Abstract: An ambulatory dialysis system and connector which effectively prevents peritoneal infections such as peritonitis. The connector is comprised of a cylinder containing a disinfecting solution which continuously bathes the male and female connectors of a tube during use. A highly absorbent material is packed in the cylinder and saturated with a disinfectant and bathes the male and female connectors when connection is made and continually bathes them during use. A connection is provided by a male fitting on the end of a tube connected to a container of dialysate fluid or an abdominal opposing tube. A male connector is inserted into the female connector through the cylinder containing the absorbent material saturated with the disinfectant. The absorbent material is packed such that the male connector contacts the absorbent material during insertion to disinfect the opposing ends simultaneously while connection is being made.

Abstract: An optical prosthetic device made from a material based on silicone compounds is a cured composition resulting from vulcanization of a mixture of .alpha.,.omega.-bis-trivinylsiloxyoligodimethyl(methylphenyl)-siloxane and .alpha.,.omega.-bis-trimethyl(dimethylhydro)siloxyoligomethyl(phenyl)methy lhydro-siloxane in the presence of a polyaddition reaction catalyst based on the compounds of metals of the platinum group, the ratio of the first mixture component to the second one ranging within 100:1 and 100:20 parts by mass.

Abstract: Filter cigarettes which are produced in a filter tipping machine are transported by a severing conveyor in the form of two rows wherein the filters of cigarettes in one row are adjacent to the filters of cigarettes in the other row. The cigarettes of the one row are thereupon inverted end-for-end by sets of pairwise arranged pivotable levers one of which withdraws a cigarette from the one row during movement along an endless circular path and turns the removed cigarette through 90 degrees about an axis which is normal to the cigarette and is remote from its filter while the one lever travels along an arc of 180 degrees. The thus partially inverted cigarette is taken over by the other lever of the respective pair and is turned through additional 90 degrees while the other lever travels along an arc of 180 degrees.

Abstract: The sidestream smoke emanated by a smoking article, such as a cigarette, can be significantly reduced by constructing the smoking article with a double wrapper, one of the wrappers having alkali metal salt burning additives in an amount in the range from about 9 to 20% by weight. A commercially feasible reduced sidestream cigarette can be produced according to this invention, having both wrappers made from a low-porosity flax base, with the inner wrapper containing 11% and the outer wrapper 6% potassium citrate.

Abstract: A porous tube suitable for use as a vascular graft prosthesis is disclosed. It is reinforced by external ribs, integral with the tube wall. These ribs are generally transverse to the tube axis and less porous than the wall. Suitable tubing can be made from polymers exhibiting a significant degree of crystallinity, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene. Methods for making these ribbed, porous tubes are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention is an improved smoking appliance in the form of a pipe having a filter holder which is readily openable for insertion and removal of the filter and yet is compact when in the closed position. Also an improved filter medium is provided for entrapping high percentage of tar and nicotine thus greatly reducing the amount of the substances which are drawn into the body of the smoker. This filter medium is chemically treated to further reduce the bite normally associated with smoking and particularly pipe smoking.

Abstract: A surgical ring clip (10) for ligating linear organ structures is provided by a solid ring (12) of a non-tissue reactive elastic material, having a central lumen (14). A plurality of pins (18) or teeth (28) are partially embedded within the elastic ring (12) with their exposed ends forming a pair of diametrically opposite files extending across and obstructing the lumen in an interleaved or meshed array when the ring is in its relaxed state. When released around a loop of a linear organ structure drawn through the lumen (14), the pins (18) or teeth (28) protrude through the loop, grasping any intermediate membrane and obstructing passage of the loop through the lumen (14), thereby preventing the ring clip (10) from slipping over the knuckle of the loop.

Abstract: A disposable diaper is provided which has a pressure-sensitive adhesive closure, a moisture-permeable facing sheet, and a polyethylene moisture-impermeable backing sheet. The pressure-sensitive adhesive closure has an adhesive composition that permits reopening the diaper numerous times without substantial damage to the polyethylene backing sheet or to the adhesive closure.

