Abstract: 2-(2-bromo-2-nitroethenyl)-furan can be used as an antimicrobial in broad spectrum of uses. A novel process for preparing 2-(2-bromo-2-nitroethenyl)-furan has been found in which furfural is reacted with bromonitromethane using a primary amine or primary amine salt as a catalytic agent to produce an intermediate product which is dehydrated in the presence of acid to the desired product. An antimicrobial composition comprising 2-(2-bromo-2-nitroethenyl)-furan and a carrier is also disclosed.

Abstract: A retractor of human or animal tissue comprises two arms with a spoon at one end, the other end being connected to a housing. The housing contains a spring which produces a force which spreads the two arms apart. The foot is connected to the housing by means of the spindle and a ball-joint. The lower face of the foot has a double-face adhesive.

Abstract: A time of use register for use in an electronic watthour meter is formed of a three piece interlocking construction without the use of separate fasteners or the use of tools for assembly. The TOU register includes a front cover, a rear cover and a resilient clip, each of these components having various features to provide firm containment of a PC board and an LCD within the register. The front cover includes a window within which the LCD is positioned and a connector slot within which a resilient electrical conductor strip is situated. The electrical conductor strip provides communication between the PC board, which has a contact array at one edge of the board, and the LCD array, which also has a complementary contact array at its upper edge. The rear cover encloses the rear and part of the sides of the TOU register and includes a number of stops for providing uniform pressure against the PC board to hold it in position.

Abstract: Halogenated styrene-based polymers having surprisingly good physical properties in combination with flame retardancy include copolymers of ring-halogenated, ethylenically unsaturated aromatic monomers and aliphatic conjugated dienes having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, and terpolymers of ring-halogenated, ethylenically unsaturated aromatic monomers, halogen-free aromatic monomers, and aliphatic conjugated dienes having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle with a pair of buckle tongues. The buckle includes a spring mechanism slidably movable within the buckle housing from a position blocking engagement of a latch when a single tongue is inserted to a position away from the latch when both tongues are inserted allowing the latch to engage the tongues. In one embodiment, a latch indicator is slidably mounted to the buckle push button in the buckle cover and includes a lower end contacting the latch. The indicator is movable from a position flush with the buckle push button when the latch is not engaged with the tongues to an upraised position over the button when the latch moves up and engages the tongues. The tongues have mating portions, but are separable.

Abstract: A stump comprising a central core having a head part and a lower part provided with means for fixing the stump to an implant, and a cap for covering at least a part of the head part, at least one elastic element being arranged at the cap/central core interface. The assembly is arranged so as to permit relative movement between the cap and the central core. Restraining elements are provided to limit the relative vertical movement between the cap and the central core.

Abstract: A cartridge for a grill exhaust system. A fan unit directs and exhausts a stream of fumes and particles created by cooking away from an apertured cooking surface and has a main frame defining an exhaust plenum, a support system for a flow diverger cartridge and a replaceable flow diverter cartridge insertable in the plenum below the cooking surface. A cartridge body has a flow diverter assembly within the cartridge body for inducing undulation in the exhaust stream so that the particles and liquids are separated from the stream and collected on the assembly while the fumes are directed downwardly from the cooking surface through the vents. A support system supports the cartridge when the cartridge is placed in the plenum so that the cartridge is demountable relative to the plenum.

Abstract: Silanes and siloxanes incorporating the 4-dialkylaminopyridine functionality are described. Preferred silanes are catalytically active and also serve as precursors to the siloxanes. Preferred siloxanes incorporating DAAP functionality exhibit excellent physical and dynamic-mechanical properties while maintaining a substantial percentage of the DAAP catalytic behavior.

Abstract: A water heater construction and method includes arranging the inner water tank and the surrounding outer shell in an inverted orientation and positioning the outer shell into a cover which is arranged with clearance openings for the plumbing connections extending from the top of the tank to extend therethrough. With the tank, shell and cover in an inverted and assembled condition, the annular clearance space defined between the tank and shell is filled, at least the majority, with liquid, foam-in-place insulation. By inverting the water heater and injecting liquid foam insulation material, the clearance space above the inner water tank is foamed first thereby assuring that the foam material at this location will have greater uniformity in foam density and cell structure than at the lower portion of the annular space so as to provide enhanced thermal efficiency at the most critical location.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing fine-needle aspiration biopsies are disclosed. Each method and apparatus includes a needle having an opening which can be occluded during both the penetration and withdrawal stages of the aspiration cycle. After penetration of the target area, the needle is reciprocated a predetermined number of times determined by the desired cytological sample yield. The needle is unoccluded during the reciprocation phase of the cycle. Both manual and automatic apparatus for performing the fine-needle aspiration biopsy procedures in accordance with the disclosed method are disclosed. Numerous sheath configurations for various biopsy applications are illustrated, including those applicable to prostate and breast or other soft tissue biopsies and for use in conjunction with ultrasonic transducers. Alternative needle configurations are disclosed to improve sample yield, reduce coring and minimize needle fouling.

