Abstract: An apparatus for estimating the distance of penetration (66) of arterial blood into a portion of a patient limb (6) encircled by a tourniquet cuff (2) comprising a cuff (2), a physiologic transducer (24), estimation means (74) and control means (70). The physiologic transducer (24) is associated with the cuff (2) and adapted for sensing a physiologic parameter indicative of penetration of arterial blood into the limb portion (6) encircled by the cuff (2) while blood flow past the limb portion (6) is stopped. The estimation means (74) responds to an output of the physiologic transducer (24) and produces an estimate of penetration of arterial blood past the proximal edge (60) of the cuff (2). The control means (70) responds to the estimation means (74) for facilitating the control of the pressure applied to the patient limb (6) by the cuff (2) to stop the flow of blood in the artery (58) by maintaining the estimated distance of penetration (66) near a selected penetration distance.

Abstract: The pesticidal compositions comprising synergistic mixtures of O,O-dimethyl S-phthalimidomethyl phosphorodithioate or suitable salt forms thereof, and at least one benzoylurea based chitin inhibiting compound or suitable salt forms thereof, and especially preferably one or more of (RS)-1-[3-chloro-4-(1,1,2-trifluoro-2-trifluoromethoxyethoxy)phenyl]-3-(2,6-di-fluorobenzoyl)urea (also interchangeably referred to as “novaluron”) or suitable salt forms thereof, and 1-(2-chlorobenzoyl)-3-(4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)urea (also interchangeably referred to as “triflumuron”) or suitable salt forms thereof, for the control of undesired pests, preferably for the control of Codling moths in fruit. Methods of controlling the incidence of undesired pests, via treatment regimens providing synergistic amounts of each of the foregoing compounds, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A low-cost contour cuff for surgical tourniquet systems comprises: a sheath containing an inflatable bladder, the sheath having an arcuate shape, an outer surface and a centerline equidistant between first and second side edges; a securing strap non-releasably attached to the outer surface and formed of substantially inextensible material having a shape that is predetermined and substantially flat, wherein the strap includes a bending portion near a first strap end and a fastening portion near a second strap end, and wherein the bending portion is adapted to allow twisting of the bending portion out of the substantially flat shape to facilitate positioning of the fastening portion into any of a plurality of positions in the substantially flat shape; and fastening means for releasably attaching the fastening portion of the securing strap to the outer surface whenever the sheath is curved into a position for surrounding a limb.

Abstract: Improved tourniquet apparatus for measuring a patient's limb occlusion pressure includes an inflatable tourniquet cuff for encircling a limb at a location and to which a tourniquet instrument is releasably connectable.

Abstract: A disposable tourniquet cuff for encircling a patient's limb includes first and second sheets; a gas-tight peripheral seal joining the first sheet to the second sheet around a perimeter of those sheets to form an inflatable bladder within the perimeter. A stiffener fits inside the bladder and is sized to extend substantially the length of the bladder and to fit completely within the peripheral seal. The stiffener is separate from the second sheet and the stiffener surface is welded to the first sheet at a location within the bladder and away from the peripheral seal. A tubular port is provided for directing gas into the bladder from a tourniquet instrument to which the port may be connected. The port defines a passageway therethrough and includes a flange made of a thermoplastic polymer that is compatible for welding the flange to the first sheet.

Abstract: A system for controlling blood flow through a zone of a patient limb, the zone being bounded by a proximal end and a distal end, comprises: a cuff configured for securing to the limb and for covering the zone, the cuff being inflatable to provide pressure to the zone for occluding the flow of blood flowing through the zone in the direction from the proximal to distal ends of the zone; an array of sensors fitting between the cuff and the limb and arranged for sensing and signaling the amount of penetration of blood flow into the zone; and a control instrument connected to the array and to the cuff for regulating the pressure in the cuff to occlude the blood flow in the zone depending upon the amount of blood flow penetration signaled by the array.

