Abstract: The invention relates to a hermaphrodite optical connector having two identical connector elements, each connector element comprising a housing (14) provided with a connection face (12) having optical conductor terminations (18) which occupy positions in the connection face that are symmetrical about a hermaphrodite axis contained in the connection face, and means for mechanical connection and positioning of the two connector elements, which means comprise n holes (24, 26, 28) formed in the connection face and n studs (20, 22, 30) projecting therefrom, a hole of one connector element being suitable for receiving the associated stud of the other connector element, and n being greater than one. Each connection hole (24, 26, 28) of a connector element is symmetrical with a connection stud (20, 22, 30) of the same connector element about the hermaphrodite axis (X-X′).

Abstract: A source wire having a radioactive source at its distal tip is used to treat tissue at a target site within a patient's body by localized in vivo radiation. The source wire is advanced to the target site along the intravascular system of the patient's body from a point external to the body. The source wire is a solid lead of substantially uniform thickness along its entire length, composed of nickel-titanium alloy (nitinol). Alternatively, the wire may be a cable composed of multiple strands of the alloy of substantially uniform thickness throughout the entire length of each strand. The alloy has desired characteristics including flexibility, springiness, slipperiness, mechanical strength and shape memory retention, and the source wire is imparted with certain stressed and unstressed states that depend on flexation of the wire and a prescribed transition temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microstrip antenna for transmitting and receiving waves of wave length &lgr;. It comprises a first insulating plate and a first metallization effected on a face of said plate in order to form a ground plane; a second insulating plate and at least one second metallization effected on a face of said second plate and presenting dimensions smaller than those of the first metallization; at least one feedline connected to said first and second metallization; and spacer means fastened with the two plates in order to maintain the two plates in a predetermined relative position so that the two metallizations face each other and the second metallization is opposite the first.

Abstract: A method for controlling a gushing hydrocarbon production well is disclosed which utilizes a variable aperture outlet choke and a control system to dampen and minimize the effect of liquid and gas plugs flowing through the system.

Abstract: In a discharge reactor with a low-current gas discharge, an inlet gas made of a CH4—CO2 gas mixture is converted into a synthesis gas having an H2—CO gas mixture which has a higher energy content than the inlet gas. For a predeterminable synthesis gas volume ratio R=H2/CO, the requisite CO2 proportion in the inlet gas can be derived from a function curve (f) or calculated according to V=−4.76·R3+37.57·R2−99.13·R+105.39.

Abstract: A contact element support for a smart card reader having a card support surface, a plurality of chambers formed in the contact element support in the area of the card support surface, contact elements forming a snap-in to co-operate with the contact element support in an operative or inserted position, an abutment surface provided at the contact element support for co-operation with the snap-in device such that shortly before reaching the end position a snap-in tongue formed by the snap-in device snaps into a snap-in opening of the contact element support so that the contact element is fixedly held in its inserted operative position.

Abstract: A method of cracking a hydrocarbon composition having a normal boiling range beginning at a temperature of at least about 200° C., includes the steps of providing the hydrocarbon composition in a reactor including a first electrode mechanism, a second electrode mechanism and at least one layer of a normally solid dielectric material positioned between the first and the second electrode mechanisms. The hydrocarbon composition within the reactor is exposed to a dielectric barrier discharge, and the dielectric barrier discharge is controlled to convert the hydrocarbon composition into products having normal boiling points of below about 200° C.

Abstract: A connector comprising a contact element support 12 and a plurality of contact elements 20, wherein said contact element support 12 comprises a first, e.g. upper surface provided with ribs 16 having walls 26 which define spaces 15 and a second, e.g. lower surface opposite said first surface and provided with recesses 25, and wherein each of said contact elements 20 comprises claws 44 adapted to cooperate with said walls 26 defining said spaces 15 and further comprises a mounting portion 30 adapted to cooperate with said recesses 25 provided in said second surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of optical recording materials, in particular, fluorescent compounds and matrices suitable for use in optical memory systems, including three dimensional optical memory systems for READ ONLY MEMORY (ROM). In particular, nonfluorescent Rhodamine B lactams are photochemically transformed into fluorescent Rhodamine B derivatives.

Abstract: A shirt having a longitudinally extending body with a front and a back, a collar at a top end of the body, sleeves projecting from sides of the body, and buttons on the front of the body, is folded by first orienting the shirt flat with the body and arms generally coplanar and then folding side parts of the body inward along longitudinal fold lines and folding the sleeves down to lie on the folded-in side parts. Then bottom part of the body is folded up against the back of the body along a transverse fold line such that a portion of the bottom part projects upward past the collar and some of the front buttons are positioned on the back of the folded-up bottom part. The projecting portion of the bottom part is then tucked between the folded-in side parts and the back of the body to impart to the shirt a generally rectangular shape.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a coating of an insulation lacquer to a moving surface of a strip comprises a rotatable roller whose surface defines a multiplicity of cells and a reservoir containing a bath of heated organic/inorganic insulating lacquer in which a part of the roller surface is immersed when rotating. Insulating lacquer enters the cells of the roller surface and excess lacquer is wiped from the roller surface. A rotatable applicator roll having a substantially plain surface free of grooves or other indentations is rotated with its surface in contact with the surface of the lacquer carrying roller whereby lacquer present in the cells of the roller is transferred to the surface of the applicator roll. The surface to be coated is moved continuously past and in contact with the roll surface to apply a uniform coating of lacquer to that surface. The strip is preferably a strip of non-oriented electrical steel.

