Abstract: A heart valve implant according to one embodiment may include a shaft and an anchor disposed on one end of the shaft, the anchor configured to engage tissue. The heart valve implant may further include an expandable member disposed over at least part of the shaft, the expandable member comprising a resiliently deformable internal layer and a resiliently deformable external layer disposed over the internal layer, the expandable member defining a chamber and being configured to receive an inflation medium in the chamber to expand the expandable member, the expandable member further configured to deform upon contact with at least a portion of at least one leaflet of a heart valve to at least partially conform to the shape of the leaflet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a crystal comprising at least a catalytically active portion of a SET 7/9 histone methyltransferase, and various uses thereof, and ligands for SET 7/9.

Abstract: One or more methods for determination and/or deconvolution of complex mass spectra, using quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry

Abstract: A bail out device for rapidly escaping from an unsafe structure is provided. A rope has an attachment section and a repelling section. The attachment section is connected to the repelling section. The repelling section is substantially longer than the attachment section. An attachment means is connected to one end of the attachment section. The attachment section has a double figure eight knot adjacent to the attachment means. A fire resistant sheath covers the attachment section. A descending device which is a plate with five openings in it. The rope in the repelling section extends in and out of four of the five openings. An intermediate clip is mounted in one of the openings of the descending device. A leash, which is a sewn quick draw sling, connects an outer clip to the intermediate clip.

Abstract: One or more methods for multiplexed determination and deconvolution of complex mass spectra, using quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry.

Abstract: At least one section of structured packing characterised in that: (a) the length of said section is from about 1 m to about 6 m; and (b) the specific surface area of the structured packing of said section is greater than 500 m2/m3, is used in a vapour/liquid contact column operating in locations where environmental conditions adversely affect steady state operation of said column to reduce maldistribution of liquid in said column under motion. The structured packing section has particular application offshore on a buoyant platform where tilt of the column out of vertical alignment due to the rolling motion of the platform can significantly affect the efficiency of the column.

Abstract: An intake duct for a compressor comprises an inlet and an outlet means. The duct has a serpentine path. The outlet means comprises a first outlet and a second outlet. The duct further comprises at least one grille member configured to prevent the passage of objects over a predetermined size which is positioned in the duct out of the line of sight when viewed through the inlet. The duct is shaped such that in operation objects passing through the at least one grille member greater than a predetermined mass are directed towards the first outlet and the remainder of the objects are directed towards the second outlet. The first outlet leads overboard and/or to a trap and the second outlet leads to a compressor.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for delivering a stable, fat soluble vitamin to a feed composition. The process includes dissolving a fat soluble vitamin in a solvent to form a vitamin-enriched solvent and combining the vitamin-enriched feeds; processes for supplementing the diet of a feed animal with a fat soluble vitamin, processes for extending the shelf life of an animal product, and processes for making stable vitamin-enriched supplements for feed compositions are also provided.

Abstract: Ascorbyl phosphate is stabilized against degradation by phosphatases by coating with a lipid.

Abstract: One or more methods for multiplexed determination and deconvolution of complex mass spectra, using quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry

Abstract: This invention relates to a metal ion specific capacitance sensor with exceptional sensitivity and wide operating range. It is versatile because different kinds of recognition elements can be immobilized directly in a self-assembling monolayer substantially completely covering the surface of the measuring noble metal electrode. The electrode then becomes selective to those metal ions in the solution that show affinity to the recognition element on the surface. Compared to previously described electrochemical sensors, the sensor according to the present invention shows many orders of magnitude better sensitivity because of the unique measuring principle.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a baby formula defoaming device, and a method of defoaming baby formula. According to the instant invention, the baby formula defoaming device includes a treaded cap having an aperture therein, a stopper, and a seal. The stopper includes a shaft having a channel therethrough and a sealable valve. The sealable valve includes cooperating elastic parts, which define a slit therebetween. The sealable valve is adapted to close the channel, and the stopper is adapted to receive a pump device mounted thereon. The seal joins the stopper to the cap via the aperture.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device is provided which comprises a distal portion having a bipolar electrode configuration and at least one fluid outlet opening. The device further includes a first electrode tip spaced from a second electrode tip with the first electrode tip to serve as a first pole of the bipolar electrode configuration and the second electrode tip to serve as a second pole of the bipolar electrode configuration. The first and second electrode tips are configured to slide over a tissue surface in the presence of a fluid provided from the fluid outlet opening and an electrical current provided from the electrode tips.

