Abstract: Embodiments are described for preventing downward flow of substantial surface water into an underground ventilation duct communicating upwardly to a ground surface opening. The embodiments comprise a support having a top opening and an opening in a lower portion above a floor. The opening in the lower portion is for venting communication with a proximate portion of the ventilation duct. The support supports at least one seat and paired buoyant gate set. The seat is mounted perpendicularly relative to the gate and a portion of a passageway under the seat for fluidly communicating beyond such portion to the top opening of the support and to the proximate portion of the ventilation duct. The buoyant gate is positioned lower than the seat and the passageway, is of sufficient size to block the passageway, and is responsive to water rising in the support by floatingly pivoting upwardly until engaging the seat, thereby blocking the passageway.

Abstract: A urine collection and disposal system and method applies subatmospheric pressure to a receptacle open to atmospheric pressure which has a urine outlet in fluid communication with a source of subatmospheric pressure. The receptacle receives urine in the receptacle from a urine donor and removes the urine from the receptacle, transporting the removed urine to a reservoir under the force of a pressure differential between atmospheric pressure at the receptacle and subatmospheric pressure at the reservoir. The reservoir urine is discharged at atmospheric pressure, for disposal, from the reservoir while maintaining the reservoir at subatmospheric pressure. A plurality of the receptacles allows simultaneously providing urine to the reservoir from more than one of the receptacles. Sanitizing fluid may be supplied intermediate the receptacle and the reservoir for transport to the reservoir under the force of the pressure differential between atmospheric and subatmospheric.

Abstract: A urine collection and disposal system and method applies subatmospheric pressure to a receptacle open to atmospheric pressure which has a urine outlet in fluid communication with a source of subatmospheric pressure. The receptacle receives urine in the receptacle from a urine donor and removes the urine from the receptacle, transporting the removed urine to a reservoir under the force of a pressure differential between atmospheric pressure at the receptacle and subatmospheric pressure at the reservoir. The reservoir urine is discharged at atmospheric pressure, for disposal, from the reservoir while maintaining the reservoir at subatmospheric pressure. A plurality of the receptacles allows simultaneously providing urine to the reservoir from more than one of the receptacles. Sanitizing fluid may be supplied intermediate the receptacle and the reservoir for transport to the reservoir under the force of the pressure differential between atmospheric and subatmospheric.

Abstract: A thermoplastic olefin (TPO) composition comprises (1) a major amount by weight of (a) a substantially linear homopolymer or copolymer of a C2–C10 ?-olefin in major proportion to (b) a long chain branched a linear homopolymer or copolymer of a C2–C10 ?-olefin, (2) a minor amount by weight of a cross linkable elastomer, and (3) at least one thermally decomposing free radical generating agent present in an amount sufficient to promote an increase in melt strength of the composition over that of the melt strength of the linear homopolymer or copolymer of a C2–C10 ?-olefin alone and insufficient to substantially degrade the ?-olefinic polymers. The TPO composition is prepared by melt blending the components at a temperature sufficient to melt said homopolymers or copolymers of a C2–C10 ?-olefin and thermally decompose said agent. Articles are thermoformed from the thermoplastic olefin.

Abstract: A storm drain system is provided to prevent rising water from flowing substantially vertically out of a storm drain inlet. The storm drain system comprises a seat generally horizontally mounted within a chamber and a moveable buoyant door assembly responsive to rising water in the chamber to float upwardly to engage the seat to thereby prevent water flowing upwardly out of the storm drain inlet. A support frame may be mounted along a flow passageway leading to the storm drain gating such that the seat and the buoyant door assembly is mounted to or integral with the support frame. In an embodiment, one or more pivot or hinge mountings secure the buoyant door assembly pivotally with respect to the drain support.

Abstract: A security device for a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device receives a word or series of words spoken into it as a command by a patient and creates a voice print characteristic of the patient. A subsequent receipt of a voiced command is converted into a test voice print and compared to the patient's voice print. If the system identifies the test voice print as belonging to the patient's voice, it signals the PCA that the patient is requesting a bolus of medication from the PCA. If the device determines that the test voice print does not correspond to that of the patient, the device does not signal the PCA and optionally emits an audible error tone. In this manner, unauthorized people cannot give the patient a bolus dose from the PCA.

Abstract: A transverse bar assembly for use in constructing rebar mats for reinforcement of concrete paving includes a plurality of chairs and clips each having a lower portion that fixes to a transverse bar in the direction of its length and an upper portion for orthogonally receiving and holding locked in place a longitudinal bar, the chair also having a support extending to a base surface.

Abstract: Indication of worsening health condition in patients with congestive heart failure using the analysis of the speed and pattern of temperature change in a way that is individualized toward patient's health condition.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the temperature of a high voltage conductor includes an electrically and thermally conductive fixture for attachment to a high voltage conductor, and a high voltage insulator having a high voltage end and a reference potential end. The insulator is connected at the high voltage end to the fixture. The insulator contains a fiber optic cable in a fiber optic cable passageway from the reference potential end to the high voltage end. The cable extends beyond the insulator. An optical temperature sensor head is optically coupled to the cable the high voltage end. The sensor head includes a sensor crystal which transmits light that varies with temperature of the sensor crystal. An electrically and thermally conductive enclosure enclosing the sensor head is supported in the fixture for thermally conductive contact with the high voltage conductor effective to couple the temperature of the high voltage conductor to the sensor crystal.

