Abstract: A wedge for insertion to a rectilinear slot in bone fastens tissue for continuous refastening of separated tissue from bone. When viewed in plan toward the proximal truncated top, the wedge is sinusoidal in shape defining a series of prominences and depressions relative to the elongate slot. At the proximal end, suture fastening apertures--preferably elongate parallel to the proximal end--are placed for looping tissue fastening sutures prior to wedge insertion. A plurality of barbs--preferably placed at the prominences--together with the compression of the wedge within a rectilinear slot cause anchoring to bone upon wedge insertion to the rectilinear slot prepared within the bone. Skewering tips at the end of the wedge enable skewered tissue to be entrained with the wedge into the bone upon insertion of the bone within a previously prepared rectilinear slot. The wedge is mounted to an inserting probe and any optional sutures organized along the length of the probe.

Abstract: A component carrier for holding a component includes a carrier substrate and a pocket recessed in the substrate for holding the component in its interior. The pocket has a wall and a floor, and the wall includes a series of elongated arcuate channels. The channels are concave relative to the pocket interior and extend substantially perpendicular to the pocket floor. The wall is substantially flat between the channels. A substantially continuous pedestal projects from the pocket floor. The pedestal has (i) an upper surface for supporting the component, (ii) a pair of support walls extending from the pocket floor and terminating in the support surface, and (iii) a notched portion intermediate the pedestal and defined by a lateral support member extending between the support walls and spaced from the pocket floor, for absorbing lateral components of compressive forces applied to the pedestal.

Abstract: A heavy weight drill pipe member is disclosed for use in drilling high angle and horizontal well bores in a corrosive environment. The heavy weight drill pipe member consists of a tubular member with a longitudinal bore therethrough, and includes connectors or tool joints attached at each distal end for connecting additional heavy weight drill pipe members. The tubular member and tool joints are preheated, water quenched and tempered to obtain a unique combination of hardness, a yield strength and impact strength for improved resistance to stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement in a hydrogen sulfide environment. The tubular member includes a plurality of wear pads or protectors equidistantly spaced along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member to reduce bending stress in the pipe by limiting the degree of bend when the pipe is placed in compression in a high angle well bore.

Abstract: Novel compositions and methods useful for genetic engineering of plant cells to provide expression in the plastids of a plant or plant cell of cellulose degrading enzymes.

Abstract: A reclosable bag comprises a pair of opposing wall panels, a reclosable seal, and an optional tamper-evident partition. The pair of opposing wall panels are joined along a pair of opposing sides and a bottom bridging the opposing sides to create a receptacle space having a mouth end opposite the bottom. The reclosable seal extends along the mouth end, and includes first and second opposing reclosable elements and first and second fins extending downward from the respective reclosable elements. The reclosable elements are releasably engageable to each other. The first and second fins are connected to the respective opposing wall panels. The tamper-evident partition is located below the reclosable elements and forms a one-time breakable preferential area of weakness. The tamper-evident partition separates an interior of the bag from a first area bounded in cross-section by the tamper-evident partition, the fins, and the engaged reclosable elements.

Abstract: A non-contaminating radiant heater for analytical laboratory use with a controller providing a closed-loop, precise regulation of sequencing patterns of energy emission delivered to a sample at a programmed rate preventing hotspots until a preselected temperature is reached for a preselected time interval all. within a programmed schedule. The radiant heater includes a supporting base functioning as a sample platform, a vertical support member secured to the base and sample platform, and an electrically powered radiant heating element is enclosed by a sealed surrounding and supporting fixture fastened to the vertical supporting member providing a uniform radiation footprint.

Abstract: A time-shared multitask execution circuit for sharing registered digital hardware among a plurality of users is provided to achieve zero overhead switching while processing as few as 1 sample (in one clock cycle) for each user. The circuit comprises a three register bank, two switches, and a dual port RAM. On any given cycle of the clock, one register is processing data of a current user, one register is writing processed data of a prior user to the RAM, and one register is reading data of a subsequent user for processing from RAM. In this manner, processing, reading and writing are decoupled and proceed in parallel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for navigating a tool string down a subsurface borehole to its intended location while simultaneously measuring or sensing the borehole environment, electrically, acoustically, mechanically, or by nuclear means, for a characteristic parameter. The hole-finder apparatus incorporating a locally flexible body adapted for attachment to the tool string. As the tool string is navigated through the borehole, the flexible body provides extreme local flexibility to lessen the likelihood of jamming the tool string while tripping down the borehole by providing a lateral force at the obstruction. The hole-finder apparatus further including a sensor or probe measuring means attached to or within the tip of the flexible body for measuring the characteristic parameter.

Abstract: A series of non-peptidergic antagonists of NPY have been synthesized and are comprised of cyanoguanidine derivatives of 4-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyridines of Formula (I). ##STR1## As antagonists of NPY-induced feeding behavior, these compounds are expected to act as effective anorexiant agents in promoting weight loss and treating eating disorders.

Abstract: A portable water tank heating system utilizes a continuous hollow tubular loop that contains a fluid which is circulated through the tubular loop by convection to prevent the water in a drinking tank from freezing. The system is made up of the continuous loop having an outlet line containing hot fluid under relatively higher pressure and a return line containing cold fluid under relatively lower pressure and a protective housing having hot and cold chambers for holding various components including sensors to maintain the temperature of the fluid above freezing in the system. The fluid in the continuous loop flows from a reservoir and travels past a gas burner in the hot chamber for heating the fluid. As the fluid flows through a heat exchanger in a drinking tank, the fluid releases heat to the cold water in the tank before flowing back into the housing through the return line. The fluid then returns to the reservoir to repeat the operational cycle.

