Abstract: An integrated wiring assembly electrically connects components of a multi-zone boiler heating system. The integrated wiring assembly includes a plurality of connection terminals which are commonly connected to facilitate connecting thermostats and zone valves for each zone, end switches of each zone valve to a start switch of the boiler, and a transformer to supply electrical power to the components, in such a way that the complexity of the electrical connections is simplified.

Abstract: A catheter capture device comprising a urethral sound and a sleeve that utilizes balloon inflation to capture the catheter. A catheter capture device comprising a urethral sound and a clamshell device. The clamshell device comprises two halves, one of which comprises two pins. One pin passes through the lateral holes in the tip of the catheter, and the other pin fits into a notch in the bottom half of the clamshell device. A catheter capture device comprising a urethral sound, a sleeve and a pin that passes through the lateral holes in the tip of the catheter. A catheter capture device comprising a urethral sound, a wire and a nodule, wherein the nodule captures the catheter by lodging in the tip of the catheter. The nodule could be a ball, hook, crimped wire or similar object. A method of capturing a catheter in an obese or non-obese patient.

Abstract: Twist pin z-axis interconnectors are assembled in columns of aligned vias in stacked printed circuit boards of a circuit module in automated assembly cycles. Each assembly cycle involves singulating a single twist pin from a plurality of twist pins, inserting the twist pin into the via column, gripping a leader portion of the twist pin, pulling the gripped leader portion until a connection portion moves into contact with the vias of the column, severing the leader portion from the connection portion, extracting the severed leader portion, and automatically repeating assembly cycles until interconnectors have been assembled into a substantial majority of the via columns of the circuit module.

Abstract: An electrosurgical pencil includes an adjustable-length suction tube which surrounds a stationary electrode to evacuate smoke and electrosurgical byproducts from a surgical site. An electrode anchor unit is located within the interior of the suction tube to allow relative movement of the suction tube relative to a stationarily-retained electrode, and to receive and connect to different lengths of the electrodes. Adjusting the length of the suction tube relative to the different lengths of the electrode achieves effective evacuation, among other things.

Abstract: A gravity survey is conducted by obtaining relative gravity measurements from a plurality of survey points using a relative gravimeter, obtaining absolute gravity measurements from a subset of a lesser plurality of the survey points designated as combination survey points, determining a correction factor related to any difference between the relative and absolute gravity measurements at each of the combination survey points, and correcting the relative gravity measurements made at the survey points which are not combination survey points using the correction factor. The absolute and corrected relative gravity measurements at the survey points constitute the gravity survey.

Abstract: Biological tissue is sealed or fused to occlude an opening by compressing apposite sidewall portions of the tissue and applying sufficient energy to cause the fibers of the compressed apposed sidewall portions to intertwine and fuse with one another to form a permanent seal. The energy application is controlled by detecting a precursor fusion condition while applying the energy and before sufficient energy has been applied to achieve a permanent seal. The application of energy is terminated in a time-delayed relationship to the detection of the precursor fusion condition. The precursor fusion condition is detected from derivative values of an envelope established by peak values of cycles of high-frequency current conducted through the tissue.

Abstract: The functionality and the output power delivered are evaluated in an electrosurgical generator by calculating first and second values related to the output power delivered by using separate first and second computations. The two calculated values are compared, and an error condition is indicated when the two values differ by a predetermined amount. The separate computations, coupled with the other separate activities of measuring, averaging and sampling the output current and voltage measurements, serve as an effective basis for detecting errors caused by malfunctions or equipment failure. The error condition may be used to as a basis to terminate the output power delivery or indicate the error.

Abstract: Biological tissue is sealed or fused to occlude an opening by compressing apposite sidewall portions of the tissue and applying sufficient energy to cause the fibers of the compressed apposed sidewall portions to intertwine and fuse with one another to form a permanent seal. The energy application is controlled by detecting a precursor fusion condition while applying the energy and before sufficient energy has been applied to achieve a permanent seal. The application of energy is terminated in a time-delayed relationship to the detection of the precursor fusion condition. The precursor fusion condition is detected from derivative values of the total accumulated amount of high-frequency energy conducted through the tissue.

