Abstract: The outer convex surface of a contraceptive diaphragm is texturized in omnidirectional manner to simulate the ruggae of the vagina. The texturization takes various forms including concentric rings which can be regular or irregular or symmetrical arrangements of discrete projections.

Abstract: A bag for containing blood or blood components comprising a closed container made of material which is permeable to a cryoprotective agent, such as glycerol, which may be added to the blood or blood components directly through the permeable walls of the blood bag. The cryoprotective agent protects the blood or blood components when the blood is frozen for storage and the cryoprotective agent can thereafter be removed through the permeable walls of the container without contaminating the blood therein. An apparatus and process is also disclosed for the cryoprotective agent to be added or removed from the blood bag using electric current, hydrostatic pressure, centrifugal force or osmosis.

Abstract: A firearm sight picture simulator and teaching aid provides a sight arm carrying front and rear sights in the manner of a firearm barrel and pivotally adjustable along perpendicular planes such that the pivotal adjustment of the sight arm is automatically positionally retained to permit subsequent verification of proper sight picture alignment.

Abstract: A composition and method for use with peritoneal dialysis patients for preventing or treating dialysis induced peritonitis. The method utilizes a flush solution of normal saline to prepare the peritoneal cavity for infusion of a dilute iodine solution which operates to kill pathogenic organisms contained therein. The dilute iodine solution has a combination I.sub.2 and HIO concentration in the approximate range of 0.1 ppm to 15 ppm and requires residence time of less than five minutes to provide an effective kill. The serial application of flush and dilute iodine solutions may be applied as part of a regular peritoneal dialysis program to prevent peritonitis or may be used with greater frequency as treatment for existing dialysis induced peritonitis.

Abstract: An orthopedic assembly for the treatment of congenital and acquired deformities in children's legs or feet that provide for continuous adjustment of the child's shoes to the assembly, and are readily removable. The assembly comprises a pair of plate members each substantially larger than a child's shoe, a bar for attaching the plate members together and VELCRO fasteners between the bottoms of the child's shoes and the plate members. A tab is provided on each of the shoe bottoms to facilitate release of the fasteners on the shoe bottoms and plate members. Indicia preferably are provided on the plate members to indicate relative orientations that the shoes may assume with respect to the plate members.

Abstract: A sickle cell therapeutic treatment is provided by means of continuous flow red blood cell carbamylation. In a substantially continuous process, whole blood is removed from a patient and is directed to a red cell separator chamber of a seal-less type centrifuge. The whole blood is centrifuged and the red blood cells to be treated are removed from the red cell separation chamber and are directed to a reaction chamber. An anti-sickle agent, such as cyanate solution, is introduced into the reaction chamber and is mixed with the red blood cells to be treated. The mixed anti-sickle agent and red blood cells are transferred to a wash chamber in the centrifuge where they are washed, by centrifugation, and the washed, treated red blood cells are combined with the plasma that was separated in the red cell separation chamber and the combination is returned to the patient.

Abstract: A combination or kit for making a body or limb encircling therapeutic device which includes a plurality of body or limb encircling bands, each individually adjustable for length to apply the desired pressure or provide desired support to the body or limb of humans or animals and a band anchoring tape long enough to bridge two or more adjacent bands and to maintain them in proper edge-to-edge relationship. The combination or kit also includes a plurality of splicing elements having an interlocking fabric material on one surface which interlocks with interlocking fabric on the outer surface of the band and on one surface of the anchoring tape so that in the event it is necessary to cut the band angularly to obtain conformity of the band with body or limb contour to shorten the band by removing a span thereof, the band ends with the band anchoring tape between them can be locked together by the application of the splicing element.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a peristaltic pump for withdrawing whole blood from a patient, a device for centrifuging the blood to separate plasma from the whole blood, a plasma treatment chamber for receiving the plasma, a vehicle positioned within the chamber and having an immunoadsorbent agent fixed thereon to interact and bond with an immunological reactant carried by the plasma that is passed through the chamber for removing the immunological reactant from the plasma, tubings connected to recombine the substantially immunological reactant free plasma with the remainder of the whole blood and a peristaltic pump for returning the recombined whole blood to the patient. In one plasma treatment chamber, the vehicle is defined by a spiral coiled membrane which has an immunoadsorbent agent fixed thereon. Each convolution of the spiral is spaced from an adjacent convolution and the coil is positioned within the chamber so that plasma flows through the space between the convolutions of the spiral coiled membrane.

Abstract: A unitary pack of smoking tobacco products is provided in which a flavorant is incorporated in some of the smoking tobacco products in the form of a polymeric alcohol flavorant-release composition which has the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is selected from aliphatic, alicyclic, heterocyclic and aromatic hydrocarbon radicals; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected from hydrogen and aliphatic, alicyclic, heterocyclic and aromatic hydrocarbon radicals; and n is an integer. These polymers release a flavorant when heated. Such polymers include polymers formed from .alpha.-substituted vinyl menthyl carbonate esters, such as poly(.alpha.-methylvinyl .alpha.-menthyl carbonate) and poly(.alpha.-styryl .alpha.-menthyl carbonate), which release menthol when heated. Smoking tobacco products which are made with tobacco which has been treated with a particular alcohol flavorant-release composition have been found to show no significant loss in delivery of flavor.

