Abstract: A probe instrument using room-temperature sensor(s) that can measure magnetic susceptibilities variations. The instrument has sufficient resolution to monitor paramagnetic materials in a human body, and preferably iron in a human liver by noninvasively examining patients with iron-overload diseases. The instrument includes room temperature magnetic sensors, and detects the sample, that is the tissue response to an alternating current field applied by an applied field coil. The sensors that can be used include magnetoresistive, fluxgate and magnetoinductive sensors. The applied field coil dimensions are chosen so that the applied field is optimized for maximum response from the liver while minimizing the effects due to the overlying abdominal tissue and at the same time not unduly increasing the sensitivity of the instrument to the lung. To minimize noise introduced in the sensor due to fluctuations in the applied field, the applied field is canceled at the position of the sensor, i.e.

Abstract: A thermal dispersion switch/transmitter for determining flow rate and liquid level in a non-contacting apparatus. A special preparation of one or more small spots in the outside surface of the wall of the conduit, standpipe or container enables one or more thermally sensitive elements to reside very close to the fluid on the opposite side of the wall. A temperature sensor is formed of a raster pattern electrical conductor deposited on a thin, electrically insulative, thermally conductive flat chip. One temperature sensor is time-shared and is periodically self heated and functions as the reference as well as the active or heated sensor of the invention. One alternative is to employ two temperature sensors, one being a reference sensor and the other being the active sensor. An alternative embodiment employs the same construction of one or more small, very thin membrane surfaces to which multiple detectors are mounted inside a probe inserted into the conduit.

Abstract: A shopping caddy system including a multi-compartmented caddy and a plurality of collapsible bags that fit into the compartments of the caddy. The caddy is preferably collapsible so that its end panels and intermediate dividers form a stack. The end panels of the caddy can preferably folded downward to provide extra support when the endmost caddy compartments are not occupied. The caddy and bags are preferably sized and shaped to allow close engagement between the caddy and the bags when the caddy is in the open position and the collapsible bags are in the open position.

Abstract: An electrode template apparatus, includes a three dimensional support member having opposite surfaces, a plurality of bores extending through the support member and through the opposite surfaces, a plurality of conductors on the member separately connected to the plurality of bores, a plurality of needle electrodes selectively extendable through the plurality of bores and into tissue to be electroporated so that each electrode is comcected to at least one conductor for connecting the electrodes to a power supply.

Abstract: A blood analyzer sensor cartridge comprises a housing having chamber and a sensor assembly within the chamber, a first fluid port having an articulated inlet aspiration tube for direct introduction of a sample, a first fluid path in the housing communicating the first fluid port with the sensor assembly, a second fluid port in the housing adapted for connection to an analyzer, and a second fluid path in the housing communicating the sensor assembly with the second fluid port, the articulated tube is pivotally mounted to the housing for selective orientation within a range of up to ninety degrees, the tube is moveable from a protective recess in the housing to a position normal to a face of the housing.

Abstract: A system for detecting a target substance within a class of explosives and narcotics containing quadrupolar nuclei through the use of nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR). The system applies an RF signal to a coil (34) to excite the substance under test. If the target material is present, an NQR signal will be picked up by the same coil, That signal is compared with known NQR signals in frequency and amplitude. A signal is displayed in an appropriate way if a threshold value of the NQR signal is equalled or exceeded. The empty coil is statically tuned by means of adjusting the location or capacitance values, or both, of static tuning capacitors (102) in the coil. The coil is tuned after the specimen is inserted into the coil by means of an auto-tune feature (36). Effective RFI shielding (37) is provided to prevent external contaminating signals from being detected by the coil and to prevent RF signals from escaping from the scanner. The invention also includes the method for performing tests with the system.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for an apparatus for and a method of trans-surface molecular delivery, including a non-conductive carrier having a proximal surface, a distal surface, and a plurality of through holes from the proximal surface to the distal surface, a first electrode disposed on at least a portion of the distal surface and extending through at least a portion of the plurality of through holes and onto at least a portion of the proximal surface, a second electrode disposed on at least a portion of the proximal surface and in closely spaced relation with the first electrode for engaging a tissue surface through which to apply an electric field, and an insulating barrier that is disposed on at least a portion of the proximal surface of the carrier between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A tape drive includes a rotary head assembly for recording and playing back a series of arcuate tracks on a moving tape where the tracks are transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tape. The tape drive includes a servo mechanism for correcting track misregistration by adjusting the position of the rotary head assembly with respect to the tape in response to servo information in the arcuate tracks. A close transducing engagement between the tape and the rotary head assembly is provided by creation of a low ambient pressure between the assembly and the tape when the assembly rotates.

Abstract: A multipocket carrying case, comprises a primary shell of pliable material formed of a pair of substantially identical half shells connected together for hinging along a common side and forming a primary receptacle, each half shell formed of a rectangular back panel with a bottom panel, a top panel and two end panels secured along the periphery of the back panel forming a primary receptacle, a multipocket panel assembly secured to the back panel and comprising a zig zag or pleated folded panel forming overlapping front and back folds, the back folds secured to a back panel forming a plurality of pockets having spaces therebetween, and a closure panel secured along an edge to the back panel to thereby overlap and close the plurality of pockets. Another embodiment of the carrying case comprises an expandable and adjustable case for carrying many differing types of items in an organized fashion, and particularly suited for carrying a few clothing items.

