Abstract: An access tower has two mutually spaced side parts extending from a base part to the top part; and inclined cross parts each extending from one side part to the other. The cross parts are arranged one above another and inclined in opposite senses. The cross parts are rigid and are connected to the side parts. The lower one of two successive oppositely inclined cross parts has its upper end connected to an articulation node to which the lower end of the upper one of said two successive oppositely inclined cross parts is connected. A section of the side part opposite said articulation node, which section extends between the upper end of said upper cross part and the lower end of said lower cross part, is collapsible so that said upper cross part together with the portion of the tower above it can be lowered into a position in which said upper cross part extends substantially parallel to said lower cross part. A releasable locking device is provided to prevent collapse of said collapsible section.

Abstract: A system for collection, stabilization, and preparing total DNA for direct purification from biological samples is provided.

Abstract: A tube coupling includes a coupling body having a stem with an end to engage in a tube and an encircling head spaced from said end. A cap is mounted on the head having an open end encircling the stem to receive a tube inserted into the cap over the stem, the cap having an internal tapered cam surface. A tube locking collet is located in the open end of the cap and includes an annular member having a plurality of resilient fingers which engage the tapered cam surface. The cap includes a sleeve having a cylindrical main portion which encircles and is mounted on the head of the coupling body. The main portion projects along the stem and a portion of reducing diameter which provides said internal tapered cam surface with which the collet engages and the cap has locking elements which engage the head of the coupling body.

Abstract: In a virtual private network, a plurality of concentrators form an interface to provide client/remote site access to a private network over a public network. The plurality of concentrators are grouped into a virtual cluster. Each concentrator in the virtual cluster has an IP address and the virtual cluster has a virtual IP address. In operation, one of the plurality of concentrators assumes the virtual IP address and acts as the master device in the cluster. When a client attempts a connection to the private network, the client addresses an initial request to the virtual IP address. The master device responds to the client request by transmitting to the client the IP address of a concentrator in the cluster selected to handle the connection.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes determining a set of materials for constructing a wood frame building, comprising selecting a plurality of parameters for the wood frame building, accessing a database having information about a set of raw and finished goods, determining the set of materials based on the plurality of parameters for the wood frame building and the information about the set of raw and finished goods, and displaying the set of materials, wherein selecting a plurality of parameters for the wood frame building comprises selecting a plurality of parameters for walls, selecting a plurality of parameters for a roof, and selecting a plurality of parameters for at least one building opening.

Abstract: A collection container and a method for collecting a biological sample, particularly whole blood, that includes at least one stabilizing agent in an amount effective to stabilize and inhibit protein degradation and/or fragmentation. The stabilizing agent is able to stabilize proteases in the biological sample, particularly at the point of collection, by inhibiting protein degradation and/or fragmentation in the sample when the sample is stored. The stabilizing agent includes one or more protease inhibitors.

Abstract: An access tower has two mutually spaced side parts extending from a base part to the top part; and inclined cross parts each extending from one side part to the other. The cross parts are arranged one above another and inclined in opposite senses. The cross parts are rigid and are connected to the side parts. The lower one of two successive oppositely inclined cross parts has its upper end connected to an articulation node to which the lower end of the upper one of said two successive oppositely inclined cross parts is connected. A section of the side part opposite said articulation node, which section extends between the upper end of said upper cross part and the lower end of said lower cross part, is collapsible so that said upper cross part together with the portion of the tower above it can be lowered into a position in which said upper cross part extends substantially parallel to said lower cross part. A releasable locking device is provided to prevent collapse of said collapsible section.

Abstract: A client device establishes a virtual private network connection with a central site or network through a master concentrator. The master concentrator transmits state information, relating to the virtual private network connection, to a backup concentrator. In the event the master concentrator fails during a communications session between the client device and the network, the backup concentrator maintains the communication session between the client device and the network over the virtual private network connection using the connection state information received from the master concentrator. Such a configuration allows for failover of a virtual private network connection from the master concentrator to the backup concentrator without requiring the client device to re-establish the virtual private network connection with the central site or network. The configuration also allows the client device to maintain an existing communications session with the network.

Abstract: A substrate removably attached to a container that can be linked electronically to the operating stations in a laboratory and/or removed and subsequently attached to a document or another container. More particularly, the substrate is a partitioned label with human readable information and electronically readable information.

