Abstract: An example method is provided for maintaining stability to an injury defined by a separation of two bones (e.g., the tibia and fibula), the separation being an injured distance greater than a pre-injury distance between the two bones in a first human patient. The method may include delivering a first apparatus for approximation of the two bones in the first human patient comprising the injury, the first apparatus including a flexible segment disposed between a first anchor and a second anchor. The method may further include maintaining, by the first apparatus, a restored distance between the two bones in the first human patient after a repetitive dynamic loading, the restored distance approximately equal to the pre-injury distance.

Abstract: Devices and methods can be used to apply an adhesion promoter, for example, ozone, over the surface of the biological tissues, before and/or concurrently with the application of the cosmetics to improve the durability and/or appearance of the cosmetics on the biological tissues. The devices can include a recirculation system and/or a filter system to reduce the likelihood of the chemical being released into the atmosphere and/or to increase oxidation of the chemical generated by the device after use of the device.

Abstract: Devices and methods can be used to apply an adhesion promoter, for example, ozone, over the surface of the biological tissues, before and/or concurrently with the application of the cosmetics to improve the durability and/or appearance of the cosmetics on the biological tissues. The devices can include a recirculation system and/or a filter system to reduce the likelihood of the chemical being released into the atmosphere and/or to increase oxidation of the chemical generated by the device after use of the device.

Abstract: A temperature control system for a light emitting diode assembly and associated lamp comprises a circuit board for supporting one or more light emitting diodes and a housing supporting the circuit board. A coolant circulation path is routed through the housing. The coolant circulation path is connected to a source of a substantially constant temperature circulating coolant. The temperature of the coolant is maintained around the constant by an internal combustion engine and a radiator.

Abstract: Solder is pumped through a nozzle to produce a jet 12 of solder and leads on a printed circuit board are passed through the jet to solder them to the board tracks. The nozzle 2 is mounted on a flange 16 held between slip rings 18, 20 so that the nozzle can be rotated to change the direction of the jet. A nitrogen conduit 68, 70 may be provided in-line with the jet to provide a nitrogen atmosphere. A thin plate 92 downstream of the nozzle outlet to contact the jet and inhibit sideways fluctuations when leads are passed sideways through the jet. The apparatus may also include a tube 204, 212, 224 for delivering heated nitrogen gas to pre-heat a region to be soldered.

Abstract: In a dip soldering process, solder is pumped through a nozzle outlet. Leads of a component on a circuit board are dipped into the surface of the flowing solder to solder the leads to a track on the underside of the circuit board. To prevent solder bridging between the leads, a plate is provided below the solder surface, and passes between the leads. When withdrawing the leads from the solder, the solder surface is dropped to the level of the plate, so that excess solder is drawn away from the leads, preventing solder bridging between the leads. Member may be movable to rise through the solder surface as the circuit board is raised away from the surface.

Abstract: Solder is pumped through a nozzle to produce a jet of solder and leads on a printed circuit board are passed through the jet to solder them to the board tracks. The nozzle is mounted on a flange held between slip rings so that the nozzle can be rotated to change the direction of the jet. A nitrogen conduit may be provided in-line with the jet to provide a nitrogen atmosphere. A thin plate downstream of the nozzle outlet to contact the jet and inhibit sideways fluctuations when leads are passed sideways through the jet. The apparatus may also include a tube for delivering heated nitrogen gas to pre-heat a region to be soldered.

Abstract: A filtration process has a coagulation step and a membrane filtration step. The membrane filtration step has a permeation step followed by a cleaning step. In the coagulation step, a coagulant is added to feed water during a period of time beginning generally at the start of the permeation step and ending in a range from about 50% to 85% of the duration of the permeation step.

Abstract: A method of cleaning filtering membranes involves scouring the membranes with bubbles while the lumens of the membranes contain a gas at pressure below the bubble point of the membranes. The method may be combined with an integrity test or chemical cleaning process also involving adding a gas to the lumens of the membranes. A tank containing the membranes may be full, draining, refilling, or at a lowered water surface level during the air scouring process. The membranes may be horizontally oriented and assume a concave downward shape during the scouring process.

Abstract: A filtration process has permeation periods and deconcentration periods. The length of the permeation period or periods between backwashes is chosen, or controlled, to allow the system to reach a TMP and flux value at which the system is operating near its mechanical limits.

Abstract: A spiral wound membrane filtration module is operated with a single pass through the feed side and without cross-flow on the permeate side. Recovery is 70% or more and feed side velocities are between 0.05 and 0.4 feet per second. The module may have dams in the spacer material on the shell/feed side to provide a feed path with multiple passes across the membrane leaves. A small-scale system for using such a module, for example to soften and filter water with a nanofiltration membrane, is described. The system includes a chemical cleaning apparatus and process.

Abstract: In a dip soldering process, solder is pumped through a nozzle outlet. Leads of a component on a circuit board are dipped into the surface of the flowing solder to solder the leads to a track on the underside of the circuit board. To prevent solder bridging between the leads, a plate is provided below the solder surface, and passes between the leads. When withdrawing the leads from the solder, the solder surface is dropped to the level of the plate, so that excess solder is drawn away from the leads, preventing solder bridging between the leads. Member may be movable to rise through the solder surface as the circuit board is raised away from the surface.

Abstract: A storage box with compartments for items, such as fishing hooks, sinkers and lures, having a pair of endless belts which revolve perpendicular to each other. Each belt has at least one aperture in it, so that when the respective apertures in the belts are aligned with a compartment in the box, the item in that compartment can be removed. An other embodiment has only a single belt with an aperture that will allow the removal of large items. A third embodiment has an endless belt with a disc, having an aperture, pivoted on the belt. A pair of tensioning devices may also be used to maintain the belts in a snug fit around the storage boxes.

Abstract: In an apparatus for processing and serially dispensing discrete groups of documents, a system for identifying and sequentially arranging a plurality of coded documents traveling in a stream. The documents are conveyed individually from a source to a release position and, during the time that they are being conveyed, they are scanned to determine the presence of a document and also to read code which appears on the document. That information is stored in a processor. Documents are retained or released at a document retention gate depending on the nature of the code read from the document. A document accumulator is spaced down stream from the retention gate and includes an accumulation gate and a scanner to determine presence of documents at the accumulation gate. Documents pass through the system and exit from the accumulation gate depending on the code from each document.