Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for controlling a patient's body temperature by endovascular heat exchange.

Abstract: Method of testing a property of a flowable substance. In particular this invention relates to the testing of the cross-linkability of an adhesive and is particularly relevant to an in-line process for mounting electronic components upon a printed circuit board. In the process, infrared light is passed through adhesive being fed to a dispensing position. Some of the light is absorbed by chemicals in the adhesive. Unabsorbed light after passing through the adhesive is analyzed and wavelengths of the light relating to cross-linkable materials in adhesive are monitored.

Abstract: A printed circuit board that has a surface which bears a plurality of circuit board pattern, each pattern being served with at least one individual terminal. The printed circuit board is used for a method of determining the stabilized surface insulation resistance of the substrate of the printed circuit board. The circuit board patterns are spaced-apart so as to lie upon surface band regions extending lengthwise and widthwise of the surface of the printed circuit board, these surface band regions being different from one printed circuit board pattern to another. This arrangement of circuit board patterns results in a substantial surface of the board to be dominated by the patterns suitable for the test procedure.

Abstract: Fluxing and soldering terminals on a printed circuit board by an in-line process in which flux concentration is determined at specific locations laterally of the passline. At each of the positions infrared light is passed through a wall of flux which is being directed at the board. The infrared light becomes partly absorbed by materials in the flux and the unabsorbed light which passes through the wall of flux is used to generate signals corresponding to the different wavelengths of unabsorbed light at each of the locations. This enables a determination to be made of the flux concentration at each location. The signals are preferably used to effect a change in the flow rate of flux at any specific location so as to control the amount of flux deposited upon the board. Particularly useful for "no-clean" flux applications.

Abstract: Fluxing and soldering terminals on a printed circuit board in an in-line process in which a wall of flux is directed against a surface of the board which moves in inclined manner as it passes through a fluxing station and towards a soldering station. The process controls flux application to decrease the amount of flux applied from the leading end to the trailing end of the board, the board inclination resulting in flow of flux to redistribute it towards providing a constant flux thickness for the soldering step. Particularly useful for processes involving "no-clean" flux application where residual flux after soldering is to be avoided because of potential electrical problems.

Abstract: To determine the stabilized surface insulation resistance (SIR) of a printed circuit board substrate, a test printed circuit board is provided which has desirable clean surface conditions. This surface bears a predetermined circuit board test pattern and has a known SIR characteristic resulting in a known stabilized SIR. The test board is then subjected to a soldering step which is performed in the same in-line production with commercial boards. After the soldering step, the SIR characteristic of the soldered test board is determined for a time period sufficient for a comparison with the SIR characteristic of the clean test board to enable the stabilized SIR of the soldered test board to be determined.

Abstract: An apparatus, for determining the degree of tackiness of a surface of a body, comprises a closed chamber with inlet and outlet openings; a support for the body within the chamber; a fan for providing an airflow directed toward the surface of the body within the chamber; a powder dispenser for releasing powder into the path of the airflow upstream of the body surface, the powder being adapted to be carried by the airflow thereby to permit the powder to impinge against the body surface; whereby the amount of powder adhering to the body surface after a period provides a measure of tackiness of the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus, for determining the degree of tackiness of a surface of a body, comprises a closed chamber with inlet and outlet openings; a support for the body within the chamber; a fan for providing an airflow directed toward the surface of the body within the chamber; a powder dispenser for releasing powder into the path of the airflow upstream of the body surface, the powder being adapted to be carried by the airflow thereby to permit the powder to impinge against the body surface; whereby the amount of powder adhering to the body surface after a period provides a measure of tackiness of the surface.

Abstract: An improved method for decontaminating the coolant system of water-cooled nuclear power reactors and for regenerating the decontamination solution. A small amount of one or more weak-acid organic complexing agents is added to the reactor coolant, and the pH is adjusted to form a decontamination solution which is circulated throughout the coolant system to dissolve metal oxides from the interior surfaces and complex the resulting metal ions and radionuclide ions. The coolant containing the complexed metal ions and radionuclide ions is passed through a strong-base anion exchange resin bed which has been presaturated with a solution containing the complexing agents in the same ratio and having the same pH as the decontamination solution.