Abstract: Blood separation systems and methods introduce blood into an annular separation channel between a low-G wall and a high-G wall while rotating the separation channel about an axis, for separation of the blood into blood components. The annular separation channel has an annular boundary wall. The systems and methods direct a first blood component into a constricted channel along the low-G wall. The systems and methods remove the first blood component through a first path that communicates with the separation channel through an opening that adjoins the constricted channel adjacent the low-G wall. The systems and methods direct a second blood component along a surface that extends generally in an axial direction along the high-G wall toward the annular boundary wall. The systems and methods collect the second blood component through a second path that communicates with the separation channel through an opening that adjoins the surface adjacent the high-G wall axially spaced from the annular boundary wall.

Abstract: A targeted tissue region in a body is treated by a tissue heating element attached to a carrier. The carrier is intended, in use, to be temporarily mounted to an exterior of a catheter body, such as an endoscope. The catheter body is deployed, with the carrier mounted on it, into the targeted tissue region. The tissue heating element is operated, e.g., to form one or more tissue lesions, after which the catheter body is retrieved from the targeted tissue region. The carrier can then be removed from the catheter body, allowing the catheter body to be subsequently used for another purpose.

Abstract: A novel therapeutic instrument and technique for delivering thermal energy to a target tissue volume or site in an interior of a patient's body in a “non-invasive” manner for medical purposes, such as selective cell damage to thereafter cause population of the extracellular compartment of the injury site with a collagen fiber matrix. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a catheter-like device dimensioned for transurethral introduction. The distal working end has radiuses laterally-extending elements that are deployable to engage target tissues around the patient's sphincter from both within the bladder and within the urethra. RF electrodes are carried on the working faces of the opposing laterally-extending elements for delivering thermal energy to the target tissues.

Abstract: A handle releasably attaches to a surgical instrument. The handle permits a physician to fit a selected instrument to the handle tactilely, without need of visual confirmation. At the same time, the handle makes possible the reliable transmission, with increased mechanical advantage, of both torsional and longitudinal loads by the physician to the selected instrument. The handle also permits quick detachment of the selected instrument from the handle, without sticking or inordinate force.

Abstract: Pump and cannula systems inserted through the right side and/or left side of the heart provide protection against collapse of the heart chambers and veins and arteries and provide supplemental blood flow through same to enable beating heart bypass surgery on all vessels of the heart, including lateral and posterior vessels. The invention eliminates the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machines. The invention further provides stents adapted for protecting from vein, artery, atrium and/or ventricle collapse during beating heart bypass surgery.

Abstract: A biocompatible and biodegradable barrier material is applied to a tissue region, e.g., to seal a vascular puncture site. The barrier material comprises a compound, which is chemically cross-linked without use of an enzyme to form a non-liquid mechanical matrix. The compound preferably includes a protein comprising recombinant or natural serum albumin, which is mixed with a polymer that comprises poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG), and, most preferably, a multi-armed PEG polymer.

Abstract: Multiple electrodes are coupled together in monopolar or bipolar arrays to form lesion patterns in tissue regions at or near a sphincter. A controller couples the electrodes to a generator so that a single power channel serves more than a single electrode.

Abstract: A balloon for use in compressing cancellous bone and marrow (also known as medullary bone or trabecular bone) against the inner cortex of bones whether the bones are fractured or not. The balloon comprises an inflatable, non-expandable balloon body for insertion into said bone. The body has a shape and size to compress at least a portion of the cancellous bone to form a cavity in the cancellous bone and to restore the original position of the outer cortical bone, if fractured or collapsed. The balloon is prevented from applying excessive pressure to the outer cortical bone. The wall or walls of the balloon are such that proper inflation the balloon body is achieved to provide for optimum compression of all the bone marrow. The balloon is able to be folded so that it can be inserted quickly into a bone. The balloon can be made to have a suction catheter. The main purpose of the balloon is the forming or enlarging of a cavity or passage in a bone, especially in, but not limited to, vertebral bodies.

Abstract: A ratchet-type tensioning mechanism for a rope or cord has a rotatable sheave with faces having improved outwardly extending serrations which include alternating primary and secondary projections. The secondary projections are located in valleys between pairs of primary projections. A releasable ratchet mechanism permits rotation of the sheave in one direction but not the other. The projections are positioned at regular intervals around the circumference of the sheave and located so that a primary projection on one face of the sheave faces a secondary projection in a valley on the opposite face of the sheave.

