Abstract: There is provided a disinfecting material effective against Hepatitis B, including citric acid and optionally malic acid and/or lactic acid. This viricidal material is not only environmentally acceptable and has low human toxicity, but has high effectiveness at relatively low temperatures for comparatively short times. This disinfecting material containing aqueous citric acid is particularly effective in critical clinical areas.

Abstract: In order to more efficiently form a pilaster, a pilaster form is disclosed which includes a first side unit and a second side unit together with a filler which is adapted to be interconnected with the first and second side units. The first side unit is adapted for interconnection with a first section of a wall form in order to form a first side of a pilaster. The filler is adapted for interconnection with the first and second side units of the pilaster form to form an outwardly facing surface of the pilaster. The second side unit is adapted for interconnection with a second section of the wall form in order to form a second side of the pilaster. With this arrangement, the filler is releasably secured to the first and second side units at any one of a plurality of positions in relation to the wall form to permit the forming of the pilaster in a plurality of depths relative to the concrete wall.

Abstract: Especially for use in disinfecting water by bubbling in a gas such as ozone, novel apparatus having an inlet and an outlet for liquid and which defines a flow path therebetween, the path including, in succession, a downward flow zone and an upward flow zone, the zones being separated by a wall beneath which there is a gap for the flow between the zones, wherein the upward flow zone includes a perforate baffle, adjacent to the gap, such that there is substantially laminar flow throughout that zone.

Abstract: A device for supplying aromatic fragrances to the atmosphere employs a heating element in a container to heat a fragrance base material contained in a receptacle to supply a pleasant aroma to the atmosphere, primarily to eliminate bathroom and kitchen odors.

Abstract: An elongated absorber housing, including an inlet duct and an outlet duct, is integrally provided on an upper portion of a circulation tank. The absorber is a self-supporting structure supported by only the circulation tank. At least the furthest upstream spraying stage in a spraying zone in the inlet duct includes spray pipes provided with spray nozzles for spraying an absorbing liquid in a direction cocurrent with gas flow, and at least the furthest downstream spraying stage includes spray nozzles for spraying the absorbing liquid in a direction countercurrent to the gas flow. The absorber is an integral structure in which the upper portion of the circulation tank forms a part of the duct, whereby the absorber is self-supportable and, moreover, is of a simple structure, giving it high strength and eliminating of the need for provision of fitments for supporting the absorber.

Abstract: Especially for use in disinfecting water by bubbling a was such as ozone, novel apparatus having an inlet an outlet for liquid and which defines a flow path therebetween, the path including, in succession, a downward flow zone including a gas bubble inlet and an upward flow zone, the adjacent downward and upward flow zones being separated by a wall beneath which there is a gap for the flow between the zones, wherein the gas bubble inlet is at a height of at least 50% of the height of the gap.

Abstract: A sterilizer for sterilizing objects with biocidal gas which is designed to resist the deleterious effects of the biocidal gas. The invention provides a sterilizer having a sterilizing chamber for holding the objects to be sterilized, and a gas control system for manipulating the gaseous environment within the sterilizing chamber. The sterilizer has a vacuum control system, a vacuum line in fluid communication with the sterilizing chamber, a humidity sensor connected to that vacuum line at a point removed from or outside of the sterilizing chamber, and an isolation valve connected to the vacuum line at a point between the sterilizing chamber and the humidity sensor for temporarily isolating the humidity sensor from the sterilizing chamber. This arrangement assures that the humidity sensor received a sufficient sample for reading the adequacy of the humidification of the objects to be sterilized, while at the same time protecting it from the biocidal gas.

Abstract: The improved device is used in the present method for cleansing the head of a stethoscope with an antimicrobial spray liquid. The device includes a housing which defines a generally central cavity in which an aerosol spray cannister is releasably disposed in a bracket. The housing is closed but is openable in order to replace the cannister, as needed. The housing includes an openable port, such as an elastomeric iris, through which the head of a stethoscope, in accordance with the present method, is inserted for cleansing in the cavity. The cannister has a spray nozzle which is activatable by a trigger in the form of a lever secured in the cavity and extending out of the housing. The lever is disposed above the nozzle and can be manually moved from outside the housing to depress the nozzle and cause antimicrobial spray to be aerosol dispensed from the cannister in a path in the cavity which the stethoscope head intersects.

Abstract: A sterilizer including a head and a detachable container sealingly engageable therewith to provide a pressure-resistant chamber. The head has a heating element mounted therein. The head is pivotably mounted to a frame such that the sterilizer may be selectively moved between a horizontal inoperative position and a vertical operative position with the container extending upwardly from the head. The water or sterilizer fluid are brought into contact with the heating element when the sterilizer is moved to the operative position so as to cause the fluid to vaporize and pressurize the chamber resulting in articles positioned in the chamber being sterilized.

Abstract: A treatment device such as a filter device, containing a treatment bed (2) of particulate treatment medium. A fluidizing unit (9) associated with the treatment medium particles, for removing the treatment medium particles from the treatment bed for rejuvenation. The fluidizing unit (9) comprises a liquid supply duct (11) having an outlet (10) and which is arranged to be fed with liquid under pressure from outside the filter bed, and a discharge duct (14) having an inlet (15) and which projects beyond the outlet (10) of the liquid supply duct.

