Abstract: A method of handling the removal and installation of a manway cover to a manway flange includes removing a plurality of cover bolts from a portion of the cover, providing a flange hinge plate of a portable cover hinge device with an aperture therethrough, inserting the first end of a fastening pin through the aperture and into an aligned bolt opening of the flange, where the pin first end has a bore transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pin, inserting a transverse rod into the bore of the pin, securing the flange hinge plate to the flange, inserting a first end of another fastening pin through the cover hinge plate aperture and into an aligned bolt opening in the cover and securing the cover hinge plate to the cover, pivotally connecting the flange hinge plate to the cover hinge plate, and removing any remaining cover bolts.

Abstract: An electron beam gun with an arched shaped beam former as an integral part of a massive cathode block which conducts heat away from the beam former and with a filament mounted to the cathode block for improved alignment.

Abstract: A bilirubin sensor has a working electrode with a first chemical matrix disposed thereon that contains a binder, a substrate electrode with a second chemical matrix dispose thereon that contains a binder and a chemical agent that consumes bilirubin, a reference electrode, a sample chamber containing the working electrode, the substrate electrode and the reference electrode, and a method of measuring bilirubin in a body fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing device with a first chamber (1) for a first component, in particular a powder [a liquid], a second chamber (12) for a second component, in particular a liquid [powder], and a divider means (11, 13) separating the first and the second chamber. The second chamber is defined by an inner hollow cylinder (10) which is arranged so as to be moved in a piston-like fashion in an outer hollow body (2) defining the first chamber. According to the invention, the first chamber comprises an evacuation opening (5) which is adapted to be connected with a vacuum source. The invention further relates to a method for vacuum packaging the mixing device.

Abstract: An electronically guided spinal rod system for the placement of a spinal rod into the heads of pedicle screws and other types of bone fixation systems includes a bone screw inserter having rod access slots extending longitudinally for a length along the screw inserter, a rod detection system coupled to the rod access slots and a rod pusher for inserting a spinal rod through the rod access slots. The electronically guided spinal rod system insures that the spinal rod will be accurately positioned while allowing the operator complete freedom to choose its specific path into the screw inserter rod access slots.

Abstract: Method for determining a property of a fluid for a household device includes the following steps: measurement of a physical variable of the fluid associated with the property of the fluid, in each case when a first parameter influencing the physical variable has one of at least two predetermined values, in order to obtain at least two measurement values for the first parameter, and correlation of the at least two measurement values for the first parameter, in order to obtain a first value characterizing the property of the fluid.

Abstract: An audio speaker has a driver unit having a support frame with a central portion forming a magnetic structure defining an annular gap around a central magnetic post, a vibration system having a diaphragm and a voice coil, the voice coil is attached to one side of the diaphragm where the vibration system is fixed to the support frame and where the voice coil is movably mounted in the annular gap, and a magnetic fluid disposed in the annular gap only in a space between one side of the voice coil and a surface of the annular gap having a higher magnetic flux density.

Abstract: A blood glucose measuring system includes a lancet assembly and a meter for use with the lancet assembly. The lancet assembly has a lancet member with a lance, a lancet body having a drive wing extending outwardly from a side, and a sinuous portion, and an elongated carrier having a lancet member recess to contain the lancet member. The elongated carrier has an open end, a closed end, a side elongated opening for receiving the drive wing therethrough, and an anchoring member operatively connected to the end of the sinuous portion. The meter includes a measuring circuit, a lancet trigger, and a lancet driver where the lancet driver includes a driver piston engageable with the lancet trigger and a charging member that operatively engages with the driver piston to move the driver piston into an armed position and to stop the driver piston when released from the armed position.

Abstract: A lancet assembly has a lancet body with a needle end, a sinuous portion end, and a slot, a lancet tip connected to the needle end, a sinuous portion connected to the sinuous portion end, an anchor structure connected to the sinuous portion. The lancet assembly may also include a lancet enclosure having an elongated chamber with a needle end, an anchor end in communication with the elongated chamber opposite the needle end, and a lancet enclosure slot in communication with the elongated chamber and spaced from the needle end. The anchor end is configured to receive and hold the anchor structure in a substantially static position. The elongated chamber is sized to receive in sliding engagement the lancet tip, the lancet body where the lancet body slot is in communication with the lancet enclosure slot and the sinuous portion and to permit slidable movement of the lancet tip through the open end between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for applying a decoration onto an object (50) use a chamber (22) that can be divided by a deformable foil (10) into a first space (24) and a second space (26). Said foil (10) comprises a carrier film (20), a decoration layer (16), and, at least, a varnish layer (18). The first and second spaces (24, 26) are evacuated simultaneously and, thereafter, a pressure gradient is generated to press the foil (10) against the object (50) to be decorated and to transfer at least the decoration layer (16) and the varnish layer (18) onto the object (50).

