1. A heat engine based on a thermodynamic cycle which can vary its external working fluid pressure independent of said engines speed, heat input, and work output comprising: non-condensing compressible working fluid within a flow path, component(s) preforming compression that confine said working fluid at the start of said path, device(s) preforming throttled expansion that confines said working fluid at the end of said path, heat source(s) which heat said working fluid along the said path, turbine that converts flow from said throttled expansion into mechanical work which is coupled with the said component(s) preforming compression.
2. The heat engine of claim 1 wherein said component(s) preforming compression is positive displacement compressor(s) with directional valve(s).
3. The heat engine of claim 2 wherein said device(s) preforming throttled expansion is De Laval shaped nozzle valve(s).
4. The heat engine of claim 3 wherein said nozzle valve(s) provide means for independent mass flow of the working fluid between the compressor and expander.
5. The heat engine of claim 4 wherein said independent mass flow is the processing means that allow a nearly reversible thermodynamic cycle with a range of working fluid pressures.
6. A heat engine utilizing regenerated heat of compression based on a thermodynamic cycle which can vary its external working fluid pressure independent of said engines speed, heat input, and work output comprising: non-condensing compressible working fluid within a flow path, component(s) preforming compression that confine said working fluid at the start of said path, device(s) preforming throttled expansion that confines said working fluid at the end of said path, regenerated heat of compression exchanger, heat source(s) which heat said working fluid along the said path, turbine that converts flow from said throttled expansion into mechanical work which is coupled with the said component(s) preforming compression.
7. The heat engine of claim 6 wherein said component(s) preforming compression is positive displacement compressor(s) with directional valve(s).
8. The heat engine of claim 7 wherein said regenerated heat of compression exchanger is a counter flow heat exchanger that transfers heat from stored compressed fluid into working fluid.
9. The heat engine of claim 8 wherein said device(s) preforming throttled expansion is De Laval shaped nozzle valve(s).
10. The heat engine of claim 9 wherein said nozzle valve(s) provide means for independent mass flow of the working fluid between the compressor and expander.
11. The heat engine of claim 10 wherein said independent mass flow is the processing means that allow a nearly reversible thermodynamic cycle with a range of working fluid pressures.
12. A heat engine utilizing regenerated heat of compression and recuperated waste heat based on a thermodynamic cycle which can vary its external working fluid pressure independent of said engines speed, heat input, and work output comprising: non-condensing compressible working fluid within a flow path, component(s) preforming compression that confine said working fluid at the start of said path, device(s) preforming throttled expansion that confines said working fluid at the end of said path, regenerated heat of compression exchanger, recuperated waste heat exchanger, heat source(s) which heat said working fluid along the said path, turbine that converts flow from said throttled expansion into mechanical work which is coupled with the said component(s) preforming compression.
13. The heat engine of claim 12 wherein said component(s) preforming compression is positive displacement compressor(s) with directional valve(s).
14. The heat engine of claim 13 wherein said recuperated waste heat exchanger is a counter flow heat exchanger that transfers heat from exhaust into said working fluid.
15. The heat engine of claim 14 wherein said regenerated heat of compression exchanger is a counter flow heat exchanger that transfers heat from stored compressed fluid into working fluid.
16. The heat engine of claim 15 wherein said device(s) preforming throttled expansion is De Laval shaped nozzle valve(s).
17. The heat engine of claim 16 wherein said nozzle valve(s) provide means for independent mass flow of the working fluid between the compressor and expander.
18. The heat engine of claim 17 wherein said independent mass flow is the processing means that allow a nearly reversible thermodynamic cycle with a range of working fluid pressures.
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. An implantable device comprising a biocompatible material releasably attachable to a delivery instrument for placement within in the body, wherein the material comprises perforations therein.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the material comprises perforations at a proximal end of the device configured for releasable attachment to the delivery instrument.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the material comprises perforations at a distal end of the device configured for releasable attachment to the delivery instrument.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the material comprises perforations at a proximal end and a distal end of the device configured for releasable attachment to the delivery instrument.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is releasable from the delivery instrument by breaking the perforations.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device has a tubular, hollow or planar configuration.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is self-expandable upon release from the delivery instrument.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is expandable upon application of a radial force on an interior surface of the device.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the perforations are circumferentially placed about the device when releasably attached to the delivery device.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the perforations are in linear alignment with the longitudinal axis of the delivery instrument.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the material is biodegradable or bioresorbable.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein the material further comprises a therapeutic agent which is eludable from the material.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the material comprises an extracellular matrix.
14. A system for treating a defect at a target tissue site within the body, the system comprising:
a catheter; and
an implantable material releasably attached at a distal portion of the catheter, wherein the material comprises perforations therein.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the implantable material has a tubular configuration when releasably attached to the catheter.
16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a mechanism positioned within the tubular material for exerting a radial force on the tubular material sufficient to separate the perforations.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the perforations are positioned circumferentially about the tubular material.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the perforations are positioned longitudinally along the tubular material.
19. The system of claim 16, wherein the mechanism is an inflatable balloon or an expandable mesh.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the material retains a tubular configuration when released from the catheter.
21. The system of claim 15, wherein the material has a planar configuration when released from the catheter.
22. A method of making a device for delivery to a body lumen, the device comprising a material which is configured to induce a biological or therapeutic effect when placed at tissue site within the body, the method comprising:
forming the material in the desired shape and having the desired dimensions;
applying perforations in the material, and
attaching the material to a catheter for delivery to within the body, wherein the perforations are arranged relative to the catheter such that breaking the perforations releases the device from the catheter.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein forming the material comprises a process selected from the group consisting of extruding, sewing, laminating, pressing, freeze-drying, gluing, and molding.
24. The method of claim 22, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of extracellular matrix derived from a mammal, synthetic extracellular matrix, an extruded material, a biodegradable material, and a drug eluting material.
25. A method of treating a tissue site within the body, comprising:
releasing a device in the vessel lumen of a living body from a distal portion of a catheter by breaking perforations provided in the device, wherein the device comprises a material for inducing a biological or therapeutic effect at the tissue site.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the material contains at least one therapeutic agent and the method further comprises eluding the at least one therapeutic agent from the material.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the material comprises multiple layers, each containing at least one therapeutic agent, wherein the method further comprises eluding the therapeutic agents sequentially.
28. The method of claim 25, further comprising buttressing the vessel lumen with the released device.