Abstract: A method for forming a metallic mirror surface on a receiving surface, comprises the steps of cleaning the receiving surface to be coated with a metallic mirror surface; spraying on the receiving surface an activating treatment agent containing stannous chloride and at least one precious metal salt of palladium, gold and silver or the like; and separately spraying concurrently on the receiving surface, a reacting metallic salt solution and a reducing agent solution to form the metallic mirror surface. The method may include the step of treating the receiving surface with a water wash treatment. The activating treatment agent may be in a solution form and contain about 10 cc to about 44 cc of hydrochloric acid, about 1.5 g to about 5 g of stannous chloride and about 0.001 g to about 0.005 g of palladium chloride per 1 liter of water.

Abstract: A medical history documentation system and method for recording information relating to at least one of a designated patient's current medical condition, a physical examination, a diagnosis and a treatment plan is shown. The system includes a recording member having a plurality of discrete recording sections formed thereon programmed for recording information relating to the patient. The encoded indicia is communicated by a first person to a second person during a physical examination of the patient by the first person. An input member is used by the second person for recording medical information in the form of predetermined encoded indicia in applicable discrete recording sections of the recording member. A transcriber having a plurality of report section templates is used. Each report section template corresponds to a discrete recording section.

Abstract: A cutting saw blade for use with an oscillatory power tool used in surgical bone cutting procedures including a blade having a distal end provided with teeth whose tips are located on a tangent line perpendicular to the long axis of the blade. The teeth are configured substantially as right triangles with their hypotenuses facing either towards the center of the blade or away from the center of the blade. A central tooth can be optionally provided.

Abstract: An anatomical apparatus for supporting a head of a person by a person's mible is shown. The anatomical apparatus includes a support defining a cavity having a lower tier of a selected width and an open upper wider tier communicating with the lower tier. A ledge or mandible engaging support surface is defined between the upper tier and lower tier and terminates in an exterior opening. The support is adapted to be positioned between a base of a head and shoulder of a person with the exterior opening positioned adjacent the shoulder when a person is in a supine position. The support urges the ledge or mandible engaging support surface into engagement with the mandible to support the head of person in a suspend position and to concurrently transport the mandible anterior of a person's body to maintain an open airway. A method for using the anatomical apparatus for suspending the head of a person is also shown.

Abstract: A compost and dry storage enclosure apparatus for use as a subassembly for a pull out base cabinet is shown. The apparatus includes a housing having a generally planar support with an opening of a predetermined shape and cross-sectional area and a circumferential edge around the opening The apparatus preferably includes first container which is formed of a material substantially impervious to moisture for receiving and storing material containing a high level of moisture for use in a compost mixture. The first container further includes a removable cover to form a removable fluid tight seal to contain the moisture and odor of the stored material containing moisture within the first container. The first container is located at a first predetermined position within the opening in the housing and is supported therein by the circumferential edge. The apparatus also includes a second container which is formed of a material for receiving and storing material containing a low level of moisture.

Abstract: A milking system having a substantially stable continuous vacuum level through a milk claw and milk hose. The milking system includes a milking apparatus for connection with an animal's teats to apply a controlled vacuum thereto to remove milk therefrom at various milk flow rates. A milk claw is operatively connected to the milking apparatus to receive and pass the milk. The milk claw includes an outlet having side walls and a predetermined cross-sectional area selected to be in the range of a minimum cross-sectional area for maintaining, at a all milk flow rates, a substantially uniform laminar flow of milk therethrough and for concurrently providing a stable continuous vacuum in a vacuum channel between the laminar flow of milk and the interior side walls of the outlet and a maximum cross-sectional area equal to about 1.5 times the minimum cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A method for producing multiple images of an object for an eye using an artificial lens system having eccentric lens is shown. The method comprises the steps of affixing to an eye an artificial lens system having a first optical lens system and a second optical lens systems wherein the principal axis of each lens system is eccentric to each other and at least one of the first optical lens system and the second optical lens system includes a prism positioned on a selected surface thereof for directing light rays from an object through each lens system of the multifocal optical lens system onto a macula of an eye.

Abstract: A surgical saw blade guide or milling instrument guide comprising a guide body having a guiding surface thereon, and containing a magnet therein which exerts attractive force in a direction toward the guide body for attracting a bone saw blade or milling instrument to the guiding surface. The surgical saw blade guide or milling instrument guide can comprise a plurality of magnets and the magnet or magnets can themselves form part of the guiding surface. Also, a method of cutting a bone comprising the steps of magnetically attracting a surgical bone saw blade or milling instrument to a surgical saw blade guide or milling instrument guide containing a magnet, actuating a bone saw coupled to the bone saw blade or actuating a milling instrument, advancing the bone saw blade or milling instrument into the bone thereby cutting the bone, and detaching the saw blade or milling instrument from the guide.

Abstract: An insecticidal composition and its method of preparation are presented. The composition comprises a basal broth, a chitinase broth and a chemical fungicide. The basal broth has proteins hydrolyzed by papain and pancreatin while the chitinase broth is prepared by fermenting chitin and a chitinase-producing bacterial culture. The insecticidal composition has synergistic activity.

