Abstract: A pair of removable soft pliant plugs is inserted in the Vas to impede the flow of sperm to provide reversible male contraception.

Abstract: The bubble trap is used in extracorporeal blood flow circuits of the type used for open heart surgery. The trap is placed in the external blood flow and it removes small micro bubbles from the blood prior to delivery to the body. The device accelerates the blood flow radially and the small bubbles migrate toward the center of the accelerated flow. These bubbles are concentrated at this location and the blood that contains the micro bubbles is extracted and recirculated before the degassed blood flow is returned to the body.

Abstract: A non-elastic conformal translucent device is applied to the chest and breast of a patient to facilitate tissue examination.

Abstract: A blood suction apparatus for aspirating blood from a patient is developed as a one-hand held instrument having a handgrip. A centrifuge chamber, shaped to narrow from its tangentially directed top blood inlet to its bottom blood outlet end, like a funnel. A gas outlet opening from a gas collection space above the chamber and to which a suction device can be connected. A blood outlet at the lower end of the centrifuge chamber with both outlets connectable to a source of suction. The orientations of the handgrip and of elements passing through the handgrip are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method using microcoded marks provides retrospective identification of articles. An article is marked with microparticles having multiple layers. The particles form a unique spatial pattern on the article. An image is made of the mark as applied to the article. The digitized image is stored in a database with information about the article. The database can be accessed by users to verify the authenticity of an article.

Abstract: A vascular closure device. In each embodiment, the device includes at least one relatively non-deformable surface member and a conformable and distensible member. Typically the conformable member is implemented as a balloon structure that is inflated with a liquid or gaseous medium. This inflation fluid increases the fluid pressure in the balloon which counteracts the fluid pressure of the punctured vessel. The resulting forces on the balloon are opposed by tissue structures that transfer the load to the surrounding subcutaneous tissue structures. The device may be constructed of bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable materials. Additionally, the device may be coated with agents to provide a secondary therapy for enhancement of clotting or prevention of infections. These agents may also elute from the distensible conformal member.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method selects a candidate from a pool of candidates to fill a position based on the skills held by the candidate, the skills desired for the position and the priority of the skills for the position. Pre-defined lists of skills are used to develop detailed profiles of the candidates and the positions to be filled for better matching. To compare and rank candidates, adjusted skills scores are used which are limited by the priority of the skill for the position, yielding best-fit matches.

Abstract: A set of available investment assets is evaluated for inclusion in an efficient portfolio by treating certain asset characteristics as a probabilistic random variable, and averaging the resultant portfolios at each risk level. Next, each candidate portfolio at each risk level is modified to more nearly match a preset industry sector/investment style profile thus producing a well diversified efficient portfolio well matched to a user's desired risk level.

Abstract: A garment hanger attachment is presented that is formed of a unitary, elongated, flexible body. The body has a partial slit running lengthwise from a point proximal to one end of the body to a point proximal to the other end of the body. In the center of the body, the slit traverses through the entire diameter of the body to allow the hook of the hanger to pass through. The overall shape of the body is formed length-wise along a single axis, with the slit being molded or cut into the body. The garment hanger attachment is attached to a garment hanger through frictional engagement in the slit or through elastic stretching from one end of the hanger to the other. The attachment is elongated in a straight-line before being attached to the garment hanger, but conforms to the shape of the hanger when attached.

Abstract: A hydraulic catheter which uses a deflected jet to entrain thrombus into a discharge lumen. Multiple energy sources including ultra sonic mechanical and optical energy may be used with the deflected jet energy.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a lamphead having a multi-positional base and removably mountable reflector flashtube assembly. The lamphead base is configured to detachably mount to a flashtube assembly such that the flashtube assembly may be interchanged with a second flashtube assembly. The flashtube assembly defines an opening and an inner chamber having a reflective surface. A flashtube is mounted within the inner chamber between the reflective surface and the opening, wherein the reflective surface extends behind the flashtube, thereby increasing the intensity of the light emitted thereby. The lamphead base may be adapted for pivotable mounting on a stand to a full vertical position without interfering with the stand.

Abstract: A display package for a bottle is presented having a relatively short base section and a folded wrap-around section. The base section has a top with a hole adapted for receiving the bottom of the bottle. The wrap-around section extends from the back of the base section over the top of the bottle and down to the front of the base. The top of the wrap-around section is shorter in length than the largest diameter of the bottle displayed in the packaging. A window in the front of the wrap-around section allows the upper-front portion of the bottle to extend through the window. In addition, the wrap-around section leaves majority of the bottle exposed through the open sides of the tent-like structure formed by the wrap-around section.

Abstract: A garment hanger attachment is presented that is formed of a unitary, elongated, flexible body. The body has a partial slit running lengthwise from a point proximal to one end of the body to a point proximal to the other end of the body. In the center of the body, the slit traverses through the entire diameter of the body to allow the hook of the hanger to pass through. The overall shape of the body is formed length-wise along a single axis, with the slit being molded or cut into the body. The garment hanger attachment is attached to a garment hanger through frictional engagement in the slit or through elastic stretching from one end of the hanger to the other. The attachment is elongated in a straight-line before being attached to the garment hanger, but conforms to the shape of the hanger when attached.

Abstract: Surgical instrument, particularly a surgical retractor, for use in harvesting saphenous veins for use in coronary bypass operations. The retractor includes a handle, a retractor blade member including first and second limbs which define a view area axis, and a light source coupled to the retractor blade member for directing light away from the handle and away from the view area. The retractor may be inserted into a surgical wound to illuminate the surgical field. In use, the surgical retractor may be manipulated by a physician and can be used to expose sections of the vein and to facilitate blunt dissection along the length of the vein.

Abstract: A stylized insulator and heating device for an electrically heated container. The heating device is adapted for positioning about the container. The insulator comprises a conformable and stylized body, which is removable attached to the heating unit and which removably covers at least the top of the container. The present invention increases the efficiency of the heated container by retaining the heat emitted thereby while still allowing access to the container.

Abstract: A transparent curved surface is illuminated and view along an orthogonal axis to generate a cross-section image of the subject surface. This image is processed to extract the first and second surfaces which are then mathematically characterized and displayed to a user.