Abstract: A body implantable stent is formed of a plurality of strands arranged in two sets of coaxial helices, wound in opposite directions to form multiple crossings. At selected crossings, the adjacent strands are welded to one another, while at the remaining crossings the strands are free for limited movement relative to one another. The welds are formed in patterns that preferably enhance radial strength and rigidity, while having a minimal impact on axial bending flexibility. Preferred weld patterns in this regard include rings or circumferential rows, and helices, particularly with a steeper pitch than that of the strands. Stent fabrication preferably involves resistance welding at the crossings, and use of a tool to reuniformly compress the stent around and against the distal end region of a balloon catheter used later to deliver the stent to a treatment site.

Abstract: A method of thermal mass transfer printing a colorant including a binder media from a ribbon onto a first surface of a web having a non-homogeneous thermal conductivity, a non-planar printing surface, a non-homogeneous structure or chemical incompatibility. The first surface of the web is preheated prior to thermal mass transfer printing. The surface of the ribbon containing the colorant is positioned opposite the first surface of the heated web at an inner face. A thermal print head is positioned at the interface on the side of the ribbon opposite the colorant. The web is moved relative to the thermal print head. Printing is completed by selectively applying localized heat to the ribbon from the thermal print head and pressure at the interface to cause the transfer of colorant from the ribbon to the heated web.

Abstract: A body implantable stent is formed of a plurality of strands arranged in two sets of coaxial helices, wound in opposite directions to form multiple crossings. At selected crossings, the adjacent strands are welded to one another, while at the remaining crossings the strands are free for limited movement relative to one another. The welds are formed in patterns that preferably enhance radial strength and rigidity, while having a minimal impact on axial bending flexibility. Preferred weld patterns in this regard include rings or circumferential rows, and helices, particularly with a steeper pitch than that of the strands. Stent fabrication preferably involves resistance welding at the crossings, and use of a tool to reuniformly compress the stent around and against the distal end region of a balloon catheter used later to deliver the stent to a treatment site.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte gas analyzer includes an analyzer circuit housed in an electronics housing and a probe housing for immersion in the gas of interest. The electronics housing mounts directly to the probe housing, preferably through a standoff. The analyzer circuit is powered by an AC line input and includes a switching power supply to convert the AC line input to DC power useable by the analyzer circuit. The analyzer circuit also includes a heater circuit controlling a heater in the probe housing. The power supply and the heater circuit automatically adjust to different AC line input voltage levels. The switching power supply efficiently supplies DC power to other portions of the analyzer circuit with little heat generation.

Abstract: The fat content and and undissolved solids content of a milk sample, taken from a milk processing flow, are separately determined. In addition, the total solids content of the milk flow is determnined. Based on the fat, undissolved solids, and total solids content, the amount of protein and/or casein in the flow is determined. In a control portion of the invention, the fat and undissolved solids are controlled dynamically to standard values, whereby the characteristics of the milk flow are adjusted to standard values useable for whole milk, cheese-making and other uses.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte gas analyzer is equipped with a diagnostic circuit that intermittently measures an impedance of the solid electrolyte measurement cell as an indication that the cell is in need of calibration or replacement. The diagnostic operation is performed on the cell in situ, i.e., while the solid electrolyte cell is exposed to the gas to be measured and heated to a controlled elevated temperature. Preferably the cell impedance is measured at a predetermined frequency by injecting a modulated current through the cell and measuring the resulting voltage drop.

Abstract: An adjustable magneto-rheological fluid device includes a movable piston adjacent a first chamber containing a first hydraulic fluid for moving the piston. The first hydraulic fluid interacts with a flexible magneto-rheological compartment containing a magneto-rheological fluid that flows between a first magneto-rheological fluid chamber and a second magneto-rheological fluid chamber. By controlling the flow of the magneto-rheological fluid, the device controls the first hydraulic fluid in the first chamber to bias the piston in a first direction. Additionally, the magneto-rheological fluid device may include a second chamber, containing a second hydraulic fluid, spaced apart from the first chamber on the opposite side of the piston. The second hydraulic fluid interacts with the flexible magneto-rheological compartment allowing the device to control the second hydraulic fluid to bias the piston in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: The fat content and an undissolved solids content of a milk sample, taken from a milk processing flow, are separately determined. In addition, the total solids content of the milk flow is determined. Based on the fat, undissolved solids, and total solids content, the amount of protein and/or casein in the flow is determined. In a control portion of the invention, the fat and undissolved solids are controlled dynamically to standard values, whereby the characteristics of the milk flow are adjusted to standard values useable for whole milk, cheese-making and other uses.

Abstract: The present invention involves DNA encoding a mammalian Sp 17 protein, particularly human Sp17 protein, or antigenic peptides which are fragments thereof, along with said antigenic fragments. These proteins and peptides are useful as immunocontraceptive agents and/or for the diagnosis of autoimmune infertility. Avirulent host cells which express the antigenic proteins or peptides and which are useful as immunocontraceptive agents are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention involves DNA encoding a mammalian Sp 17 protein, particularly human Sp17 protein, or antigenic peptides which are fragments thereof, along with said antigenic fragments. These proteins and peptides are useful as immunocontraceptive agents and/or for the diagnosis of autoimmune infertility. Avirulent host cells which express the antigenic proteins or peptides and which are useful as immunocontraceptive agents are also disclosed.

