Abstract: An improved elastic band for ligating tissue within a living body comprises a central opening defining an axis. A first curved edge is formed between a first surface extending substantially parallel to the axis and a second surface extending substantially perpendicular to the axis. A method of ligating tissue within a living body using such a ligating band comprises the steps of positioning the elastic band, which has been stretched to increase the size of a central opening extending therethrough, adjacent to a portion of tissue to be ligated. The tissue to be ligated is then drawn through the central opening of the elastic band and the elastic band is released so that the size of the central opening decreases to grip the tissue received therein.

Abstract: A stent/graft catheter delivery handle comprising a housing and a trigger pivotally connected to the housing on one end of the trigger. Squeezing the free end of the trigger towards the handle housing shifts a pawl, which is engaged with grooves on the outer surface of a stent/graft delivery catheter, longitudinally along the length of the catheter. Shifting of the pawl has the effect of retracting the sheath of the catheter relative to the plunger (inner lumen assembly) of the catheter and thus deploying a stent/graft stored in a proximal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A supporting structure for a ligating band dispensing device adapted to be coupled to a distal end of an endoscope comprises a substantially cylindrical outer support surface adapted to receive a plurality of ligating bands thereon, wherein the support surface includes a channel extending therethrough from a distal end to a proximal end. The support surface further includes a plurality of shallow slots and deeper slots disposed on the distal end for retaining a trigger string. The shallow slots and deeper slots may be arranged in an alternating fashion, and each of the slots may be narrower than the trigger string to prevent the trigger string from prematurely exiting the slots. The support surface may also include a plurality of axially extending ridges to assist in deployment of the ligating bands by preventing the bands from sliding along the trigger line and facilitating rolling of the bands along the support surface.

Abstract: A three pole relay which operates in response to the flow of normal operating current across fluorescent lamps to activate a coil, the coil coperating a relay to open switches disposed in all of the filament lines associated with the lamp to shut off filament current while maintaining current flow across the lamps themselves.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for densifying powders utilizing a pair of opposed gas-permeable belts arranged to either side of a common axis so as to define a generally convergent densifying zone between their adjacent faces. The belts are supported spanwise by a plurality of opposed spaced apart support rolls, each opposed pair of rolls defining a densifying station therebetween. The gas-permeable belts are driven toward the convergent end of the densing zone at substantially equal speeds while powder material to be densified is fed into the divergent end of the densifying zone at a rate sufficient to maintain a substantially complete fill thereof.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein powder densifying apparatus comprising a pair of opposed gas-permeable belts arranged to either side of a common axis so as to define a generally convergent densifying zone between their adjacent faces. The belts are multiply supported spanwise by a plurality of opposed spaced apart support rolls, each opposed pair of rolls defining a densifying station therebetween. The gas-permeable belts are driven toward the convergent end of the densifying zone at substantially equal speeds while powder material to be densified is fed into the divergent end of the densifying zone at a rate sufficient to maintain a substantially complete fill thereof.

Abstract: An inlet stream of particulate material is successively split into smaller stream segments. The segments are spread across a conveyor belt in a magnetic or conductivity separator. Inlet and intermediate stages of the splitter include troughs of triangular cross section to concentrate the streams before splitting them. The flow direction is reversed in each stage to facilitate the axial concentration of the material stream.