Abstract: A remote sterilization indicator is described. The indicator allows a sterilization cycle to be monitored without the need to visually inspect the indicator.

Abstract: Epichlorohydrin is polymerized in the presence of anhydrous stannic chloride catalyst and an alcohol initiator to produce a polyepichlorohydrin product comprising predominantly secondary hydroxyl-terminated polyepichlorohydrin polymer having low polydispersity, from which polyurethanes and azide derivatives can be made, polyurethanes prepared from such azide derivatives being useful as a binder for solid rocket propellants.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process in which a composition is coated onto a substrate and crosslinked so as to form a PSA by means of polymerizing free radically polymerizable monomers from covalently attached pendent unsaturation in the polymer component of the composition. The coating can carried out by a wide variety of industrial methods because the process of the invention allows for compositions with a wide degree of possible viscosities.

Abstract: Reactive polymeric dyes are provided comprising a chromophoric moiety derived from at least one free radically polymerizable dye and an azlactone moiety derived from 2-alkenylazlactone such that the free radically polymerizable dye is incorporated into the backbone of the polymer. Alternatively, 2-alkenylazlactone is polymerized and then derivatized with a nucleophilic dye or dyes, such that the chromophoric potion of the dye is pendent to the polymer backbone. Both types of reactive polymeric dyes may also contain additional polymerized monomeric units. The reactive polymeric dyes of the present invention can be used in a photoresist system and in particular in a color proofing construction.

Abstract: A method of forming apertures generally greater than about 0.05 square millimeters in a thin sheet material. The thin sheet material includes a first side and a second side at least one side of the thin sheet material is substantially coated with an adhesive. The method comprises the steps of (a) placing the adhesive-coated thin sheet material on a patterned anvil having a pattern of raised areas wherein the height of the raised areas is equal to or less than the thickness of the thin sheet material and the adhesive; and (b) subjecting the thin sheet material to a sufficient amount of sonic vibrations to aperture the thin sheet material and the adhesive; and whereby the thin sheet material and the adhesive is apertured in a pattern generally the same as the pattern of raised areas on the patterned anvil.

Abstract: This invention discloses a film and a method for forming a film that can be printed directly using electrostatic priming processes, eliminating the need for transfer of electrostatic images from an electrostatic paper to a polymeric film. The film is durable and conformable to a variety of surfaces and optionally has a field of pressure sensitive adhesive thereon for adhering to such variety of surfaces.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical formulations and adhesive-coated sheet materials for the topical and/or transdermal delivery of 1-isobutyl-1H-imidazo?4,5-c!-quinolin-4-amine, including creams, ointments and pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions. Pharmacological methods of using the formulations and the adhesive-coated sheet materials of the invention in the treatment of viral infections.

Abstract: A one-piece edge protector for a roll of tape is described. The protector has a pair of sides and transverse, peripheral bridge portion which may receive a leading portion of a roll of tape to assist in dispensing the tape. The protector is particularly suitable to protect a roll of hand tearable medical tape.

Abstract: The present invention provides a banding system, banding tape and method of using the same, each of which is particularly useful a variety of items such as flowers, straws, pens, pencils, newspapers, and vegetables. The banding system comprises a first strip and second strip. The first strip comprises an elastic polymeric material having a percent recovery of at least 50% after being elongated to 100% of its original length. The first and second strips are capable of being bonded together. The banding tape comprises a strip of elastic polymeric material having inner and outer surfaces and a nontacky layer on at least a portion of at least one of the surfaces. The method of using the banding system or tape of the invention comprises the steps of collecting one or more objects into a bundle, wrapping, stretching and securing the system or tape around the bundle, and allowing the elastic strip to at least partially recover to exert a compressive force on the bundle which holds the bundle together.

Abstract: A method for texturing magnetic recording media substrates using a structured abrasive article including a flexible backing having a major surface and an abrasive coating, the abrasive coating attached to and at least substantially covering the entire total surface area of the major surface, where the abrasive coating includes a plurality of precisely-shaped three-dimensional abrasive composites, and the composites comprise a plurality of abrasive particles dispersed in a binder, which binder provides the means of attachment of the composites to the backing.

Abstract: Undrawn, tough, durably melt-bondable, macrodenier, thermoplastic, multicomponent filaments, such as sheath-core and side-by-side filaments, comprising a first plastic component and a second lower-melting component defining all or at least part of the material-air boundary of the filaments. The filaments can be made by melt-extruding thermoplastics to form hot filaments, cooling and solidifying the hot filaments, and recovering the solidified filaments without any substantial tension being placed thereon. Aggregations of the filaments can be made in the form of floor matting and abrasive articles.

