Abstract: A double syringe delivery system is disclosed for holding a pair of syringes in a manner so as to accommodate the simultaneous activation of the plunger of each syringe in order to effect simultaneous delivery of the contents of each syringe. The double syringe delivery system includes an elongated support member that is placed between the barrel of each syringe. The elongated support member has resilient, C-shaped clamps on opposite sides of the support member. The clamps are used for holding the syringe barrels of both syringes so that the syringe barrels will be held together in a parallel manner. Further, elongated support member and clamps hold the syringe barrels in a fashion that is slightly longitudinally offset from one another to permit the two syringe barrels to be held together as closely as possible. An interconnecting bridge member connects the two syringe plungers so that they can also be simultaneously activated even though they are also slightly longitudinally offset from one another.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of manufacture for producing a medicament composition capable of absorption through the mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus. The present invention relates to such compositions and methods which are useful in administering lipophilic and nonlipophilic drugs in a dose-to-effect manner that sufficient drug is administered to produce precisely a desired effect. The invention also relates to a manufacturing technique that enables a therapeutic agent or drug to be incorporated into a flavored dissolvable matrix. An appliance or holder is preferably attached to the dissolvable matrix. Employing the present invention the drug may be introduced into the patient's bloodstream almost as fast as through injection, and much faster than using the oral administration route, while avoiding the negative aspects of both of these methods.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of manufacture for producing a medicament composition capable of absorption through the mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus. The present invention relates to such compositions and methods which are useful in administering lipophilic and nonlipophilic drugs in a dose-to-effect manner such that sufficient drug is administered to produce precisely a desired effect. The invention also relates to manufacturing techniques that enable therapeutic agents to be incorporated into nondissolvable drug containment matrixes which are capable of releasing the drug within a patient's mouth. An appliance or holder is preferably attached to the drug containment matrix. Employing the present invention the drug may be introduced into the patient's bloodstream almost as fast as through injection, and much faster than using the oral administration route, while avoiding the negative aspects of both of these methods.

Abstract: A syringe device having a barrel enclosing a first chamber therein containing coaxially aligned primary and secondary plungers. A connectable mixing and delivery tip encloses a second chamber therein and is connected to the barrel by a coupling. A slidable valve having an aperture therethrough to allow passage of air into and out of the secondchamber is disposed between the two chambers. The primary plunger is slidable out one end of the syringe for the selective application of pressure into the syringe barrel. As the primary plunger is urged down into the syringe barrel, air is forced around the secondary plunger and through the valve aperture into the second chamber wherein the substances contained therein are mixed by turbulent aeration. Continued application of pressure on the primary plunger drives the secondary plunger into the slidable valve to plug the aperture in the valve thereby ceasing the agitation of the contents in the second chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a new and useful handpiece for use in connection with a orbicularly tipped contact surgical laser. The handpiece has a handle portion and an extended portion. The handle portion is sized for comfortable handling and is of sufficient strength to accommodate the stresses incident to use in rigorous applications such as orthopedic surgery. The extended portion is connected to the handle portion, and is sized so as to be inserted into the surgical site. The extended portion of the handpiece is adapted to enclose and support the orbicular tip of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for blocking Ca.sup.2+ channels within an organism are provided. For example, a toxin was isolated from the Agelenopsis aperta spider. The toxin comprised a 48 amino acid toxin having a molecular weight of approximately 5,274. This toxin was found to block calcium channels within the central nervous system. The Agelenopsis gene responsible for producing this toxin has been identified and cloned. This gene and/or its derivatives provide a mechanism by which the toxin can be produced using recombinant DNA expression technologies.The present invention further relates to methods of treating neurological diseases by applying the toxins isolated and identified. The toxin may provide beneficial effects on certain neurological conditions including seizures, ischemic-hypoxic CNS damage, and neurodegenerative disorders. It is also found that the toxins are effective as tags in probing calcium channels.

Abstract: A hydratable iontophoretic bioelectrode includes a plurality of layers of material capable of absorbing and holding an ionized fluid when placed in contact with the fluid. Adjacent layers are maintained at least partially out of contact from one another by disposition between the layers of spacing elements such as sugar or other dissolvable particles or cellulose. The edges of the layers may be crimped to maintain the layers in a stack for assembly with an electrode sheet; such a sheet would be provided for receiving an electrical current to thereby produce an electric field and cause a migration of ions of the ionized fluid away from the electrode sheet and into the skin or tissue of a person or animal against which the bioelectrode is placed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to luminous drumsticks. The drumsticks of the present invention permit the drummer to perform visually dramatic drumstick maneuvers and exhibitions without impeding the drummer's traditional responsibility of providing a continuum of timely rhythm to the subject music. This is achieved because the drumsticks embodying this invention comprise drumstick body elements which are configured such that the center of mass of the drumstick is at substantially the midpoint of the length of the drumstick body, and such that either end of the drumstick may function as the drum tip. The ends are also configured such that they are compatible for universal use on all types of percussion instruments. Such a construction of drumsticks permits the drummer to predictably and confidently manipulate the drumsticks for the desired visual, yet timely rhythmic affect. The present invention also contemplates a novel method of manufacturing the same.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and method for high pressure treatment of wastes without the addition of excess oxygen and without interference by corrosive deposits. Waste materials are suspended or dissolved in a processing fluid. The pressure of the fluid is raised to a pressure in the range of from about 70 psig to about 5,000 psig. A boiler is then used to heat the high pressure fluid to temperatures above the critical temperature. Solids within the boiler participate in fluidized bed particle scrubbing technology in order to minimize the fouling and corrosion occurring within the boilers during heating. From at least a portion of the vapors produced by the heating in the boiler, net energy output is produced. Useful byproducts can be produced from the vapors.

