Abstract: An instrument is provided for placing and tightening a knot tied in end lengths of a suture at desired body tissue through an access tube such as a cannula. The instrument includes an elongated member having a distal working end positionable inside the body through the access tube and a proximal end manipulatable outside the body. First and second jaws are disposed at the distal working end so as to be relatively movable (e.g., closeable/openable). Each jaw includes an open-ended, axially extending slot therethrough for receiving a respective one of the free end lengths of the suture extending from body tissue to be sutured as the instrument is advanced in the access tube. Handles operable at the proximal end of the elongated member are provided to relatively move the first and second jaws between closed and an opened positions.

Abstract: To transmit digital data in a color television signal, a color burst is transmitted in its standard reference position to represent a first logic state, e.g., a "0" and is shifted by a limited amount from the standard reference position to represent a second logic state, e.g., a "1". More specifically, the "bits" of the data are "read-out" of a register in response to the horizontal synchronization pulses generated in the transmitter and are used as control signals to generate burst flag pulses in the standard or a shifted position depending on whether the bit to be transmitted is a logic "0" or a logic "1". The burst flag pulses are used to insert the color bursts in the back porch portion of the horizontal blanking interval. At the receiver, a burst demodulator extracts the color bursts and determines the position of each color burst to recover the transmitted data.

Abstract: A circumcision instrument includes a pair of body members displaceable toward each other to simultaneously cut the foreskin along a longitudinal or circumferential line of cut while simultaneously stapling together the skin and mucous layers of the foreskin along at least one stapling line generally parallel with the cut, thereby to reduce bleeding from a cut. In a first embodiment, a generally straight cutting blade is carried by a body member at one end of a pair of scissors-type arms for longitudinally cutting the foreskin, cooperating male and female staple members being removably mounted on opposed body members for simultaneously producing stapling lines on both sides of the cut. In a second embodiment, a pair of annular body members arranged concentrically about a penis are displaced together on opposite sides of the foreskin when folded concentrically back around one of the annular members, a circular stapling line being defined concentrically between a circular cut and the penis.

Abstract: An instrument (10) is provided for manipulating a length of dental floss (18) so as to allow for simultaneous cleaning of the sides and the rear of a tooth. The instrument (10) comprises a handle (12) having a channel (14) therein. A pair of prongs (20) extend away from the handle (12) to distal ends that define an axis therebetween. The prongs (20) hold a length of floss (18) between their respective distal ends along the axis. A slide member (28), having a floss engaging member (32) pivotally secured thereto, is slidably retained in the channel (14) for movement along a slide axis located between and extending perpendicular to the prong-defined axis. The slide member (28) moves along the slide axis between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to circuitry which uses a reference voltage and a reference current to produce a resistance which stays essentially constant even when the temperature of the device varies. The circuitry of a preferred embodiment consists of a resistor and a n-channel FET. The source of the FET is connected to ground, and the drain is connected to one terminal of the resistor. The other terminal of the resistor is connected to a reference current source and to the noninverting terminal of an operation amplifier. The inverting terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to a reference voltage. The output of the operational amplifier is connected to the gate of the FET. The value of the resistor is chosen such that the voltage drop across the FET (I.e., V.sub.ds) is small so that the FET operates in the linear region. A resistive element is composed of the resistor and the on-resistance of the FET.

Abstract: The invention relates to properties and uses of N-hydrocarbon substituted lactams, particularly N-alkyl substituted lactams having the formula ##STR1## wherein R' is a hydrophobic radical such as linear or branched chain alkyl group containing from 8 to 27 carbon atoms, most preferably micelle forming pyrrolidones having 12 to 16 carbon atoms in the R' group. The invention particularly relates to the uses of the N-hydrocarbon substituted lactams which involve surfactant properties, such as solubility, wetting, viscosity building, emulsifying and/or complexing properties.

Abstract: A fault-location operating system for use with transmission networks using repeaters with loopback capabilities. A plurality of bidirectional transmission links L.sub.i, for i=1 through N, are used for transmission of data between the terminals. A test control unit is connected at the first terminal to the first end of the first transmission link L.sub.1, and controls transmission of control signals across the first transmission link L.sub.1. A plurality of repeaters R.sub.i, for i=1 through N-1, are used for interconnecting the plurality of bidirectional links. Each repeater R.sub.i is connected to the first end of one transmission link L.sub.i and to the second end of another transmission link L.sub.i+1. Each repeater includes a first circuit for repeating data transmitted from the one transmission link L.sub.i for transmission on the other transmission link L.sub.i+1, and a second circuit for repeating data transmitted from the other transmission link L.sub.

