Abstract: A therapeutic agent is applied to an internal tissue site of a patient by advancing typically a catheter into the patient to cause a portion of the catheter, typically a catheter balloon, to occupy the internal site. The balloon portion of the catheter carries the therapeutic agent, usually mixed with a controlled release carrier for the agent, typically on an outer surface of the section, to permit release thereof from the catheter balloon at the internal tissue site so that the therapeutic agent is locally applied to the internal tissue site.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting video over telephone lines is provided. FM data is produced representative of a video picture to be transmitted and synchronization data concerning the transmitted picture is also produced. The FM data and the synchronization data are transmitted via telephone lines to a receiver. A pair of memories is provided in the receiver. The receiver uses the synchronization data to coordinate the storage and display of the received pictures. One memory displays the picture while the other memory is being loaded. The memories are toggled so that the memory from which the previously stored data is displayed becomes the memory being loaded and the memory being loaded becomes the memory from which previously stored data is displayed. Alternatively, one memory is a load memory while the other memory is a display memory. After the incoming picture is stored in the load memory, it is transferred to the display memory.

Abstract: An injection site for passing a needle into an enclosed space surrounded by a wall, typically defined by a tubular section incorporated in a tubular set. An aperture in the wall communicates between the enclosed space and the exterior, having an elastic, needle-pierceable member such as a plug occluding the aperture. The plug is exposed to the exterior on one side and defines a route of needle access through the plug and aperture to the enclosed space. A first flange is positioned adjacent to the plug and extends transversely outwardly from the plug. The first flange carries a second flange, which extends longitudinally relative to the plug, and is spaced transversely outwardly from the plug to define a catch area for needles, which catch area surrounds the plug.

Abstract: According to the state of the art, either two separate sensor elements are generally used to determine the exhaust gas temperature and the air/fuel ratio, lambda, or the temperature and lambda readings are not taken simultaneously, at least at temperatures of less than 250.degree. C. In addition, sufficiently precise simultaneous measurement is only possible during stationary operation. The process according to the invention and the corresponding sensor arrangement now make it possible to obtain a precise temperature and lambda reading at a minimal degree of metrological complexity, especially under non-stationary conditions, in that a heated sensor, which exhibits a temperature-sensitive and oxygen-sensitive element on a carrier element, is used to measure the exhaust gas temperature, even at low temperatures with the heating system switched off, while a lambda reading is obtained simultaneously, with the latter being possible only at higher temperature ranges.

Abstract: A connector for securing surgical cable or wire to an implantable surgical rod or the like. The connector comprises a connector body having an open space for receiving the surgical rod or similar support device. The body carries a lock member for firmly affixing the connector and the rod together in a desired position along the rod. Typically, the lock member is a set screw. The connector also has a retention member carried on the connector in a rotatable manner. The retention member, typically in ring form, defines at least one bore extending there through for receiving the cable or wire, and retaining it in a desired position relative to the rod. Thus, tension can be placed upon broken bones or the like from a desired, controllable direction and with a desired magnitude of tension.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining parameters of a medium, preferably a highly scattering medium such as living tissue. At least two spaced light sources provide light through the tissue or other medium to at least two spaced detectors, with the spacing between the light sources and the detectors being constrained to certain dimensions. The combined data received by such detectors can provide data that is substantially independent of the intensity of the light sources, the sensitivity of the detectors, the coupling efficiency of light from the light sources into the medium, and the coupling efficiency of light from the medium to the detectors. The light from the two sources is of substantially identical wavelength.

Abstract: A computer-based system is provided for collecting data from callers, including a customer's database corresponding to a customer's Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS) and in which system the caller has an identification code. When a call is received, the DNIS is detected and is compared with the customer's database to determine the data to collect during the call. If a caller identification code is required, then the caller identification code is obtained and the caller identification code is compared, via the computer, with a check digit algorithm without referencing a caller identification code database. After the call is terminated, a call record is created for the received call.

Abstract: A method is provide for deoxygenating water that is at substantially ambient temperature and contains dissolved oxygen. A selected reducing agent is injected into a stream of the water, and the water that contains the organic reducing agent is then passed over a packed catalyst bed. This causes the reducing agent, with the catalyst at the ambient temperature, to reduce the oxygen in the liquid.

Abstract: A sheath for a probe comprises a flattened probe sheath having an open end and a closed end. The sheath also defines a pair of peripherally connected flat sides. Each flat side of the sheath defines a distal portion and a proximal portion connected together by a transverse seal area. The proximal portion is typically made of a material which is of greater penetration strength than the distal portion. The sheath is proportioned to fit into the human mouth with the teeth normally engaging the proximal portion. Thus, the sheath is capable of substantially preventing bite-through in human mouths when enclosing a glass thermometer or other probe, while the distal end is preferably made of a softer material than each proximal portion, for an improvement in comfort.

