Abstract: A dry test strip assembly includes: a carrier base having a test port and a well adapted for receiving a dry test strip element, and a cover having a sample opening. The cover can be snapped onto the base with the sample opening aligned over the test port and with a test strip element compressed between the base and cover. A maximum dry test strip compression stop controls the maximum compression on the dry test strip, and a minimum dry test strip compression stop controls the minimum compression on the dry test strip. A rib between two test ports prevents fluid flow in the dry test strip element from one side of the rib to another, thereby separating the test strip element into a plurality of separate fluid compartments. A manufacturing system efficiently assembles the dry test strip assembly without handling by humans.

Abstract: A disposable tissue removal device comprises a “tube within a tube” cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The inner cannula of the cutting element defines an inner lumen and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a foot pedal operated hydraulic circuit. The entire biopsy device is configured to be disposable. In one embodiment, the cutting element includes a cannula hub that can be connected to a fluid source, such as a valve-controlled saline bag.

Abstract: A dry test strip assembly includes: a carrier base having a test port and a well adapted for receiving a dry test strip element, and a cover having a sample opening. The cover can be snapped onto the base with the sample opening aligned over the test port and with a test strip element compressed between the base and cover. A maximum dry test strip compression stop controls the maximum compression on the dry test strip, and a minimum dry test strip compression stop controls the minimum compression on the dry test strip. A rib between two test ports prevents fluid flow in the dry test strip element from one side of the rib to another, thereby separating the test strip element into a plurality of separate fluid compartments. A manufacturing system efficiently assembles the dry test strip assembly without handling by humans.

Abstract: A disposable tissue removal device comprising a cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The cutting element includes an outer cannula defining a tissue-receiving opening and an inner cannula concentrically disposed within the outer cannula. The outer cannula has a trocar tip at its distal end and a cutting board snugly disposed within the outer cannula. The inner cannula defines an inner lumen that extends the length of the inner cannula and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a hydraulic circuit.

Abstract: A tissue cutting device is provided that includes an outer cannula defining an outer lumen and a tissue-receiving opening adjacent a distal end of the outer cannula in communication with the outer lumen. An inner cannula is slidably disposed within the outer lumen and defines an inner lumen from an open distal end to an open opposite proximal end. The inner cannula includes a cutting edge at the open distal end operable to sever tissue projecting through the tissue receiving opening. A first hydraulic rotary motor is operably coupled to the inner cannula to rotate the inner cannula within the outer cannula. A second hydraulic reciprocating motor is operably coupled to the inner cannula to translate the inner cannula within the outer cannula while the inner cannula rotates. A hydraulic system provides the first and second hydraulic motors in communication with a source of pressurized fluid.

Abstract: A disposable tissue removal device comprises a “tube within a tube” cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The inner cannula of the cutting element defines an inner lumen and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a foot pedal operated hydraulic circuit. The entire biopsy device is configured to be disposable. In one embodiment, the cutting element includes a cannula hub that can be connected to a fluid source, such as a valve-controlled saline bag.

Abstract: A disposable tissue removal device comprises a “tube within a tube” cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The inner cannula of the cutting element defines an inner lumen and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a foot pedal operated hydraulic circuit. The entire biopsy device is configured to be disposable. In one embodiment, the cutting element includes a cannula hub that can be connected to a fluid source, such as a valve-controlled saline bag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining refrigerant density and mass flow rate, and for pressurizing a refrigerant recovery tank while the refrigeration system is being recharged. The mass of a flowing refrigerant is automatically continually determined by reliable static means in a controlled recharging process. Flow-dependent pressure, such as the pressure drop across the orifice, and temperature data are taken from the recharging system and are connected to a data processor which uses the pressure and temperature data to determine the refrigerant density and the mass of the flowing refrigerant that has been used. The pressure of a source of recharging refrigerant can be maintained by withdrawing and heating liquid refrigerant and returning the resulting superheated vapor directly to the source of recharging refrigerant, and recharging operations can proceed during such pressure maintenance.

