prevailing winds. Awesome views from both summits.
|Posted Mar 3, 2008 8:39 am
|East peak only
Date Climbed: Nov 17, 2007
|East Osceola trail from Greeley Pond is not the "extremely steep" climb the _Guide_ portrayed, but a tiring task nonetheless, and tough enough in the snow that I'd rather avoid descending it in the dark, so I turned around at the East peak when I saw I was behind schedule. I need to whip myself back into shape (or maybe I shouldn't carry all my heavy winter gear in November...)
Lovely wintry conditions, passing flurries with frequent sun.
|Posted Nov 17, 2007 8:32 pm
|Greely Ponds Trail
Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2007
|Climbed up from the Kancamangus via the Greely Ponds Trail. First mile and a half went very quickly, around 25 minutes. After that steepens quickly, but never very difficult, just physically demanding. Gorgeous day. First nice hiking weather I have had this year. Views to the East and North were incredible. Tried locating as many 4000 footers as I could, I believe I got around 20. Pretty quick trip, started at 4:30 pm around 3 hours of hiking time total.
|Posted Jul 23, 2007 12:50 am
|Route Climbed: Osceola Trail
Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2007
|Came in from the Kanc, good steep hike.
|Posted Jul 2, 2007 7:33 am
|Pat M
|The first mountain I ever "climbed"
|Posted May 20, 2007 10:48 pm
|Special Hike
Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2006
|Well, I signed the log not that long ago, but we hiked it again! The weather was perfect. There was some mud, but it really wasn't that bad. The only spots that had it seem to have it no matter when you go.
We rounded out our time at the peak of Osceola with my boyfriend becoming my fiance. So, for anyone that was up there with us, we were the ones that got engaged. Now the peak is even more special for us. We'll be hiking it every year from now on.
|Posted Oct 19, 2006 12:50 am
|Backpack tp Peakbag
Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2002
|Perfect day for some peak baggin'
|Posted Oct 11, 2006 9:09 pm
|eric b
|Greeley pond to Mt Osceola
|From the Kanc-both summits were gained. however the highlight of the hike was the moose wading in Greeley Pond. The view from the lower summit to the upper one was cool. the best views are from Osceola not from the east summit.
|Posted Sep 27, 2006 11:19 pm
|Route Climbed: Mt Osceola Trail
|Fun Hike!
|Posted Sep 15, 2006 1:55 pm
|Route climbed: greely pond trail
Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2006
|My friend and i ran up this trail from the greely pond entrance while oour familys were behind and goin to just the greely ponds. I also hike this trail about ten years ago.
|Posted Sep 2, 2006 5:47 pm
|Best from the Kanc
Date Climbed: May 7, 2006
|We did a traverse from the Kanc to Tripoli and then up Tecumseh, which was definately the way to go. We loved the trail up from the Kanc even with all of the ice, which we weren't expecting. Loved the chimney a lot. The view from the top was GORGEOUS (see panoramic shot that I posted). The trail down from the peak was easy and we shaved 40 minutes off of book time. We will probably do it again once we're done with our NE4000 and when the snow/ice is gone.
|Posted May 9, 2006 5:48 pm
|Matt Worster
|Greeley Pond
|Hiked in with the boy scouts on a hot sweaty day. My biggest memory of the trip was sucking down a juice box of orange stuff at the top and getting a nasty head and stomach ache as a result.
|Posted Mar 29, 2006 11:59 pm
|Seth Maciejowski
|Route Climbed: East Face Slide AI1 Date Climbed: January 2000
|We had it in our minds to try to forge a line up the east face slide on east osceola. The slide climbs a plumb line from greeley pond to within 200 yards of the east peak summit. Well, snow and inadequete climbing equipment slowed us way way down. This is one of the most exhausting day trips I've been on. There was two water ice sections and we only had mountaineering axes and 10 point crampons making for some difficuly. The top out to the summit was only 200 yards of bushwhacking from the top of the slide, but the snow was bottomless. We had to hook our way up trees using the axes to make forward progress. We really fought for this summit. It took only about 45 minutes to get down back to the ponds since the trail is typically packed and easy to follow. In neve snow conditions, I would highly recommend this line for people looking for more difficulty then the standard hike up from greeley ponds.
|Posted Oct 19, 2005 9:41 am
|Route Climbed: Greeley Pond Date Climbed: June 25, 2004
|Good steep hike, don't hike it with out of shape friends as I did.
|Posted Sep 27, 2005 1:34 pm
|Date Climbed: 8/23/02
|as a day hike, solo
|Posted Jul 22, 2005 5:43 pm


text:
Jurors in the Jodi Arias murder trial were shown grisly and graphic crime scene and autopsy photos in day 3 of the trial. The prosecutors and medical examiner methodically went through the injuries Travis Alexander suffered including the fatal stab wound to the chest. Prosecutors say Jodi Arias stabbed her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander 29 times, slit his throat and shot him in the face. The defense admits that Jodi Arias did kill Travis Alexander but they claim it was in self-defense.
For complete coverage of this trial watch Jane Velez-Mitchell weeknights at 7pm ET on HLN.

subset: commoncrawl


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This study is provided by ICPSR. ICPSR provides leadership and training in data access, curation, and methods of analysis for a diverse and expanding social science research community.
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, March 1987 (ICPSR 8845)
Principal Investigator(s): ABC News; The Washington Post
This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Reagan presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include in-depth questions concerning Reagan's age, health, memory, and honesty, the impact of his advisers on decision-making, the Iran-contra affair, Reagan's involvement and the Tower Commission report, Republican and Democratic presidential candidates, and the disease AIDS. Demographic characteristics of respondents also were recorded.
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Study Description
ABC News/Washington Post. ABC NEWS/WASHINGTON POST POLL, MARCH 1987. Radnor, PA: Chilton Research Services [producer], 1987. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 1988. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR08845.v1
Persistent URL: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR08845.v1
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Subject Terms: age, AIDS, candidates, decision making, health status, Iran Contra affair, mental health, presidency, presidential performance, public opinion, Reagan Administration (1981-1989), Reagan, Ronald
Geographic Coverage: United States
- 1987-03
- 1987-03-05--1987-03-09
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|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Dec 7, 2004
|Filing date
|Jun 7, 2002
|Priority date
|Sep 8, 1998
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|David A. White, William M. Belef, Lawrence Wasicek, Ronald J. Jabba
|Original Assignee
|Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (45), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (18), Classifications (14), Legal Events (3)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This application is a continuation of and herein incorporates by reference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/425,495, filed Oct. 22, 1999 ("the '495 application") U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,644. The '495 application claims the benefit of and priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/105,475, filed Oct. 23, 1998, incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. The '495 application is also a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 09/150,001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,949, filed Sep. 8, 1998 and issued Apr. 18, 2000.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to medical devices and more particularly to an improved catheter system having a work element coupled to a drive cable disposed within a lumen of a flexible tubular catheter body.
2. Description of the Background Art
Arteriosclerosis, also known as atherosclerosis, is a common human ailment arising from the deposition of fatty-like substances, referred to as atheromas or plaque, on the walls of blood vessels. Such deposits occur in both the peripheral blood vessels, which feed the limbs of the body, and the coronary vessels, which feed the heart. When deposits accumulate in localized regions of a blood vessel, stenosis, or narrowing of the vascular channel, occurs. Blood flow is restricted and the person's health is at serious risk.
