Abstract: An apparatus for guiding cannulation with a dialysis needle of an arteriovenous dialysis access graft subcutaneously implanted in a body of a subject. The guiding apparatus comprises an elongated body member comprising a base portion terminating in longitudinal edges, a distance between the longitudinal edges of the base portion being substantially equal to a lateral dimension of the aces graft, and an elongated tubular sleeve defining an pocket having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension configured to receive the body member. The body member is adapted to be received in the pocket of the sleeve for securing adjacent the subcutaneous access graft such that the inner surface of the base portion is aligned with a cannulation point of the graft for guiding location of a needle insertion.

Abstract: An arteriovenous dialysis access graft configured to be implanted in a subject includes: at least one flexible conduit having first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion is configured to connect to an artery of the subject and the second end portion is configured to connect to a vein of the subject such that blood flows through the at least one conduit from the first end portion to the second end portion; and at least one cannulation chamber positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion of the at least one conduit. The chamber includes: an elongated housing having an inlet at a first end thereof and an outlet at a second, opposed end thereof, a posterior wall, a pair of sidewalls, and an open anterior portion defining a cannulation port; a self-sealing material extending across the cannulation port; and a longitudinal passageway defined by the housing and the self-sealing material that extends from the inlet to the outlet of the housing.

Abstract: An arteriovenous dialysis access graft configured to be implanted in a subject includes: at least one flexible conduit having first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion is configured to connect to an artery of the subject and the second end portion is configured to connect to a vein of the subject such that blood flows through the at least one conduit; and at least one cannulation chamber positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion of the at least one conduit. The chamber includes: an elongated housing having an inlet and an outlet, a posterior wall, a pair of sidewalls, and an open anterior portion defining a cannulation port; and a self-sealing material extending across the cannulation port. The posterior wall and the sidewalls of the housing are formed of a substantially rigid material.

Abstract: A process for removing or reducing the accumulation of foulant within furnaces and heat exchangers in industrial systems such as an oil refinery by introducing a periodic steam blast. The steam blast is directed into the fluid stream from which the foulants form on to the heat exchanger surfaces. The steam blast increases the flow rates, creates turbulence and increases the temperature within the heat exchanger to dislodge foulant in both a soft and hardened states from internal surfaces upon which foulants have adhered and accumulated.

Abstract: A process for removing or reducing the accumulation of foulant within furnaces and heat exchangers in industrial systems such as an oil refinery by introducing a periodic steam blast. The steam blast is directed into the fluid stream from which the foulants form on to the heat exchanger surfaces. The steam blast increases the flow rates, creates turbulence and increases the temperature within the heat exchanger to dislodge foulant in both a soft and hardened states from internal surfaces upon which foulants have adhered and accumulated.

Abstract: A hand tool has a pivot connection pivotally attaching a first arm to a second arm, with the pivot connection fixed relative to the first arm and movable to first and second positions relative to the second arm. A spring urges the pivot connection into the first position. When jaws on the front ends of the arms clamp tissue with force greater than a pre-set threshold, the spring force is overcome and the jaws may move linearly apart, allowing for more uniform clamping of the tissue. The first arm may have an arm spring extending between a front segment pivotally attached to a rear segment of the first arm.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding cannulation with a dialysis needle of an arteriovenous dialysis access graft subcutaneously implanted in a body of a subject. The guiding apparatus comprises an elongated body member comprising a base portion terminating in longitudinal edges, a distance between the longitudinal edges of the base portion being substantially equal to a lateral dimension of the aces graft, and an elongated tubular sleeve defining an pocket having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension configured to receive the body member. The body member is adapted to be received in the pocket of the sleeve for securing adjacent the subcutaneous access graft such that the inner surface of the base portion is aligned with a cannulation point of the graft for guiding location of a needle insertion.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding cannulation with a dialysis needle of an arteriovenous dialysis access graft subcutaneously implanted in a body of a subject. The guiding apparatus comprises an elongated body member comprising a base portion terminating in longitudinal edges, a distance between the longitudinal edges of the base portion being substantially equal to a lateral dimension of the aces graft, and an elongated tubular sleeve defining an pocket having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension configured to receive the body member. The body member is adapted to be received in the pocket of the sleeve for securing adjacent the subcutaneous access graft such that the inner surface of the base portion is aligned with a cannulation point of the graft for guiding location of a needle insertion.

Abstract: A process and system for desalting crude oil includes delivering a stream of salty crude oil and wash water into a mixing valve, mixing the stream of salty crude oil and wash water through the mixing valve to create a mixed stream of desalted crude oil and salty wash water, delivering the mixed stream of desalted crude oil and salty wash water to a static mixer, and mixing the mixed stream of crude oil and wash water in the static mixer. Within the static mixer, the mixed stream is mixed in a coalescing regime to coalesce smaller droplets of water into larger droplets of water. The mixed stream is then directed to a desalter where the salty wash water is separated from the desalted crude oil.

