Abstract: Nonwoven articles having high durability and absorbent characteristics, and their methods of manufacture, are presented. One preferred article is characterized by(a) a nonwoven web comprised of organic fibers comprised of polymers having a plurality of pendant hydroxyl groups; and(b) a binder comprising an at least partially crosslinked and at least partially hydrolyzed polymeric resin having a plurality of pendant resin hydroxyl groups, the resin crosslinked by a crosslinking agent, the crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of organic titanates and amorphous metal oxides, the polymeric resin derived from monomers selected from the group consisting of monomers within the general formula ##STR1## wherein: X is selected from the group consisting of Si(OR.sup.4 OR.sup.5 OR.sup.6) and O(CO)R.sup.7 ; andR.sup.1 -R.sup.7 inclusive are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and organic radicals having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, inclusive, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler comprises a housing that has a portion that receives a dose of powdered medicament, a patient port that is placed in fluid communication with a patient; an inhalation passageway in communication with the patient port, a deagglomerator that deagglomerates or assists in aerosolization of the dose of powdered medicament; an electric powered device that drives the deagglomerator; a patient-independent energy output source that drives the electric powered device, a detector that detects inspiratory flow through the inhalation passageway; and a controller for actuating the deagglomerator in response to detection of the inspiratory flow by the detector.

Abstract: Water coatable and water developable negative-acting color proofing single sheet and overlay systems are described. The water-soluble photosensitive color layer employed in each type of proofing construction includes a photopolymerizable polymer having a weight-average molecular weight between 5,000 and 100,000; an alkaline soluble resin having a weight-average molecular weight between 1,000 and 200,000 and an acid number between 50 and 300; and a water-soluble photoinitiator.

Abstract: A method for minimizing coating defects caused by strikethrough when simultaneously slide coating a first fluid layer, a second fluid layer, and a third fluid layer. The method includes preparing the first, second, and third fluids such that the first solute is incompatible with the second and third solutes and such that the first fluid minimizes strikethrough of at least one of the second and third fluids to a slide surface when the first fluid is positioned between the slide surface and the second and third fluids. The present invention is useful in preparing imaging, data storage, and other media.

Abstract: An abrasive construction for modifying a surface of a workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer. The abrasive construction comprises: a three-dimensional, textured, fixed abrasive element; at least one resilient element generally coextensive with the fixed abrasive element; and at least one rigid element generally coextensive with and interposed between the resilient element and the fixed abrasive element, wherein the rigid element has a Young's Modulus greater than that of the resilient element.

Abstract: A device for delivering an aerosol comprises a casing member, a valve stem, and a sealing member, wherein the sealing member comprises a thermoplastic elastomer comprising of a copolymer of about 80-95 mole % ethylene and about 5-20 mole % of at least one comonomer wherein the comonomer(s) are 1-butene, 1-hexene, or 1-octene. The device is used with pharmaceutical formulations containing 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and/or 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane as the propellant.

Abstract: A multi-cycle refastenable contact responsive non-tacky fastener system and method of use with a field of a contact responsive fastening layer having essentially no surface tack. The fastening layer is multiply releasable and refastenable against a non-tacky target surface, and has substantially constant 90.degree. peel strength of less than about 5 kN/m when in contact with the target surface. A mounting layer comprises a field of a pressure sensitive adhesive onto which the field of the contact responsive layer is directly attached.

Abstract: An optical device for collecting light and selectively outputting or concentrating the light. A layer has an optical index of referaction n.sub.1, and top, bottom and side surfaces defining an angel of inclination .phi.. A back surface spans the top, bottom and side surface. A first layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the layer and has an index of refraction n.sub.2. The first layer index n.sub.2 causes light input through the back surface of the layer to be preferentially output into the first layer. A second layer is coupled to the bottom of the first layer and selectively causes output of light into ambient. Additional layers, such as alight polarization layer, a polarization converting layer and a post LCD diffuser layer can be used to make preferential use of polarized light of diffuse light having passed through the LCD layer to enhance viewing of the output light.

Abstract: A compound comprising ##STR1## wherein R.sub.f is a perfluorinated moiety which may contain one or more catenary ether oxygen atoms, Q is a linking group selected from alkylene groups having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, sulfonamido groups or combinations thereof, and R.sup.1 is a perfluoroalkyl group.

Abstract: A cassette for tonometric calibration especially useful for systems that measure one or more blood parameters includes a cassette having an elongated fluid chamber. In one embodiment of the invention, the fluid chamber includes an expansion region that reduces the likelihood of bubble coalescence of the calibration gas. In another embodiment, inner wall sections of the chamber are provided with a hydrophilic surface. Optionally, a fitting is non-releasably coupled to a casing of the cassette and is movable between a first position for closing a calibration gas outlet port and a second position for venting the calibration gas outlet port. In another embodiment, the cassette includes an elongated sparging tube that extends in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a front light extraction tape for coupling light out of a light guiding device. The tape has a flexible, light transmissive outer portion and a light coupling element secured to a lower surface of the outer portion without using adhesive. An input surface of the light coupling element is contactable with an output surface of the light guiding device for receiving light therefrom. A reflecting surface of the light coupling element is aligned so as to reflect light received into the light coupling element through the light transmissive outer portion. The light coupling element may be formed integrally with the outer portion so as to avoid a material interface between the light coupling element and the outer portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the polymerization of free-radically polymerizable vinyl monomers in a batch reactor under essential adiabatic conditions.

Abstract: A rotary bristle tool having a backing with a plurality of bristles extending therefrom. The bristles have a cross section and preferential orientation to control deflection during rotation of the tool. One embodiment is well suited for refining the inside surface of two-way and three-way corners. The backing and bristles are preferably integrally molded. The rotary bristle tool is molded from a moldable polymer such a thermoset polymer, thermoplastic polymer, or thermoplastic elastomer. The rotary bristle tool can include an attachment member molded integrally with the backing. Also disclosed is a method of making a rotary bristle tool and a method of refining a workpiece surface with a rotary bristle tool.

Abstract: A blood aspirator is composed of a suction circuit adapted to receive a flow of blood, a sensor associated with the suction circuit for generating a signal relating to the presence of bubbles in aspirated blood in the suction circuit, a variable speed pump coupled to the suction circuit and adapted to pump blood through the suction circuit, and a controller for controlling the speed of the pump. The controller causes the pump to adjust the blood flow through the suction circuit so that a predetermined, nonzero concentration of bubbles flows through the suction circuit.

Abstract: A wrist rest assembly has a base and a layer of resilient gel supported above the base. The wrist rest assembly is for use adjacent a device operated by a person's hands or fingers, such as a computer keyboard, lap-top or portable computer, computer mouse or other input device. A layer of resilient nonwoven material is disposed between the base and at least a portion of the layer of gel to define, in combination with the layer of gel, a resilient wrist rest support structure supported from the base. A flexible liquid-impervious layer is disposed between the layer of resilient gel and the layer of resilient nonwoven web material.

Abstract: A composite filter media (100 includes a meltblown/spunbond composite fiber material and a mixed fiber triboelectric material are preferably attached to each other by needling the mixed fiber material with the meltblown/spunbond composite fiber material. A netting (104) is then attached by preferably needling the mixed fiber triboelectric material and meltblown through the netting (104).

Abstract: Electret filter media comprising a fibrous web of a blend of a thermoplastic resin and at least one compound or oligomer that enhances the web's electret properties.

Abstract: A method for making multilayer optical films is provided in which the degradation of the optical extinction of the thinnest optical layers is avoided by casting these layers close to the casting wheel.