Abstract: The models comprise an expanded or expansible polymer or copolymer generally used for the fabrication of such models. The polymer or copolymer contains an oxidizing agent comprising a nitroaliphatic compound that accepts expansion without substantial alteration of its oxidizing properties, that does not substantially modify the characteristics of the polymer or copolymer before, during and after expansion, that does not harm the quality of the metal that is cast, and that has a decomposition temperature essentially identical to that of the polymer or copolymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device, in particular for the treatment of low-viscosity polymer melts, containing a vessel (1) with a stirrer element, the stirrer element (6) essentially comprising a support structure which passes through the vessel and on which surface formers (8) are arranged. According to the invention, the support structure is designed as a cage-like rod frame (7).This results in the following advantages:1. Owing to the now possible continuous wetting or wiping of the surfaces, encrustations and inhomogeneities are avoided.2. Due to enhanced cascading with weir plates, the residence time spectrum can be controlled, which likewise improves the product quality.3. The flexing of the stirrer element is reduced.

Abstract: A cable end-piece for a cable which slides in a flexible sheath. The end-piece includes a hollow tubular body which is closed by a base. The base has an opening for the passage of a cable therethrough. The base includes an extension which has an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface is provided with a seal to sealingly contact the cable. The outer surface has at least one groove which is connected to the inner surface by means of channels. The material from which the seal is made also fills the channels.

Abstract: A device positionable upstream from a shower nozzle for dispensing solid, water-soluble or water-dispersible materials is disclosed. The device includes a tubular body (1) of which a first end (2) has a circular flange (3) and comprises an internal thread (4) defining a first shoulder (5), and a second end is threaded; and a cylindrical coupling portion (6) comprising a circular abutment (7) and two threads on either side thereof, i.e., a first or outer thread (8) with a diameter suitable for engagement with a shower hose, and a second or internal thread (9) with a diameter suitable for screwing said portion (6) into the second end of the body (1). The end of said internal thread forms a second shoulder (10). A chamber (11) is defined inside said body (1) between the first (5) and second (10) shoulders, whereat the wall of said body (1) comprises a window (12) for inserting a solid material into said chamber (4).

Abstract: Lecithin-type liposomes are stabilized with quaternized alkyated polymers, such as steardimonium hydroxyethylcellulose, to provide excellent stability for cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations. Temperature, storage, solvent, and acidity stability are described. The stabilized liposomes can serve as vectors for alpha-hydroxy acids and showed no aggregation even after 4 months of storage at pH 2.

Abstract: A protective cosmetic particulate gel delivery system for a topically applied active agent employs an agar gel and a restraining polymer to retain the actve agent in the gel. The particles have an average particle diameter of at least 0.05 mm while the restraining polymer has a molecular weight of at least 50,000 daltons and has retention groups to bind the active agent. The restraining polymers can be selected from the group consisting of polyquaternium 24, laurdimonium hydroxyethylcellulose, cocodimonium hydroxyethylcellulose, steardimonium hydroxyethylcellulose, quaternary ammonium substituted water-soluble polysaccharides, alleyl quaternary celluloses and polypeptides having or provided with retention groups to retain the active agent. The gel particles of the invention are manually crushable on the skin to increase the surface area of the gel particle material and expose the restraining polymer to the skin or other body surface for release of the active agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an improved air-flow sensitive float valve interposed between the collection chamber and one arm of the water seal chamber for allowing the patient to draw as much vacuum pressure as is required during deep inspiration. The float valve also functions to provide for an automatic controlled release of excess negative pressure in the collection chamber during either continuous autotransfusion or when there is a low air flow rate condition present. By tailoring a specific amount of water to a given size chamber, the water column inside the water seal chamber is allowed to momentarily engage the floating mechanism before the water seal chamber is emptied of water and a column of air is subsequently forced through the water column towards the momentarily sealed valve. Once the air column reaches the valve, the water supporting the valve is displaced and the valve is released until the air column is replaced by another rising water column.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a piece of storage furniture including two substantially rectangular shelves, respectively a top shelf and a bottom shelf. The shelves are supported by combination parts which comprise a support that is integral with a flank. The furniture also includes a front face, a back face and two side faces. The faces can be open or closed where the flank can serve as a wall that closes a face. The invention allows the furniture to be assembled or disassembled in a facile manner and when disassembled, the furniture is provided as a compact package.

Abstract: A device for positioning a human body in a seat, wheelchair or other support is provided. The device enables a user to modify and adjust various components to position the seat to aid the posture of the user, by taking various measurements via sensors and controlling the position of the components to achieve an optimum configuration of the components to support the user. A computer can automatically make the adjustments and can monitor multiple seats. The seats can be truck, car or airplane seats.

Abstract: A curved surgical needle and a method for producing the same from a solid sheet of material rather than from coiled wire including the steps of drilling a bore in one edge of the material, grinding an edge opposite the drilled edge to form a sharpened point, curving the material and cutting the material at a point of equal distance between each drilled bored to provide a surgical needle. A suture is then attached to the surgical needle, optionally lubricated, sterilized, and packaged by suitable means known in the art.

