Abstract: The present invention provides a catheter for use in delivering and/or recovering materials to and/or from a tissue site in the body, the catheter comprising one or more macroporous regions adapted to selectively deliver molecules and/or recover cells from the tissue site, based on one or more physical-chemical-biological characteristics. The macroporous region can be provided in the form of a helical hollow wires, and can be adapted to both recover cells from the tissue site (e.g., bacterial or other cells present in interstitial fluid) and optionally to permit the infusion of medicament to the site, under corresponding conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catheter for use in delivering and/or recovering materials to and/or from a tissue site in the body, the catheter comprising one or more macroporous regions adapted to selectively deliver molecules and/or recover cells from the tissue site, based on one or more physical-chemical-biological characteristics. The macroporous region can be provided in the form of a helical hollow wires, and can be adapted to both recover cells from the tissue site (e.g., bacterial or other cells present in interstitial fluid) and optionally to permit the infusion of medicament to the site, under corresponding conditions.

Abstract: An orthopedic bone probing device to locate cavities, holes, and crevices in bones. For instance, where holes are drilled in bones to accommodate fastening devices it is important to ascertain if there are any sites where the drilling penetrated the entire side wall of the bone resulting in an undesirable hole in the side wall of the bone. The device of this invention consists of a cannula containing a shaft of superelastic material that assumes a retractable position angular to the axis of the cannula upon being ejected from one end of the cannula and the other end of the cannula is retained by a plunger that limits the amount of shaft that can be ejected and necessitates the removal of the shaft if the cannula is to be removed.

Abstract: A medical guide wire for insertion into body channels for accessing specific inner body areas without major surgery. The guide wire comprises an elongated, flexible guide having a core of a shape memory alloy, the guide utilizing the two-way memory properties of the shape memory alloy to impart tip-deflecting and rotational movement to the guide wire in response to a controlled thermal stimulus.

Abstract: Arthroscopic instrumentation for use in arthroscopic surgery and similar procedures. The instrumentation includes a cannula having a curved lumen and an elongated, flexible normally straight shape memory alloy probe. The probe is insertable into the lumen of the cannula, which in turn can be directed to a hard to reach operative site. The cannula causes the probe to bend as it passes the curves of the cannula, but the shape memory character of the probe causes the probe to exit the distal end of the cannula in a substantially straight orientation.

Abstract: A plurality of collector panels are mounted so as to be rotatable in unison about their longitudinal axes. One side or face of each panel is provided with a radiation absorbing surface and the other side or face is provided with a radiation reflective surface. Each panel includes a compartmentalized plastic tray in which is encapsulated thermal storage or phase change material having an appropriate heat of fusion so that radiation striking the absorptive surface will be stored in the material for subsequent release. Owing to the rotatability of the various panels, when mounted adjacent a conventional window, they can be adjusted or tilted so as to control the temperature of a room. Flexible seals are attached to the edges of the panels so as to block the flow of air between the panels when the panels are closed, that is, with the radiation surface facing either outwardly or inwardly.

Abstract: The invention is a sealed thermal energy storage container device including front and rear walls which together are partially absorptive and partially transmissive of visible light with a transmittance in the range between 4% and 85% and an absorptance of at least 9%. Retained within the container between the front and rear walls is an at least partially light transmissive energy storage substance that experiences a liquid-solid phase change between 45.degree. F. and 190.degree. F. After being strategically positioned for exposure to solar radiation, the energy storage substance accumulates a substantial quantity of energy when changed to a liquid state by incident sunlight and subsequently releases that energy when again freezing. In addition to sequentially and alternatively storing and releasing thermal energy, the container device transmits a predetermined level of incident sunlight.