Abstract: A manual pipette including a magnet assist for generating a magnetic force opposing a return spring force on a plunger unit to aid a pipette user in locating and maintaining the plunger unit at a "home" position within a pipette body and ready for immersion of a pipette tip in a liquid to be drawn into the tip.

Abstract: A multi-mode attachable hanger for a pipette comprising contiguous mounting and pipette supporting portions. The supporting portion comprises a pair of substantially parallel, laterally separated support arms extending forward from a back plate to vertically support a pipette body there between. The mounting portion comprises a spacer extending rearward from the back plate spacing the back plate from a support surface to which the hanger is to be mounted. A connector extends from the spacer to secure the hanger to the support surface with the rear edge surface bearing against the support surface. The connector is characterized by means for securing the hanger to a ferrous surface, a hollow wall, a wooden surface, and in combination comprises one or more of a magnet, screw of adhesive centered with respect to the spacer.

Abstract: Longitudinally collapsible apparatus for compacting packing material within a tubular liquid chromatography column. The apparatus includes a first support member, a second support member and a movable support member. The movable support member is releasably connectable to the second support member for support thereby. When released from the second support member, the movable member is adapted to ride on guide members extending between the first and second support members. A compression mechanism is supported on the movable support member to mote therewith to a longitudinally collapsed position for the apparatus. The compression mechanism comprises a reversible drive for an axially movable rod carrying a movable piston. With the movable support member secured to the second support member, the piston of the compression mechanism is movable in an end of the tubular column when the column is supported on the first support member.

Abstract: A reusable pipette tip rack for successively receiving and dispensing arrays of pipette tips and including a manually releasable latch mechanism for securing a support plate carrying an array of pipette tips flat on the top of a support tray of the pipette tip rack with the array of tips seated in an array of openings in the top of the support tray. The latch mechanism comprises a latch including a laterally extending locking surface on one of the support plate or the support tray and a manually releasable locking member extending from the other of the support plate or the support tray. Preferably, the latch mechanism comprises a combination of two such latches each including a locking member and locking surface located at opposite edges of the support tray of the pipette tip rack.

Abstract: A pipette tip ejector mechanism for a pipette comprising a releasable connector between a lower end of a pipette tip ejector shaft and an upper end of a pipette tip ejector arm. The connector comprises a female receptor extending from either the shaft or arm and a male connector extending from the other of the shaft or arm to axially fit into the female receptor for support thereby. A cantilever is secured at one end to either the shaft or arm to extend along an outer surface thereof. The cantilever carries one of a locking member or a locking shoulder to engage and lock to the other of the locking member or locking shoulder on the shaft or arm to axially lock the arm relative to the shaft as the male connector is inserted into the female receptor.

Abstract: A refill pack for storing and dispensing pipette tips into an empty tip rack. The refill rack comprises a hand-gripable carrier for an array of pipette tips releasably secured relative to the carrier such that after hand positioning the array of tips on the empty tip rack, the carrier may be released from the tips which are then free to be seated on a lower end of a pipette and removed from the tip rack.

Abstract: Oxidation resistant coatings on carbon fibers are provided. Oxidation inhibitor particles are incorporated into a polymeric sizing coating on carbon fibers to protect the fibers from deterioration and erosion due to oxidation of carbon.

Abstract: A talking door knob assembly which provides a decoratively shaped character familiar to a child as an inner door knob of a door to a child's room and complementary to the room decor, which responds to a rotation of the door knob by activating any of a plurality of pre-recorded messages associated with the character forming the door knob. The door knob may be formed in the image of any of a large variety of figures such as sports figures, nursery rhyme characters or other currently popular child characters. In addition to annunciating entertaining sounds or messages, the invention may provide messages for the safety and training of a child.

Abstract: A longitudinally elongated, transversely flexible pulling member, having a rounded leading end and a trailing end with a female connector for releasably capturing a leading tip end of a drawstring, whereby the leading end of the pulling member can be inserted into an entry end of a drawstring channel in a garment or container and pushed there along to pull the drawstring into and along the channel to insert the drawstring in the channel with opposite ends of the drawstring extending from opposite ends of the channel.

Abstract: A cochlear electrode comprising a spirally curved distal tip portion carrying electrical conductors for stimulating the cochlea, a lead offset from the distal tip portion and a bridge therebetween and extending from the distal tip adjacent the proximal terminus thereof. The bridge defines a slide for guiding the distal tip portion into and out of an insertion tool during implantation of the electrode while the proximal terminus defines a push point for a push rod included in the insertion tool for sliding the distal tip out of the tool and into the cochlea.

