Abstract: A device for facilitating positioning of a needle during a medical procedure may include a needle receiver configured for removable/reversible attachment of a proximal end of a needle; a stop set back from a distal end of the needle receiver and against which a needle received by the needle receiver abuts; and a trigger configured to move the needle receiver relative to the stop when activated by a user such that the stop forces detachment between the needle receiver and the needle. The device may monitor the pressure at the distal end of the needle as the needle is advanced and provide indication to a user when a predetermined pressure or pressure differential is reached.

Abstract: A guidewire retention clip is provided to prevent the accidental, complete insertion of a guidewire into a patient during various procedures. As provided herein, the guidewire retention clip may include a body having a portion configured to hold a guidewire; a sensor associated with the body configured to detect movement of the guidewire to and from the body; and an audio and/or visual indicator arranged on the body, wherein the audio and/or visual indicator is triggered when the sensor detects movement of the guidewire. Methods of using the guidewire retention clip are also provided.

Abstract: A guidewire retention clip is provided to prevent the accidental, complete insertion of a guidewire into a patient during various procedures. As provided herein, the guidewire retention clip may include a body having a portion configured to hold a guidewire; a sensor associated with the body configured to detect movement of the guidewire to and from the body; and an audio and/or visual indicator arranged on the body, wherein the audio and/or visual indicator is triggered when the sensor detects movement of the guidewire. Methods of using the guidewire retention clip are also provided.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir for retaining a particular fluid against an environmental force is disclosed. The fluid reservoir includes a three dimensional porous body that has a plurality of reservoir capillaries formed therein and has a transport volume and effective capillarity in the force direction for the particular fluid when the porous body is oriented in a predetermined orientation. The fluid reservoir also includes at least one lateral indentation in a surface of the porous body. Each of the at least one lateral indentation defines opposing reservoir surfaces each having a lateral surface component orthogonal to the force direction. The at least one lateral indentation is configured so that at least a majority of the reservoir capillaries have a force-aligned length component that is less than the effective capillarity for the particular fluid.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include an air freshener device that emits fragrance through the evaporation of a fragrance-containing fluid comprising: a container, comprising a particular volume of the fragrance-containing fluid; a wick disposed partially in and partially out of the fragrance-containing fluid, the wick having an immersion section immersed in the fluid so as to displace a displacement volume of fluid and a non-immersion section extending outward from a surface of the fluid, the immersion and non-immersion section being disposed on opposite lateral ends of the wick; the wick further comprising a displacement portion and a wicking portion, the displacement portion being configured to displace a desired first volume of fluid, the wicking portion being configured to wick a second volume of fluid; the displacement portion and the wicking portion designed to achieve a desired ratio between the displaced first volume of fluid and the wicked second volume of fluid.

Abstract: A barrier element for use in separating blood components is provided. The barrier element comprises a self-sustaining, fluid transmissive body comprising a plurality of thermoplastic fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart points of contact, the fibers collectively defining a tortuous fluid flow path through the fluid transmissive body from a fluid inlet surface to a fluid outlet surface, the fibers and the fluid transmissive body being configured to allow passage of at least one blood component therethrough while preventing the passage of a second blood component.

Abstract: Elastomeric multicomponent fibers and bonded fiber structures formed from elastomeric multicomponent fibers are disclosed. The elastomeric multicomponent fibers may comprise a thermoplastic polymer core material and an elastomeric polymer sheath material surrounding the core material. The bonded fiber structure may comprise a plurality of fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart points of contact, at least a portion of the fibers being multicomponent fibers having at least one elastomeric fiber component.

Abstract: A bonded fiber ink reservoir, an ink jet printer cartridge containing a bonded fiber reservoir, and a ink jet printer using an ink jet cartridge containing a bonded fiber reservoir are disclosed. The bonded fiber reservoir may comprise a three dimensional bonded fiber structure, wherein the three dimensional bonded fiber structure is comprised of a plurality of fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart points of contact, at least a portion of the fibers being multicomponent fibers having at least one elastomeric fiber component.

