Abstract: Scrubber sterilization method and an apparatus which initially sterilize a gas scrubber with an initial cleaning with hydrogen peroxide, provide an iodine level of approximately 5 to 10 mg/liter in water which is sprayed into the scrubber to contact the effluent gas stream and kill biological growth, provide injection of more concentrated iodine in water in the event the iodine level in the system falls below a predetermined level, and load the filtrate material in the gas scrubber with iodine to provide an unfavorable surface for adherence of biological growth as well as a secondary sterilization means in the event that the liquid stream with iodine is stopped due to equipment or power failure.

Abstract: A handheld surgical instrument consists of a housing capable of being hand held and including a front end to which a surgical tool is mounted. The tool can be used for electrosurgery and includes a conduit for irrigating or evacuating an interior portion of the body of a patient. The instrument also includes a chamber for temporarily retaining irrigation fluid and from which the fluid can be supplied along the conduit to the body of the patient. Drive means mounted to the housing acts on the chamber to move fluid from the chamber along the conduit to the body of the patient. The instrument also includes a fluid supply for supplying irrigation fluid to the chamber. In operation, the drive means acts to alternately decrease and increase the volume of the chamber to alternately expel fluid from and draw fluid into it.

Abstract: A method for measuring thermally corrected leak rates in a pressurized pipeline system. The pipeline system is pressurized to at least two different pressures, and changes of volume of product required to maintain approximately constant pressure are measurized at each pressure. A temperature-compensated volume rate is computed.

Abstract: The present invention is a catheter having a guidewire lumen slidable sleeve. The lumen and sleeve have aligned apertures, which may be closed by moving the slidable sleeve. When the apertures are aligned, a guidewire may be loaded from the distal end of the catheter through the lumen. The guidewire is forced out of the lumen by a ramp in the lumen. The ramp is at the end of a removable core member, which provides enhanced shaft rigidity. The catheter may be converted from a "monorail" to an "over-the-wire" configuration by moving the slidable sleeve to close the aperture and advancing a replacement guidewire through the guidewire lumen past the now sealed aperture. A non-circular cross-section is used for the lumen, removable core member, and slidable sleeve, thereby maintaining orientation of the lumen and slidable sleeve apertures should the catheter undergo rotational flexing during use.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for immediate diagnosis of exudative vaginal yeast infections, using a sample of vaginal discharge, dying the yeast present in the discharge with a fluorescent dye specifically sensitive to yeast, and subjecting the dye to ultraviolet radiation to determine the level of visible fluorescence, with the level of fluorescence indicating the presence or absence of the high number of yeast associated with a vaginal infection.

Abstract: A method for selectively removing oxidized organometallic residues, oxidized organosilicon residues, native oxides, and damaged oxides created in plasma-etching through emersion of plasma-etched silicon wafers in a solution of anhydrous ammonium fluoride and a polyhydric alcohol, which is substantially free of hydrogen fluoride and water.

Abstract: The present invention is an "over-the-wire" catheter having a proximal adapter system which may be used to open a longitudinally closed guidewire lumen, thereby facilitating rapid removal of the catheter without a guidewire extension mechanism.

Abstract: A security grille (1) adapted to securely close off a window, but which may be manually released from within the building including the window while maintaining security preventing unauthorized access from the exterior of the building. The grille (1) is attached along one edge by hinges (2), or by a releasable mechanism, and is lockable in position by locking device (20) on an opposite edge. The locking device (20) may including locking bolts which protrude out through holes (21, 24 ) which engage holes (22, 25) within a surrounding frame (32). The grille (1) can comprise two portions (1a, 1b) joined at their mating edges by further hinges (23). The frame (32) is secured by bolt devices (26), or the like to the wall structure of the building surrounding the window to be protected.

Abstract: A system for coupling laser radiation at a high power to an optical fiber while dissipating heat from scattered laser and optical pump radiation, including an optical fiber, a protective ferrule surrounding a portion of the optical fiber extending from the input face of the optical fiber and welded to the fiber in the region of the input face and otherwise separated from the fiber by an air space, and a holder surrounding the ferrule to absorb scattered radiation and dissipate heat.