Abstract: A cryogenic freezer and a method of controlling temperature within the cryogenic freezer. The cryogenic freezer includes an inner vessel. The inner vessel defines a storage chamber. The cryogenic freezer includes an outer vessel surrounding the inner vessel. The outer vessel may define a vacuum-insulated space in between the outer vessel and the inner vessel. The cryogenic freezer includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the storage chamber. The cryogenic freezer includes a controller coupled to the temperature sensor. The controller is configured to pulse an amount of cryogen into the storage container to control the temperature within the storage container.

Abstract: A system and method for infusing a compound with nitric oxide that is produced on-demand. A volume of a compound is held in a container. A magnetic plasma arc generator is provided that is connected to an air source or sources of nitrogen gas and oxygen gas. The plasma arc generator reacts the nitrogen gas with the oxygen gas to produce nitric oxide. The nitric oxide exits the output of the plasma arc generator and is directly routed into the compound within the container. The nitric oxide bubbles through the compound, therein infusing the compound with fresh nitric oxide. The compound is then rapidly sealed in packaging to seal the nitric oxide with the infused compound.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal balloon system includes a gastrointestinal balloon and a valve located within the gastrointestinal balloon. The valve is configured to allow fluid flow into and out of the gastrointestinal balloon. The valve includes a string coupled to the valve, the string having a loop on a proximal end and a catheter having a lumen. The lumen is configured to receive a grasping tool. The grasping tool extends out a distal end of the catheter for grabbing the loop to align the catheter with the valve. The valve may be a series of self-sealing two-way valves, a check valve, or two-way valve. A method of using a valve in a gastrointestinal balloon is also described.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal balloon system includes a gastrointestinal balloon and a check valve located within the gastrointestinal balloon. The check valve is configured to allow fluid flow into and out of the gastrointestinal balloon. The check valve includes a string coupled to the check valve, the string having a loop on a proximal end and a catheter having a lumen. The lumen is configured to receive a grasping tool. The grasping tool extends out a distal end of the catheter for grabbing the loop to align the catheter with the check valve. Also, a check valve, two-wat valve, and method of using the same in a gastrointestinal balloon.

Abstract: A cryogenic freezer and a method of controlling temperature within the cryogenic freezer. The cryogenic freezer includes an inner vessel. The inner vessel defines a storage chamber. The cryogenic freezer includes an outer vessel surrounding the inner vessel. The outer vessel may define a vacuum-insulated space in between the outer vessel and the inner vessel. The cryogenic freezer includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the storage chamber. The cryogenic freezer includes a controller coupled to the temperature sensor. The controller is configured to pulse an amount of cryogen into the storage container to control the temperature within the storage container.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal balloon system includes a gastrointestinal balloon and a check valve located within the gastrointestinal balloon. The check valve is configured to allow fluid flow into and out of the gastrointestinal balloon. The check valve includes a string coupled to the check valve, the string having a loop on a proximal end and a catheter having a lumen. The lumen is configured to receive a grasping tool. The grasping tool extends out a distal end of the catheter for grabbing the loop to align the catheter with the check valve. Also, a check valve, two-wat valve, and method of using the same in a gastrointestinal balloon.

Abstract: A cryogenic freezer and a method of controlling temperature within the cryogenic freezer. The cryogenic freezer includes an inner vessel. The inner vessel defines a storage chamber. The cryogenic freezer includes an outer vessel surrounding the inner vessel. The outer vessel may define a vacuum-insulated space in between the outer vessel and the inner vessel. The cryogenic freezer includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the storage chamber. The cryogenic freezer includes a controller coupled to the temperature sensor. The controller is configured to pulse an amount of cryogen into the storage container to control the temperature within the storage container.

Abstract: A cryogenic freezer and a method of controlling temperature within the cryogenic freezer. The cryogenic freezer includes an inner vessel. The inner vessel defines a storage chamber. The cryogenic freezer includes an outer vessel surrounding the inner vessel. The outer vessel may define a vacuum-insulated space in between the outer vessel and the inner vessel. The cryogenic freezer includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the storage chamber. The cryogenic freezer includes a controller coupled to the temperature sensor. The controller is configured to pulse an amount of cryogen into the storage container to control the temperature within the storage container.

