Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.

Abstract: A binder composition for producing articles of bonded particulate material such as foundry moulds or cores comprises an alkaline aqueous solution of a resol phenol-aldehyde resin and an oxyanion capable of forming a stable complex with the resin the amount of alkali present in the solution being sufficient to substantially prevent stable complex formation. Bonded articles are produced from mixtures of particulate material and the binder composition by passing carbon dioxide gas through the formed articles whereby the oxyanion forms a stable complex with the resin and the resin is cured. The oxyanion may be for example borate, stannate or aluminate.

Abstract: A binder composition for producing articles of bonded particulate material such as foundry moulds or cones comprises an alkaline aqueous solution of a resol phenol-aldehyde resin and an oxyanion capable of forming a stable complex with the resin the amount of alkali present in the solution being sufficient to substantially prevent stable complex formation. Bonded articles are produced from mixtures of particulate material and the binder composition by passing carbon dioxide gas through the formed articles whereby the oxyanion forms a stable complex with the resin and the resin is cured. The oxyanion may be for example borate, stannate or aluminate.

Abstract: A binder composition in aqueous solution, suitable for use in the production of foundry sand moulds and cores is obtained by mixing(i) an alkali metal silicate(ii) a substantially water soluble carbohydrate selected from monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides and derivatives thereof and(iii) urea.The composition may also contain an oxyanion such as a borate which is capable of forming a water soluble complex with the carbohydrate. The preferred carbohydrate is a stabilized starch hydrolysate whose reducing power has been removed by a process such as hydrogenation.Moulds and cores bonded using the composition may be hardened by injection of carbon dioxide gas, or a chemical hardening agent for the alkali metal silicate may be added to the sand.

Abstract: The invention relates to alkali metal silicate binder compositions, particularly for use in the production of foundry moulds and cores.The binders of the invention are in aqueous solution and are obtained by mixing:(i) an alkali metal silicate,(ii) a substantially water soluble carbohydrate selected from glycans; glycan oligosaccharides; glycanitols; glycanitol derivatives of oligosaccharides; and monosaccharides and disaccharides and derivatives thereof, and(iii) an oxyanion of boron, tin, germanium, tellurium or arsenic, which can form with the carbohydrate a water soluble complex.The binders of the invention give better breakdown properties and improved surface finish of metal castings produced using moulds and cores formed using the binders.