Abstract: A rack having rolling carts that roll together one on top of the other. The second cart may define front and rear wheels that roll on outwardly facing tracks of the rails, while the first cart defines at least rear wheels that roll on inwardly facing tracks of the rails. Front wheels of the first cart may roll on the outwardly facing tracks, to make room for skid support means carried between a forward portion of the rails.

Abstract: A sheath for a probe comprises a flat probe sheath having an open end and a closed end with the sheath defining a pair of peripherally connected flat sides. By this invention, each flat side of the sheath defines a portion, positioned at least intermediate the sheath ends, which portion comprises a pair of joined inner and outer plastic layers. The inner plastic layer is made of a material readily heat sealable with itself and the material of the outer plastic layer. The outer plastic layer is made of a material of a strength and thickness capable of substantially preventing bite-through in human mouths.

Abstract: A rack which comprises a pair of parallel side beams in which each defines a groove facing the other side beam. The rack may be made by inserting between the beams at least one crossbar with the opposed ends of the crossbar each occupying a facing groove of the side beams, and with the crossbar extending between the beams. One may flex the beams outwardly as necessary to insert the crossbars. One then inserts between the beams a spacer bar, positioning the spacer bar centrally along the beam, with the opposed ends of the spacer bar each occupying a facing groove of the beam, and with the bar extending between the beams. The spacer bar is shorter than the crossbar. Thus, upon tightly securing each side beam to an end of the spacer bar, one draws a central portion of each beam inwardly relative to the crossbar or crossbars, to provide high constricting pressure securance between the ends of the crossbar and the side beams, while the spacer bar is under tension.

Abstract: A faucet-mounted filter in which a housing is positioned in the water flow line of the faucet, in flow transmitting relation with the water flow line. A microporous, hollow fiber filter bundle is positioned to sealingly occlude water flow through the housing so that all water flow through the housing must pass through porous walls of the hollow fibers of the filter. The pores of the hollow fiber walls are no larger than 0.22 micron, as measured by the particles that the pores pass. Thus the filter is capable of microbial filtering.

Abstract: A blood component separating device comprises a centrifuge bowl adapted for rotation about its axis in a centrifuge. The bowl defines an outer arcuate wall plus an inner circumferential wall, spaced from the outer wall, to define a arcuate slot adapted for receiving blood components. Access tubing is adapted for communication with the slot. Preferably, an elongated, flexible, collapsible inner liner is provided in the slot. Individual access tubing also may communicate with an elongated container interior between the ends of the elongated, collapsible container. Furthermore, a portion of the slot may define the shape of an outwardly extending spiral, to provide an increasing gravitational field upon fluids therein as the fluid moves along the slot.

Abstract: In a pinball machine a structure holding a ramp and targets is provided on the playfield to create a gate-like covering for an opening and passage to other targets and areas of the playfield. When a ball travelling on the ramp strikes the targets carried by the ramp, the ramp is pivoted to its open position revealing an opening and passage to other targets and areas of the game.

Abstract: A buryable warning tape comprises a length of woven polyolefin fabric. Visible indicia are printed on a first face of the fabric in ink which is essentially nondegradable during burial, typically an ink with a carbon-based pigment. A transparent polyolefin coating is bonded to and covers the first face. Preferably a second polyolefin coating is bonded to and covers the side of the fabric which is opposed to the first face. Such warning tape can have greatly increased tensile strength and tear strength over the warning tapes of the prior art, and the indicia have significantly improved durability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 4-phenylthiazole derivatives, namely 2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)-4-phenylthiazole and its addition salts.These derivatives act on the CNS and are useful as sedatives.

Abstract: A needle-pierceable cartridge for drug delivery comprises a housing containing a drug-containing bag having wallls of hydrophilic material capable of diffusing water across the walls, whereby osmosis can take place. The bag walls also define macroscopic holes, so that water on the outside of the bag diffuses by osmosis into the bag, and osmotic pressure forces water containing dissolved drug out of the bag through the macroscopic holes for removal and use.

Abstract: The switch comprises, incorporated in its casing (2), an upper circuit board (16) which carries a control electronic circuit (18) and a lower circuit board (24) which carries power components, such as relays (26), for the feed power supply of the apparatus to be controlled. Both superposed boards (16, 24) are linked together, mechanically and electrically, by linking pillars (40). Application to the automatic control of a window lifting device or to the delay control of window heating device on cars.

Abstract: An alarm system is provided in which an alarm condition causes a cellular transceiver automatically to transmit a telephone call to an alarm monitoring station by over-the-air transmission of a signal to a cellular site. A computer at the cellular site will cause communication between the cellular transceiver and an alarm company monitoring station. The alarm system includes a digital communicator with an alarm signal line connected to the digital communicator. The digital communicator is coupled to a cellular transceiver having a programmed keyboard, an audio input and an audio output. The digital communicator has an audio output and an interrogation input. The digital communicator's audio output is coupled to the cellular transceiver's audio input. The cellular transceiver's audio output is coupled to the digital communicator's interrogation input. The digital communicator includes a transmit enable output and a receive enable output.