Abstract: Trapping graphics during pre-press workflow involves intensive computation. In this invention, the trapping engine uses simple bounding boxes, colors, and temporal order information, to eliminate the possibility of trapping many pairs of objects without ever having to calculate their exact shapes. By considering the temporal order of the objects in a page, such a z-order display list, the trapping engine can quickly reject the possibility of trapping in areas where it is not necessary.

Abstract: Fusion polypeptides and aggregates of polypeptides comprising papillomavirus-derived antigens, and compositions thereof and their use e.g. with adjuvants for immunogenic and vaccine purposes in eliciting e.g. HPV-specific immune responses. The polypeptides can be purified to result in aggregates which when in solution or dispersion can pass through a sterilisation filter, and in amorphous aggregates. An example of such a polypeptide is a fusion protein of human papillomavirus proteins L2 and E7.

Abstract: Fusion polypeptides and aggregates of polypeptides comprising papillomavirus-derived antigens, and compositions thereof and their use e.g. with adjuvants for immunogenic and vaccine purposes in eliciting e.g. HPV-specific immune responses. The polypeptides can be purified to result in aggregates which when in solution or dispersion can pass through a sterilisation filter, and in amorphous aggregates. An example of such a polypeptide is a fusion protein of human papillomavirus proteins L2 and E7.

Abstract: A detachable anvil rod for use with an apparatus for circular fastening of hollow organs is provided. An elongated rod member has a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and an irregular surface portion intermediate the proximal and distal end portions. The irregular surface portion includes a plurality of grooves which define a plurality of raised ridges. The ridges are adapted to engage grasping surfaces of a grasping tool so as to minimize potential of slippage, thus enhancing the maneuvering procedure of the anvil rod about the operative site. The anvil rod also includes a narrowly configured mounting portion which enables the rod to be applied to and mounted within the distal end of the stapling apparatus from a variety of angular positions. An apparatus which incorporates the improved detachable anvil rod is also described.

Abstract: A heat tipping method and apparatus for surgical sutures to facilitate inserting the sutures into the barrel ends of surgical needles. The method comprises tensioning the suture, heating a portion of the suture to be heat tipped by blowing a current of hot air across the portion of the suture, and releasing the tension and cutting the portion of the suture to create heat tipped ends. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical drum around which the suture is wound, a concave channel in the drum for delimiting a portion of the suture to be heated, and hot air blowers for heating the delimited portions of the suture to a heat tipping temperature. In another embodiment, the suture is looped and knotted. The loop and/or knot is then heated under such conditions so as to reversibly stiffen the loop and/or knot. Such stiffening facilitates placement and securement of the suture loop during surgical procedures.

Abstract: A detachable anvil rod for use with an apparatus for circular fastening of hollow organs is provided. An elongated rod member has a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and an irregular surface portion intermediate the proximal and distal end portions. The irregular surface portion includes a plurality of grooves which define a plurality of raised ridges. The ridges are adapted to engage grasping surfaces of a grasping tool so as to minimize potential of slippage, thus enhancing the maneuvering procedure of the anvil rod about the operative site. The anvil rod also includes a narrowly configured mounting portion which enables the rod to be applied to and mounted within the distal end of the stapling apparatus from a variety of angular positions. An apparatus which incorporates the improved detachable anvil rod is also described.