Abstract: A system and a method of identifying, accepting or rejecting faulty sealant containing twist-on wire connectors wherein an image sensor generates an output image signal of a partly assembled twist-on wire connector or an assembled twist-on wire connector and compares the output image signal to a reference image signal to identify or reject a twist-on wire connector if the output image signal of the twist-on wire connector is outside an acceptable range and accept the twist-on wire connector if the output image signal is within the acceptable range.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for on-the-go humidifying an insufflation gas through water vapor transfer from a liquid to the insufflation gas through a barrier separating the gas from the liquid to enable the gas in a normally trauma inducing state to be brought to a conditioned state. If the gas is at an improper insufflation temperature the temperature of the gas can be brought to the proper insufflation temperature at the same time the gas is humidified through heat transfer through the barrier.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is an apparatus including an alarm for alerting an operator to recharge a humidifier, wherein such alarm is generated other than through the use of a humidity sensor. In one embodiment the total work performed during heating and hydrating an insufflation gas is measured and an alarm generated when the total work performed exceeds a particular threshold. In another embodiment, a flow meter is used to measure the total flow of insufflation gas so that when the total flow of insufflation gas reaches a predetermined level an alarm is activated.

Abstract: A butterfly valve with an undulating sealing surface, which has an inflatable annular seal mounted in a housing. A disk is pivotally mounted in the housing and has an edge with an undulating sealing surface and a peripheral sealing edge. The undulating sealing surface of the disk and a sealing face of the annular seal have non-mating profiles when the valve is in an unsealed condition. Pressure in a chamber proximate the annular seal causes the face of the annular seal to expand and deform and the face forms a high-pressure seal between the sealing ridge and the annular seal. Also includes a method for stopping delivery of a conduit transportable material through a butterfly valve.

Abstract: A butterfly valve for handling materials where the temperature of the materials flowing through the butterfly valve can exceed the breakdown temperature of the sealing member with the butterfly valve inhibiting contact of hot transportable materials with the sealing member to isolate the hot transportable materials from the sealing member. Cooling conduits maintain at least portions of the valve that contacts the sealing member at a temperature below the breakdown temperature of the sealing member to prevent seal failure.

Abstract: A lever push-in wire connector having a sealant therein to enable formation of a waterproof electrical connection by axial insertion of a wire into a chamber contained a resilient conductor protected by the sealant with the resilient conductor displaceable into a waterproof electrical contact with the wire while both the resilient conductor and the wire remain in the presence of the sealant.

Abstract: An ambidextrous rescue device having a slip ring rotateable mounted with respect to the rescue device to permit the slip ring to rotate independently of the rescue device as the rescue device is thrown to thereby enhance the distance the rescue device can be thrown by reducing the spin that needs to be imparted to the rescue device during a throwing motion as well as reducing the tendency of the rescue device to spin out of a victims grasp once the rescue device is retrieved by pulling on the rope attached to the rescue device. A further advantage is that the device can be thrown by either a left hand thrower or a right hand thrower. In another embodiment the rescue device includes an arm girth to automatically cinch a person's extremity to the rescue device as the rescue device is pulled toward the rescuer.

Abstract: A finger friendly twist-on wire connector having a spiral coil and an open end rigid shell secured to the spiral coil with the rigid shell having an outer surface with a circumferential band and a closed end supporting a finger cushion material integral to at least a portion of the outer surface of the rigid shell with the finger cushion material including a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated ribs resiliently deformable in response to radially and tangential finger forces thereon as rotational finger forces are transmitted to the rigid shell through the finger cushion material to thereby inhibit finger fatigue and finger injury while allowing the user to maintain a feel of the wire engagement within the wire connector.

Abstract: A charged hydration device and a method of filling the hydration device so the charged hydration that can be mounted to a medical apparatus that provides insufflation fluid to a body cavity either immediately prior to the medical procedure or during a medical procedure with the charged hydration device including an inlet and outlet for an inline connection with the medical apparatus so that an insufflation gas delivered through the charged hydration device is hydrated to prevent tissue damage to a person receiving the insufflation gas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a water characteristic of a body of water by controlling the cyclic release of a water characteristic material into the body of water with or without the system being responsive to a level of the water characteristic in the body of water with the system capable of being controlled from a display or from a wireless control module or both.

Abstract: An interactive sanitizer controller/display pad and method for controlling and selecting a dispensing rate in a sanitizer dispensing system based on the time the system is in a periodic dispensing mode and for indicating when a sanitizing dispenser needs replacement.

Abstract: A baby distraction item and more specifically a baby toy for storing baby care items such as baby clean-up items with the baby toy temporarily distracting a baby with the baby top comprising either a cover or a base with a chamber for holding baby care item so that when a caretaker cleans up a baby, the baby may grasp the handle and play with the base or cover as a toy to distract the baby while a diaper is changed.

Abstract: A control system comprising a timer based controller and a valve wherein the timer-based controller has a fixed period and the timer based controller regularly cycles the valve between a first condition and a second condition with the first portion of the cycle directing a first flow of water through a dispensable material and the remaining portion of the cycle directing a lesser flow of water through the dispensable material.

Abstract: A twist-on wire connector having a finger friendly cushion cover that covers not only the normal hand gripping region but at least part or all of the normal non-hand gripping region of the twist-on wire connector so that regardless of the way the twist-on wire connector is grasped the user fingers engage the cushion cover to inhibit finger and hand injury and fatigue from repeated securement of twist-on wire connectors as well as twist-on wire connector with enhanced gripping.

Abstract: A wound dressing and a method for enhancing the clotting comprising a plurality of hydrophilic microfibers bonded to each other to form a mat with the plurality of microfibers having a pore size sufficiently small to inhibit wicking platelets from a wound into the microfibers so that when applied to a wound the blood coagulates and the microfibers remain external to the wound.

Abstract: A push-in wire connector having at least two resilient members for generating a wire contacting force with one of the two resilient members exerting a greater contact force than the other to permit forming electrical connections to different size or types of wires by axially inserting wires into a sealant and into electrical contact engagement in the push-in wire connector to form a waterproof electrical connection in the presence of the sealant.

Abstract: A user friendly system that permits an unskilled person to quickly add dispersant material to a fluid system with the user friendly system utilizing operator evident dispersant carriers such as drawers, hangars or insertable cartridges.

Abstract: Briefly, the invention comprises a vibrator with an on-demand start-up system, that inhibits fouling the atmosphere, with one embodiment of the invention including an integral non-fouling start-up system wherein at least one of the bearing surfaces contains a surface adhered lubricant so as to provide an on-demand static start-up system and in another embodiment the on-demand start-up system is a dynamic system that can unbalance the differential forces on the piston therein to ensure that the vibrator will begin vibrating “on-demand”. Thus, two types of start-up systems are available one an on-demand static start-up system and the other an on-demand dynamic start-up system with either of the systems can be used alone or if desired in combination to provide redundant start-up systems.

Abstract: A system for on site monitoring and controlling the characteristics of a body of water by measuring the water characteristics in a first position and adjusting the water characteristics in a second position through either adding dispensable materials to the water or changing the energy of the water or both.

Abstract: An open-face electrical wire connector for forming an electrical connection to a wire connector lug wherein the wire connector lug, which is free of any sealant can be brought into engagement with another portion of a housing, which carries a sealant, to cause the sealant to flow around the wire connector lug and the electrical connection therein for on-the-go formation of a sealant covered electrical connection.