Abstract: A method of surface hardening a metal surface in which the surface is firstly coated with a colloidal dispersion of graphite and then locally melted, in an inert atmosphere or vacuum, so that the molten metal reacts with the graphite to form a metal carbide. On resolidification, the metal carbide defines a dendritic carbide structure within the metal adjacent its surface.

Abstract: A fully automated method and apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting blood dialyzers for reuse having multiple stations simultaneously capable of cleaning a plurality of dialyzers. The dialyzer, the station cleaning the dialyzer, and the patient are identified and the identifications are stored in memory. A predetermined sequence of cleaning procedures tailored to the type of dialyzer to be cleaned are provided. The cleaning procedures are automatically machined sequenced, and the sequence is selectively controlled in response to automatic test procedures measuring indicia of dialyzer reusability. The tests performed on the dialyzer include a blood presence test, a pressure leakage test, and an ultrafiltration rate test. If it is determined that the dialyzer is not reusable, it is either cleaned further to make it reusable or machine sequencing of subsequent cleaning procedures is inhibited.

Abstract: A fully automated method and apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting blood dialyzers for reuse. An identification is assigned to the particular dialyzer being cleaned and is stored in machine memory. The number of times the dialyzer identification has been stored is automatically counted and the result is indicated at the time of cleaning. A predetermined sequence of cleaning procedures is provided. The cleaning procedures are automatically machine sequenced. If the dialyzer identification has not been stored before cleaning, the automatic machine sequencing of cleaning steps is inhibited.

Abstract: A fully automated system for cleaning and disinfecting blood dialyzers is disclosed.

Abstract: A character recognition system such as employed for determining characters formed with magnetically impregnated ink on a check wherein a plurality of sequential pulses are generated for each of a plurality of successive regions along a said character responsive to the movement through the system of the check, and wherein there is included means synchronous with clock pulses at a rate equal to the timing pulse rate divided by the quantity of said plurality for determining the discrete signal areas to be observed and decoded, decoding being only in terms of the presence or absence of discrete signal levels of positive and negative pulses.