Abstract: A steerable guide wire for cannulation of tubular or vascular organs. The guide wire has a distal end and a proximal end. The guide wire has at least one coil forming a helix near the distal end of the guide wire to aid in the negotiation through tubular or vascular organs such as endoscopic retrograde or antegrade cannulation of the cystic duct. A removable clamp is secured to the proximal end of the guide wire to allow the user to apply torsional and longitudinal force to steer the guide wire into position.

Abstract: Photographic elements are provided with a magnetic stripe that is useful for sound recording by applying a magnetic striping composition, containing finely-divided magnetic particles and an acrylated epoxy resin, over the anti-halation layer of the element. The striping composition penetrates the anti-halation layer to contact the support and is cured to an alkali-insoluble cross-linked stripe which is composite with the anti-halation layer and strongly bonded to the support so as to resist removal by alkaline photographic processing solutions.

Abstract: A film unit comprises a hub and a film disk carried by the hub having photosensitive areas for receiving a plurality of images. The hub includes a region of dispersed magnetic particulates for recording data pertaining to the film unit. Since the hub supports the film disk, the data will remain oriented relative to the disk, and to specific images on the disk, during processing steps incident to the finishing of the film unit, e.g. during developing and printing.

Abstract: A layer of magnetic particles in a resin binder on a carrier is smoothed by effecting relative movement between the carrier and a vibrating ultrasonic horn having a surface in contact with the layer. The carrier can be a web of fully coated magnetic tape or of striped motion picture film; and can be passed over a solid metal anvil or can be drawn tautly over the horn without requiring an anvil. The horn can be perpendicular to the carrier for hammering the layer; or it can be essentially parallel to the surface of the carrier, and either transversely or longitudinally extending, for scrubbing the layer smooth. The smoothing procedure can also be performed while the carrier is immersed in a solvent for removing dirt particles. Advantageously the procedure is performed when the binder is fresh and less than fully cured; but it can also be performed by heating a resin binder to the desired plasticity before the smoothing operation.