Abstract: Provided are filtration devices, including medical filtration devices, for operating within a vacuum unit. The filtration system removes particulate matter, including smoke, volatile compounds, and long chain organic compounds. The construction of the filtration system is within a single filter housing allowing for ease of construction and a single potting versus multiple potting's. The filtration system contains a hermetic seal to achieve a lower probability of seal failure versus processes that require multiple potting's.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are volatile organic compound monitoring or detection systems and methods, including systems having both a reference air intake component and at least one air sample intake line. In certain embodiments, the systems provide for continuously repeating cycles of testing and calibration/recalibration. Further implementations relate to systems having two or more intake lines that can be positioned to take air samples at distances ranging from 5 feet to 200 feet or more apart.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are volatile organic compound monitoring or detection systems and methods, including systems having both a reference air intake component and at least one air sample intake line. In certain embodiments, the systems provide for continuously repeating cycles of testing and calibration/recalibration. Further implementations relate to systems having two or more intake lines that can be positioned to take air samples at distances ranging from 5 feet to 200 feet or more apart.

Abstract: A personal protection system for providing a sterile barrier around medical/surgical personnel. The system includes a helmet over which a hood or a toga suspended. A microphone, an amplifier and a speaker are mounted to the helmet. Speech of the individual wearing the personal protection system is picked up by the microphone and amplified speech is broadcast by the speaker. The speaker is outwardly directed so as to broadcast the speech out through the hood or toga covering the helmet.

Abstract: A personal protection system for providing a sterile barrier around medical/surgical personnel. The system includes a helmet over which a hood or a toga suspended. A microphone, an amplifier and a speaker are mounted to the helmet. Speech of the individual wearing the personal protection system is picked up by the microphone and amplified speech is broadcast by the speaker. The speaker is outwardly directed so as to broadcast the speech out through the hood or toga covering the helmet.

Abstract: Generating a planogram of a facility in real-time, includes positioning a wireless mobile device at a plurality of geometric positions within the facility. A location of the mobile device at each position is then established using a location mechanism. Each geometric position is then associated with that location of the mobile device. The planogram is then updated with information about the geometric position. The geometric positions are associated with physical objects modeled in the planogram. Non-geometric information can also be obtained at the location of the mobile device, and this non-geometric information can be overlaid onto the planogram.

Abstract: Generating a planogram of a facility in real-time, includes positioning a wireless mobile device at a plurality of geometric positions within the facility. A location of the mobile device at each position is then established using a location mechanism. Each geometric position is then associated with that location of the mobile device. The planogram is then updated with information about the geometric position. The geometric positions are associated with physical objects modeled in the planogram. Non-geometric information can also be obtained at the location of the mobile device, and this non-geometric information can be overlaid onto the planogram.

Abstract: A substantially enriched mammalian hepatic liver engrafting cell population is provided. Methods are provided for the isolation and culture of this liver engrafting cell, for example, a cell population containing human liver engrafting cells wherein at least one cell in the population is HLAlow/neg; and expresses at least one marker selected from the group consisting of albumin; 5E12; Ep-Cam; CD49f; and E-Cadherin. The progenitor cells are obtained from a variety of sources, including fetal and adult tissues. The cells are useful in transplantation, for experimental evaluation, and as a source of lineage and cell specific products, including mRNA species useful in identifying genes specifically expressed in these cells, and as targets for the discovery of factors or molecules that can affect them.

Abstract: A substantially enriched mammalian hepatic liver engrafting cell population is provided. Methods are provided for the isolation and culture of this liver engrafting cell. The progenitor cells are obtained from a variety of sources, including fetal and adult tissues. The cells are useful in transplantation, for experimental evaluation, and as a source of lineage and cell specific products, including mRNA species useful in identifying genes specifically expressed in these cells, and as targets for the discovery of factors or molecules that can affect them.

Abstract: A monocoque housing for a mobile unit comprises a base, an end cap, and an isolation gasket. The mobile unit includes an electronic stack assembly. The base has an opening. The end cap is adapted to removably couple with the base. The end cap includes a cap and a frame where the frame is received by the base through the opening so that the cap covers the opening. The isolation gasket is disposed between the frame and the electronic stack assembly. The electronic stack assembly is not mechanically fastened to the isolation gasket. When the mobile unit experiences a shock load, the isolation gasket absorbs the shock load to reduce the shock load on the electronic stack assembly.