Numerous approaches for reducing and removing such vascular deposits are known, including balloon angioplasty, in which a balloon-tipped catheter is used to dilate a region of atheroma; atherectomy, in which a blade or cutting bit is used to sever and remove the atheroma; spark gap reduction, in which an electrical spark burns through the plaque; and laser angioplasty, in which laser energy is used to ablate at least a portion of the atheroma. In order to facilitate treatment of the stenosis, it is often desirable to obtain a visual image of the interior of the blood vessel within the region of interest. Catheters having imaging elements such as ultrasonic transducers are often used to obtain these images.
In many cases, catheter systems having imaging or interventional devices will include a rotatable drive cable disposed within the flexible catheter body. Catheters of this type will have some type of work element fixed to the distal end of the drive cable. In imaging systems, the work element is typically an ultrasonic transducer or a movable mirror associated with an ultrasonic transducer.
An exemplary catheter system having a rotating ultrasonic transducer coupled to a drive cable is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,931, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In this system, a drive cable disposed within a flexible tubular catheter body is used to rotate an ultrasonic transducer about an axis parallel to the catheter body. The ultrasonic transducer is thereby caused to scan a region of the blood vessel in a plane normal to the catheter body.
In yet another exemplary catheter system of particular importance to the present invention, a catheter body is provided with a guidewire engagement sheath design, where the catheter is introduced over a separate (moveable) guidewire. A catheter system of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,338, which is fully incorporated herein by reference. In this particular catheter system, the catheter body has a guidewire lumen attached at the distal end of the catheter body. The guidewire lumen and the primary lumen are separated by a wedge, which ensures that the drive cable does not proceed beyond the primary lumen and into the guidewire lumen.
A catheter of the type having a guidewire engagement is used as follows. A guidewire is advanced into the patient until it lies within a region of interest, typically a region of stenosis within the blood vessel. After the guidewire is positioned, the proximal end of the guidewire is fed into the guidewire lumen of the catheter. The catheter is then advanced into the patient over the guidewire. Advancement of the catheter into the patient continues until the primary lumen distal region lies within the blood vessel in the region of interest. A suitable work element, such as a rotatable imaging core, may be delivered while positioned in the primary lumen.
A general concern in the development of each type of catheter system described above, and in catheter system development in general, is the ability to achieve consistency in reliability and performance among catheters employing a particular system. In response to this concern, approaches have been identified which may provide techniques for improving common components of these catheter systems to provide consistent reliability and performance.
One such approach of particular interest to the present invention, includes improvement of the hub assembly. The hub assembly provides, among other things, electrical coupling to the rotating transducer or other work element. Rotation of the transducer element makes it necessary to transmit an electrical signal through a fixed ferrite wire to a transducer lead wire disposed within the rotating drive cable. The signal is transmitted between the fixed and rotating wires through the well-known electrical process of induction. Generally, this process includes using two ferrites separated by a small air gap, where the first ferrite rotates relative to a second fixed ferrite. The first ferrite, when charged, produces an electromagnetic field. The second ferrite, in close proximity to the first ferrite and its electromagnetic field, causes the introduction of inductance into the circuit. The gap is generally necessary to remove the negative effects of friction which occur whenever a rotating body contacts a fixed body. However, as in most rotary transformers, there are losses of power and other inefficiencies inherent in this transmission. For example, it is generally difficult without labor intensive and expensive manufacturing processes, to provide a consistent gap size. Without a consistent gap, the output performance of the transformer can vary between hub assemblies. Moreover, it can be difficult to ensure that the rotating ferrite rotates with enough precision to avoid inadvertently contacting the fixed ferrite.
A number of other approaches for improving catheter systems are directed at the drive cable. The drive cable is coupled via a drive shaft to a drive motor. The drive cable runs substantially the length of the catheter body, and serves as a flexible, torque-transmitting element to rotate the electrical transducer. The drive cable is constructed with coils in order to provide torsional stiffness and flexibility. This enables the drive cable to traverse the tortuous lumen of the human vascular system. A drive cable, which may include transducer lead wires surrounded in a coaxial fashion by a coiled cable body, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,155, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
One potential drawback to the drive cable described above is its susceptibility to stretching. Stretching of the drive cable is typically encountered during removal procedures, during pullback sequences, where the imaging core is retracted within the flexible catheter body to obtain longitudinal imaging sequences, or else during flushing operations. Upon removing the catheter from the intravascular lumen, the user must "pull back" on the proximal end of the catheter body. Generally, movement of the catheter can be restricted when the catheter body encounters friction between the catheter body and the walls of the intravascular lumen. When movement of the catheter body is restricted in this manner, the coils of the drive cable can stretch in a manner similar to coils of a spring. The coils can also be stretched apart when the catheter body is being flushed-out with a flushing fluid. In this case, the flushing fluid creates a piston effect on the coils and work element, thus spreading the coils apart.
While a stretchable drive cable may be advantageous for some purposes, it can also be problematic. Transducer lead wires, disposed and anchored within the drive cable lumen, do not have the ability to stretch and when subjected to tensile forces, the transducer lead wires tend to break which creates a break in the electrical continuity of the system.
Other improvements to catheter systems may include re-directing flushing fluids from exiting through a side port positioned at the distal end of the primary lumen. Generally, the side exit port works well, however, the side exit port can be a nuisance in a clinical setting since it is difficult to know which way the side exit port is pointing during flushing procedures.
For these reasons, it would be desirable to provide an improved catheter system for use with internal work elements, such as ultrasonic imaging transducers. It would be particularly desirable to provide a catheter system that has an improved hub assembly that permits efficient electrical induction to provide a more consistent and reliable signal to the transducer element. It would be further desirable if the drive cable of the catheter were configured to prevent the internal electrical transmission line from breaking should the drive capable be forced to stretch, such as when the user is pulling back or flushing the catheter body. It would be still filthier desirable if the catheter body were formed with a primary lumen and a guidewire lumen that would provide a distal exit port for the egress of flushing fluids parallel to the direction of blood flow. At least some of these objectives and more are met by the invention described hereinafter.
The present invention is directed to an improved catheter system having a work element coupled to a drive cable disposed within a lumen of a flexible tubular catheter body. The work element generally includes an ultrasonic imaging transducer. One advantageous improvement described in more detail below, includes a reconfiguration of ferrites in the hub assembly, such that a gap, typical between the ferrites, is reduced or eliminated. In reducing or eliminating the gap it is meant that the average clearance between two facing surfaces of the ferrites will be less than 0.0005 in., preferably less than 0.0002 in., and most preferably less than 0.0001 in. In reducing or eliminating the gap clearance in this manner, manufacture of the hub assembly can be done with less precision, which makes the overall fabrication process simpler and less expensive. Moreover, by reducing or eliminating the gap clearance, the inductive transmission of the electrical signal can be accomplished with more efficiency and with reduced transmission losses.
Another improvement lessens the potential for tensile failure of the electrical transmission lines when subjected to stretching. In one embodiment, a strain relief member is provided proximate and parallel to the transmission lines. The transmission lines are arranged slacked relative to the strain relief member. Thus, when the transmission lines and strain relief member are subjected to stretching forces, usually caused by either flushing and/or pull-back operations, the strain relief member and not the transmission lines is subjected to the forces. Accordingly, the transmission lines are protected. In an alternative embodiment, a portion of the transmission lines is looped in a manner similar to the coils of a spring. In this configuration, the lines can extend when subjected to a pulling force and retract when the force is removed.
