Abstract: A surgical suture retainer retains the suture in an epitrochoidal, or hourglass configuration. One embodiment includes an insert member mounted to one of several foldable connected panels of the suture retainer. The insert member preferably has first and second wings which fold over to form a suture retaining pocket. The suture is held in a looped configuration having an hourglass shape. Another embodiment employs tabs cut from one of the panels to retain the suture in the hourglass shape. Yet another embodiment employs a cover sheet bonded to a base panel, wherein bonding areas are located to maintain the suture loop in an hourglass shape.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of controlling fluid loss to a permeable formation penetrated by a wellbore. A novel fluid loss agent is prepared by forming a crosslinked polymer gel which then is sheared to break the gel into discrete particles of a particular size range. A slurry then is formed of the particles by dispersing the particles in an aqueous fluid having a density similar to that of the gel particles. The slurry then is introduced into contact with the permeable formation and a filter cake of the particles is formed upon contact with the formation and loss of the slurrying fluid to the formation. The filter cake provides further fluid loss control to the permeable formation.

Abstract: A class of substituted isoxazolyl compounds is described for use in treating inflammation and inflammation-related disorders. Compounds of particular interest are defined by Formula II ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is selected from hydroxyl, lower alkyl, carboxyl, lower carboxyalkyl, lower aminocarbonylalkyl, lower alkoxycarbonylalkyl, lower aralkyl, lower alkoxyalkyl, lower aralkoxyalkyl, lower alkylthioalkyl, lower aralkylthioalkyl, lower alkylaminoalkyl, lower aryloxyalkyl, lower arylthioalkyl, lower haloalkyl, lower hydroxylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, and aralkyl; wherein R.sup.3 is selected from cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; wherein R.sup.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of performing endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedures, including the steps of providing an endoscopic kit including an obturator for penetrating body tissue and at least two sleeve members adapted for use with the obturator. The method further includes the steps of inserting the obturator into a first sleeve member, penetrating a body wall of a patient with the obturator and the first sleeve member, and removing the obturator from the first sleeve member such that the first sleeve member remains in the body wall. The method further includes the steps of inserting the obturator into a second sleeve member, penetrating the body wall with the obturator and the second sleeve member, and removing the obturator from the second sleeve member such that the second sleeve member remains in the body wall.

Abstract: A hard disk drive carrier that is inexpensive to manufacture and suitable for use with hot plug connected hard disk drives. A composite ventilated bay secures the disk drive while an interlocking handle mechanism provides the carrying functionality for the hard disk drive carrier as well as the hardware for one-hand locking and unlocking of the carrier within a hard disk drive chassis.

Abstract: A surgical suture retainer retains the suture in an epitrochoidal, or hourglass configuration. One embodiment includes an insert member mounted to one of several foldable connected panels of the suture retainer. The insert member preferably has first and second wings which fold over to form a suture retaining pocket. The suture is held in a looped configuration having an hourglass shape. Another embodiment employs tabs cut from one of the panels to retain the suture in the hourglass shape. Yet another embodiment employs a cover sheet bonded to a base panel, wherein bonding areas are located to maintain the suture loop in an hourglass shape.

Abstract: The addition of a thermoplastic material in intimate mixture with particulates for fracturing, gravel packing or other formation treatments decreases or substantially eliminates the flowback of particulates whether proppants or formation fines while stabilizing the particulate within the formation. Preferred thermoplastic materials include polyolefins, polyamides, polyvinyls and cellulose derivatives in the form of particles, ribbons or flakes.

Abstract: Fracturing, frac-pack, and gravel packing procedures are provided which utilize a treating composition comprising a carrier fluid and a particulate blend. The particulate blend consists essentially of a large particulate material and a small particulate material. The large particulate material consists essentially of particles smaller than about 4 mesh but not smaller than about 40 mesh. The small particulate material consists essentially of particles smaller than about 16 mesh but not smaller than about 100 mesh. The small particulate material is present in the particulate blend in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 60% by weight based on the amount of the large particulate material present in the particulate blend. A prepacked screening device including a large particulate/small particulate blend of the type just described is also provided.

Abstract: Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element, such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture as removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.

Abstract: Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element, such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture as removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.

Abstract: A method of using a needle shield for retainers enclosing suture-needle assemblies constructed of a fibrous material and foldable about at least two score lines to provide a protective device against needle damage, accidental sticking of the user's fingers, and puncture of the package within which the retainer is packaged.

