Abstract: Trocar assembly devices are disclosed that include an improved seal assembly that accommodates instruments having a wide range of diameters. The seal assembly includes a universal seal member that is generally of hourglass shape defining converging and diverging side walls that form a constricted center bore portion therebetween. Various alternative means are provided to either increase or decrease the inner diameter of the center bore portion of the seal member.

Abstract: An adaptor cap assembly is provided for a trocar, consisting of a base which contains an opening which is the same size as the opening of the trocar cannula handle. There is also a cap integrally attached to the base which contains a gasketing assembly wherein the assembly is of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the trocar cannula handle opening as well as the opening in the base of the adaptor cap assembly. This cap is hingedly attached to the base so that it can be flipped by using the thumb either into or out of alignment with the openings of the trocar cannula handle and the base of the adaptor cap assembly. Thus, this mechanism can be used so that a smaller diameter instrument can be placed within a larger diameter opening (with the adaptor cap in place), or, the adaptor cap can be moved out of place so that a larger diameter mechanism can be inserted within the adaptor cap assembly and into the trocar cannula handle, with both the base and the trocar cannula handle having the same size opening.

Abstract: A surgical stapler having a trigger attached to a ratcheting mechanism for preventing the refiring of the stapler trigger with a staple loaded within a forming mechanism. In addition, the mechanism contains driver buffering means to prevent the sharp reduction in opposing force driving formation of a staple. The staples are constantly maintained in proper orientation during transfer from a track to the forming site, and are self-centering on the former, and have an oversized crown so that cold-worked areas on each staple do not hinder forming.

Abstract: A well completion system utilizes a seal which carries its own load ring. The seal is lowered into the bore of a wellhead housing around a tubular member. The seal carries a split load ring, which once positioned will move outward into engagement with a groove formed in the wellhead housing. A locking assembly will lock the seal to the wellhead housing. The locking assembly has a casing lock ring which will secure to the upper end of a section of casing, if the casing has been cut due to an emergency stuck condition. A tubing hanger lands over the locking assembly. The tubing hanger is retained by an actuating ring and lock ring that are independent of the tubing hanger seal.

Abstract: A safety trocar is provided which includes a spring-loaded shield that shields the cutting tip of the obturator after the obturator penetrates tissue. The distal end of the shield is conical in profile and contains a slot which conforms to the geometry of the cutting tip. The obturator tip contains a knife edge blade which extends the length of the cannula inner diameter. Ideally, the knife is made of an amorphous metal, and may be serrated at its edge.

Abstract: A T4 endonuclease V DNA repair enzyme contains an amino acid sequence within its carboxyl terminal region which is involved in dimer specific binding. The region includes polar nonaromatic basic amino acids and aromatic amino acids between amino acid 128 to 137 positions. The specific activity of the enzyme is greatly increased at low salt concentrations when substitutions are made in aromatic amino acids in the carboxy terminal region.

Abstract: This invention relates to the extraction of metal values from metal bearing ores. More particularly, in a process for recovering metal values from metal bearing ore, the invention provides the step of enhancing metal value recovery by introducing into the thickener overflow water 32, a gaseous agent capable of promoting recovery of the metal values from the ore. The gaseous agent may be oxygen or oxygen enriched gas, and can be injected by means of injection means 50.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for improving the quality of products produced in a cigarette manufacturing process. Selected machine operating parameters for at least one machine are monitored, as well as the product being produced. Samples of the product being produced are automatically obtained and tested for quality parameters. Machine operators are notified when to manually test samples of the product for quality parameters. The machine operators can request a test of a quality parameter. The actual test measurements of the quality parameters for either the automatically obtained samples or the manually tested samples are compared against expected values and alarms are presented and the testing is resequenced when the measured quality parameters fail to meet the expected values. Also, employee solution procedures are presented to aid in problem resolution. The time periods and downtime reason when each machine is inoperative is recorded.

Abstract: A trocar having a trocar obturator and a trocar cannula. The trocar cannula has a cannula tube mounted in a cannula handle, wherein the cannula has an interior passage therethrough. The interior of the trocar cannula is visible through the trocar cannula. The trocar obturator is housed in the trocar cannula for insertion into a body cavity. When used in an endoscopic surgical procedure on a mammal, such that the trocar cannula is inserted into a body cavity and serves as a passageway to and from the body cavity, the interior of the trocar cannula is visible through the cannula so that the passage of instruments, sutures, staples, surgical tissue samples, etc., into and out of the mammalian body cavity through the cannula can be observed by a surgeon during an endoscopic procedure by observing the interior of the cannula at a point exterior to the cannula by looking through the cannula either directly or by using an endoscope.