Another improvement to the catheter system includes a drive cable fabricated as a multi-layered structure where each layer includes a counter-wound coil. The coils may either expand or contract as the drive cable rotates which increases the interference between the multiple layers and thus increases the torque transmission capability of the drive cable. At the same time, the multi-layered coil structure allows the drive cable to maintain the requisite flexibility.
In yet another improvement, the distal tip of the catheter body has a lumen positioned between the catheter lumen and the guidewire lumen to allow flushing fluid or other fluids to be released through a distal port of the guidewire lumen.
Another improvement to the catheter system may include catheter tubing having multiple tubing portions of varying material strengths, stiffnesses, and/or wall thicknesses. For example, a tubing portion may be provided having an intermediate tubing stiffness relative to a stiff proximal portion of the catheter body and a highly flexible distal portion. The intermediate portion may be placed between the proximal and distal portions to provide a transitional area. The transitional area increases the practitioner's ability to advance the catheter into a body lumen without kinking or bending the catheter body.
Another improvement may include increasing the imaging region in the distal tip without increasing the length of the distal tip. The drive cable with the imaging device is moved forward into a space in the distal portion created by removing some internal portion or portions of the distal portion of the primary lumen. Thus, the imaging plane can penetrate deeper into the vasculature, effectively moving the imaging plane distally.
In one aspect of the present invention, an improved catheter system of the type including (a) a tubular catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen therethrough; and (b) a drive cable rotatably received in the lumen, is provided. The improved catheter system includes a hub assembly secured to a proximal end of the drive cable. The hub assembly includes a rotary transformer, which has a first ferrite core and a second ferrite core. The second ferrite core contacts the first ferrite core with substantially zero clearance therebetween, as defined above, to promote electrical induction between each core.
In another aspect, an improved catheter system of the type including (a) a tubular catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a primary lumen therethrough; and (b) a drive cable having a cable body and a cable lumen rotatably received in the lumen, where the drive cable has at least one lead wire disposed in the cable lumen. The improvement includes a support member disposed proximate to the lead wire to provide strain relief to the lead wire when the lead wire is subjected to a tensile force. The support member can withstand larger tensile forces than the lead wires. Usually, the support member can withstand at least about 100% to 200% more tension than the lead wires, preferably at least about 300%. The support member extends substantially the entire length of the lead wire, usually about 75% to 85% of the length, preferably about 95% to 100%.
In yet another aspect, an improved catheter system of the type including (a) a tubular catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a primary lumen therethrough; and (b) a drive cable having a cable body and a cable lumen rotatably received in the primary lumen, where the drive cable has at least one lead wire disposed in the cable lumen, is provided. The improvement includes a strain relief device coupled to a portion of the drive cable. The strain relief device causes the lead wires to be biased, typically with a spring or similar device, such that the lead wires can extend or retract from within the drive cable. The movement of the lead wires keeps the lead wire from being directly subjected to tensile forces which may cause the lead wires to break.
In yet another aspect, an improved catheter system of the type including (a) a tubular catheter body having a proximal tubular portion, a distal tubular portion, and a lumen therethrough, and (b) a drive cable rotatably received in the lumen, is provided. The improvement includes an intermediate tubular portion formed on the tubular catheter body from a transitional material. The intermediate portion can be placed between two portions on the tubular catheter body having similar or dissimilar flexural stiffnesses and/or strengths. Preferably, the transitional material has a greater flexural stiffness than the distal tubular portion and a lower flexural stiffness than the proximal tubular portion. Generally, the intermediate portion can have a flexural stiffness of between 50 kpsi and 200 kpsi, preferably between about 150 kpsi and 190 kpsi.
In yet another aspect, an improved catheter system is provided of the type including (a) a tubular catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a primary lumen therethrough, (b) a guidewire lumen coupled coaxially with the primary lumen on the distal portion of the catheter with a wedge in between each lumen; and (c) a drive cable rotatably received in the primary lumen. The improvement includes a wedge lumen formed in the wedge to allow communication between the primary lumen and the guidewire lumen. The wedge lumen is preferably smaller in diameter than the primary lumen. The wedge lumen is preferably between about 0.01 in. and 0.3 in. in diameter, preferably between about 0.012 in. and 0.1 in.
In yet another aspect, an improved catheter system is provided of the type including a tubular catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen therebetween, where the lumen is capable of rotatably receiving a drive cable therethrough. The improvement includes a drive cable which has an inner coil and an outer coil. The coils being wound in opposing directions so that the inner coil expands when the drive cable is rotated and where the outer coil contracts when the drive cable is rotated.
In yet another embodiment, an improved catheter system is provided of the type including a tubular catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen therethrough. The improvement comprises a first tubular member and a second tubular member arranged in a telescoping engagement, where the first tubular member is formed at least in part from a material, comprising a plastic or a polymer material, such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK).
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a vascular catheter according to the present invention.
FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate the catheter of FIG. 1, having a hub, a proximal portion, further comprising a proximal tube and a distal tube, mating connectors, drive cable, and a distal portion of the catheter body.
FIG. 3 illustrates the drive cable having a drive cable body, a carrier, and an ultrasonic imaging transducer.
FIG. 4 is a cut-away view of the drive cable body of FIG. 3.
FIG. 4A illustrates a cross-sectional view of the drive cable of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of drive cable coils according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates a strain relief device according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the hub assembly having a rotary transformer according to principles of the present invention.
FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the hub assembly of FIG. 7.
FIG. 8 illustrates a portion of the distal end of the catheter body showing the primary lumen, the guidewire lumen, and the wedge lumen constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
FIG. 9 illustrates the distal end of the catheter body with a shortened distal tip.
FIG. 10 illustrates an intermediate strength sheath portion disposed between the proximal and distal sheath portions according to principles of the present invention.
A vascular catheter system is provided having a catheter body with a proximal portion and a distal portion, both having a proximal end, a distal end and a primary lumen therebetween. This distal portion further includes a guidewire lumen preferably disposed coaxial with, and distal to the primary lumen. A drive cable is disposed within the primary lumen, which is usually axially translatable within the lumen and rotatable about its own longitudinal axis. The drive cable carries a work element at its distal end, typically being an ultrasonic imaging transducer, but optionally being an interventional device. The outer diameter of the drive cable may be varied to accommodate variations in size of the catheter body.
Provided at the proximal end of the drive cable is a tuning hub assembly. The hub assembly, among other things, provides the ability to match the impedance between a transmitter/receiver and the work element. In some cases, the work element may be an ultrasonic transducer, which may have a variable center frequency output. For example, a transducer used in very small coronary vessels may require a higher frequency output (about 30 MHz and above), while transducers for use in a large vessel, such as the aorta, may require a lower frequency output (about 30 MHz and below). The variable frequency requirement creates variability in the electrical load perceived by the electronic circuitry of the transmitter/receiver. Most transmitters/receivers work most efficiently when subjected to a consistent load. Therefore, the impedance between the transducer and the transmitter/receiver are matched, using an impedance matching circuit, which can account for the variableness in the transducer frequency. To ensure consistency of performance and fabrication in the impedance matching circuit, the circuit may be fabricated on a circuit board. The circuit board can be placed in the most economic and efficient position in the hub housing. Preferably, the circuit board is positioned toward the proximal end of the hub housing. Moreover, by placing the circuit on a circuit board, the circuit can be designed and tested prior to fabrication of the hub assembly. Furthermore, should the circuit fail for any reason, the circuit board can be easily replaced.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an improved vascular catheter system 10, according to the principles of the present invention, is illustrated. The improved vascular catheter system 10 includes a catheter body 12 having a reduced profile distal portion. Catheter body 12 include a proximal portion 14 and a distal portion 16, each having a proximal end, a distal end, and a primary lumen 18 therebetween. The distal portion 16 will extend from the distal end of the catheter body to an adhesive or other joint 20 to, and including a female luer fitting 22. The proximal portion 14 will extend from the proximal hub assembly 24 to a second adhesion or other joint 26 to and including the male luer fitting 28. The proximal portion will have a single primary lumen 18 extending through it and a reduced cross-sectional distal area to facilitate entry into coronary blood vessels and/or tight stenotic lesions.
