Abstract: A surgical stapler comprising at least one cam having a cam surface, an arrangement for actuating the cam for a longitudinal firing movement of the cam surface, a cartridge having a plurality of staple drive members driven by the longitudinal movement of the cam surface, and a plurality of surgical staples respectively associated with the staple drive members for being fired by the longitudinal movement of the cam surface. In one embodiment of the present invention, the staple drive members include at least a pair of alternating first and second staple drive members, the first staple drive member including a laterally spaced pair of staple driving surfaces, the second staple drive member including a single staple driving surface. The first and second staple drive members are disposed such that the staple driving surfaces thereof are arranged in laterally spaced three rows.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a microelectronic component having metallic features on a polyimide layer, the metallic features being spaced from one another by gaps, at least some of which gaps have widths in a range from about one micron to about 500 microns, corrosion protection is provided by plating those features by electroless deposition of a nickel-phosphorus alloy forming a layer having a thickness in a range from about 200 .ANG. to about 3000 .ANG., at a rate of about 100 .ANG. per minute, in an aqueous plating bath comprising nickel sulfate hexahydrate in an amount of about 5.5 grams per liter, sodium hypophosphite in an amount of about six grams per liter, boric acid in an amount of about 30 grams per liter, sodium citrate in an amount of about 45 grams per liter, lead acetate in an amount of about one part per million by weight of lead, and a surfactant in an amount of about 0.1 grams per liter. The bath has a temperature of about 72.degree. C. and a pH of about 8.1.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides an in situ process of simultaneously detecting a specific predetermined nucleic acid sequence and a specific predetermined cellular antigen in the same cell. In accordance with that process, the antigen is labeled with a biotin- or DNP-tagged antibody that specifically immunoreacts with the antigen, the specific nucleic acid sequences in the cell are amplified, the amplified nucleic acid sequences are labeled with a fluorescently-tagged nucleic acid probe that specifically hybridizes to the amplified nucleic acid sequences, and the labeled nucleic acid sequences and labeled cellular antigen are detected.

Abstract: The field of this invention is the detection and isolation of specific amplified DNA sequences by flow cytometry. More particularly, this invention relates to the detection of these specific amplified DNA sequences in cells so as to allow quantitation of viral burden of patients infected with a virus. The method is particularly adapted to detection of HIV-1 proviral DNA sequences and the assessment of activity of the virus in a cell.

Abstract: An AC load switching system predicts when a zero voltage cross-over condition will exist for purposes of switching an AC load to minimize inrush currents. Prediction is carried out by characterizing the switching devices, which preferably are electromechanical in nature, and determining closure and bounce delays associated with each type of switching device. The system includes a processor, which could be a programmed microprocessor. The processor stores characterization parameters for the load switching elements including closure delay time as well as bounce time intervals. The processor energizes a switching element to close same at a time during the AC line cycle such that when the delay interval has passed and one half of the bounce interval has passed, the line voltage will be at a cross-over or zero voltage condition thereby resulting in minimal inrush current when the contacts have completely closed.

Abstract: An antenna-mounting structure is disclosed for mounting an antenna to a vertical wall or on a sloped, peaked, or horizontal roof. A primary strut, which is tubular, has a straight, upper portion, a straight, intermediate portion, and a straight, lower portion. The upper portion has an outer, cylindrical surface, circular in cross-section, and is bent at an upper juncture between the upper and intermediate portions and at a lower juncture between the intermediate and lower portions. The upper and intermediate portions generally define an obtuse angle and the intermediate and lower portions generally define an acute angle.

Abstract: In a drywall corner-trimming assembly, a splice is employed with two corner-trimming members, which approximate each other at one end of each member. Each member has a central portion and two flanged portions. With the splice straddling the members, a portion of one expansive surface of the splice faces the interior surface of the central portion of each member, which portion is located where the splice has at least one of the perforations. An adhesive layer is interposed between the same one of the expansive surfaces of the splice and the interior surfaces of the central portions of the members and is ventilated by the perforations.

Abstract: A reloadable film canister includes a light-tight enclosure with an aperture for dispensing film therethrough. A spool of film may be loaded into the enclosure, and may be removed when the film is dispensed. In one embodiment of the invention, an encoder (field modulating) disk is included as part of the canister. In another embodiment the encoder disk is affixable to the film spool and loadable with the film spool into the canister. The spool is mountable in the enclosure for rotation therein and for dispensing, at each step of a stepper motor, a predetermined length of film corresponding to the motor's step size. The encoder disk has a plurality of uniformly-spaced, peripherally-arranged segments (elements) detectable by an external detector (sensor), the detector and the stepper motor operating under control of a microprocessor.

Abstract: A method for forming a liner in a closure for a container includes forming a plastic closure cap having a circular top wall portion and a depending annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion, and depositing a quantity of moldable liner forming plastic material in the cap. A liner forming assembly which has a liner tip and a liner sleeve, the liner tip being axially movable relative to said liner sleeve, and the liner sleeve defining a plurality of circumferentially located, radially oriented venting channels positioned on an outer surface thereof, is advanced into the cap to engage the sleeve with the cap, adjacent to the venting channels, to define a liner space. The liner tip is advanced into the cap, relative to the liner sleeve, to compress a liner forming material to form the liner while restraining the flow of moldable plastic between the sleeve and the cap, and while venting gas out of the liner space through the venting channels.

