Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for thoracoscopically arresting the heart and establishing cardiopulmonary bypass, thus facilitating a variety of less-invasive surgical procedures on and within the heart and great vessels of the thorax. In one embodiment, the invention provides a thoracoscopic system for arresting a patient's heart including a clamp configured for introduction into the patient's thoracic cavity through a percutaneous intercostal penetration in the patient's chest. The clamp is positionable about the patient's ascending aorta between the coronary arteries and the brachiocephalic artery. The clamp is coupled to the distal end of an elongated handle means for manipulating the clamp from a location outside of the patient's thoracic cavity. A means for actuating the clamp is coupled to the proximal end of the handle means. When actuated, the clamp blocks blood flow through the ascending aorta.

Abstract: An improved door mounting system which uses a pair of channel members directly coupled to a guide member to allow an access door to move from a position closing an access opening to a position clearing the access opening. The door can be a single panel or a number of hingedly interconnected panels. The door is movable laterally into a position or vertically. The door does not "swing, but it "slides", shifts or moves relative to and along the walls in contact with the ends of the panels. The particular door assembly of the present invention is for solving the following geometric problem: finding the geometrical locus of a center of a straight line segment when two ends of the segment are forced to move along two perpendicular straight lines.

Abstract: A device and method for angularly indexing an object (e.g., a mirror) relative to another at predetermined angles is provided. A rotatable mirror mount has the mirror mounted to a first element that rotates about an axis relative to an intermediate element. The intermediate element itself rotates about the same axis relative to a second element. The first and intermediate elements are formed with detents for establishing desired relative orientations at predetermined angles. The intermediate element can be locked at any position relative to the second element. When the intermediate element is locked, the first element remains rotatable with respect to the intermediate element and is restrained at desired relative orientations by the detents.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of cloning DNA produced by primer extension including PCR amplified, reverse transcriptase-generated or primer extended synthetic DNA. Specifically, it relates to a method in which alkane diol residue containing oligonucleotide primers are incorporated into DNA by primer extension followed by direct cloning of the target DNA. Following transformation, the host excises the alkane diol residue with its endogenous DNA repair machinery.

Abstract: A variable proportion dispenser (2c) includes a housing (12c) which houses two pharmaceutical cartridges (6b). A reciprocating drive assembly includes drive stems (36c) extending from the pistons (46b) of each cartridge, a limit guide (76c) removably mounted to the housing, and a sliding body (66e, 300) mounted to the housing through the limit guide. Two one-way drivers (326) and threaded dosage adjusters (60c) are carried by the sliding body. Each one-way driver drives the drive stem into the cartridge through a drive surface to provide a range of dose selections. The user can thus control the amount and proportion of each pharmaceutical dispensed during each delivery stroke for each dispensing cycle. The housing is separable from the remainder of the dispenser, preferably using a cartridge release assembly (302), to allow spent cartridge to be replaced.

Abstract: A device for attaching a shoe to a bicycle pedal comprises a plate (23), adapted for mounting onto a sole of the shoe, and a pedal body (1). The pedal body has first and second stepping surfaces (A, B) on opposing sides and front and rear anchor members (5A, 5B, 31A, 31B) adapted to cooperate with front and rear portions of the plate. The rear anchor members each have a lever that is pivotable about a transverse axis between an anchor position, where the rear anchor members are configured to affix the plate to the stepping surfaces, and a release position, where the rear anchor members are configured to release the plate. A common return device (55) creates a single, adjustable biasing force to bias both levers into the anchor position.

Abstract: A weft yarn (1) leaving a stationary stock bobbin (2) is led through a compressed-air nozzle (6) and a deflector element (16) movable transversely to the direction of weft insertion (arrow 9), to the weft insertion mechanism (11) of a projectile loom. After each weft insertion the weft yarn (1) becomes deflected by the deflector element (16) from a yarn path (1a) running stretched into a cranked yarn path (1c) and returned towards the stretched yarn path (1a) during a following weft insertion. During a predetermined fraction of the weaving cycle which comprises the return of the weft yarn (1) into the stretched yarn path (1a), the compressed-air nozzle (6) is acted upon by compressed air so that the weft yarn (1) is additionally accelerated for a short time. After the return of the weft yarn (1) the compressed air feed to the compressed-air nozzle (1) becomes blocked during the remaining part of the weaving cycle.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to test articles and assays for the detection of analytes in biological fluid samples. More particularly, the present invention relates to test articles an assays which employ dyed microorganisms as visual labels to detect suspected analytes.

Abstract: An industrial automation system using transformers for providing electrical isolation between a system interface chip and a load interface chip while simultaneously allowing communication of power and data across the isolation barrier. Clock pulses are transmitted from the system interface chip to the load interface chip across one transformer, and the clock pulses are used by the load interface chip to create a power supply for operating the components within the chip. Data is communicated from the system interface chip to the load interface chip across a second transformer by the use of messages. Each message comprises a bit sync field, a byte sync field, and a data field. The bit sync field and byte sync field are used by the load interface chip to synchronize itself with the system interface chip.

Abstract: A contact structure and a method for fabrication is disclosed for a semiconductor device that includes a plurality of semiconductor regions along the surface of the device, each region having a top surface and at least a sidewall surface, where a first part of the semiconductor regions are of a first conductivity type and a second part of semiconductor regions are of a second conductivity type. Select dielectric spacers are formed along the sidewalls of the select semiconductor regions of first conductivity type while a refractory metal such as titanium, molybdenum or tungsten is used to form contact on the sidewalls of the semiconductor regions of second conductivity type. This structure is most advantageous in bipolar, CMOS and BiCMOS transistor structures as it allows the formation of the sidewall spacers on emitter/gate contacts while having local metal interconnects with the reactive metal on the sidewall of the select base/source/drain contacts.