Abstract: A portable sanitizing arrangement is disclosed comprising essentially a protective case for a mobile productivity device such as a smartphone together with an ultraviolet light source for convenient disinfecting of high-touch objects and surfaces. The arrangement further comprises user controls and interfaces to enable the ultraviolet light source to safely emit light at wavelengths known to kill and destroy bacterial and viral species among other potentially harmful microorganisms. The sanitizing arrangement may irradiate the mobile productivity device itself as well as commonly encountered objects and surfaces in work, travel, entertainment and home environments with substantially greater ease and convenience and at potentially lower cost than with known sanitizing devices and methods.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal balloon system includes a gastrointestinal balloon and a check valve located within the gastrointestinal balloon. The check valve is configured to allow fluid flow into and out of the gastrointestinal balloon. The check valve includes a string coupled to the check valve, the string having a loop on a proximal end and a catheter having a lumen. The lumen is configured to receive a grasping tool. The grasping tool extends out a distal end of the catheter for grabbing the loop to align the catheter with the check valve. Also, a check valve, two-wat valve, and method of using the same in a gastrointestinal balloon.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal balloon system includes a gastrointestinal balloon and a check valve located within the gastrointestinal balloon. The check valve is configured to allow fluid flow into and out of the gastrointestinal balloon. The check valve includes a string coupled to the check valve, the string having a loop on a proximal end and a catheter having a lumen. The lumen is configured to receive a grasping tool. The grasping tool extends out a distal end of the catheter for grabbing the loop to align the catheter with the check valve. Also, a check valve, two-wat valve, and method of using the same in a gastrointestinal balloon.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a stomach of a subject includes a balloon adapted for placement in the stomach and having an opening to an interior of the balloon, an internal tube in the interior of the balloon with a proximal end coupled to the opening of the balloon, and an inflation tube. The inflation tube has a distal end in the interior of the balloon and a proximal end that can receive a fluid on an exterior of the balloon. The inflation tube can stretch from the stomach to a mouth of the subject to facilitate inflation of the balloon and has a resting position that is substantially within the interior of the balloon. The internal tube is disposed around at least a portion of the inflation tube that is in the interior of the balloon.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal balloon system includes a gastrointestinal balloon and a valve located within the gastrointestinal balloon. The valve is configured to allow fluid flow into and out of the gastrointestinal balloon. The valve includes a string coupled to the valve, the string having a loop on a proximal end and a catheter having a lumen. The lumen is configured to receive a grasping tool. The grasping tool extends out a distal end of the catheter for grabbing the loop to align the catheter with the valve. The valve may be a series of self-sealing two-way valves, a check valve, or two-way valve. A method of using a valve in a gastrointestinal balloon is also described.

Abstract: A deep media bed filter is combined with an oil skimmer integrated into the filter, the oil skimmer including an arrangement for collecting oil floating on the water to be filtered in a filter tank. In an unpressurized version of the filter, the level of water to be filtered in the tank is controlled so as to normally not flow over an annular trough inside wall located at the top of the tank. The inside wall of the trough thereby acting as a weir extending around the inner perimeter of the annular trough to be able to receive oil flowing over the weir. When a predetermined oil accumulation atop the water is detected by an interface detector, the water level in the tank is increased sufficiently so that the oil be high enough to pass over the weir and into the annular trough. The collected oil is thereafter drained out of the annular trough as by gravity into a vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus (90) is provided for use in a stomach of a subject. The apparatus includes a balloon (92), adapted for placement in the stomach, and an anchor (102), coupled to the balloon. The anchor is adapted to prevent the balloon from passing into a duodenum of the subject. The apparatus further includes an inflation tube (96), coupled to the balloon to permit inflation of the balloon, and is adapted to stretch from the stomach to a mouth of the subject to facilitate inflation of the balloon. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The elongated substantially tubular introducer extends along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a sharpened distal end. The introducer includes at least one side window positioned at a predefined location along the longitudinal axis from a distal tip. The elongated stylet is adapted to be received in a lumen of the tubular introducer to provide structural support for the introducer during insertion and removal. The introducer can be inserted as part of a procedure that includes generating a first image to identify target tissue for biopsy, inserting the introducer into the location of the target tissue based on the first image and then taking a second image, in a substantially transverse or orthogonal direction from the first image in order to ensure proper alignment of target tissue in relation to the at least one side window or to allow for repositioning of the introducer.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a stomach of a subject includes a balloon adapted for placement in the stomach and having an opening to an interior of the balloon, an internal tube in the interior of the balloon with a proximal end coupled to the opening of the balloon, and an inflation tube. The inflation tube has a distal end in the interior of the balloon and a proximal end that can receive a fluid on an exterior of the balloon. The inflation tube can stretch from the stomach to a mouth of the subject to facilitate inflation of the balloon and has a resting position that is substantially within the interior of the balloon. The internal tube is disposed around at least a portion of the inflation tube that is in the interior of the balloon.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal balloon system includes a gastrointestinal balloon and a check valve located within the gastrointestinal balloon. The check valve is configured to allow fluid flow into and out of the gastrointestinal balloon. The check valve includes a string coupled to the check valve, the string having a loop on a proximal end and a catheter having a lumen. The lumen is configured to receive a grasping tool. The grasping tool extends out a distal end of the catheter for grabbing the loop to align the catheter with the check valve. Also, a check valve, two-wat valve, and method of using the same in a gastrointestinal balloon.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a stomach of a subject includes a balloon adapted for placement in the stomach and having an opening to an interior of the balloon, an internal tube in the interior of the balloon with a proximal end coupled to the opening of the balloon, and an inflation tube. The inflation tube has a distal end in the interior of the balloon and a proximal end that can receive a fluid on an exterior of the balloon. The inflation tube can stretch from the stomach to a mouth of the subject to facilitate inflation of the balloon and has a resting position that is substantially within the interior of the balloon. The internal tube is disposed around at least a portion of the inflation tube that is in the interior of the balloon.

Abstract: Apparatus (90) is provided for use in a stomach of a subject. The apparatus includes a balloon (92), adapted for placement in the stomach, and an anchor (102), coupled to the balloon. The anchor is adapted to prevent the balloon from passing into a duodenum of the subject. The apparatus further includes an inflation tube (96), coupled to the balloon to permit inflation of the balloon, and is adapted to stretch from the stomach to a mouth of the subject to facilitate inflation of the balloon. Other embodiments are also described.