Abstract: A medication infusion system includes an implantable device and an external control device. The implantable device includes a constant flow pump and a flow rate that may be altered by commands received from the external control device. Power to execute the commands is also provided to the passive pump from the external control device. The external control device sends a command only when a flow rate change is to be made, or when status information is required. In one embodiment, the flow rate provided by the passive pump is controlled by a flow regulator, where the flow rate is changed by changing the restriction of a passage between regulator chambers.

Abstract: An automatic coal stoker is provided with internal means to increase the sensible heal outflow from the operating stoker, which means comprises a modified stoker housing that provides a first combustion chamber and an abutting second chamber for induced air heat exchange with the hot combustion gases. A tubular means is disposed in the second chamber which intakes the combustion gases to be vented and extracts much of their sensible heat, and then directs by forced convection, the heated air useful to the stoker environment, while venting the spent combustion gases to the standard flue means.

Abstract: A safety syringe with a hollow barrel housing and a retraction trunk coaxially formed within the housing to forming an annular chamber between the inner surfaces of said outer elongated hollow barrel and the outer surface of said retraction trunk. A needle cannula carriage is held within the distal end of the retraction trunk by a latching means and a biasing means. A needle cannula module is suitably fixed to the distal end of the needle cannula carriage wherein a cannula or passage provides fluid communication from the needle cannula module, through the needle cannula carriage, through the retraction trunk and into the annular chamber. An annular plunger is provided between the inner surfaces of the outer elongated hollow barrel and the outer surface of the retraction trunk, wherein said annular plunger forces fluid through said annulus and into a body.

Abstract: A self-deploying catheter assembly comprises an anchoring device mounted to a tube. A distal end of the anchoring device is held in a fixed position by a releasable suture while a proximal end is freely movable between a proximal position and a distal position defined by a stop on the tube. During insertion into a body cavity, the anchor automatically maintains a low-profile state with the ends spaced apart. Once fully inserted, the anchor self converts into a high-profile state when the tube is slightly withdrawn, bringing the ends closer together. The suture is disengaged to release the distal end of the anchor in order to facilitate a low-profile state for withdrawal of the assembly.

Abstract: The invention includes apparatus and methods for electrotransport of a drug or other beneficial agent through a skin or mucosal membrane surface. In one embodiment, at least one of the cathode or anode electrode of an electrochemical cell is configured, at least in part, as an electroactive needle for insertion all or part way through the stratum corneum of a patient's skin. A reservoir containing a beneficial agent may be provided in fluid communication with one or more electroactive needles, in which case the electroactive needle(s) may be configured with a hollow bore interior for transport of the beneficial agent directly into a subject's tissues. In a related embodiment, an electroactive needle is configured for intravenous and/or intramuscular use. The invention also includes an electrotransport system comprising an electrochemically active porous substrate. In a further embodiment, the invention comprises an electrotransport system having one or more implantable active porous electrodes.

Abstract: System for drying a damp biofuel, includes a boiler (1) for combustion of the fuel. Further, the system includes a first heat drying chamber (2), a drying gas flow (3) heated by the thermal energy of the combustion gases from the boiler and/or by steam, the gas flow being passed into the first heat drying chamber, and a fuel supply (4) for passing the fuel into the first heat drying chamber. The system includes a second heat drying chamber (5), an intermediate heating unit (6) for heating the drying gas flow before the second heat drying chamber, an intermediate supply (7) for passing the fuel from the first heat drying chamber into the second heat drying chamber, a boiler supply (8) for passing the fuel from the final heat drying chamber into the boiler and an outlet (9) for passing the flow of drying gas from the final heat drying chamber into the boiler.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method by means of which the machine-direction moisture of a web being calendered or coated and calendered can be controlled in an optimal manner that takes into account moisture content changes along the entire path of the coating and drying process. Advantageously, all the dryers and the calender of the coater section are controlled in an integrated manner in order to obtain a controlledly processed product which is optimized in regard to energy consumption and product quality. Each process section and unit contributing to the drying of the web is identified by means of a mathematical submodel describing the specific evaporation rate in the respective process section/unit and, by chaining these submodels, a composite model is compiled for the entire process, whereby the composite model makes it possible to manage the drying operation in the process so that the individual units are controlled as a portion of the overall process.