Abstract: A system for picking cabbages includes at least one picking channel having structure for centering and straightening the cabbage plants. The structure is defined by two rotary disks that rotate in the processing direction relative to a flared intake of guides for supporting plants. The picking channel also includes structure for sectioning cabbage leaves and stems, which structure consists of one disk that completely cuts the path of each plant, and can be adjusted at a height relative to the ground. The overall unit is mounted on a frame that is equipped with structure for maintaining ground clearance.

Abstract: A progressive filtration system for a chest drainage unit during continuous autotransfusion that allows the user to clear the fluid pathway of blood clots and trapped air that form after filtration in a flushing action initiated by the user. The filtration system comprises a gross filter for filtering incoming blood at the inlet portion of a collection chamber of a chest drainage unit and a fine filter assembly located at the bottom portion of the collection chamber for refiltering collected blood prior to reinfusion of that blood back to the patient. The filter assembly includes a valve cap at the top portion of the assembly that functions as a one way valve that permits reflux of later developing blood clots that might clog the tubing once the blood has already passed through the assembly. The valve cap is also adapted for sealing engagement with a drop tube that places the filter assembly in fluid flow communication with an outlet of the collection chamber located at the top portion of the chamber.

Abstract: A system for assembling together prefabricated panels to form a water-retaining wall, in particular a swimming pool wall, each panel being constituted by a sheet metal plate having two opposite edges, defining substantially the height of the wall, which edges are folded to the same side of the panel to form two flanges, the system being characterized in that two consecutive panels disposed vertically side by side are assembled together by matching shapes between the two adjacent flanges (3) of the two panels (1) and two rectilinear section members (7, 9) comprising a first section member (7) having a C-shaped right cross-section which is designed to be fitted over the two adjacent flanges (3) of the two panels (1), and a second section member (9) which is designed to be engaged inside the first section (7) and between the adjacent flanges (3) of the two panels (1), together with stiffening means for locking the two flanges (3) into position between the two section members (7, 9).

Abstract: A basic circuit (10) includes an oscillator (11) whose frequency can be set via a frequency-determining component (15). At outputs (A1-A5), the basic circuit (10) cyclically generates pulses by which consumers (L1-L5) are driven. A switch (18) is connected in parallel to the frequency-determining component (15), said switch being controlled by the outputs (A1-A5) and changing the oscillator frequency during an output pulse. Thus, the output pulses change the oscillator frequency and thus their own pulse duration themselves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronically monitored mechanical pipette which includes a transducer assembly for monitoring the rotational movement of a volume delivery adjustment mechanism of the pipette. The transducer assembly preferably includes at least two Hall-effect transducers spaced 90 rotational degrees apart from each other and sense the magnetic field of an annular magnet attached to the delivery adjustment mechanism. The Hall-effect sensors produce sinusoidal signals which are 90.degree. out of phase from each other when the magnet rotates relative thereto. The two out of phase sinusoidal signals are processed by an electronics assembly of the pipette to determine the absolute position of the volume delivery adjustment mechanism and compute a fluid volume delivery setting of the pipette.

Abstract: A catheter introducer which allows a dilator member and a sheath member to be engaged with and disengaged from each other promptly and smoothly. The catheter introducer includes a sheath member consisting of a sheath portion and a sheath hub and a dilator member consisting of a dilator portion and a dilator hub and a locking mechanism operatively connecting the sheath member and dilator member during the insertion of the catheter introducer into the body of the patient. The dilator hub includes one or more flange members associated therewith and the flange member is rotatable with respect to the sheath hub to selectively engage the sheath hub in a first position and disengage the sheath hub in a second position.

Abstract: A two-port cartridge type seat valve has a valve sleeve with a stepped guide bore for a poppet. The poppet includes a piston flange that divides the second step of the guide bore axially into an end-face first pilot chamber and an annular second pilot chamber. A first connection channel through the valve sleeve connects the annular second pilot chamber with an annular chamber into which a lateral main flow port opens. The free cross-section of a valve seat and of an axial main flow bore correspond approximately to the cross-section of the first step of the guide bore.

Abstract: A method for reducing radioactive waste, particularly oils and solvents in nuclear power stations and military research centers, and a device therefor. The method comprises feeding the waste into a tank (1) in which it is continuously stirred, preheating the waste, performing a chemical precipitation treatment, feeding the mixture into a centrifuge (2), performing an electrostatic or conventional filtration step, and testing the level of radioactivity. The treatment is continuously repeated until the desired level of decontamination is reached.

Abstract: The apparatus is comprised of two launchers (6, 7) having the same technical characteristics, arranged next to each other. One of the launchers is symmetrical to the other one with respect to a vertical symmetry plane which separates them. Both launchers (6, 7) have their own launching ramp (8 and 9) and their launching arm (4, 5), each at a different level, and are mounted integrally with an oscillating plate (10). The oscillating plate (10) is mounted on an oscillation shaft (11) of a base plate (12) which forms the fixed base of the apparatus. The apparatus is used in sport shooting.

Abstract: A footstand for stabilizing a body of a medical device against being overturned. The body may especially be a chest drainage unit (CDU) designed and configured to receive and collect fluids from a medical patient. The invention comprises at least one stand coupled to the body and adapted for deployment to a position for stabilizing the body against upset. The CDU body is a generally upstanding rectangular box having a pair of depending feet, one foot on each side of the body.