Abstract: A turbocharger system comprises a first relatively small turbocharger and a second relatively large turbocharger connected in series and an exhaust gas flow control valve. The exhaust control valve has an inlet port communicating with the exhaust gas flow upstream of the first turbine a first outlet port communicating with the exhaust flow downstream of said first turbine but upstream of said second turbine, and a second outlet port communicating with the exhaust flow downstream of said second turbine. The valve is operable to selectively permit or block flow through the first and second outlet ports.

Abstract: A turbocharger system comprises a first relatively small turbocharger and a second relatively large turbocharger connected in series and an exhaust gas flow control valve. The exhaust control valve has an inlet port communicating with the exhaust gas flow upstream of the first turbine a first outlet port communicating with the exhaust flow downstream of said first turbine but upstream of said second turbine, and a second outlet port communicating with the exhaust flow downstream of said second turbine. The valve is operable to selectively permit or block flow through the first and second outlet ports.

Abstract: A surgical tourniquet cuff that includes a stabilizer component that facilitates application of an overlapping cuff around the limb of a patient. The stabilizer is fixed to the cuff, and requires no tying or similar user manipulation to secure the overlapping cuff in alignment with the underlying cuff. The stabilizer improves the stability of the inflated cuff to prevent sideways shifting motion of overlapping cuff portions as the cuff is applied to the limb. The stabilizer also provides a handle mechanism to enable the user to snugly apply the overlapping cuff around the patient's limb while the overlapping portions remain properly aligned along their long axes. The stabilizer is designed to also facilitate attaching together two tourniquet cuffs end-to-end, with respective bladders overlapping and in proper alignment so that those attached cuffs can be used as a single, extended surgical cuff applied around a patient's limb.

Abstract: A disposable tourniquet cuff for encircling a patient's limb includes first and second sheets; a gas-tight peripheral seal joining the first sheet to the second sheet around a perimeter of those sheets to form an inflatable bladder within the perimeter. A stiffener fits inside the bladder and is sized to extend substantially the length of the bladder and to fit completely within the peripheral seal. The stiffener is separate from the second sheet and the stiffener surface is welded to the first sheet at a location within the bladder and away from the peripheral seal. A tubular port is provided for directing gas into the bladder from a tourniquet instrument to which the port may be connected. The port defines a passageway therethrough and includes a flange made of a thermoplastic polymer that is compatible for welding the flange to the first sheet.

Abstract: A low-cost disposable tourniquet cuff includes: a first sheet formed of flexible material that is impermeable to gas; a second sheet facing the first sheet and formed of flexible material impermeable to gas; a bladder seal joining the first sheet to the second sheet around a perimeter to form an inflatable bladder within the perimeter; port means communicating pneumatically with the bladder and releasably connectable to a tourniquet instrument; stiffener means contained within the inflatable bladder and formed of gas-impermeable material less flexible than the first sheet, wherein the stiffener means has a stiffener width dimension less than the bladder width dimension and is joined to the first sheet to form a non-inflatable portion of the first sheet; and securing means attached to the non-inflatable portion of the first sheet and adapted to allow a surgical user to releasably secure the cuff around the limb at the desired location so that the bladder overlaps upon itself.

Abstract: Low-cost tourniquet cuff apparatus includes: an inflatable bladder formed of flexible material having a bladder width dimension when the bladder is uninflated and a having a bladder length dimension sufficient for encircling a limb of a surgical patient at a desired location on the limb and for overlapping upon itself, wherein the bladder includes a bladder first inner surface facing a bladder second inner surface along the bladder length dimension and across the bladder width dimension when the bladder is uninflated; securing means for securing the overlapping bladder around the limb at the desired location; port means communicating pneumatically with the inflatable bladder and releasably connectable to a tourniquet instrument for supplying the bladder with pressurized gas; and stiffener means having a predetermined stiffness and having a stiffener width dimension less than the bladder width dimension, wherein the stiffener means is non-releasably attached to the bladder first inner surface within the inflat

Abstract: Apparatus for estimating a magnitude of leakage from a surgical tourniquet system while pressure in a cuff of the system is regulated near a reference pressure.

