Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes a cycler configured to pump peritoneal dialysis fluid and a disposable set configured to receive the peritoneal dialysis fluid pumped by the cycler. The disposable set includes a filter having a fresh peritoneal dialysis fluid pathway and a membrane located along the fresh peritoneal dialysis fluid pathway and configured to filter the peritoneal dialysis fluid. The filter also includes a grid housing comprising a plurality of baffles configured to separate filtered fresh peritoneal dialysis fluid that has flowed through the membrane into plural fluid channels that form an interior region of the fresh peritoneal dialysis fluid pathway.

Abstract: A medical fluid treatment system includes a source of purified water; at least one concentrate for mixing with the water from the source to form a treatment fluid; a disposable set including a pumping portion, a concentrate line in fluid communication with the concentrate source and the pumping portion, and a patient line in fluid communication with the pumping portion, the patient line including a filter having a membrane configured to filter the treatment fluid, the filter configured such that (i) fresh treatment fluid flowing from the pumping portion towards a patient flows through the membrane and (ii) used treatment fluid flowing through the filter from the patient to the pumping portion bypasses the membrane; and a medical fluid delivery machine including a pump actuator operable with the pumping portion of the disposable set.

Abstract: A medical fluid treatment system includes a source of purified water; at least one concentrate for mixing with the water from the source to form a treatment fluid; a disposable set including a pumping portion, a concentrate line in fluid communication with the concentrate source and the pumping portion, and a patient line in fluid communication with the pumping portion, the patient line including a filter having a membrane configured to filter the treatment fluid, the filter configured such that (i) fresh treatment fluid flowing from the pumping portion towards a patient flows through the membrane and (ii) used treatment fluid flowing through the filter from the patient to the pumping portion bypasses the membrane; and a medical fluid delivery machine including a pump actuator operable with the pumping portion of the disposable set.

Abstract: A medical fluid treatment system includes a source of purified water; at least one concentrate for mixing with the water from the source to form a treatment fluid; a disposable set including a pumping portion, a concentrate line in fluid communication with the concentrate source and the pumping portion, and a patient line in fluid communication with the pumping portion, the patient line including a filter having a membrane configured to filter the treatment fluid, the filter configured such that (i) fresh treatment fluid flowing from the pumping portion towards a patient flows through the membrane and (ii) used treatment fluid flowing through the filter from the patient to the pumping portion bypasses the membrane; and a medical fluid delivery machine including a pump actuator operable with the pumping portion of the disposable set.

Abstract: A medical fluid treatment system includes a source of purified water; at least one concentrate for mixing with the water from the source to form a treatment fluid; a disposable set including a pumping portion, a concentrate line in fluid communication with the concentrate source and the pumping portion, and a patient line in fluid communication with the pumping portion, the patient line including a filter having a membrane configured to filter the treatment fluid, the filter configured such that (i) fresh treatment fluid flowing from the pumping portion towards a patient flows through the membrane and (ii) used treatment fluid flowing through the filter from the patient to the pumping portion bypasses the membrane; and a medical fluid delivery machine including a pump actuator operable with the pumping portion of the disposable set.

Abstract: A receptacle for spent smoking material has a modular construction and can include a base, a lid, a neck, and a head. The base and the lid define a chamber for containing the spent smoking material. The lid can be removably connected to the base through the rotative engagement of corresponding lugs on the base and the lid. The neck can be assembled to the lid using a one-way connector mechanism. The head can be assembled to the neck using a one-way connector mechanism. The head portion has an orifice therein for receiving spent smoking materials, which can be directed through the neck to the chamber. A bucket can be provided in the chamber to receive the spent smoking materials.

Abstract: A method and system for handling hazardous materials contained in a vial includes an isolation enclosure having an opening selectively sealable about the vial, a bag body portion, and a cap portion. A latching extraction element is attached to the cap portion and has a preceding engaging member to secure the vial to the isolation enclosure, an extraction member to be inserted into the vial and remove material therefrom, and a primary engaging member to secure the vial to the extraction member. A valve is mounted outside the isolation enclosure and controls the flow of fluid from the vial. An adaptor having a reseal member permits flow when coupled to the valve and restricts flow when uncoupled from the valve. Once uncoupled, the adaptor is removably associated with a second valve located remotely from the isolation enclosure, allowing fluid to pass into the second valve.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for flexibly mounting variously sized devices in a computer chassis. A front panel includes a first portion that is reserved for a plurality of contiguous openings supporting a plurality of vertically stacked 3-½ inch bays. At least one opening is protected by a corresponding knock-out plate. The front panel also includes a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion. The second portion is reserved for a plurality of module acceptors. At least one module acceptor is located adjacent to a corresponding opening and adapted to receive a corresponding module. Additionally, at least one module acceptor includes a first attaching mechanism capable of mating with a second attaching mechanism located on the corresponding module for attaching the corresponding module to the computer chassis. Further, at least one pair of adjacent opening and module acceptor in combination is adapted to receive a front connector panel bracket.

Abstract: A process is described for depositing a metal film on a substrate surface having a diffusion barrier layer deposited thereupon. In one embodiment of the present invention, the process includes: providing a surface of the diffusion barrier layer that is substantially free of an elemental metal and forming the metal film on at least a portion of the surface via deposition by using a organometallic precursor. In certain embodiments, the diffusion barrier layer may be exposed to an adhesion promoting agent prior to or during at least a portion of the forming step. Suitable adhesion promoting agents include nitrogen, nitrogen-containing compounds, carbon-containing compounds, carbon and nitrogen containing compounds, silicon-containing compounds, silicon and carbon containing compounds, silicon, carbon, and nitrogen containing compounds, or mixtures thereof. The process of the present invention provides substrates having enhanced adhesion between the diffusion barrier layer and the metal film.

