Abstract: A large volume medical fluid vacuum collection canister includes a blow molded canister body defining a medical fluid receiving cavity. The canister body includes a pair of opposed upstanding sidewalls interconnected by a pair of opposed upstanding end walls a top wall with an opening and an opposed bottom wall. Each sidewall includes at least one reentrant beam portion extending inwardly from opposed sidewall surfaces into a central region of the medical fluid receiving cavity. The reentrant beams from opposing sidewalls are disposed in registering alignment so that there internal end faces abut in face to face relationship. The collection canister also includes a plurality of bellows recesses defined in the bottom wall and each of the opposed upstanding end walls. Each bellows recess extends the entire width of the bottom wall or end wall and further extends in a wrap around manner from the end wall or bottom wall portions to an intermediate point defined in the adjacent opposed sidewalls.

Abstract: Self-repairing, fiber reinforced matrix materials include a matrix material including inorganic as well as organic matrices. Disposed within the matrix are hollow fibers having a selectively releasable modifying agent contained therein. The hollow fibers may be inorganic or organic and of any desired length, wall thickness or cross-sectional configuration. The modifying agent is selected from materials capable of beneficially modifying the matrix fiber composite after curing. The modifying agents are selectively released into the surrounding matrix in use in response to a predetermined stimulus be it internal or externally applied. The hollow fibers may be closed off or even coated to provide a way to keep the modifying agent in the fibers until the appropriate time for selective release occurs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical device having a tissue engaging portion, a shaft member, and a handle assembly. The tissue engaging portion includes first and second opposed jaws for grasping, securing, and occluding body tissue and conduits. The shaft member is operatively coupled to the tissue engaging portion and is capable of being placed in different curvatures. The handle assembly is operatively coupled to both the shaft member and to the tissue engaging portion. The shaft member of the present invention allows the surgeon to bend and adjust the shape of the surgical device to minimize its intrusion and to allow for proper positioning in predetermined body locations. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the device is disposable.

Abstract: A new and improved credit card/money clip device is provided by a base member having first and second generally opposed major surfaces. A clip for holding folded currency is defined on one side of the base member and credit card receiving area is defined by resilient elastic holding straps adjacent the second major surface. The credit card/money clip device provides a compact, low profile device and method for carrying money and cards in an organized and supported manner in a pants pocket or the like.

Abstract: Novel methods for covalent attachment of antibodies, antigens, or other molecules to solid phases using extended length heterobifunctional crosslinking reagents are disclosed. The resulting derivatized solid phases can be used in diagnostic assays.

Abstract: Novel polyamino acid based coupling agents are disclosed. These reagents are useful for conjugating proteins (e.g. antibodies to enzymes) for use in diagnostic assays.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring electrolyute concentrations in fluid samples. The apparatus includes an ion selective electrode having a plurality of ion selective detection sites. Each site has an affinity for a preselected electrolyte of interest and generates a potential having a magnitude related to the concentration of the corresponding electrolyte in the sample. A voltage to optical transducer circuit is provided to convert the voltage differentials to optical signals having intensity related to the concentration of the electrolytes in a first embodiment, a digital code related to the concentration of the electrolytes in a second embodiment, and an optical absorption or density value related to the concentration of the electrolytes in a third embodiment. The optical signals are suitable for detection by conventional optical detector apparatus of assay instruments and may be processed using conventional two point linear interpolation techniques to determine the concentrations of the preselected electrolytes.

Abstract: An optical code reader system includes an optical code reader and a corresponding optical code format. The code reader includes a detector circuit for establishing an adaptive threshold level related to the difference in successive positive and negative peaks of the analog signal corresponding to white and black areas of the code. The code format comprises a plurality of alternating encoded black and white areas bounded by white quiet zones and black preset areas associated with the quiet zones for presetting the threshold value of the detector circuit to a known level before the code is read.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a self-balancing reflectometer is disclosed in conjunction with a system including an RF source, an RF load, and an RF transmission channel that carries RF signals transmitted by the source to the load. The self-balancing reflectometer includes a load current sampler that generates a first sample signal related to load current by a first fixed value of gain and a load voltage sampler that generates a second sample signal related to load voltage by a voltage-responsive second variable value of gain. The first sample signal is subtracted from the second sample signal and the resulting difference signal is applied to the RF port of a double balanced mixer. The RF voltage signal appearing at the load is applied to the LO port of the mixer, which generates an IF signal that varies with both rapid load impedance modulation corresponding to load data and long term basal variations in load impedance unrelated to load data.

Abstract: A plurality of disposable cartridges, each having a plurality of wells including at least one assay reaction well, are loaded in a plurality of openings arranged radially around a rack of a carousel. Securing of the cartridges in a predetermined orientation and position in said openings is ensured by means of alignment and securing means on the cartridges and corresponding means on the rack. A locking hub with tangs is mounted on the rack and is rotated to cause the tangs to contact locator tabs on each cartridge to force locator nubs on each of the cartridges radially into corresponding notches on the rack, and to accurately wedge the cartridges against the outer periphery of the rack. The carousel indexes for positioning the cartridges under a variety of stations, one of which generally contains an optical reader such as a fluorometer.