Abstract: A single pass refrigerant recovery device recovers refrigerant from a refrigeration system. The device includes at least one hose for withdrawing refrigerant from the refrigeration system and a first oil separator disposed downstream of the refrigerant hose. A filter is disposed downstream from the oil separator and a compressor is disposed downstream from the filter. A second oil separator is disposed downstream from the compressor, and the condenser is disposed downstream from the second oil separator. A moisture indicator is disposed downstream from the condenser, and a storage tank is disposed downstream from the moisture indicator. The refrigerant recovery device also contains an oil return line having a first end disposed downstream from the second oil separator, and a second end disposed upstream from the compressor. A solenoid valve in the oil return line controls the flow of material in the oil return line.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the charging of refrigerant into a refrigerant system is disclosed. The apparatus determines the mass amount of refrigerant charged by determining the volume of refrigerant charged, the density of the refrigerant based on its pressure as it is charged, and determines the mass amount charged from the determined density and pressure. The apparatus has a pressure compensated flow valve and determines the volume of refrigerant charged based on the amount of time refrigerant has flowed through the constant flow valve. The type of refrigerant being charged can be selected from a plurality of refrigerant types and the apparatus has a memory in which data related to density and flow characteristics of each refrigerant type is stored. The apparatus uses the data for the selected refrigerant to determine the mass amount of refrigerant charged. The apparatus further determines that the refrigerant supply tank is empty when its pressure decay exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the charging of refrigerant into a refrigerant system is disclosed. The apparatus determines the mass amount of refrigerant charged by determining the volume of refrigerant charged, the density of the refrigerant based on its pressure as it is charged, and determines the mass amount charged from the determined density and pressure. The apparatus has a pressure compensated flow valve and determines the volume of refrigerant charged based on the amount of time refrigerant has flowed through the constant flow valve. The type of refrigerant being charged can be selected from a plurality of refrigerant types and the apparatus has a memory in which data related to density and flow characteristics of each refrigerant type is stored. The apparatus uses the data for the selected refrigerant to determine the mass amount of refrigerant charged. The apparatus further determines that the refrigerant supply tank is empty when its pressure decay exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for recovering refrigerant from a refrigeration system. The refrigerant recovery device includes a refrigerant processing flow path. The refrigerant processing flow path includes components for withdrawing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system and for processing the refrigerant so removed to remove impurities from the refrigerant. A receiver tank is provided for receiving and storing the processed refrigerant. The receiver tank includes an inlet and an outlet. Components are also provided for transferring the refrigerant from the receiver tank to a transfer tank at an initially evacuated condition, and for preventing the transfer of refrigerant between the receiver tank and the transfer tank when the transfer tank is not in an initially substantially evacuated condition.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for recovering refrigerant from a mechanical refrigeration system having a high pressure port through which refrigerant can be withdrawn from the system, and a low pressure port through which refrigerant can be withdrawn from the system. The purging device includes a refrigerant storage tank having a first entry port and second entry port. A first refrigerant conduit extends between the high pressure port of the mechanical refrigeration system and the first entry port of the refrigerant storage tank. A second refrigerant conduit extends between the low pressure port of the mechanical refrigeration system and the second entry portion of the refrigerant storage tank.

Abstract: A single pass refrigerant recovery device recovers refrigerant from a refrigeration system. The device includes at least one hose for withdrawing refrigerant from the refrigeration system and a first oil separator disposed downstream of the refrigerant hose. A filter is disposed downstream from the oil separator and a compressor is disposed downstream from the filter. A second oil separator is disposed downstream from the compressor, and the condensor is disposed downstream from the second oil separator. A moisture indicator is disposed downstream from the condensor, and a storage tank is disposed downstream from the moisture indicator. The refrigerant recovery device also contains an inventive oil separator/filter device that includes a canister having a first chamber portion for separating oil from the refrigerant and a second chamber portion for filtering refrigerant.

Abstract: A load-bearing structural member (5, 6) comprising a least two hollow extrusions (12, 13) of light metal alloy each formed with two surfaces mated together with a layer of adhesive therebetween by relative linear movement of the extrusions in a single direction, the surfaces on one of the extrusions being formed on limbs (29) projecting therefrom and the angle between the mating surfaces and said direction being within the range 5.degree. to 15.degree., the surfaces on the other extrusion terminating in shoulders (21) to be approached by the tips of the limbs (29) and a gap (75) to ensure that the layer of adhesive always extends between the shoulders (21) and the tips (74).

Abstract: The container is provided for use in a refrigerant recovery device. The container includes a refrigerant storage tank having a wall defining an exterior and generally hollow interior. A tank inlet is provided through which refrigerant can flow from the exterior of the tank to the interior of the tank. A tank outlet is provided through which refrigerant can flow from the interior of the tank to the exterior of the tank. A contaminant canister is provided for separating contaminants from refrigerant and for storing the contaminants so separated. The contaminant canister includes a wall defining an interior and an exterior, and is disposed substantially within the interior of the refrigerant storage tank. A canister inlet is provided through which refrigerant can flow into the canister and a canister outlet is provided through which refrigerant can flow out of the canister. A canister removal means is provided for removing contaminant from the canister.

Abstract: A gas fueled lighter having a cylindrical body with a central bore forming a gas passage and a valve port. A check valve blocks flow from a reservoir to the passage, and contains a metering plug to pass gas to the passage. A valve plug threaded and sealed in the bore opens and closes the valve port. Such plug carries a turnknob head, contains a burner port from the gas passage, and carries a flame shield which supports a striker wheel. A flint is pressed against the wheel by a spring supported by a retainer plate on the valve plug. A cap threaded onto the body over the head has threads with the same lead as the valve plug threads so that if the cap is screwed onto the body when the valve is open, the cap will drivingly rotate the valve plug to closed position. A bottom flange on the cap and an O-ring in the body form a secondary seal to prevent fuel leakage and exclude dirt and moisture.