Abstract: A surgically implantable and sealable delivery device that upon contact of its contents via an interface window or port therein with an organ or tissue exposes a therapeutic agent to the organ or tissue surface, allowing a controlled, selective and unidirectional diffusion of the agent into the tissue or organ. The device protects adjacent organs or tissue structures from unnecessary high levels of the delivered agent. Novel methods to deliver chemotherapeutics or bioactive agents to mammalian organs or tissues through a surgically implanted device by the way of a selective and protected diffusion mechanism are disclosed as well as method to achieve the sealing properties of the device.

Abstract: An implantation device having a reservoir for holding a solid or semisolid implant and a carrier fluid, wherein the reservoir includes a cannula. The cannula has a tip end and a delivery opening therein both shaped and dimensioned to suit the application. For example, an implant (such as a retinal cell graft) and suitable carrier fluid (such as an aqueous hyaluronic acid solution) can be expressed from the opening into the subretinal space of a recipient eye, provided the cannula is of sufficient length that the tip end can reach the subretinal space while the remainder of the fluid reservoir is external of the eye. Expression of the carrier fluid from the reservoir via the delivery opening expels the implant through the delivery opening. An electromechanically driven plunger apparatus with operator controls is provided in a preferred embodiment.

Abstract: A chip has a power bus, a first metal layer and a plurality of internal electronic circuits. The first metal layer has a plurality of power lines which are substantially parallel and electrically connected to the power bus in parallel for delivering electrical power to the internal electronic circuits. A plurality of metal lines of a second metal layer of the chip are configured by an automatic place and route (APR) process according to the internal electronic circuits, and at least one sparse area is formed on the second metal layer. Later, at least one supply-power area is configured in the sparse area, and is electrically connected to the power bus.

Abstract: A fibre optic cable includes a core of primary coated optical fibres embedded in an inner layer of acrylate material, having sufficient tensile strength when cured to lock at least the outermost fibres in place and still allow the fibres to be easily broken out of the assembly for termination and splicing purposes. The hardness of the acrylate layer is such that at least the outermost fibres of the bundle are restricted from moving axially relative to the inner layer. The inner layer is then surrounded by a loose thin jacket formed from a mixture of high density polyethylene having a Shore hardness greater than or equal to 60 and a generally uniformly distributed slip agent, including a polyether modified poly (dimethylsiloxane) material such as polyether modified hydroxy functional poly (dimethylsiloxane) material. The mixture from which the outer layer is formed is compacted by means of heat and pressure.

Abstract: A corkscrew comprising a body and a handle, the body including a socket adapted to receive the neck of a bottle sealed by a cork, an actuation lever, an axially rotatable worm spiral mounted on a carriage within the body and arranged to rotate and penetrate the cork as the lever is lowered, the spiral being further arranged to cease rotation as the lever is raised to withdraw the cork from the bottle, the corkscrew being further arranged to discharge the cork from the screw by lowering and raising the lever after the neck of the bottle has been removed from the socket.

Abstract: A corkscrew comprising a body and a handle, the body including a socket adapted to receive the neck of a bottle sealed by a cork, an actuation lever, an axially rotatable worm spiral mounted on a carriage within the body and arranged to rotate and penetrate the cork as the lever is lowered, the spiral being further arranged to cease rotation as the lever is raised to withdraw the cork from the bottle, the corkscrew being further arranged to discharge the cork from the screw by lowering and raising the lever after the neck of the bottle has been removed from the socket.

Abstract: A three-axis antenna chip includes a cross-shaped core made of a magnetic substance. The core includes an X-axis core piece and a Y-axis core piece. The core pieces are laid on top of each other such that the core pieces extend perpendicular to each other. An X-axis coil portion is provided about the X-axis core piece, and a Y-axis coil portion is provided about the Y-axis core piece. A Z-axis coil portion is provided about a Z-axis that is perpendicular to the X-axis core piece and the Y-axis core piece. The three-axis antenna chip thus constructed is advantageous in reducing the size.

Abstract: A substance delivery device includes a combustible paperboard strip and at least one substance toxic to insects and a perfume. The delivery device can take the form of a coil and includes a flexible backing sheet for supporting the combustible paperboard strip. The flexible backing sheet is not capable of combustion. Additionally, the material of the paperboard strip can include a combustion promoter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a power supply for measuring the line impedance of an underground cable, which includes an input terminal section having a plurality of input terminals, a plurality of autotransformers, a transformer adjustment tap, a plurality of 3rd-harmonics cancellation transformers, and an output terminal section having a plurality of output terminals. The autotransformers are connected respectively to the input terminals. The transformer adjustment tap is connected to all of the autotransformers. The 3rd-harmonics cancellation transformers are connected respectively to the autotransformers. The output terminals are connected respectively to the 3rd-harmonics cancellation transformers.

