Abstract: A cutter assembly for cutting a membrane which seals a transfer spigot on a container, the cutter assembly including a valve including a valve body adapted to engage the transfer spigot, the valve body, including a valve closure member, adapted to be moved between open and closed positions to open and close the valve, at least one elongate cutter which terminates in a cutting tip, the cutting tip being adapted to rupture or slit the membranes, actuation means for providing axial movement to the elongate cutter within the valve body, and the actuation means and/or the elongate cutter being adapted to move and cut a membrane independently of the operation of the valve closure member, and when the valve is in the open condition, the at least one elongate cutter can pass the valve closure member to engage the membrane to be cut.

Abstract: A valve assembly. The valve assembly can include valve members with passageways partially non-overlapping. A compression member can be, provided adjacent the valve members. The valve assembly can be incorporated into a medical access device.

Abstract: A collapsible bag for dispensing liquids which includes at least one sheet sealed to define an enclosure and a fitment (spout) attached to the enclosure and out through which liquid in the enclosure is dispensed. An interior surface of the one or more sheets has integral texture to assist in withdrawal of the liquid from the enclosure when collapsed. The texture can be provided by sheet surfaces that are mechanically or ultrasonically embossed or are bubble-cushioned or which have sealed pleats or accordion folds. The bottom surface of a lower flange of the fitment may have concentric ridges (or spirals) and/or radial grooves. Also disclosed are methods of making the bag from one, two, three or four sheets.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing apparatus (10) includes a container (70) for holding a liquid product to be dispensed. A docking station (20) receives the container (70). A reservoir (50) is positioned in the docking station (20) for receiving the liquid to be dispensed. A docking cup is connected to the docking station for opening a bottle insert (90) which is contained in the container (70). The bottle insert includes a body (93) having openings (95). A probe-engaging member is movable between a first and second position without obstructing the openings (95).

Abstract: A two-component resin or adhesive dispensing system including an air drive motor with adjustable settings which drives, by means of sprocket and chain drive systems, an activator metering pump and an adhesive metering pump as to provide a dispenser with adjustable amounts of activator material and adhesive material. The metering pumps are mounted upon adjustably movable mounting brackets such that their relative disposition may be readily altered so as to accommodate different sized sprocket members which will then alter the drive output of the metering pumps in order to change the ratio of activator material dispensed with respect to the amount of resin or adhesive material dispensed.

Abstract: A multiple game amusement game system comprises a memory for storing a plurality of amusement games, a display for depicting a game selection menu including a set of game titles associated with certain ones of the plurality of amusement games, and a processing unit for rotating game titles into and out of the depicted set of game titles based on predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A baby wipe/rash cream dispenser that allows the user to retrieve baby wipes and rash medication with one hand while using the other hand to maintain the safety of the baby. The baby wipe/rash cream dispenser comes in a first embodiment having a moisture tight seal and two compartments one for baby wipes and one for rash cream which are each accessible when the lid is open. The second embodiment includes a housing having a sealable lid compartment for baby wipes and a separate lid compartment for rash cream that is provided with a pump mechanism for allowing the user to pump the rash cream from the reservoir without the need for opening the lid.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser is provided with a dispenser member, a container (1) with a neck (10), and a fixing member (2) for fixing the fluid dispenser member to the neck of the container. The fixing member comprises a skirt (20) defining an inside wall. The fluid dispenser has an inside wall provided with at least two longitudinal ribs (23) extending over the height of the skirt. The ribs (23) cooperate by plastic deformation with an outside portion (11) of the neck (10).

Abstract: The method of selecting and implanting a permanent venous catheter into a patient for use in chronic, extracorporeal blood treatment procedures. The method comprises determining the Body Surface Area of the patient. One then selects a permanent venous catheter having an actual length which is within 10% of a desired length as indicated in a Table found in this application for the Body Surface Area of the particular patient and a particular vein through which the catheter is to extend. Also, the internal diameter of the tubing is preferably adjusted in a manner correlating with the catheter length. Following catheter selection, the venous catheter is implanted in the venous system of the patient with the distal tip of the catheter being in or adjacent to the upper right atrium of the heart.

Abstract: An aerosol valve assembly, lacking a return spring and dip tube, has a valve housing and a valve body with a lower portion, an intermediate portion and a valve stem. A gasket in a stem groove seals one or more orifice openings into the valve stem except on valve actuation. The valve housing has a lower wall with a central opening for the valve body lower portion to enter to stabilize the vertically acting valve; and, a plurality of product delivery openings positioned about the central opening. A stroke-limiting surface on the valve body prevents the gasket from completely escaping the stem groove on valve actuation. When valve actuation ceases, the valve is returned to closed position by the gasket acting against the stem groove, and the product acting against the valve body bottom portion and the lower surface of the valve body intermediate portion.

