Abstract: Improvements and accessories for a septum closed T-shaped blood access device adapted for implantation into a patient. The implantable device has a stem portion extending above the skin of the patient and defining a septum closed opening into the device. The improvements include an improved septum having a groove in the side thereof encircling the septum and an elastomeric ring carried within the side groove, an improved needle assembly which provides access to the circulatory system through the septum, and a flexible cap for sealing the stem of the implantable device from the outside atmosphere which may be fitted in place or removed without the necessity of specialized tools.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a flow cytometer or fluorescent microscope is based on a set of highly uniform microbeads associated with a fluorescent dye in such a way that the microbeads have the same excitation and emission spectral properties as the samples which are to be measured. The calibration values of the microbeads are plotted against the relative fluorescence intensity peak channel for each microbead in the set. From this calibration plot, the relative fluorescence intensity peak channel of the sample is translated into equivalent soluble fluorescent dye molecules per sample particle. The calibration values of the standard microbeads are determined against solutions of the dyes.

Abstract: A thermocouple assembly for attachment to surfaces by welding which includes a solid metal head formed with a knife edge and receiving sheathed thermocouple conductors, the ends of which are disposed at the knife edge and are junction welded. The head is economically fabricated on a mass-production basis, and the sheathed conductors are attached in a simple manner to minimize the overall production costs of the assembly. The disposition of the junction and the connection between the sheath and the solid head coacts with the weldments mounting the assembly on a surface to control the heat energy path such that the effective junction permits the junction to accurately function with respect to sensing the temperature of the surface on which the assembly is mounted.

Abstract: There is provided an expendable device for use with a standard immersion sensor for a molten metal bath to simultaneously hold a standard immersion sampler in juxtaposition to the sensor when the sensor is in its protective sleeve at the end of a lance ready for immersion into the bath. This device provides another expendable heat insulating protective sleeve for accepting in its end the sampler with means being provided for maintaining a side by side relationship between the sampler sleeve and the sensor sleeve during immersion. This combination may advantageously have a vent pipe extending between the sleeves to allow air displaced from the sampler by influx of the sample to vent to a region above the molten metal bath by way of a passage in the sensor sleeve.

Abstract: A process for making a dry metal halide salt which will not form an insoluble flocculent material upon dissolving in water in which an initial aqueous solution of a metal halide salt is prepared and a member selected from the group consisting of ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, borate anion producing compounds and mixtures thereof is added. Water is then evaporated from the initial aqueous solution and a dry metal halide salt is obtained. Upon dissolving this dry metal halide salt in water a clear, colorless solution results which does not contain an insoluble flocculent material. Alternatively, the member compound may be added to the dry metal halide salt, before it is dissolved in water or the member compound may be added to the water which is used to dissolve the dry metal halide salt.

Abstract: This invention discloses a multiple control standard for the use in the quality assurance of blood analysis instrumentation systems. The liquid control standard is able to act as a control standard for blood gas instrumentation systems measuring pH, pCO2 and pO.sub.2 of blood, as a control standard for a co-oximeter measuring the amount of total hemoglobin present in the blood and the relative amounts of other hemoglobin fractions present in the blood, and as a liquid control standard for ion selective electrode instrumentation systems for the measuring of electrolytes such as Na and K ions in the blood.

Abstract: A thermocouple assembly including a thermocouple probe having facilities mounted thereto to protect the probe, e.g. from the hostile environment of a mounting hole provided through a refractory wall of a glassmaking furnace into which the probe extends for measuring the temperature of molten glass contained by the furnace. The facilities to protect the probe include an outer sleeve disposed in surrounding relation to a selected portion of the probe to form a first annular space between the outer surface of the probe and the inner surface of the sleeve; facilities for sealing the first annular space from atmosphere outside thereof; and, facilities for continuously moving a corrosion-inhibiting gas into, through, and out of the first annular space to thereby flush any infiltrating oxygen an/or alkali-sulfate corrosives out of the first annular space.

Abstract: Heavy metal salts of hyaluronic acid have been prepared. In particular, this invention is directed to silver, gold, cerium and tungsten salts of hyaluronic acid. These heavy metal salts of hyaluronic acid are useful as antimicrobial agents. Gold hyaluronate may also be used to treat arthritis. This invention also concerns methods of making the silver salt of hyaluronic acid as well as compositions containing silver hyaluronate or gold hyaluronate. The invention also concerns composition containing heavy metal salts having radioactively labelled hyaluronate moieties.

Abstract: A detonation wave barrier for disposition between adjacent segments of warhead explosive including first and second layers of high shock impedance material and a third layer of low shock impedance material between the first and second layers.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generator module which is formed with a hot side heat exchanger having extruded fins on one surface and in contact with a series of individual thermoelectric semiconductor modules on the opposite side of the exchanger. A cold side heat exchanger attached to the opposite side of the semiconductor modules from the hot side heat exchanger, producing a thermal gradient across the semiconductor modules. The semiconductor modules are placed in an arranged pattern so that a maximum of heat flow through the modules is produced. Each semiconductor module is connected electrically to each other so that their output may be combined to produce a large quantity of electric power. A series of generator modules may be interconnected in a series or parallel combination to form a thermoelectric generator of varying power output.

