Abstract: The invention relates to silicone foams.It concerns a silicone foam composition consisting of two or more components, the said composition being capable of rapid cure at 20.degree. C. on mixing its components, to give a foamed mass having a density of less than 200 kg/m.sup.3, characterised in that it comprises (A) one or more polysiloxanes having at least three alkylhydrogensiloxane units per molecule, (B) one or more polydiorganosiloxanes having at least two siloxane units of the formula ##EQU1## in which R represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, Q represents a hydroxylated alkylene or alkoxylene chain, a has a value of 0, 1 or 2 and the value of b is 1 or 2 and c is a platinum catalyst for promoting the reaction between the components.Useful for the production of medical dressings.

Abstract: A matrix for delivery of active substances such as fragrances and pheromones into the atmosphere is provided which matrix is active substance permeable (including to hydrophilic substances) and is formed of a copolymer which can be softened sufficiently at temperature between 45.degree. C. and 160.degree. C. to incorporate the substances therein without damage caused by heat or chemical reactions, the matrix being formed of a substantially linear block copolymer which is a reaction product of a polydiorganosiloxane which forms soft segments in said reaction product and a diisocyanate which forms hard segments, said copolymer having a glass transition temperature between 45.degree. C. and 160.degree. C. said soft segments comprising from 70 to 99 percent by weight, based on the weight of said copolymer, the average molecular weight of the copolymer being between 15,000 and 500,000.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shaping guide to permit accurate shaping of the tibial plateau while saving the anterior cruciate ligament. An alignment rod is located anterior to the anterior cruciate ligament and along the anterior cortex of the intermedullary canal of the tibia provides points of reference for all shaping operations. The shaping guide of the present invention is adjustable with respect to the handle portion of the rod so that the amount of resection of the tibial plateau can be controlled readily by the surgeon by raising or lowering of the cutting guide surfaces for resection of the tibia.

Abstract: A tissue expander capable of insertion in a human body to induce formation of a pocket into which a mammary prosthesis may be inserted including an expander portion which is flaccid and is adapted to be inflated progressively in the body to induce formation of said pocket, a support plate portion which is sufficiently flexible that it may be bent or folded upon itself for insertion into or removal from the body through an incision in the body and to recover to a plate-like condition within the body, feed tube and releasable fastener preferably a snap fastener whereby the support portion and the expander portion are connected together until it is desired to release the expander portion from the support portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a distal femoral surface shaping guide for mounting on an intramedullary alignment which references the central long axis of the femur in shaping the distal femoral surface and a method for shaping the distal femur using that shaping guide with particular applicability for shaping one condyle for attachment of a unicondylar prosthesis. The alignment guide of the present invention is adjustable relative to the surface of the condyle to insure that the distal femoral condyle is resected relative to that surface. The alignment guide of the present invention utilizes visual sighting studs and provides a main body which remains attached to the intramedullary alignment guide throughout the entire shaping of the distal femur.

Abstract: A medical-surgical dressing comprising a reinforced sheet of silicone elastomer foam having a thickness not exceeding 10 millimeters, one of the surfaces of the sheet having a surface layer of open cell foam and the other surface having a substantially non-cellular surface skin. The dressing may be manufactured by a process comprising depositing a liquid foamable silicone composition on an absorbent surface, allowing the composition to foam and set to an elastomer and thereafter separating the foam sheet from the substrate.The dressings are useful e.g. for the treatment of wounds, burns and as liners for plaster casts.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a gas pressure operated dispensing container for viscous liquids in which a collapsible compartment containing the liquid is mounted inside a pressurized canister and has an end closure fitted with a dispensing valve having a elastomeric valve seal inside the compartment. A rigid reinforcing ring frictionally engages the end closure and prevents collapse of the top portion of the collapsible compartment. The ring has one or more air passages extending from a point on its internal periphery below the area of engagement with the end closure to the top thereof. The air passages are, for example, longitudinal notches in the ring spaced around its circumference and serve to allow air to pass out of the compartment as the end closure is applied.

Abstract: There is disclosed a surgically implantable prosthetic joint implant adapted for length adjustment after initial surgery to compensate, for example, for growth of a juvenile patient. A stem for bone implantation has a flange for overlying the bone end and a threaded portion for adjusting axially with respect to an overlying sleeve which carries at its extremity an articulating component of the joint. A pin in the sleeve and elongated slot in the stem restrain relative rotation but allow axial relative movement as the stem is urged into or out of the sleeve by rotation of a nut coacting with the threads on the stem while being axially restrained by the sleeve. The nut is described as having a ring of gear teeth to be actuated by an insertable gear-carrying key. An alternative embodiment uses an accessible recessed bolt for moving the stem into or out of the sleeve.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for freezing molten metals and metalloids in particulate or flake form at very rapid cooling rates. A volatile coolant liquid is fed to the center of a rapidly rotating disc-like member to create an outwardly flowing film of coolant across the surface of the member. The material to be processed is fed in molten form to the coolant film coaxially with the coolant, and is thrown outwardly by centrifugal forces while being cooled by vaporization of the liquid. The rotating member may include upwardly projecting vanes for collision with the outwardly flowing material to produce a higher surface area product and a cover over a portion of its top surface to confine the materials passing through the vanes.

