Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for the separation of materials from within fluorescent lamps and other mercury containing commercial elements. The process and apparatus can separate materials of different compositions by non-chemical means into easily treatable segments without causing significant introduction of wastes (especially mercury waste) into the environment during physical separation. This invention operates by repeatedly crushing and breaking the original article (e.g., the fluorescent lamp) into progressively smaller pieces under controlled circumstances and controlled air pressure so that their various component materials are separately collected and these separately collected components may be individually processed (recycled or purified) without significant introduction of mercury into the environment.

Abstract: A protective sheath for a pulse oximetry sensor. The sheath covers the sensor and inhibits contamination thereof during use. The sheath obviates the need to clean the pulse oximetry sensor after each use while reducing the likelihood of cross-patient contamination. The sheath allows the use of reusable pulse oximetry sensors and thus significantly reduces the overall costs of such sensors per use.

Abstract: An apparatus for vertically aligning a given point on a pressure transducer unit with a desired point an a patient, the apparatus comprising: (a) a light source; (b) a housing adapted to contain the light source; (c) at least one leveling tube having a leveling axis that is substantially parallel to the light beam, the leveling tube comprising (i) a closed transparent envelope containing a liquid and a bubble of gas, and (ii) lines formed on the envelope, where the leveling axis is substantially horizontally aligned when the bubble of gas is located between the two lines; (d) an indicating mark formed on the housing means, where the beam of light is vertically aligned with the given point on the transducer unit when the indicating means is vertically aligned with the given point on the transducer unit; and (e) a locking system for selectively locking the housing means to prevent movement thereof relative to the transducer unit when the beam of light is both horizontally aligned and vertically aligned with the