Abstract: A process for making medical gloves whose fingers have thinner walls than the rest of the gloves involves first depositing onto a hand-shaped glove form a layer of coagulant that comprises an ionic metal salt, then depositing an elastomeric layer. Part of the coated form is then leeched of metal ions in the coating, and the form is overcoated with a second elastomeric layer. The overcoated layer is thinner in the part where it overlies the leeched coating. The gloves find particular usefulness in delicate operations such as those performed by ophthalmologists.

Abstract: A multi-element surgical drape includes a bottom sheet that is placed over a patient and a top sheet that is reversibly secured to the bottom sheet. The two sheets each have a fenestration, and the fenestrations are aligned to provide access to the surgical site. After the surgical procedure has been completed the two sheets are separated. The top sheet is contaminated ("red-bag") medical waste, while the bottom sheet can be disposed of as non-contaminated waste, recycled, or processed for reuse. The invention permits a substantial reduction in the volume of red-bag waste generated by surgery.

Abstract: A process for making powder-free medical gloves that are nevertheless easy to don involves first forming a glove on a form by successively dip-coating layers of a coagulant containing acid-soluble powder dispersed throughout, an elastomer, and an antiblocking composition with particles distributed throughout. After curing the elastomer and applying a silicone coating, the glove is removed from the form and treated successively with acid, to dissolve the powder, and with bleach, to reduce blocking. Using this process, high quality natural rubber medical gloves can be produced.

Abstract: A suture package is designed to facilitate automated loading of multiple needles and sutures into the package. The package includes a tray, for containing the needles and sutures, and a cover. The sutures are contained in a peripheral channel of the tray and an array of resilient cantilevered fingers prevent the sutures from lifting up out of the channel. Needle parks retain the needles that are attached to the sutures. In another embodiment of the invention, a package for retaining a wound suture and attached needle includes a tray for containing the needle and suture, including cover-latching elements that each have two vertical surfaces. Tabs on the removable cover each contact a surface of a corresponding latching element and have a free element that engages a shoulder of the element.

Abstract: A needle park for a package that holds one or more surgical needles and sutures has a generally planar base. A cantilevered arm, fixed at one end and free at its other end, extends above and parallel to the base. A needle is introduced between the free end of the arm and the base and held between the arm and base. A nib that extends from the free end of the arm toward the base secures the needle. The needle park may be molded as part of a one-piece needle and suture package and is well adapted for automatic loading.

Abstract: A needle park for a package that holds one or more surgical needles and sutures has a generally planar base and two collinear walls that are perpendicular to the base. A cutout near one end of the first wall separates an end section of the wall from the base and separates all but a top segment of the end section from the rest of the wall. The second wall is separated from the end section by a gap. The end section and top segment of the first wall form a hinge that permits a needle to be held in the gap between the walls. In an alternative embodiment, both walls have cutouts and resultant hinges, thus permitting the needle park to hold needles of larger diameter. Preferably, the material of the needle park is a moldable thermoplastic. The needle park is inexpensive to fabricate and permits a needle in a broad range of diameters to be held simply and securely.

Abstract: A connector that permits safe and convenient attachment of a wound drainage tube to a fluid reservoir includes a hollow penetrator whose one end is attachable to the drainage tube and whose other end is sharpened to permit it to pierce a penetrable plug that initially seals an inlet tube of the reservoir. The penetrator is covered with a stocking that initially prevents fluid from flowing out of the sharpened end. A protective skirt has one end attached to the penetrator. Its other end is open and permits the skirt to surround the inlet tube as the penetrator is moved toward the plug and then pierces the stocking and plug to permit fluid to flow from the drainage tube to the reservoir.

Abstract: An oval wrap suture package that permits sutures to be dispensed with less likelihood of suture binding is provided. In one embodiment, the package has a suture winding channel with semicircular end sections whose radii are unequal. In another embodiment of the invention, the suture package is molded from a polymeric resin mixture that includes at least 4% oleamide.

Abstract: A system for controlling power to multiple groups of lights requires only a few controls. The system permits power to each group of lights to be adjusted independently and, at the same time, to be stored for later recall. Several combinations of power levels can be stored, and a particular combination can be selected, for example, by pressing a corresponding push button. In a preferred embodiment, a single control permits adjustment of any selected group, or groups, of lights.

Abstract: A wallbox-mountable face plate assembly includes a support plate for the control device, an intermediate plate that attaches to the support plate, and a face plate that snaps onto the intermediate plate. The face plate has a particularly simple construction, requiring no mounting structure on the interior of the back surface. The intermediate plate may be painted to match, or to contrast with, the color of the wall on which the assembly is to be mounted. Alternatively, the intermediate plate could be translucent and backlighted to provide a night light or pilot light.