Abstract: A regular array and method of forming a substantially regular array of microscopic structures on a surface of a sample is described. A device of the present invention comprises a microscopic layer of at least one first material on a substrate of a second material, wherein the microscopic layer is sufficiently thin that stress fields at the interface of the microscopic layer and the substrate cause formation of separated regions of the first material on the substrate. The microscopic layer on the sample is irradiated by means of a particle beam at an acute angle to influence the direction of alignment of the separated regions and/or the relative position of adjacent the separated regions.

Abstract: Surgical instruments, surgical techniques, grafts, cell and tissue isolation techniques, and a method for transplanting retinal cells, including photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroidea within their normal configuration, or all three tissues in a co-transplantation procedure are provided.

Abstract: A high-speed printer is provided. The printer includes a media assembly for supporting a media roll that supplies the sheet of media and also for controlling a flow rate of the sheet of media through the printer. The sheet of media is received by the feedback control system, which is used to detect a slack position of the sheet of media. The slack position is used by the media assembly to determine a flow rate of the sheet of media through the printer. In addition, the printer also includes a roller system for receiving the sheet of material from the feedback control system and to feed the sheet of media to a print carriage.

Abstract: A breathing circuit comprising first and second conduits, wherein at least one of the conduits is a non-conventional conduit. In an embodiment, a multilumen unilimb breathing circuit has first and second conduits, wherein when the proximal ends of said first and second conduits are each connected to an inlet and outlet fitting, respectively, movement of the distal end of the first conduit causes a corresponding movement of the distal end of the second conduit. In an embodiment, at least one of said conduits is coiled. In another embodiment, a coiled conduit is contained within an outer flexible conduit that is axially extendable and compressible, forming a unilimb multilumen respiratory circuit. The outer flexible conduit may be pleated to provide for non-rebounding axial extension and contraction. The multilumen respiratory circuit can provide a variable rebreathing volume.

Abstract: An electrically conductive confined space ventilation conduit formed of a substantially rigid non-metallic conductive material, such as plastic, and a related process for ventilating an enclosure accessed by a manhole or other port. In one embodiment, the conduit has a pair of outer cylindrical sections and a central section having a cross-sectional shape of a crescent or a segment of a circle where it passes through a port to provide a minimum of obstruction for men and equipment passing through the port. Intermediate sections of varying cross-section connect the central section to the cylindrical outer sections so that the outer sections are offset from the axis of the manhole. The central section is preferably configured to obstruct no more than about 10 percent of a standard manhole opening, while causing either no air flow rate reduction, or a reduction of no more than about 10 percent as compared to the flow rate through a cylindrical conduit similar to said outer sections.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and methods for coiling and uncoiling a metal strip in which the angular position of a coiler is measured and an actuator is provided for a moveable roll, the moveable roll position being varied as a function of the coiler. The present invention aims to avoid tension variations in the metal which cause width and thickness variations in rolling operations for instance.

Abstract: An optical fibre cable (1) for installation in a duct (51) by means of fluid flow is described. The cable (1) has a signal transmitting portion comprising a plurality of elongate, flexible optical fibres, surrounded by a braided covering (10) formed from textile yarns (9). The apparatus (50) for installing the cable includes an air compressor (52) for supplying a blowing head (53) with a conditioned air supply substantially free of static electricity or moisture. The blowing head (53) includes drive wheels (not shown), the speed of rotation of which (and hence the speed of installation of the fibre cable (1), (101) is adjusted by means of s control unit (54) powered by power supply (55). The fibre cable (1), (101) is fed from a fibre pan (56) over guide (57) to the blowing head (53), which is fed with an air supply from compressor (52) which is regulated by dispenser (58).

Abstract: An optical fibre cable (1) for installation in a duct by means of fluid flow is described. The cable (1) has a signal transmitting portion comprising a plurality of elongate, flexible optical fibres, surrounded by a braided covering (10) formed from textile yarns (9).

Abstract: A system and method for dispatcher free vehicle allocation. A client requesting taxi service calls a taxi dispatch center using a cellular phone equipped with a location identification device. The location identification device provides the current location information to the dispatch center. The taxi dispatch center keeps track of available taxis and their locations and stores them in a database. After determining the client location data, a processor searches the available taxis database for a taxi whose location matches the client's location. The client location data is converted to an address and sent to the assigned taxi. The address is displayed on a mobile data terminal in the taxi.

Abstract: A gas cylinder cart comprises a frame defining at least one bay shaped to receive a cylinder, a control panel removably connected to the frame, and at least one gas control device mounted on the control panel. A method of reconfiguring the gas cylinder cart comprises disconnecting a first control panel from the frame and removably connecting a second control panel to the frame, wherein the first and second control panels comprise a first and second configuration of gas control devices arranged thereon respectively. Interchangeable control panels for a gas cylinder cart, and a new cart frame for use therewith are disclosed.