Abstract: Interlaminar features of a composite structure are laid up by placing and steering individual chopped fiber pre-preg segments onto a substrate.

Abstract: Interlaminar features of a composite structure are laid up by placing and steering individual chopped fiber pre-preg segments onto a substrate.

Abstract: A food storage container for watertight storage of food items, such as sandwiches, includes a tube. The tube comprises an annular wall that extends from a first end to a second end, defining an internal space. The second end is closed and the first end is open. A gasket is sealably coupled to the tube proximate to the first end. A cap, which is complementary to the first end, is configured to reversibly couple to the tube. The tube is configured to insert a first food item through the first end into the internal space. The cap is positioned to couple to the tube. The cap sealably couples to the gasket to sealably close the first end, such that the internal space is substantially air and water tight.

Abstract: The present invention is a sensor formed over a subminiature through hole. Because of the small diameter of the through hole, the material that fills the through hole and the through hole itself have an essentially negligible effect on the sensor. Only a small amount of conductive material which fills each through hole is in contact with each associated electrode. Therefore, the purity of the electrode is not significantly altered by the conductive material coupled to the electrode. A relatively large number of sensors can be formed on the surface of the substrate within a relatively small fluid flowcell. Thus, more information can be attained using less blood. The sensors of the present invention are preferably disposed on an alumina substrate which is essentially impervious to aqueous electrolytes and blood over long periods of storage in potentially corrosive environments.

Abstract: The present invention is a sensor having an electrode formed in electrical contact with a subminiature through hole. Because of the small diameter of the through hole, the material that fills the through hole and the through hole itself have an essentially negligible effect on the sensor. A relatively large number of sensors can be formed on the surface of the substrate within a relatively small fluid flowcell. Thus, more information can be attained using less analyte. The sensors of the present invention are preferably disposed on an alumina substrate which is essentially impervious to aqueous electrolytes and blood over long periods of storage in potentially corrosive environments.

Abstract: The present invention is an electronic wiring substrate for sensors formed over a subminiature through hole. Because of the small diameter of the through hole, the material that fills the through hole and the through hole itself have an essentially negligible effect on the sensor. Only a small amount of conductive material which fills each through hole is in contact with each associated electrode. Therefore, the purity of the electrode is not significantly altered by the conductive material coupled to the electrode. A relatively large number of sensors can be formed on the surface of the substrate within a relatively small fluid flowcell. Thus, more information can be attained using less blood. The substrate is essentially impervious to aqueous electrolytes and blood over long periods of storage in potentially corrosive environments.

Abstract: The present invention is an electronic wiring substrate for sensors formed over a subminiature through hole. Because of the small diameter of the through hole, the material that fills the through hole and the through hole itself have an essentially negligible effect on the sensor. Only a small amount of conductive material which fills each through hole is in contact with each associated electrode. Therefore, the purity of the electrode is not significantly altered by the conductive material coupled to the electrode. A relatively large number of sensors can be formed on the surface of the substrate within a relatively small fluid flowcell. Thus, more information can be attained using less blood. The substrate is essentially impervious to aqueous electrolytes and blood over long periods of storage in potentially corrosive environments.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for drilling a subminiature through hole through a substrate. The through holes of the present invention are preferably drilled through an alumina substrate which is essentially impervious to aqueous electrolytes and blood over long periods of storage in potentially reactive environments. The holes are drilled by directing a sealed type CO.sub.2 laser at a predetermined position located on the substrate, energizing the laser at a power of approximately 75 to 225 watts, such that the laser beam focuses on the substrate at the predetermined position, and treating the substrate after the laser has drilled the hole.

Abstract: A waste container for a blood analyzer or other fluid analysis medical device. The waste container includes a flexible waste bag having a gas vent that may include a gas permeable, but substantially fluid impermeable, material or fabric. The fabric allows gases to escape the waste bag, but substantially prevents fluids from escaping. The waste container also includes a moisture absorbent material, such as a polyacrylamide polymer, that converts waste fluid, such as blood, from the blood analyzer into a substantially solid material, such as a gel, as waste fluids enter the waste bag. As waste fluids enter the waste bag and are converted into a substantially solid material, expelled gases that form in the waste bag as well as gases entering the waste bag from the blood analyzer pass through the gas vent. The waste container can be used with a blood analyzer that analyzes blood gases and electrolytes.

Abstract: An improved electronic wiring board having a thermistor and at least one blood gas sensor supported, in close relation, one to the other, on one side of the board and a heater supported on the other side of the board to provide heat in response to temperature sensed by the thermistor, to at least the region where the thermistor and the blood gas sensor are positioned on the board to control the temperature of the region of the board within a narrow distribution of temperatures.

Abstract: A plastic covered nonconducting substrate with an electrical circuit means is secured to the extent to withstand the presence of liquids in contact with the substrate. The covered substrate can have the substrate with one or more fluid preconditionable electrical components, a housing secured to the substrate to maintain contact of the preconditioning fluid with the electrical component like a sensor, and moisture impervious seals to cover openings in the housing for the disposition of the preconditioning fluid in the housing for contact with the electrical component on the substrate. The housing can have one or more parts and have one or more channels for containing the preconditioning fluid.