Abstract: A new sanitary filter element is described which provides a structure which cannot harbor contaminants and is readily and thoroughly cleaned as needed. The new device utilizes a uniquely configured adhesive component and membrane and tricot channel sheets which are significantly trimmed in size following adhesive curing. Such configuration eliminates structures within the filter where bacterial and other contamination, or materials which support such contaminants, can accumulate. In addition, a novel cage structure provides turbulent fluid flow while having improved strength and furnishes a site for permanent identification indicia. Finally, an improved step in the manufacturing process, in which a temporary separation sheet is positioned between the membrane and the feed spacer, prevents the occurrence of random unwanted contact adhesions between the two before and during the curing of the adhesive bonding membranes and their adjacent tricot channeling sheets.

Abstract: A UV phototherapy apparatus has a base unit containing a UVB arc lamp and an output port for delivery of UVB radiation within a predetermined range. A flexible, elongate optical guide is connected to the output port at one end and to a handpiece at the opposite end. The handpiece is arranged to convert the round beam from the optical guide into a predetermined straight-edged shape such as a rectangular beam, and has an exit aperture of corresponding shape for delivering the shaped beam to a target area of a patient. A beam isolating assembly in the optical path isolates UVB radiation in the predetermined range from the lamp output, so that at least 90% of the radiation directed into the optical guide is in the predetermined range.

Abstract: A natural stone edging tile having a top portion and a generally perpendicular facing portion can be mounted on the forward edge of a countertop substrate and has a portion extending rearward of the forward edge that is approximately half as thick as the forward edge and the same thickness as conventional stone tiles that can be mounted rearward of the edging tile. The conventional tiles have a thickness that is approximately half as thick as a typical stone slab countertop, but to a person viewing the countertop, the entire appears to have the substantial thickness of a typical slab countertop because the forward edge of the edging tile has such a thickness.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing a pure gas for use medical procedures in which the gas is contaminated with other gases during the procedure, and then separating the contaminants and recovering and reusing the decontaminated gas. The method is most advantageously used in medical imaging processes, such as magnetic resonance image (MRI), where hyperpolarized image enhancing noble gases, notably He3 or Xe129, are used for image enhancement in brain and lung imaging, and in which the contaminants are normally the exhalant gases from the imaged patient. The contaminated gas is passed through a series of drying and purification steps to remove the exhalant gases and separate the gas. The purified gas is then recovered and stored for reuse. This system prevents the loss of significant amounts of the image enhancing gases, which is important since key gases such as He3 and Xe129 are rare and expensive, and (especially He3) permanently lost once vented.

Abstract: New macromolecular carriers for drugs and diagnostic agents are described that make use of the chemical attachment of new leashes to oligomeric backbone structures. The synthesis of these leashes and their facile creation, reaction and conjugation with chelators and ligands makes them ideal candidates for use in medicine, and especially diagnostics.

Abstract: A weight stack frame for supporting the weight stack of an exercise machine is designed for positioning alongside a seat and exercise device. The frame has spaced upper and lower struts, and front and rear upright struts extending between the front ends and the rear ends, respectively, of the upper and lower struts to form an enclosed frame. Each upright strut is inclined forwardly at a predetermined angle, and the frame can have a load transfer cam mounted either on the front or rear strut for transferring load to the exercise device alongside the frame.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for securing the upper terminal position of a liftable and lowerable object, comprising cable means having a hoist-side end and an object-side end; a stationary bracket having an aperture disposed in a substantially horizontal plane; a housing supported by the object-side end of the cable means and carrying the object, the housing having a lower portion and an upper portion, at least the upper portion being configured to pass through the aperture, a first opening at the top of the upper portion and a second opening at the bottom of the lower portion facilitating the passage of the cable means through the housing, and two oppositely located, elongated slots extending along at least parts of the upper portion; lever means located inside, and extending through a substantial portion of, the housing, the lever means being pivotably mounted in the lower portion of the housing and being provided with catch means and camming means, the lever means having a first limit position in which

Abstract: A cable branching apparatus for installation underwater has a circuit distribution unit with first and second ports connected to respective cables, and at least two additional, third and fourth ports. A switch assembly in the circuit distribution unit selectively connects the first port to the second port in a straight through arrangement, or the first and second ports to the third and fourth ports, respectively, in a branching configuration. At least two wet mateable underwater connectors each comprise a dummy unit and an active unit releasably secured to the dummy and connected to a respective one of the third and fourth ports. Branch cables can be selectively connected to one or both cables underwater simply by separating one or both dummy units from the active units, and connecting the active units to mating connector units at the end of branch cables, using an ROV.

