Abstract: This invention relates to an interengaging handle having a first handle member and a second handle member capable of interengagingly receiving the first handle member. A flexible connecting strap is attached to the handle members through longitudinal bores passing the length of the handle members. A connecting strap is passed through the longitudinal bore of the first handle member and is fixed in a position relative to the first handle member by forming a transverse hole through the first handle member that passes through the longitudinal bore and the connecting strap. A rivet is then placed in the transverse hole fixing the connecting strap in position. Stabilizer flanges may also be formed at or near the ends of the first handle member and the second handle member to orient forces directed along the connecting strap downward and outward away from the axis of the handle assembly.

Abstract: A locking syringe selectively operable in either of a freely reciprocating or a restricted, threaded mode. A trigger attached to the plunger includes internal threads on the interior of the barrel of the syringe and external threads located on the plunger on a spine slidable in a longitudinal slot in the plunger. A handle is affixed to the plunger, and a retraction bar is rigidly secured to the spine. The threads on the plunger may be retracted from engagement with the threads on the barrel, thereby placing the syringe in its freely reciprocating mode. The trigger, which is spring biased to engage the external and internal threads, employs a plurality of ramps and channels disposed at approximately the same angle to the longitudinal axes of the plunger and barrel as are the threads. A pawl is pivotally securable on the retraction bar at a position receivable into a pawl receiving aperture on the handle when the receiving bar is in its first position permitting reciprocating movement of the plunger.

Abstract: A fixation device for securing a prosthetic ligament to a bone and which comprises a bone staple having a head portion by means of which the staple can be driven into the bone, and a pair of legs extending from the head and having ends engageable into the bone, characterized by a stirrup for guiding the driving movement of the staple and arranged also to cooperate with the staple in order to enable the prosthetic ligament to engage the staple and the stirrup and to be securable to the bone upon completion of driving of the staple into the bone, the stirrup comprising two generally parallel side portions which define guides to receive the legs of the staple and to guide the driving movement of the legs, and also defining an aperture through which the ligament can be taken prior to securement of the ligament to the bone.

Abstract: A buried contact between the gate of a transistor device formed at the surface of a semiconductor substrate and a diffusion region formed in the surface of the substrate remote from the transistor device. The buried contact includes a polysilicon interconnect structure formed after shaping of the gate layer and the gate insulator. The polysilicon interconnect structure engages a side edge and an adjoining lower surface of the gate layer at a location where the gate insulator has been removed by isotropic etching from between the gate layer and the surface of the substrate. The polysilicon interconnect layer also contacts the surface of the substrate beneath an overhanging edge of the gate layer so as to form a surface current pathway interface. Below the surface current pathway interface a migration region is formed by heat-induced movement of ions from the gate layer through the polysilicon interconnect structure.

Abstract: An electronically controlled syringe system for connection to a balloon catheter or other balloon-type member and for automatically monitoring, displaying and recording inflation data when the syringe system is used to inflate the balloon of the catheter or other balloon-type member. A syringe having a barrel and a syringe plunger is selectively operable to increase fluid pressure applied to the balloon catheter or other balloon member by sliding the plunger further into the barrel. Positive pressure applied to the balloon catheter or member is released by withdrawing the syringe plunger toward the rear of the barrel. A piezoresistive semiconductor transducer housed on the barrel of the syringe senses fluid pressure applied by the syringe.

