Abstract: An implantable tissue marker device is provided to be placed in a soft tissue site through a surgical incision. The device can include a bioabsorbable body in the form of a spiral and defining a spheroid shape for the device, the spiral having a longitudinal axis, and turns of the spiral being spaced apart from each other in a direction along the longitudinal axis. A plurality of markers can be disposed on the body, the markers being visualizable by a radiographic imaging device. The turns of the spiral are sufficiently spaced apart to form gaps that allow soft tissue to infiltrate between the turns and to allow flexibility in the device along the longitudinal axis in the manner of a spring.

Abstract: A circuit that includes a controller and at least one control I/O pin. When the controller is placed into an initial state, the controller initializes the circuit into an initial operation mode. Depending on whether or not signal(s) satisfying predetermined criteria are applied to at least one of the control I/O pins, the controller will cause the circuit to enter one of two or more post-initial operation modes. Accordingly, by initializing the controller, and by controlling a signal on the control I/O pin(s), the operating mode of the circuit may be controlled. In one embodiment, a given control pin might be configurable to be both analog and digital, depending on the circuit's operation mode.

Abstract: A grate plate for use in cooling heated material has a plurality of spaced apart walls including a front wall, side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall. A plenum is located generally within the walls for receiving a cooling fluid within the grate plate. The top wall has a trough for receiving heated material. An opening in the grate plate is located rearwardly of the front wall for receiving the cooling fluid into the plenum. The plenum is shaped for delivering air from the opening to the front wall of the grate plate and then rearwardly adjacent to a side wall of the trough. A port in the trough permits exhaust of the cooling fluid from the exhaust duct into the trough for cooling the heated material on the grate plate.

Abstract: A continuous hot-dip coating line, whereby an aluminum-zinc alloy coating, comprising from 25% to 75% aluminum by weight, is applied to a steel strip, includes an induction furnace whereby the coated strip is heated to a treatment temperature within the range of from 165.degree. C. to 275.degree. C., preferably about 200.degree. C. The strip emerging from the furnace is coiled directly at that treatment temperature into close wound coils having a mass of at least 2 tons, and the coils are allowed to cool in still air at the ambient indoor temperature pertaining, at a rate of no more than 40 centigrade degrees per hour, for all but a predetermined number (typically less than four, usually only one) of the outer turns of the coil which are scrapped, to enhance the ductility of the coating on the remainder of the coil. If the treated coated strip is subsequently painted, the paint is cured at a peak metal temperature of less than 240.degree. C.