Abstract: A device for cleaning a bar rack of the type used as a screen to remove solid objects from the inlet of a water or waste treatment plant. Such devices typically have rake and a motor to drive the rake up and down the screen; the motor being connected to the rake via a rake arm. The disclosed rake arm has a variable length in response to contact between the rake arm or the rake with an object fixed to the screen or resting on the channel floor. This variable length allows the motor to drive the rake without interruption to its normal operation. Such device has particular utility in a front cleaned rack.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell case and method of manufacturing an electrochemical battery are provided. The cell case includes a main body that encloses a plurality of individual cells in separate, contiguous compartments. After the cells have been inserted into the compartments, the compartments are hermetically sealed. The compartments may be separately filled and vented, and the cell of each compartment receives end connectors such as rivet connectors. The elements are electrically interconnected, such as in a series configuration. A top cap attaches to the main body, and encloses the interconnected cell terminals. The top cap may also enclose other electronics, such as battery recharging circuitry or a temperature sensor. The top cap may be sized and shaped to mate with connectors on specific electrical devices, and may be removable so that another top cap may be installed for use with another device.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing fluid from the body of a patient, such as in paracentesis and thoracentesis. Fluid may be withdrawn via a retractable needle assembly, including a sharp introducing needle and a retractile blunt needle. The needle assembly is housed in a housing having a chamber with two oriented grommets that prevent fluid flow through the chamber (other than through the needle assembly) both when the needle assembly is inserted through the chamber and when it is withdrawn. A beam spring blocks the chamber after the needle assembly is withdrawn so that the device cannot be reused.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical preparation, and treatment method using the same, for contact dermatitis and particularly for canine contact dermatitis. The preparation has as active ingredients an anti-histamine and an anti-inflammatory. The anti-histamine is preferably diphenhydramine. The anti-inflammatory is preferably triamcinolone. The preparation is a liquid mixture and is sprayed or otherwise applied onto an affected area.

Abstract: A closure for a container, including means for counting and indicating the number of times the closure has undergone a cycle of closing and opening the container, and further including means for incorporating the closure into means for resisting the opening of the container by a child.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is recharged in series with a constant voltage source and a resistor, wherein the charging current declines as a function of increasing cell voltage. When the change in voltage of the battery with respect to time decreases to near zero, the changing cycle is ended or converted to a maintenance charge.

Abstract: Skin care compositions and methods are provided for improving the appearance of skin affected by aging, photodamage and/or oxidative stress. Specifically, adhesive materials containing cosmetically active ingredients, e.g., one or more antioxidants such as Vitamins A, C and/or E, or moisturizers are applied in concentrated dry powdered form to target areas including the frownline area of the forehead, the front of the neck, the crows-feet area near the eyes, the upper lip and the nasolabial area using a transdermal patch having an acidity approximating human skin acidity of 5.5, preferably by an appropriate ratio of ascorbic acid and ascorbate salts.

Abstract: An electrosurgical coagulator (10) has a hollow elongate tube (20), insulation material (30) covering a major portion of the tube (20), a handle (40) of molding material covering a proximal section of the tube (20) and insulation material (30), a power cord (50) electrically connected to the tube (20), and a contact pin (52) terminating the power cord (50) for attachment to an external power supply (60). The tube (20), insulation (30), and handle (40) are coaxial; the handle (40) extends furthest proximally and terminates in a fitting (42) that is engageable with an external suction source (70). The tube (20) has a distal portion (22) for contacting to bleeding tissue and coagulating the same, the distal portion being beveled and having a notch (25) for superior resolution and ease of positioning, clog prevention, and ease of cleaning.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing and using a dialysis collection bag, and the dialysis collection bag itself. A collection bag is fabricated with a sterilization tablet therein, having a soluble coating over a sterilization agent. When the collection bag is filled with used dialysis solution at the completion of the dialysis therapy, the soluble coating dissolves over a known period of time such as about 30 minutes. The delayed dissolution allows time to take a specimen sample of the unadulterated used dialysis solution. When the dissolution of the coating is completed, the tablet releases the sterilization agent to sterilize the used dialysis solution, so that pathogens are destroyed to prevent the transmission of disease in the event the collection bag is disposed of improperly.

Abstract: An prosthesis for allowing natural ball and socket type movement, as in a hip or shoulder. A femoral component having a ball at one extremity is engaged with an acetabular component having a hemispherical cup to receive the ball. A ligamentous material extends from a port in the hemispherical cup to a port in the ball to apply a resistive force to resist any dislocating force, the resistive force varying in proportion to the movement of the femoral component from a natural and relaxed position in relation to the acetabular component.

