Abstract: The system disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,099 for deriving purified ice pieces and purified water from tap water is modified by providing a metal or thermally conductive heat flow path from an alternative refrigerant condenser to the ice collection bin. In one embodiment the size/shape of the heat flow path provides sufficient heat flow resistance to maintain a temperature gradient thereacross whereby the bottom of the bin is at approximately 32.degree. F. and the condensing rejection temperature is at least 60.degree. F. In another embodiment the alternative condenser is undersized relative to the primary condenser (used in the non-melting mode). In a further embodiment the second condenser is operated in a partially flooded condition during the ice-melting mode to reduce its effective condensing surface area.

Abstract: A syringe, particularly useful for surgery of the eye, includes first and second tubular members disposed in concentric relation, a chamber having a piston movable therein to define a first chamber portion on one side of the piston communicating with a proximal end of the first tubular member and a second chamber portion on the opposite side of the piston communicating with a proximal end of the second tubular member such that movement of the piston forces fluid, such as a cell-killing substance, from the first chamber portion through the first tubular member and simultaneously creates a suction at the distal end of the second tubular member, for example, evacuate any substance escaping from tissue into which the substance is injected.

Abstract: The efficiency of the system disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,099, wherein purified ice pieces and purified liquid water are derived from tap water, is improved by transferring heat from the tap water to the collected ice pieces. The transferred heat warms the ice pieces to decrease the energy required to melt the ice pieces and form the purified liquid water. The heat transfer also pre-chills the tap water to assist in forming the ice pieces.

Abstract: A football or other projectile is stabilized in flight by weighted material that responds to spinning of the football about its major axis by moving radially outward to become evenly distributed about that axis. In a preferred embodiment, two annular tubes, concentrically disposed about the major axis, encircle the ball at opposite sides of a plane containing the minor axis of the ball. The weighted material, in the form of beads, liquid, etc., is contained within the tubes and is flung radially outward as the ball spins.

Abstract: A refrigeration system having two alternatively actuable condensers operating at different condensing temperatures and pressures includes a compensatory metering arrangement for preventing significant changes of refrigerant fluid flow rate to the system evaporator when the system switches from one condenser to the other. Compensation is effected by changing the size of the metering orifice as necessary to accommodate the different condenser operating pressures. In one embodiment a thermostatic expansion valve is modified to include a damping factor preventing rapid changes in the valve position. Damping is achieved with a liquid-filled damping chamber having a damping diaphragm as one wall secured to the valve actuator rod. Opening of the valve requires the damping diaphragm to compress the liquid which is permitted to leak from the damping chamber at a controlled rate to slow the valve actuation rate.

Abstract: A soft tissue washer for use with a cancellous screw for attaching soft tissue, such as ligaments, to bone has posts disposed on a distal face of a washer body to limit penetration of sharp pins extending from the distal face into soft tissue, an annular recess disposed is the distal face to receive and clamp soft tissue, recess portions deeper than the annular recess disposed in the distal face to relieve compression of soft tissue, a dished recess in a proximal face of the washer body to entirely receive the head of the cancellous screw such that the head does not protrude from the washer and suture retention passages extending from the dished recess to a lateral rim of the washer for receiving sutures.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument includes movable and stationary jaws at a distal end of an elongate probe formed of an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member rotatable therein, a cam and cam follower at the distal end for translating rotary motion of the inner member to pivotal motion of the movable jaw to cut bodily tissue. The stationary jaw has an opening in the bottom thereof to allow cut bodily tissue to exit to a location external of the surgical cutting instrument, and a suction passage along the inner member terminates at a mouth disposed relative to the cam such that the cam contacts and comminutes cut bodily tissue before the tissue enters the mouth and is aspirated through the suction passage.

Abstract: Suture devices, primarily for use in endoscopic surgery, include a suture needle made of bioabsorbable material for pulling a length of suture material through bodily tissue allowing the suture needle to be inadvertently or intentionally left in the tissue, and a suture needle having a length of suture material attached thereto with a contractible loop or passage at the proximal end of the suture material to allow the suture needle to be passed therethrough, the loop or passage contracting to clamp or grip the suture material to function similar to a conventional tied suture knot.

Abstract: A new method, useful as a pharmacologic strategy, contains a gonadal hormone in combination with a dopamine agonist such as bromocriptine, and optionally an ascorbate source. This method has a significant ability to stimulate enhanced lymphocyte function. Certain components used with the method may be combined into medicaments.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing in vivo torn cartilaginous or other bodily tissue, particularly torn meniscus tissue during arthroscopic surgery, employs a repair tack of biodegradable material chosen to have a degradation time in excess of the required healing time for the tissue. The repair tack has a shaft portion with a longitudinal bore and a grip portion adapted for releasable engagement by a hollow applicator. In one embodiment the grip portion of the tack is a cross bar, at the proximal end of the shaft, which fits into an open-sided slot at the forward end of the applicator.