Abstract: A neon lighting fixture has a first housing channel member that mounts to a building wall and has side walls terminating in rims on opposite sides of the open side of the member. A second inverted housing channel member has a neon tube supporting wall and side walls that are spaced apart to define an open side which interfaces with the open side of the first channel member. There are cooperating elements on the side walls of each member. An electric power supply assembly is mounted to the second nominally inverted channel member between its side walls and is supported on ledges in the side walls. A neon tube mounts on the second channel member's tube supporting wall on which wall there are spaced apart grooved rails that serve as slides. A light transmissive cover has slides shaped complementarily to the grooves in dove-tail fashion to provide for interlocking the cover to the second housing channel member by sliding the cover onto the member endwise of the grooves.

Abstract: A tannin stain inhibiting latex paint composition for application to wood based on an alkaline latex suspension of a polymer in water is provided with a tannin-stain inhibiting additive. The additive includes effective amount for stain inhibition of a non-acidic compound selected from ammonium zirconium carbonate, sodium zirconium carbonate or potassium zirconium carbonate.

Abstract: A linear web accumulator is provided wherein a web is threaded alternately between two sets of movable rollers. Each set of movable rollers is connected to the other through a mechanical connection, so that relative motion of the sets is always simultaneously toward each other or away from each other. The connection places one of the sets of rollers in counterbalance against the opposite set, thereby canceling the effects of gravity. Force can be applied to the carriages to adjust web tension, for example, by a rotational drive means such as a servomotor.

Abstract: A propelling and/or steering mechanism uses a planetary gear set and ring gear arrangement, in which the ring gear "floats" upon the planetary gear set, free of a center hub and a bearing connection.

Abstract: A plurality of containers on which untightened threaded caps are deposited are transported in a circular path synchronously with a cap tightening device for each container. The devices have a substantial vertical reciprocable non-rotatable shaft on which a cylindrical member is rotatable and a cylindrical housing is mounted to and is axially adjustable on the member. A spool of magnetic metal is rotatable on the shaft and is adapted for engaging a cap to turn and tighten it. Magnetizable and magnetized elements are arranged with the housing concentrically to the spool. While being transported the housings of the devices engage a stationary driver which turns the housings consecutively so the spools turn by virtue of magnetic coupling between the magnetic elements and the spool.

Abstract: A sanitary valve assembly including a valve with a field replaceable gasket. The gasket is formed with an opening capable of deformation to a shape which deforms sufficiently to slide over a noncircular retaining surface of the valve head. The valve head retaining surface is provided between a pair of axially spaced laterally extending shoulders including a shoulder formed of shoulder segments separated by concave indentations. Upon passing over the shoulder, the opening in the gasket reassumes its undeflected configuration in which it engages the shoulders thus retaining the gasket on the valve stem. The gasket fits loosely on the valve head when the valve assembly is in the open position, thereby permitting the assembly to be cleaned in place by flushing washing fluid through the clearances between the valve head and gasket.

Abstract: A generally planar base panel member has mounted to its back face a pair of laterally spaced apart chambers whose open fronts are covered by the panel. A pair of electrical receptacles in each chamber are arranged in alignment with apertures in the base panel. First and second front panels each have a neon tubing configuration mounted on a front side of the panel with the electric end terminals at opposite ends of the tubing configurations projecting through holes in the front panels so that when the front panels are juxtaposed to the front of the base panel the neon tube terminals plug into the receptacles. A power supply for neon tubing is mounted to the back face of the base panel member. The neon tubing configurations on the individual front panels when plugged into the receptacles form a series circuit which connects across the high voltage output terminals of the power supply.

Abstract: A long arm for an aircraft turnaround apparatus mounted at one end to the floor of an aircraft hanger for swinging about a vertical axis causing a nose-wheel carriage at the free end of the arm to follow a semicircular path. The nose-wheel of an incoming aircraft runs onto the carriage such that its imaginary lateral rotation axis is practically coincident with the arm axis so when the arm swings, the aircraft's ground supported landing gear traces a semicircle. The carriage has a chock bar which stops the aircraft from overtraveling the carriage. One chock bar version requires manual insertion and removal and another automatically latches in the stopping position but is unlatched by an aircraft leaving the carriage after which a spring restores the chock to the latched position. An optional spring system can restore the arm and carriage to a nose-wheel receiving position after a turned around aircraft has departed.

Abstract: A web tension maintaining roll in a scroll sign module is arranged with its axis parallel to a rotatable second roll, both rolls being arranged for rotation between laterally spaced apart side frame members. For each roll, a short shaft projects from opposite side frame members toward each other for the roll to rotate about the common axis of the shafts. A motor driven drive shaft whose axis is transverse to the axes of rotation of the rolls has a worm fastened to the shaft adjacent each of the rolls. The worms are drivingly engaged, respectively, with worm wheels that are supported for rotation about the axis of the short shafts and about the rotational axis of the rolls. The worm wheel for the tension roll is coupled in driving relationship to the tension roll by way of a spiral spring whose inner end is connected to the worm wheel and whose outer end is connected to the tension roll.