Abstract: A diagnostic catheter comprises an inner layer of substantially unmodified polyamide over which is a reinforcing means and an outer layer of polymer having a hardness of 50 Shore D to 70 Shore D, along with a suitable radiopaque filler. Affixed either directly to the end of the above tubular body or to a stem member secured to that tubular body is a soft-tip formed from a blend of PEBA whose hardness is such that the catheter can be considered as having an atraumatic tip. The resulting catheter exhibits excellent torque and column strength characteristics while providing a relatively large diameter lumen for a given outside diameter.

Abstract: The present invention involves DNA encoding a mammalian Sp 17 protein, particularly human Sp17 protein, or antigenic peptides which are fragments thereof, along with said antigenic fragments. These proteins and peptides are useful as immunocontraceptive agents and/or for the diagnosis of autoimmune infertility. Avirulent host cells which express the antigeenic proteins or peptides and which are useful as immunocontraceptive agents are also disclosed.

Abstract: A diagnostic catheter comprises an inner layer of substantially unmodified polyamide over which is a reinforcing means and an outer layer of polymer having a hardness of 50 Shore D to 70 Shore D, along with a suitable radiopaque filler. Affixed either directly to the end of the above tubular body or to a stem member secured to that tubular body is a soft-tip formed from a blend of PEBA whose hardness is such that the catheter can be Considered as having an atraumatic tip. The resulting catheter exhibits excellent torque and column strength characteristics while providing a relatively large diameter lumen for a given outside diameter.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter having an elongated tubular body with a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending therebetween. The tubular body is formed with: (a) an inner layer of a blend of (i) about 10-25 weight percent of a polyester-polyurethane having a durometer of from about 45D-55D, and (ii) about 38-53 weight percent of a polyester polyurethane having a durometer of from about 65D-75D; (b) a reinforcing means at least partially surrounding the inner layer; and (c) an outer layer comprising a blend of (i) about 10-25 weight percent of a polyester-polyurethane having a durometer of from about 45D-55D and (ii) about 38-53 weight percent of a polyester-polyurethane having a durometer of from about 659D-75D.

Abstract: In a mechanical cell for blending elastomer particles and solution into uniform mixtures, a solid core with an entrance surface, an exit surface spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the entrance surface, and a plurality of minute core passageways therebetween for flow of an elastomer-containing hydrocarbon solution from the entrance surface to the exit surface, the passageways have a characteristic dimension of predetermined size to reduce globules of elastomer to small particles distributed evenly in liquid hydrocarbon solution without plugging the passageways. Typically the passageways have a characteristic dimension of predetermined size to reduce globules of elastomer selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, polyisoprene, a nitrile rubber, and a copolymer of a 1,4-conjugated diene and a vinyl aromatic monomer, to small particles distributed evenly in liquid hydrocarbon solution comprising a vinyl aromatic monomer.

Abstract: The present invention involves DNA encoding a mammalian Sp 17 protein, particularly human Sp17 protein, or antigenic peptides which are fragments thereof, along with said antigenic fragments. These proteins and peptides are useful as immunocontraceptive agents and/or for the diagnosis of autoimmune infertility. Avirulent host cells which express the antigeenic proteins or peptides and which are useful as immunocontraceptive agents are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a synthetic peptide, useful as an immunocontraceptive agent and for the diagnosis of autoimmune infertility, which corresponds to an autoantigenic epitope of Rabbit Sperm Membrane Autoantigen (RSA). The synthetic peptide is selected from the group consisting of the decapeptide NH.sub.2 -pro-gly-gly-gly-thr-leu-pro-pro-ser-gly-COOH and the antigenic equivalents thereof.Also disclosed is a method of diagnosing autoimmune infertility in a human subject. The method comprises the step of, first, contacting an immune sera sample from the subject with an antigen, the antigen selected from the group consisting of RSA, other proteins which bind selection antibodies which bind to RSA, and derivatives thereof which bind selection antibodies which bind to RSA. The next step is to detect the presence of antibodies from the immune sera sample bound to the antigen, the presence of antibodies bound to the antigen suggesting the subject is afflicted with autoimmune infertility.

Abstract: In a milk processing system wherein heat treated milk is initially separated into high-fat and low-fat milk and subsequently reconstituted by adding a selected proportion of high-fat milk to the low-fat milk, control means are provided for automatically controlling the proportion of high-fat milk mixed with the low-fat milk to provide a milk blend of standardized butterfat content which is then homogenized. The control means includes a photoelectric monitoring system for continuously measuring the butterfat content of a sample of the homogenized milk as the latter flows continuously through the processing system under pressure of the homogenizer in the system. The butterfat content measurement is converted to digital signals which are compared to a pre-set digital signal corresponding to a desired butterfat content level to produce a digital corrective signal which controls a digital valve regulating the proportion of high-fat milk blended with the low-fat milk in the processing system.