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.

Abstract: A hand-held bar code reader including a housing bounding an interior, a window, a generally planar printed circuit board mounted in the interior, and an optical scanning assembly mounted on the board and including a scanner for directing a light beam through the window at an acute angle relative to the board. A scanning element of the reader is manufactured by spacing a first and second support element apart by a gap bounded by edges of the support elements; injection molding a curable, elastomeric material in flowable form over the edges and into the gap; and allowing the curable, elastomeric material to cure and bond to the edges, and form a flexible hinge in the gap for enabling movement of the support elements relative to one another both away from and toward a stable rest initial position.

Abstract: A retroreflective optical scan module, including first and second selectable light sources having different beam characteristics for directing a selected light beam to a symbol to be read, an optical assembly including a light collecting portion which collects and redirects the light reflected from the symbol along an optical path to a sensor, and a selector for selecting which light source to use depending on whether a one-dimensional or a two-dimensional symbol is being scanned.

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 hand-held bar code reader including a housing bounding an interior, a window, a generally planar printed circuit board mounted in the interior, and an optical scanning assembly mounted on the board and including a scanner for directing a light beam through the window at an acute angle relative to the board. A scanning element of the reader is manufactured by spacing a first and second support element apart by a gap bounded by edges of the support elements; injection molding a curable, elastomeric material in flowable form over the edges and into the gap; and allowing the curable, elastomeric material to cure and bond to the edges, and form a flexible hinge in the gap for enabling movement of the support elements relative to one another both away from and toward a stable rest initial position.

Abstract: A retroreflective optical scan module, including first and second selectable light sources having different beam characteristics for directing a selected light beam to a symbol to be read, an optical assembly including a light collecting portion which collects and redirects the light reflected from the symbol along an optical path to a sensor, and a selector for selecting which light source to use depending on whether a one-dimensional or a two-dimensional symbol is being scanned.

Abstract: A surgical stay including a hook, a handle and an elastomeric band. The hook has a tissue engaging portion and is retained by the handle such that the tissue engaging portion extends from a first end of the handle. A handle end of the band is retained by a second end of the handle. The band has a longitudinal body and at least one hub disposed around the body. The hub has a generally flat engagement surface facing the handle.

Abstract: A surgical retractor frame that is easily reconfigurable and self-maintaining in a desired position. The surgical retractor frame is formed from first and second rigid frame portions that are easily adjusted to various desired configurations. The first and second portions cooperate to define a support adapted to surround a surgical field and operable to releasably receive a plurality of surgical stays for temporary retraction of tissue during a surgical procedure. A malleable connector secures the first frame portion to the second frame portion, and permits the frame portions to be moved relative to one another to permit adjustment and proper positioning of the frame relative to the surgical field. The connector is a preferably a plastic coated wire that is adhesively affixed to the first and second frame portions.