Abstract: A system for drying particulate material in a drying hopper (DH) has a plurality of gas flow paths, one (FP1) of which extends from a compressed gas inlet (16) to a first sub-system (SS1) that includes a membrane dryer(MD) and a heater (EH′), whereby dried and heated gas is supplied to a lower portion (36) of the hopper, and another (FP2) of which extends from the inlet (16) to a second sub-system (SS2) that includes a mixing device (30) and a heater (EH). The mixing device uses compressed gas to induce a flow of gas from the hopper and mixes the compressed gas with gas withdrawn from the hopper. The mixed gases are heated and supplied to a second portion (34) of the hopper.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unitary syringe having a mounted needle surrounded by a sheath having a break-zone. The fluid medicament to be injected is contained within a blister cavity formed between upper and lower polymeric layers. Accidental needle sticks are reduced by optional guard fingers surrounding the needle. These fingers extend past the and bracket the sharpened end of the needle.

Abstract: A single pass, multiple stage, rotary drum heat exchange dryer (22) is provided for drying products such as distillers grains and includes a tubular shell (64) with a moist product inlet (66), an opposed dried product outlet (70), and an internal drying chamber (78). The chamber (78) includes a convection drying first stage (80), and conductive drying final curing stage (82) an intermediate stage (84); the stage (84) is subdivided into a plurality of preferably contiguous drying zones (86-92). The zones (86-92) include individual flighting assemblies (164, 214, 226, 234) which are of increasing density and present progressively increasing heat transfer ratios. Preferably, one of the initial zones has a heat transfer ratio of from about 1.5-2.5 ft−1, whereas another of the zones closer to the final stage has a heat transfer of from about 2.75-3.75 ft−1.

Abstract: In known rack dryers, the drying effect is weaker in the outer area on the side of the air intake into the pipe chambers than in the other areas. Said weaker drying effect is caused by turbulence in this area, which leads to a drop in the static pressure. The aim of the invention is to provide a dryer which ensures even drying of the goods across the entire width, even in the problem areas. The rack dryer is equipped with conductive bodies (20, 26) which are located on the partition wall (5) and which streamline the current in the area of the air intake into the pipe chambers in such a way, that a predominantly even static pressure prevails throughout the entire pipe chamber. The invention can be used for drying sandwich-type plaster board or wood veneer.

Abstract: An anchoring system includes a simply-structured device that permits a portion of a catheter tube or similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, desirably without the use of tape or needles and suturing. A unitary retainer desirably includes a base connected to a cover assembly by way of flexible hinges. The retainer is attached to a flexible anchor pad including an adhesive bottom surface, which can be attached to the patient's skin. A catheter is secured within a channel formed between posts of the retainer. The cover assembly is reproducibly positioned over the base by bending the flexible hinges, and the cover assembly is latched to the base. The posts provide a universal feature such that the anchoring system can adapt to and receive a variety of catheters and catheter fittings by providing at least one post that is movable relative to at least one other post.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for lowering the body temperature of a patient while reducing shivering by using a heat exchange device in combination with an &agr;2-adrenoreceptor agonist, a non-opiod analgesic monoamine uptake inhibitor or neuropeptide that temporarily reduces shivering. The devices disclosed include a catheter having a heat exchange balloon thereon with heat exchange fluid circulating through the interior of the balloon. The heat exchange balloon is placed in the vasculature of a patient, and heat exchange fluid at a temperature other than the temperature of the blood in the vasculature is circulated through the interior of the balloon to add or remove heat from the blood of the patient. Various &agr;2-adrenoreceptor agonist&agr;2-adrenoreceptor agonists, non-opiod analgesic monoamine uptake inhibitors and neuropeptides are disclosed including dexmedetomidine, nepofam and neurotensin and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: A nozzle for a fabric dryer whose cross sectional area tapers from the proximal end thereof to the distal end thereof. The nozzle has a fabric side that is juxtaposed relative to the fabric. The fabric side of the nozzle is provided with a slot that extends therealong. The slot has flanges that penetrate away from the fabric side of the nozzle and open inwardly into the nozzle. A plurality of baffles are positioned between the flanges, along the slot. Each of the plurality of baffles is directed toward the fabric side of the nozzle and is inclined toward the proximal end of the nozzle to deflect hot air from the slot, so that the hot air projects normally onto the fabric so as to avoid moving the fabric off the fabric conveyor of the fabric dryer.