Abstract: A gift wrapping enclosure encloses a gift which has been inserted within an interior of a main body formed of flexible material. An end portion of the main body surrounding an open end is folded back to form a cuff. An interior surface is exposed at the cuff, and the exposed cuff surface has a different color, texture or material characteristic from the main body. The main body is constricted at the cuff to close the open end and confine the gift, and is expanded at the cuff to provide access to the interior to remove the gift.

Abstract: A group of data storage units are serially connected in a sequential data communication path to communicate read and write operations to first and second interfaces of each data storage unit in the group. A data management computer device (“filer”) manages read and write operations of the data storage units of the group through an adapter of the filer. Main and redundant primary communication pathway connectors extend from the filer to the interfaces of the data storage unit, thereby establishing redundancy through multiple pathways to communicate the read and write operations to the data storage units of the group. Main and redundant secondary communication pathway connectors extend from partner filers to the groups of data storage units associated with each partner filer, thereby further enhancing redundancy.

Abstract: Virtual interfaces on a cluster of servers in a mass data storage system are automatically reconfigured by transferring an internet protocol (IP) address hosting responsibility from one operative port to another operative port within the cluster, in response to a change in operative status of any port within the cluster.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator has a control system formed by an array of logic gates programmed to execute mathematical algorithms for regulating at least one parameter of output power, output voltage or output current of an output electrosurgical signal in a closed loop response to sensed values of the output voltage and the output current.

Abstract: A connection portion of a z-axis interconnector is assembled into contact with a plurality of aligned vias in a corresponding plurality of stacked printed circuit boards by gripping and pulling a leader portion of the interconnector connected to the connection portion, to move the interconnector into the final position with the connection portion contacting the aligned vias. The leader portion is severed from the connection portion after the interconnector is moved into the final position. A single pulling and cutting tool which accomplishes these functions preferably does so by a single pinch and cut device having opposing blades which partially penetrate into the leader portion to grip the leader portion, which fully penetrated through the leader portion to sever the leader portion, and which are moved toward and away from the plurality of stacked printed circuit boards to pull the interconnector and to reposition for severing the leader portion.

Abstract: Non-domesticated mammalian animals are anesthetized and immobilized by injecting an effective amount of an anesthetizing and immobilizing drug comprising pharmaceutically active ingredients of butorphanol tartrate, azaperone tartrate and medetomidine hydrochloride (BAM) into the animal from a dart. The BAM combination is preferably initially formed as lyophilized powder of the pharmaceutically active ingredients, and then reconstituted before injection as an injectable liquid in the environment of the animal.

Abstract: An indwelling catheter is positioned in a urinary tract to drain urine from the bladder to a position distally adjacent to a sphincter muscle. A balloon of the catheter is inflated through an inflation tube extending through the urinary tract. A coiled section of the inflation tube contacts the constriction caused by the sphincter muscle. The balloon and the coiled section resist movement of the indwelling catheter while still permitting natural urination. The indwelling catheter is inserted by an insertion tool which is separably connected to the catheter. Once the indwelling catheter is positioned, the tool is disconnected and withdrawn from the urinary tract. Risks of blood clots obstructing the flow of urine through the indwelling catheter immediately following a surgical procedure on the prostate gland are avoided by flushing fluid through the insertion tool and the catheter to clear an internal urine flow passageway in the catheter.

Abstract: Voltage and current of an electrosurgical output signal which is conducted by a transformer are accurately simulated by executing a simulation algorithm to compensate for inherent distortion in the values of the current and voltage induced between primary and secondary windings of the transformer. The simulation algorithm is executed in response to voltage and current signals from a primary winding of the transformer, which may be a power output transformer or part of an electrosurgical output signal sensor.

Abstract: Exhaust air containing particulate and carbon monoxide gas contaminants is withdrawn from a confined environment, such as a food cooking area, by a circulation system which liquid scrubs particulate contaminants from the exhaust flow, removes liquid mist from the flow, and then catalyzes or neutralizes the carbon monoxide gas contaminants into benign carbon dioxide before discharging the flow back into the confined environment. Removing contaminants in this manner allows a substantial amount of the thermal energy content of the exhaust air to be saved and reused within the confined environment, rather than discharging the thermal energy into the ambient environment.