Abstract: An industrial dryer for drying industrial materials, such as sludge, salt water, brines and the like. A transition plate which is slotted in a manner to cause hot gases flowing toward and through the slots to be immediately transformed into a free standing vortex on the downstream side of the transition plate. The vortex operates on the wet materials and the hot gases. Structure is provided to collect the water vapor created by the drying action. In a first embodiment, hot gases are created by the operation of a blower which directs air under pressure through a heater, then into and through the slotted transition plate. In a second embodiment, a resonating engine is used as a source of hot gases.

Abstract: A solid-bed reactor for biological sewage treatment has an intermediate floor which carries floor jets and by means of which the solid bed can be backwashed. The intake for the sewage is above the solid bed. Aeration orifices are integrated into the floor jets, and gas bubbles can be introduced by the orifices in the upper portions of the floor jets without thereby giving rise to instability phenomena. To ensure stable uniform distribution of aeration throughout the reactor, the clear cross-section in the entire intake region of each floor jet must be such that above the aeration orifices the flow of outgoing water does not impede the ascent of the gas bubbles.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming MOSFET devices on a semiconductor substrate including steps of depositing layers of polysilicon, dielectric, and polysilicon again. Each polysilicon layer is planarized after it is deposited. The dielectric layer is patterned and etched to delineate active regions and interconnect grooves. After the second polysilicon layer is planarized, the material in the active region is patterned and etched to form a gate and source and drain areas. The appropriate areas of the active region are doped as necessary to form the source and drain.

Abstract: A compact disc retaining pocket is disclosed for holding and protecting a compact disc, having a round exterior edge, a central spindle hole, and recorded information on one side of the disc. This pocket includes rectilinear front and rear panels covering the disc, fastened together on three sides and having an open fourth side for receiving said compact disc between the panels to define a pocket for said compact disc. A peripheral boundary is formed by at least the three fastened sides, this peripheral boundary having a bottom lower surfaces opposite the fourth side for receiving the penetrating edge of the compact disc at two points opposite the open fourth side when said disc is inserted to said pocket. First and second locking protrusions are formed on either side of the peripheral boundary, these locking protrusions having a distance between the protrusions slightly less than the diameter of the compact disc and located slightly more than said radius of the compact disc from said bottom lower surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved imaging catheter which is pre-filled with a fluid suitable for the transmission of imaging signals. Such a catheter eliminates the need for the user to fill and flush the catheter with fluid prior to its use. A catheter according to the present invention may be stored in a container which itself contains fluid to prevent fluid loss. Some embodiments will include reservoirs to hold a supply of fluid to replace that lost, for example, to evaporation. In some embodiments, these reservoirs will further include means for applying pressure to the fluid contained therein so that new fluid is forced into the catheter to replace any fluid lost.

Abstract: A multi-channel carrier wave generator includes a signal source capable of generating a carrier wave having a frequency, a first input-match diode circuit receiving the carrier wave to correspondingly generate a plurality of harmonic waves, a first multi-way power divider electrically connected to the first input-match diode circuit to equally divide the harmonic waves, and a first multi-way filter electrically connected to the first multiple power divider to filter through the harmonic waves. Such a multi-channel carrier wave generator has the advantages of having a simple fabrication procedure, a low cost, and a low phase noise, and capable of providing a stable carrier wave and a good filtering result and of using a lower order bandpass filter.

Abstract: A pulse oximeter sensor with a light source optimized for low oxygen saturation ranges and for maximizing the immunity to perturbation induced artifact. Preferably, a red and an infrared light source are used, with the red light source having a mean wavelength between 700-790 nm. The infrared light source can have a mean wavelength as in prior art devices used on adults. The sensor of the present invention is further optimized by arranging the spacing between the light emitter and light detectors to minimize the sensitivity to perturbation induced artifact. The present invention optimizes the chosen wavelengths to achieve a closer matching of the absorption and scattering coefficient products for the red and IR light sources. This optimization gives robust readings in the presence of perturbation artifacts including force variations, tissue variations and variations in the oxygen saturation itself.

Abstract: Fungal nail infections are treated by depriving aerobic fungi of oxygen by forming an oxygen barrier over the exposed surface of an infected nail. Conveniently, the oxygen barriers are formed by applying a liquid film-forming carrier comprising an oxygen-scavenging substance, such as transition metal chelate or complex of salicylic acid or a salicylate, an oxidizable organic acid or alcohol in combination with a catalyzing agent, or a polycarboxylic acid chelate or complex of a transition metal or transition metal salt.

Abstract: In a microcomputer, for using all the instruction words having uniform word length, a first or second instruction word stored in a memory area of a memory indicated by an address of an address register is read in a predetermined word position of an instruction first-reading buffer indicated by a first pointer and the first or second instruction word read from a word position of the instruction first-reading buffer indicated by a second pointer is read in an instruction interpreting section through a second shifter. This instruction interpreting section interprets an instruction word from a bus interface section. In the case of the second instruction word (data instruction), data necessary for a calculation are produced on the basis of data of the second instruction word such as immediate data and offset data. In the case of the first instruction word, a calculation is effected on the basis of data produced by a data expansion section.