Abstract: A spin system for thermoplastic yarns is provided with a melt line, in which the main flow of the melt is transported to a distributor pump. The distributor pump comprises several individual pumps, which divide the main melt flow into several partial flows. Each partial melt flow is supplied to a spinneret. Arranged on one of the driven shafts of the pump are mixing elements. The main melt flow is supplied to the pump via a chamber, in which these mixing elements are arranged.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a tag on a neck portion of an article is disclosed. The apparatus includes an article-carrying member, a tag-supplying device, and a tag-carrying device disposed beyond the article-carrying member along a carrying direction of the article. The tag-carrying device includes two pairs of paired traveling belts disposed right and left of the tag and inclined so that each of the belts has a starting portion higher than the article and an ending portion of approximately the same height as a shoulder of the article. The tag-carrying device is adapted for carrying a tag synchronously with the carried article while holding both side edges of the tag between the upper and lower traveling belts to thereby insert a head of the article into a tag aperture and attach the tag to the neck portion of the article.

Abstract: A three-dimensional article making apparatus includes a processor operatively connected to a dispenser and positioner for constructing the article based upon the article defining data. The processor operates the dispenser to construct an enlarged surface of a first article portion to thereby define an enhanced target landing point area for dispensed droplets of build material for constructing a second article portion adjacent the first article portion. The enhanced target landing point area permits a slight misalignment or error that may occur between adjacent article portions. The processor also avoids shadowing during construction of the article by operating the dispenser to construct third and fourth adjacent article portions so that a dispensing path for constructing the third article portion is unobstructed by a previously constructed part of the fourth article portion. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sterilization tray assembly for sterilizing medical instruments. The sterilization tray preferably includes a base tray and a cover. Also, a secondary tray may be mounted within the base tray. These components ideally include ventilation apertures to allow steam or vapor to pass through the sterilization tray assembly to effect sterilization of medical instruments stored therein. The components of the sterilization tray assembly preferably are made of a mineral filled polypropylene and most preferably is a homopolymer which is filled with calcium carbonate, 40% by weight. This material exhibits good heat deflection characteristics at high temperature while being relative inert to absorption of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 vapor.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for sterilizing hemodialysis apparatus, particularly for reprocessing dialyzers in a manner that minimizes membrane perforations. The compositions contain a protic acid and a metal chlorite, and have a pH of at least about 2.3 and no greater than 4.2. Methods of this invention include contacting both the blood side and the dialysate side of a dialysis membrane with the composition, followed by first displacing the composition on the dialysate side with water or an aqueous alkali buffer having a pH in excess of about 6.0, such that the pH of the composition on the blood side of the dialysis membrane increases to at least about 5.0. The composition on the blood side is then displaced with saline. In a further embodiment, the composition has a pH ranging from 3.3 to 4.2, and the amount of chlorite ion in the form of chlorous acid ranges from 0.5% to 5.0% by weight of the total amount of chlorite ion in the composition.

Abstract: An ozone containing gas is injected into soil, preferably substantially uniform in consistency, to kill biological life forms. A soil injector is used to inject ozone containing gas from an ozone supplier. In one embodiment, the ozone supplier is moved over the field by a structure such as a trailer or a vehicle. In another embodiment, a lattice arrangement of conduits is used to inject the ozone containing gas into the soil. The soil is optionally covered with a gas semipermeable or impermeable membrane subsequent to or prior to injection of the ozone containing as. In yet another embodiment, the soil is transferred to a chamber and subjected to in-vitro ozone treatment. In accordance with this invention, the soil is exposed to a sufficient concentration of ozone for a sufficient period of time such that the ozone oxidizes the impurities resulting in sanitization and a reduction of detrimental organisms.

Abstract: An extruder die apparatus, for the extrusion of a thermoplastic material, which die apparatus has an adjustable choke ring. The apparatus comprises an extruder housing having an axial bore for the extrusion of thermoplastic material therethrough from the inlet to the outlet of the bore, an inner die lip and an outer die lip about the bore and within the housing, the lips forming a concentric die gap passageway for the extrusion of a thermoplastic material from the one to the other end of the die, and a choke gap within said thermoplastic material flow passageway having a movably positioned choke ring. The choke ring has a plurality of individual, axially extending castellations thereon, some having oval receiving holes therein.

Abstract: A disinfectant composition for killing parasites and invasive durable forms of parasites is made from a disinfection agent concentrate or mixture containing one or more phenols, preferably 4-chloro-3-methylphenol, in combination with one or more keratolytically acting organic acids, preferably formic acid, salicylic acid, and/or thioglycolic acid, as active disinfectant ingredients; a solvent ingredient including one or more ethylene glycol dialkyl ether of the formula H.sub.3 CO(CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O).sub.n CH.sub.

Abstract: Devices useful to monitor whether or not an article has been exposed to sterilizing conditions are provided and comprise a package and an indicator associated with the package. The package is sufficiently permeable to admit sterilizing gas or vapor into the package. The indicator associated with the package changes color from a first color (indicating ambient conditions) to a second color (indicating exposure to acidic gas or vapor). Both the first and second colors of the indicator are stable and preferably substantially maintain their colors under ambient conditions. Particularly, preferred embodiments are adapted for use with peracetic acid sterilization processes.

Abstract: An assembly for preparing molded articles has opposing clamp members of a jaw suitable for gripping and releasing a component of a molding assembly. The clamp members are connected with and extend from a frame, and the frame positions members which are reciprocatively compressible and expandable for contacting and bearing upon the component and so that upon release of the clamp members from the component, the component is pushed.