Abstract: A method for altering the pupil of an eye is shown. The method comprises the step of surgically performing an iridectomy superiorly to the natural pupil of an eye forming a superior accessory pupil to accommodate an optical lens system. In the preferred embodiment, the optical lens system is an artificial lens system having a first optical lens system and a second optical lens system and at least one of the first optical lens system and the second optical lens system includes a prism positioned on a selected surface thereof for passing light rays of an object through eccentrically arranged lens to the macula.

Abstract: A pivotable handle assembly for an endoscope such as an operative laparoscope having a proximal end is shown. The handle assembly includes a handle support operatively connected to the proximal end of a laparoscope. A handle including a mounting end is operatively connected by a member to the handle support. The mounting end is pivotally attached to the handle support enabling the handle to be pivoted relative to the operative laparoscope.In the preferred embodiment, the operating laparoscope is a video operating laparoscope and includes an image transferring member for producing an optical image at the proximal end of the laparoscope. A video camera is operatively connected to the proximal end to receive the optical image.A method for using the video operating laparoscope with a pivotable handle assembly in a surgical procedure is also shown.

Abstract: An artificial lens adapted for use in an eye having a macula is shown. The artificial lens is adapted to be affixed to an eye and has a multifocal optical lens system wherein the principal axis of each lens is eccentric to each other for directing light rays from each image of each lens of the multifocal optical lens system onto a macula of an eye. In the preferred embodiment, the artificial lens includes a first lens having a predetermined diopter power for receiving light rays from a near object and a prism having a preselected diopter power. The prism is positioned on a selected surface of the first lens for directing paracentral light rays from a near object onto a macula of an eye and central light rays to a location superior of the macula. The artificial lens includes a second lens having a predetermined diopter power positioned eccentrically inferior of said first lens for receiving light rays from a distant object and a second prism having a preselected diopter power.

Abstract: A ratchet control mechanism for an endoscope having a generally elongated flexible shaft extending between a proximal control head and a distal objective assembly is shown. The ratchet control mechanism comprises an inner shaft having a first driving end and a second end which is operatively connected to a first spur gear and an outer shaft having an opening extending therethrough which encloses the inner shaft. The outer shaft has a second driving end and a second end which is operatively connected to a second spur gear. The outer shaft rotatably supports the inner shaft, the first spur gear on the second end of the inner shaft being in a spaced opposed relationship from the second spur gear on the second end of said outer shaft. The ratchet control mechanism further includes a ratchet mechanism having a rotatable ratchet member having an outer cam surface and positioned substantially perpendicular to and spaced from the first spur gear and the second spur gear.

Abstract: A punctum plug adapted to be inserted into the punctum opening of an eye and which is adapted to be transported into the vertical portion of the canaliculus or into the ampula to occlude the punctum opening and vertical portion of the canaliculus is shown. The punctum plug, or implant, comprises an elongated member having a pair of ends wherein one of the pair of ends includes a collapsible flared section which has a sloped or curved outer surface and the other end of the pair of ends includes a thin retaining lip to engage the edge of the punctum opening. The elongated member and collapsible flared section are formed of a dimension to pass through the punctum opening of an eye. The collapsible flared section has an extended position and a collapsed position. A radial force is applied against the outer surface of the collapsible flared and in a direction to collapse the collapsible flared section which urges the same from its extended position into the collapsed position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument having a removable shaft assembly and a handle mechanism is shown. The surgical instrument shaft assembly includes a drive shaft having an actuatable working member at one end and a connecting member at its other end. The drive shaft has formed thereon a reaction member having a preselected geometrical shape. The reaction member is adapted to removeably operatively connect with a receiving member forming a reacting support. A driving force applied to the drive shaft reacts with the reacting support developing a reaction force to actuate the actuatable working member in a predetermined direction. The surgical instrument further includes a handle assembly which for removeably supporting the shaft assembly. The handle assembly has a first end which defines a receiving member to removeably operatively connect with the reaction member to define the reaction support. The handle assembly includes a releasable coupling member which releasably connects with the connecting member.

Abstract: A collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth and regeneration of the stroma is shown. Also shown is an optical lens for the eye, fabricated from the collagen-hydrogel, which, when affixed to Bowman's membrane, promotes and supports epithelial cell growth, enables corneal epithelium of the cornea of an eye, during the healing process, to attach to and cover the anterior surface of the lens implanting the same and to regenerate the stroma which grows over the edge of and attaches to the optical lens. Laid down in the layers of the regenerated stroma are new keratocytes and collagen fibial produced from keratocytes. The collagen-hydrogel is a hydrogel polymer formed by the free radical polymerization of a hydrophilic monomer solution gelled and crosslinked in the presence of an aqueous stock solution of collagen to form a three dimensional polymeric meshwork for anchoring collagen. The collagen-hydrogel material has a ratio by weight of collagen-to-hydrogel in the range of about 0.

Abstract: A medical history documentation system and method for recording information relating to at least one of a designated patient's current medical condition, a physical examination, a diagnosis and a treatment plan is shown. The system includes a recording member having a plurality of discrete recording sections formed thereon programmed for recording information relating to the patient. The encoded indicia is communicated by a first person to a second person during a physical examination of the patient by the first person. An input member is used by the second person for recording medical information in the form of predetermined encoded indicia in applicable discrete recording sections of the recording member. A transcriber having a plurality of report section templates is used. Each report section template corresponds to a discrete recording section.