Abstract: A door latch device for a domestic electrical appliance, in particular for a dishwasher, has a frame (10) provided or to be provided on a first component of the domestic appliance, a latching unit (28) arranged so it can be displaced relative to the frame between an open position and a latched position for engagement with a closure system of a second component of the domestic appliance that can be moved relative to the first appliance component and is to be locked with respect thereto, and a latching spring assembly that pre-tensions the latching unit and which in the open position of the latching unit forces the unit into engagement with a blocking surface (24) that blocks relaxation of the latching spring assembly.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle positioning system for use with a child booster seat having a seat belt buckle holder that can grasp or envelope a vehicle seat belt buckle, and a seat belt buckle holder positioner to which the seat belt buckle holder can attach and be positioned at the side of the child booster seat.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor has a laminated body with a fluid sample inlet end and an electrical contact end, a fluid sample inlet, a substantially flat test chamber communicating with the fluid sample inlet where the test chamber is adapted to collect a fluid sample through the sample fluid inlet, a working electrode and a reference electrode within the test chamber, and a reagent matrix disposed on the working electrode where the reagent matrix contains an oxidase, a reduced form of a redox mediator and a peroxidase.

Abstract: A seat belt device for stabilizing and positioning a flexible vehicle seat belt buckle having a substantially rigid support structure configured for combining with a vehicle seat belt buckle to convert a movable, flexible vehicle seat belt buckle to a substantially stationary seat belt buckle for facilitating engagement of a seat belt latch. The support structure includes splinting configurations and wedging configurations.

Abstract: A rail rig apparatus includes a body having a middle portion, lower end and an upper end, a lower support having a lower support recess with a lower recess opening, the lower support connected to the lower end of the body, a rig fastener member having a first fastener body end connected to one side of the body, a second fastener body end connected to an opposite side of the body, and a fastener member body extending from the first fastener body end around the lower support recess to the second fastener end, an upper support having an upper support recess with an upper recess opening connected to the upper end of the body, and an upper rope guide mechanism connected to the upper support wherein the upper rope guide mechanism has a pair of opposed jaws defining a space therebetween to receive and secure a rope.

Abstract: A multiplanar, conductive gasket material having a foam core, a conductive web layer comprising a blended mixture of conductive fibers and nonconductive fibers, and a plurality of blended mixture fibers interspersed through the foam core. The blended mixture fibers are heat set within the gasket material.

Abstract: A system and method for correcting the oxygen effect on oxidase-based analyte sensors includes an oxygen sensor with a working electrode, a reagent matrix disposed on at least the working electrode that contains a reduced form of a redox mediator, an oxidase and a peroxidase, an oxidase-based analyte sensor, a means for determining the oxygen concentration in a portion of a fluid sample using the oxygen sensor, means for determining an analyte concentration in another portion of the fluid sample using the oxidase-based analyte sensor, and means for using the oxygen concentration in the fluid sample to determine a corrected analyte concentration in the fluid sample.

Abstract: A method and a device for moistening a porous medical material (50) utilize evacuation of the material before moistening it with a liquid which is contained in a container (48) for communication with the material (50).

Abstract: A reusable modular block system includes a lightweight structural block having a top, a bottom, a first block end, a second block end, an insulating core, an inside facing and an outside facing wherein the structural block is configured to create internal vertical and horizontal raceways between adjacent blocks, a gasketing system connected to the structural block along a portion of the periphery of the structural block, and a fastening system within and that extends horizontally and vertically through the insulating core where the structural block, the gasketing system and the fastening system form a single, integral block component.

Abstract: An improved biosensor having at least a first working electrode and a first electrode material disposed on the first working electrode. The first electrode material is a mixture made by combining at least one enzyme where the at least one enzyme is a capable of reacting with the analyte to be measured, a redox mediator capable of reacting with a product of an enzymatic reaction or a series of enzymatic reactions involving the at least one enzyme, a peroxidase capable of catalyzing a reaction involving the redox mediator where the redox mediator is oxidized, a binder and a surfactant.