Proximal portion 14 will have a somewhat larger cross-sectional area to accommodate a distal tube 30 and a proximal tube 32 joined together in a telescopic engagement. Proximal telescoping tube 32 is moveable in and out in a coaxial fashion, into distal telescoping tube 30. By telescoping these two members with respect to one another, the operator may change the effective length of the catheter body. The effective length change can result in an increased, axial translation by the drive cable 34 of work element 36.
Preferably, proximal telescoping tube 32 and distal telescoping tube 30, are made of a polymer or plastic material, which provides adequate bending stiffness and resistance to substantially large hoop stresses. In one alternative embodiment, proximal tube 32 may be all metallic. Accordingly, telescoping tubes 30 and 32 can be prevented from bending or kinking, during pull-back or other operations. Thus, by increasing the stiffness of the tubes, the catheter system avoids at least some of the effects of Non-Uniform Rotational Distortion (NURD). Furthermore, a stiff male telescoping tube 32 can provide easier manipulation of the telescope, allowing a practitioner one push, full-stroke capability. The single stroke capability provides a clearer imaging sequence, since incremental advancing of tube 32 is eliminated. Also, the male tube 32 outside diameter can be reduced, which allows for reduction of the female tube 30 outside diameter, as well. Moreover, distal tube 30 having a relatively high bending stiffness, eliminates the need for using embedded braiding of the tube or stiffening mechanisms, such as Nitinol® or stainless steel stiffening mandrels.
To provide the requisite strength, preferably, catheter body 12 and telescoping tubes 30 and 32 can be made of a wide variety of bio-compatible materials, typically made from natural or synthetic polymer or plastic materials or Nitinol® or similar alloys and other metals. These materials may include silicone rubber, natural rubber, polyvinylchloride, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the like, but preferably polyetheretherketone (PEEK).
The mating connector assembly 40 includes a first connector or male luer fitting 28 secured to the distal end of the proximal portion 14 and a second connector or female luer fitting 22 secured to the proximal end of the distal portion 16. The connectors may be selectively connected to each other to join the lumens of the proximal and distal portions together in a continuous, axially fixed relationship. Mating female and male luer fittings 22, 28 are adhesively attached or molded to the proximal and distal portions of the catheter body, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, male luer fitting 28 may be adhesively attached 26 to the distal end of the telescope assembly 42. Female luer fitting 22 may be insert molded or similarly coupled to the proximal end of the proximal catheter body. Mating connector assembly 40 will allow the user, who is having difficulty crossing a lesion, the option to exchange a distal sheath with a short guidewire lumen, for a sheath having a longer distal portion. The user will also be capable of replacing failed parts attached to either the proximal or distal portions 14, 16 without having to discard the entire catheter system.
In a preferred embodiment, male luer fitting 28 may have an extended portion 44 at adhesive point 26. The extended portion allows more room in the catheter system for making additional positioning adjustments to the drive cable and work element to ensure that the work element is placed at the correct location during assembly. The female luer fitting having the extended portion is commercially available from B. Braun Medical Inc. of Bethlehem, Pa. and other known vendors.
Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, another embodiment of the catheter system 10, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, are described. Drive cable 34 is preferably an elongate tubular or cylindrical member having a generally circular cross-section with a sufficient torsional rigidity to transmit torque from the proximal end to the distal end of catheter body 12. In an exemplary embodiment, drive cable 34 includes drive cable body 60 which has a flexible, counter-wound coil 62 including an outer coil 64 and inner coil 66. An electrical transmission line 72 is received within a lumen 70 of drive cable body 60.
Drive cable 34 is flexible so that it may be introduced within a catheter or sheath through tortuous body passages, such as the coronary arteries, to a target location of interest. Drive cable 34, preferably has a bending stiffness constant in the range from 0.015 to 0.15 in-lb-in, preferably from 0.025 to 0.050 in-lb-in. Drive cable 34 incorporates an ultrasonic transducer 56 at its distal end and a coupling element 57 at its proximal end. The outer diameter of drive cable body 60 may be varied to accommodate variations in the size of the catheter body 12. For example, in one embodiment, the outer diameter of the drive cable 34 may be reduced from 0.029″ to 0.022″ so that the catheter body 12 can also be reduced in diameter. A benefit of such a reduction in size is improved catheter preparation (specifically flushing), due to the increased clearance between the drive cable 34 and the catheter body 12.
According to the present invention, the pair of nested, counter-wound helical coils, 64 and 66 are each formed from metal wire, such as 304V stainless steel or the like. Each coil in the cable is wound in opposite directions so that when the cable body is rotated, one of the coils will tend to tighten (usually outer coil 64), while the other coil expands (usually inner coil 66). This provides the cable with a very high torsional modulus of elasticity, while reducing the flexural modulus of elasticity, due to the flexible nature of the coil structures. In one embodiment, inner coil 66 will have a diameter in the range from about 0.017 to 0.019 inches, while outer coil 64 will have a diameter in the range from about 0.029 to 0.031 inches. The wire diameter of the coils will usually be in the range from about 0.002 to 0.004 inches, more usually being in the range from 0.0025 to 0.0035 inches.
In an alternative embodiment, more than two coils may be used in the counter-wound drive cable, so long as the additional coils do not increase the overall diameter of drive cable body 60 or decrease the diameter of the drive cable lumen 70, beyond the desired range. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, three coils can be used. In this preferred example, outer coil 64 is wound clockwise. Inner coils 66 and 66′ are wound counter-clockwise. When drive cable 34 is rotated clockwise, outer coil 64 contracts and inner coils 66 and 66′ expand. This configuration provides a very high torsional modulus of elasticity, while maintaining a reduced flexural modulus of elasticity. Optionally, it may be desirable to cover outer coil 64 with an elastomeric sheath in order to enhance mechanical integrity of the coil and facilitate rotation of the cable body with any catheter lumen or sheath. Suitable elastomeric sheath materials include polyurethane, silicone, and the like, preferably polyester.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 4A, as previously mentioned, electrical signal connection between the distal end and the proximal end of cable body 60 will typically be provided by an electrical transmission line 72 extending through cable body lumen 70. Lines 72 may be formed from an electrically conductive metal, such as silver, plated copper, copper, silver, gold, aluminum, and various alloys thereof. The metal core wires may be covered by a conventional insulating material, such an organic polymer, such as polyurethane, polyester, nylon, and the like. Typically, the overall diameter of the wires may be in the range of 0.005 to 0.050 inches, usually from 0.005 to 0.030 inches. In one exemplary embodiment, electrical transmission lines 72 may be in the form of a coaxial transmission line, however, line 72 need not be in a coaxial line configuration, but instead can be oriented in an axially parallel manner, twisted pair, or could be irregularly wound over one another without departing from the intent of the present invention.