Abstract: A piston type air pump, for forced lung ventilation, with a variable length of stroke and a variable timing of inspiratory and expiratory phases. The pump includes a stepless change, variable radius crank arm, controllable during pump operation for changing the volume capacity of the pump. The drive motor is arranged for movement for varying the timing of piston in-movement to the piston out-movement for varying the time ratio of inspiration to expiration.

Abstract: A cryosurgical probe is adapted for the freezing of a nerve and is fitted with an electrode at its tip for electrical stimulation of the nerve, to enable the surgeon to know when the probe tip has been correctly placed in proximity to a particular nerve which it is desired to freeze.

Abstract: A pheresis process and apparatus for carrying it out. Blood from a donor is transferred to a pheresis bowl formed to have a red cell reservoir and a plasma reservoir in fluid communication through plasma ducts. The pheresis bowl is adapted for centrifuging to separate the red cells and plasma. This separation is accomplished simultaneously with the withdrawal of blood from the donor. At the end of the withdrawal the red cells are returned to the donor. The connection with the donor is thus continuously maintained during the entire procedure. The process is safe, fast and economical.

Abstract: Process and apparatus are provided for stimulating immune resistance by the introduction of at least one relatively small solid non-toxic substantially non-biodegradable body, having non-specific antigenic action, into each gland cistern of the udder. The body is sufficiently flexible or elastic and of a shape so as to be capable of being shaped into a form small enough to be inserted into the gland cistern through the lactiferous duct and then reformed to its original shape which inhibits its passage from the gland cistern into the teat cistern. The continued presence of the non-specific antigenic body induces immune resistance including an increase in the number and activity of phagocytic cells, particularly leukocyte cells, in the udder. The continued presence of these increased numbers of activated phagocytic cells provides protection against bacterial invasion through the streak canal without degrading milk quality.

Abstract: The tie-down properties of multifilament surgical sutures are improved by coating the suture with an absorbable composition comprising a mixture of from about 1 to 4 parts of an absorbable, film-forming polymer, and 1 to 4 parts of a substantially water-insoluble salt of a C.sub.6 or higher fatty acid. Braided sutures coated with from 2 to 10 percent by weight of the composition are characterized by a smooth knot tie-down under both wet and dry conditions.

Abstract: An immunoglobulin-enzyme bridge technique for the detection of allergen-specific IgE antibodies in biologic fluids of atopic individuals is described.

Abstract: A bag for storing blood platelets consisting of a sterilizable, flexible closed polyolefin container having at least two inlets at the top thereof forming part of said closed container, each of the inlets being hermetically enclosed by a bag-like protective closure that is integral with the bag and formed by heat-sealing oxidized surfaces of polyolefin so that the seal is peelably separable to expose each of the inlets. There is further provided a burstable seal below at least one of the inlets.

Abstract: In carrying out the process of this invention, there is a closed bag system comprising a first bag used for sedimenting the red cells and a second bag used for collecting the sedimented red cells. The two bags are connected by a flexible plastic transfer tube. The sedimenting bag has a second transfer tube leading thereto for introducing the packed red and white cells and the Saline solution of a sedimenting agent. A third tube is connected to the sedimenting bag for withdrawing white cells. The red cell bag has a second tube for the addition of plasma and a third tube for returning the plasma and red cells to a vein of the donor. As an optional feature, the withdrawn whole blood passes directly to an interrupted flow centrifuge which spins off the plasma and platelets, and from which the packed red and white cells are pumped to the sedimenting plastic bag.

Abstract: A flexible composition which is preferably radiopaque comprises a plastic material which may be mixed with from 10 to 50 percent by weight of a radiopaque filler. The plastic material comprises the product of (a) a block copolymer having thermoplastic, rubbery characteristics, having a central rubbery olefin block and terminal blocks of a polystyrene; (b) low crystallinity ethylene polymers such as poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate); and (c) a silicone gum containing a small amount of a silicon-bonded olefin group such as vinyl. Optionally, the addition of 5 to 40 percent by weight polypropylene may be included in these materials to improve their heat resistance and strength without affecting their transparency, when transparent materials are formulated.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recording sweat gland activity which provides a pictorial representation thereof by physical contact of an iodide treated skin area with a dry sensitized substrate. In one preferred embodiment, the sensitized substrate comprises a sheet material which has been coated with an aqueous solution containing from 1 to 10 percent by weight of starch and from 2 to 10 percent by weight of a suitable oxidizing agent such as potassium persulfate. Alternately, the dry sensitized substrate comprises a starch-oxidizing agent mixture which has been impregnated into an absorbent base layer. With slight modification of the foregoing embodiment, the present invention also provides a method and apparatus for obtaining inkless fingerprints by forming a sensitized coating in situ on a substrate. For fingerprinting purposes, the sensitized coating is preferably formed from a quick drying starch-oxidizing agent solution including alcohol as a solvent.

Abstract: A disposable liquid absorbent pad is illustrated wherein a wicking sheet of creped paper is utilized for supporting a cast film of acrylic polymer capable of forming a gel upon application of liquid thereto, there being a direct mechanical connection between the ridged surfaces of the creped paper and the film, and preferably voids between the ridges of the wicking sheet. The film is laminated to the creped wicking sheet by moistening one surface of the film as by a spray mist of liquid and then applying the resulting gel or tacky side to the ridges of the creped sheet. The product thus formed is suitable for use adjacent the human body and has particular application for use as diapers, underpads and bandages or wherever the absorption of liquids quickly and in relatively large amounts is desirable.