Abstract: A biopsy device includes an outer cannula, an inner rod, a sheath operably associated with the outer cannula, a handle assembly removably attachable to the sheath, and a release member for releasably attaching the handle assembly to the sheath. In one embodiment, a locking element associated with the sheath comprises a pair of notches located on either side of the sheath, and a locking element associated with the handle assembly comprises a pair of slots in communication with an opening within the handle assembly. The release member comprises a rotatable collar located in a channel on the handle assembly. When the release member is rotated from a first position to a second position, a portion thereof protrudes through the slots into the notches on the sheath, thereby locking the sheath in place.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for serving a heated alcoholic beverage is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes supplying an alcoholic beverage mix, such as a mulled wine mix, which is connected to a serving tap. The mulled wine is heated between leaving the source and being serviced from the tap.

Abstract: A device for dispensing fluid including a pressure-operated reservoir and a dose-metering head communicating with the reservoir to permit at least partial flow of the fluid to at least one outlet opening, the head including a fixed body and a membrane which, when at rest, comes into surface contact with at least a part of the fixed body on which the membrane is tightly mounted, the outlet opening being provided on an external element, wherein tightening of the membrane, during pressure operation of the reservoir, permits a flow from the reservoir via a peripheral space delimited by the membrane and by the part of the fixed body and which forms a passage for the fluid to the outlet opening, and, in the absence of pressure on the reservoir, to permit the membrane to occupy an equilibrium position in which the membrane is in surface contact with the part of the fixed body, by the intermediary of a thin film of fluid, essentially closing off the passage for the fluid, which essentially tightens the communication

Abstract: The present invention includes a stereotactic system and a method of use for determining vectors involving no electronic components. The stereotactic system comprises a lower plane device and an upper plane device, each having a pair of non-parallel image-conspicuous lines. The system can be used with magnetic resonance imagining (MRI), computed tomography (CT), plain film, radioscopy or fluoroscopy. The relationship of the lines enables a medical practitioner to accurately, directly, and easily determine the vector along which a medical device should be advanced to reach a target within the patient's body using a minimized number of images. As an option, the system may include an additional disposable lower plane device having a pair of non-parallel image-conspicuous lines adapted to determine a skin entry point on the patient for the medical device.

Abstract: A urinary flow control device having a bladder responsive flow control assembly operatively engaged with an elongate member having proximal and distal ends, and a lumen capable of discharging urine therethrough is provided. The flow control assembly includes first and second fluid containing compartments adapted to be in fluid communication. The flow control assembly is adapted to receive and contain urine from a bladder so as to impinge upon the first fluid containing compartment. The flow control assembly is responsive to increased bladder pressure such that fluid is displaced from the first fluid containing compartment to the second fluid containing compartment to thereby permit select passage of received urine to the lumen of the elongate member for discharge therethrough. A method of controlling urinary flow is likewise provided.

Abstract: This application relates to devices and methods for locally delivering therapeutic radiation to tissue in the body of a patient. In certain embodiments, the subject devices are implanted into a cavity in the patient left by surgical removal of tumorous tissue or other diseased tissue, to deliver radiation to the tissue surrounding the cavity. In certain embodiments, the devices are elastic or can otherwise be shaped to conform to the shape of the cavity in the patient.

Abstract: A system for providing dunnage to packages as the packages are formed is disclosed. The system includes a dunnage forming machine having a work station for inflating and sealing plastic pouches to form dunnage units. An accumulator is positioned below the station for receiving and collecting such units as they are formed. The accumulator includes an outlet opening laterally offset from the station. A pair of counter rotating brushes having axes journaled in spaced relationship are mounted at the outlet. Each of the brushes includes circumferentially spaced bristle sets defining unit receiving spaces between adjacent sets. A motor drive is operably connected to the brushes for causing counter rotation. A unit volume sensor is provided for emitting a machine start signal when the volume of units in the accumulator reaches a predetermined low volume. A process for providing dunnage in packages being formed is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a game system having a detection unit for detecting a position of a spot moved from a start spot, a measurement unit for measuring time, and a decision unit for deciding whether or not spots measured by the detection unit have enclosed an area within a set time measured from the start spot by the measurement unit. The game system further has a computation unit for computing a size of a distance between the measured spots, or a size of the area enclosed with the measured spots, when the decision unit decides that there has been enclosure. The victory or defeat of a game player is determined by the size of the length or the size of the area, computed by the computation unit.

Abstract: The present invention is a self-measuring container that dispenses only a specific amount of fluid each time fluid is poured from the container. This container has a storage chamber where the fluid initially resides and a measuring/dispensing chamber, below the storage chamber, where the specific amount of the fluid that will be dispensed during the next pouring operation resides. An aperture at one end of the container connects the storage and dispensing chambers. This aperture permits the fluid in the storage chamber to flow into the dispensing chamber. The container dispenses the fluid through an exit channel that extends from the dispensing chamber to the top of the container. The storage chamber bottom serves to separate the storage and dispensing chambers and acts as a barrier during a pouring operation to prevent fluid from flowing from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber until desired.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a sifter dispensing cap base for attachment to a package containing material to be dispensed, including: a vertical cylindrical shell portion; a web portion covering an upper end of the vertical cylindrical shell portion; the web portion including a flap, opening of the flap permitting access to the material; and the flap including a living hinge disposed along one edge thereof.

Abstract: A valve for bringing gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber (1) of gas engines includes a solenoid valve (5) controlling the fuel supply (2) and an adjoining check valve (7) designed as a poppet valve, which is closed by the force of a spring and which opens in the direction of the combustion chamber through the pressure of gas flowing from the opened solenoid valve (5).

