Abstract: The present invention covers a method for disinfecting a contact lens including contacting the lens with an isotonic aqueous solution comprising 0.6 to 2 weight percent tromethamine (preferably 0.8 to 1.5 percent) for a time sufficient to disinfect the lens. Other aspects include adding to the solution from 0.01 to 1 weight percent chelating agent (preferably disodium EDTA) and/or additional microbicide.

Abstract: A device for the catalytic purification of automotive exhaust gas includes at least one inner casing housing an assembly of corrugated, or corrugated and flat, thin metal sheets carrying a catalyst thereon, and disposed between a gas inlet and a gas outlet which are adapted for connection to an exhaust pipe extending from an engine. An outer casing surrounds the inner casing in a speced apart relation therefrom, and is joined to it in a gastight way. The inner and outer casings define therebetween a closed space filled with a heat storing material which can collect and store the heat of exhaust gas.

Abstract: The device for carrying out catalyzed reactions includes a plurality of layers, each of which provides an interspace which is filled with a catalyst material. The walls of each layer are impermeable to the catalyst material while being permeable to the reactants flowing in flow channels between the parallel layers. In one embodiment, separate guide elements may be used to space the layers apart and to define the flow channels. The catalyst material may be selected from solid particles, liquids and gases.

Abstract: An odor control method includes an inlet section of a chamber for spraying waste gas with a suitable reactive chemical agent, for odor removal purposes. An electrostatic precipitator is mounted downstream of the inlet section, within the chamber, for removing chemical residues. The electrical field strength of the electrostatic precipitator is adjustable as needed, to satisfy operating system requirements.

Abstract: A method for removing fumigation gasses from fumigated structures is provided. Air is directed from a structure through an adsorption unit and then recirculated back into the structure. A fan directs air through the adsorption unit. The adsorption unit contains an annularly shaped adsorption bed and an inner passage way and outer passage way through which fumigation gasses are directed. A lower adsorption efficiency per pass through the adsorption bed is used in conjunction with multiple passes with the method of the present invention.

Abstract: An assay tray assembly and an assay tray primarily for chromatographic analysis has a plastics moulded test tray 1 mounted on a plastics moulded collection tray 72, The test tray has a spaced array of chambers 3 disposed as per a microtiter plate, Each chamber has a bottom outlet port 5 formed by a flange 8 which retains within the chamber a chromatographic medium to which test liquid deposited in the chamber is to be subjected for the percolate or eluate liquid to emerge from the respective outlet ports, The collection tray 72 has a spaced array of wells 16 disposed as per a microtiter plate to correspond with the chambers 3 and the tray 14 is mounted on the tray 72 for each chamber to communicate with a corresponding well 16. Each chamber 3 has a tubular spigot part 12 which extends into the respective well 16 to alleviate cross contamination of the liquid derived from the outlet ports 5.

Abstract: A method for plasma sterilization includes exposing an article to be sterilized to a plasma generated from a gas mixture. The gas mixture being either (a) argon, helium, nitrogen, or mixtures thereof, and oxygen and hydrogen; (b) argon, helium, nitrogen or mixtures thereof, and hydrogen; or (c) argon, helium, nitrogen or mixtures thereof, and oxygen. The exposure of the article to the plasma is carried out at a pressure of from 0.1 to 10 torr and a chamber temperature of less than 63.degree. C. for a time period sufficient to effect sterilization. Contaminated articles can be pretreated in a plasma generated from oxygen and optionally argon, helium and/or nitrogen at the same conditions for up to 5 minutes to remove protein. The apparatus for plasma sterilization of articles includes a plasma generator and a sterilizing chamber. The plasma generator includes a plurality of generator tubes positioned in one or more electromagnetic field zones defined by one or more waveguides.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for processing disc-shaped registration carriers, provided with a number of processing stations in which the disc-shaped registration carriers are supported, and with a transport assembly by which said disc-shaped registration carriers can be moved from one processing station to another processing station. The transport assembly is fitted with interconnected, jointly driven holders for simultaneously taking hold of and moving the registration carriers between the processing stations. The processing stations are at least partially fitted with readily exchangeable processing units.

Abstract: A clip mount air freshener assembly has an air freshening element, and a holder providing a channel which slidably seats the air freshening element, and a spring mounting clip for mounting the air freshener assembly on the grill of a ventilator so that a stream of air issuing therefrom will flow over the exposed surface of the air freshening element. In the preferred embodiment, the holder and the clip are separate members, with each of the members providing pivot surfaces. A connector between the holder and the clip provides pivoting elements, pivotable on the pivot surfaces to provide pivotal motion of the holder in two orthogonal axes of rotation with respect to the spring mounting clip.

