Abstract: An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a water dissipation device to remove water vapor from a humidified gas traveling through a breathing circuit between a patient and a ventilator, or a ventilator and a patient. The present invention includes a water dissipation device having a housing defining entry and exit ports for coupling to the breathing circuit and a breathable medium permeable to water vapor and impermeable to liquid water bacteria, viruses and other gases enclosed within said housing.

Abstract: A water dissipation device for a breathing circuit is provided, including a bucket-shaped hollow composite structure having walls made of a first inner layer made of water vapor wicking material, and a second outer layer of a water vapor breathable medium surrounding the first inner layer. The device defines a flow space surrounded by the composite structure to provide a superior way of removal of moisture or water vapor from a breathing circuit, due to the greater surface area of flow spaces bounded by a water vapor breathable medium and the use of a water vapor wicking material and relatively long dwell times and flow paths through the device. The result is that when the device is connected to a breathing circuit, rainout or condensation in the breathing tube and collection of water within the breathing circuit is significantly reduced.

Abstract: An insulation system comprising: a supply of material having discrete elements; an applicator assembly for installation of the material having discrete elements to a surface; and a scrubber for finishing the face of the material, the scrubber including: (a) a vacuum conduit; (b) a blade assembly attached to the vacuum conduit; (c) a drive for the blade assembly; and (d) a vacuum substantially adjacent the face of the material during finishing. In the one embodiment, the system comprises a transporter system downstream of the supply of material having discrete elements for delivery of the material to the applicator assembly. Also, in one embodiment, the blade assembly comprises an axis of rotation perpendicular to the face of the material during finishing.

Abstract: A respiratory therapy mask assembly that includes a mask, a substantially hollow primary extension, and a substantially hollow side extension. The mask assembly further includes a gas inlet adapter configured to direct oxygen into the primary extension when a gas source is connected to the gas inlet adapter. In addition, the mask assembly also includes a valved nebulizer adapter and a metered dose inhaler (MDI) adapter.

Abstract: An insulation system comprising: a supply of material having discrete elements; an applicator assembly for installation of the material having discrete elements to a surface; and a scrubber for finishing the face of the material, the scrubber including: (a) a vacuum conduit; (b) a blade assembly attached to the vacuum conduit; (c) a drive for the blade assembly; and (d) a vacuum substantially adjacent the face of the material during finishing. In the one embodiment, the system comprises a transporter system downstream of the supply of material having discrete elements for delivery of the material to the applicator assembly. Also, in one embodiment, the blade assembly comprises an axis of rotation perpendicular to the face of the material during finishing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the control of electric motors comprised of: (1) a digital circuit for receiving the desired value of position, velocity, acceleration, or rate of change of acceleration for the motor; (2) a digital circuit to determine the actual position, velocity, acceleration, or rate of change of acceleration for the motor; (3) a digital circuit to determine the difference between the desired and the actual position, velocity, acceleration, and rate of change of acceleration for the motor; (4) a digital circuit that generates an error correction value based upon PID control methods; and (5) a digital circuit for generating drive signals for the motor that correct for any difference between the specified value and the measured value of position, velocity, acceleration and rate of change of acceleration for the motor.

Abstract: An insulation system comprising: a supply of material having discrete elements; an applicator assembly for installation of the material having discrete elements to a surface; and a scrubber for finishing the face of the material, the scrubber including: (a) a vacuum conduit; (b) a blade assembly attached to the vacuum conduit; (c) a drive for the blade assembly; and (d) a vacuum substantially adjacent the face of the material during finishing. In the one embodiment, the system comprises a transporter system downstream of the supply of material having discrete elements for delivery of the material to the applicator assembly. Also, in one embodiment, the blade assembly comprises an axis of rotation perpendicular to the face of the material during finishing.

Abstract: An insulation system comprising: a supply of material having discrete elements; an applicator assembly for installation of the material having discrete elements to a surface; and a scrubber for finishing the face of the material. In one embodiment, the scrubber includes: a vacuum conduit; a planer assembly attached to the vacuum conduit; a drive for the planer assembly; and a vacuum adjacent to the planer assembly for removing loose material created during finishing. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the insulation system further includes a transporter system downstream of the supply of material having discrete elements for delivery of the material to the applicator assembly.

Abstract: An insulation material including a supply of material having discrete elements and an amorphous polyolefin hot melt adhesive for providing structure to the material having discrete elements, the amorphous polyolefin hot melt adhesive having a viscosity of less than about 400 centipoise at about 350° F. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the supply of material having discrete elements is selected from the group consisting of fibrous material, granular material, pellet material, agglomerated material, aggregated material and mixtures thereof. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the amorphous polyolefin comprises greater than about 5 wt. % wax.

