Abstract: The present invention comprises apparatus designed to repel, but not injure, warm-blooded aquatic life from a specific aquatic region in an energy-efficient manner. A potential gradient is turned on and maintained between sets of immersed electrodes in response to the detection of the presence of warm-blooded animals in the "watched" volume at the surface and above and below the surface of an aquatic region. The electroshock is applied to the animal through the water by use of an electrical field generated from an array of electrodes placed in the water. The size, shape, and intensity of the electrical field are independently controlled by use of design criteria which allow the operator to determine the degree of electrical shock to be administered to a specific animal species by controlling the parameters of electrical energy induced into the animal through the water.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 23, 1993
Date of Patent:
October 24, 1995
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: The present invention provides an improved compositions and methods for regulating the immune response, for ameliorating effects of stress, and for avoiding untoward effects of chemotherapy or exposure to irradiation by administration of androstenediol (AED) and androstenetriol (AET). The improved means of regulating immune response can be utilized in treating infectious diseases and immune diseases such as diabetes and chronic fatigue syndrome, both diseases now considered to be immune response related syndromes.
Abstract: An inflatable enclosure useful as a matress is described which has first (bottom) and second (top) broad surfaces connected at their edges to form the enclosure, the bottom being formed of a substantially air-impermeable resilient closed-cell foam wherein the thickness and density of the closed-cell foam has been selected to provide semi-rigid characteristics between adjacent points of support and the top being formed of material selected from an air-impermeable resilient closed-cell foam and a flexible air-impervious material, said first surface being connected around its edges to a flexible air-impervious material which is in turn attached around the edges of the second surface to form the enclosure, the enclosure having at least one closable means for admitting a fluid to and releasing fluid from the enclosure.
Abstract: A total temporomandibular joint prosthesis for the replacement of the mandibular condyle. The prosthesis including an elongated plate having openings for attachments to the mandible. The plate having a shape such that the lateral and inferior edges of the plate are aligned substantially parallel to the lateral and inferior aspects of the mandible and the openings interface only with the lateral surface of the mandible. The prosthesis includes an artificial condyle that is attached to an elongated neck portion extending from the upper end of the plate.
Abstract: Polymers of glucaric or xylaric acid with diprimary amines containing at least one heteroatom in the main chain form films when cast from aqueous solution and show adhesive properties. Unexpectedly, analogous polymers prepared using galactaric acid, an isomer of glucaric acid, do not form satisfactory films when cast from aqueous solution and exhibit poor or no adhesive properties. Copoly(aldaramides) comprising galactaric acid residues and either glucaric acid or xylaric acid residues, when prepared by reacting an equivalent weight of an activated galactarate with a product formed by reaction of two equivalents of a diprimary heterohydrocarbylenediamine with one equivalent of either an activated xylarate or glucarate also afford film-forming polymers which exhibit adhesive properties.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 24, 1994
Date of Patent:
July 18, 1995
Inventors:
Donald E. Kiely, Liang Chen, David W. Morton
Abstract: A kit for use in determining the dosages and administering testosterone for the treatment of hair loss and disorders involving the lubricating function of the skin.
Abstract: Processes for transfer of design and kite therefore are easily used to transfer images on objects, including fine materials such as silk. The recipient materials remain pliable. Kits containing components for use in the processes of the invention may be prepared for use with any transfer materials. Fabric that has been decorated by the processes of the invention can be sewed, washed, and dried without releasing the image transferred thereto.
Abstract: This invention relates to use of cyclodextrins to complex urushiols to protect against and to treat irritation arising from exposure to urushiols. Cyclodextrins, particularly gamma-cyclodextrins, are capable of binding strongly to urushiols and can be used effectively to prevent irritation of tissue that is exposed to urushiols.Cyclodextrin-urushiol complexes can also be used to desensitize against urushiol. Compositions containing cyclodextrin/urushiol complexes may be provided as tablets for buccal administration in dosages sufficient to induce desensitizing response.
Abstract: Patients may effectively be treated for inflammatory conditions of the mouth using aqueous anti-inflammatory steroids in solutions that can be swished and expectorated as a mouthwash. Such therapy would allow direct contact of the medication with the diseased mucous membranes and would contact areas of the oral cavity that would not usually be reached with application of creams, gels, or ointments. Compositions containing antifungal agents in addition to steroids are particularly useful.Swishing for three to five minutes, then expectorating the aqueous anti-inflammatory-containing, results in maintenance of contact of the active agents with the oral cavity surfaces for a longer time than would application of gels containing those agents. The mode of application is simple and is not repugnant to the patient as is the application of creams, gels, or ointments.
