1. A device for the management of electrical sockets connected to a branch of an AC electrical network, the device comprising:
a monitor circuit arranged to detect a presence or absence of a load connected to one of the sockets; and
a voltage level management circuit connected to said branch of the AC electrical network, the voltage management circuit comprising:
a processing unit that processes information provided by said monitor; and
an intervention unit coupled to said branch of the AC electrical network and controlled by said processing unit, said intervention unit comprising means for varying an AC voltage level in response to the load.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said monitor circuit comprises:
a current sensor that produces a first signal representing a current circulating in said branch of the AC electrical network; and
means for recognizing the presence or absence of the load.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein said current sensor comprises at least one amperometric transformer.
4. The device of claim 2, wherein said monitor circuit comprises:
a first module that converts and filters said first signal; and
a second module that recognizes the presenceabsence of the load connected to said one of the sockets,
said first module being connected at an input thereof to said current sensor and supplying, at a first output, a second signal representing a current circulating in said branch of the AC electrical network,
said second module being connected at an input thereof to said first module and supplying, at a second output, a third signal representing the presenceabsence of the load applied to said one of the sockets.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein said second module comprises means for analyzing an intensity level of said second signal.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein said means for analyzing supplies said third signal responsive to detecting a current level that is either higher or lower than a pre-set value.
7. The device of claim 4, wherein said monitor circuit comprise a fourth module configured to recognize a short circuit condition, said fourth module being connected at an input thereof to said first module and supplying, at a fourth output, a signal representing a short circuit condition.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein said fourth module comprises means for analyzing a frequency of said second signal.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein said means for analyzing generates a signal representing a short circuit condition in response to detection of a frequency greater than a second pre-defined threshold level.
10. The device of claim 7, wherein an input of said processing unit is coupled to said fourth module, said fourth module supplying a fifth control signal to the intervention unit in response to a detection of an onset of a short circuit condition.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the first device disconnects said first part from said second part, and the second device disconnects a secondary winding of a voltage transformer in the intervention unit from said second part in response to the fifth control signal.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein an input of said processing unit is operatively coupled to an output of said monitor circuit, and said processing unit supplies, to said intervention unit, a first control signal corresponding to a transition from a load to a no load condition, and a second control signal corresponding to another transition from the no load condition to the load condition.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein said intervention unit comprises:
a first device that connectsdisconnects a first part tofrom a second part of said branch of the AC electrical network, said first part being connected to a portion of the branch, and said second part being connected to said one of the sockets;
a voltage transformer having a primary winding connected to said first part and a secondary winding connected to said second part; and
a second device that connectsdisconnects said secondary winding tofrom said second part.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein, responsive to a first control signal from the processing unit, the first device disconnects said first part from said second part and the second device connects said secondary winding to said second part.
15. The device of claim 13, wherein, responsive to a second control signal from the processing unit, the first device connects said first part to said second part and the second device disconnects said secondary winding from said second part.
16. The device of claim 13, wherein, responsive to a control signal from said processing unit, the first device disconnects said first part from said second part, and said second device connects a secondary winding to said second part.
17. The device of claim 1, wherein said monitor comprises an overload recognition circuit.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein said overload recognition circuit comprises a third module operatively arranged to recognize a state of overload, said third module being connected at an input thereof to said first module and supplying, at a third output, a signal representing the state of overload.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein said third module analyzes a frequency of a second signal representing a current circulating in said branch of the AC electrical network.
20. The device of claim 19, wherein said third module supplies said signal representing the state of overload when a detected frequency is higher than a first pre-defined threshold level for a pre-defined time interval.
21. The device of claim 18, wherein an input of said processing unit is connected to said third module and supplies, to said intervention unit, a third control signal corresponding to an onset of a state of overload, and a fourth control signal when said state of overload ceases.
22. The device of claim 21, wherein, responsive to said fourth control signal, a first connectiondisconnection device connects a first part of said AC electrical branch to a second part of said AC electrical branch, and a second device disconnects a secondary winding of a voltage transformer in the intervention unit from said second part.
23. The device of claim 1, wherein said monitor circuit comprises means for recognizing a short circuit condition.
24. The device of claim 1, wherein said monitor circuit comprises means for recognition of a ground fault.
25. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for signaling the presence or absence of at least one of a load, an overload condition, and a short circuit condition.
26. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for detecting contact of a person with said one of the sockets or other powered portion of the branch of the AC electrical network.
27. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for maintaining, on a socket with no load applied, a safety voltage having a sinusoidal waveform and a frequency of about 10 kHz.
28. A domestic type electrical socket, comprising the device for the management of electrical sockets connected to a branch of an AC electrical network of claim 1, and means for signaling at least one of a presence or absence of a load, an overload condition, and a short circuit condition.
29. The socket of claim 28, further comprising at least one of a warning light and an acoustic alarm.
30. A method of using the device of claim 1, to manage electrical sockets connected to a branch of an AC electrical network, the method comprising:
using the monitor circuit to monitor a load condition and detect a presence of absence of a load on said one of the sockets; and
process load condition information determined by said monitor circuit; and
varying an AC voltage level provided to said one of the sockets in response to the load condition information.
31. A method of for managing electrical sockets connected to a branch of an AC electrical network, the method comprising:
monitoring a load condition and detecting a presence or absence of a load on said one of the sockets;
processing load condition information determined by said monitoring; and
using an intervention unit coupled to said branch of the AC electrical network and controlled by an processing unit to vary an AC voltage provided to said one of the sockets in response to the load condition.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A filter system for removal of embolic particles from a blood vessel of a subject, the system comprising:
a filtration element deployable within a blood vessel of the subject, wherein at least a portion of said filtration element is electrically conductive, and either an anode or a cathode in electrical communication with said filtration element, whereby embolic particles carrying an electrostatic charge opposite that of said anode or said cathode are attracted to said filtration element.
2. The filter system as set forth in claim 1 in which said embolic particles comprise lipids.
3. The filter system as set forth in claim 1 in which said embolic particles comprise methacrylate.
4. The filter system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said filtration element further comprises a mesh.
5. The filter system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said filtration element further comprises one or more struts.
6. The filter system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said filtration element further comprises one or more purse strings.
7. The filter system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system further comprises a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration whereby said system may be delivered and deployed in a minimally invasive percutaneous manner.
8. The filter system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system may be retrieved from the vessel of a subject in a minimally invasive percutaneous manner.
9. The filter system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said filtration element further comprises dimensions and electrostatic charge whereby said system can entrap emboli comprising a diameter of 10 microns.
10. The filter system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system further comprises means for entrapping said embolic materials that are attracted to said filter element.
11. The filter system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said system is constructed to selectively entrap small particle embolic material while permitting flow of non-selected particles therethrough.
12. A method for filtering embolic material from a vessel of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a filter system comprising an electrically conductive filtration element, an anode or a cathode in electrical communication with said filtration element;
delivering said filter system to a treatment site within a vessel of a subject;
deploying said filter system;
removing said filter system from the vessel of the subject.
13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said filter system comprises a filtration element, and the step of deploying said filter system comprises entrapment of emboli by the filtration element and removal of the emboli from the vessel of the subject.
14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said filtration element comprises a delivery configuration and a deployment configuration, and wherein said step of deploying said filter system comprises allowing said filtration element to transition from the delivery configuration to the deployment configuration.
15. The method according to claim 12 wherein said step of deploying said filter system comprises the additional step of conferring an electrostatic charge upon said filter system.