Abstract: The invention relates to injecting steam into crude oil for several benefits, primarily of which is to remove salt by transferring the salt into the condensed water from the steam. Steam transfers salt via a different transfer mechanism and therefore doesn't require the high shear mixing of conventional water injection systems. As such, steam injection through a variety of procedures, is more efficient at gathering salt into water that itself is easier to remove from the crude oil.

Abstract: An arteriovenous dialysis access graft configured to be implanted in a subject includes: at least one flexible conduit having first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion is configured to connect to an artery of the subject and the second end portion is configured to connect to a vein of the subject such that blood flows through the at least one conduit; and at least one cannulation chamber positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion of the at least one conduit. The chamber includes: an elongated housing having an inlet and an outlet, a posterior wall, a pair of sidewalls, and an open anterior portion defining a cannulation port; and a self-sealing material extending across the cannulation port. The posterior wall and the sidewalls of the housing are formed of a substantially rigid material.

Abstract: The invention relates to injecting steam into crude oil for several benefits, primarily of which is to remove salt by transferring the salt into the condensed water from the steam. Steam transfers salt via a different transfer mechanism and therefore doesn't require the high shear mixing of conventional water injection systems. As such, steam injection through a variety of procedures, is more efficient at gathering salt into water that itself is easier to remove from the crude oil.

Abstract: An arteriovenous dialysis access graft configured to be implanted in a subject includes: at least one flexible conduit having first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion is configured to connect to an artery of the subject and the second end portion is configured to connect to a vein of the subject such that blood flows through the at least one conduit; and at least one cannulation chamber positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion of the at least one conduit. The chamber includes: an elongated housing having an inlet and an outlet, a posterior wall, a pair of sidewalls, and an open anterior portion defining a cannulation port; and a self-sealing material extending across the cannulation port. The posterior wall and the sidewalls of the housing are formed of a substantially rigid material.

Abstract: A system for desalting crude oil includes delivering a stream of salty crude oil and wash water into a mixing valve, mixing the stream of salty crude oil and wash water through the mixing valve to create a mixed stream of desalted crude oil and salty wash water, delivering the mixed stream of desalted crude oil and salty wash water to a static mixer, and mixing the mixed stream of crude oil and wash water in the static mixer. Within the static mixer, the mixed stream is mixed in a coalescing regime to coalesce smaller droplets of water into larger droplets of water. The mixed stream is subjected to an electric field to cause additional coalescence before being directed to a desalter where the salty wash water is separated from the desalted crude oil.

Abstract: The invention relates to injecting steam into crude oil for several benefits, primarily of which is to remove salt by transferring the salt into the condensed water from the steam. Steam transfers salt via a different transfer mechanism and therefore doesn't require the high shear mixing of conventional water injection systems. As such, steam injection through a variety of procedures, is more efficient at gathering salt into water that itself is easier to remove from the crude oil.

Abstract: The invention relates to injecting steam into crude oil for several benefits, primarily of which is to remove salt by transferring the salt into the condensed water from the steam. Steam transfers salt via a different transfer mechanism and therefore doesn't require the high shear mixing of conventional water injection systems. As such, steam injection through a variety of procedures, is more efficient at gathering salt into water that itself is easier to remove from the crude oil.

Abstract: The invention relates to injecting steam into crude oil to remove salt by transferring the salt into the steam while also adding liquid water to the crude oil to remove salt. Steam transfers salt via a different transfer mechanism then salt transfers to water and the steam is permitted to fully condense before any high shear mixing of conventional water injection systems is imposed on the steam bubbles. The salty water from condensed steam along with the crude oil has liquid water added in two further steps each followed by high shear mixing to further reduce salt content of the crude oil as much as practical.

Abstract: The invention relates to injecting steam into crude oil in two separate desalting steps to remove salt by transferring the salt into the condensed water from the steam and gravity separating the water from the crude oil. Steam transfers salt from crude oil via a different transfer mechanism. In the invention, salt is also removed via an intermediate step of adding water with harshly mixing the added water with the crude oil between the gravity separation of the first steam desalting step and before steam is added in the second step.

Abstract: The invention relates to removing salt from crude oil via two steps of adding water with harsh mixing of the added water with the crude oil and gravity separating the salty water between steps where the process additionally includes a step of injecting steam into the crude oil after the first of the two water adding and harsh mixing desalting steps, but upstream of the gravity separation of the first step. The steam separates salt by transferring the salt into the condensed water from the steam.

Abstract: The invention relates to injecting steam into crude oil for several benefits, primarily of which is to remove salt by transferring the salt into the condensed water from the steam. Steam transfers salt via a different transfer mechanism and therefore doesn't require the high shear mixing of conventional water injection systems. As such, steam injection through a variety of procedures, is more efficient at gathering salt into water that itself is easier to remove from the crude oil.