Abstract: A multi-layered transtracheal catheter. The transtracheal catheter has a multi-layer or double wall construction formed of two materials. One material is resistant to kinking. The other material is resistant to mucous buildup. Together, they form a catheter that can remain within the trachea for an extended period of time without needing to be removed for cleaning. The distal end of the catheter is deflected from the remainder of the catheter so that when the catheter is inside the trachea and held against the wall of the trachea, the distal end of the catheter is deflected from the wall so that the distal end is not in contact with the wall of the trachea. The result is reduced irritation to the trachea wall, reduced occlusion of the distal end by mucous buildup, and a more directed and efficient spray of material from the catheter into the right and left main skin bronchi of the lungs.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for preparing silicide contact areas on integrated circuit devices which inhibit outgrowth of silicide and formation of potential short circuit paths between adjacent silicide contact areas. This may be achieved by depositing a nitrogen-rich titanium nitride layer over the conventional titanium layer prior to silicidation. In those regions on the integrated circuit device where titanium is deposited on spacer oxide regions separating adjacent silicide contact areas, excess nitrogen from the nitrogen-rich titanium nitride layer reacts with the titanium film to form titanium nitride. The final structure after silicidation contains titanium silicide contact areas separated by titanium nitride regions. The titanium nitride regions inhibit outgrowth of titanium silicide from the silicide contact areas. After silicidation, excess titanium nitride and titanium may be removed by etching.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for blocking various channels and receptors within an organism are provided. For example, two toxins were isolated from the Agelenopsis aperta spider. The first toxin comprised a toxin having a molecular weight of from aproximately 5,000 to approximately 10,000. This toxin was found to have an irreversible effect on calcium channels within the central nervous system. A second toxin having a molecular weight of less than about 1,000 was also isolated. This toxin was found to have a reversible blocking effect on calcium channels within the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system.A third toxin was isolated from the Argiope aurantia spider. This toxin was found to have a reversible effect on excitatory amino acid receptors. Finally, a toxin having a molecular weight of from approximately 5,000 to approximately 7,000 daltons was isolated from the Hololena curta spider. This toxin was found to have an irreversible effect on excitatory amino acid receptors.

Abstract: A device for simultaneous collection of cells from the endocervical canal and the cervical face of the uterus and methods of use. The device is an elongated handle having one cell-collecting member projecting from the handle at an axis perpendicular to the axis of the handle for contacting with the cervical face of the uterus, and one cell-collecting member projecting from the handle along the same axis as the handle for contacting with the endocervical canal of the uterus. Along each member project sets of bristles which, because they are perpendicularly positioned on each member, provide mild abrasive action to the endocervical canal and the cervical face when the device is inserted into the uterus and rotated, so that cells from both regions are collected onto the bristles.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to collapsible dispensing containers for beverages and other products. The body of the containers is capable of being completely collapsed in a horizontal plane. The body of the container comprises two flat, parallel, and flexible body members sealed or otherwise positioned together to form a flat, envelope-like pouch. One body member incorporates an access port for introducing product into and withdrawing product from the dispensing container. The configuration access port prevents spills or leaks by narrowly circumscribing access to the product held in the dispensing container.

Abstract: A communications card capable of being mounted in electrical communications with a computer has formed therethrough an aperture so sized and shaped as to be capable of receiving a physical/electrical media connector. The media connector has a biased retention clip, a contact pin block, and contact pins. The retention clip has several standardized characteristics including a broad fixed end protruding from an outer surface of the contact pin block. The broad fixed end tapers abruptly at a transition notch down to a narrow free end, capable of being manipulated by a user to remove the physical/electrical media connector from the aperture in the communications card. In use, a media connector is inserted directly into the aperture in the communications card, the aperture being in contact with a plurality of contact wires fixed within the communications card.

Abstract: The invention comprises a handpiece for use in a surgical procedure which involves directing a surgical agent to a target area of a person's body which procedure produces an unwanted smoke plume. The handpiece includes both a probe for directing a surgical agent, such as a CO.sub.2 laser beam, and a smoke eliminator for removing with suction the smoke created by the surgical procedure. The probe has no functional components for creating the laser beam, and is thus economical enough to be disposable after one use. The smoke eliminator includes a nozzle and/or an offset suction port so configured as to create a votrex flow in the smoke in the target area upstream in the fluid flow pathway of smoke through the hand piece from the distal tip of the hand piece.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to multifunctional thrombo-resistant coatings for use with biomedical devices and implants, such as a coating which includes a siloxane surface onto which a plurality of amine functional groups have been bonded. Covalently bonded to the amine functional groups are a plurality of poly(ethylene oxide) chains, such that a single poly(ethylene oxide) chain is bonded to a single amine functional group. A plurality of different bioactive molecules, designed to counteract specific blood-material incompatibility reactions, are covalently bonded to poly(ethylene oxide) chains, such that a single bioactive molecule is coupled to a single polyethylene oxide chain. The method of manufacturing the present invention include preparing a material having a siloxane surface onto which a plurality of amine functional groups have been bonded. This is achieved by plasma etching with ammonia gas or by plasma polymerization of a siloxane monomer in the presence of ammonia gas.