Abstract: A paper drying apparatus to dry a paper web carried on a fabric sheet includes a first rotatable drum to carry a paper web. A second rotatable drum is positioned downstream of the first drum with respect to the paper web carried by the first and second rotatable drum. A third rotatable drum is positioned downstream of the second rotatable drum to carry the paper web. A first air supply directs air through the first rotatable drum in a first direction to dry a paper web carried on the first rotatable drum. A second air supply supplies air through the second rotatable drum in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A third air supply supplies air through the third rotatable drum in the first direction. The first direction is one of a direction from an inside of a respective drum toward an outside of the respective drum and from the outside of the respective drum toward the inside of the respective drum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an incinerator with a ceramics filter for incinerating raw refuse, general garbage, expanded polystyrene and others generated from a manufacturing plant, a wholesale market, a general firm, a general retail store, a general house and others. According to the present invention, air intakes having a check valve provided thereto are formed to right and left lower portions of an incinerator; an oast is set in a combustion chamber; a tabular ceramics filter for removing a harmful substance is attached to the upper portion of the oast; and a suction port is formed to the upper portion of the tabular ceramics filter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying veneer wherein the feeder upstream of the drying station displaces the veneer at different speeds on the right and left sides of the transport path of the veneer as seen in the direction of transport so as automatically to impart an inclined orientation of the veneer of 20° to 60° to a line perpendicular to the transport direction before the veneer reaches the drying station. In the drying station and the cooling station the veneer retains this inclined orientation and in these stations the veneer is subjected to multiple rerouting or the application of pressure.

Abstract: A clothes dryer adapter. The adapter includes (a) a first cylindrical portion with a generally cylindrical tubular segment having a first longitudinal axis, a inlet portion, an inlet end cap located at an effective inlet end, and an outlet end, and (b) a second cylindrical portion interfittingly engaging the first cylindrical portion for rotatable adjustment with respect thereto. the second cylindrical portion is similar to the first cylindrical portion, and has an inlet end, an outlet end cap located at an effective outlet end, and an outlet portion for discharge of hot dryer exhaust air therefrom. The two portions are rotatably adjustable, before assembly, but sized and shaped for interfitting mating engagement to form a sturdy, sealable dryer vent when fully assembled, having an inlet portion and an outlet portion with parallel but offset longitudinal axes.

Abstract: A device for absorbing or blotting grease from the surface of foods such as pizza comprising a support member having a handle for manually gripping the device and an absorbent or oligiophilic pad attached to such support member for blotting the surface of a food item.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provided for controlling fluid control to and from an eye or a phacoemulsification handpiece. The handpiece includes an ultrasonically driven, hollow, sleeved needle and the method includes inserting the needle and sleeve into an eye for phacoemulsification of eye tissue and introducing fluid into the eye through an annulus established between the sleeve and the needle. Aspiration of fragmented tissue and fluid from the eye is conducted through the hollow needle. An initial irrigation fluid pressure is determined and the irrigation fluid flow and aspiration fluid flow are adjusted based upon the initial determination. Thereafter continued determination of irrigation fluid pressure is utilized to continuously adjust irrigation fluid flow and/or aspiration fluid flow.