Abstract: Disclosed is an improved microcentrifuge tube (10). One improvement is a recessed well (20) within the top of the the lid (16) of the tube into which an identifying disk (22) is placed. Another claimed improvement is an expanded lower circumference (25) of the lower portion of plug (24) extending down from the bottom of the top (16) of the tube and an inwardly directed protrusion (26) on the inner surface of the top portion of the tube such that the expanded circumference (25) at the lower portion of the plug (24) fits under the inwardly directed protrusion (26) when said plug is inserted into the opening of the tube thus securing the lid to the top of the tube.

Abstract: A catalytic air cleaner purifies air in enclosed spaces, such as in an aircraft or spacecraft. The air cleaner includes a pair of metal strips, wound into a double spiral. The strips have projections, affixed to the strips, to maintain the spacing between turns of the spiral. The spiral defines a core which accommodates an electrically heated catalytic converter. The strips themselves have no catalyst coating. A pair of ports at the periphery of the spiral allows air to enter and leave the spiral through inlet and outlet channels. Air entering the spiral through the inlet channel receives heat, by heat exchange, from air leaving the spiral, and then enters the core, where the electrically heated catalytic converter burns off various impurities. The air then leaves the spiral through the outlet channel, and becomes cooled by transferring its heat to the incoming air.

Abstract: There is provided an improved reinforced corrugated thin stainless steel strip in which either or both of the longitudinal edges are overfolded to increase the thickness and stiffness of the foil to better resist the tendency to failure in a severe hot-shake screening test. There is also provided a core and an electrically heatable catalytic converter containing the core for use in the exhaust line of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A hollow fiber blood oxygenator is provided having a plurality of enclosed, coaxial heat exchanger coils, having a common header to insure uniform temperature in the coils. An enclosed fiber bundle is concentrically positioned inside the heat exchanger coils to define a flow path around the coils and through the fiber bundle. The heat exchanger coils and the outside of the fiber bundle are tapered to provide a close fit. Gas manifolds direct gas flow to and from the hollow fibers.

Abstract: A hollow fiber blood oxygenator is provided having a plurality of enclosed, coaxial heat exchanger coils, having a common header to insure uniform temperature in the coils. An enclosed fiber bundle is concentrically positioned inside the heat exchanger coils to define a flow path around the coils and through the fiber bundle. The heat exchanger coils and the outside of the fiber bundle are tapered to provide a close fit. Gas manifolds direct gas flow to and from the hollow fibers.

Abstract: A dispenser which can deliver precise small amounts of a liquid is disclosed. The dispenser is particularly suited to applying reagents in a biological test such as an immunoassay. It includes a reservoir chamber linked to a dispense chamber via a check valve, the two chambers preferably being in the form of syringes. An outlet line leading from the dispense chamber to a nozzle includes a delay check valve (preferably a ball inside a cylindrical chamber) which allows continuous outward flow, but shuts off flow in the reverse direction after allowing a predetermined volume to pass. The process of refilling the dispense chamber from the reservoir chamber creates reverse flow in the nozzle and causes a hanging drop of liquid at the tip of the nozzle to be withdrawn.

Abstract: An improved catalytic converter having a shell, a plurality of horizontal catalyst bed supports upon which catalyst is retained and arranged one bed support above another within the shell, and a plurality of horizontal divider plates, one located between each pair of bed supports; the improvement comprising wherein at least one of the bed supports comprises a first full bed support extending essentially across the diameter of the shell, the full bed support comprising (i) an inner dished plate, centrally and symmetrically disposed within the shell, and (ii) an annular dished plate between the shell and the inner dished plate; a substantially circular gas entry port and a substantially circular gas exit port within the shell in gaseous communication with the first full bed support; and a substantially dished divider plate extending essentially across the diameter of the shell above the first bed support and comprising (i) an inner divider plate, centrally and symmetrically disposed within the shell and (ii) an

Abstract: There is provided an improved electrically conductive metal honeycomb body having a plurality of corrugated thin metal strips, which may be heater strips, extending in electrical parallel between otherwise electrically isolated connector plates. The corrugated thin metal strips each have a flat central section. A first group of strips is gathered at their flat middle portions and bent around one of a pair of rigid central posts, and a second group of strips is gathered and bent in the opposite direction about the other of posts. Insulation in the form of a flexible woven ceramic fiber strip isolate the first and second groups from each other and from the central posts. The connector plates define a segmented retainer shell about the body. A battery is connected to the connector plates whereby current flows from one connector plate through corrugated thin metal strips to the other connector plate and back to the battery.

Abstract: A cartridge for an air freshener is disclosed, having a pad sealed within a housing by an air-permeable membrane. The density, permeability, and fiber characteristics of the pad and membrane are selected to achieve extended life while maintaining satisfactory air freshening performance.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering multiple biological samples using a filter membrane is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a base plate, a well plate, a gasket, and a first vacuum member for vacuum-clamping the base plate, well plate, gasket and filter membrane together. The apparatus may further comprise a second vacuum member for drawing the biological samples from the well plate into contact with the filter membrane.

Abstract: A sterilizable instrument cassette for use in storage and sterilization of medical and dental instruments includes two individual storage trays with base plates carrying silicone instrument-locating rails, and rotatable clamping members provided with silicone compression rails. The two trays may be separated or assembled and latched together, while the rotatable clamping member may be latched in its closed position. Multiple functions are performed by unitary structures simply and economically formed from single sheets of metal by stamping and bending.