Abstract: A surgical endoscopic instrument for operating on anatomical tissue includes a rigid barrel, a shaft extending through the barrel and an offset endoscope mounted on the shaft. The endoscope is offset from the longitudinal axis of the shaft by a transverse connecting member, thereby permitting the endoscope viewing end to move through an arcuate path outside the diametrical dimension of the barrel. During insertion of the instrument through a portal or the like, the offset endoscope can be positioned within a diametrical dimension of the surgical instrument, either by rotating the shaft or by drawing the shaft and the endoscope viewing end into the barrel in an axial manner. The offset endoscope may be aimed to provide an oblique field of view of a surgical procedure and may include an articulable ball joint having a solid state imaging sensor and light source; the ball joint imaging sensor aim is preferably articulable or controllable from the instrument proximal end using control members (e.g.

Abstract: An electrical plug connector includes two separate modules, one of which is an electrical contact module that plugs into the housing, and the other of which is a printed circuit board that is also secured in the housing upon insertion, the contacts of the electrical contact module being arranged to engage terminals of the circuit board upon insertion of the respective modules into the connector housing. The plug connector housing includes a pair of latch arms and a guide slot, the contact module and the circuit board each being arranged to be guided by the guide slot during insertion into the housing, and to capture one of the latch arms upon completion of insertion. To enable the plug connector to be keyed to a specific receptacle, the plug also includes polarization keys, and the receptacle includes corresponding slots whose dimensions and configuration or position serve to key the plug to the receptacle.

Abstract: A multifunctional device for use in an endoscopically performed operative procedure of the type where a narrow portal is established through the skin to provide access to an operative site and the multifunctional device is introduced to the operative site through the narrow portal. The multifunctional device is formed of an absorbent material, preferably expandable, having a substantially rigid dry state prior to introduction to the operative site and a soft, flexible wet state after absorbing fluids. The absorbent material can be formed with a spine therein of either a continuous or a discontinuous, segmented construction, and the spine can be branched and tubular or solid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for accurately positioning the ends of optical fibers in a bundle. The comprises an elongate one-piece solid body in which a slot is formed that passes right through the body in a length direction, the section of said slot in planes perpendicular to the length direction being a closed curve having a first side and a second side that extend substantially parallel to each other, at least one of said sides being of undulating shape, being constituted by alternating peaks and troughs, the space defined by a trough and the facing portion of the other side being suitable for receiving an optical fiber with little clearance, the spaces corresponding to peaks being unsuitable for receiving respective fibers.

Abstract: A trench is formed in a semiconductor substrate using a mask. The trench is filled with electrode material, a part of which is removed; alternatively, the trench is partially filled with the electrode material. The side walls of the trench are doped with the mask still in place. After the side walls are doped, the remainder of the trench is filled. The result is a trench gated power device such as a MOSFET, MESFET or IGBT.

Abstract: A low adhesion semiconductive dielectric shield for use with cross-linked polyethylene, ethylene-propylene rubber or ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM rubber) insulation. The dielectric shield comprises a base polymer which is a copolymer of ethylene with a mono-unsaturated ester; a conductive filler in an amount sufficient to give an electrical resistivity below 550 ohms-meter and as an adhesion adjusting device an ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene alkyl acrylate or ethylene alkyl methacrylate copolymer having a molecular weight above 20,000 daltons and a polydispersity greater than 2.5 wherein the adhesion between the insulation and the semiconductive shield is between about 3-26 lbs per ½ inch.

Abstract: A plastic container of an essentially rectangular shape comprises a bottom, upright side walls connecting to the bottom and having essentially equal thicknesses, and an outward beaded top edge on which the edge of a cover which closes the container can be fixed. Each upright side wall is divided in the vertical direction of the container into two interconnecting side wall parts, the lower side wall part being made curved towards the inside of the container (concave), and the upper side wall part being made curved towards the outside of the container (convex), and the upper and lower side wall parts being connected to each other by an intermediate part. This produces a very stable container, which is suitable for storage and transportation of sensitive powdered materials.

Abstract: A safety penetrating instrument for penetrating an anatomical wall or a body lumen comprises an elongated penetrating member having proximal and distal ends. The distal end of the elongated penetrating member has a sharp or blunt tip for piercing the anatomical wall or penetrating the body lumen. A covering for the tip comprises an expandible sponge material having a first state with a first hardness and a second state with a second hardness less than the first hardness. Hydrating the covering material causes it to transition from the first hardness state to the second hardness state so that when the distal end of the elongated penetrating member passes from a position outside the anatomical wall or body lumen to a position inside the anatomical wall or lumen, the covering transitions from the first state to the second state to form a relatively soft protective member for the sharp or blunt tip.

Abstract: A cyclone separator for separating a solid particulate from the gas or liquid medium is described. The separator is provided with a housing (H), an outlet (4) for discharging the solid particulate separated from the medium, a pipe (13) for evacuating the clean fluid from the housing (H) and a swirling means capable of imparting vortical motion to the medium. The swirling means is formed with a plurality of slit-like openings (16) arranged on the periphery thereof.