Abstract: An improved sealant pad for sealing and retaining in place the elastic sheath of a male urinary drainage catheter. The adhesive sealant pad, in addition to being soft, pliable, stretchable, and urine-resistant, is planar (when undeformed), has a distinctive cloverleaf outline, is composed of a material with elastic recovery, and has an oval-shaped opening which, in preparation for application of the pad to a patient, is reformed into generally circular shape.

Abstract: A filter cigarette is provided which comprises a tobacco rod which includes a charge of tobacco wrapped in cigarette paper, an integral, axially aligned cylindrical filter plug, and tipping paper. The filter plug is divided into first and second segments with the first segment being rotatable with respect to the second segment. Rotation of the first segment with respect to the second segment, in one embodiment of the invention, serves to vary the air dilution value of the cigarette. In another embodiment, rotation of the first segment with respect to the second segment produces variable resistance-to-draw in the cigarette. Both of the above embodiments can be combined into yet another embodiment to produce a cigarette which maintains a constant resistance-to-draw value as the air dilution value is varied. In yet another embodiment, an encapsulated flavorant is provided which is released responsive to rotation of the first segment with respect to the second segment.

Abstract: Graft prostheses are woven with cross-weave patterns to prevent unravelling and to increase suture hold strength. A vascular graft according to the invention is woven as a continuous tube by shuttling a continuous weft thread through a double-layer array of warp threads. As the weft thread is shuttled through the warp pattern, groups of warp threads are retained in parallel relationship to each other while interspersed pairs of warp threads are crossed over each other. This results in graft having normal weave patterns circumferentially alternating with cross-weave patterns.

Abstract: A polypeptide having the cell-attaching activity of fibronectin. The polypeptide has 108 amino acid residues and the formula: H-Ile-Gly-Gln-Gln-Ser-Thr-Val-Ser-Asp-Val-Pro-Arg-Asp-Leu-Glu-Val-Val-Ala- Ala-Thr-Pro-Thr-Ser-Leu-Leu-Ile-Ser-Trp-Asp-Ala-Pro-Ala-Val-Thr-Val-Arg-Tyr -Tyr-Arg-Ile-Thr-Tyr-Gly-Glu-Thr-Gly-Gly-Asn-Ser-Pro-Val-Gln-Glu-Phe-Thr-Va l-Pro-Gly-Ser-Lys-Ser-Thr- la-Thr-Ile-Ser-Gly-Leu-Lys-Pro-Gly-Val-Asp-Tyr-Thr-Ile-Thr-Val-Tyr-Ala-Val -Thr-Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro-Ala-Ser-Ser-Lys-Pro-Ile-Ser-Ile-Asn-Tyr-Arg-Th r-Glu-Ile-Asp-Lys-Pro-Ser-Gln-Met-OH. The polypeptide or a biologically active fragment thereof can be employed in the preparation of substrata designed for the attachment of cells thereto. It can be linked to the surface of a prosthetic device to particularly attract endothelial cells and fibroblastic cells.

Abstract: An improved transplantion therapy and method is provided which comprises specifically killing cells known to be problematic in the transplantion process. Novel compositions of the present invention are conjugates prepared by generating antibodies specific to surface receptors of the unwanted cells, preparing Fab or F(ab').sub.2 fragments from the antibodies, and coupling the fragments to A chains of lectins or other cytotoxic agents to render the conjugates thus formed strongly cytotoxic to the cells to which the antibody was directed. The conjugates are used in vitro to eliminate unwanted cells prior to bone marrow transplantation.

Abstract: Apparatus for recovering tobacco particles from unsatisfactory filter cigarettes has a rotary centrifugal aligning device which converts randomly supplied unsatisfactory cigarettes into a single file and transports successive cigarettes of the file past the peripheral surfaces of two rotary disc-shaped wrapper-engaging implements serving to break the wrappers and thus expose the tobacco-containing fillers for segregation from the wrappers and filters. The marginal portions of the implements are monitored by discrete photocells which generate signals on detection of cracks, chipping and/or other defects of the implements, and such signals are used to arrest the drive for the aligning device and for the implements.

Abstract: A surgical drape sheet has an instrument support table incorporated in the structure of the sheet. The table is provided by a flat sheet of plastic or cardboard located between the base sheet and fenestration area reinforcement fabric and stabilized against lateral movement.