Abstract: A feedthrough assembly for an implantable medical device includes a housing, a solid insert, one or more conductive elements, a metal filler, and a non-corrosive sealant. The housing defines a central cavity through a height of the housing. The solid insert is disposed within the central cavity of the housing. The one or more conductive elements extend through one or more apertures defined within the solid insert and extend through the central cavity of the housing. The metal filler is disposed within a joint defined by an outer surface of the solid insert and an inner surface of the housing that defines the central cavity. The non-corrosive sealant coats a top surface of the metal filler to inhibit corrosion of the metal filler.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and kits for labeling and manipulating a cellular circuit. The methods includes transfecting a first-order cell in the cellular circuit with a nucleic acid molecule encoding a tethered ligand, and a second-order cell in the cellular circuit with a nucleic acid molecule encoding a receptor and an effector fusion polypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a receptor interactor and protease fusion polypeptide, and a nucleic acid molecule encoding a reporter/modifier gene.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and kits for labeling and manipulating a cellular circuit. The methods includes transfecting a first-order cell in the cellular circuit with a nucleic acid molecule encoding a tethered ligand, and a second-order cell in the cellular circuit with a nucleic acid molecule encoding a receptor and an effector fusion polypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a receptor interactor and protease fusion polypeptide, and a nucleic acid molecule encoding a reporter/modifier gene.

Abstract: An insulator for a beverage container wherein the beverage container is of a generally cylindrical form and wherein the insulator is formed of a sheet material having thermal insulating properties and comprises a cylindrical body (11) a having an upper and a lower end, said body having an internal configuration which is substantially complementary to the beverage container, the upper portion of the body supporting a closure (15) which when closed closes the upper end, the closure is hingedly supported from one side of the body to be movable between the closed position at which it fully closes the space and an open position at which the upper portion of the space can be accessed, the upper edge of the body being formed with a profiled portion (21) to define a concave notch portion and wherein the closure has a complementary formation which will be received in the notch portion when the closure is in the closed position.

Abstract: A retrieval aid intended for use with a flexible line having an object located at the end of the line, the retrieval aid comprising a shaft (11) having a line engagement member (13) mounted at one end, said engagement member being readily engagable with the line whereby when engaged with the line the engagement member surrounds the line and is capable of movement along the line wherein the engagement member is formed as a coil comprising more than one turn but less than two turns and wherein the plane of the engagement member is inclined to the central axis of the shaft and extends outwardly from the end of the shaft.

Abstract: An automatic system and method for changing a disposable nozzle for a multiple component reactant mixture injector. A robot supports a mixing head that is used to inject a reactant mixture. The robot moves the mixing head including a shroud and the disposable nozzle to a nozzle changing station. The shroud is retained on the mixing head by a threaded collar that is unscrewed at the nozzle changing station by a nut runner. The used nozzle is ejected from the shroud, engaged by a gripper and disposed of while a new disposable nozzle is obtained from a magazine and placed in the shroud. The threaded collar reattaches the shroud to the mixing head and the mixing head is returned to operation.