Abstract: A control system for a nuclear steam power plant having a reactor, one or more once through steam generators and a turbine includes a reactor control subsystem responsive to a power demand input to cause the reactor to deliver thermal power commensurate with the power demand input to the once through steam generator, one or more feedwater control subsystems sensing the thermal power delivered by the reactor to control feedwater flow to the once through steam generator, such as via a regulating valve and/or a feed pump, to match the thermal power delivered by the once through steam generator to the turbine with the thermal power delivered by the reactor, and a turbine steam demand control subsystem responsive to the thermal power delivered by the once through steam generator by sensing steam pressure to control a governor valve to admit steam to the turbine to cause the turbine operation to match the steam supplied by the once through steam generator such that the nuclear steam power plant is plant process con

Abstract: Built-up deposits on the top surface of a tubesheet and on adjacent tube sections in a tube bundle heat exchanger are removed by inducing vigorous turbulent flow of cleaning liquid radially along the surface of the tubesheet by repetitively and periodically injecting gas pulses into the liquid to form an expanding and retracting gas bubble proximate the plate center. The gas pulse rise time is smoothed by controlling the actuation time of a discharge valve and by a surge volume downstream of the valve to thereby avoid harmful pressure shock waves in the heat exchanger. The cleaning liquid is recirculated through an external filter loop to remove suspended foreign materials dislodged by the turbulent flow.

Abstract: The word game of my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,602,513 is improved by providing individual point scores for each word in meaningfully paired words. The point score for each word is inversely related to the frequency of occurrence of its letters in all words of the game, and is directly related to the number of letters in the word.

Abstract: An aircraft carry-on bag fitted with transport casters or slides on a rigid bottom and pulled by a strap or rigid handle bridle fastened on both vertical sides of said bag near its top front edge.

Abstract: A suturing instrument for use in arthroscopic surgery includes a hollow needle for penetrating tissue to be sutured within the body while the tissue is clamped between relatively movable jaws, and a suture feed mechanism for feeding suture material through the hollow needle such that the jaws can be opened and the suturing instrument withdrawn from the body pulling the free end segment of the suture material with the instrument. A knot can be tied in the suture material externally of the body and the knot moved back into the body at a position adjacent the tissue.

Abstract: Purified ice pieces of a size suitable for use in drinks, and purified liquid water, are derived from unpurified liquid water by directing a stream of the unpurified water over areas of at least one freezing surface. As ice forms at the freezing surface, impurities in the water are washed away by the stream which may be collected so that the unpurified water may be recirculated as part of the freezing process. The freezing surface areas are periodically heated to detach the ice, the detached ice being collected in a bin. Ice at the bottom of the bin is melted by selectively heating the bin to provide purified water that is collected in a container. Controls are provided to automatically initiate bin heating and thereby maintain a predetermined amount of purified liquid water in the container.

Abstract: Suture devices, primarily for use in endoscopic surgery, include a suture needle made of bioabsorbable material for pulling a length of suture material through bodily tissue allowing the suture needle to be inadvertently or intentionally left in the tissue, and a suture needle having a length of suture material attached thereto with a contractible loop or passage at the proximal end of the suture material to allow the suture needle to be passed therethrough, the loop or passage contracting to clamp or grip the suture material to function similar to a conventional tied suture knot.

Abstract: A new composition, useful as a medicament, contains ascorbate, preferably as metallic salt(s), in combination with a dopamine agonist such as bromocriptine, with the ratio by weight of ascorbate to bromocriptine being 400:1 or greater. This combination, believed to act through stimulation of pituitary production of somatotropin, has a significant ability to stimulate enhanced lymphocyte function. Other useful dopamine agonists include lergotrile and pergolide.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing in vivo torn cartilaginous or other bodily tissue, particularly torn meniscus tissue during arthroscopic surgery, employs a repair tack of biodegradable material chosen to have a degradation time in excess of the required healing time for the tissue. The repair tack has a shaft portion with a longitudinal bore and a grip portion adapted for releasable engagement by a hollow applicator. In one embodiment the grip portion of the tack is a cross bar, at the proximal end of the shaft, which fits into an open-sided slot at the forward end of the applicator.

Abstract: A method of monitoring thinning of pipe walls in a piping system including selecting locations to be monitored, normally those pipes particularly susceptible to thinning from erosion/corrosion, boring holes in the outer surfaces of the pipes at the selected locations to depths greater than the thickness at which the pipes will rupture to leave predetermined residual wall thicknesses between the ends of the holes and the inner surfaces of the pipe walls, inserting tracer materials in the holes to be released in the pipes when pipe wall thinning exceeds the residual wall thicknesses of the holes, and determining the presence or absence of tracer materials in the holes to permit pipe wall thinning to be determined prior to pipe rupture allowing repair or replacement during scheduled downtime of the piping system.