Abstract: The Invention relates to fluids and techniques to optimize/enhance the production of hydrocarbon from subterranean formations (e.g., “completion fluids”), in particular, fluids and techniques are. disclosed and claimed which remove wellbore damage and near-wellbore damage in the form of coating formed from drilling and production-related operations (“filtercake”); the techniques can be applied either by themselves or in conjunction with other completion operations, such as gravel packing; preferred embodiments are chelating agent and enzyme systems in a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) matrix.

Abstract: The Invention relates to novel fluids and techniques to optimize/enhance the production of hydrocarbon from subterranean formations (e.g., "completion fluids"), in particular, fluids and techniques are disclosed and claimed which remove wellbore damage and near-wellbore damage in the form of coating formed from drilling and production-related operations ("filtercake"); the techniques can be applied either by themselves or in conjunction with other completion operations, such as gravel packing; preferred embodiments are chelating agent and enzyme systems in a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) matrix.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical apparatus capable of ligation and division. The apparatus has a frame and a tubular shaft attached to said frame. Also attached to the frame is a handle. The apparatus has ligating means and cutting means. Actuation means are mounted to the apparatus for actuating both the ligating means and the cutting means. The apparatus has a clutch means capable of enabling the actuating means to switch between a first mode for actuating the ligating means and a second mode for actuating the cutting means. The cutting means is preferably an extendable J-hook and blade assembly. The cutting means and ligating means are preferably rotatable with respect to the frame. The ligation and division apparatus may be used to ligate and cut blood vessels or tissue in a mammalian body cavity during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: An endoscopic cutting apparatus for use in endoscopic surgical procedures. The apparatus has a frame having a proximal end and a distal end. A handle is attached to the proximal end of the frame. Hook means are mounted to the distal end of the frame for engaging tissue or blood vessels. The hook means has a track means. Cutting blade means are mounted to said frame and are movable within said track means to cut tissue or blood vessels engaged within said hook means. Actuating means are mounted to the frame to actuate the cutting means in order to cut tissue or blood vessels engages within said hook means. Optional rotation means are mounted to the frame to allow the hook means and cutting means to rotate with respect to the frame. Optional extension means extend and retract the hook means into and out of the distal end of the frame.

Abstract: A coupling device couples low power levels of optical radiation out of an optical fibre (3) for maintenance and fault-finding purposes. The assembled coupling device acts to clamp a fibre (3), with its primary plastics coating still in place, against the inner side of a gently curved silica rod (1). The rod (1) is strongly waveguiding and, picking up radiation leaked from the fibre (3), directs it to a photodetector (6). The device finds particular application in optical communications systems.