Abstract: A process for producing dispersions of atmospherically stable, coated alkali metal particles and atmospherically stable, coated alkali metal powders by agitating a mixture of molten alkali metal in a hydrocarbon oil at dispersion speeds, optionally in the presence of a dispersing agent, contacting the molten alkali metal-hydrocarbon oil dispersion, above or below the surface of the dispersion, with up to 3 weight percent anhydrous carbon dioxide while agitating the dispersion for at least 1 minute. The dispersion in oil can be used directly in chemical reactions. The bulk of the oil can be removed from the dispersions to produce oil wet particles, the oil wet particles car be washed with a low boiling hydrocarbon to produce hydrocarbon wet particles which can be dried to produce atmospherically stable powders of coated metal particles. The dispersed particles in oil, the oil wet particles, the hydrocarbon wet particles and the atmospherically stable powders can each be used in chemical reactions.

Abstract: Recombinant DNA expression vectors or cloning vehicles capable of expressing a polypeptide displaying the antigenicity of an allergen of house dust mites of the genus Dermatophagoides. A synthetic protein or polypeptide displaying the antigenicity of all or a portion of an allergen of house dust mites of the genus Dermatophagoides. Methods of diagnosing and treating such allergies.

Abstract: The present invention is a medical device such as a stent in the form of an expandable mesh with an expandable polymer layer thereon. The mesh is metal or plastic. The polymer may be any of a variety of expandable polymers, which either expand upon hydration, or expand without significant resistance. The invention may be used, for example, as an expandable biliary, vascular, endotracheal, esophageal, or prostatic device.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a medical device for securing bodily tissues to bone, and more particularly to a triangular shaped joint stabilizer comprising sharpened, toothed bone anchors that are forcibly spread into the bone by a central plug.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are provided medical devices with incorporated shape memory systems that allow a polymeric medical device to be inserted in a first conformation or configuration and revert to a second conformation or configuration. The invention is useful in allowing the easy insertion or implantation of a device followed by expansion of the device in order to be retained without expulsion from a body cavity, for example. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a medical device, such as a ureteral stent, that includes comprising an elongated member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion joined by a body portion. The elongated member has an initial outer diameter. A retention construction serves for retaining the member within a bodily cavity. The member is formulated of a physiologically acceptable polymer capable of hydrating and expanding from the initial member outer diameter to form a final member outer diameter.

Abstract: A reclosable package comprises opposing wall panels and a reclosable seal. The opposing wall panels are joined on three sides such as to create a receptacle space having a mouth at one end. The reclosable seal extends along the one end and including a first track and a second track. The first track includes a first reclosable element and a first fin portion extending downward from the first reclosable element toward the receptacle space. The first track is joined to one of the wall panels. The second track includes a second reclosable element and a second fin portion extending downward from the second reclosable element toward the receptacle space. The second track is joined to the other of the wall panels. The first and second reclosable elements are releasably engageable to each other. In one embodiment, the first and second fin portions are joined to each other along a one-time breakable preferential area of weakness to prevent tampering with the package prior to being opened.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing pressurized liquid rich in methane from a multi-component feed stream containing methane and a freezable component having a relative volatility less than that of methane. The multi-component feed stream is introduced into a separation system having a freezing section operating at a pressure above about 1,380 kPa (200 psia) and under solids forming conditions for the freezable component and a distillation section positioned below the freezing section. The separation system produces a vapor stream rich in methane and a liquid stream rich in the freezable component. At least a portion of the vapor stream is cooled to produce a liquefied stream rich in methane having a temperature above about -112.degree. C. (-170.degree. F.) and a pressure sufficient for the liquid product to be at or below its bubble point. A first portion of the liquefied stream is returned to the separation system to provide refrigeration to the separation system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for liquefying a pressurized gas stream rich in methane in which the liquefication of the gas stream occurs in a heat exchanger being cooled by a closed-loop multi-component refrigeration system to produce a methane-rich liquid product having a temperature above about -112.degree. C. (-170.degree. F.) and a pressure sufficient for the liquid product to be at or below its bubble point. The liquefied gas product is then introduced to a storage means at a temperature above about -112.degree. C. (-170.degree. F.).

Abstract: A bottom-fillable, bottom-gusseted bag including a bag-forming structure having first and second opposing body panels joined along a pair of opposing transverse seals and an offset bottom-gusset extending between the transverse seals. The bag-forming structure includes an open end opposite the offset gusset. The offset gusset includes first and second gusset panels foldably connected to each other and foldably connected to the respective first and second body panels. The second gusset panel extends beyond the first gusset panel to provide a protruding trim portion. A zipper is attached between the first and second body panels along the open end. A slider is slidably mounted to the zipper for opening and closing the zipper. A transverse slit is disposed proximate to a fold line foldably connecting the second gusset panel to the second body panel and provides a fill opening through which a product can be inserted into the bag-forming structure.

Abstract: A flush tank cover which is preferably constructed of wood and includes a spindle railing to prevent items placed on the flush tank cover from slipping off the back and sides of the flush tank cover and a hidden storage compartment accessible through a top mounted trap door. Preferably, the trap door is spring biased to a normally closed position.