Abstract: A horizontally pivoted structurally rigid buoyant flood gate, in a housing for the gate arranged in front of an opening to a construction, is pivotally floated out of the housing by rising water entering a portal to the housing, and rotates buoyantly upward toward the opening, rising between two side walls longitudinal to the opening and separated from each other by little more than the side-to-side distance of the gate, allowing little water through any gap separating the gate from the side walls, which preferably is sealed by a compression seal, the hydrostatic pressure of water dammed behind the rising gate urging completed closure of the gate through at least the upper half of the closing arc, pressing the gate sealingly against the jambs.

Abstract: Methods of predicting mortality or imminent death in patients with congestive heart failure include detecting changes in the patient's temperature and/or the detection of hypothermia. The invention also relates to devices and kits for implementation of these methods.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump employs an adjuster to provide facility to change flow rate without changing pump speed during operation of a pump comprising a distensible, compliant segment of header tubing stretched around rollers mounted 120 degrees apart on a rotating wheel, and a tensioner to impose additional stretch to the leading segment of header tubing contained between two rollers as that segment is released from the leading roller. The additional stretch imparts a pulsatile flow to the expressed fluid.

Abstract: This invention provides a process to convert linear alkenes such as butene-1 and butene-2 to methyl branched chain alkenes such as isobutylene using the hydrogen form of ferrierite. The hydrogen form of ferrierite has a pore size which allows the branched chain alkenes to form and diffuse out of the catalyst while reducing the formation of unwanted by-products, including dimers, trimers, aromatics and coke. This invention has been demonstrated with H-ferrierite in a laboratory scale reactor. Selectivities approaching 100% were demonstrated for isobutylene formation using H-ferrierite.

Abstract: A centrifugal blood pump driver comprises a motor housing and the housing contains a motor for rotationally driving the centrifugal blood pump and a controller operatively associated with the motor for controlling the rotational speed of the motor; a speed selector for generating a selected speed signal signifying a selected rotational speed for the motor; sensors operatively associated with the motor or controller for sensing the rotational speed of the motor and outputting a monitor signal signifying such rotational speed; program memory for storage of a program of microprocessor readable instructions; a microprocessor under program control, in electrical connection with the controller, the speed selector, the sensor and the program memory, for receiving the selected speed signal and generating a speed control signal to the controller signifying the selected speed for the controller, and for receiving the monitor signal and outputting a display signal; a display in electrical communication with the micropro

Abstract: Patient blood in an extracorporeal flow circuit (such as a cardiopulmonary bypass machine) is contacted with one or more nitric oxide feeds at least one of which is upstream of the circuit pump, to provide a concentration of nitric oxide in the blood effective to inhibit activation of blood platelets and reduce whole body inflammation of the patient as a result of a procedure using the extracorporeal circulation.

Abstract: This invention relates to the method of use of a congener of an endothelium-derived bioactive composition of matter, which comprises administering said congener percutaneously to a site proximately adjacent the exterior of a coronary blood vessel at a therapeutically effective dosage.

Abstract: A centrifugal blood pump driver comprises a motor housing and the housing contains a motor for rotationally driving the centrifugal blood pump and a controller operatively associated with the motor for controlling the rotational speed of the motor; a speed selector for generating a selected speed signal signifying a selected rotational speed for the motor; sensors operatively associated with the motor or controller for sensing the rotational speed of the motor and outputting a monitor signal signifying such rotational speed; program memory for storage of a program of microprocessor readable instructions; a microprocessor under program control, in electrical connection with the controller, the speed selector, the sensor and the program memory, for receiving the selected speed signal and generating a speed control signal to the controller signifying the selected speed for the controller, and for receiving the monitor signal and outputting a display signal; a display in electrical communication with the micropro

Abstract: A food container especially for pet feeding has a plurality of compartments at least one compartment of which is circular to house canned wet food. The inside walls of the compartments include a upper rim wall portion set back at a rim wall base elevation between the compartment floors and the container top surface that is the same in all compartments. The setback provides a continuous shoulder lining each compartment adjacent the rim wall base. A lid for the container has at least one closed course protrusion raised in the underside of the lid. The protrusion has peripheral shape and outside dimensions sufficiently corresponding to the peripheral shape and internal dimensions of the rim walls of the circular and the other of the compartments, to interferingly nest the protrusion within the circular and other compartments above the shoulder of the compartments.

Abstract: A pericardiocentesis apparatus and method for accessing the pericardial space. The invention consists of inserting a percutaneous tube whose tip has a hole which is positioned over and contacts the anterior pericardium. Introducing a vacuum within the tube forms a pericardial bleb within that hole. A guided needle within the tube is advanced to puncture the pericardial bleb while avoiding contact with the epicardium. A hollow filament or electrocardial lead or flexible guide wire within the needle can then be advanced into said pericardial cavity. The guide wire may be used to guide a intrapericardial catheter into the pericardial space for injection or infusion of selected therapeutic agents into the pericardial space to treat various heart and blood vessel diseases. Controlled drug release material(s) can be injected through the needle for the slow and/or sustained delivery of the therapeutic agents into the pericardial cavity.