Abstract: A non-contaminating pressure sensor module having an isolation member is disclosed. The isolation member isolates a pressure sensor within the transducer module from exposure to fluids flowing through a conduit in the module. The transducer module may be positioned in-line within a fluid flow circuit carrying corrosive materials, wherein the pressure transducer module produces a control signal proportional to either a gauge pressure or an absolute pressure of the fluid flow circuit. The pressure transducer module of the present invention also avoids the introduction of particulate, unwanted ions, or vapors into the flow circuit.

Abstract: A moisture-absorbing grip for a handle of a golf club or a sports racket consists of an elongated strip of leather of a special transverse, cross-sectional profile which when spirally wound on the handle of a golf club or racket with the roughened nap side of the leather strip exposed provides a moisture-absorbing surface having ridges or peaks separated by arcuately curved grooves or valleys spirally oriented along the length of the club or racket handle. The resulting grip is not only moisture absorbent but conforms well to the hand of a player gripping the club or racket so as to resist slipping even when the player's hand or hands are profusely perspiring.

Abstract: A stent deployment device includes a flexible, elongate interior catheter and a retaining structure cooperating with the catheter to support a stent along a distal end support region of the catheter. The stent is supported in a reduced radius delivery state to facilitate delivery to a treatment site in a body lumen, by advancing the device over a previously positioned guidewire. An opening at the distal end of the device receives the guidewire into a guidewire lumen of the interior catheter. A second opening through the catheter wall just proximally of the support region allows passage of the guidewire to the exterior of the catheter, whereby the guidewire is contained within the device only along the distal end region. A retainer for the stent can include an exterior catheter surrounding the interior catheter and stent, and moveable axially relative to the interior catheter.

Abstract: A system that transmits and receives signals comprising a master unit and a remote unit, wherein a separation distance between the master unit and remote unit is continuously monitored and an alarm is activated on the master unit when no signal is received from the remote unit for at least a time longer than a preset interval. If the separation distance between the master and remote unit is exceeded for a time longer than a preset time interval, the remote unit activates an alarm attached to the remote unit. The master unit may also be used to activate manually the remote unit's alarm. A pin or key arrangement is provided that ensures that the remote unit is not deactivated without interfacing with the master unit.

Abstract: A recording and ablation catheter method and system for creating linear lesions in an atrial or other cardiac chamber of interest is described which includes an array of readily controlled electroded arcuate distal working catheter shapes that are easily deployed to contact the desired inner wall surface of a cardiac chamber in a manner that enables easy recording and mapping of impulses and thereafter facilitates sustained contact so that linear lesions can be produced from an array of mapping and ablation electrode devices serially spaced along the working catheter shape. Auxiliary cooling may also be provided.

Abstract: An agricultural communications network including a master system which polls lower level systems for digital maps, each map comprising field character information indicative of a feature at each location of a farmer's field. An agronomist can correlate the data of the digital maps to ascertain common conditions which realize maximum yields. Farmers and their regional dealers participate in the system through subscription. Anonymity is maintained through hierarchy such that the farmers will participate in the network, thus expanding the data base for use by the agronomist. Thus, the participating subscribers facilitate expansion of the field of agronomy for the benefit of all.

Abstract: A milled carbon fiber reinforced polymer having increased abrasion resistive characteristics. The reinforced polymer comprises a base resin selected from the group consisting of polyolefins and polyamides. The base resin is combined with an amount of milled carbon fibers and further may be combined with polytetrafluoroethylene. The resulting composite materials have excellent friction and wear characteristics and are useful in the production of injection molded parts. The molded parts have a high impact strength, exhibit dimensional stability, are abrasion resistive, and are static dissipative, with the composite materials having particular utility as support fixtures for semiconductors during certain processing operations.