Abstract: A renewable, elongated thermocouple probe having a first elongated thermocouple element and a second elongated thermocouple element surrounding the first element. Electrical insulation material is positioned between opposed surfaces of the first and second thermocouple elements to electrically insulate the elements from each other. A temperature sensing tip is provided at one end of the probe by grinding the end of the probe with an abrasive material to provide an electrically conductive connection in the form of metallic particles to define a conduction path between the first and second thermocouple elements and over the insulating material. The opposite end of the probe can be connected with a thermocouple reference junction in a conventional manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite bearing material comprising three layers: (1) a metal backing, (2) a porous metal interlayer bonded to the metal backing which includes bronze or other copper alloy particles from two distinct particle size ranges and (3) a PTFE based composition intermixed with and overlying the porous metal interlayer. In accordance with the method of the present invention, the porous metal interlayer substantially comprises a relatively non-homogeneous mixture of particles from the two distinct particle size ranges, wherein a substantial portion of the relatively fine powder is segregated adjacent the metal backing. The present invention includes a significant thickness of the PTFE based composition applied to and remaining above the surface of the porous metal backing.

Abstract: The invention is an improved theroelement which comprises a graphite/boron carbide thermocouple, the arms of which are constructed as a tube and a rod, arranged concentrically inside the tube, which are electrically connected at one end. One of the arms of the thermocouple consists essentially of boron carbide formed from self bonding boron carbide by pressureless sintering. Prefabricated sleeves of high-purity, boron-oxide-free hexagonal boron nitride are used between the arms of the thermocouple as spacers. Only the end of the arm of the thermocouple constructed as a rod is secured in an electrically conductive connecting piece and the arm is freely mobile in the direction towards the cold junction.

Abstract: A whole blood control sample and a method of preparing the sample are disclosed. The method comprises collecting a whole blood sample from one or more donor, separating each sample into red blood cells and plasma, fixing the red blood cells, mixing the fixed red blood cells with plasma from the same or a different donor to produce a suspension, quick-freezing the suspension before the red blood cells can settle, and lyophilizing the frozen suspension. The control sample therefore comprises a lyophilized mixture of fixed red blood cells and plasma solids.

Abstract: A thermocouple device for detecting a flame. The device includes an outer thermocouple element having an excellent corrosion resistance and a large thermoelectromotive force, an inner thermocouple element, which is inserted into the outer thermocouple element, having a large thermoelectromotive force, and a junction layer securing end portions of the inner and outer thermocouple element. The junction layer is formed with a soldering material so as to avoid the formation of an alloy of the element materials that would have a poor corrosion resistance normally formed by welding.

Abstract: A stable glucose reference control has been found in which the true value and the measured value of glucose in blood, colorimetrically obtained with glucose test strips, is approximately the same. The glucose reference control comprises an aqueous suspension of:(i) 40 to 500 mg/dL of glucose, and(ii) about 0.1 to 0.3.times.10.sup.12 /dL red blood cells fixed with a fixing agent to render the red blood cells incapable of metabolizing glucose.

Abstract: Potassium osmate, of the formula K.sub.2 Os O.sub.2 (OH).sub.4), used to make a column for the generation of Ir-191 m, which is used in first pass angiography to detect cardiac defects in patients.

Abstract: A clinical thermometer probe is constructed for connection with an electronic readout device and includes a support member of thin wall construction having thermocouple wires or stripes extending longitudinally of the support member and joined at the distal end of the support member. The wires or stripes are applied to the support member during the process of extruding the member or thereafter by applying the stripes to surfaces of the support member and bridging the stripes at one end of the body.

Abstract: An agent for contrast enhancement in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging is disclosed. Micellular particles such as phospholipid vesicles are associated with or enclose a paramagnetic material. The particles may be formulated with an agent, such as cholestrol, to promote vesicle stability and water exchange across the vesicle bilayer. The vesicles may or may not have antibodies or other cell recognition targeting agents attached to the surface to provide specific targeting. The vesicles provide enhanced target specificity, reduced burden of toxic contrast material and amplified contrast enhancement.

Abstract: An improved thermocouple and method for making the thermocouple and installing same on the fireside of heat exchanger tubes or the like for monitoring surface temperature which includes a thermocouple assembly made from mineral oxide insulated metal sheathed thermocouple wires where a pair of thermocouple wires or conductors extend through a metal sheath in spaced apart and insulated relation from each other and from the sheath and are connected together at an end to define a hot junction member adapted to be mounted in engagement with the surface being measured, which hot junction is defined by a disk or bar-shaped member extending from the end of the sheated conductor assembly beyond the insulation and sheath but not in contact with the sheath. Installation on a heat exchanger tube includes welding the sheath to the tube which pressurizes the hot junction against the temperature measured surface and defines a heat energy path that bypasses the hot junction.