Abstract: A connector for medical devices (e.g., a syringe) allows tubing to be securely connected to a medical device output. Medical devices have male Luer lock ports for tubing connection. Tubing has a female Luer member with conical threads for leak-tight connection to a threaded male Luer member. Here, a first tubular connector member extends from a medical device output for axial fluid flow. A first connector body has a flange rearward of the outward end, and a nose end that tapers radially inwardly toward the outward end. A second tubular connector member is coaxial with the first connector member. An axially divergent portion of the second connector acts as a sheath for the nose end of the first connector, with a first end surrounding a portion of the first connector and with a second flange forward of the first end abutting the first flange of the first connector.

Abstract: A one-time use cartridge for a CT or MRI syringe has a syringe body coupled to an adapter by flanges that are trapped by a locking tooth supported as part of a groove in a unitary adapter. One-time use is enhanced with one-way valves associated with the forward end of the syringe body. The one-way valves have coaxial inner and outer members with reversed roles for fluid inflow and outflow tubing connections. The valves operate under positive and negative pressure generated by the syringe piston.

Abstract: An RF excited gas discharge laser is disclosed including a housing holding the lasing gas. An electrode assembly is mounted within the housing. The electrode assembly includes a pair of elongated planar electrodes mounted in face to face relationship with a narrow gap therebetween. A pair of planar dielectric plates are positioned along the side edges of the gap to seal the discharge region. The plates extend part of the way into the gap from both sides edges of the electrodes. The inner surfaces of the electrodes are provided with an opposed trench in the region surrounding the inner edges of the plates. In this way, the exposure of the inner edges of the plates to the discharge is minimized improving performance.

Abstract: In a CO2 laser a pre-ionizer is assembled in a flange configured to be attached to a laser-gas enclosure of the laser over an aperture in a wall of the enclosure. An aperture in the base of the flange is aligned over the aperture in the enclosure wall. The aperture in the pre-ionizer flange is covered by a ceramic membrane. A disc electrode is in contact with the ceramic membrane on a side of the membrane outside of the laser-gas enclosure. An RF potential applied to the disc electrode creates a corona discharge on the side of the ceramic membrane inside the enclosure. The corona discharge ionizes laser gas in the enclosure before RF power is applied to electrodes of the slab laser. A cylindrical ceramic sleeve extends from the membrane for containing the discharge.

Abstract: In a CO2 laser a pre-ionizer is assembled in a flange configured to be attached to a laser-gas enclosure of the laser over an aperture in a wall of the enclosure. An aperture in the base of the flange is aligned over the aperture in the enclosure wall. The aperture in the pre-ionizer flange is covered by a ceramic membrane. A disc electrode is in contact with the ceramic membrane on a side of the membrane outside of the laser-gas enclosure. An RF potential applied to the disc electrode creates a corona discharge on the side of the ceramic membrane inside the enclosure. The corona discharge ionizes laser gas in the enclosure before RF power is applied to electrodes of the slab laser.

Abstract: In a CO2 laser a pre-ionizer is assembled in a flange configured to be attached to a laser-gas enclosure of the laser over an aperture in a wall of the enclosure. An aperture in the base of the flange is aligned over the aperture in the enclosure wall. The aperture in the pre-ionizer flange is covered by a ceramic membrane. A disc electrode is in contact with the ceramic membrane on a side of the membrane outside of the laser-gas enclosure. An RF potential applied to the disc electrode creates a corona discharge on the side of the ceramic membrane inside the enclosure. The corona discharge ionizes laser gas in the enclosure before RF power is applied to electrodes of the slab laser. A cylindrical ceramic sleeve extends from the membrane for containing the discharge.

Abstract: An RF excited gas discharge laser is disclosed including a housing holding the lasing gas. An electrode assembly is mounted within the housing. The electrode assembly includes a pair of elongated planar electrodes mounted in face to face relationship with a narrow gap therebetween. A pair of planar dielectric plates are positioned along the side edges of the gap to seal the discharge region. The plates extend part of the way into the gap from both sides edges of the electrodes. The inner surfaces of the electrodes are provided with an opposed trench in the region surrounding the inner edges of the plates. In this way, the exposure of the inner edges of the plates to the discharge is minimized improving performance.

Abstract: In a CO2 laser a pre-ionizer is assembled in a flange configured to be attached to a laser-gas enclosure of the laser over an aperture in a wall of the enclosure. An aperture in the base of the flange is aligned over the aperture in the enclosure wall. The aperture in the pre-ionizer flange is covered by a ceramic membrane. A disc electrode is in contact with the ceramic membrane on a side of the membrane outside of the laser-gas enclosure. An RF potential applied to the disc electrode creates a corona discharge on the side of the ceramic membrane inside the enclosure. The corona discharge ionizes laser gas in the enclosure before RF power is applied to electrodes of the slab laser.

