Abstract: A system and method sorts particles suspended in a fluid. The system includes a transverse flow filter and a microfluidic sorter. The transverse flow filter concentrates the particles in a retained portion of the fluid. The microfluidic sorter sorts the particles and includes a delivery channel and at least one sorting stage. The delivery channel is dimensioned to permit passage of all the particles in the retained fluid from the transverse flow filter. The delivery channel delivers the particles in the retained fluid to a respective input for each sorting stage and exhausts a remainder of both the particles and the retained fluid at a drain output. Each sorting stage has a labyrinth of interconnected passageways dimensioned to permit passage from the respective input to a respective output for the sorting stage of those of the particles smaller than a respective size for the sorting stage.

Abstract: A method uses flow cytometry to prepare surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates for obtaining SERS spectra of bacteria. The method involves using a flow cytometer to sort bacterial cells into populations of bacterial cells based upon their biophysical characteristics. The cells may then be washed with a borate buffer to remove any chemical species that degrade the SERS response. A colloid-coated bacteria suspension is then created by mixing one of the populations of bacterial cells with SERS-active colloidal particles. The colloid-coated bacteria suspension is incubated until the SERS-active colloidal particles partition through the capsule and bind to the cell wall for each bacterial cell in the colloid-coated bacteria suspension. The colloid-coated bacteria suspension is then disposed onto a filter and a SERS spectra of the colloid-coated bacteria suspension is obtained using a Raman spectrometer.

Abstract: A method uses flow cytometry to prepare surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates for obtaining SERS spectra of bacteria. The method involves using a flow cytometer to sort bacterial cells into populations of bacterial cells based upon their biophysical characteristics. The cells may then be washed with a borate buffer to remove any chemical species that degrade the SERS response. A colloid-coated bacteria suspension is then created by mixing one of the populations of bacterial cells with SERS-active colloidal particles. The colloid-coated bacteria suspension is incubated until the SERS-active colloidal particles partition through the capsule and bind to the cell wall for each bacterial cell in the colloid-coated bacteria suspension. The colloid-coated bacteria suspension is then disposed onto a filter and a SERS spectra of the colloid-coated bacteria suspension is obtained using a Raman spectrometer.

Abstract: A method, system, and architecture for providing a virtual conference center that effectively increases the number of accounts supported by a conference center. The virtual conference center architecture provides a virtual conference center that interfaces with multiple conference centers that each support a certain number of accounts. The virtual conference center provides an interface through which users can access their accounts on the conference centers as if their accounts were created on a single conference center. The users access their accounts and join conferences through the virtual conference center.

Abstract: In a method of radiation sterilization of medical articles, replacing the oxygen in the sterilization package with nitrogen prior to sterilizing prevents most of the brittleness and discoloration in the articles.

Abstract: A collapsible and flexible urethral drainage catheter having a flexible tubular body portion containing a drainage lumen and an inflation lumen and having a distal tip portion with a flexibility different from the body portion with a distal end closed by an elongated cylindrical plug member sealed thereto having a segment of the wall thereof adapted when inserted into the distal end of the body portion to mate in intimate contact with the inner wall of the body portion and extending a sufficient distance into the body portion to stiffen the distal tip portion thereof, said drainage lumen communicating with drain ports in the elongated plug member and the distal tip portion of said body member and said inflation lumen communicating with an inflation cuff surrounding a portion of said distal tip portion of the body member.

Abstract: An irrigation syringe is provided which includes a barrel having an axially extending annular groove open at the proximal end for receiving the connector portion of a resilient compressible syringe bulb in tight frictional fitting relation. The syringe barrel is adapted to receive, instead of the bulb, a plunger having a piston that may be inserted into the barrel to provide a piston-type syringe so that the barrel can be used either with a syringe bulb or a syringe plunger. The inner wall of the groove has a plurality of slots so that if the syringe barrel is employed as a funnel, liquid will flow from the groove into the barrel.

Abstract: A drain tube for urine is connected at its distal end to a urine meter. The tube has a predetermined point of weakness so that when the meter is lifted to dump the urine therefrom, the tube kinks off at the point of weakness, thereby preventing passage of urine from the meter back up the drain tube during dumping. The point of weakness is formed by simultaneously stretching and heating a section of the tube while the inner diameter of the tube is held constant on a mandrel.

Abstract: A wound drainage device is provided which includes a manually operable suction pump having inlet and outlet ports, and a pliable fluid storage bag having a pair of plastic sheets in face-to-face contact and an inlet. The pump inlet port is adapted to be connected to a wound suction catheter for removing drainage fluid from the wound. The pump outlet port is connectable to storage bag inlet for discharging drainage fluid into the storage bag without disconnecting the suction catheter. The bag has an upper foldable portion between the main storage portion and the bag inlet to close fluid communication to the bag and can serve as an added protection against drainage fluid flowing back to the suction pump. The storage bag can be used to receive drainage fluid and thereby provide a relatively large storage capacity without requiring a relatively large suction pump.

Abstract: A housing supports a hollow shaft for both axial and rotary movement and also supports a drive input rotor for rotation on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the hollow shaft. The rotor carries an eccentrically located planetary gear which engages a surrounding stationary ring gear, and the planetary gear carries an eccentric crank shaft. A crank arm connects the crank shaft to a rotary coupling mounted on the hollow shaft, and an intermediate portion of the crank arm carries a rack which engages gear teeth on the hollow shaft. The rotor is provided with means for counter-balancing the moving components to provide for high speed winding of wire coils within a motor stator.

Abstract: An armature includes a shaft supporting a slotted core and a commutator having peripherally spaced hook-like tangs. The armature is automatically wound on a flyer-type winding machine which has a set of concentric tubular shields surrounding the commutator and a pair of wire gripper units diametrically arranged relative to the shields. The gripper units are pivotally supported by a member which surrounds the shields and is supported for rotation on the axis of the armature shaft. A set of fluid cylinders are arranged to rotate or index the member and gripper units between a lead pick-up position and a lead terminating position through an intermediate winding position to provide for faster winding of each armature.

Abstract: A double-flier armature winding machine includes a pair of opposing non-rotating winding chucks or forms for engaging the armature core. Each winding form is supported by a bearing mounted on a rotary flier assembly which is mounted on a shaft supported for both rotary and axial movement. Each winding form supports a wire deflector finger for pivotal movement in response to axial movement of an actuator carried by the flier assembly. While the flier assembly is rotating, each actuator is movable axially relative to its corresponding flier assembly by actuation of a fluid cylinder to insure engagement of a wire lead with a predetermined tang on the armature commutator.