Abstract: A system and method for implementing a recurrent bidding process is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a recurrent bidding process is disclosed.

Abstract: A sterilized supply kit that provides the medical practitioner with the accessories necessary for marking an injection or withdrawing blood from a patient, or both. The kit includes one or more sterilizing agents, needles, syringes, fluid collection tubes, and absorbent pads. The absorbent pads are designed to cover the sight of skin puncture and create a bodily fluid barrier that makes the use of gloves to protect the practitioner unnecessary. The kit may additionally contain a tourniquet, a sterile sheet and/or medication to be administered. All the components of the kit are contained within a sterile sealable packet.

Abstract: A blood withdrawal patch for facilitating withdrawal from a patient and for confining blood from the needle wound has an absorbent pad with a first surface to be placed against the skin of a patient around an intended injection site, a second surface opposite the first surface and a central opening. A transparent, elastomeric, self-sealing membrane through which an injection needle can penetrate lies in the pad central opening. A transparent cover layer has a central opening substantially aligned with the central opening of the pad to expose a central portion of the membrane to identify the withdrawal site, the cover layer being adhered to the membrane and the pad. The patch is adhesively held on the patient's skin. A blood vessel is visually located through the membrane and cover and a needle is passed through the membrane and the patient's skin into the vessel for blood withdrawal.

Abstract: An injection patch for facilitating injection into a patient and for confining blood from the injection wound has an absorbent pad against the skin of a patient around an intended injection site and a second surface. An elastomeric, self-sealing membrane through which an injection needle can penetrate lies against the second surface of the pad and closes the central opening. A cover layer with a central opening overlies the membrane and exposing a central portion of it to identify the injection site. The patch is adhesively held to the patient's skin. An injection can be made with a needle passed through the membrane and the patient's skin, after which the needle is extracted while the membrane wipes the needle, reseals and forms a cavity with the pad and the patient's skin to contain blood from the injection site until after hemostasis.

Abstract: A rigid structural member for a building in which the member has four sides each provided with a groove having narrow opening. Two of the grooves on two opposite sides be used to assemble structural members together to provide completed building assemblies by the use of screw-threaded members while, in the completed assembly, the other two grooves are used for holding two building enclosure sheets in spaced positions, one on each side of the completed assembly. For this purpose, elongate holding members are located in the grooves to hold the sheets in place. The holding members have a particular design which secures them in place within the grooves. The grooves are preferably T-shaped and are all of the same size and shape to increase the versatility. In addition, the structural member may be formed into building structures which are hinged together such that they may be in a collapsed condition for storage and transportation or may be relatively pivoted into an erected condition.

Abstract: An elastic, hemostatic appliance for application to the skin of a patient has a first layer of foam material having a proximal surface and a distal surface relative to the patient and an annular layer of foam material having a distal surface adhered to the proximal surface of the first layer, a proximal surface and a central cavity extending entirely through the annular layer. The proximal surface of the annular layer has adhesive for adhering to the skin of the patient. A continuous elastomeric membrane extends across the central cavity adjacent the first layer and closing the distal side of the cavity.

Abstract: A transdermal injection appliance has a pad impregnated with a disinfectant solution such as alcohol, a body with adhesive for holding the pad against the skin of a patient, and a sleeve with a guide passage through the body for guiding an injection needle. A membrane puncturable by the needle is attached to the sleeve to close the passage, the membrane being self-sealing so that an opening through the membrane formed by the needle is closed as soon as the needle is extracted, thereby wiping a majority of blood from the needle and preventing the escape of blood. The tubular sleeve can have an outer end with a coupling for connection to a retractable needle injection assembly. A method of using the appliance with the retractable needle assembly to administer medication without exposing the health care giver to accidental contact with the needle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A transdermal injection appliance has a pad impregnated with a disinfectant solution such as alcohol, a body with adhesive for holding the pad against the skin of a patient, and a sleeve with a guide passage through the body for guiding an injection needle. A membrane puncturable by the needle is attached to the sleeve to close the passage, the membrane being self-sealing so that an opening through the membrane formed by the needle is closed as soon as the needle is extracted, thereby wiping a majority of blood from the needle and preventing the escape of blood. The tubular sleeve can have an outer end with a coupling for connection to a retractable needle injection assembly. A method of using the appliance with the retractable needle assembly to administer medication without exposing the health care giver to accidental contact with the needle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A needle shielding and use-facilitating apparatus has a first sleeve with a coupling at one end for attachment to a syringe and a hypodermic needle carried by the first sleeve. The needle extending beyond the opposite end of the first sleeve. A second sleeve is slidably received in the first sleeve and surrounds part of the needle which extends beyond the first sleeve. A spring in the first sleeve urges the second sleeve out of the first sleeve. An end coupling is attached to the second sleeve and is selectively attachable to any of a plurality of articles puncturable with the needle.