Abstract: A nested digital phase lock loop (DPLL) circuit (400) provides center bit sampling for incoming recovered data (406). Included in the nested DPLL circuit (400) are a narrow bandwidth DPLL (402) and a wide bandwidth DPLL (404) which generate first (410) and second (428) recovered clock signals respectively. Initially the first recovered clock signal (410) is used to clock in the recovered data (406) until the narrowband DPLL (402) is stabilized. Once the narrowband DPLL (402) is stabilized, the second recovered clock signal (428) generated from the wideband DPLL (404) is switched in by a multiplexer (424). If for any reason the center bit sampled data becomes corrupted, a RESET occurs in the wideband loop (404) to zero out the phase shift of the second recovered clock signal (428) to match that of the narrow loop. Thus, when a RESET occurs, the wideband loop is tracking at exactly the same clock rate as the narrowband loop.

Abstract: A retainer for a suture reel dispenser includes three panels interconnected to each other by partial double perforated lines. The retainer in a folded condition forms a pocket to receive the suture reel dispenser. One panel, namely, the reel panel includes at least one reel engaging tab which engages the receptacle of the reel dispenser to restrict movement of the reel dispenser relative to the retainer to thereby prevent accidental removal from the retainer.

Abstract: A moisture impervious package for surgical elements such as retainers having suture-needle assemblies positioned thereon. The package is provided with a top wall of moisture impervious material having an access opening die cut into the wall over which a closure flap secured by a peripheral heat seal to fully enclose the access opening. The top wall is then positioned over a bottom wall of moisture impervious material whereby a retainer having the suture needle assemblies is positioned therebetween. A peripheral heat seal then secures the top wall to the bottom wall to form the package.

Abstract: A multi-mode PLL circuit (100) includes an early/late bit transition accumulator (108) for accumulating the number of incoming bit transitions which are early or late. This allows for PLL (100) to provide adjustments based on a predetermined number of accumulated early/late accumulations or based on an average of early/late transitions over a predetermined period of time. PLL (100) further includes a frequency offset circuit (200) which includes a frequency error accumulator which is used to maintain a frequency offset history and to control the loop frequency. This allows for very narrow band operation of the first order digital PLL while maintaining stable operation.

Abstract: A multi-panel suture retainer provides ready access to, and removal of, a quantity of stored combined surgical needle-suture devices.

Abstract: A molded suture retainer is provided for retaining and storing long suture lengths. Both absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures fabricated from natural or synthetic materials can be advantageously retained and stored therein. The retainer is characterized by a wide spiraling oval passageway with minimal convolutions covered by a cover sheet. The length of the passageway is preferably proportional to 1/3 to 1/2 the overall length of the suture to be retained therein. In accordance with the method of the invention, sutures are doubled or tripled over and inserted into the retainer under vacuum. Sutures packaged in accordance with the invention exhibit fewer kinks and bends than prior packaged sutures.

Abstract: A radio communication device (10) comprises a radio transceiver (12), having a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) (16), an audio section (22), and a controller (16) for deactivating the audio section whenever the RSSI indicates the the received signal strength is below a predetermined threshold. The controller also operates as a counter (26) for indicating the length of time that the received signal strength has been below the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A transceiver (100) is provided for transmitting during the transmission bursts (12) of a frame and receiving during the receiving time-slot windows (14). The transceiver (100) includes a receiver (320) for receiving a repeating radio frequency data (16) signal at any time within the receiving time-slot window (14) and for demodulating the repeating radio frequency data signal down to a baseband data signal. A data detector and clock recovery device (330) recovers the valid data (CHMP) from the baseband data signal. For controlling the receiver (320) and data detector and clock recovery device (330), a control circuit (400) modifies the receiving time-slot windows (14) to only receive and detect when valid data is expected (52).

Abstract: A resynchronization method for use in a communication system, such as a second generation cordless telephone system 800, begins by determining that synchronization has been lost by a receiving unit (830). The receiving unit than mutes any transmit data and generates zero data which is combined with a pattern generated by pattern generator (812). The transmission is then received by handset (830), which detects the pattern generated by pattern generator (812) using pattern detector (850). Pattern detector (850) then generates a pattern detected signal (852) which causes handset (840) to also stop sending data and generate a pattern accompanied by zero data. Base station (830) detects the pattern and again generates another pattern accompanied with zero data which is transmitted to handset (840). Handset (840) after decoding the pattern for the second time begins to resumes the normal transmission of data to base station (830).