Abstract: A process of forming a sintered article includes heating a green portion of a tape of polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals in organic binder at a binder removal zone to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the binder; horizontally conveying the portion of tape with organic binder removed from the binder removal zone to a sintering zone; and sintering polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals of the portion of tape at the sintering zone, wherein the tape simultaneously extends through the removal and sintering zones.

Abstract: A cell culture vessel has a wall and cell culture surface having a plurality of microcavities for culturing cells in three-dimensional conformation, referred to as “spheroids”. The inner surface of the wall and the cell culture surface define a cell culture chamber of the vessel. The wall is attached to the cell culture surface in a way that does not provide flat surfaces on or around the cell culture surface so that the vessel provides an environment suitable for the production of a homogeneous population of three-dimensional cell clusters, or spheroids.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for evaluating a damaged blade in a compressor or turbine using a computer system accessing a database of blade repair information, where the method includes: selecting a blade damage geometry category corresponding to the damage of the blade from a plurality of blade damage geometry categories; measuring the blade damage, and generating a repair geometry for the blade based on the blade damage measurements and the selected blade damage geometry category.

Abstract: Disclosed is a beverage infusion device including a percolator within a gas-liquid chamber permeable to air and water containing an infusible, insoluble dry beverage substance such as coffee particles. When the beverage infusion device is repeatedly immersed in and removed from water, water enters into the gas-liquid chamber through the percolator at a point above the coffee particles, drains over and through the coffee particles and out of the gas-liquid chamber. A disposable, miniature percolator for brewing a single cup or limited number of cups of a hot beverage such as coffee is thus provided.

Abstract: A beverage infusion device for preparing a beverage such as coffee includes a gas-liquid chamber permeable to air and water which contains an infusible, insoluble dry beverage substance containing edible, soluble food solids, such as coffee particles, and a carbon dioxide source which releases carbon dioxide when immersed in liquid, such as water. When the infusion device is immersed in water, the carbon dioxide source, preferably situated beneath the coffee particles, releases carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide bubbles up through the coffee particles, momentarily suspending and agitating the coffee particles. Maximum contact between water and coffee particles is achieved and the edible, soluble food solids are quickly extracted from the coffee particles to form a hot beverage.Also disclosed is a beverage infusion device including a percolator within a gas-liquid chamber permeable to air and water containing an indusible, insoluble dry beverage substance such as coffee particles.

Abstract: A therapeutic device for skin lesions is provided in which adhesively coated flexible strips are stuck to skin on opposed sides of the lesion, aligned to prevent lateral displacement of the skin and drawn together by flaps to close the skin over the lesion. This device allows the lesion to heal without the formation of keloids. The flaps may be pulled around the side bars of a buckle member to draw the flexible strips to close skin over the lesion, and then the flaps stuck to the flexible strips to hold the skin closing the lesion. For surgical incisions a transparent, removable cover may be on the folded back flaps, and the surgical incision made through the transparent, removable cover, markings on the strips may be used to align them, and the lesion may be closed by sticking the flaps together in face-to-face relation.