In operation, when primary lumen 18 is being flushed or when the catheter body is being pulled-back, drive cable 34 can be stretched. When stretched, counter-wound coils 62 perform similar to a spring and tend to elongate. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A, electrical transmission lines 72 are disposed within the axial lumen 70 of cable body 60 with a strain relief member 68. Strain relief member 68 has a higher tensile strength than electrical transmission lines 72. Although drive cable 34 is mechanically suited for stretching, strain relief member 68 will tend to absorb the tensile load induced and relieve electrical transmission lines 72 from the tensile forces, which would otherwise be completely applied to the weaker electrical transmission lines 72.
In an alternative embodiment, strain relief may be provided to lead wires 72 by a service loop device 80, as shown in FIG. 6. Preferably, service loop device 80 is coupled to rotary shaft 82, disposed in hub assembly 24. In operation, internal lead wire 84 is disposed within device 80 in a looped configuration 86. Loop 86 biases wire 84, such then when cable 34 is stretched, loop 86 contracts allowing lead wire 84 to move axially, within the stretching cable. Advantageously, when drive cable 34 is no longer being stretched, wire loop 84 returns to its original looped configuration 86. Loop device 80 will provide an enclosed chamber 87, which protects hub assembly 24 from being subjected to body or flushing fluids that would otherwise be allowed to enter wire access port 85.
Referring now to FIG. 7A, another embodiment of a catheter system 10, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, is described. Hub assembly 24 includes a hub housing 90, a rotary transformer 92, and a circuit board 94, among other things.
In one exemplary embodiment, rotary transformer 92 includes two ferrites 96 and 98. Ferrites 96 and 98 are provided for creating an inductive current, which transfers an electrical signal from circuit board 94, through rotating transducer leads 72, to transducer 36.
As can be appreciated from FIG. 7A, fixed ferrite wire 100 brings the electrical signal from circuit board 94 to ferrite 98. Ferrite wire 100 is fed through a hole formed through ferrite 98, turned a number of times around ferrite 98 to create a first set of ferrite windings, and fed back out the hole. Similarly, a hole is formed through ferrite 96, such that electrical transmission line 72 can be fed through the hole, wound a number of times about the inside of the ferrite to create a second set of ferrite windings, and finally fed back out through the hole.
Rotary transformer assembly 92 is rotatably disposed in a hub housing 110, such that the first and second set of windings are aligned with each other to form inductive coupling. An electrical current flowing within ferrite wire 100 will pass through the first set of ferrite windings, which creates a magnetic field around ferrite 98. The second set of windings on rotating ferrite 96 are within this magnetic field, which induces a corresponding electrical current flow through electrical transmission line 72. The reverse will also be true—a current flowing through the electrical transmission line will induce a current within ferrite wire 100.
As shown in FIG. 7B, ferrites 96 and 98 contact each other at point 106. The clearance at point 106 is substantially zero. Normally, zero clearance is problematic when one ferrite rotates relative to the other ferrite. However, rotary transformer 92, in this application, is not expected to perform for a long period of time, preferably less than 60 minutes. Moreover, hub assembly 24 is disposable. Thus, negative effects due to friction at point 106 can be deemed negligible. Optionally, to reduce friction at point 106, a Mylar®, or similar material, may be disposed between ferrites 96 and 98.
In the above example, ferrite 96, rotates with rotary drive shaft 82. In an alternative embodiment, ferrite 98 may rotate, while ferrite 96 is fixed.
In another alternative embodiment, a biasing member 108 is positioned between hub housing 90 and the fixed ferrite to bias the fixed ferrite against the rotating ferrite. The stationary ferrite does not rotate, but it is free floating. The biased, fixed free floating ferrite is pressed against the rotating ferrite to ensure that there is no air gap between them. Moreover, biasing member 108 and the free floating ferrite removes the need for precision fabrication of rotary transformer assembly 92. For example, if rotating ferrite is imprecisely positioned on the rotary drive shaft it may begin to wobble when rotated. Biasing member 108 will press the fixed, free floating ferrite against the wobbling rotating ferrite. Since the stationary ferrite is free floating it will tend to wobble in sync with the rotating ferrite, thus preserving contact between the ferrites.
Referring now to FIG. 8, another embodiment of catheter body 10, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, is described. One embodiment of catheter system 10 includes a catheter body 12 having a primary lumen 150 and a guidewire lumen 152. The catheter body is formed by inserting a length of polymeric material into the distal end of primary lumen 150. Shaped mandrels-are used to form wedge 154 so that it has a distal inclined surface 156 and a proximal inclined surface 158. Wedge 154 can be formed from any organic polymer having the requisite mechanical properties as well as processability. Distal inclined surface 156 may be formed as part of guidewire lumen 152 which extends from guidewire exit port 160 to distal port 162, so that it may receive a guidewire. Alternatively, the wedge could comprise a spring coil.
Tapered wedge 154 has a wedge lumen 164 which provides communication between primary lumen 150 and guidewire lumen 152. Wedge lumen 164 allows fluid to exit primary lumen 150 into guidewire lumen 152, for removal of flushing fluids through distal port 162 of the catheter body. Wedge lumen 164 will have a diameter of between about 0.003 to 0.025, preferably about 0.011. In any event, wedge lumen 164 diameter is smaller than the diameter of distal housing 166 to prevent the working element 168 from minimizing flow through wedge lumen 164.
Referring now to FIG. 9, another embodiment of catheter system 10, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, is described. As described above, catheter body 12 is advanced over a guidewire until the distal end portion reaches or lies within the region of interest 200. Work element 202 is moved with respect to catheter body 12 until work element 202 is in the proper position to perform the diagnostic function. As can be appreciated from FIG. 9, when working element 202 is in position, the distal tip 204 of the catheter body may extend beyond stenotic site 206, a length Y. Length Y may become problematic if, for example, as shown in the figure, the anatomy of the vasculature 206 does not permit the distal tip to extend far enough beyond the area to be imaged 200. To resolve this problem, length Y of distal tip 204 may be made shorter. Generally, length Y can be reduced between about 90% and 30%. In one example, length Y is reduced from about 3 cm to 1.5 cm.
In order to shorten length Y, while maintaining column strength in guidewire lumen 210 to support the guidewire, the outside diameter D of tip 204 may be made larger. Outside diameter D can be increased up to about 2 mm, preferably about 1 mm. Alternatively, space may be added in primary lumen 150 by removing the proximal inclined surface 212 of wedge 214. Removing the incline from surface 212 allows working element 202 to be pushed farther forward toward surface 212, which can compensate for the shorter length Y.
Referring now to FIG. 10, another embodiment of catheter system 10, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, is described. As described above, the proximal section of catheter body 12 generally has a relatively high bending stiffness to provide pushability to the catheter. By contrast, the distal tip of catheter body 12 is made highly flexible to easily navigate the tortuous lumen of the vasculature. Typically, when catheter body 12 is delivered into a patient, frictional or other impeding forces may resist the entry, especially from a hemostasis valve. As a practitioner continues to push the catheter body forward in spite of the resistance, the portion of the flexible distal sheath remaining outside of the patient during the introduction process, may tend to bend or kink.
