Abstract: A collecting apparatus for automatically collecting a sample during a particular time interval is disclosed. The collecting apparatus includes a power supply for providing an electric power to operate the collecting apparatus and a plurality of sampling units. Each sampling unit includes a timing device for counting down and generating a first starting signal at a specific time for collecting the sample, a valve for allowing the sample to enter the sampling unit, a valve controller electrically connected to the timing device for generating a timing signal to open/close the valve after receiving the first starting signal, and a collector connected with the valve for collecting the sample through the valve. The collector includes a tube connecting to the valve, a reservoir connected to one end of the tube for containing the sample, and a flow controller connected to the other end of the tube for controlling the flow rate of the sample entering the reservoir.

Abstract: A system for measuring changes in an environmental parameter, such as velocity or pressure, includes an optical signal source for providing a coherent light signal, and an interferometer having a first and second optical legs of unequal optical path lengths. The signal is split into first and second beams that are respectively directed into the first and second optical legs of the interferometer. A fixed mirror reflects the first beam received at the end of the first optical leg. An optical pick-off includes a movable mirror, positioned to reflect the second beam received from the end of the second optical leg. The movable mirror is movable in response to changes in the value of the parameter to be measured. An optical coupler combines the first and second beams after they have been reflected back into their respective optical legs, producing an interference signal, which is detected by an optical detector.

Abstract: A structure of a connector for connecting a power supply to a power-receiving device is provided. The connector includes an upper housing, a foldable plug, an orientating base, a circuit board and a lower housing. The pins of the plug are electrically connected with the circuit board when the plug is folded to a first position, and the pins are disconnected with the circuit board when the plug is folded to a second position.

Abstract: Chemically modified oligonucleotides (ODNS) are complementary, either in the sense of the classic “four letter code” recognition motif, or in the sense required for triple strand formation based on the more limited “two letter code recognition motif”, to a target sequence of double stranded DNA of an invading cell, organism or pathogen, such as a virus, fungus, parasite, bacterium, malignant cell, or any duplex DNA which is desired to be broken into segments for the purpose of “mapping”. The ODNs have cross-linking agents covalently attached at least to two different sites of the ODN. Alternatively, the cross-linking agent which is attached to one site on the ODN has two cross-linking functionalities, and therefore in effect comprises two cross-linking agents.

Abstract: A piston or plunger and a method for making the same A piston or plunger comprises a piston body and a sealing member. The piston body is preferably made from metal by moulding, such as casting or pressure moulding and sintering. The sealing member is made from a thermoplast, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The piston body has an outer or an inner peripheral surface part in which axially extending depressions or grooves are formed during moulding of the piston body. The axially extending grooves may be open at one or at opposite ends. An annular sealing member blank is applied to the peripheral surface part and is deformed and forced into tight engagement with the peripheral surface part and into the grooves or depressions formed therein. The sealing member formed is also exposed to a heat treatment. The piston or plunger having the sealing member applied to an outer peripheral surface part may, for example, be used in shock absorbers.

Abstract: An embolization device includes a plurality of highly-expansible embolizing elements disposed at spaced intervals along a filamentous carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier is a suitable length of very thin, highly flexible filament of nickel/titanium alloy. The embolizing elements are separated from each other on the carrier by radiopaque spacers in the form of highly flexible microcoils made of platinum or platinum/tungsten alloy. In a preferred embodiment, the embolizing elements are made of a hydrophilic, macroporous, polymeric, hydrogen foam material. The device is particularly suited for embolizing a vascular site such as an aneurysm. The embolization bodies have an initial configuration in the form of small, substantially cylindrical “micropellets” of small enough outside diameter to fit within a microcatheter. The bodies are hydrophilically expansible into an expanded configuration in which they substantially conform to and fill the vascular site while connected to the carrier.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS)-based structure is provided. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a substrate, (b)forming a conducting layer on a portion of said substrate to serve as a gate, (c) forming an oxide layer over the conducting layer and an another portion of the substrate, (d) forming an etching stop layer over the oxide layer, (e) forming a lightly doped region in the another portion of the substrate, (f) forming an insulating layer over the etch stop layer and then partially removing the insulating layer to form spacers alongside the conducting layer and on a portion of the lightly doped region, and (g) implanting a dopant into an another portion of the lightly doped region for forming a drain and a source. The ratio of the etching selectivity of the etching stop layer to that of the insulating layer is relatively high enough to prevent the lightly doped region and the field oxide from being lost during the formation of the spacers.

Abstract: A process for preparing pliable soft tissue specimen which are resistant to cracking and devoid of viable cells includes the steps of treating native soft tissue obtained from a donor by a gradually increasing gradient of aliphatic alcohol or other suitable water miscible polar organic solvent until the last alcohol (or other solvent) solution has at least 25% by volume of the organic liquid. Thereafter, the tissue specimen is treated with a solution containing glycerol or low molecular weight (<1000 D) polyethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol of a molecular weight between approximately 6,000 to 15,000 D and heparin. Thereafter, the tissue specimen is briefly immersed in aqueous heparin solution, frozen and lyophilized. The tissue specimen is suitable for implantation as a homograft or xenograft, with or without rehydration.

Abstract: A fixation device for fixating a catheter relative to a skin surface part of a person which catheter defines an outer diameter and is introduced into the interior of the person through the skin surface part substantially perpendicularly relative thereto through a perforation site. The fixation device comprises a pad element to be arranged adjacent to the perforation site and defining a convex marginal surface having a radius of curvature of at least one order of magnitude larger than the outer diameter of the catheter. The marginal surface provides a support surface in relation to the catheter positioned in facial contact therewith for arranging the catheter in a loop and turning the catheter from an orientation substantially perpendicularly relative to the skin surface part to an orientation substantially parallelly with the skin surface part and for preventing the catheter from sliding along the marginal surface.