Abstract: A sighting pin for attachment to a sighting mount of an archery bow, wherein a fiber optic rod is partially enclosed by a sheath to thereby increase the gathering and enhancing light properties of the fiber optic is disclosed. The fiber optic is enclosed by a sheath that has a window formed therein, thereby increasing the amount of light collecting surface area exposed. One or both ends of the fiber optic may have a geometric shape formed thereon, which increases the illumination of the end. An end cap is removably attached to an end of the sheath, and allows for the precise horizontal adjustment of the sighting pin.

Abstract: A bandage encapsulated in a protective sterile covering is disclosed, whereby the bandage may be removed from its sterile covering and applied with one hand without contaminating any portion of the bandage. The apparatus and method to manufacture the unique bandage is also disclosed.

Abstract: A plasma arc pipe cutting apparatus incorporates a plasma arc torch adjustably coupled to a motor-driven ring which transports the torch in an orbit about the pipe to be cut. The apparatus includes a pipe clamping fixture allowing the pipe to be cut to be concentrically mounted within the ring so that the gap between the electrode of the plasma arc torch and the work piece remains constant through the orbital travel of the torch.

Abstract: A pump for transferring fragile and aggressive liquids such as human blood and comprising a pumping chamber along with a pair of fluid inlet ports arranged in oppositely disposed relationship on the chamber, and one or more outlet ports arranged transversely and medially of the inlet ports. A rotor is positioned within the pumping chamber having a dual-conical configuration converging toward opposed polar end regions and with an axis of rotation extending between the polar regions. The rotor includes magnets which are arranged at radially spaced locations and with a magnetic drive positioned to deliver rotational driving energy to the rotor. The sole support for the rotor are the hydrodynamic forces acting upon the rotor during its operation, with the rotor body having a relative density of between 10% and 90% of the relative density of the fluid being pumped.

Abstract: An apparatus for non-contact measurement of particles, fibers and other light scattering elements includes two laser beams that intersect one another to form a measuring region within a composite flow. Particles in the flow scatter the laser energy as they traverse the measuring region. Scattered energy is received by a pair of optical detectors that generate respective electrical signals based on received energy. The detectors have selectively contoured non-rectangular apertures to controllably vary transmittance and as a result generate phase differences according to a corresponding non-linear function that relates the phase differences to particle diameters. One particularly effective aperture shape includes opposite sides contoured according to a lognormal function, to resemble an onion or tear drop. Triangular and trapezoidal apertures also can be used to achieve non-linear functions.

Abstract: To improve the re-wrappability of the expander members used on balloon catheters subsequent to an initial inflation thereof, the balloon member is subjected to an annealing process in which the balloon member, in its wrapped configuration, is placed within a plastic sheath and it, together with the sheath, is then placed between the jaws of a clamping fixture where the jaws may be heated to a predetermined temperature. When the jaws are made to close on the sheath and the wrapped balloon contained within it, the wrapped balloon is subjected to a radial compressive pressure and a temperature approximately equal to or above the glass transition temperature for the balloon material utilized and then maintained at that temperature for a predetermined time interval. The annealing is found to introduce a memory component into the plastic of the balloon that causes it to assume a lower profile upon deflation than otherwise obtained.

Abstract: Focal Ulcerative Dermatitis in poultry raised for consumption is prevented and treated by a method which includes the step of administering orally an effective level of aspirin over a prolonged period of time during the growth cycle of the bird.

Abstract: A multi-compartment vehicle body for collecting, packing, hauling and unloading refuse material including recyclable materials is disclosed, including a truck body enclosing a material-receiving volume which includes a horizontal wall within the volume which divides the volume into separate upper and lower storage body compartments. A longitudinally-spaced loading opening at the top of the body contains separate openings being in continuous communication each with one of the separate compartments. Preferably, non-recyclable refuse is stored in the lower compartment. The truck body includes a primary compacting system associated with one of said compartments for compacting non-recyclable materials and an auxiliary compacting system linked to the primary compacting system for compacting recyclable materials.