Abstract: A three-piece housing enclosing a cavity has rotatably mounted therein a rotor having a plurality of slots, each slot supporting a vane. Each vane has a retention end guided in its revolution around the rotor by an internal, non-circular vane retention track. Two adjacent vanes define opposite sides of a combustion chamber, while the housing and the portion of the rotor between the adjacent vanes form the remaining surfaces of the combustion chamber. Each combustion chamber is rotated past an intake port, a diagonal plasma bleed-over groove, and an exhaust port to accomplish the phases of a combustion cycle. Fuel ignition is provided to more than one combustion chamber at a time by expanding gases passing through a plasma bleed-over groove and being formed into a vortex that ignites and churns the charge in a succeeding combustion chamber.

Abstract: A novel pressure transducer apparatus for medical pressure monitoring apparatus having a housing with a calibration port. The patient side of the transducer senses fluid pressures to be monitored. The non-patient side of the transducer is hermetically sealed in the housing of the apparatus. The housing has a female calibration port communicating, via a pinhole, with the non-patient side of the transducer. The non-patient side of the transducer can thus alternatively be vented to atmospheric pressure or be exposed to a vacuum calibration pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying coatings to various surface types. The apparatus includes a dispenser for holding a quantity of the coating material and a delivery tip having adjustable bristles at one end. The bristles are slidably secured in a spiral passageway formed by a helical ridge inside the delivery tip, thereby allowing the coating material to be continuously applied without the need to stop the procedure and rewet the applicator. The applicator permits accurate control of the amount of coating material applied to the surface. In this way, the surface receives neither an excessive nor an insufficient amount of the coating material. Moreover, the bristles may be pushed in to permit the coating material to be applied to a small, irregular surface, such as pits and fissures, or pulled out to permit the bristles to fan out for application to broad surface areas.

Abstract: Method for controlling N.sub.2 O emissions from stationary combustion systems having variable flue gas temperatures are disclosed. The N.sub.2 O emissions are controlled by the introduction of a N.sub.2 O control agent, such as an alkaline compound, into the effluent stream. In addition, the present invention discloses methods for controlling N.sub.2 O emissions from stationary combustion systems having variable flue gas temperatures while reducing NO.sub.x emissions. Use of an NO.sub.x reducing agent and an N.sub.2 O control agent, such as urea and monosodium glutamate, enlarges the temperature window for effective selective noncatalytic NO.sub.x reduction while significantly eliminating N.sub.2 O emissions commonly experienced with urea injection. Further, the present invention discloses methods for controlling N.sub.2 O emissions from stationary combustion systems having variable flue gas temperatures while reducing SO.sub.x emissions. Use of an NO.sub.x reducing agent, an SO.sub.

Abstract: A toothbrush which automatically provides an up-down stroking action in concert with a side-to-side stroking action as the brush is stroked side-to-side along the teeth of a user. The brush incorporates two pairs of elongate bristle-carrying pads with the pads of each pair positioned side-by-side and the pairs end-to-end. Each pad is hinged to the pad-holding end of the brush with the hinge axis being angularly related to the elongate axis of the pad. The hinge comprises a relatively thin elongate web having a substantially hour-glass cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A primary gradient coil and a screen coil for use with the primary coil are constructed to create a substantially null field adjacent to the screen coil and a substantially distortion free linear gradient field adjacent to the gradient coil. A method is disclosed for generating the coils by considering the screen coil to be of infinite length, deriving a Fourier transform of the axial and other components of the field in which the transform is the sum of the permissible harmonic modes on the coil surface in which a coefficient C.sub.n is derived representing the nth harmonic. A perfect screen coil is created and the number of terms C.sub.n selected using least squares optimization until there is no longer a significant change in the resulting field. Examples are given for creating unscreened, screened, linear, axial and transverse gradient field coils.

Abstract: A high performance computer graphics image computation system architecture is disclosed. The system architecture includes a computational processor ring which includes a plurality of closely coupled computational subsystems. The computational subsystems operate asynchronously and each is interconnected with two adjacent computational subsystems. The architecture of the processor ring allows rapid communication between the computational subsystems while avoiding a deadlock condition. The system architecture also includes a video processor ring wherein a plurality of video processors are synchronously linked together. A plurality of local communication paths couple the computational subsystems to the video processors. The video processor ring is able to move massive amounts of data, in the form of digital video signals, from various points within the system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to multifunctional thrombo-resistant coatings for use with biomedical devices and implants, such as a coating which includes a siloxane surface onto which a plurality of amine functional groups have been bonded. Covalently bonded to the amine functional groups are a plurality of poly(ethylene oxide) chains, such that a single poly(ethylene oxide) chain is bonded to a single amine functional group. A plurality of different bioactive molecules, designed to counteract specific blood-material incompatibility reactions, are covalently bonded to poly(ethylene oxide) chains, such that a single bioactive molecule is coupled to a single polyethylene oxide chain.The methods of manufacturing the present invention include preparing a material having a siloxane surface onto which a plurality of amine functional groups have been bonded. This is achieved by plasma etching with ammonia gas or by plasma polymerization of a siloxane monomer in the presence of ammonia gas.

Abstract: A syringe apparatus for use with balloon-tipped catheters is disclosed having an attached pressure gauge and timer assembly. In one mode, the timer assembly displays the duration of a current event of inflation or deflation, and the duration of the most recent past event of inflation or deflation. In another mode, the timer assembly displays historical information showing the event number and duration of past events of inflation and deflation. The pressure gauge display and the timer assembly display are situated conveniently on the syringe assembly and in proximity to one another so as to enable a syringe operator to substantially simultaneously monitor durations of inflation and deflation without the need for an assistant, yet without requiring purchase or use of computerized monitors.