Abstract: A surgical device includes a pair of jaws for manipulating tissue disposed therebetween; a housing and a hemostat style gripping mechanism; an elongated shaft positioned between the housing and the pair of jaws and defining a longitudinal axis; and a pull tube at least partially disposed within the elongated shaft. The hemostat style gripping mechanism comprises a linkage system configured to move the jaws between an open position and an approximated position, the linkage system comprises a first shank having distal end rotatably coupled to the housing at a first fixed pivot point and a proximal end coupled to a first finger grip, a second shank having a distal end rotatably coupled to the housing at a second fixed pivot point and a proximal end coupled to a second finger grip, and a slider link operatively coupled to the first shank and the second shank.

Abstract: A convertible tailgate cover can be converted from simply a tailgate cover to a seat and has a tailgate cover portion that includes an inside cover portion configured to extend over an inside surface of a tailgate and an outside cover portion configured to extend over an outside surface of said tailgate. The tailgate cover portion forms a U-shape having a channel that enables the tailgate cover portion to be slid down over a tailgate. A convertible tailgate cover has a seat-back portion that is rotatably attached to the inside cover portion and can be rotated up and secured by seat-back straps to form a seat-back, when the tailgate is down. The seat-back may have several pads configured in an accordion that fold out to form a sleeping pad. The tailgate cover portion and seat-back portions may be padded to provide a comfortable seat and to prevent tailgate damage.

Abstract: A passive self energized, liquid device operates entirely on capillary action. A microfilter fractionates nanoliter volumes of suspension such as whole blood into suspended particles or cells and liquid fractions. Blood, for example, is fractionated with minimal cell lysis, and the filtrate (plasma) flux is dependent upon design parameters similar to factors controlling blood filtration in microporous membranes, i.e. active filter area, fluid velocity and microfilter geometry. Weir-style filters communicate with a blood flow channel to separate plasma from blood moving by capillary action. An expanded downstream channel with multiple parallel capillary blood flow path provides continuing movement of blood past the filters. Lysing is controlled by the size of the filter pores and the duration of adherence of the red blood cells to the pores. The controlled lysis or prevention of lysis of red blood cells is accomplished by manipulating the significant capillary forces generated in the filters.

Abstract: A handheld implement, such as, for example, a brush, detailer, applicator, or the like, includes a housing and a work element connected to the handle. The implement also includes a light, a power source connected to the light, and a switch for turning on and off the power source for illuminating the light. The work element is concealable in the housing when the implement is not in use, and can be extendable from the housing when the implement is in use. The light, via switching the light on or off, selectively illuminates a surface on which the work element of the implement is employed or operates. The work element is, for example, bristles, and the light is a low power bulb or LED.

Abstract: An implement, such as, for example, a broom or mop for cleaning, includes a handle and a cleaning feature connected to the handle. The implement also includes a light connected to the implement, a power source of the implement connected to the light, and a switch of the implement for turning on and off the power source for illuminating the light. The power source is, for example, a battery. The power source, switch and light are electrically connected internally within the implement, and the switch is exposed for manual switching and the light is exposed for illuminating an area serviced by the implement. Alternately, the switch is automatically triggered by a servicing occurrence.

Abstract: An autothermal reformer or a catalytic partial oxidizer (19) receives flow of desulfurized hydrocarbon fuel from a hydrogen desulfurizer (HDS) (15) through an orifice (13a). A differential pressure transducer (13b) provides a signal (24a) to a fuel-flow differential-pressure schedule (13c) to provide a fuel flow signal (24b) which is (25) subtracted from fuel command (26), to provide a valve position signal 30a from a proportional/integral gain (29), being linearized (58) to control the fuel valve (12). The minimum (59) of actual fuel flow (24b) and fuel flow command (59) is applied to an air/fuel schedule (33). The resulting air flow command is compared with actual air flow (41b) to provide an air flow control signal 48a which is linearized (60) after proportional/integral gain (47) to provide air flow command (48b) to a blower (49). Differential pressure (42b) across an orifice (42a) is provided to a schedule (42c) which converts to the actual air flow feedback (41b).

Abstract: A system for baking includes a generally concave pan having an upper opening and a generally concave lid engageable with the pan to cover the upper opening. The pan and the lid each have a substantially uniform and thin thickness. If the pan and lid are aluminum, the thickness is on the order of about 1.4 mm to about 2 mm. If the pan and lid are stainless steel, the thickness is about 0.4 mm to about 0.7 mm. When the lid is engaged with the pan, an enclosure is formed that provides fast heat transfer through the enclosure walls and also provides ready internal heat circulation achieving convective heating inside the enclosure. The pan can have a fixed handle, and the top can have a fixed implement groove or attachment. The top engages the pan via locating at least one detent inside the pan outer edge with at least one notch in a rim of the top. The system is re-useable for cooking multiple times. The pan of the system can serve as a serving dish.

Abstract: A microimmunoassay arrangement including paramagnetic particles having labeled antibody held in a microchannel by an external magnetic field provides rapid analysis using small sample volumes.

Abstract: A passive self energized, liquid device operates entirely on capillary action. A microfilter fractionates nanoliter volumes of suspension such as whole blood into suspended particles or cells and liquid fractions. Blood, for example, is fractionated with minimal cell lysis, and the filtrate (plasma) flux is dependent upon design parameters similar to factors controlling blood filtration in microporous membranes, i.e. active filter area, fluid velocity and microfilter geometry. Weir-style filters communicate with a blood flow channel to separate plasma from blood moving by capillary action. An expanded downstream channel with multiple parallel capillary blood flow path provides continuing movement of blood past the filters. Lysing is controlled by the size of the filter pores and the duration of adherence of the red blood cells to the pores. The controlled lysis or prevention of lysis of red blood cells is accomplished by manipulating the significant capillary forces generated in the filters.