Abstract: A pair of jaws moveable with respect to one another whether mounted in a hand held sealer or desk mounted sealer, compresses, heats, elongates, spreads and welds liquid filled tubing placed therebetween. Variants of the pair of jaws provide means for serially or simultaneously segmenting the tubing into a plurality of sealed compartments. The pair of jaws are electrically connected to a source of RF energy as the plates of a variable capacitor in an RF resonant circuit. The flow of RF energy across the pair of jaws, which energy heats the tubing and, in conjunction with mechanical pressure, makes the weld, is a function of timing and of the spacing between the jaws which spacing affects the degree of resonance of the RF resonant circuit.

Abstract: A solenoid operated moveable jaw cooperates with a fixed jaw protruding from a blood tubing sealing unit and formed as part of a relatively massive heat sink to effect seals on liquid filled plastic tubing upon transmission of RF energy timed to coincide with a degree of initial mechanical compression of the tubing by the jaws after the movement of the moveable jaw has been triggered by the tubing intercepting and reflecting a beam of light. Dissipation of heat from the exposed part of the fixed jaw is by convection. Dissipation of heat from the enclosed part of the fixed and moveable jaws and that produced by the circuitry generating the RF energy internal to the sealer unit is effected by channeling the heat by conduction from all internal heat sources to the bottom and rear plates of the unit and dissipating the heat from the bottom and rear plates to the atmosphere by convection.

Abstract: A pair of jaws moveable with respect to one another whether mounted in a hand held sealer or desk mounted sealer, compresses, heats, elongates, spreads and welds liquid filled tubing placed therebetween. Variants of the pair of jaws provide means for serially or simultaneously segmenting the tubing into a plurality of sealed compartments. The pair of jaws are electrically connected to a source of RF energy as the plates of a variable capacitor in an RF resonant circuit. The flow of RF energy across the pair of jaws, which energy heats the tubing and, in conjunction with mechanical pressure, makes the weld, is a function of timing and of the spacing between the jaws which spacing affects the degree of resonance of the RF resonant circuit.

Abstract: A transportable self-contained life support apparatus steadily reduces in temperature whole blood collected from donors to a predetermined temperature range. The whole blood is kept live by maintaining the temperature of the blood within such range through conductive heat transfer to an adjacent coolant. The coolant, in a frozen state and having a freezing temperature just below the predetermined range, absorbs heat commensurate to/with its latent heat of fusion and precludes temperature excursion of the blood until all of the coolant has become liquid. Similarly, platelets, extracted from the blood, can be maintained at the predetermined temperature range during storage and transport. Over chilling is precluded by limiting the low temperature of the coolant to its freezing temperature and a life destroying temperature rise is self-evident by and can only occur after a complete change in the state of the coolant.

Abstract: A pair of jaws moveable with respect to one another whether mounted in a hand held sealer or desk mounted sealer, compresses, heats, elongates, spreads and welds liquid filled tubing placed therebetween. Variants of the pair of jaws provide means for serially or simultaneously segmenting the tubing into a plurality of sealed compartments. The pair of jaws are electrically connected to a source of RF energy as the plates of a variable capacitor in an RF resonant circuit. The flow of RF energy across the pair of jaws, which energy heats the tubing and, in conjunction with mechanical pressure, makes the weld, is a function of timing and of the spacing between the jaws which spacing affects the degree of resonance of the RF resonant circuit.

Abstract: A blood collection bag is suspended from a leaf spring, which leaf spring, on being repositioned a specified distance by the weight of a properly filled blood collection bag, energizes an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit generates a pulse to momentarily energize a coil in proximity to a permanent magnet and momentarily disrupt the magnetic field of the magnet. A clamp for terminating the flow of blood to the blood collection bag is actuated on release of a weight retained by the magnetic field of the magnet, which release is achieved by the disruption of the magnetic field on energization of the coil.

Abstract: A blood collection bag is suspended from a leaf spring, which leaf spring, on being repositioned a specified distance by the weight of a properly filled blood collection bag, energizes an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit generates a pulse to momentarily energize a coil in proximity to a permanent magnet and momentarily disrupt the magnetic field of the magnet. A clamp for terminating the flow of blood to the blood collection bag is actuated upon the disruption of the magnetic field.

Abstract: A dual cavity substrate having a sample compartment for selectively discharging the fluid under test is rotatably mounted in a holder. A monolayer of red blood cells is centrifugally developed on the cavity surfaces of the substrate and, after typing, is subjected to the presence of an antibody which antibody may or may not have an affinity for the antigen of the first layer of red blood cells. A second monolayer of red blood cells is layed on the antibody. One of the two layers of blood cells or the antibody is the element being tested. Should agglutination of the second layer of red blood cells occur, the test is positive. Equipments for various substrate surface preparation procedures as well as for washing, lysing and optical inspection procedures are also described. A method for conducting various tests performable by the apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: A solar pool heater is defined by a submersible tubular ring attached to the perimeter of a transparent or translucent sheet. Floatation of the heater is obtained through an air bubble captured by the sheet and maintained by the ring. The ring is perforated to permit the entry of water within the ring to induce partial submersion and thereby establish a peripheral seal about the captured air bubble. The submersed ring also prevents overlapping of adjacent heaters and reduces the likelihood of the heaters being blown off the pool by wind. By developing the sheet from material transparent to at least a spectrum of the solar rays, the air space intermediate the sheet and the underlying water surface will provide a "greenhouse" effect to heat the water through direct impingement by the received radiant energy; additionally, radiation of heat from the water will be reduced by the sheet, whereby, the heater not only collects but retains the impinged radiant energy.

Abstract: A desk mounted tubing sealer useable by either seated or standing operators heat seals liquid filled plastic tubing on command. The sealer generates a source of RF energy to heat seal plastic tubing on placement thereof between a fixed jaw and a tube compressing movable jaw. The jaws and attendant structure serves as a heat sink to dissipate heat and prevent a heat buildup during rapid repetitive operation of the sealer. Adequate space and drainage are provided about the operating components for cleaning purposes in the event of a burst tube during formation of a seal.

Abstract: A solar pool heater is defined by a submersible tubular ring attached to the perimeter of a floating sheet. The ring is perforated to permit the entry of water within the ring to induce at least partial submersion. The submersed ring prevents overlapping of adjacent heaters and reduces the likelihood of the heaters being blown off the pool by wind. The sheet includes a plurality of captive air bubbles to provide a floatationcapability while simultaneously insulating the water surface from the ambient air. By developing the sheet from material transparent to at least a spectrum of the solar rays, the underlying water will become heated by the received radiant energy.

Abstract: Weight monitoring apparatus supports and agitates a fluid collection bag to mix a received flow of fluid with a fluid contained within the bag while simultaneously monitoring the increasing weight of the bag. When a predetermined weight of the bag and its contents is achieved, the inflow of fluid is automatically interrupted.

Abstract: A hand held sealer compresses and welds tubing intermediate a pair of jaws, which jaws also serve as the plates of a variable capacitor of an Rf resonant circuit. The flow of power intermediate the jaws generating the heat applied to accomplish the weld is a function of the spacing of the jaws, whereby the applied power is regulated to weld but not destructively melt the tubing.