Abstract: 3.beta.,17.beta.-androstenediol (".beta.AED") and 3.beta.,7.beta.,17.beta.-androstenetriol (".beta.AET") may be used to counteract the antiproliferative and immunosuppressive effects of hydrocortisone and other corticosteroids (i.e., to act as buffers to counteract the lymphosuppressive response to such steroids). .beta.AED and .beta.AET are steroids which mediate immune response to provide the body protection against immune down-regulation. A method for testing analogues of .beta.AED and .beta.AET to compare the effectiveness of such analogues as buffers of certain effects of hydrocortisone and other corticosteroids, including immune response and proliferative effects is described. Cytokines, including most particularly IL-3, are produced by addition of .beta.AET and .beta.AED and their analogues to the growth media of cell cultures of lymphatic cells.
Abstract: The present invention provides delipidating compositions containing essentially oil-free "empty" cyclodextrin compositions. It also provides compositions for use in removal of cerumen from the ear. The compositions containing "empty" cyclodextrin advantageously avoid use of harsh, drying agents or injurious mechanical methods.
Abstract: A mattress is disclosed which eliminates components by combining structural integrity, air-impervious and insulating functions, thereby significantly reducing overall weight and increasing portability. In a particularly preferred embodiment the mattress is self-inflating. The semi-rigid cover provides the dimensional rigidity necessary to effect self-inflation. The increased thickness of the utilized cover component affords improved puncture resistance.
Abstract: Novel monomers are described which contain a glucaric acid unit linked through an amide bond formed between a carbonyl carbon of a D-glucaric acid and one of the amino nitrogens of a primary diamine as well as their alkali metal salts. These N-aminohydrocarbylene (or N-aminoheterohydrocarbylene)-D-glucaramidates may then be polymerized to form polyhydroxypolyamides and in particular stereoregular polyhydroxypolyamides.
Abstract: A single step process for converting aldaric acid salts to activated aldarates utilizing a lower alkanol as both solvent and esterifying agent is described. The activated aldarates are particularly useful as monomers for polymerizations with primary diamines in which the nitrogen atoms are bound to aliphatic carbon atoms to form poly(aldaramides).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 12, 1992
Date of Patent:
May 17, 1994
Assignee:
UAB Research Foundation
Inventors:
Donald E. Kiely, Liang Chen, David W. Morton
Abstract: This invention relates to methods for delipidation of skin or hair through the use of cyclodextrins and cyclodextrin derivatives such as hydroxypropyl .beta.-cyclodextrin. The invention also relates to cerumen removal methods involving introduction of cyclodextrins to the ear canal, followed by complexation of the cyclodextrin with cerumen components, and removal of the resulting cyclodextrin complexes. The cyclodextrin components are used in a substantially oil-free powdered or aqueous formulation without detergents, soaps, solvents, oils or other lipid-like agents.
Abstract: A push wheel toy is disclosed where a handle is attached to pair of wheels on an axle. The axle is contorted so that the wheels are not necessarily parallel nor will the toy move in a straight line unless carefully controlled. The handle is loosely attached so that any point along the axle may be used to propel the toy. The toy may not only be used as a simple push toy, but may also be useful in therapy for those suffering motor control disability, and as a game between several individuals.
Abstract: The addition of 5-androstene 3.beta.,17.beta.diol and/or 5-androstene 3.beta.,7.beta.,17.beta. triol to growth media increases proliferation of lymphocytes in culture. By methods of the invention it is possible to increase production of autogenous lymphocytes for administration to the patient.
Abstract: It has been found that loss of hair and malfunction of the lubricating function of the skin can be treated with small mounts of testosterone or house dust antigen given in desensitizing doses. Treatment with minidoses of testosterone or house dust suspensions is relatively inexpensive.
Abstract: The present invention provides an improved means for regulating the immune response, for ameliorating effects of stress, and for avoiding untoward effects of chemotherapy or exposure to irradiation by administration of androstenediol (AED) and androstenetriol (AET). The improved means of regulating immune response can be utilized in treating infectious diseases and immune diseases such as diabetes and chronic fatigue syndrome, both diseases now considered to be immune response related syndromes.
Abstract: Method and apparatus for skullcap and other bone cutting during autopsy. A power driven rotary cutter in the form of a circular blade saw is mounted on a carrier which moves around the skull of the cadaver and permits the cutter to move radially, toward and away from the axis of the skull. A follower which engages the skull controls the depth of cut so that only the skull bone is cut without damage to the brain tissue in the skull. The cutter is driven by a cable from a remote motor to minimize the weight of the cutter assembly on the carrier. The casing in which the cutter is mounted can be a handpiece of a cable driven tool. The cutter can also be used manually by removing the handpiece from the carrier. Power to the cutter is controlled so that the cutter cuts only bone and stops when soft tissue is engaged by the cutter, which avoids serious damage to soft tissue, and also avoids serious injury to the user if the blade slips.