Abstract: A medical fluid passage switching apparatus comprising: at least, a rotatable shaft F; a cam C which is rotated in relation to the rotating movement of the shaft F to close and open divided tubes for determining a passage of a fluid; and a housing L having tube accepting holes I and so arranged to enable the holding of the cam C, is provided. More particularly, provided are such a medical fluid passage switching apparatus in a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) system and a tube which is decreased in the diameter and/or thinned in the wall at a region where the cam or a combination of the cam and the clamp is engaged for closing and opening.

Abstract: A method of introducing a fluid into a patient's body has the steps of accommodating the fluid in a plastic container, connecting an introducer to the plastic container so that the fluid can flow from the plastic container through the introducer into a patient's body, and arranging an adsorbing material between the plastic container and the introducer so that the fluid flows from the plastic container first through the adsorbing material, at least some toxins from the fluid are adsorbed by and retained on the adsorbing material, while the fluid purified from at least some toxins is introduced by the introducer into a patient's body.

Abstract: A player places at least two wagers and an optional insurance wager, the insurance wager providing the player with an immediate payout if the dealer's first card is an Ace or face card. During play, the dealer deals a single card to all players having made a first wager and a card to himself. If the rank of the player's card beats the rank of the dealer's card, the player is paid on this first bet. If the player wins, the dealer deals a second card to the player and one to himself. If the rank of the player's card is higher than that of the dealer's card, he is paid on his second bet. In one form of the game, if the player wins the second bet, in a third wagering round, the player and dealer each receive a card, and if the player's card rank exceeds the dealer's card rank, he is paid on the third bet. The player must win each wagering segment to advance to the next consecutive wagering segment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a game system equipped with a single referee machine, and a single parent machine and a single flag machine provided in each team. The referee machine collects needed information from all the parent machines and also transmits necessary game information to the parent machine of each team. Also, the parent machine generates information to command movement of a player of the self-team by employing both information acquired from the flag machine of the self-team and the information transmitted from the referee machine and then transmits the generated information to the player, and also transmits the information acquired from the flag machine of the self-team, to the referee machine. The flag machine specifies spot coordinate information from the movement of the player and also transmits the spot coordinate information to the parent machine of the self-team.

Abstract: The apparatus has a first container part within which material for distributing over a surface as a guide coat is held in a substantially loose, finely divided particulate form; a perforated element through which the particulate material can be sprinkled or shaken; and a second container part for receiving an applicator, e.g., in the form of a sponge, on which the particulate material is to be sprinkled or shaken. The apparatus may be provided with the applicator or as a replacement part or “re-fill” for existing apparatus. Particulate material may also be provided for re-charging such apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method for retrofitting an electronically controlled, multi-product, multi-hose fuel pump station into an electronically controlled multi-product, single-hose fuel pump station.

Abstract: A maze-based game of chance for a gaming machine is controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The maze-based game includes an award-generating indicator movable along a plurality of different intersecting paths. The plurality of paths contain a plurality of consumable elements. The award-generating indicator generates an award based on a randomly selected outcome as the award-generating indicator visually consumes the elements.

Abstract: The hydraulic system for actuation of the mud valve of a measurement-while-drilling tool is characterized by a hydraulic actuator having a piston operatively connected to the mud valve of a measurement-while-drilling tool, which hydraulic actuator incorporates an internal by-pass which, cooperatively with movement of the piston, opens to unload hydraulic pressure from the system at either end of stroke of the piston. Return from the by-pass to the pump may be restricted so as to maintain some hydraulic pressure on the piston at end of stroke so as to prevent movement therefrom by external forces. The hydraulic system may include a high pressure relief valve, hydraulic fluid strainer and a device to equalize pressure between hydraulic system pressure and pressure external of the system.

Abstract: A outer needle of an anesthetic needle assembly to be injected into an epidural area, has a distal end which is cut and bent to form an annular cutting edge. The distal end is gently bent so that an anesthetic needle having a forward end can slide readily out of the annular cutting edge. The annular cutting edge has a wave-like configuration with an extended circular or rectangular annulus with round corners and outwardly expanded sides.

Abstract: A balloon angioplasty or stenting apparatus includes a guide wire, a balloon catheter ensleeving the guide wire, and a guide catheter ensleeving the balloon catheter. The balloon catheter has slots formed in it to define elongate members between the slots. A joint is formed at the proximal, distal, and mid-point of each elongate member. Displacing the proximal and distal joints toward and away from one another causes the respective middle joints to displace radially outwardly and inwardly, respectively. A mesh that captures emboli while allowing blood perfusion partially overlies the jointed members is opened and closed when the jointed members are opened and closed. A guide wire having an outer coil and an inner rod slideably received within it has jointed members formed in the outer coil. The mesh is opened and closed by axially retracting and advancing the inner rod with respect to the outer coil, respectively.