Abstract: A cryogenic system includes a housing of a cryogenic chamber, a cold source in the cryogenic chamber, and a circulation loop for circulating cryogenic fluid between the cold source and a component to be cooled in the cryogenic chamber. The component has an elongated thermally conductive structure extending to a warmer environment. For adjustable cooling of the structure, an incoming stream of the cryogenic fluid is directed along a length of the structure extending from the component, and this stream is split into a first outgoing stream at a first location from the component and a second outgoing stream at a second location further from the component, and an adjustable valve adjusts the fraction of the incoming stream that becomes the second outgoing stream.

Abstract: A handheld tissue stretching device combined with an extremity flexibility number, stretchscore, enables users to independently evaluate and treat the flexibility of their extremity tissue minimizing physical therapist intervention to evaluate and treat tissue. The distance between handheld stretching devices and the extremity supports changes with a high degree of variability during home treatments; whereas, medical professionals monitor stretch intensity visually and manually. Patients performing home-based stretches impart variable intensity that leads to inconsistent tissue treatment resulting in increased tissue stiffness. The present inventors have discovered when the slack is automatically retracted, the distance between the users hands and the extremity support is continuously proportional to the flexibility of the extremity.

Abstract: A cryogenic system includes a housing of a cryogenic chamber, a cold source in the cryogenic chamber, and a gas circulation loop for circulating cryogenic gas between the cold source and material to be cooled in the cryogenic chamber. The circulation loop includes a gas pump, and a counter-flow heat exchanger connecting the gas pump to the cold source for cooling an in-flow of the cryogenic gas from the gas pump to the cold source with an out-flow of the cryogenic gas from the material to be cooled to the gas pump. In a preferred construction, the heat exchanger includes an outer tube and an inner tube nested within the outer tube, and a pair of three-port connector fittings attached to respective ends of the tubes.

Abstract: Many known portable tissue stretching devices do not properly allow the user to control the treatment intensity because of the need to reposition one's hands on the device when increasing stretch intensity. Some known portable tissue stretching devices are not readily held with two hands due to the small gripping surface. The limitations of these devices often leads to decreased home exercise compliance thereby negatively affecting patient outcomes. Medical professionals have widely accepted the notion that patient compliance with home exercises is poor. A handheld tissue stretching device with left and right handles, a retractor and release mechanism provides numerous benefits, such as improved ease of use and increased home exercise compliance. Individuals now have the option to independently and reliably improve their flexibility with a bilateral grip that does not require changing hand position while stretching.

Abstract: A handheld tissue stretching device combined with a retractor and release mechanism enables users to independently treat the flexibility of their extremity tissue minimizing need for upper extremity coordination and grip strength during treatment. The distance between prior handheld stretching devices and the extremity supports changes with a high degree of variability during home treatments; whereas, medical professionals monitor stretch intensity visually and manually. Patients performing home-based stretches impart variable intensity that leads to inconsistent tissue treatment resulting in increased tissue stiffness. The present inventors have discovered when the slack is automatically retracted; the distance between the users hands and the extremity support is continuously proportional to the flexibility of the extremity. This “distance matching” between the handheld stretching device and the extremity support provides a reliable, repeatable, and independent tissue treatment.

Abstract: A handheld tissue stretching device combined with an extremity flexibility number, stretchscore, enables users to independently evaluate and treat the flexibility of their extremity tissue minimizing physical therapist intervention to evaluate and treat tissue. The distance between handheld stretching devices and the extremity supports changes with a high degree of variability during home treatments; whereas, medical professionals monitor stretch intensity visually and manually. Patients performing home-based stretches impart variable intensity that leads to inconsistent tissue treatment resulting in increased tissue stiffness. The present inventors have discovered when the slack is automatically retracted, the distance between the users hands and the extremity support is continuously proportional to the flexibility of the extremity.

Abstract: A heat transfer system capable of being coupled to at least one temperature controlled zone, the elements of the system comprising: (i) at least one liquid refrigerant line; (ii) at least one expansion valve selected for R22 or R422D; (iii) at least one evaporator (iv) at least one compressor; (v) at least one condenser; (vi) at least one vapor refrigerant line; and wherein all of the elements have an inlet side and an outlet side and elements (i) through (vi) are in fluid communication together and contains R422D; and the system further comprising a sensing element communicatively coupled to the outlet side of at least one evaporator and at least one expansion valve and at least one sensing element contains a fluid selected to work when R22 is in the condenser-to-evaporator circuit, or R422D. Further disclosed are methods for retrofitting R22 containing heat transfer systems, including refrigerators and air conditioners. Also disclosed are refrigerators and air conditioners containing only R422D.

Abstract: A method of processing an oxide superconductor or a precursor thereto contained within an outer cladding or a matrix of an inert metal to form a metal-clad HTS conductor or precursor conductor, includes applying a formulation to the exterior of the conductor including a diffusion bond-inhibiting agent comprising predominantly calcium sulphate, potassium sulphate, sodium sulphate, lithium sulphate, or a combination thereof, typically evaporating the carrier where a liquid carrier is used, to leave a coating of the diffusion bond-inhibiting agent on the exterior of the metal-clad HTS conductor, and shaping the coated conductor so that portions thereof come into contact with one another, by coiling or spooling the conductor for example, and heat treating the conductor. The diffusion bond-inhibiting coating prevents bonding together of the conductor coils or layers during the heat treatment.

Abstract: The invention comprises superconducting materials comprising metal borides of chemical formula Mg1-xXxB2, where 0<x≦0.5 and X is Ca, Be, Al, Li, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Ti, Zr, Gd or any combination thereof, which exhibit superconductivity at temperatures exceeding 30K. The invention includes superconducting wires made from Mg1-xXxB2 where 0≦x≦0.5 which may be made using the “powder-in-tube” method whereby precursor powders for Mg1-xXxB2 are inserted into a metallic tube, which may then be subjected to a series of mechanical and thermal treatments to densify and react the boride superconductor and thereby provide superconducting wire. The boride precursor may be separated from the metal of the tube using an inert spacer material such as boron nitride. Such wires may be rebundled one or more times to provide a multifilamentary superconducting wire.