In this embodiment, a transition or intermediate catheter sheath portion 217 is formed into catheter body 12. Intermediate sheath portion 217 can be adhesively, thermally, or similarly bonded between a proximal sheath portion 216, at point 222, and a distal sheath portion 218, at point 220. The portions can also be connected using a lap joint, butt joint, or the like. Intermediate sheath portion 217 provides a smooth transition between the relatively stiff proximal sheath portion 216 and the flexible distal tip 218. Transition portion 217 adds a level of gradually increasing stiffness or column strength, to overcome frictional and other forces, to allow easier advancing of the catheter body 12 into the vasculature of the patient. In one embodiment, intermediate sheath portion 217 can be between about 20 to 200 mm long, preferably 40 to 100 mm. Intermediate sheath portion 217 will begin at point 220, which is between about 100 to 400 mm from distal tip 204 of catheter body 12, preferably 150 mm. Intermediate portion 217 will transition into proximal sheath section 216 at approximately point 222.
As previously described, proximal sheath portion 216 can be made from a variety of polymers, including preferably PEEK. Distal sheath portion 218 is typically made from a highly flexible polyethylene or similarly flexible material. Intermediate sheath portion 216 can be made from materials that have a stiffness ranging between that of sheath portions 216 and 218. Commonly, the flexural modulus of portion 217 can range from 50 to 220 kpsi, preferably ranging between 150 to 190 kpsi. These materials include nylons, polyesters, polyimides, and polyolefins, including blends of these materials.
Although the foregoing invention has been described in detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, certain modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art. Thus, the scope of the invention should be construed with reference to the appended claims including the full range of equivalents to which the inventor is entitled.
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|U.S. Classification
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|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|May 15, 2008
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|May 9, 2012
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8
|May 26, 2016
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 12


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Empowering deserving military families with educational support and opportunities.
During the FJA Invitational, I mentioned to the guys in my group, a study I did while studying engineering at Texas A&M back in the '70's. Briefly, I talked the golf team into helping me with a study for my kinetics class. Namely, does temperature affect how a golf ball flies. The assumption being that, in cooler weather, the ball would not compress as much and therefore, not fly as high or as far as it might in warmer temperatures. The finding were very enlightening and, given it is winter, perhaps they will help y'all.
We started on a September day at roughly 95 degrees F. The guys hit drivers, 3 irons, 6 iron and 9 irons. We did this on later dates at various temperatures. What we found was at 65 degrees F, there was almost an 8 yard loss in distance compared to 95 degrees and, at 45 degrees F, there was another 8 yard loss in distance - WITH EVERY CLUB.
In closing, if you find you are coming up short this winter, it's not you, it's Old Man Winter. I truly hope this helps you play better golf this winter.
Good post. True words: I take at least 1 more club when it's less than 50 degrees, there are other factors but if I have to wear a base layer or a jacket I add a club to all shots.
And I thought I was the old man. Glad to know it is Old Man Winter. Thanks for the input. Do you think the extra clothing makes a difference in how free your swing is?
It probably does Bob, but not as much as the temperature does. I also recall a study Tom Watson published 30 years ago abuot wind. He claimed his standard tee shot that carried 250 yards only went 190 into a 30 MPH wind.
Not just the compression but cold air is heavier than hot. Plus the fairways are normally much softer meaning less roll. In addition more clothing will restrict your swing.
I am not surprised. When the temp. gets down around 40 degrees hitting the ball is like hitting a rock.
The other factor that is harder to measure is how the temperature effects your body. In order to get the maximum efficiency from your golf swing your muscles need to be warm and loose. In the cold both of these are difficult to achieve. This also can have another 1 club effect on your distance. this will of course vary with age and athleticism.
Put me in your camp on this one - winter is also a good time to play it forward.
Since this study was done a while ago and golf ball technology has been changing quickly year by year to some degree or so woud the new technology affect the study results?? Just curious to hear others thoughts...
Great post Fred and very true. Some folks even will play a different ball thinking that it will help. I have pretty much taken your advice and "clubbed up" accounting for the temp drops up here in New England. My wife has another solution altogether.....put the clubs away for the winter. Like old man winter I am also too stubborn to put them away!
Great article from a FJ scientist
Temperature does indeed change the modern ball. I know titleist has done quite a bit of experimentation on the temperature effect on the ball but I do not have copies of any of the data.
That's one reason I tend to take golf balls with me that I have inside my house for play this time of season (the clubs are normally stored in my vehicle.
19holeTemperature does indeed change the modern ball. I know titleist has done quite a bit of experimentation on the temperature effect on the ball but I do not have copies of any of the data.


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text:
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Discussion in 'Racing' started by Baja Dad, Aug 23, 2012.
Thanks guys!!!!
Here is a list of ADV Rider as of today:
Chris Ridgway
Radek Burkat ( solo )
adv: rburkat
Honda 450X
Mike Whitcomb/BoLA to Ignacio
Honda 450x
Mark Vanscourt ( AKA baja dad)
KTM 525xc
Matt DeVall (solo)
Honda 450x
Wounded Warrior
David Haller
Baja Fat Dudes
So where do you guys rent your sat phones. I got a quote here for 3 phones and it seems steep to me.
Rental From 11/2/2012 to 11/22/2012 Unit Cost Total
Iridium Package Rental For 3 Weeks $29.99 $269.91
Insurance (21 Days) $5.00 $315.00
60 min bundle $96 $288.00
Activation Fee $49.99 $149.97
International Adapter Plugs $0.00 $0.00
12 volt DC Cigarette Lighter Adapter $0.99 $62.37
Additional Battery $0.00 $0.00
Magnetic Mount Antenna w/ 1.5 meter cable (Motorola Phones ONLY) $0.99 $62.37
Total : $1,147.62
All rentals require a FULLY REFUNDABLE deposit of $150.00.
So whats the story with the tourist card or visa or whatever? I have a passport already, but I believe you need something if you are going past Guerrero Negro. I have done it years ago and had no problem but I think they are stricter about it now.
Mike, it is well worth the effort to get the Tourist Visa when you cross the border. While you prolly won't get asked for one (being as though Guerrero Negro is in you section of the race) Your chase crew will as they drive through GN. Also, if anything were to happen to you while racing it is always best to have both Passport and Tourist Visa on you so you could be flown out in a Medivac plane. Same goes with if you were to have something happen on the highway, having all the right docs goes a long ways.
Here is my favorite Mexican Insurance Co's info on tourist visas:
Thanks Craig, is that Bajabound as in Tim Morton?
No, it is not Tim Morton aka: Bajabound Moto.
I use them for all of my personal vehicles when going to Baja. The great part is you can do everything online and it one less thing to worry about as you get ready to cross the border.
Getting the visa at the TJ crossing. Stay to the right at the secondary inspection as you cross, park as soon as you can, some guys pull into the secondary and tell the Federalies what you want to get your visa and they will tell you where they want you to park. You go in, fill out your form and give the guy your passport. He then sends you with your form over to the bank where you pay your 262 pesos. It is MUCH EASIER if you have pesos to pay with. After paying the bank, the bank stamps the visa and sends you walking back to the guy who has your passport, who also stamps the visa and gives back your passport and valid tourist visa.
Same thing at Tecate only the visa place and bank are just beyond secondary.
At Mexicali, you park in secondary and fill out you paper work in the visa place but you have to walk across all of the traffic over to a completely different set of buildings to pay at the bank.
Craig.. Actually I belive its in the Morton family
Yeah I knew that and that it isn't Tim specifically, but I guess I forgot who exactly it was that has the insurance company. Brother or brother-in-law or something like that. No matter they are still top notch!!