Abstract: An expansion chuck for simultaneously chucking a tool shaft and a hollow tool part such as a beveling bush. A solid chuck body which can be chucked in the working spindle of a machine tool has in its chucking part a central receptacle bore to receive the tool shaft to be chucked as well as an external chucking face to mount the hollow tool part. An elongated toroidal chamber is arranged coaxially with the receptacle bore and the outside chucking face in the interior of the chucking part of the chuck body and is filled with an incompressible medium. Due to a hydraulic internal pressure in the toroidal chamber, both of its peripheral walls undergo elastic deformation, radially inwardly to chuck the tool shaft, and radially outwardly to chuck the hollow tool part.

Abstract: A system, method, and tools including a subtalar arthroereisis implant for use in reducing calcaneal eversion, blocking anterior and inferior displacement of the talus, and blocking excessive pronation and the resulting sequelae, while allowing normal subtalar joint motion. The method includes in the preferred system inserting a probe to slightly dilate the tarsal canal, inserting a cannulated “sizer” having a guide element placed therein into the dilated sinus tarsi resulting in the guide element being inserted through the tarsal canal. The sizer is removed, leaving the guide element in place. Once the implant has been sized, a trial implant in inserted by placing a conically shaped “nose cone” on the guide element ahead of the implant. Once the trial implant is in place, sizing is checked, the trial implant is removed, and the actual implant is inserted following generally the same procedure as for the trial implant.

Abstract: A self-locking tissue anchoring screw comprises an elongated shank having a proximal end and a distal end, a threaded portion of the shank tapering to a point at the distal end, a cylindrical journal formed on the shank between opposing shoulders adjacent the proximal end a clamping ring having an inner diameter greater than the cylindrical journal mounted on the journal for receiving and clamping a suture upon insertion of the screw, and a head at the proximal end adapted to receive a driver.

Abstract: A filter unit with a filter element receptacle and a filter element, where the filter element having a filter element box in which is inserted a filter pack or a filter medium. The filter element box has a filter element cover on which there is a peripheral projection which engages in a corresponding taper on the filter element box. In addition, the filter element can be inserted into the filter element receptacle which engages with a sealing effect in at least one corresponding packing groove of the filter element cover or box with at least one sealing web molded onto it.

Abstract: A probe cover for an infrared (IR) thermometer having two distinct portions, one which is substantially rigid, and the other which is stretchable by at least two times to envelop the probe of the IR thermometer. The stretchable portion allows IR radiation to pass toward the optical window of the IR thermometer probe. The rigid portion of the probe cover is engaged with the probe during the installation process.

Abstract: An electroporation method and apparatus generating and applying an electric field according to a user-specified pulsing and temperature profile scheme. The apparatus includes a cuvette holder with a Peltier device forming part of the electrode structures that form part of the holder. Advantageously, one such pulse includes a low voltage pulse of a first duration, immediately followed by a high voltage of a second duration, immediately followed by a low voltage of a third duration. The low voltage electroporation field accumulates molecules at the surface of a cell, the appropriately high voltage field creates an opening in the cell, and the final low voltage field moves the molecule into the cell. The molecules may be DNA, portions of DNA, chemical agents, the receiving cells may be eggs, platelets, human cells, red blood cells, mammalian cells, plant protoplasts, plant pollen, liposomes, bacteria, fungi, yeast, sperm, or other suitable cells.

Abstract: The present invention is a sensor formed over a subminiature through hole. Because of the small diameter of the through hole, the material that fills the through hole and the through hole itself have an essentially negligible effect on the sensor. Only a small amount of conductive material which fills each through hole is in contact with each associated electrode. Therefore, the purity of the electrode is not significantly altered by the conductive material coupled to the electrode. A relatively large number of sensors can be formed on the surface of the substrate within a relatively small fluid flowcell. Thus, more information can be attained using less blood. The sensors of the present invention are preferably disposed on an alumina substrate which is essentially impervious to aqueous electrolytes and blood over long periods of storage in potentially corrosive environments.

Abstract: A stable monowheel travois for carrying a load behind an individual comprising a frame assembly with a forward section and a rear section, the rear section adjustably engaged with an axle that is rotatably coupled to a wheel. Adjustable downward extending brackets position the rear section below the axle to minimize the distance between the load and the ground, thereby minimizing tilting forces. A portion of the rear section extends behind the axle which allows for a load to be placed thereon creating a counterweight torque about the axle, thus decreasing the weight on the operator pulling the travois.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus for mixing delicate materials, has a rotor extending into a vessel for containing a quantity of material to be mixed, a support associated with the vessel, the mixing rotor mounted on the support for positioning in the vessel, the rotor comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality of disc packs made up of a plurality of circular discs, each disc having an aperture in a center thereof, and means for mounting the discs on the shaft in axially spaced relation for enabling liquid to flow into the center of the discs and outward between the discs, and a motor drivingly connected to the rotor for rotating the rotor.

Abstract: A RSA encryption scheme includes a modulus in which at least one set of bits is of a predetermined configuration. The configuration may be selected to replicate the identity of the recipient or other information normally transmitted between the parties or may be information stored by the sender to allow only the balance of the modulus to be transmitted with the sender subsequently reconstructing the modulus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for introducing molecules such as genes and pharmaceutical compounds into living blood cells of a patient for therapeutic purposes. A device is placed into contact with the body of the patient for generating an electric field at a preselected location within a selected blood vessel. Preselected molecules are infused into the selected blood vessel. Simultaneously an electric signal is applied to the applied device to repeatedly subject a quantity of blood flowing within the selected blood vessel past the preselected location to electric fields of a predetermined amplitude and duration. The parameters of the electric fields are precisely controlled in order to make the walls of preselected cells in the blood transiently permeable to permit the molecules to enter said preselected cells without killing said cells.