Abstract: A system controls power to multiple a.c. lighting loads from both a central location and from individual controls that are located near the loads. The system includes individual wallbox dimmers that include enabling switches, a master control, and isolation means to accept input signals from the master control and to provide output signals to the dimmers. In a preferred embodiment, a dimmer also provides to the master control a signal that indicates the power being provided to the load that the dimmer controls. Preferably the individual controls provide linear slide dimming, in which the power provided to a load is determined by the slider position. The system permits simplified installation and replacement of system components.

Abstract: A position-sensing circuit includes an elongated electrically-conductive element divided into two elongated segments. A conductor moves along the element, maintaining electrical contact with at least one of the segments. A first capacitor is connected to the conductor and a second capacitor is connected to one of the segments. When the conductor bridges a gap between the segments, a step-wise change in the time constant of the circuit results. This step-wise change precisely and reproducibly indicates the position of the conductor as being across the gap. The circuit finds particular advantage in a three-way dimming system that permits a remote switch to provide power to a load even if a dimmer that controls the load has been set to provide minimum or no power to the load.

Abstract: A knob mounts on one end of a shaft whose other end guides a slidable element, such as the wiper of a slide potentiometer. The shaft has an elongated cross section, and the knob has a pair of generally parallel raised ribs on each of two facing interior sides. The ribs guide and secure the shaft into the knob. If the knob is twisted rather than slid, the knob comes off, but any deformation of the ribs and/or shaft is minimal and does not prevent the knob and shaft from being reused. The knob is particularly adapted for use with a notched, split shaft.

Abstract: A receiver for a radiated electromagnetic signal includes elements that respectively transmit a high percentage and a low percentage of the incident signal, in combination with a detector. The device is adapted for mounting on or near a horizontal surface, such as a ceiling. The signal is preferably in the infrared region of the spectrum. The receiver provides non-electronic gain control and, when the high-transmission element passes the signal wavelength preferentially over other wavelengths, it also provides improved noise immunity.

Abstract: A sliding electrical control provides a method for controlling the power to electrical systems, such as lamps, motors, etc. from more than one location. The control is designed to be mounted on one side of a plate and operated from the other side. It thus permits a slide for operating the control to be mounted closer to a wall than was possible before. In a preferred embodiment, the control includes a biasing spring, which reduces any tendency to rock, rather than slide, when the motion of the slide is begun.

Abstract: A method of rapidly annealing an amorphous metal core consists of applying a magnetic field to the core, immersing the core in a hot liquid for a period of time, and then placing the core in a cooling fluid. The hot liquid is preferably a molten metal or molten metal alloy, such as molten tin or solder. The cooling fluid may be an organic liquid or liquefied gas. Rapid magnetic annealing provides advantages not only of less time and energy costs, but also yields an annealed core that is more ductile than those of the prior art. The greater ductility permits a wound core to be annealed by this method and then rewound into another core.

Abstract: A laser comprises a laser medium and multiple resonators, together with means for switching coherent radiation from one resonator to another. If one of the resonators includes appropriate loss means, the laser can be self injection-locked and provide high-power, single-longitudinal mode radiation. Another embodiment of the laser provides successive laser pulses, separated by a short time interval and having different characteristics. A phase conjugate laser and an improved ring laser are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for casting metal strip includes a nozzle having an orifice for depositing a stream of molten metal onto a casting region of a moving chill surface. A conditioning shoe is located generally upstream from the nozzle in a direction opposite to the direction of chill surface movement to delimit a conditioning chamber. The conditioning chamber communicates directly with the nozzle orifice and borders at least three sidelines of the chill surface casting portion. A shield for minimizing an intrusion of ambient atmosphere into the conditioning chamber and for deflecting an entrained gas boundary layer carried along by the chill surface is cooperatively connected to the conditioning shoe. Gas control provides a selected, low density atmosphere, such as a partial vacuum, within the conditioning chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reliably casting a continuous metal filament include a moving casting surface and an extrusion means for depositing a stream of molten metal onto the casting surface to form the filament. A metallic mesh hugger belt, at least a portion of which is adapted to move at a velocity substantially equal to the velocity of the casting surface, entrains the filament against the casting surface to maintain cooling contact therewith. A force mechanism urges the hugger belt toward the filament and casting surface to provide an entraining, hugger pressure which is sufficient to substantially prevent relative movement of the filament with respect to the casting surface and hugger belt. A regulator mechanism controls the hugger pressure to prevent the imposition of excessive forces within the filament during the cooling thereof.

Abstract: A device for monitoring environmental exposure includes an element whose electrical properties change, in a predetermined way, in response to the environmental exposure. The element may be part of a tuned circuit or of a shield for a tuned circuit. In either case, when the tuned circuit is interrogated, preferably by an r.f. or microwave signal, it emits a signal whose intensity depends on the electrical properties of the element. Thus, an incremental environmental exposure can be measured by a change in the signal intensity. The device is particularly useful for monitoring the condition of perishable materials, because it can be located with the perishable inside a packaging material during both storage and interrogation.