Abstract: A surgical stapler having a trigger attached to a ratcheting mechanism for preventing the refiring of the stapler trigger with a staple loaded within a forming mechanism. In addition, the mechanism contains driver buffering means to prevent the sharp reduction in opposing force driving formation of a staple. The staples are constantly maintained in proper orientation during transfer from a track to the forming site, and are self-centering on the former, and have an oversized crown so that cold-worked areas on each staple do not hinder forming.

Abstract: An emergency casing support utilizes a conventional casing hanger. Casing hanger lands on a wellhead housing internal landing shoulder. The emergency support secures to the lower end of the casing hanger. The emergency support has a body which carries a slips bowl. Body also carries a seal for sealing between the casing and the body. A sleeve nut is engaged by a setting tool lowered through the casing hanger into the body. The sleeve nut when rotated causes the bowl to move upward relative to the slips and also energizes the seal.

Abstract: Trocar assembly devices that include trocar tubes of different diameters to accommodate small and large diameter implements for providing communication into an anatomical cavity and a unique method of utilizing such devices. The trocar assembly devices include an outer or larger diameter trocar tube and an inner or smaller diameter trocar tube. A distal end portion of the inner trocar tube is tapered and extends distally beyond a distal end portion of the outer trocar tube.

Abstract: Trocar assembly devices are disclosed that include an improved seal assembly that accommodates instruments having a wide range of diameters. The seal assembly includes a universal seal member that is generally of hourglass shape defining converging and diverging side walls that form a constricted center bore portion therebetween. Various alternative means are provided to either increase or decrease the inner diameter of the center bore portion of the seal member.

Abstract: A surgical stapler having a trigger attached to a ratcheting mechanism for preventing the refiring of the stapler trigger with a staple loaded within a forming mechanism. In addition, the mechanism contains driver buffering means to prevent the sharp reduction in opposing force driving formation of a staple. The staples are constantly maintained in proper orientation during transfer from a track to the forming site, and are self-centering on the former, and have an oversized crown so that cold-worked areas on each staple do not hinder forming.

Abstract: A computer system includes a plurality of central processing units (CPUs), a main memory, a system control unit (SCU) for controlling the transfer of data between the CPUs and the main memory, and a service processing unit (SPU) to interface the computer system with the outside world, such as an operator console. The method used for interfacing the SPU and SCU includes delivering a BUFFER FULL handshaking signal from the SPU to the SCU in response to the SPU receive buffer having data contained therein and being unavailable to receive data. The SCU responds to the absence of the BUFFER FULL handshaking signal by delivering a TRANSMIT FRAME handshaking signal to the SCU. A preselected duration of time after delivering the transmit frame, the SCU delivers the actual data in a series of fourteen consecutive clock cycles.

Abstract: A digital linear measuring device includes a housing, a reel located within a housing and a measuring tape wound on the reel. The measuring tape is extendable through an opening in the housing as the reel is rotated. An incremental measuring means is associated with the reel for generating incremental measuring data and an absolute measuring means cooperates with the measuring tape for generating absolute measurement data as the measuring tape is extended. A processing unit is responsive to both the incremental measurement data and to the absolute measurement data for generating output reflecting linear extension of the measuring tape from the housing, and a display is responsive to the processing unit for displaying information reflecting the linear extension of the measuring tape from the housing.

Abstract: A rectangular light pipe (38) and associated optical elements (36), (40) are used to produce an overlapped combination of an array of aberrated laser beams (32), (34) inside a phase conjugate mirror (42). The beam array (32), (34) is focussed onto the entrance face (38a) of the light pipe (38) in such a way that each beam (32), (34) spreads by diffraction and internal reflections to fill the exit face (38b) of the light pipe (38). An image of the exit face (38b), which is completely filled by the overlapped beams (32), (34), is focussed into the phase conjugate mirror (42) such as to produce an overlap spot (46) size which is independent of beam aberation level. The apparatus preserves the linear polarization of the input beams (32), (34), has low optical loss, and may be incorporated into a 2 pass (50), (74) or 4 pass (80) phase conjugate master-oscillator power amplifier.

Abstract: A user assist stand for an above-floor level spa has an elongated main tubular member secured upright on a base plate fastened to the floor and an auxiliary extension member slidably interfitting in telescoping relation within an open top end of the main member such that an upper portion of the auxiliary member extends upwardly from main member. A hand grip is mounted to the upper portion of the auxiliary member. A release lock mechanism in the form of a shaft having a pull ring is inserted through aligned holes in the main and auxiliary members for securing the auxiliary member to the main tubular member to position the upper portion of the auxiliary member and the hand grip thereon at a desired elevation above the main member and relative to an upper edge of a spa.