Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising a copolymer comprising pyrrolidonoethyl acrylate or pyrrolidonoethyl methacrylate. This composition may be used as part of a transdermal drug delivery device.

Abstract: Methods of detecting bacteria including the use of an immobilized enzyme substrate are provided.

Abstract: A multi-chambered pump-valve device for performing chemical processes, detections or analyses is described herein. The device includes a plurality of chambers having variable volumes in fluid communication with one another via one or more passageways. Liquid may be directed through the device by merely changing the volumes of two or more chambers. Despite the simplicity of the mode for transferring liquids in the device, complex chemical processing sequences may be performed using the device. A plurality of devices may be incorporated into a larger apparatus so that a plurality of chemical processing operations may be performed substantially simultaneously in parallel.

Abstract: A method for forming a unitary polymeric projection or fastener comprising a base layer, and a multiplicity of spaced projections or hook members projecting from the upper surface of the unitary base layer the method generally including extruding of forming a thermoplastic resin through a die plate or mold. A die plate, if used, is shaped to form a base layer and spaced ridges, projecting above a surface of the base layer. When the die forms the spaced ridges or ribs the cross sectional shape of the projections are formed by the die plate. The ridges are then cut at spaced locations along their lengths to form discrete cut portions of the ridges. The cut portions are then heat treated resulting in shrinkage of at least a portion of at least the cut portion thickness by from 5 to 90 percent, preferably 30 to 90 percent thereby forming discrete upstanding projections.

Abstract: Methods and devices for thermal processing of multiple samples at the same time are disclosed. The assemblies include carriers and sample processing devices with process arrays that include conduits useful in distributing sample materials to a group pf process chambers located in fluid communication with the main conduits. The sample processing devices may include one or more of the following features in various combinations: deformable seals, process chambers connected to the main conduit by feeder conduits exiting the main conduit at offset locations, U-shaped loading chambers, and a combination of melt bonded and adhesively bonded areas. The carriers may be used to apply selective compression to the sample processing devices.

Abstract: There is provided in a standard ceiling system, having suspension rails or elements a movable air delivery diffuser resting on the suspension elements and a filter panel inserted into and retained between the suspension elements and the air delivery diffuser. The filter panel has a filter frame and an attached filter designed to be inserted into and retained on the suspension elements of the suspension ceiling. The filter frame has an inner face and an outer face with a filter media retained in the filter frame. The outer edges of the filter media are located and retained adjacent the filter frame inner face. The filter frame outer face has a flexible perimeter flange projecting outwardly from an uppermost portion of the filter frame outer face. This flexible perimeter flange can bend inwardly so as to be substantially flush with said frame outer face and can then flex back outward to engage the suspension elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for isolating nucleic acid from a sample, preferably from a biological sample. This method involves applying the biological sample to a hydrophobic organic polymeric solid phase to selectively trap target nucleic acid and removing nucleic acid with a nonionic surfactant. Another method involves treating a hydrophobic organic polymeric material with a nonionic surfactant, washing the surface, and subsequently contacting the treated solid organic polymeric material with a biological sample to reduce the amount of nucleic acid that binds to the organic polymeric solid phase.

Abstract: Functionalized supports and methods for solid phase synthesis. Preferably, the functionalized support is azlactone-functionalized.

Abstract: A coated laminate having an ionic surface including a shrinkable polymeric film, an ionic coating and, optionally, a hydrogel is disclosed. A method for transferring sample molecules from a matrix to a coated laminate having an ionic surface also is disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a process for forming profiled elastic laminates suitable for forming profiled elastic ear portions. The process comprises the steps of providing a continuous length of at least one elastic web material having a first width and a continuous length of a first extensible nonelastic web having a second width. The extensible web is extensible in at least the width dimension. The at least one elastic web material and the first extensible nonelastic web are joined to form a first laminate. The first laminate is cut into at least two adjacent continuous lengths of at least two nested profiled laminates. The nested profiled laminates each have at least one profiled edge. Adjacent profiled edges of adjacent profiled laminates are substantial negatives of each other. The adjacent profiled laminates are then physically separated from each other.

Abstract: There is provided an oil absorbing wipe material suitable for wiping a users' skin or hair and a method for their manufacture. The wipes comprise at least an oil absorbing porous film-like substrate of a thermoplastic material. Generally, the wipe changes transparency or color (a change in L* of about 10 or more) when loaded with oil to provide an oil absorption indication functionality. The wipe is formed by (a) providing a porous film-like substrate of a thermoplastic material capable of absorbing facial or body oils and changing transparency or color, and (b) coating the porous substrate with oil, either continuously or in regions, wherein the oil coating is not sufficient to change the transparency or color of the substrate such that it loses its oil absorption indication functionality. This oil coating being of a nature such that the coated porous substrate has an increased oil absorption indicating functionality.

Abstract: Tool rolls and methods of using the tool rolls to manufacture articles with one or more structured surfaces are disclosed. The tool rolls include an outer surface that, when used in connection with materials of the proper viscosity or formability, can form a structured surface on an article. Because the tools are manufactured in roll-form, they can be advantageously used in continuous manufacturing processes. Alternatively, discrete articles may be processed using the tool rolls. The tool rolls are constructed of a cylindrical base roll and are wrapped with one or more continuous wires in a modified undulating helical pattern. The modified helical pattern results in the distance between the first wire and a reference plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the base roll sequentially increasing and decreasing at least once when moving in one direction about a circumference of the base roll.

Abstract: The present invention provides various microfluid processing architecture-bearing, polymeric articles. The articles may include microelectronic, microoptical or microchemical elements. The article also may include inorganic thin film coatings.

Abstract: The invention comprises a flexible adsorbent-loaded filter formed from a flexible support web and attached adsorbent particles. The adsorbent-loaded filter has open filter cells which are defined by the support web and the attached adsorbent particles and are random in size and orientation through the length and depth of the filter. The support web is formed of substantially nonlinear filaments that randomly intersect. The adsorbent particles largest average cross sectional dimension is smaller than the average diameter of the pores of the support web. When the flexible adsorbent loaded filter is flexed about a radius of curvature 20 mm, the percent increase in pressure drop is less than 100 percent when measured at a face velocity of 0.25 m/s.

Abstract: A filtration system for filtering particulates from air. A plurality of point ionization sources are positioned in the proximity of the periphery of an air flow channel and being oriented to generate ions in the proximity of the air flow channel in a direction generally upstream from each respective one of the plurality of point ionization sources. A particulate collection surface is positioned within the air flow channel in a downstream direction from the plurality of point ionization sources. The particulate collection surface is electrostatically charged in an opposite direction with respect to ground than the electrical charge of the ions. An ion trap is positioned within the air flow channel between the plurality of ionization sources and the particulate collection surface. The ion trap is relatively electrically neutral as compared with the particulate collection surface and the ions.

Abstract: A filtration media array is provided having at least one contoured polymeric film layer having surface structures. The film layers may be configured as a stack that has the contoured film layer defining a plurality of ordered inlet openings through a face of the stack and corresponding air pathways, thereby forming an open, porous volume. The air pathways may be defined by a plurality of flow channels formed by the contours of the structured contoured film layers.