Abstract: An assembly for supporting and storing an intravenous supply tube and coupling device having a septum includes an elliptical body capable of having the tubing wound thereon and first and second flanges extending radially outwardly from the body. Each flange includes one or more slots for removably receiving the tubing and securing the tubing in place. The assembly is able to hold the tubing and coupling in place while a hypodermic needle is inserted into the coupling to shield the operator's hand to thereby reduce the risk of injury to the operator. In further embodiments two or more assemblies are coupled together in a ganged fashion.

Abstract: A method of securely attaching for indefinite periods banners of flexible plastic electrostatically chargeable material to flagstaffs and then onto smooth non-porous surfaces, which may be the painted exteriors of vehicle bodies, and vice versa, without the use of separate adhesives.

Abstract: An incentive lung exercise apparatus includes an inhalation spirometer, a coupling attached thereto with a unidirectional outlet valve and a source of oxygen. A relatively long flexible hose connects this portion of the structure to a mouthpiece or face mask and medication nebulizer which can be held by a patient. Oxygen and medication can be administered while the patient is using the spirometer structure for lung exercise following surgery or the like. Oxygen is passed through a small hose within the major hose, leaving a substantial volume to retain exhaled gas which is then rebreathed, giving the patient greater incentive to utilize the apparatus for maximum lung inflation. A further small hose can be included and connected to an infrared capnograph for monitoring CO.sub.2 in the hose. Control of the depth of respiration is accomplished by varying the oxygen flow and inspired carbon dioxide content as judged by the analyzed expired endtidal carbon dioxide content.

Abstract: Optical method and apparatus for measuring angular orientation and uniformity of orientation of fibers within a nonwoven web.

Abstract: Paperboard containers for shipping and display have been invented that utilize the various parts of the container. Columns of containers possess excellent stacking strength and stability because rigid relationships exist between the containers. The rigid relationships are derived from good connections between the parts of the containers and the contents within. Since only a part of the contents are needed to develop column strength and stability, the contents are displayed.

Abstract: A paperboard container for shipping has been invented that utilizes the various parts of the container to provide strength and stability. Columns of ten or more containers possess excellent stacking strength and stability because the invention provides rigid relationships between containers. The rigid relationships are derived from good connections between the parts of the containers.

Abstract: An emergency esophageal ventilating airway includes coaxial tubular members insertable through a patient's mouth and into the esophagus. The coaxial tubes are attached to a coupling which is inserted into a standard face mask. The longer, inner, one of the tubes extends into the lower esophagus and has an inflatable occluding cuff at its inner or lower end while the outer end extends through the coupling and mask to the atmosphere providing a clear venting passage from the stomach. The outer tube has holes lying near the laryngeal region and communicates, through chambers in the coupling, with a ventilating gas supply. A second embodiment includes tubes of equal length in concentric relationship, the cuff being on the outer tube. In the second embodiment, the inner tube is distensible so that, when relaxed, maximum air flow volume is available. The inner tube expands to permit passage of an NG tube.

Abstract: A container which protects a book or similar product, has reinforced end walls and is easier and cheaper to form than present containers and the method of forming the container into a book package. The end protection cells of the container are attached to side reinforcing panels. This reduces the number of steps required to place reinforcing panels in the end wall construction. In the preferred construction the end cell panels are attached to the main body only through the reinforcing panels. In one construction, an additional bellows or gusset panel is provided for additional reinforcement.

Abstract: An apparatus for resuscitating, administering anesthesia to, or administering respiratory care to a patient is shown which allows greater rebreathing of mixed expired gases thus improving humidification and heat retention in the inspired gases. The inhalation breathing circuit may include two concentric, non-kinking, corrugated tubes, one visually apparent within the other, for handling both fresh gases and mixed expired gases of the patient or the inhalation breathing circuit may consist of a spiralled inflow tube contained within the wall of the larger exhalation corregated tube. An adjustable exhaust pressure valve maintains a predetermined pressure range for the gas being delivered to-and-fro between a breathing bag and the patient. Expired gases vent through an anesthesia bacterial filter or may be scavenged to prevent environmental pollution. Suctioning of the patient may be performed without interrupting the fresh gas flow or ventilation to the patient.

Abstract: A method of determining arterial carbon dioxide tension from mixed expired gases of a patient utilizing a partial rebreathing anesthesia circuit. An electrode is inserted into expired gases of a patient to measure expired carbon dioxide tension. An output signal from the electrode, which indicates expired carbon dioxide tension, has a very high impedance. By reducing the impedance of the output signal, a more usable signal is obtained. Also, the signal must be converted to a relatively linear function, which is then scaled to give a visual indication proportionate to the arterial carbon dioxide tension. The electrode is pre-calibrated by gases having known percentages of carbon dioxide. The scaling factor is included to compensate for differences between the expired carbon dioxide tension and arterial carbon dioxide tension.