Abstract: A shield in the form of a "cast refrac" (S.U.B.S.) for a diffuser port in a circulating fluidized bed to deflect eroding particulates away from the port. The S.U.B.S. includes an upper portion with a tear-drop shape, a lower portion, and side intermediate portions to surround the port, and an attached insert to be received by or around the port.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer array probe for intraluminal ultrasound imaging is situated on a distal end of a catheter. The probe has a flex circuit that accepts terminations from a plurality of coaxial cables admitted through the catheter, and electrically conveys these signals to integrated circuits and an ultrasound array acoustic stack, preferably having seventy-two elements. The circuit has more than one layer of metal tracings to support complicated electrical interconnections. The acoustic stack preferably includes two quarter-wave matching layers and an acoustic backing layer composed of urethane, AIN.sub.3, tungsten trioxide, and micro-balloons. The flex circuit can be formed of two sections that are joined during manufacture.

Abstract: An ice cube making evaporator design comprising an aluminum roll-bond evaporator plate (50) which is encased in a plastic grid (59) of vertical and horizontal ridges, thereby forming an array of freezing sites (28) on both sides of the plate. Integral refrigerant passes (52) in the evaporator plate may be designed to be flat on one side, enabling the freezing sites (28) to be in direct contact with the refrigerant passes (52). Adjacent refrigerant passes (52) are flat on opposite sides of the evaporator plate (50') thereby enabling significant improvements in heat transfer geometry and performance. Boundary layer interrupters (68) and conductive anchors (86) are also disclosed for the purpose of heat transfer enhancement.

Abstract: An ultrasound mixed signal multiplexer/pre-amplifier application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for supplying voltages to a group of elements of an ultrasound array, receiving voltages from the same or another group of elements of the array, and amplifying the received voltages for transmission to external circuitry. The transmit groups and receive groups are shifted to provide accurate visual images with a minimal number of transmit and receive cycles.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell case and method of manufacturing an electrochemical battery are provided. The cell case includes a main body that encloses a plurality of individual cells in separate, contiguous compartments. After the cells have been inserted into the compartments, the compartments are hermetically sealed. The compartments may be separately filled and vented, and the cell of each compartment receives end connectors such as rivet connectors. The elements are electrically interconnected, such as in a series configuration. A top cap attaches to the main body, and encloses the interconnected cell terminals. The top cap may also enclose other electronics, such as battery recharging circuitry or a temperature sensor. The top cap may be sized and shaped to mate with connectors on specific electrical devices, and may be removable so that another top cap may be installed for use with another device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the fluid flow through a waste fluid inlet channel, such as for a sewage treatment plant, includes a weir that may be inserted into the channel. The weir may be one or more plates that serve to reduce the effective cross section of the channel. The plates may be shaped so that the channel is more restricted at greater depths, or may be combined to form such other shape, in order to provide desirable flow patterns. Plates may be added, removed, or exchanged with different sized plates, to accommodate a range of fluid volume at a desired flow rate. The plates may combine with a bar rack, and will not interfere with the cleaning thereof. The plates may be positioned to allow grit to flow through without impediment.

Abstract: A device and method for flash evaporating a reagent includes an evaporation chamber that houses a dome on which evaporation occurs. The dome is solid and of high thermal conductivity and mass, and may be heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize a specific reagent. The reagent is supplied from an external source to the dome through a nozzle, and may be supplied as a continuous stream, as a shower, and as discrete drops. A carrier gas may be introduced into the evaporation chamber and create a vortex flow therewithin. After evaporation, the gas vapor may be removed from the evaporation chamber through a regulating valve to a reaction chamber. Another embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of evaporating domes that separately receive reagent, and may receive reagents of differing composition.

Abstract: A method of patterning layered structure oxide thin films involving placing the layered structure thin film (with or without a mask) laid on a substrate into a chamber which is partially filled with CHC1FCF.sub.3 gas and producing a glow discharge to cause the etching of the thin film ferroelectric material. The method provides high etch rates, good etch anisotropy and good etch uniformity. For example, for SBT and SBN thin films, the etch process provides etch rates in the range of 2.5 to 17.5 nm/min depending on the etch conditions and minimal etch residues at the end of the etch process is removed easily by low temperature (250.degree. C.) baking. Also, the method provides good etch selectivity in the films and minimal surface damage.