Abstract: A substrate removably attached to a container that can be linked electronically to the operating stations in a laboratory and/or removed and subsequently attached to a document or another container. More particularly, the substrate is a partitioned label with human readable information and electronically readable information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the automatic composition of media articles is disclosed. Previous attempts to do this have involved the manual production of a detailed framework listing the types of media elements that might be inserted into the slots specified in that framework and the subsequent selection of media elements for those slots. The present invention improves upon this by associating metadata (51) with the media elements in a content store, which metadata includes relationship data indicating how what is portrayed by that media element relates to what is portrayed by one or more other media elements. Because relationship metadata is included media articles can be generated automatically with the need for the production of a detailed framework describing that media article.

Abstract: A sterilized device for storing and transferring a tissue sample collected in a sterile field is provided having a hermetically sealed package containing a tissue storage chamber sealed with a removable cap creating a sample storage chamber housing a tissue preservation agent. The package may be provided as a lid sealed to a tray, a plastic bag that is sealed, or two pieces of plastic sealed along the edges. An interior compartment is created within the package, which is sterile along with the sample container and its contents. A tissue preservation agent is provided to stabilized RNA in a tissue sample. The sterilized device is intended for use in storing and transferring a tissue sample from a patient while in a sterile field. The sterilized device is a single assembly that eliminates disrupting a sterile field in an operating room and transferring an exposed tissue sample out of the sterile field.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting and testing data at a patient point of care location via a first device, such as a sample cartridge adapted to engage a first device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) incorporating a wireless communication module to communicate collected data to a second device, such as a healthcare workers personal PDA located beyond a contamination radius about a patient. Each device can further include a registration device, such as a bar code reader, to collect additional information at a point of care and tag data, or data analysis information, with an associated patient code.

Abstract: The present invention is a label system and method for label alignment and placement on a container. The label system includes a first label or a container whereby the first label includes alignment symbology and a second label having an alignment area corresponding to the alignment symbology of the first label. The second label is positioned on the container whereby the alignment area of the second label is aligned with the alignment symbology of the first label. The method for label alignment and placement comprises the steps of (i) providing a container with identification information and a label bearing area; (ii) scanning the identification information; (iii) processing the identification information; (iv) printing indicia on a label at a position defined by the identification information; and (v) placing the label on the container with the indicia positioned at the desired predetermined location.

Abstract: The present invention is a label system and method for label alignment and placement on a container. The label system includes a first label or a container whereby the first label includes alignment symbology and a second label having an alignment area corresponding to the alignment symbology of the first label. The second label is positioned on the container whereby the alignment area of the second label is aligned with the alignment symbology of the first label. The method for label alignment and placement comprises the steps of (i) providing a container with identification information and a label bearing area; (ii) scanning the identification information; (iii) processing the identification information; (iv) printing indicia on a label at a position defined by the identification information; and (v) placing the label on the container with the indicia positioned at the desired predetermined location.

Abstract: Provided are a method, computer program product and data processing apparatus for recovery from interprocess communication failures, the method comprising: in response to an initiator process requesting interprocess communication (IPC) with a responder process via an IPC link, recognizing if the initiator process does not have the expected write control of the IPC link and setting an indicator. A process other than the initiator process checks the indicator (such as after a timeout, or periodically) and, if the indicator has been set, notifies the initiator process to take control. This method avoids potential stalemate situations in which neither the initiator nor the responder process can take control, without reliance on mutex locks for every exchange of data and control.

Abstract: A system is provided which may be used for collecting and testing fluid samples at a patient point of care location. A disposable collection and containment device is provided for collecting a fluid sample directly into a containment chamber containing testing mechanisms using an integrated collection mechanism for immediate evaluation of the collected sample. The integrated collection cartridge contains an array of electrical contacts, electrochemical sensors and circuitry configured to electrically couple with an analytical device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a stand-alone computer workstation, which controls the testing of the fluid sample within the cartridge and provides a rapid indication of test results at the point of care.

Abstract: A system is provided which may be used for collecting and testing fluid samples at a patient point of care location. A disposable cartridge and collection device is provided for collecting a fluid sample directly into a cartridge containing testing mechanisms for immediate evaluation of the collected sample. The cartridge contains an array of electrical contacts, electrochemical sensors and circuitry configured to electrically couple with a hand-held analytical device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a stand-alone computer workstation, which controls the testing of the fluid sample within the cartridge and provides a rapid indication of test results at the point of care.

Abstract: A collection container and a method for collecting a biological sample, particularly whole blood, includes at least one stabilizing agent in an amount effective to stabilize and inhibit protein degradation and/or fragmentation. The stabilizing agent is able to stabilize proteases in the biological sample, particularly at the point of collection, by inhibiting protein degradation and/or fragmentation in the sample when the sample is stored. The stabilizing agent comprises or consists of one or more protease inhibitors.