Abstract: In a shopping cart comprising a wheeled chassis, a handle structure, and a basket fastened to the wheeled chassis and to the handle structure, the basket comprises a front panel molded from a plastic material and two side panels molded therefrom. Each of the front and side panels has a generally uniform lattice of hexagonal structures, each bordering a similarly shaped region, at least most of those regions being hexagonal apertures. An advertising card covering a portion of a selected panel is fastened to the selected panel by fasteners pressed into holes in plugs pressed tightly into associated ones of the hexagonal apertures or by fasteners pressed into holes in closed regions defined by the generally uniform lattice. The fasteners have barbed, threaded, or bifurcated shanks.

Abstract: This invention relates to genetically engineered eukaryotic organisms, such as yeast, that are made capable of detecting the expression of heterologous ion channels. These organisms include a potassium transport defective phenotype eukaryotic organism transformed with DNA that suppresses the potassium transport defective phenotype in the organism. A potassium transport gene is set out in Sequence Id. No. 1. This genetically engineered organism can be used to screen for new herbicides or drugs.

Abstract: A parametric cost estimating model, which can be software-based, provides a capability for inputting specific labor rates and burdening or overhead information for a given installation. Other inputs are project-specific depending on whether a hardware or a software system is being estimated. The process and model provide estimating information as to costs to develop and produce specific hardware or software systems and also provide a split as to labor and material costs for such systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid flow arrangement where the effects of high order acoustic modes are suppressed in ultrasonic flow measurement. In one embodiment, ultrasonic transducers are arranged in a duct configured to carry a fluid. Ultrasonic signals between the transducers travel in a plurality of high order modes having velocities slower than a fundamental mode whose time of flight is desired to determine with accuracy. A measurement portion between the transducers is adapted to suppress the propagation of the non-fundamental modes.

Abstract: A closure is provided for the opening to a container interior. The closure includes a body for mounting to the container at the opening. The body defines a dispensing passage for communicating between the container exterior and interior. The body also defines a recess, and the closure includes a lid movable between a closed position covering the dispensing passage and an open position wherein the lid is retracted into the recess in a storage orientation permitting the dispensing of the container contents.

Abstract: A smoke detector incorporates a porous plastic material which carries a hydrophilic agent alone or in combination with a surfactant which can be sprayed or deposited onto structural elements of the detector. The detector can include a molded removable plastic element that carries a hydrophilic agent. The element can be arranged to surround a light beam injected into a sensing region of a photoelectric detector.

Abstract: A front squeeze trigger discharge assembly for use with a fire extinguisher having a pressurized extinguishing medium therein includes a housing defining a flow chamber. The housing has a front portion and a rear portion configured to rest in the hand of a user, and a pivotable trigger handle mounted to the housing and positioned at the front portion thereof. The pivotable trigger handle is configured for gripping by a user's fingers. The handle includes a pivot for rotating the handle relative to the housing between a first position and a second position toward the housing for discharging the extinguishing medium from the extinguisher. The handle includes a discharge nozzle positioned on the front of the housing and a discharge valve assembly operably connected to said trigger handle for providing a flow path between the container and the discharge nozzle. The trigger handle is pivotable from the first position to the discharge position inward of the housing by gripping the handle and pulling thereon, i.e.

Abstract: An improved molded structure is provided in the form of a container closure having a base and lid. A resilient elbow connects an extension arm to the lid. A spring link, which includes a first leg, a second leg, and a resilient second elbow connecting the legs, extends between the closure base and lid. A first film hinge connects the link first leg with the extension arm. A second film hinge connects the link second leg with the lid. A third film hinge connects the lid and base. A special panel can be connected by another hinge to the base or lid which includes a first engaging structure. The panel includes a second engaging structure for effecting a snap-fit engagement with the first engaging structure. The closure can be molded as a unitary structure with the panel in a first position, and subsequently the panel can be pivoted about the hinge to a second position with the first and second engaging structures in snap-fit engagement.

Abstract: A promotional closure for use with an associated container includes a plastic closure cap having an inwardly recessed, circular top wall portion defining a compartment and a depending annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion. A circumferential lip formed in the closure cap generally at about a periphery of the compartment, defines a circumferential channel-like recess adjacent to the compartment. The closure further includes a removable, circular cover member adapted to cover the compartment by insertion into the circumferential recess. The cover has a pair of circumferentially opposed tab-like, releasable engaging members which are adapted to be received in the circumferential recess to retain the cover in place in the cap over the compartment.

Abstract: A mailbox insert structure positionable within a mailbox for aiding in the removal of mail from the mailbox, having a floor portion, a back wall portion, a pair of opposite side wall portions, generally open front and top portions, a finger engagement portion positioned near the front of the floor portion and which is engagable for pulling the insert structure outwardly through the mailbox door opening so that mail can be removed from the insert structure through the open front and top portions of the insert, retainers positioned proximate the rear portion of the insert structure. A forwardly extending portion of the floor portion extends forwardly from the side walls, and includes angled side portions which abut the edges of the mailbox door for directing the insert structure outwardly through the mailbox door.

Abstract: A fire detection system provides multiple levels of signal processing so as to minimize the effects of noise from various sources. In a first level of processing any DC bias in signals received from detectors is removed. In a second level of processing, signal values from current sample times for a given detector are compared to one or more prior sample values from that detector for purposes of removing large transient pulses due to dust particles and the like. In a third level of processing, high frequency noise, perhaps from electrical sources, is filtered from the representation of the signal. Finally, the fully processed signal value is compared to one or more threshold values so as to make a determination as to the presence or absence of a pre-alarm or a fire condition.