Abstract: An insulation panel for an appliance for reducing one or more undesirable side effects due to the operation of the appliance such as noise, vibration and heat includes a first layer of enclosing material such as polyethylene or polypropylene which has greater tear resistance and configuring this first layer of enclosing material to a size and shape based upon the appliance and the area of the appliance to be covered. Next, a second layer of similar enclosing material is selected and configured so as to having a matching peripheral edge or contour with the first layer. Ultimately these two layers of enclosing material are joined together around their peripheral edges so as to define and completely enclose an interior cavity. Into this interior cavity a blanket of insulating material is dispersed of a generally uniform blanket thickness. In certain applications, the insulating material includes a binder so that the insulating material will not shift or settle relative to the enclosed cavity.

Abstract: An assembly comprising a bracelet (1) in special spring steel, adjustable by individual shaping on every wrist, and comprising a circular hole (3) in its flat central part (21). The bracelet is covered with an removable and replaceable elongated sheath consisting of a single piece of elastic fabric. A case is interlocked in the hole (3), the fabric of the sheath being interposed between the case and the bracelet, without damage to the fabric. A tension ring situated in a lateral groove (17) provided on the periphery of the case cooperates with the lower surface of the flat part (12) of the bracelet for the removable fixing of the case on the bracelet.

Abstract: Novel non-ionic contrast media of a hitherto unknown combination of low osmolality and low viscosity are efficiently prepared from generally available ionic contrast media or non-iodinated precursors. Particularly, polyhydroxyhalo-hydrocarbons are employed with a triiodo-substituted acylamido benzoic acids in aqueous weakly basic media to selectively substitute the amido nitrogen, followed by activation of the carboxyl group for amide formation.

Abstract: An improved starch-based adhesive includes an adhesive of the carrier, no-carrier or carrier-no-carrier type and a quantity of fibers dispersed in the adhesive in an amount of from about 2.2 to about 22 pounds of fiber per 100 gallons of adhesive. The fibers may be selected from any of a large variety of natural or synthetic materials having desired properties for adhesion and dispersion, and yielding improved adhesive characteristics including increased waterproofness, dry strength, viscosity and adhesiveness.

Abstract: A sealing and insulation device for the space between spaced apart surfaces having an envelope fabricated of a resilient, flexible material filled with a resilient insulation material. The sealing and insulation device has a width dimension at least as great as the distance across the space between the surfaces to be sealed. By removing air from the interior of the sealing and insulation device the width dimension of the device is reduced to less than the transverse dimension of the space to be sealed. Once the shrunk device is positioned, air is allowed back into the sealing and insulation device enabling the device to resiliently turn back towards its original width dimension such that the sealing and insulation device expands into abutting contact with both spaced apart surfaces across the space therebetween. The purpose of the device being both to seal and insulate in thermal applications such as a water heater and acoustical applications such as dishwasher.

Abstract: A novel subcutaneous tunnelling instrument and method for placing a subcutaneous catheter between two remote incisions in a patient, comprising making a subcutaneous tunnel by pushing a rod having an elongated bullet-shaped tip removably threaded upon male threads disposed at the distal end thereof into one incision and subcutaneously tunnelling to and out through the second incision, removing the bullet-shaped tip from the distal end of the rod, sliding the open end of a catheter over the male threads disposed at the distal end of the rod until the catheter abuts the rod, thereafter pulling the distal end of the rod back into the second incision and through the subcutaneous tunnel to and through the first incision, and thereafter removing the open end of the catheter from the male threads at the distal end of the rod.

Abstract: A wire stent for insertion and expansion into a passageway comprises a plurality of curved sections that are formed into a generally circular configuration. Adjacent curved sections are joined by a bend or cusp, so that a series of alternating opposing loops are formed. The wire stent as formed has a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal opening through which a folded balloon catheter is inserted. The opposing loops are tightly contracted about the catheter so that the cylindrical shape has an overlapping region in which portions of adjacent loops longitudinally overlap. The loops are arranged so that when the balloon catheter is inflated, adjacent loops diverge circumferentially relative to each other, thereby decreasing the overlapping region while increasing the diameter of the cylindrical shape. As the diameter of the cylindrical shape increases, the wire stent contacts the surface of a passageway in which the stent is inserted.

Abstract: A collapsible spool holder. A pair of vertically spaced apart horizontally extending walls are telescopically inner-connected and mounted to a base and are arranged to move outwardly from the base to an erect position or to collapse into the base. Each horizontally extending wall along with the base include a plurality of upright rods each of which holds a spool of thread. A plurality of knife blades are mounted adjacent each rod to allow the thread to be severed from each spool without removal of the spool. A lid is removably mounted to and encloses the upright rods with spools.

Abstract: A circuit for the continuous watching of the grounding resistor of electrical appliances whose electrically conductive parts which may be touched, such as especially the casing are connected to a ground potential by a protecting conductor, one of the live leads (R,N) of the appliance (12) being connected with the protecting conductor by way of a series connection of at least one precision resistor (R1) for measuring purposes, one test pulse generator (TG), and one capacitor (C.sub.B).