Abstract: A rotary powder dispenser disposed between a top inlet pipe and at least two bottom outlet pipes includes a casing (1) connected at its top to an inlet via which the flow of powder is taken in, and at its bottom to outlets via which the flow is delivered, the casing (1) being formed of a shell (2) and of a removable base (3); a rotary plug (8) that is disposed in the casing, that is of generally cylindrical shape, and that can turn about its own axis, the plug being provided with an internal duct (11) that slopes relative to its axis so as to enable the powder to flow through it under gravity, with a ring of gear teeth (12) that co-operates with a worm screw (12a) to rotate said plug, and with a cam (13) that co-operates with at least one pusher (14, 15) external to the plug to determine the exact position of the plug; and at least one sealing system (9, 10) disposed between the plug (8) and the casing (1).

Abstract: An apparatus (30) and method for adjusting an actuator (32) on a real-time basis includes a rack (40) extending axially over at least a portion on an outer surface of an adjustable member (36). The actuator (32) has a bore (42) that extends from the rack (40) to the outer surface (44) of the actuator (32) to receive an adjustment member (46). The adjustment member (46) includes a pinion (48) at one end for engaging the rack (40) while the adjustment member (46) is situated out of the functional flow or positioning area. Engagement of the pinion (48) of the adjustment member (46) with the rack (40) on the adjustable member (36) provides a real-time adjustment of the actuator (32) to a desired position or setting which then may be fixed or locked into that position.

Abstract: A pump having a plastic body which includes first and second body ends. The first body end of the pump body defines a metering chamber and has an inlet valve including a valve seat and a ball disposed therein. The second body end of the pump body cooperates with a spray tube carrying an outlet valve positioned near a bottom end thereof and mounted for axial movement with respect to the pump body. A helical spring surrounds the spray tube wherein a top end of the spray tube defines a laterally extending shoulder of which the helical spring abuts at one end. Both the pump body and the ball of the inlet valve are fabricated from a transparent or at least translucent plastic material.

Abstract: A cap for use in dispensing viscous liquids from containers without the accompaniment of lower viscosity liquid present in the container. The cap has a top portion with an outside surface and an inside surface and an elongated conduit formed at a pre-determined angle. The elongated conduit has an outlet and an inlet. The outlet is situated either eccentrically or concentrically on the outside surface of the top portion such that at least one point on the circumference of the top portion is greater than 10 millimeters from the edge of the inlet.

Abstract: A tube squeezer having a simple and small-sized structure, which can squeeze out the content material out of a tube effectively, and surely maintain the squeezed state of the tube. This tube squeezer comprises, a tube having a closed one end along a length direction and another end from which a material contained therein can be discharged; a frame mounted integrally on one end of the tube along a width direction for holding the end of the tube; and a handle having a main body mounted on the frame and an arm extending from the main body. The main body projects from the tube in the width direction, so that a user can hold the main body when rolling up the tube by the frame. The arm extends from the main body such that a tip end portion thereof overlaps with a part of the tube, thus the tip end portion can be engaged with the surface of the tube when the tube is rolled up. Therefore, this tube squeezer makes it possible to prevent the reversed rotation of the rolled tube.

Abstract: A dispensing head for dispensing a product, for example, a cosmetic product, includes a body configured to mount the head on a container containing the product, an actuator that allows a dispensing element on the container to be actuated and an outlet configured to be placed in flow communication with the dispensing element to deliver a dose of product from the outlet. The dispensing head further includes a cover element configured to cover the outlet when the dispensing head is in a storage position. A removable cap is configured to be placed on the body, the cap including a portion that engages with the cover element to retain the cap on the body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a liquid container, a base and an air pressure device; the liquid container has an internal reservoir for containing the liquid and a dispensing conduit connected to a dispensing nozzle; a part of the dispensing conduit may be situated within the reservoir and is adapted to transfer the liquid from the reservoir to the dispensing nozzle; the base has a surface for holding a liquid receiver; the dispensing nozzle of the liquid container may be positioned above the surface of the base so that when the liquid receiver is situated upon the surface, the liquid from the dispensing nozzle will go into the receiver; the air pressure device is designed for creating pressurized air and is mounted in conjunction with the base; the pressurized device is connected with the internal reservoir of the liquid container, whereby upon operation of the air pressure device, pressurized air is supplied to the internal reservoir of the liquid container which

Abstract: A countersinkable tap for liquid containers is provided. The tap includes a tamper-evident device. The tap includes an outer tube having an abutment which bears against the can wall and adjacent to which is a sealing ring which seals off the can orifice. The tap also includes an inner tube mounted rotatably and displaceably in the outer tube, with a grip and with orifices to allow beverage flow out of the can interior through the outer tube to the inner tube. The inner tube has a spigot which engages into a radially running slot of the outer tube. The outer tube includes a wedge punch and the grip possessing a tab which covers the wedge punch and onto which is integrally formed an inwardly directed thickened portion which, when the grip is rotated, slides on the wedge punch and opens the tab to indicate tampering.

Abstract: A toothpaste extracting device includes a housing having a front wall, a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. The front wall has an opening therein. The opening is generally bounded by an inner housing having an upper wall having an aperture extending therethrough for receiving an open end of a tube of toothpaste. Each of first and second side walls has an elongated slot therein. A spindle is positioned in the housing and extends through each of the slots. The spindle has an engaging portion adapted for removably receiving a closed end of the toothpaste tube. A pair of gears is positioned on the spindle. A pair of tracks is positioned on an inner surface of the front wall and engage each of the gears. A motor rotates the spindle when turned on by an actuator.