Abstract: A refill pack for storing and dispensing pipette tips into a tip rack, comprising a support plate with an array of holes containing disposable pipette tips arranged in an organized array and a carrier for hand positioning the support plate over the tip rack for release of the array of pipette tips into the tip rack.

Abstract: A plasma flood system for use in the implantation of ions in a semiconductor substrate comprising a plasma and low energy electron source for developing a plasma containing low energy electrons for magnetic field enhanced transmission to a negatively biased, magnetic field assisted electron confinement tube and into an ion beam flowing axially through the tube to the semiconductor substrate for self regulating and neutralizing positive charges on the surface of the substrate without causing significant negative charging of the substrate.

Abstract: A refill pack of light weight low mass material containing an array of replacement pipette tips for a reusable tip rack. The refill pack comprises a support plate with an array of holes containing pipette tips arranged in an organized manner and including a skirt-like guide for centering and guiding the support plate onto the tip rack with distal end portions of the pipette tips aligned with and vertically entering corresponding holes in an organizing tray in the tip rack.

Abstract: A manual pipette including user controllable latch and trigger mechanisms for releasably locking the plunger of the pipette in a "home" position ready for immersion of the pipette tip in a fluid to be drawn into the tip and further including a user controllable velocity governor for regulating the rate of plunger return from the "home" position to a first or upper stop position in drawing the fluid into the tip.

Abstract: A catheter system for ventilating patients experiencing severe respiratory distress. The system comprises a balloon-tip catheter, means for supplying a stream of oxygen gas at a controlled pressure and flow rate and means for rhythmically causing the balloon to expand and deflate when the catheter is inserted into the patient's trachea. Inflation of the balloon isolates the lower trachea so that a low pressure stream of oxygen flowing out from the distal tip of the catheter will expand the lungs and enter thereinto. When the balloon is deflated, the lungs collapse to discharge respiratory carbon dioxide. The unit is self-contained, and other than a source of oxygen, needs no other source of power to operate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of treatment room selection verification in a radiation beam therapy system. The method compares treatment room beam request signals with a beam path configuration signal from a switchyard which controls the path of beam travel from an accelerator to one of the treatment rooms. Upon agreement of the request and beam path signals, beam transport to a selected treatment is authorized.

Abstract: A vertically retractable support assembly comprising a plurality of telescoping sets of three or more laterally spaced vertical guide rods, the rods of each set being laterally tied at their lowermost ends to impart lateral stability to the rods thereof. The first set of rods is secured at its upper end to a stationary mount to extend vertically therefrom and support a first carrier for vertical movement on the rods thereof. The second set of rods is secured at its upper end to the first carrier to extend vertically therefrom and support a second carrier for vertical movement on the rods thereof in a telescoping manner relative to the rods of the first set, and so on. A member to be selectively positioned is secured to the lateral tie for the lowermost set of guide rods. Each carrier is urged toward a vertical retracted position by an extendable spring mechanism secured to the mount. A brake normally locks the spring mechanism to hold the carriers in their vertically retracted position.

Abstract: A method and accompanying apparatus for automatically extending the linear dynamic absorbance range of absorbance detectors including multi-lightpath flow cells. The absorbance of a reference beam in a relatively short reference path is multiplied by a ratio of the absorbance of a sample beam in a relatively long sample path to the reference path absorbance in developing a relative absorbance for the sample path beyond its linear dynamic range.

Abstract: A hand held self-contained automated pipette for portable operation having an electrically operated digital linear actuator. The actuator preferably includes a stepper motor driving a rotor. A threaded screw is coaxially positioned within the rotor and is connected to an actuator shaft having elongate grooves slidable in a guide for preventing shaft rotation so that precise linear motion is imparted to the shaft. A pipetting displacement assembly having one of various sizes is removably attached for actuation by a common actuator including programmed movement of a displacing piston in a displacement cylinder to optimize air interface volume, neutralize variations in vacuum pipette effects, and provide an accommodated stroke and readout for improved accuracy while pipetting and/or titrating different ranges of volumes. Upon calibration the piston undertakes immediate excursion to an end of travel limit and after motor slippage is retracted to a home position.

Abstract: A reflector array employs a number of linear, tubular heater lamps arranged in a circle concentric with the substrate to be heated. Some of the lamps have focusing reflectors and the remainder have dispersive reflectors. A peripheral cylindrical reflector surrounds the lamps and their associated reflectors. The combined reflectors permit balancing the thermal radiation intensity across the surface of the substrate.