Abstract: Filter elements are provided for removing a liquid challenge material dispersed in a carrier fluid. The filter element comprises a three dimensional, self-sustaining, fluid transmissive body comprising a plurality of thermoplastic fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart points of contact. The fibers collectively define a tortuous fluid flow path through the fluid transmissive body from a fluid inlet surface to a fluid outlet surface. At least a portion of the thermoplastic fibers comprise a surface-forming material having a surface energy that is less than a surface tension of the challenge material.

Abstract: An integrally formed multi-component structure is disclosed, the multi-component structure comprising a plurality of components, at least one of which is a three-dimensional bonded fiber fluid transmissive component comprised of a plurality of polymeric fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart contact points, the fibers collectively defining tortuous fluid flow paths, and wherein each component has an interface with at least one other component.

Abstract: A flow control element is provided for use in selectively controlling the flow of a liquid through an annular conduit. The flow control element comprises a self-sustaining, three dimensional fibrous element comprising a network of polymeric fibers. These fibers are disposed in a highly dispersed and randomly spaced orientation and are bonded to each other at spaced apart points of contact to form a tortuous interstitial passage through the fiber element. The fibrous element has a substantially uniform density and is sized for disposition in the lumen with an interference fit relative to the inner conduit surface. The fibrous element divides the lumen into a proximal lumen portion and a distal lumen portion when so disposed. The fibrous element is adapted to prevent passage of the liquid through the conduit when disposed therein absent a differential pressure between the distal conduit portion and the proximal conduit portion of at least a first predetermined critical differential pressure.

Abstract: A bicomponent fiber wick is provided for use in processing an analyte fluid. The bicomponent fiber wick comprises a self-sustaining, fluid transmissive body comprising a plurality of bundled, crimped, bicomponent fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart contact points. Each bicomponent fiber has a fiber structure comprising a first fiber component formed from a polyamide material and a second fiber component. The fibers collectively define tortuous fluid flow paths through the fluid transmissive body, the fiber structure being configured for controlling flow of the analyte fluid through the fluid transmissive body with at least a portion of the first fiber component in contact with the analyte fluid.

Abstract: A high strength wick is presented that comprises a self-sustaining fibrous element. This element is formed of a multiplicity of fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart points of contact to define a porous matrix. The fibers are melt blown bicomponent fibers comprising a core of nylon 6,6 and a sheath of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate and copolymers of polyethylene terephthalate. The sheath polymer is selected and adapted for solvent resistance.

Abstract: An ink absorbing substrate suitable for use in inkjet printing systems is provided. The substrate comprises at least one continuous fiber bonded to itself at points of contact to form a substantially self-sustaining structure for retaining ink. The continuous fiber preferably is a bicomponent fiber having a core material and a sheath material at least partially surrounding the core material. The core material preferably is a crystalline thermoplastic polymer and the sheath material preferably is low density polyethylene modified with a cycloolefin copolymer.

Abstract: A separation element is provided for use in a chromatographic analysis system for the separation of a mixture using a stationary phase and a mobile phase. The separation element comprises a fluid transmissive fiber rod comprising a plurality of fibers entangled to provide a tortuous path through which a mobile phase may flow as part of a separation process. The plurality of fibers provides a stationary phase for the separation process.

Abstract: A wicking device includes a core material and a polymeric shell material wherein the core material includes bonded fibrous materials providing a tortuous path for a gas and/or liquid, the core material being permeable to the gas and/or liquid and the shell material being impermeable to the gas and/or liquid.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a powder lacquer composition based on polyester by a) common or separate heating to a temperature of 120-200° C. of A) 99-40 wt. % polyester precondensates, and/or of monomers usable for the preparation thereof, B) 1-60 wt. % pigments and C) 0-10 wt. % wetting additives and/or further additives which are conventionally used for lacquers, wherein the percentages by weight total 100%, b) homogeneous mixing of the components A), B) and C) with the application of shear forces and with the heating temperature maintained, c) dispersion of the mixture obtained in a dispersing medium at a temperature equal to or above the melting temperature of the starting components A), B) and C) with further polycondensation of the polyester precondensate A), and/or of the monomers, d) cooling of the dispersion and addition of a conventional cross-linking agent for the polyester and optionally of conventional additives, within the temperature range 60 to 140° C.