Thanks for the info. I have busy couple of weeks coming up. This Saturday is the Lost Coyotes run through for our dualsport, 100 + miles, Ghost Rider Enduro on Sunday, Monday is testing on the baja bike, the following weekend is the final national, damn I got too much shit to do.
Just don't get hurt before Baja!
You folks realize that Baja got whacked really hard by Hurricane Paul yesterday.....the bridge over the river in San Ignacio is out, cutting the town off from the highway.
There's a lot of damage up and down the course.
Didn't see anything on the SCORE site?
mmm fresh tracks....
Could have been much worse!
Word is that La Purimisma to Loreto is impassable due to hillside collaspe. Additional issues further south include former gates are now fences, and ranchers not allowing passage through property. Sounds like a typical Baja 1000 to me!
I'm going to Score today, I'll see what they have to say.
Wow. Well I better bring my rain gear. Lucky for me it's been pissing here in the north west and the only practice I have been getting is in the mud and slop. Might come in handy now.
All kidding aside, hope everyone is alright down there and the race is still a go.
Thanks for the tourist visa info SB, was just researching that last night...
Only the girls were in the score office, they knew nothing. "It'll be dry by race time"
I'm not sure folks here really understand............but this is some Baja Sur reality for you.........
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The CBS News producer accused of blackmail "sextortion" attempt on talk show host host David Letterman has pleaded not guilty to grand larceny charges that could land him in jail for 15 years.
"48 Hours" producer Robert J. Halderman entered the plea during a brief appearance in Manhattan criminal court yesterday afternoon. Halderman's bail was set at $200,000 and he was released after posting bond. The judge also issued an order of protection preventing Halderman, who was handcuffed during proceedings, from approaching or contacting Letterman.
His lawyer, Gerald Shargel, said Halderman worked at CBS for nearly 30 years and had no prior criminal record. He described him as an involved father, who coached soccer, baseball and football for his two children, ages 11 and 18.
"This story is far more complicated than what you heard this afternoon," Shargel said outside of court yesterday, but he would not elaborate.
Prosecutors said the CBS newsman was deep in debt.
Halderman earned about $214,000 in 2007. He was ordered in 2007 to pay his ex-wife $6,800 per month in child and spousal support until May 2011, when the payments will be reduced to $5,966 until May 2014, according to papers filed in Stamford Superior Court.
He had asked for a reduction to $2,039 per month because his ex-wife, Patty Montet, was sharing a house in New Canaan with a man. But Montet argued -- and the judge agreed -- that her living arrangement was for convenience and not romantic. Montet also claimed Halderman was getting $1,500 a month from Birkitt.
"Mr. Halderman claims he is struggling financially, but it is difficult to see what, other than mismanagement and extravagant spending, is the reason for this,'' Montet's attorneys said in the court file. "His is a world of golf trips, vacations, increasing 401k assets, comprehensive benefits, security in employment, earnings as an award-winning producer for CBS, and home ownership.''
On Thursday, David Letterman told his dumbstruck audience that he was blackmailed for $2 million over sexual affairs with "Late Show" staffers -- and a CBS "48 Hours" producer is now under arrest and facing as many as 15 years in jail for the alleged extortion plot.
"The creepy stuff was that I have had sex with women who work with me on this show," Letterman said, capping in a jaw-dropping tale of sex, blackmail and secret meetings that was at times silly, smug and sincere.
The comic caught his studio audience off-guard, launching into the rambling story after delivering a standard monologue and taking the seat behind his desk. Nervous laughter followed his first comments, as the Ed Sullivan Theater audience waited for a punchline that never came.
"I have a little story to tell you," he began. He then said he had recently found a package in his car containing a letter whose writer claimed to have proof Letterman does "some terrible things."
"Sure enough, contained in the package is stuff to prove I do terrible things," Letterman acknowledged.
Prior to the show, Halderman, 57, a high-ranking producer on "48 Hours," which airs on the same network as "Late Night," was arrested and indicted for grand larceny, police said. Investigators executed a warrant on Halderman's Norwalk, Conn., home on Friday.
Using voter registration records, NBC News confirmed that a Stephanie Birkitt, once lived with Halderman, and at one point she also worked on the Letterman show.
In the September 2003 edition of the Wake Forest alumni magazine (pages 34-35), Birkitt (Class of 1997) gushed about working for Letterman. She called the Late Show a "fun work environment" and said Letterman was "the greatest boss I could ever have."
Letterman did not identify his tormentor on air nor did he name any of the women allegedly involved in his confession, but said he immediately went to Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau after receiving the threat. Over the next few weeks, Letterman or his lawyer met three times with the suspect, who threatened to reveal Letterman's lurid secrets if he wasn't given $2 million. The ensuing investigation culminated Thursday morning in Letterman doing "something I've never done in my life," he said.
"I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury," he said. "I had to tell them all the creepy things that I had done."
The alleged extortionist was arrested after he deposited a check from Letterman for $2 million. In a press conference this morning, Morgenthau was circumspect about the details but revealed that Halderman allegedly waited for Letterman outside his Manhattan apartment early on the morning of September 6 and delivered a letter and other materials to the talk show host as he left for work, the DA said.
Saying he needed to make a "large chunk of money," Halderman offered to sell Letterman a one-page "screenplay treatment." The letter referenced the talk show legend's professional success and his "beautiful loving son" and suggested that Letterman's "world is about to collapse around him" when the details of his private life were disclosed, according to the DA.
Letterman contacted his lawyer who set up meetings with Halderman at the Essex House hotel. During their final meeting on Sept. 30th, the lawyer turned over a $2 million check, which Halderman deposited the next day at a Connecticut bank, Morgenthau said.
During court testimony Thursday, Letterman said he copped to the sexual relationships with a number of female staffers at the "Late Show."
"My response to that is, yes I have. Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would," Letterman said on the show. "I feel like I need to protect these people - I need to certainly protect my family. Hopefully protect my job. I don't plan to say much more on this topic."
He did not apologize.
Letterman, 62, married his girlfriend of 23 years, Regina Lasko, in March. The couple have a young son.
"I know what you're saying," he said at one point. "I'll be darned, Dave had sex."
On the heels of Letterman's confession, CBS folks have gone into lockdown. A staffer for The Late Show arrived at the Ed Sullivan theater this morning saying only "I have nothing to add" before scurrying inside.
Even Rupert Jee, the owner of Hello Deli, which Letterman made famous, said "out of respect for the show I won't comment, it's obviously a touchy subject."
A spokesperson for World Wide Pants, the Late Show's production company, released a terse statement: "We have a written policy in our employee manual that covers harassment. It is circulated to every employee every year. Dave is not in violation of our policy and no one has ever raised a complaint against him."


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Discussion in 'Star Trek - The Original & Animated Series' started by MikeNeko, Jul 11, 2009.
Infinite Destroying in Infinite Crushing- yes, of course.
Amok Time
Journey to Babel
Trouble w/ tribbles
A Piece of the Action
That will make him very happy; he loves papers.
This is news; what was the deal on that?
Oh wait... was this... was this from Lost In Space? Some kind of android that the Robinsons encountered on one of their typical dust ball planet strandings?
Yup, that's the one. A compact Doomsday Machine, he cleans up what the big one leaves behind.
Wonder why his nameplate is a strap-on, rather than a sewn-on.
Ater watching "Court-Martial" last weekend, it occurred to me that this is a pretty good episode right up until the final act. A nice, taut, "Perry Mason-vs-Starfleet Computer" story.