Abstract: A method for determining the concentration of a plurality of combustible gases in a gas stream comprises providing an electrochemical cell apparatus that includes an electrochemical cell in which a cavity is formed having a diffusion limiting port forming the entrance to the cavity. The cell has a process side in flow communication with a portion of the gas stream flowing into the cavity through the port, and a reference side in flow communication with a reference gas. The process side and the reference side of the electrochemical cell are separated by an electrolyte. The potential difference across the cell is adjusted to create a steady state electrical current flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to the addition product formed from the reaction of a tertiary amino substituted alkyl lactam having the formula ##STR1## and a haogenated silicone having the formulae ##STR2## wherein m has a value of from 1 to 3; n has a value of from 1 to 100; r has a value of from 0 to 3, R.sub.14 is ##STR3## or R.sub.15R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.9 andR.sub.15 are each individually alkyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, haloalkyl-phenyl, halophenyl or mixtures thereof and wherein at least one of said substituents bonded to a silicon atom is a radical having a haloalkyl group;R is alkylene having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with lower alkyl, carboxyl, halo or ##STR4## R.sub.10, R.sub.11, R.sub.12 and R.sub.13 are each independently lower alkyl and p has a value of from 1 to 6.

Abstract: A method for forming a connection between two levels in a semiconductor structure includes first forming a VIA (14) through an insulating layer (12) to an underlying structure (10). Sidewall spacers (22) and (24) are formed on the vertical walls of the VIA (14). The spacers (22) and (24) have tapered surfaces. A barrier layer (30) is then formed over the bottom surface of the VIA followed by CVD deposition of a conductive layer (32) of WSi.sub.2 to provide a conformal conductive layer. An aluminum layer (38) is then deposited by physical vapor deposition techniques with the descending portions of layer (32) providing a conductive connection between the aluminum layer (38) and the lower structure (10) in the VIA (14).

Abstract: What is provided herein are new and useful surfactants characterized by having a large number of hydroxyl hydrophilic groups therein with the formula: ##STR1## where R is a long chain alkyl group,Z is O or --NH, andn=1-4.

Abstract: What is provided herein are new and useful N-pyrrolidonyl alkyl amino 1,3,4-butanetriol compounds having the formula: ##STR1## where X is alkylene C.sub.1 -C.sub.5, andn is 1-4.

Abstract: This invention provides novel and useful surfactants having the formula: ##STR1## where R is a long chain fatty acid alkyl group, saturated or unsaturated, e.g. having from 8-22 carbon atoms, as for example, lauryl, stearyl, oleyl, palmityl, myristyl, and mixtures such as coco, tallow, etc.,M is a metal ion, preferably an alkali metal such as sodium, potassium, etc., andn is 1-6.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the selective preparation of an N-alkyl lactam having minimal coloration by reacting the corresponding lactone with an alkyl amine in the presence of a catalytic amount of an ammonium, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal borohydride.

Abstract: The apparatus (1) is constituted by: device (3) for creating a homogeneous main magnetic static field (HO) orientated along a determined direction (Oz) in which static field there is placed the body (2) to be examined; devices for creating magnetic field gradients in a space of the body to be examined along three directions of the space; radio frequency excitation device (E) and a device (R) for the detection of the nuclear magnetic resonance signals produced by the body to be examined.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming a sealed diaphragm (3) on a substrate (1) which comprises providing on the substrate (1) a sacrificial layer (2) , providing a diaphragm layer (3) over the sacrificial layer (2), providing at least one aperture (5) in the diaphragm layer (3) which is spaced from the periphery of the diaphragm layer (3), at least partially removing the sacrificial layer (2) from between the substrate (1) and the diaphragm layer (3) by way of the at least one aperture (5) and closing the at least one aperture (5).

Abstract: A method of producing filaments of sub-micron cross-sectional dimensions including the steps of obtaining a substrate having a base and a delineating layer on the base and a step in a surface of the delineating layer, providing a layer of a material from which the filament is to be formed on the surface which replicates the step in the surface, anisotropically etching the layer of filament material in the direction of the surface so as to leave a filament of the material adjacent the step, and removing the delineating layer to wholly or partially separate the filament from the substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing on a substrate a diaphragm which is electrically isolated from the substrate. The method comprises obtaining a substrate (2) having a diaphragm(1) thereon which comprises a flexible central portion (1a) and a shouldered peripheral portion which supports the central portion (1a) above the substrate (2), applying a mask (6) over at least a part of the central portion (1a) and converting the unmasked portion (1b) of the diaphragm to a dielectric so as to electrically isolate the masked central portion (1a) of the diaphragm from the substrate (2).

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a work item includes a cover member and a base member on which the cover member is supported. A work space is defined between the base member and the cover member for receiving at least one associated work item which is positioned therein. A first sealing member is positioned between the base member and the cover member for sealing the work space against the environment. A hood member is provided for enclosing the cover member and defining a heating and cooling space therebetween. A cooling apparatus is also provided for cooling the first seal member. The cooling apparatus comprises a first cooling fluid channel which is secured to the base member, a second cooling fluid channel which is secured to the cover member and a cooling fluid trough which is secured adjacent to the second cooling fluid channel.

Abstract: A stable iodine complex formed from the association of iodine with a pyrrolidonyl surfactant and its use in therapeutic, environmental and industrial applications and particularly as low foaming disinfectants for gradual release of iodine over significantly extended periods.