Abstract: A method and system for activating and deactivating a fiber optic splice within an optical fiber distribution frame while the fiber optic splice is releasably retained within a connector tray within the optical fiber distribution frame. The connector tray preferably includes multiple slots for supporting a number of mechanically activatable fiber optic splices which each include a jacket and a cap which is retained in a first intermediate position within the jacket while the fiber optic splice is deactivated and in a second fully inserted position within the jacket while the fiber optic splice is activated. An activator tool is provided which includes a stop member and slidably mounted pivot member which may be utilized to engage the fiber optic splice jacket and urge the cap into the fully inserted position in response to relative movement between the pivot member and the stop member in order to activate the fiber optic splice while the fiber optic splice is retained within the connector tray.

Abstract: The period T.sub.nv of an oscillator signal is measured. A number N.sub.meas of cycles of the oscillator signal is determined based upon the measured oscillator period T.sub.nv and upon a desired minimum change in inductance .DELTA.L (sensitivity) which will result in an object being detected. The N.sub.meas cycles of the oscillator signal represent a measurement period. The length of the measurement period, defined by N.sub.meas oscillator cycles, is periodically determined. The length of the measurement period is compared to a reference value. An output, based upon the results of the comparison, is provided. Thereafter, the desired minimum change in inductance .DELTA.L (sensitivity) may be automatically adjusted by determining an average magnitude change in inductance .DELTA.L.sub.ave caused by a plurality of vehicles. The number N.sub.meas of oscillator cycles, which define the measurement period, is recalculated based upon the average magnitude change in inductance.

Abstract: The invention is photoconductor construction comprising a release layer which controls the carrier liquid on the surface of the photoreceptor and minimizes beading of toner carrier liquid. According to one embodiment this invention is a photoconductor construction comprising a photoconductor layer applied to an electroconductive substrate, an interlayer applied to the photoconductor layer, and a release layer over the interlayer. The release layer is a swellable polymer. According to another embodiment this invention is a photoconductor construction comprising a polymeric release layer that has a surface with an average roughness, Ra, of at least 10 nm.

Abstract: A flexible carrier tape for storage and delivery of components by an advancement mechanism, comprises a strip portion, a plurality of aligned pockets spaced along the strip portion for carrying the components, wherein each pocket includes a bottom wall, and a non-pressure sensitive adhesive comprising a thermoplastic elastomer block copolymer on the bottom wall of the pocket for retaining a component in the pocket.

Abstract: A stud/eyelet for a biomedical electrode is disclosed. The stud/eyelet has at least one hole in the base to reduce manufacturing cost, provide increased surface contact with ionically conductive media, and to increase anchorage for the ionically conductive media.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accurately positioning a wide tolerance work piece, wherein the work piece has a first portion with a known reference surface and a second portion whose position relative to the first portion is not exactly known. The apparatus includes a locating fixture for positioning the first portion of the work piece in a known relationship to the locating fixture. A work piece holding fixture having at least one non-synchronous gripping device conforms to the unknown position of the second portion of the work piece and holds the first portion of the work piece in the known position.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid management film for use in rapid transport of liquid. The liquid management film is a thermoplastic film having at least one microstructured hydrophilic surface with a plurality of primary grooves. The primary grooves have at least two secondary grooves, each of said secondary grooves forming at least one notch which notches are substantially parallel and separated by a secondary peak. The notches or secondary grooves have an included angle of from about 10.degree. to about 120.degree., the depth of one of said secondary grooves (the height of the secondary peak over the notch) being at least 5 microns and said depth being from about 0.5 to about 80 percent of the depth of the primary groove. The said notches have a radius of curvature of less than about 15 microns and the primary and/or secondary groove depth and width varies by less than 20 percent for each groove over a given length of the film.

Abstract: A method is provided for predicting a property of a matter of biological origin, such as biological fluid, containing water, in a dynamic condition where the biological fluid may be approximated to contain two compartments where one compartment has a proportionally larger or smaller amount of water than the other compartment having the property of interest. The method involves establishing a training set in the near-infrared (NIR) region with independent quantification of the property of the fluid using known techniques. The training set is mathematically analyzed according to a correlation developed by regression analysis after employment of a pre-processing technique such as a multiple derivative transformation of spectra or a ratioing of two wavelengths in the spectra. The result is a mathematical transformation equation which quantitatively relates spectral intensities at specific wavelengths to the property of interest.