Abstract: A bidirectional, synchronous, total body exercise machine. The machine includes bidirectional force-resistance mechanism in the form of a cylinder with a piston and piston rod. A lever is mounted to a framework which includes a vertical support member and a horizontal support member. The piston rod is attached to one end of the lever and the cylinder is attached to the vertical support member of the frame. Foot pedals are attached to one end of the lever and a seat is mounted on the other end of the lever so that a user may be seated on the lever. A stationary handle bar is also provided on the vertical support member so that the user, when seated on the lever, can grasp the stationary handle and then can pull forward with the arms and pushing down on the foot pedals, while at the same time rocking the torso forward, pulling the piston rod downwardly. The piston in then returned by straightening the arms and relaxing the force on the foot pedals, while rocking the torso back.

Abstract: Disclosed is an input device for a computing machine which allows a user to input one, two, three, or more position signals controlling the same number of parameters. Such parameters can be the x, y, and z axis positions of a cursor on a display. The present invention includes structures for encoding the movement of the users fingers into position signals. The present invention is arranged so the differential movement of two of the user's fingers in a first plane generates one of the position signals. The differential movement provides that as a first finger is moved, a second finger is moved in an opposite direction and an amount proportional to the movement of the first finger. The differential movement of the user's fingers allows for more efficient, precise, and less tiresome operation by a user than with other input devices. Embodiments of the present invention can possess movement in one, two, three, or more, degrees of freedom and are able to generate one, two three, or more, position signals.

Abstract: A system and method for color image reproduction prepared from random fixed size dot placement. In one embodiment, a color image is digitized using a scanner or other input device to prepare a red, green, blue (RGB) data file which is input to a central processing unit (CPU). The RGB data file is converted to corresponding standard process color files of cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK). The CMYK color files are then digitally processed by the CPU using an error diffusion method to generate data files containing representations for each of the CMYK process colors wherein the representations correspond to random fixed size dot representations containing information corresponding to color density and placement for each pixel of the color image. Color separation prints can then be output which can than be aligned and used to print a composite color image reproduction.

Abstract: Sprayable aliphatic polyurea-polyurethane coating compositions and methods are disclosed. A quasi-prepolymer composition is prepared by mixing an aliphatic polyisocyanate with a stoichiometrically deficient quantity of polyol such that substantially all of the available hydroxyl groups of the polyol react with the isocyanate groups of the aliphatic polyisocyanate. Suitable catalysts may be used to accelerate the urethane bonding in the quasi-prepolymer compositon. The polymeric coating is preferably formed by reacting the quasi-prepolymer composition with a low molecular weight or a mixture of low and high molecular weight amine terminated polyether compounds. The amine terminated polyether compounds have amine groups capable of reacting with the unreacted isocyanate groups of the quasi-prepolymerMixing of the quasi-prepolymer composition and the amine terminated polyether is preferably done at a sufficiently fast rate of result in a substantially homogeneous product.

Abstract: Novel cementitious contaminant barriers are formed by positioning a hydraulic cement composition into a predetermined configuration and then hydrating the cement composition. The contaminant barriers of the present invention include at least one liquid, gas, or ion getter capable of binding with or absorbing liquids, ions, or gases which may penetrate the barrier. The contaminant barriers of the present invention may be engineered to include mixtures of different getters, single and multiple layers of different getters, multiple layers of cement and getters, and a host of different getter, cement, mixture, and layer combinations.Novel waste containers are advantageously prepared utilizing contaminant barriers within the scope of the present invention. The waste containers may be prepared by surrounding waste material with at least one getter and with a powdered hydraulic cement composition and then compressing the cement and getter around the waste material.

Abstract: A light matrix display system and a lamp socket for use therein. The lamp socket receives a single lamp which may be easily replaced by another lamp. The lamp socket is also designed so that it may be readily replaced if necessary. A solid state switching circuit is replaceably mounted on each lamp socket. Thus, if a switching circuit fails, it may be quickly replaced without disturbing the operation of other lamps. The light matrix display system includes a plurality of lamps arranged in rows and columns. A plurality of row control conductors and column control conductors are provided which are connected to a matrix system controller. Hot and neutral AC current supplying conductors and one row control conductor and one column control conductor are directly connected to each lamp socket and the switching circuit associated with the lamp socket.