Abstract: An oximetry probe assembly includes fluid seal assembly taking the form of a manually actuated plunger which moves relative to a barrel having a seal placed therein. Depression of the plunger causes the seal to be deformed so as to permit insertion of an oximetry probe through the seal and advancement towards a central venous catheter. When the plunger is released, the seal is compressed against the barrel and the sheath of the oximetry probe to thereby form a fluid-tight seal. The plunger and barrel are preferably configured as a one-handed grasping assembly whereby the user may hold the plunger and barrel with one hand, press the plunger with the thumb, and advance the oximetry probe through the fluid seal assembly with the other hand.

Abstract: A referral-tracking system accepts listings from originators and generates referral identifiers that represent referrals of those listings. A referral identifier represents a referral by the originator or by someone who, after receiving a listing identifier from an s originator or someone else, applies to the system to be recognized as a referrer and has accordingly been issued a referral identifier that associates that requester with a listing to be referred. By noting the requests that it receives for referral identifiers, the system can track a chain of referrals from a requester to the person who ultimately fulfills the listing. Some identifiers may be multi-referral identifiers, which represent referrals of multiple listings and can be used by the requester to refer multiple listings simultaneously to the same referral-identifier recipient.

Abstract: A process is described for depositing a metal film on a substrate surface having a diffusion barrier layer deposited thereupon. In one embodiment of the present invention, the process includes: providing a surface of the diffusion barrier layer that is substantially free of an elemental metal and forming the metal film on at least a portion of the surface via deposition by using a organometallic precursor. In certain embodiments, the diffusion barrier layer may be exposed to an adhesion promoting agent prior to or during at least a portion of the forming step. Suitable adhesion promoting agents include nitrogen, nitrogen-containing compounds, carbon-containing compounds, carbon and nitrogen containing compounds, silicon-containing compounds, silicon and carbon containing compounds, silicon, carbon, and nitrogen containing compounds, or mixtures thereof. The process of the present invention provides substrates having enhanced adhesion between the diffusion barrier layer and the metal film.

Abstract: A hydraulic grapple apparatus and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the hydraulic grapple apparatus includes a support frame for attachment to a skid steer loader. The support frame has upper and lower guide tracks arranged in vertical alignment with each other and spaced apart in order to define an open channel therebetween. First and second grapple jaws are mounted on the upper and lower guide tracks for lateral movement along the support frame. First and second double-acting hydraulic cylinders are disposed in the open channel and coupled to the support frame. The first and second double-acting hydraulic cylinders independently actuate the first and second grapple jaws, respectively.

Abstract: A computer user interface device is provided, made up of modules having separate sets of user interface features. For instance, a keyboard device has a first module bearing standard alphanumeric and control keys, and a second module, selected from a set of optional modules bearing specialized features such as multimedia controls, communication interfaces, or magnetic media readers. The modules are mechanically coupled together. An electrical interface allows user input signals, such as keystroke signals, to be consolidated on one module, preferably the specialized module, into a single signal stream, for coupling to the computer.

Abstract: An organometallic complex represented by the structure: wherein M is a metal selected from Group 4 of the Periodic Table of the Elements and R1-4 can be same or different selected from the group consisting of dialkylamide, difluoralkylamide, hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, fluoroalkyl and alkoxy, cycloaliphatic, and aryl with the additional provision that when R1 and R2 are dialkylamide, difluoralkylamide, alkoxy, fluoroalkyl and alkoxy, they can be connected to form a ring. Related compounds are also disclosed. CVD and ALD deposition processes using the complexes are also included.

Abstract: A method and system for handling hazardous materials contained in a vial includes an isolation enclosure having an opening selectively sealable about the vial, a bag body portion, and a cap portion. A latching extraction element is attached to the cap portion and has a preceding engaging member to secure the vial to the isolation enclosure, an extraction member to be inserted into the vial and remove material therefrom, and a primary engaging member to secure the vial to the extraction member. A valve is mounted outside the isolation enclosure and controls the flow of fluid from the vial. An adaptor having a reseal member permits flow when coupled to the valve and restricts flow when uncoupled from the valve. Once uncoupled, the adaptor is removably associated with a second valve located remotely from the isolation enclosure, allowing fluid to pass into the second valve.

Abstract: A computer system is configured as a referral-tracking system that responds to receipt of a listing from a recruiter by generating an identifier, associating it with that listing, and giving it to the recruiter. If, before the listing is withdrawn, the system thereafter receives from a requester a message offering to forward the listing and incorporating that identifier or another identifier that the system has associated with that listing, it generates a further identifier as a child of the received identifier, associates that further identifier with the listing and the requester, and sends it to the requester. Consequently, if the listing is fulfilled by someone identified to the system as having received a message that incorporated one of those identifiers, the system determines that identifier's ancestors and thereby compute the chain of referring requesters that led to the listing's being fulfilled. It can also compute an appropriate incentive-award distribution to the referring requesters.

Abstract: A computer system is configured as a referral-tracking system that responds to receipt of a listing from a recruiter by generating an identifier, associating it with that listing, and giving it to the recruiter. If, before the listing is withdrawn, the system thereafter receives from a requester a message offering to forward the listing and incorporating that identifier or another identifier that the system has associated with that listing, it generates a further identifier as a child of the received identifier, associates that further identifier with the listing and the requester, and sends it to the requester. Consequently, if the listing is fulfilled by someone identified to the system as having received a message that incorporated one of those identifiers, the system determines that identifier's ancestors and thereby compute the chain of referring requesters that led to the listing's being fulfilled. It can also compute an appropriate incentive-award distribution to the referring requesters.