Abstract: A surface mounted dispensing system includes a bracket having a circular flange and a central hub protruding therefrom with a hub including threads thereon. A bottle is providing having a flat back with a circular embossment for receiving the flange and the hub. The embossment includes a depth for enabling the flat back to flushly contact a surface supporting the flange. The embossment includes a grooved central recess for engaging a hub in order that rotation of the bottle in one direction causes the bottle to be secured to the bracket and rotation in an opposite direction causes release of the bottle from the bracket.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-family/commercial plumbing system includes sensing an event and recording for each sensed event at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of date, day of the week, start time, duration of the event, water flow, water temperature, and humidity. The parameters are analyzed to determine a pattern and thereafter water flow, circulation, water temperature, and water use are controlled in accordance with the determined pattern.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing porous ceramic layers on metallic, ceramic, enameled or glass substrates using crystalline nanoparticles of particle sizes of between 3 nm and 100 nm via a wet-chemical process and functionalising of this porous ceramic layer through introducing a second component into the pores of the porous ceramic layer which serves as carrier layer. The porous ceramic layers can be filled with hydrophobizing, hydrophilizing, dirt-repellent and corrosion-inhibiting substances which remain in the substrate or are supplied later on demand, or with bactericidal substances, aromatics, perfumes or inhalation substances which are delivered to the room air in precise doses.

Abstract: A medical sensor electrode includes an electrically conductive adhesive for establishing electrical contact with a mammalian body to enable the electrode to monitor physiological electrode potentials from the body. A first sensor element includes a flexible electrically conductive plate disposed on the conductive adhesive with the plate having substantial smaller dimension that the dimension of the conductive adhesive. A second sensor element includes an electrical conductive member disposed over the first sensor element and adhesive. The conductive member includes a non-conductive sheet coated with multiple layers of a metal and metal halide. A non-conductive backing is disposed over the second sensor element and conductive adhesive with the backing and the second sensor element having apertures for providing access to the first sensor element.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the treatment of ocular conditions by the enhancement of lens regeneration. This is accomplished by the administration of a high viscosity composition including a hyaluronic acid compound and laser photoablation. Excess high viscosity composition may be removed by focal laser photophacoablation. Additionally, a collagen product may be injected within the lens capsule to improve lens cell proliferation and differentiation, and to improve the configuration, shape and structure of regenerated lenses. Various embodiments involving the enhancement of lens regeneration are described. For example, lens regeneration may be enhanced by filling the lens capsule bag with the inventive hyaluronic acid compound; by inserting at least one collagen patch in the lens capsule; and/or by injecting a collagen-based product into the lens capsule.

Abstract: Cycle pants include a body portion having a waist opening, a crotch portion and a seat portion along with a breathable cushion attached to an inside surface of the body portion which includes a perineal portion covering the crotch portion and the buttocks portion covering the seat portion. The buttocks portion has a width greater than the perineal portion and includes two spaced apart lobes for providing flexible anatomical support.

Abstract: In a resuscitation tube (1) comprising a tube wall for alternative artificial endotracheal or esophageal obturator respiration, with a first lumen (2) and a second lumen (3) extending substantially parallel thereto, wherein a first inflatable balloon (5) surrounding the tube wall is disposed in the region of the end of the resuscitation tube (1) facing the body, and a second inflatable balloon (8) surrounding the tube wall (22) is disposed at a separation from the first inflatable balloon (5), an axial opening (10) of the first lumen (2) is disposed directly at the end of the second balloon (8) facing the body, and the resuscitation tube (1) is formed with one lumen in the region of the first balloon (5). This permits insertion of intubation aids via the first lumen (2) such that the resuscitation tube can be used with versatility.

Abstract: Eddy current braking apparatus includes an array of spaced apart permanent magnets and a plurality of flux steering magnets may be disposed in gaps between the spaced apart permanent magnets. The flux steering magnets are orientated in a manner to provide a steering flux polarity that is rotated about 90 with respect to a polarity magnet flux of the spaced apart permanent magnets in order to increase the flux density in the air gap which results in better performance of the brake. Alternatively, cubic magnets may be used with each magnet being arranged to provide a change in flux polarity between adjoining magnets. An electrically conductive member is provided for engaging the magnetic flux provided by the array of permanent magnets and the magnets and conductive member are mounted for enabling relative motion between the magnet and the conductive member to produce eddy currents in the conductive member and resulting in a braking force between the magnets and the conductive member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provided for controlling fluid control to and from an eye or a phacoemulsification handpiece. The handpiece includes an ultrasonically driven, hollow, sleeved needle and the method includes inserting the needle and sleeve into an eye for phacoemulsification of eye tissue and introducing fluid into the eye through an annulus established between the sleeve and the needle. Aspiration of fragmented tissue and fluid from the eye is conducted through the hollow needle. An initial irrigation fluid pressure is determined and the irrigation fluid flow and aspiration fluid flow are adjusted based upon the initial determination. Thereafter continued determination of irrigation fluid pressure is utilized to continuously adjust irrigation fluid flow and/or aspiration fluid flow.