Abstract: Fishermen Poker is a 9 cards draw poker game (two decks) with bonus when the house dealer is involved in playing. Players can surrender their hand. It is a 14 cards draw poker game (four decks) when the house dealer is not involved in playing, just providing service. Both two decks Fishermen poker and four decks Fishermen Poker are allowing players to use the same strategies, such as, discard cards, draw cards with additional wagers, pass and fold to play against to dealer or other players. Players have to use their best 5 cards to compare to each other or compare with dealer's best 5 cards. The higher rank poker hand wins the game.

Abstract: Ace Deuce Poker is blend card game with the idea of Bridge game, Chinese 13 cards poker game and traditional poker game. Players have to use the poker ranking hand to get rid of the cards (13 cards) in their hand. It is a player against player poker game; house dealer just provides the service. The player gets rid of all the cards first won the pot.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of improving the sensitivity and accuracy of a lead assay. The method enhances the recovery of lead during isolation of the lead from interfering compounds by maintaining the lead in a sample solution and making the recovered lead available for detection by the assay. An enhancing reagent complexes with the lead isolated in the sample solution. The enhancer includes a chelator having a lead equilibrium binding constant in the range of about 4 log K to about 13 log K. A kit for performing such a lead assay is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of improving the sensitivity and accuracy of a lead assay. The method enhances the recovery of lead during isolation of the lead from interfering compounds by maintaining the lead in a sample solution and making the recovered lead available for detection by the assay. An enhancing reagent complexes with the lead isolated in the sample solution. The enhancer includes a chelator having a lead equilibrium binding constant in the range of about 4 log K to about 13 log K. A kit for performing such a lead assay is also provided.

Abstract: Detection of lead present in a sample, comprising the steps of: (a) adding a lead recovery agent to an assay solution containing lead from the sample; (b) adding to the assay solution a disulfide enzyme which is inhibited in the presence of lead; and (c) correlating the activity of the disulfide enzyme to the amount of lead in the sample. The lead recovery agent enhances the sensitivity and accuracy of the assay such that the assay can be readily automated for detection of lead in whole blood using commercially available automation systems.

Abstract: A method and kit for simplifying and improving the sensitivity and accuracy of a lead assay for a sample solution suspected of containing lead determines the extent of a reaction between a substrate and a disulfide enzyme in the presence of an activating reagent which contains a water-soluble tertiary phosphine reagent so as to increase the activity of the disulfide enzyme for reaction with the substrate. For a colorimetric determination of the enzyme activity a chromophore is formed upon reaction with a selected component of the sample solution in the presence of a colorimetric enhancing reagent. The colorimetric enhancing reagent contains a metal ion such as cupric ion or ferric ion which is soluble in the sample solution. The extent of the chromophore formation is then photometrically determined.

Abstract: An indicator reagent, assay method and test kit for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in a test sample, in which the indicator reagent is formed by attaching an organic polymer latex particle, preferably a colored particle, to a specific binding member. The specific binding member can be adsorbed onto or covalently bound to the organic polymer latex particles. The organic polymer latex particles are readily detected by direct visual observation or can be detected and/or measured by appropriate instrumentation.

Abstract: A dispersion of a uniformly sized population of multilamellar lipid vesicles (liposomes) encapsulating an aqueous liquid is prepared by forming a dried film of lipids on the walls of a vessel, contacting the film with an aqueous liquid in the presence of spherical contact masses such as glass beads and agitating. The liposomes have mean diameters in the range of about 150 to about 3000 nanometers and the contact masses have mean diameters of about 50 to 3,000 microns. The aqueous liquid encapsulated may contain enzymes, drugs or marker substances such as colorimetric or fluorescent dyes. A member of a immunological binding pair may be associated with the surfaces of the liposomes for carrying out immunoassays. This method allows for the use of small quantities of marker and lipid, leaves no residual solvents, allows for contact with only glass surfaces and involves no transfer of liposome preparations from lipid film drying vessels to sizing apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods for generating aqueous liquid encapsulating multi-lamellar lipid vesicles (liposomes) wherein one or more lipids, or lipid conjugates, and an aqueous liquid to be encapsulated, are agitated in a vessel in the presence of spherical contact masses having a mean diameter of less than 3,000 microns, the preferred size range being 50-100 microns in diameter, and resulting in a substantially homogeneous population of vesicles having diameters in the range of about 150 to about 3,000 nanometers. The methods allow for the use of small quantities of marker and lipid, leave no residual solvents, allow for contact only with glass surfaces, and involve no transfer of liposome preparations from lipid film drying vessels to sizing apparatus.