Abstract: This invention relates to implants useful as stents for opening or strengthening biological conduits, or as grafts or conduits for replacing or connecting portions of biological tissues having a lumen. Accordingly, the implants of this invention may be applied in portions of the peripheral and coronary vascular system, biliary, urinary, esophageal, digestive, ocular, tracheal, bronchial, reproductive, and neural systems. The implant comprises a segment of bone having a lumen through at least a part thereof, and wherein at least a portion of the implant is demineralized so as to be pliable.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns a method for therapeuticaly treating a patient afflicted with autoimmune disorders or disease. The subject method comprises admninistering to a patient an antibody composition that is capable of binding to and inhibiting self-reactive pathogenic anti-bodies present within the patient. Specifically exemplified is a method for treating systemic lupus erythematosis wherein the antibody composition administered to the patient comprises purified anti-DNA anti-idiotypic antibodies. The subject invention further concerns a method for purifying from pooled human gamma globulin preparations anti-idiotype antibodies useful in the present therapeutic method. The present invention further concerns a purified antibody composition useful in the present therapeutic method.

Abstract: The invention comprises a series of adenovirus-based vectors having deletions in the E1 and/or E3 regions, and also insertions of pBR322 sequences, which can be used to deliver nucleic acid inserts into host cells, tissues or organisms that then can express the insert. The invention includes the use of the vectors in introducing genes into cells, in making vaccines and in gene therapy.

Abstract: The invention claims a class of adenovirus vectors for delivering recombinases to a large number of cells of different origins, and methods for regulating the expression of a gene in transfected mammalian cells in culture and in cells of transgenic animals, comprising infecting said cells with an Ad vector encoding a recombinase whose target site is present at or adjacent to the gene, wherein the action of the recombinase regulates the expression of said gene.

Abstract: A dowel (300) is provided by obtaining a plug from the shaft (diaphysis) of various long bones. The dowel (300) has an intra-medullary canal (30) which can be packed with any of a variety of osteogenic materials. The dowel (300) has a cortical surface (10) into which an instrument attachment hole (15) may be machined and onto which an alignment mark (16) may be inscribed for proper orientation of the intra-medullary canal (30) or a driver slot (56) which may be used to assist in further machining of the bone dowel (300). The dowel (300) ha a chamfered insertion end and has improved biomechanical and vertebral fusion induction properties as compared to standard dowels known in the art. A threaded (31) or grooved (32) dowel (300) and an apparatus (400) for efficient production thereof are also provided.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel unitary bone implant having at least one rigid, mineralized bone segment, which may be machined to include threads, grooves, a driver head, a recess or a symmetric or asymmetric shape, and a flexible, demineralized segment, which may also be machined to any desired shape prior to demineralization, or after demineralization. The implant of this invention has wide orthopedic applicability, including for repair or replacement of ligaments, tendons and joints.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved helper-dependent vector system for production of high capacity adenoviral cloning vectors. The invention makes use of the DNA size packaging constraints imposed on a pIX-defective Ad virion that prevent such virions from packaging DNA larger than approximately 35 kb. This constraint can be used to develop helper viruses that do not package their DNA. In one embodiment, the invention combines this methodology with the Cre-loxP helper-dependent system to decrease the quantity of contaminating helper virus in vector preparations. In another embodiment the invention is used for vector growth.

Abstract: An interference screw is provided by machining a fragment of autograft or allograft cortical bone from a donor or from a recipient's amputated bone. The interference screw has a cortical surface into which a self-tapping thread is machined. The interference screw has a machined pointed, rounded or flush end and an opposite machined end which mates with a drive means, and has advantages over conventional interference screws known in the art in that subsequent to implantation, no residual hardware that must later be removed remains at the implant site.

Abstract: A lint filter having a succession of mesh screens which are arranged in parallel in a tank which receives lint-containing water from a laundry facility. The mesh screens are positioned so that the lint-containing water must pass through the screens in order to leave the tank. The lint-containing water is sprayed evenly on one side of the tank and proceeds across the tank toward the mesh screens. The mesh screens are angled so that lint and particles contained in the lint-containing water are allowed to fall to the bottom of the tank. Multiple exits allow lint-filtered water to leave the lint filter.

Abstract: An oil absorption filter for extracting free oil from the used wash water of a laundry has platforms which extend in parallel and laterally across a tank, but do not reach across the total length of the tank so as to provide an avenue of fluid flow between the platforms.. Multiple entrances are provided into the tank to resulting in a slow flow of used wash water into the tank so as to encourage free oil to separate from the used wash water. Hydrophobic socks are vertically arranged in rows and placed through holes in the platforms. A partitioned pumping chamber is provided with an entrance proximate to the bottom of the tank which is the only avenue of entry for oil-filtered water to access the pumping chamber. A sump pump connected electrically connected to a level float pumps the oil filtered water out of the pumping chamber and out of the oil filter.