Abstract: An sterilization tray and mat used in combination for the sterilization of surgical instruments. The tray includes raised ribs protruding from the tray floor for supporting a sterilization mat above the tray floor and a plurality of holes for permitting the ingress and egress of sterilants and for permitting drainage of condensation. The mat includes a plurality of raised parallel ribs with rows of projections extending from and between each rib for supporting the instruments.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for sterilizing and transporting medical implements (52). A rectangular, cabinet-like, support structure (12) surrounds a self-contained sterilization system generally defined by a storage rack (58), a container-like collection vessel (34) and a tube-like fluid transport line (42). Storage rack (58) includes wet wells (46a) and dry wells (46b). Wet wells (46a) are filled with sterilization fluid, and medical implements (52) are immersed therein. Following sterilization, medical implements (52) are placed in dry wells (46b), for storage. Subsequently, the used sterilization fluid in wet wells (46a) can be drained through fluid transport line (42) into collection vessel (34). The apparatus (10) is transportable for easily sterilizing medical implements (52) at different locations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for counting the number of microorganism colonies present on a disposable microorganism culturing device having a substantially planar substrate. The preferred apparatus of the present invention includes an LED bar illuminating the surface of the substrate and a linear array of SELFOC lenses which focus the light reflected off of the substrate onto a linear CCD sensor array. The CCD sensor array is connected to a microprocessor which analyzes the raster-scanned data using the preferred algorithm. The preferred algorithm uses the sigma-shaped neighborhood for image processing. The preferred algorithm passes the sigma region across the image in a raster-scanned order to detect object starts and merges which yield a colony count for a scanned microorganism culturing device.

Abstract: Scrubber sterilization method and an apparatus which initially sterilize a gas scrubber with an initial cleaning with hydrogen peroxide, provide an iodine level of approximately 5 to 10 mg/liter in water which is sprayed into the scrubber to contact the effluent gas stream and kill biological growth, provide injection of more concentrated iodine in water in the event the iodine level in the system falls below a predetermined level, and load the filtrate material in the gas scrubber with iodine to provide an unfavorable surface for adherence of biological growth as well as a secondary sterilization means in the event that the liquid stream with iodine is stopped due to equipment or power failure.

Abstract: A coating of paint on a panel is dried by directing a narrow jet of air from a supply, preferably from an air mover, held at a predetermined distance from the panel towards one edge region of the panel, the jet being substantially narrower, when it reaches the panel edge region, than the length of the panel edge and the jet being inclined to the plane of the panel such that the air from the jet is entrained by the panel in a spreading laminar flow across the panel surface from that edge region to all the other edges thereof. This induces such laminar flow over substantially the whole surface and replaces vapor-laden air closely adjacent the surface with fresh air to accelerate drying. In a painting booth for cars several such air movers use part of the bulk air flow in the booth.

Abstract: Hospital wastes or the like are sterilized and compressed for disposal by apparatus having a waste receptacle with a waste receiving opening at the top and having a sterilizer casing, the receptacle and casing being in telescoping relationship. The receptacle initially protrudes from the casing in order to receive the wastes and is then translated into the casing to close the casing and thereby enable sterilization of the contents by admission of pressurized steam. A helical rotary conveyer extends along the axis of the receptacle and has several functions. The conveyer moves wastes from the receptacle into the casing and precompacts such wastes prior to the sterilization cycle and may be used to stir the wastes during sterilization. After opening of a casing door, the conveyer operates to discharge the sterile wastes from the casing and a translatable ram forces the material into an adjacent compactor container.

Abstract: A method of decontaminating or sterilizing chamber systems including freeze dryers at low temperature and pressure levels by utilizing vaporized sterilant, preferably hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid and mixtures thereof is disclosed.

Abstract: A water treatment pill is disclosed having a cylindrical periphery and disklike end faces and comprising material that in use is eroded to treat the water. The cylindrical periphery of the pill is covered with a cover of water impermeable material to prevent water coming into contact with the periphery of the pill. A passage is provided between the sleeve and the periphery of the pill and running from one end face to the other. This passage may be formed in the periphery of the pill or in the sleeve. One end face of the pill is closed off by a closure member. Thus with the axis of the periphery vertical and the closure member on the upper face of the pill, any gases which may accumulate below one end face of the pill can escape along the groove to the other end face.

Abstract: A high temperature, short time microwave heating system 10 for heat-sensitive liquid material to inactivate or reduce pathogenic agents or organisms, such as viral contaminants. The system 10 includes a disposable cartridge 26 consisting of a preheater 32, a microwave heating coil 56 and cooler 58 with the heating coil 56 adapted to be easily inserted in and removed from the microwave heating field.

Abstract: A sterilizing apparatus installed on a car includes a nozzle-installing pipe on which a plurality of nozzles are mounted at regular intervals, a driving mechanism for varying the spray angles of the nozzles, a driving mechanism for controlling the spray time periods, a supply mechanism for supplying disinfectant to a disinfectant-flowing path equipped in the nozzle-installing pipe, a plurality of tanks containing disinfectant to be supplied to the supply mechanisms and control mechanisms for controlling the operation of the driving mechanisms. The car is moved to a required place in a hospital, and the nozzles are operated by spray disinfectant particles, the diameter of which are 10 .mu.m or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to treatment of marine borer infestation. It has been found that wood can be effectively protected from marine borer infestation by impregnating the wood with a pesticidally effective amount of chlorothalonil. In general, the quantity of chlorothalonil employed is in the range of from about 0.3 to about 3.0 pounds per cubic foot, although higher concentrations can be employed.