Abstract: A pressure-activated flexible valve for use with a container for dispensing fluid material. The valve has a single sealing surface and comprises an inner component having a sealing portion and an outer component having an annular rim that seats against the sealing portion. The outer component also has a flexible portion that changes shape in response to pressure from the container material, thereby opening and closing the valve.

Abstract: A system for performing fluid jet myocardial revascularization includes a catheter having a proximal region, a distal region, a lumen extending therethrough and a valve disposed in the lumen for allowing the passage of fluids in the lumen to create holes in the myocardium. A valve control means extends through the proximal region of the catheter to open and close the valve. In one embodiment, the valve also includes a biasing mechanism for biasing the valve in a closed position. The valve may be controlled using an electrically actuated device that is heated with an electrical current to open and close the valve. In one embodiment of the invention, the catheter has a wall that can be expanded within a guide catheter to anchor the catheter during revascularization.

Abstract: An attaching ring or fixing ring is provided for attaching or fixing a dispenser member to a neck of a receptacle containing a substance to be dispensed. The ring is annular and has a bottom portion and a top portion. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom portion includes snap-fastening tabs for fixing the ring to the neck. The top portion includes an opening for the dispenser and a surrounding structure for securing the dispenser member to the neck. The top portion further includes at least one guide wall element extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser member and around the periphery of the fixing ring substantially in line with the snap-fastening tabs. A hoop can be provided for preventing the tabs from splaying apart. The hoop can include an internal projection, such as a vertical rib or a thread.

Abstract: A retractable sharps assembly comprising a housing and a sharps unit. The housing comprises first and second open ends and a shoulder proximate the first end. The sharps unit generally comprises a frame, a shelf having a sharps member extending therefrom positioned in the frame, and at least one elastic member extending between the shelf and the forward end. As the frame is inserted into and moved forward in the hollow housing, the shelf is retained by the shoulder such that the elastic member is loaded between the shelf and forward end. A trigger mechanism interacts with the shoulder and disengages the shelf. The load in the elastic member drives the sharps member towards the forward end and through the second end opening, and simultaneously compresses the elastic member. The elastic member thereafter relaxes to retract the sharps member within the housing.

Abstract: A cleaning solution dispensing device for dispensing a selected amount of cleaning solution upon a sponge. The cleaning solution dispensing device includes container support members for resting upon a surface; and also includes a container having top, side, and bottom walls and being attached to the support members and also having a reservoir disposed therein and further having a plurality of holes being disposed through the top wall and also having an opening being disposed through the bottom wall into the reservoir; and further includes a cap being removably disposed over the opening; and also includes a dispensing assembly being attached to the container for dispensing cleaning solution; and further includes sponge support members being disposed upon the container support members and the container for supporting a sponge.

Abstract: A gaming machine having a plurality of reels, each with a plurality of symbols. A processor causing the symbols to change alignments when activated by a player. The machine is programmed with a plurality of winning combinations of selected different values. The combinations are accessed to a player when predetermined alignments of the symbols occur. A jackpot and a down pot each of a select value greater than any one of the combination of values, are provided. The jackpot is accessed to the player by an alignment of designated of the symbols. The down pot is accessed to a plurality of incentive pots by an alignment of another of the designated symbols. Each incentive pot is then accessed to the player by the alignment of selected ones of the predetermined alignments of the symbols along with the preselected value already designed these predetermined alignments.

Abstract: A balloon angioplasty apparatus includes a guide wire, a balloon catheter, and a guide catheter. The balloon catheter has slots formed in it to define a plurality of 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 one another causes the respective middle joints to displace radially outwardly, and radial inward travel of the middle joints is caused by increasing the distance between the proximal and distal joints. A mesh that captures emboli overlies the jointed members and opens and closes with them. The guide catheter is used to close the joined members and the emboli-capturing mesh at the conclusion of the angioplasty procedure. In a second embodiment, the jointed members are formed in a delivery catheter. In a third embodiment, the jointed members are formed in a guide wire.

Abstract: A steerable medical catheter is provided having a polymeric main shaft with a plurality of lumen extending therethrough. A flexible shaft tip portion with a metallic coil spring having a polymeric coating is located on the distal end, with the metallic coil spring being fused to the second end of the main shaft. The polymeric coating has an inner portion configured to define a plurality of lumens which extend through the coil spring. The lumens through the coil spring are aligned with the lumens in the main shaft so that they extend continuously through the catheter. The metallic coil spring is fully encapsulated by the polymeric coating and the second end of the main shaft to which it is fused. A first control wire is located in one of the lumens and affixed to the distal end.

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.

Abstract: An electrically operated fluid dispenser for dispensing a pattern of viscous fluid onto a substrate during a run mode. The dispenser is turned off and does not dispense the viscous fluid during a standby mode of operation. The dispenser includes a dispenser body having an outlet and an armature disposed in the dispenser body for movement between an opened position allowing a fluid flow from the outlet and a closed position preventing the fluid flow from the outlet. A coil is mounted adjacent the armature and selectively generates an electromagnetic field for moving the armature between the opened and closed positions. A controller includes different apparatus and methods for using the coil as a heater as well as providing other heat transfer devices on the dispensing valve to maintain a constant temperature either, during only the run mode or, during both, the run and the standby modes.