Abstract: A sun position sensor including a plurality of solar sensors sensing solar energy arriving in a respective azimuth and elevational direction, data encoding means for a series of respective solar azimuth and elevational positions, each position corresponding to a respective solar sensor and wherein said data encoding means are coupled to the solar sensors to derive a sensed solar position, a solar collector effective for receiving solar energy in a discrete direction, drive means positioning the solar collector and providing position data corresponding to the position of the solar collector, and comparator means comparing the collector position and the solar position and providing a drive signal until the two positions are equal. A geodesic dome portion includes several facets each of which contains a respective plurality of solar sensors to provide an electrical output signal representing the amount of solar incidence on a respective sensor/dome facet.

Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for freezing molten metals and metalloids in particulate or flake form at very rapid cooling rates. A volatile coolant liquid is fed to the center of a rapidly rotating disc-like member to create an outwardly flowing film of coolant across the surface of the member. The material to be processed is fed to the coolant film at a location spaced from the center and is thrown outwardly by centrifugal forces while being cooled by vaporization of the liquid. The rotating member may include upwardly projecting vanes for collision with the outwardly flowing material to produce a higher surface area product.

Abstract: There is described a method of closing ends of silicon tubular bodies in which the tube end to be closed is dipped into melt of silicon maintained at substantially the melting temperature of silicon until the end of the tube is heated to the melting point and then withdrawing the tube from the melt with melt temperature sufficiently low to cause freezing of molten silicon at tube end and at temperature and speed sufficient to cause decreasing diameter of the freezing silicon until the desired diameter reduction or closure is obtained and then breaking contact with the melt. Additionally, surface portions may be machined after withdrawal from the melt to allow connections to be made.

Abstract: An improved closure and nozzle system for containers for air-curable materials such as cartridges for sealant and caulking compounds is disclosed. A container such as a caulking cartridge is provided with a threaded neck for attachment of a correspondingly threaded nozzle having a tapered tip portion designed to be cut off to provide a desired orifice size. A cap having a snap-fit ring is designed to mate with a corresponding snap-fit ring on the nozzle short of the tip and also having a threaded external portion designed to mate with the container neck so that the cartridge can be resealed after opening.

Abstract: Silica is reduced in a direct arc reactor by activated carbon or carbon black having relatively low boron (B) and phosphorus (P) contents to produce silicon having similarly low B and P contents and suitable for use in photovoltaic cells for converting solar energy directly to electrical energy.

Abstract: Apparatus for causing a solar energy collector to constantly follow the sun by using solar radiant energy to differentially heat fluid-containing reservoirs to cause differential vaporization and shifting of fluid to rotate the apparatus. Automatic morning orientation is included by providing the easterly reservoir with a faster rate of cooling than the westerly one thereby causing shift of fluid from westerly to easterly after sunset resulting in inclination toward the east by sunrise.

Abstract: There is described a solar still comprising a pair of juxtaposed corrugated sheets which in a preferred embodiment are positioned at an angle to one another whereby the upper sheet rests on the raised portions of the lower sheet. A thermally insulating, solar energy transmitting window overlies the upper sheet. The upper sheet is made of solar energy absorbent material and the lower portions of the sheet are adapted to contain water to be distilled. A plurality of vents are provided in the uppermost portions of the upper sheet and the lower sheet and are adapted to be placed on the ground or a body of water for cooling and act as a condenser for vapor passing through the vents into the space below the upper sheet.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention there is provided a process for extruding an oriented-fiber reinforced tubular product. This product preferably is formed from a crosslinked polysiloxane elastomer produced by the curing of a fiber containing "liquid polymer" polysiloxane precursor. The subject process involves pumping the fiber containing precursor through a heated non-pumping extruder. The extruder initiates the curing reaction, shapes the reacting precursor into a tubular form and orients the fibers.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, there is provided a new and improved method of forming a four-lumen gastrointestinal tube. This tube may be characterized as having two lumens which extend nearly the full length of the tube and two lumens which extend through only a portion of the tube.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention there is provided a method and apparatus for coating a wire or cable with a thermosetting polymer formed from a "liquid polymer" system such as a two-component polysiloxane. This system may be characterized as having two components each having a low viscosity and which when mixed react quickly to form the cross-linked polysiloxane rubber.

Abstract: There is described a method of manufacturing silicone rubber gloves with a non-blocking surface by repeatedly dipping a form in a solvent dispersion of uncured silicone rubber to build up a plurality of layers and then forming a layer of liquid droplets on the surface of the solvent-containing uncured rubber, thereby forming a textured surface as the solvent evaporates.