Abstract: An improved ISE is provided for measuring the concentration of an electrolyte in a sample in a centrifuge-type analyzer utilizing a multichamber test pack. The reference cell and sensor cell of the ISE are each comprised of an electrode, fill solution, housing and membrane in a fully self-contained configuration. Each cell is of sufficiently small size to fit in the test pack. The electrode of each cell is provided with screw threads to allow each cell to be screwed directly into the test pack thereby securing the cell to the test pack and at the same time providing a convenient electrical contact to the readout electronics of the test pack. With the present design manipulation of the ISE sensor output voltage can be achieved by varying the known ion concentration of the fill solution. Also provided is a novel method of introducing a fill solution into the cell after all of the cell components are in place.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for analyzing fluid such as blood serum. A probe used for transferring some of the fluid to a testing station causes a change in circuit capacitance when the probe contacts the fluid. This change in capacitance causes production of a control signal which effects cessation of the descent of the probe into the fluid.

Abstract: A miniaturized reference electrode includes a dielectric thermoplastic cup having a cavity to hold a reference liquid solution and having a sample contacting orifice at one end. A membrane comprising cellulose acetate and a solvent capable of exerting a solvent action on the sidewalls of the cup orifice is drop deposited in the orifice and cured in situ. The resulting membrane extends across the orifice and is interdigitatedly anchored to the orifice sidewalls. The reference electrode further includes an Ag/AgCl screw-in electrode machined from silver rod extending into and hermetically sealing the cup cavity. A reference liquid fill solution having a chloride ion and potassium ion concentration similar to that found in the samples to be tested and the storage soak solution is provided to minimize drift of reference potential.

Abstract: An enzyme conjugate composition comprising an enzyme conjugate, a calcium salt and a polyethylene glycol is disclosed. The enzyme conjugate composition is effectively stabilized by the presence of the calcium salt and the polyethylene glycol.

Abstract: An electrical connector housing and an electrical connector are provided. The housing comprises telescopingly engageable first and second shells, each of which includes a generally peripheral side wall and opposed ends. The first shell is characterized by a cutout portion extending through the peripheral side wall from the one end thereof to a location intermediate the opposed ends. The second shell includes an aperture extending through the peripheral side wall at a location intermediate the opposed ends. A generally tubular eyelet is dimensioned to be slidably disposed over a cable and to be slidably inserted into the aperture in the second shell, with the axes of the eyelet and the cable being angularly aligned to the central axis of the second shell. The telescoping engagement of the first and second shells causes the cutout portion of the first shell to crimp the eyelet into secure engagement with both the cable and the aperture of the second shell.

Abstract: An improved fiber optic connector assembly for connecting the ends of optical fibers to OED lenses is provided by a plug connector including a front mating end and a corresponding number of fiber receiving channels. Each channel includes an enlarged generally cylindrical portion adjacent the front end wherein the optical fiber end is coaxially positioned. The plug connector is mateable with a receptacle connector including a housing having a plug receiving socket with a front opening and a rear wall. The rear wall includes a corresponding number of spaced interface apertures aligned with each OED lens. A plurality of tubular projections coaxially aligned with and surrounding each aperture extend forwardly into the plug-receiving socket.

Abstract: An improved plug-and-receptacle electric connector arrangement designed such that in mating the plug connector and the receptacle connector, the plug connector is inserted at an angle within the receptacle connector until the front end of the plug has reached the rear end of the entry space of the receptacle connector. The plug connector is rotated about a fixed point of the receptacle connector until the plug connector has been put in alignment with the receptacle connector. Then, both mechanical and electrical connections are established between the mating units.

Abstract: Hydraulic hammers are useful for transmitting high impact blows to a tool for fracturing hard material. When two hammers are used in combination the impact blows delivered to a common tool by the hammers should be synchronized for maximum effectiveness. The subject synchronized hydraulic hammer arrangement includes a valve arrangement for alternately directing pressurized fluid to a variable volume chamber in each of a pair of hydraulic hammers to simultaneously retract a piston of each hydraulic hammer against the bias of pressurized gas in a gas chamber of each hydraulic hammer and exhausting the variable volume hydraulic chambers in response to at least one of the pistons reaching a predetermined position. The gas chambers are interconnected for equalizing the gas pressure therein. This arrangement of components provides synchronized movement of the pistons in an outward direction so that they simultaneously impact against the common tool.

Abstract: An I.C. chip carrier and header assembly is provided. The assembly comprises a generally rectangular shrouded header with pins force fit therein. The pins are connectable to conductive traces on a printed circuit. A protective tape may be disposed over the header to control the locations at which conformal coatings may be applied, and thereby avoid extensive cleaning operations. The assembly further comprises a carrier with receptacles for receiving box-type double female carrier terminals. The I.C. chip is mountable in the carrier with the leads thereof being connectable to the carrier terminals by soldering. A cover is locked into engagement with the carrier to define a plugable subassembly. The subassembly is then urged into lockable but removable engagement with the header and the pins thereof.