Abstract: A gate valve for controlling fluid flow through a housing is disclosed. The gate valve includes a frusto-conical shaped internal cavity having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet formed in the wall thereof. Fluid flow through the cavity (from inlet to outlet) is transverse to the direction of the taper of the frusto-conical cavity. A gate including a frusto-conical portion is disposed within the housing. The frusto-conical portion of the gate may be moved transversely through the fluid flow passing from the internal cavity inlet to the outlet. The frusto-conical portion of the gate is adapted to seat against the frusto-conical shaped internal cavity to block fluid flow there through. The gate does not contact the seat until the point at which all fluid flow is shut off. This reduces wear on the gate and the seat and promotes laminar flow through the valve during the process of closing the valve.

Abstract: A catheter device for non-surgical entry into a uterus, includes a tubular body having a lumen extending from a first end thereof to a second end thereof, the lumen having an external opening adjacent to or at the first end for dispensing a diagnostic fluid into the uterus. An elongated balloon is disposed distally on the tubular body for insertion into the cervical canal of the uterus, the balloon having opposing portions which occlude opposing openings of the canal.

Abstract: A valve for controlling fluids is embodied with a piezoelectric actuator (3) for actuating a valve member (2) that on one end has a valve head (7), forming a valve closing member, that cooperates with a seat (8) provided on the valve body (6) for opening and closing the valve (1). On a side of the piezoelectric actuator (3) remote from the valve member (2), a hydraulic chamber (21) is provided, which communicates, via at least one hydraulic line (23), with a bore (5) of the valve member (2) that is sealed from the piezoelectric actuator (3), and into which bore a piston (20) connected to the piezoelectric actuator (3) can plunge; the hydraulic chamber (21) is embodied as a hydraulic spring, which with its spring force on the piston (20) connected to the piezoelectric actuator (3) act as the prestressing element and the tolerance compensating element. The valve is intended in particular as a component of a fuel injection valve.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for facilitating the oral delivery of an active agent to a patient in need of treatment therewith, which apparatus comprises an active agent mixing chamber, a mixture delivery tube, and at least one liquid delivery tube. A mixture formed in the mixing chamber which comprises a combination of an active agent, or a pharmaceutical formulation thereof, and a liquid diluent may be delivered into the oral cavity of the patient from the mixing chamber by suction on the mixture delivery tube.

Abstract: A manual dispenser dispenses a liquid substance by pressure, and automatically closes in the absence of pressure. The dispenser has a push button for controlling an aerosol valve or pump, or a stopper for a receptacle having flexible, compressible walls. The dispenser is characterized in that it comprises a nozzle (3) with an elastically deformable distribution slot (7) which nozzle is integrated by molding into a relatively rigid body (1).

Abstract: A dry mix particulate dispenser includes a container configured to hold a dry mix particulate. The container has a top portion, a bottom portion, and at least one side wall. The container includes a dispenser opening formed in the bottom portion and a sloped interior wall within the container is angled in a direction generally toward the opening. A slide track is positioned adjacent the bottom portion of the container receives an elongate slider. The slider including an opening formed therein which can be selectively aligned with the dispenser opening.

Abstract: A releasable check valve for use with very high system pressures. The check valve is formed such that the poppet piston is relatively smooth-running and that good action and a long service life of the seals are obtained, wherein the receiving bore has essentially the same diameter in the region of the inserts and between the inserts. A spacer bushing is arranged axially between the inserts, in which bushing the piston collar can move separating the two annular spaces on both sides of it fluidically from each other. The bore can be machined from one side, so that the inserts are centered precisely with respect to one another and the poppet piston is guided precisely. This reduces the risk of jamming and the risk of an uneven load on the seals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liner for use in a box-like cargo container for transportation of powder, granular or other flowable products, said liner comprising top and bottom walls, two side walls and first and second end wall portions, a discharge opening at the lower portion of said first end wall through which the contents of the liner are discharged, displacement means for guiding the contents towards said discharge opening, said displacement means comprising at least one inflatable, flexible bag having an essentially triangular or trapezoid shape substantively abutting said first end wall, and a first essentially triangular or trapezoid portion supporting the outside surface of the floor and a second essentially triangular portion supporting the adjacent side wall portion of the liner, said bag comprising three corners positioned substantively at the edge of the end wall and the side wall portion, the end wall and the bottom wall portion, and the side wall and the bottom wall portion.

Abstract: A beverage dispense device is designed to dispense a chilled carbonated beverage at a temperature close to the freezing point of the beverage without freezing and without excess break out of carbon dioxide. The beverage dispense device comprises a nozzle (19), a valve comprising a valve seat (13) and a closure member (16, 17), the valve being opened and closed by movement of the closure member (16, 17) out of and into contact with the valve seat (13) to allow or prevent flow of the beverage through the nozzle (19), and a flow regulator (18) between the valve seat (13) and the nozzle (19), the flow regulator (18) being adjustable to control flow rate through the nozzle (19) and being in the form of a core member (18) moveable in a flow passageway (15) downstream of the valve seat (13) and spaced from the valve seat, the core member (18) and the flow passageway (15) having matching tapering surfaces.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a product from a container under pressure of a propellant by means of a composite piston. The apparatus has a valve operated by means of an actuator and a lever. The actuator co-operates with the valve and lever by means of a screw thread arrangement, such that turning actuator relative to the lever varies the flow rate of product out of the apparatus. The valve is a hollow cylindrical tube which is open at one end and closed at the second end, either permanently or by means of a flap valve which allows insertion of the product. A number of ports are arranged around the circumference of the tube adjacent to the second end to allow product to flow through the valve when the lever is operated. The composite piston comprises a first piston coupled to a second piston by mutually engageable central stems and enclosing between the pistons a viscous substance which contacts the inside wall of the container to provide an effective seal.