Abstract: Cam driven apparatus for positioning a folded film relative to a film spreading and clamping assembly and which holds an open end of the film, while the film is sealed to form a bag. A cam driven pedestal, in turn, aligns the thus prepared bag with a filling assembly where the bag is grasped and rammed full of produce or the like, before being sealed.

Abstract: A catheter for insertion in a body orifice or blood vessel comprising an elongated tubular body with a soft, symmetrically deformable member on the distal end thereof for decreasing the likelihood of injury to body tissue upon the insertion and removal thereof. In one embodiment, the tip member comprises a toroidally shaped inflatable and non-distensible expandable "balloon" mounted on the end of the otherwise relatively rigid tip of the catheter. The catheter has a lumen extending the length thereof and communicating with the tip member whereby a fluid may be introduced to control the size, shape and firmness of the tip member. In a second embodiment, the soft deformable tip member comprises an annular plastic or rubber sleeve surrounding the otherwise rigid tip of the catheter and normally extending there beyond by a predetermined distance. The thickness or composition of the sleeve is varied about a circumferential ring so as to provide a preferred location for the collapse of the sleeve.

Abstract: A catheter assembly or catheter attachment for use in treatment of coronary artery disease resulting from atheromatous lesions whereby stenotic lesions can be dilated without interruption to the blood supply distal to the stenotic lesion being treated, the catheter further allowing blood pressure distal to the site to be measured throughout the treatment procedure. In one form of the invention, the catheter assembly comprises first and second coaxial telescoping tubes, the outer tube having a pattern of perforations through its side wall proximate the distal end thereof and an inelastic expander member sealed to its outer surface at spaced apart locations so as to span the pattern of perforations. The patient's own blood may be perfused through the lumen of the outer tube between the outer surface of the inner tube and the inner surface of the outer tube and through the pattern of perforations to uniformly expand the inelastic expander member.

Abstract: A catheter assembly or catheter attachment for use in treatment of coronary artery disease resulting from atheromatous lesions whereby stenotic lesions can be dilated without interruption to the blood supply distal to the stenotic lesion being treated, the catheter further allowing blood pressure distal to the site to be measured throughout the treatment procedure. In one form of the invention, the catheter assembly comprises first and second coaxial telescoping tubes, the outer tube having a pattern of perforations through its side wall proximate the distal end thereof and an inelastic expander member sealed to its outer surface at spaced apart locations so as to span the pattern of perforations. The patient's own blood may be perfused through the lumen of the outer tube between the outer surface of the inner tube and the inner surface of the outer tube and through the pattern of perforations to uniformly expand the inelastic expander member.

Abstract: A perfusion pump comprising an assembly of inner and outer tubes interconnected by a field of perforations, a chamber configured to closely contain the tube assembly, valving apparatus for substantially closing the ends of the inner tube by compression against the chamber, and sources of positive and negative pressure gas selectively applicable against the wall of the outer tube.

Abstract: A hot-wire type cutting machine for severing a continuous web of thermoplastic sheet material into individual segments. The web is arranged to be advanced, step-by-step, and while stationary, the hot-wire is made to pass progressively through the web from one side edge thereof to the other and then, the web is indexed another step. During the next cutting stroke of the hot-wire through the web, the same portion of the wire first contacting the web on the previous cutting stroke is the first to contact the web on the second cutting stroke.

Abstract: A container handling and filling system for sequentially selecting, filling, and capping individual containers stored in a nested stack. The system includes first, second, and third sequentially arranged container handling sub-systems for moving individual containers through the handling and filling system, with the first sub-system including a container transfer drive in the form of an endless web having a container gripping member secured thereto, and arranged for reciprocal to-and-fro linear motion to initially transport individual containers from a nested stack to the second container handling sub-system. The second container handling sub-system includes a vertically reciprocable pad for intermittently raising individual containers to a filling station, and rotating the containers while in the elevated disposition.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating and delivering individual box-line containers from a stacked column of nested box-like containers, each container having an upper rim and an outwardly projecting stacking shoulder spaced from the rim, along with a loop-type carrying bail secured at opposed ends to opposite sides of the container body. A yoke element is provided for engaging the carrying bails of the penultimate and successively adjacent numbers of containers in the stack, so as to permit vertical separation of the lowermost container of the column from the remainder of the stack. Associated with the yoke element is a pair of cams which are adapted to engage the bail of the container, which is a predetermined number above the penultimate container in the vertical stack, to apply an inward compressive force thereto to preclude interference with the lowermost container during its separation from the remainder of the stack.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating and delivering individual frustoconical containers from a stacked column of nested frustoconical containers, each container having an upper rim and an outwardly projecting stacking shoulder spaced from the rim, along with a carrying bail secured generally diametrically of the container body. A yoke element is provided for engaging the carrying bail of the penultimate container in the stack, so as to permit vertical separation of the lowermost container of the column from the remainder of the stack.

Abstract: A method is provided of making a bag including the steps of:Expanding tubular plastic netting in continuous rope form into an elongated sleeve with an open end;Positioning a first bottom closure strip across a first part of such sleeve;Positioning a second bottom closure strip across a second part of such sleeve and aligned with such first strip;At least one of the strips having an adhesive coating on its inner surface and such strips being arranged to extend substantially from one edge of the sleeve to the other edge; and,Adhering the first and second strips together through open meshes of such netting thereby to form a bag having a closed end and an open end.