Abstract: This Invention provides for a color-coded infant measuring apparatus (10) that includes a linear head panel (14), an antimicrobial flexible mat (12) having its top end connected to the linear head panel (14), and a linear foot panel (16) connected to the bottom end of the flexible mat (12). The flexible mat (12) includes a system of linear measurement comprising a plurality of line segments of different lengths representing integer measurement increments and fractional measurement increments, wherein line segments having the same length are assigned the same respective color. A plurality of different nonlinear two-dimensional symbols represents different fraction measurement increments, wherein the same two-dimensional symbols are assigned the same respective color and different two-dimensional symbols are assigned different colors. The flexible mat (12) includes a linear measuring scale on the central vertical line (37).

Abstract: A multiple electrode pair array apparatus is provided for use with a multiple well plate which has multiple wells distributed in a two-dimensional matrix array which has R rows and C columns. The multiple electrode pair array apparatus includes a non-conductive base member. An array of pairs of electrodes are attached to the base member and project therefrom. The pairs of electrodes are distributed on the base member in a two-dimensional matrix array which has R rows and C columns to enable registration with the two-dimensional matrix array of wells. Each pair of electrodes includes a respective first electrode and a respective second electrode. An array of R row conductors are electrically connected to corresponding first electrodes. An array of C column conductors are oriented perpendicular to the R row conductors, are electrically insulated from the row conductors, and are electrically connected to corresponding second electrodes.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method of treating biological cells prior to subjecting the biological cells to cell fusion pulses which includes the step of treating the biological cells with pre-fusion electric field waveforms which change amplitude in a non-linear way with respect to time, such that the biological cells are first aligned with a relatively low amplitude, long duration pre-fusion electric field waveform and then compressed with a relatively high amplitude, short duration pre-fusion electric field waveform resulting in increased cell membrane contact prior to being subjected to cell fusion. The non-linear pre-fusion electric field waveforms can change in a stepped way, in a continuous way, in a sigmoidal way, with step-wise increasing waveforms in adjacent steps, with step-wise increasing waveforms in non-adjacent steps, and in accordance with non-linear algorithms.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method for delivery of macromolecules into biological cells in the tissues of a patient and includes the steps of: (a) providing electrodes (16) in an electrode assembly (12), wherein the electrodes have fixed electrode surfaces (42) which are coated with at least one static layer of electrode releasable molecules (44) to be delivered; (b) providing a waveform generator (15) for generating electric fields; (c) establishing electrically conductive pathways between the electrodes (16) and the waveform generator (15); (d) locating the electrodes (16) such that the biological cells are situated therebetween, and (g) providing electric fields in the form of pulse waveforms from the waveform generator (15) to the electrodes (16), such that molecules in the at least one static layer of the electrode releasable molecules (44) on the electrodes (16) are delivered into the biological cells.

Abstract: A crosslinked micellar gel composition is comprised of a polymer formed by a reaction between (a) ionic surfactant units which include ionic surfactant molecules, each of which includes a counterion which has a first polymerizable functional group, (b) crosslinking agent molecules, each of which includes two second polymerizable functional groups, and (c) a reaction initiator selected from the group consisting of reaction initiator molecules and ultraviolet light radiation, wherein the reaction initiator initiates a reaction between a plurality of the ionic surfactant units with each other and a plurality of the ionic surfactant units with the second polymerizable functional groups. The polymer compositions formed from the reactions are crosslinked micellar gels which include a network structure of rodlike micelles forming a soft gel material which retains features and utility of rodlike micelles and benefits from the structural stability of a crosslinked polymer matrix.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp flashing circuit is comprised of a fluorescent lamp to which an alternating supply voltage source is connected through a series connected loading reactance device which provides current limiting. The heaters of the fluorescent lamp are independently fed. A switching device disconnects and reconnects the alternating supply voltage at a predetermined frequency rate which is determined by a control circuit which controls a switching device. When the switching device is closed, the fluorescent lamp is bypassed through a full wave rectifier bridge and the reactance device is connected in parallel with the supply voltage source and with a bleeding resistance to load the bridge and to form a resonant circuit to maintain the loading reactance device constant and permitting an energy exchange between the supply voltage source and the loading reactance device in a resonant mode thereby maintaining a sine wave form and minimizing loss.

Abstract: A quick connect/disconnect coupling comprised of a male coupling adapted to mate with a female coupling, the female coupling forming a passageway to receive the male coupling, and locking means for retaining the male coupling in said female coupling. The locking means being comprised of a locking lever pivotably mounted to the female coupling and having a cooperating projection adapted to extend through the coupling into the passageway to engage an annular cavity of the male coupling to maintain the male coupling into a mating relationship with the female coupling when the locking lever is in a closed position. The male and female couplings are provided with a reinforced annular rim, the reinforced annular rim of the male coupling extends radially of the coupling at a mid-portion thereof.

Abstract: An automatic mattress surface contour and support changing apparatus includes a wave-emitter assembly which emits waves and is worn by a person lying in bed. A wave-responsive mattress/control assembly responds to the waves of the wave-emitter assembly for adjusting top surface support characteristics of the wave-responsive mattress/control assembly. The wave-responsive mattress/control assembly includes a plurality of signal-responsive, adjustable-height support assemblies and a top layer covering and supported by the plurality of signal-responsive, adjustable-height support assemblies. The top layer provides a top support surface for supporting the person in bed. A plurality of wave sensor assemblies are ready to sense waves from a wave-emitter assembly when the wave-emitter assembly moves substantially close to one or more of the wave sensor assemblies. With one embodiment, each wave sensor assembly is connected to an associated signal-responsive, adjustable-height support assembly.

Abstract: An improved garment is provided for a wearer. The garment includes a plurality of flexible, non-airtight garment modules having pockets. A plurality of flexible, water-resistant inserts are provided that are capable of being placed in and removed from the pockets. Preferably, the pockets of the garment modules and the water-resistant inserts for the pockets cover nearly the entire garment module. Because the pockets and the pocket inserts extend up to the edge regions, the edge regions serve, in effect, as flexible joints between adjacent pockets with their respective inserts.