Abstract: A metals/minerals recovery and waste treatment process comprising a main separation stage in which a metal/mineral-bearing ore is slurried with water and separated into an enriched fraction and an aqueous metal/mineral waste fraction, and a waste sedimentation stage in which the aqueous metal/mineral waste fraction is sedimented in one or more settling lagoons to provide a thickened sediment layer and supernatant; and the waste sedimentation stage comprises feeding the aqueous metal/mineral waste into a solids contact vessel or other flocculating chamber, wherein the aqueous metal/mineral waste is diluted with water containing one or more flocculant(s) at more than one concentration, one of which concentrations is at least 10 times higher than the other, within the SCV, flocculating the diluted aqueous waste, and sedimenting the diluted and flocculated aqueous waste to provide a liquid supernatant layer and a pumpable thickened sediment layer in a settling basin.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel carbamate-based cationic lipids of the general structure: or a salt, or solvate, or enantiomers thereof, wherein (a) R1 is a lipophilic moiety; (b) R2 is a positively charged moiety; (c) n is an integer from 1 to 8; (d) X is an anion or polyanion; and (e) m is an integer from 0 to a number equivalent to the positive charge(s) present on the lipid. The present invention further provides compositions of these lipids with polyanionic macromolecules, methods for interfering with protein expression in a cell utilizing these compositions, and a kit for preparing the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel amide-based cationic lipids of the general structure: or a salt, or solvate, or enantiomers thereof wherein; (a) Y is a direct link or an alkylene of 1 to about 20 carbon atoms; (b) R1 is H or a lipophilic moiety; (c) R2, R3, and R4 are positively charged moieties, or at least one but not all of R2, R3, or R4 is a positive moiety and the remaining are independently selected from H, an alkyl moiety of 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or a heterocyclic moiety of about 5 to about 10 carbon atoms; (d) n and p are independently selected integers from 0 to 8, such that the sum of n and o is from 1 to 16; (e) X− is an anion or polyanion and (f) m is an integer from 0 to a number equivalent to the positive charge(s) present on the lipid; provided that if Y is a direct link and the sum of n and p is 1 then one of either R3 or R4 must have an alkyl moiety of at least 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel carbamate-based cationic lipids of the general structure: 1

Abstract: The present invention provides novel amide-based cationic lipids of the general structure: 1

Abstract: The present invention provides novel amide-based cationic lipids of the general structure: or a salt, or solvate, or enantiomers thereof wherein; (a) Y is a direct link or an alkylene of 1 to about 20 carbon atoms; (b) R1 is H or a lipophilic moiety; (c) R2, R3, and R4 are positively charged moieties, or at least one but not all of R2,R3, or R4 is a positive moiety and the remaining are independently selected from H, an alkyl moiety of 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or a heterocyclic moiety of about 5 to about 10 carbon atoms; (d) n and p are independently selected integers from 0 to 8, such that the sum of n and o is from 1 to 16; (e) X− is an anion or polyanion and (f) m is an integer from 0 to a number equivalent to the positive charge(s) present on the lipid; provided that if Y is a direct link and the sum of n and p is 1 then one of either R3 or R4 must have an alkyl moiety of at least 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel carbamate-based cationic lipids of the general structure: or a salt, or solvate, or enantiomers thereof, wherein (a) R1 is a lipophilic moiety; (b) R2 is a positively charged moiety; (c) n is an integer from 1 to 8; (d) X is an anion or polyanion; and (e) m is an integer from 0 to a number equivalent to the positive charge(s) present on the lipid. The present invention further provides compositions of these lipids with polyanionic macromolecules, methods for interfering with protein expression in a cell utilizing these compositions, and a kit for preparing the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel phosphonic acid-based cationic lipids of the general structure: or a salt, or solvate, or enantiomers thereof wherein; (a) R1 is a lipophilic moiety; (b) R2 is a positively charged moiety; (c) R3 is a lipophilic moiety of 1 to about 24 carbon atoms, a positively charged moiety, or a negatively charged moiety; (d) n is an integer from 0 to 8; (e) X− is an anion or polyanion; (f) Y is N or 0, and (g) m is an integer from 0 to a number equivalent to the positive charge(s) present on the lipid. The present invention further provides compositions of these lipids with polyanionic macromolecules, methods for interfering with protein expression in a cell utilizing these compositions and a kit for preparing the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel dimeric cationic lipids. The present invention further provides compositions of these lipids with anionic or polyanionic macromolecules, methods for interfering with protein expression in a cell utilizing these compositions and a kit for preparing the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel amide-based cationic lipids of the general structure: ##STR1## or a salt, or solvate, or enantiomers thereof wherein; (a) Y is a direct link or an alkylene of 1 to about 20 carbon atoms; (b) R.sub.1 is H or a lipophilic moiety; (c) R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are positively charged moieties, or at least one but not all of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, or R.sub.4 is a positive moiety and the remaining are independently selected from H, an alkyl moiety of 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or a heterocyclic moiety of about 5 to about 10 carbon atoms; (d) n and p are independently selected integers from 0 to 8, such that the sum of n and o is from 1 to 16; (e) X.sup.- is an anion or polyanion and (f) m is an integer from 0 to a number equivalent to the positive charge(s) present on the lipid; provided that if Y is a direct link and the sum of n and p is 1 then one of either R.sub.3 or R.sub.4 must have an alkyl moiety of at least 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel phosphonic acid-based cationic lipids of the general structure: ##STR1## or a salt, or solvate, or enantiomers thereof wherein; (a) R.sub.1 is a lipophilic moiety; (b) R.sub.2 is a positively charged moiety; (c) R.sub.3 is a lipophilic moiety of 1 to about 24 carbon atoms, a positively charged moiety, or a negatively charged moiety; (d) n is an integer from 0 to 8; (e) X.sup.- is an anion or polyanion; (f) Y is N or O, and (g) m is an integer from 0 to a number equivalent to the positive charge(s) present on the lipid.The present invention further provides compositions of these lipids with polyanionic macromolecules, methods for interfering with protein expression in a cell utilizing these compositions and a kit for preparing the same.