Abstract: A device for securing a dispensing tube to an aerosol spray can includes an apertured retention tab that is mountable to the side of the can, wherein the retention tab, when so mounted, is resiliently flexible from a first position, substantially parallel to the side of the can, to a radially-outward second position. When the retention tab is held in the second position, the aperture in the retention tab extends substantially parallel to the side of the can, thereby permitting a dispensing tube to be inserted through the aperture with an orientation substantially parallel to the axis of the can. When the retention tab is released, it resiliently returns to the first position, in which the retention tab clamps the tube against the side of the can. In a preferred embodiment, the retention tab is attached to an elastic band that may be placed around the can to mount the retention tab on the can.

Abstract: An infusion pump system comprises one or more infusion pump units and a stationary receptor system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photodetector adapted to be used with a voltage source for replacing the conventional CCD. The photodetector includes a substrate electrically connected with an electrode of the voltage source for generating electron-hole pairs in response to a light, a conducting layer electrically connected with the other electrode of the voltage source, and an ultra thin (˜nm) insulating layer formed between the conducting layer and the substrate, wherein one of electrons and holes, excited by the light, in the substrate will move to the conducting layer through the insulating layer so as to form a photo current when the voltage source provides a bias voltage.

Abstract: An inductive component includes a substrate on the surface of which is a lower insulation layer having a shallow concavity or trench, a first plurality of conductive elements formed in the trench, a magnetic core formed over the first plurality of conductive elements, and a second plurality of conductive elements formed over the core. The first and second pluralities of conductive elements are connected to each other so as to form an inductive coil around the core. First and second core insulation layers are disposed between the core and the first and second pluralities of conductive elements, respectively. The component is fabricated by a method in which it is built up in the trench using thin film techniques. A first array of conductors is patterned over the lower insulation layer, and a first core insulation layer is applied over the first conductor array. A magnetic core is formed on top of the first core insulation layer, and a second core insulation layer is applied over the core.

Abstract: A junction box includes an array of conductive polymer positive temperature coefficient (PTC) devices formed from a laminate of a layer of conductive polymer PTC material between first and second metal foil layers. The first foil layer is divided, by conventional masking and etching techniques, into an array of discrete positive electrodes, each of which defines a single PTC over-current protection device having a predetermined trip current. The second foil layer is maintained intact and is shared by the PTC devices in the array as a common ground electrode. Each discrete positive electrode is contacted by a conductive spring contact finger. Two or more contact fingers can be formed as parts of single contact element or otherwise connected together to connect two or more devices in parallel, thereby providing a higher trip current than is provided by a single device.

Abstract: A pointing device for use with computers and other electronic systems incorporates an array of resistive strain gauges on the surface of a substrate. The strain gauges exhibit resistance changes in response to stress or strain applied to the substrate by the movement of a joystick attached to the substrate, the resistance changes being proportional to the extent of movement of the joystick The strain gauges are electrically connected to control circuitry that successively establishes a series of voltage dividers across different ones of the strain gauges to measure the resistance of each of the strain gauges. From those measurements the position of the pointing device may be determined by comparing the measured resistances with known resistance values that correspond to a neutral stick position.

Abstract: An electronic device has three conductive polymer layers sandwiched between two external electrodes and two internal electrodes. The electrodes are staggered to create a first set of electrodes, in contact with a first terminal, alternating with a second set of electrodes in contact with a second terminal.

Abstract: An embolization device includes a plurality of highly-expansible embolizing elements disposed at spaced intervals along a filamentous carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier is a suitable length of very thin, highly flexible filament of nickel/titanium alloy. The embolizing elements are separated from each other on the carrier by radiopaque spacers in the form of highly flexible microcoils made of platinum or platinum/tungsten alloy. In a preferred embodiment, the embolizing elements are made of a hydrophilic, macroporous, polymeric, hydrogel foam material. The device is particularly suited for embolizing a vascular site such as an aneurysm. The embolization bodies have an initial configuration in the form of small, substantially cylindrical “micropellets” of small enough outside diameter to fit within a microcatheter. The bodies are hydrophilically expansible into an expanded configuration in which they substantially conform to and fill the vascular site while connected to the carrier.

Abstract: An electronic device includes two or more conductive polymer layers sandwiched between two external electrodes and one or more internal electrodes.

Abstract: A treat for pets, primarily for dogs is made by first preparing a wet dough composition that includes approximately 25 to 50 percent by weight of corn flour; approximately 0.2 to 2.0 percent by weight of a palatability enhancer selected from the group consisting of vegetable digest, liver digest, poultry digest, beef digest; approximately 2 to 15 percent by weight of a protein, preferably selected from the group consisting of soy protein, whey protein and beef protein; approximately 0.1 to 5.0 percent by weight of a nutraceutical composition, and approximately 35 to 55 percent by weight of an aqueous solution that optionally includes a palatability enhancer where the palatability enhancer is present in the solution by approximately 1.0 to 5.0 percent by weight. The wet dough composition is baked and thereafter rebaked or fried.

Abstract: Positive temperature coefficient polymer (PTC) materials of high loading with uniformly distributed electrically conductive material are manufactured by first producing an intimate mixture (pre-mix or master batch) of a crystalline polymer (e. g. high density polyethylene) with an electrically conductive filler (e. g. carbon black) in proportions that is less rich in the filler than the final PTC product. The intimate mixture, pre-mix or master batch, is utilized in a subsequent step in a molten liquid form for admixing with more filler material in quantities to produce the desired loading of the filler in the polymer matrix. The resulting the admixture is extruded, shaped and formed by conventional equipment to provide a positive temperature coefficient polymer composition that, when equipped with electrodes, is suitable for forming positive temperature coefficient circuit protecting devices.