Abstract: A multi-slice NMR imaging method for recording N slices (N>1) from a measuring object, wherein for complete image reconstruction, an acquisition in m (m>1) repetition steps with different spatial encoding is used, with a magnetization preparation in the form of a saturation pulse which is selective with respect to chemical shift and which is applied P times (1?P<N) in each repetition step such that through each of these chemical shift selective saturation pulses the spins to be saturated of one of the N slices in the measuring object are optimally saturated and consequently the signals of N-P slices are saturated only sub-optimally, is characterized in that the temporal sequence of the saturation pulses and/or the sequence of the acquisition of the differently spatially encoded signals of the individual slices is permuted such that after termination of the acquisition, for each slice the signals with identical spatial encoding were recorded in the same fashion also with respect to saturation preparat

Abstract: A method of controlling a surgical cutting device, the device including a hollow needle with a port for tissue entry and a moveable cutting blade for severing tissue entering the needle through the port, the blade being movable between a first portion enabling tissue entry through the port and a second portion closing the port, the tissue entering the needle being severed as the blade moves between the first and second portions, the method includes the steps: a) providing vacuum to the hollow needle to cause tissue entry into the needle through the port; b) moving the blade from the first portion to the second position to sever the tissue entering the needle; c) evacuating severed tissue from the needle by vacuum; d) reducing vacuum to the needle before moving the blade from the second position to the first position; and repeating steps (a) through (d).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the whiting of teeth includes a source of oxidizing gas and a handpiece for delivering the gas to a tooth. A cup attached to the handpiece is provided for receiving the gas and exposing a selected area of the tooth to the gas. The cup includes a resilient edge for sealably the edge for engaging the tooth around the selected area to prevent escape of a gas therepast.

Abstract: A method of treating gum disease, includes directing a stream of oxidizing gas onto human dental and oral conditions for a period of time sufficient to kill microorganisms within said inflamed human tissue.

Abstract: A percutaneous surgical instrument for de-bulking calculi or drilling bone includes an actuator for generating vibrations at ultrasonic frequencies and a horn coupled to said actuator for amplifying the actuator vibration. A fixed probe is attached to said horn for engaging the calculi and introducing the ultrasonic frequencies thereto. A floating probe is disposed concentric to and over said fixed probe and slidable thereover. A free mass is disposed between the horn and the floating probe for oscillating therebetween, in response to actuator vibration, for causing low frequency impact with the calculi.

Abstract: A method for making a resilient material includes providing a particulate polymer, discrete pieces of foam, a foaming agent and a plasticizer. The polymer, foam pieces and plasticizer are mixed and disposed in a mold. The mold is heated to cause melting of the polymer without melting of the foam. After coating of the melted polymer, a heterogeneous resilient cushion is formed with gelated polymer surrounding the discrete foam pieces.

Abstract: A vent damper apparatus provided for limiting flow of ambient air in a flue of a water heater. The apparatus generally includes a base structured to be connected to a water heater, and a damper assembly, extending from the base and structured to be responsive to a variable flow of exhaust gasses passing from a flue of the water heater. The damper assembly includes a plurality of independently movable dampers, and a frame structured to provide support to the plurality of independently movable dampers.

Abstract: Parallel desalting (PDS) includes a hybrid membrane softening (MS) system for de-mineralizing water for residential and commercial use. Parallel desalting produces “soft” water without the use of salt, or any other liquid chemical reagent normally used to carry out pH adjustment in industrial membrane and precipitation processes. The PDS process balances the operation of a RO (potable water) membrane unit with the operation of a tubular MF (wastewater) membrane unit, thereby providing a highly efficient and regenerative water treatment technology: (1) The optimum operation for the PDS system transforms roughly 90 percent of a potable, slightly brackish water supply into <50 mg/L TDS water with <1 -grain (10-15 mg/L as calcium carbonates) water hardness; and (2) The operation of the PDS system produces, in salinity terms, in a 100 percent reusable effluent for downstream recycling.