I'm guessing that it was Roddenberry's edict "put the ship in danger" that accounts for the forced ending. While it was important to find Finney alive and well and hiding aboard ship, the whole subplot with him sabotaging the ship (with jumper cables) and eventually fighting Kirk is unneccessary.
I won't even go into the whole thing with McCoy's microphone and the heartbeats. Dumb.
The ending could have been improved greatly by having Kirk and Spock search for Finney...he holds them hostage with a phaser and still gets to give his impassioned speech ("Officers and gentlemen! Captains all! Except for Finney...and his one mistake!")...then Sam Cogley brings in Finney's daughter at the last moment and he cracks.
But I know Roddenberry always pushed for the "ticking clock" ending.
I've always liked Court Martial but would be hard-pressed to choose my top favourites...
I guess The Cage and Where No Man Has Gone Before feature quite near or at the top. Also others like The City on the Edge of Forever, Obsession and All Our Yesterdays are quite strong, character-led storylines too...
Journey To Babel is my favorite episode.
It has everything I love about TOS Trek - emphasis on character, aliens, mystery, suspense, the big E in peril, great dialogue for the big three - plus Sarek and Amanda (I love Sarek!!). Spock gets his family straightened out, Kirk gets to fight and play act, and Bones gets the last word. There's lots going on plot wise and the diaolgue is highly effective and true to character.
I absolutely love Sarek, and Mark Lenard's elegant portrayal of him. He's brilliant, charming, devastating, formidable and intrinsically *Vulcan* - quite the force of personality. I totally believe this man is a power broker between the worlds. Jane Wyman is nearly as wonderful as Amanda, and the two play beautifully off one and another. Amanda's confrontation with Spock when he will not step down as acting captain to save his father is one of the best scenes in all of Trek.
There are so many other episodes I enjoy, but especially these:
Amok Time
City On The Edge Of Forever
Balance of Terror
The Doomsday Machine
Shore Leave
Tomorrow Is Yesterday
The Enterprise Incident
All Our Yesterdays
I was watching Court Martial a couple weeks ago and was surprised at how good it was. the power went out when I was about 2/3 of the way through, so I'll have to revisit the episode again soon.
I must confess a secret liking for Charlie X - but that's probably just nostalgia talking...
^ I love Charlie X myself. I find it very creepy and also hilarious (the lyre scene).
How many episodes can say that?
We are currently re-watching TOS in order, and last night we had the bad luck in that next up was Catspaw. Oh dear god. What were they thinking with that one???
Yeah, they were thinking about Halloween (original airdate was 10/27/67). Not to be taken seriously. But also, just not a very good episode, except for the creepy little bug-like aliens at the end. And that big black pussy really scared me when I was a kid!
^ I am not touching that one with a ten foot pole!!
OMG, i had completely forgotten about those little alien thingies. And when they were on the screen, well, all i could say is its a good thing i didnt have anything in my mouth at the time. It would have been spewed all over the television! They looked like little pipe cleaner bugs. What a freaking hoot!
I haven't seen Catspaw for over thirty years. I must dig it out soon to revisit and see what all the fuss is about: I can only remember that weird-looking woman dangling the Enterprise efigy over a flame...
^^ You definitely need to. But don't blame me if your head explodes at the end!
Speaking of bad eps that one hasn't seen in awhile, the other night I watched The Omega Glory. Wow, worse than I remembered! Of course, the capper is Shatner's hambone recital of the Constitution, but the ep has lots of bad things sprinkled in, like how Capt. Tracey is older than Kirk but can still kick his ass easily a few times in the ep. The one good thing is I think it's the last TOS ep we see Sulu in charge of the ship. -- RR
...Just have done this afternoon. Yep, it's not one of the best ones but... it is essentially a bit of fluff. One that is mildly entertaining and basically inoffensive but a piece of fluff, none-the-less. I think Hambone is right in stating that it seems to have been made with the Halloween season in mind.
I certainly don't think it's anywhere as bad as some have made it out in the past - it's kinda groovy in a proto-Rocky Horror kind of way. One minor flaw for me, though, was the reveal showing Korob's and Sylvia's true forms at the end: something that wouldn't, perhaps, have been out of place in one of the Muppets Christmas movies...
Sylvia looks strangely off-putting in that Bride of Frankenstein hairdo - and, for her, it really works to bring out the alien-ness of her character. Sadly I can't say the same for Chekov's: if it wasn't his own hair I'd say the Shat had pretty tough competition for the worst rug award. It looks even worse next to Lt. de Salle and all the other regulation Starfleet haircuts...
I loved Shore Leave with it's fantasy like story what did you think of that episode
Omega glory is pretty good until Shatner reads the Constitution. that turned it from a sci-fi TV to just a show produced in 1968, with all the rah-rah jingoism of a nation at war. At war with komms !!!
One of my faves; loved seeing Kirk beat the, err, tar out of Finnigan.
That was a great moment, you non-patriot!
Those words are obviously not meant for you then, you Yangcomb.
Separate names with a comma.


text:
All quotes tagged Factions
(24 quotes found)
"No faction is better or worse than any other. All come from the same mould; they are all products of capitalist influence in the working class movement. And they are a poison that destroys our Party and the working class movement in Korea."
"The carping and bickering of political factions in the nation's capital reminds me of two pelicans quarreling over a dead fish."
"The so-called splinter faction in the union that is going a different direction has been drummed up by a lot of media members and people hoping a deal gets done. I can unequivocally say everyone is on board and understands the issues better."
"The Palestinians did not live, ever, the idea of cohabitation, of having two rival factions leading them. So, therefore, not the presidency, not the government are mature enough to deal with each other in [a] kind of coexistence. So, therefore, I believe that each of the sides will try to maximize its strength and its power on the account of the other."
"If we continue thinking about them (anti-Senate faction) we would be wasting our time. Let us finish them between now and February and forget about them. We need to focus on getting into power in the next five years."
"Then on the other hand, we also have this breakaway faction of young officers, all slightly separate from each other."
"I say to you in the name of the president that we (Palestinian factions) have no way other than dialogue. Our cause is one."
"If the Moore faction wins three or four of those seats, and especially if Parker beats Brown, I think the perception will be ... that the church faction of the Republican Party is now more powerful at the ballot box in Alabama than the business faction of the Republican Party,"
"However secure the common faction may be, it must also be clear that coalition talks are led by parties ... and that that has consequences."


text: X 220 Career Perspectives (2 cr.)Introduces students to the process of career planning and development through self-assessment, exploration of business options, and early planning and goal setting. Provides weekly individualized feedback to students on oral and written communication skills and on the substance of career-related projects. The course is highly interactive, incorporating hundreds of guests per semester including alums and other corporate mentors and speakers, faculty, and senior students.


text:
DETROIT - After missing seven games with a sprained left shoulder, forward Valtteri Filppula will return to the Detroit Red Wings lineup Wednesday night against the Calgary Flames.
Filppula had played in 19 games this season before injuring his shoulder Feb. 24 in a meeting with the Vancouver Canucks. Before the injury, he tallied 4 goals and 6 assists and a +3 rating.
Goalie Jimmy Howard and defenseman Ian White will be out of the lineup Wednesday night.
According to the team's website, Howard, who traveled with the team to western Canada on Tuesday, is ill and not available for Wednesday night's game in Calgary.
Backup Jonas Gustavsson will make his third start for the Red Wings.
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