Abstract: A substantially enriched mammalian hepatic liver engrafting cell population is provided. Methods are provided for the isolation and culture of this liver engrafting cell. The progenitor cells are obtained from a variety of sources, including fetal and adult tissues. The cells are useful in transplantation, for experimental evaluation, and as a source of lineage and cell specific products, including mRNA species useful in identifying genes specifically expressed in these cells, and as targets for the discovery of factors or molecules that can affect them.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an object having an encapsulated radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is provided. An RFID tag is mechanically or chemically affixed to a first portion of the object being manufactured. The first portion of the object, with the RFID tag affixed is placed in a cavity of a mold. The first portion is then over-molded with a first material such as high temperature thermoplastic or low temperature thermoset to generate a seamless object. A method for manufacturing an object having a partially encapsulated RFID tag is also provided. An RFID tag is laminated with a lamination material, such as high temperature thermoplastic. The laminated RFID tag is affixed to a mold. The laminated RFID tag is then over-molded with a first material to generate a seamless object. Methods for tracking medical instruments having encapsulated or partially encapsulated RFID tags are also provided.

Abstract: A rugged mobile device housing is provided for protecting a component (e.g., a liquid crystal display, a keyboard, a printed circuit board, or the like) and includes one or more first structures comprising a first material provided in a region of the housing capable of withstanding deflection, wherein the first material is an elastomer, and one or more second structures bonded to the first structure, wherein the second structure is a high-stiffness plastic. In one embodiment, the first material is a high-stiffness elastomer and the second material is a long glass fiber filled thermoplastic (“LGF” plastic). In one embodiment, the first structure is located at a corner of the housing and the second structure is located in the middle of the housing. In another embodiment, the first structure is located in the center of the housing and the second structures are located at the ends.

Abstract: A substantially enriched mammalian hepatic liver engrafting cell population is provided. Methods are provided for the isolation and culture of this liver engrafting cell. The progenitor cells are obtained from a variety of sources, including fetal and adult tissues. The cells are useful in transplantation, for experimental evaluation, and as a source of lineage and cell specific products, including mRNA species useful in identifying genes specifically expressed in these cells, and as targets for the discovery of factors or molecules that can affect them.

Abstract: A substantially enriched mammalian hepatic liver engrafting cell population is provided. Methods are provided for the isolation and culture of this liver engrafting cell. The progenitor cells are obtained from a variety of sources, including fetal and adult tissues. The cells are useful in transplantation, for experimental evaluation, and as a source of lineage and cell specific products, including mRNA species useful in identifying genes specifically expressed in these cells, and as targets for the discovery of factors or molecules that can affect them.

Abstract: A personal protection system for providing a sterile barrier around medical/surgical personnel. The system includes a head unit over which a hood or a toga suspended. Internal to the head unit is a ventilation fan, a light for illuminating the surgical field and communications system for communicating with others. The head unit includes a head band. The ventilation fan is adjustably mounted to the head band so it can be positioned at a location to minimize the strain imposed on the wearer.

Abstract: A method for identifying/authenticating a product. The method includes providing a substrate coupled to the product that includes an identification pattern within a region of interest and imaging the region of interest of the substrate to identify identification particles of the identification pattern. For the identified identification particles in the region of interest, calculating a mathematical value representative of a position of the particle relative to at least one other identification particle and converting the mathematical values of the identified identification particles into an identification value representative of the identified identification particles. The identification value is compared with stored identification values in a database to identify/authenticate the product. Alternately, or in addition, the identification value is compared to an identification value decoded from a bar code imprinted on the product.

Abstract: A waste collection unit is provided for collecting medical waste such as bodily fluids and materials from a patient, and disposing of the medical waste at a docking station. The waste collection unit comprises a canister for containing the medical waste and a carrier with wheels for transporting the waste collection unit between use areas, such as operating rooms, and the docking station. A vacuum housing with a plurality of vacuum ports is provided for connecting to an external vacuum source to draw a vacuum inside of the canister and collect the medical waste from the patient. The waste collection unit also includes a sprinkler system for cleaning the canister after disposing of the collected medical waste. The sprinkler system includes a sprinkler having a helical configuration in a cap of the canister for generating a cone-shaped spray pattern and a spray nozzle in a base of the canister.

Abstract: A waste collection unit is provided for collecting medical waste from a surgical site. The waste collection unit comprises a canister for collecting the medical waste. A disposable manifold is coupled to the canister to filter solid and semi-solid debris from the medical waste prior to the medical waste entering the canister. A manifold interface assembly of the waste collection unit provides a valve assembly having a valve body and flapper door to prevent the escape of the medical waste from the canister when the manifold is removed from the canister. The manifold interface assembly is configured such that the flapper door is engaged by the manifold upon insertion of the manifold into the canister. In particular, the manifold includes a stem that is sized for inserting into an inlet port of the canister and the stem has a length sufficiently long to engage and open the flapper door upon insertion.

Abstract: A suspension mass is mounted for swinging movement relative to, and extends between, a pair of fixed posts spaced apart from each other on an annular support mounted in a portable electronic device. The mass is connected to the posts through a pair of breakable links.