Abstract: An adaptive surgical tourniquet comprises: an inflatable cuff for encircling a limb of a patient; pressurizing means for pressurizing the cuff; pressure relief means for depressurizing the cuff; cuff pressure sensing means for sensing cuff pressure; limb occlusion pressure sensing means for sensing the patient's initial limb occlusion pressure at a selected time; physiologic characteristic sensing means for sensing a physiologic characteristic of the patient; and pressure regulator means for establishing an adapted limb occlusion pressure that is a predetermined function of the initial limb occlusion pressure and the physiologic characteristic, wherein the pressure regulator means is operable after the initial limb occlusion pressure is sensed for selectably activating the pressurizing means and the pressure relief means to maintain the cuff pressure above the adapted limb occlusion pressure for a time period suitably long for the performance of a surgical procedure.

Abstract: Tourniquet effector system estimates and indicates the pressure gradients produced on the surface of the body by an effector, thereby allowing the pressure gradients to be minimized. The system also detects and monitors blood flow beneath the effector, thereby allowing the pressure applied by the effector to be regulated near the minimum necessary to stop blood flow past the effector.

Abstract: An internal tourniquet and method for establishing hemostasis within a portion of a limb to facilitate surgery controls flow of a fluid into a capsule surrounding substantially all of a human joint. Blood concentration in the capsule is sensed; and pressure in the capsule is controlled to maintain a fluid pressure in the capsule within a predetermined pressure tolerance window. The concentration of blood in the capsule is maintained below a predetermined maximum concentration while the fluid pressure is within the pressure tolerance window.

Abstract: Provided are improved agricultural processes for the improved cultivation of rice wherein the crops are treated to control undesired vegetative growth using a plant treatment composition comprising both halosulfuron and thifensulfuron to provide improved herbicidal efficacy against Heteranthera limosa, commonly referred to as “duck salad”. Also provided are compositions useful in the improved agricultural processes, as well as herbicidal treatment regimens. Unexpectedly high rates of efficacy against Heteranthera limosa, amongst rice plant in rice crops are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of manufacturing and inflating an elongated bladder of a tourniquet cuff that may be secured around the limb of a patient. The method includes sealing together side edges of layers of material to form the bladder, and stiffening the cuff with a stiffener for compressing the portion of the bladder underlying the stiffener inwardly toward the limb while preventing two layers of the cuff from contacting each other at a location adjacent to an edge of the cuff to thus provide a continuous pneumatic passageway in the bladder between the overlying stiffener and the sealed edge for distributing inflating gas through the passageway along the length of the bladder.

Abstract: An internal tourniquet for establishing hemostasis within a portion of a limb to facilitate surgery controls flow of a fluid into a capsule surrounding substantially all of a human joint. Blood concentration in the capsule is sensed; and pressure in the capsule is controlled to maintain a fluid pressure in the capsule within a predetermined pressure tolerance window. The concentration of blood in the capsule is maintained below a predetermined maximum concentration while the fluid pressure is within the pressure tolerance window.

Abstract: A surgical tourniquet cuff for limiting usage to improve safety, comprises: an inflatable portion having a length sufficient for encircling a patient's limb at a desired location; cuff connector means communicating pneumatically with the inflatable portion and adapted near an end for connecting to a tourniquet instrument to establish a releasable pneumatic connection; and a cuff usage register located at a predetermined distance from the end of the cuff connector means and adapted for containing a usage amount record indicative of an amount of a predetermined usage of the cuff. The cuff usage register may further contain a usage limit record indicative of a predetermined limit of the predetermined usage of the cuff. The cuff usage register may be further adapted for enabling the cuff usage record and the usage limit record to be read by a tourniquet instrument that is pneumatically connected to the inflatable portion through the cuff connector means.