Abstract: A predistortion circuit (102) includes a signal splitter (114), a diode network (118) and a signal combiner (116). The signal splitter (114) is splits an input signal into two portions. One of the signal portions is passed through the diode network (118) and combined with the other portion of the input signal in the signal combiner (116). The diode network (118) includes a plurality of diode circuits (204,206), each including two diode branches (208-214) coupled to an electrical ground (220). The resulting predistorted signal at the output (106) of the signal combiner is amplified, amplitude adjusted and injected into the nonlinear device (112). The input signal is predistorted such that distortion due to nonlinear characteristics of the nonlinear device (112) is reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus automatically analyzes and culls-out defective contactless smart cards. Analysis of smart cards may include RF ranging for both near and far ranges, card type decoding for sorting or encoding using a multi-protocol reader, full memory reading and writing, concave and convex card flexing, optical graphics verification of both sides of card, reading and verifying printed serial numbers, and matching encoded serial numbers with printed serial number. The apparatus also provides high speed encoding and initializing of contactless smart cards. Contactless cards moved through machine serially without belts and rollers. The testing and encoding sequence includes bending and flexing the smart cards followed by RF testing. Self-positioning capability provides accurate card positioning over RF antennas.

Abstract: Photoluminescent complexes of copper, silver, zinc, lithium or similar metals are described, being (bis)ligand, with two different ligands. A variety of ligands may be used, the larger ligand being of a size or shape such that a pair of such ligand are prevented by steric properties from forming a (bis)ligand complex with the metal. Preferred substituents may be alkyl, aryl or alkaryl hydrocarbons, or halogen, chalcogen, nitrogen or phosphorus moieties, or included heteroatoms. Formation of the (bis)ligand complex is accomplished by maintaining the molar ratios of reactants at that which is equivalent to the (bis)ligand complex composition. The complexes are useful as optical sensors for O2, NH3 and NOx, in dye sensitization for photovoltaic devices/solar cells, in producing visible TiO2 photosensitization and in H2 production from the photochemically splitting water. These heteroleptic complexes exhibit photoluminescence equal to or better than ruthenium homoleptic complexes.

Abstract: A portable mounting light unit with provision for unit-to-unit interconnection comprising a housing having a mounting surface, at least two insulation displacement connectors mounted at diametrically opposite portions of the housing adjacent to the mounting surface, a lamp assembly, a diffuser cover for attachment over the lamp assembly, and at least one fastener access for attaching the housing to the supporting structure. The insulation displacement connectors allow for unit-to-unit interconnection with the ability to custom fit each interconnecting cord.

Abstract: A method and composition for the removal of contaminants in a gas stream used in the contamination sensitive processes of photolithography and metrology are described. The synergistic effect of a combination of an electropositive metal component, a high silica zeolite, and a late transition metal compound effects removal or reduction of the contaminates in the gas which interfere with light transmittance to the ppb or ppt levels necessary for the gas to be suitable for these uses. The removal of neutral polar molecules, neutral polar aprotic molecules, protic and aprotic alkaline molecules, acidic polar species, and neutral non-polar aprotic molecules is accomplished with the claimed composition. Depending on the type of contaminant, the composition components are each varied from 10 to 80 parts by volume, with the total composition limited to 100 parts by volume.

Abstract: A mobile enclosure unit for containment of contaminants has a vertical, wheeled frame assembly having an open upper end and a lower wall. The frame assembly is adjustable in height so that the open upper end can be positioned in contact with a ceiling, allowing access for workers to work on or in the ceiling. A pliable cover sleeve surrounds the frame assembly from the upper end to the lower wall to form a chamber within the frame assembly having an open upper end to allow a worker in the chamber to access the ceiling area above the open end of the unit. An exhaust system is mounted in the frame inside the sleeve for drawing in air from the chamber, filtering debris from the air, and exhausting filtered air from the chamber.

Abstract: A multi-level game board apparatus has a plurality of transparent, planar game boards each having a plurality of marker seats arranged in a pattern for receiving game markers, and a plurality of support shaft assemblies extending at spaced intervals through the peripheral edges of the game boards to secure the game boards together and hold them apart at a predetermined vertical spacing during game play. The apparatus is movable between an upright, deployed position in which each support shaft assembly is in a vertically extended position holding the game boards apart, and a collapsed, storage position in which each support shaft assembly is collapsed downwardly between each adjacent pair of boards to allow the boards to move closer together into a more compact, storage configuration. A locking device releasably secures the boards together in the collapsed, storage position.