Abstract: An inventory management system manages information regarding medical items dispensed to a patient in a medical facility. Inventory sensors sense removal of medical items from an inventory space to be dispensed to the patient. Software instructions associate item information with patient information that identifies the patient, determine billing codes associated with the dispensed items, generate billing information including the patient information and the billing codes, and generate an invoice directed to the patient's medical insurance provider. The instructions also verify that the billing codes are associated with medical items appropriate for treatment of the patient's condition indicated by diagnostic codes included in the billing information, and generate an alert message if the billing codes are associated with medical items that are not reimbursable or are inappropriate for treatment of the diagnosed condition.

Abstract: A mechanical fastening system for an article having a stretchable loop fastener component mountable on the article and including an elastomeric substrate and a high bond point non-woven loop material secured to the elastomeric substrate. The bond points on the non-woven loop material are defined by discrete compression points and the non-woven loop material is substantially free from discrete compression points other than at the bond points. A hook fastener component is mountable on the article and adapted for releasable engagement with the loop fastener component. The stretchable loop fastener component is stretchable relative to the hook fastener component when the fastener components are engaged.

Abstract: Packaged garments having prefastened, refastenable seams oriented in a certain position can preserve fastener performance. Such refastenable seams are particularly suitable for side seams on pant-like disposable garments. Prior to or during packaging of the garment, the refastenable seams are prefastened and positioned such that any fastening components lie flat in a plane perpendicular to a plane in which front and back panels of the garment lie. When the garment is compressed and packaged, the fastening components remain flat and do not become creased or crushed.

Abstract: A mechanical fastening system for an article having a stretchable loop fastener component mountable on the article and including an elastomeric substrate and a high bond point non-woven loop material secured to the elastomeric substrate. The bond points on the non-woven loop material are defined by discrete compression points and the non-woven loop material is substantially free from discrete compression points other than at the bond points. A hook fastener component is mountable on the article and adapted for releasable engagement with the loop fastener component. The stretchable loop fastener component is stretchable relative to the hook fastener component when the fastener components are engaged.

Abstract: An absorbent article such as infant training pants is provided with a mechanical hook-and-loop type fastening system in which at least the loop fastener component is made of an elastomeric substrate and a high bond point non-woven loop material.

Abstract: Virtual reality tools for product development including collections of avatars and virtual reality business models for avatar use. A method of designing a product to be worn by an individual includes selecting a population of avatars, where each avatar provides a representation of at least a portion a human body, and the population of avatars may be representative of a population of individuals. The method also includes obtaining a set of data describing a product to be worn by the individuals in the population of individuals, for each avatar, in the population avatars, generating a virtual reality simulation that simulates an avatar interacting with the product, and analyzing the interaction between the avatar and the selected product to evaluate at least one performance characteristic of the product.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for generating and using virtual reality simulations to conduct market research and related activities, where the virtual reality simulations include personalized aspects of a participant's environment, such as simulations of a virtual home derived from the participant's physical home. In this way, aspects of product design such as product storage and product use can be simulated.

Abstract: An absorbent article such as infant training pants is provided with a mechanical hook-and-loop type fastening system in which at least the loop material is made of a laminate with a facing having a bond density of greater than 225 points per square inch.

Abstract: An absorbent article such as infant training pants is provided with a mechanical hook-and-loop type fastening system in which at least the loop material is made of a laminate with a facing having a bond density of greater than 225 points per square inch.

Abstract: A two-stroke internal combustion engine is fuelled by liquified or compressed natural gas. Lubricating oil, in a solution with liquid petroleum, is atomized in a fuel gas/air stream before entering a combustion chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding, bonding and severing a longitudinally extending web, comprising a rotatable disc having a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart, radially extending protrusions at its periphery, means for rotating the disc, means for feeding the longitudinally extending web onto the disc during rotation thereof, so that outer extremities of the protrusions contact the web at its medial region to cause folding of the web so that its sides overlap one another between the protrusions, means for bonding the folded web at its overlapping sides between adjacent protrusions during rotation of the disc, and means for severing the folded web at its overlapping sides between adjacent protrusions during rotation of the disc. Also disclosed is a corresponding method wherein the longitudinally extending web is folded, bonded and severed.

Abstract: A plurality of elongated hollow, circular, foraminous substantially vertical tubes contiguously stacked transversely to the direction flowing liquid such as waste water containing foreign matter, i.e., settable solids and free oil, in a coalescer-separator apparatus provide a filter body providing for significant surface area contact by the liquid on both inside and outside surfaces of the tubes to entrap the foreign matter but defining substantially vertical passages permitting the entrapped foreign matter to be gravity separated with the lighter matter coalescing and floating upwardly and the heavier matter settling downwardly so that substantially clarified effluent flows from the apparatus. The stacked tube filter body is contained within an insulated closed container of a sufficient capacity, and the arrays of holes in the tube walls are coordinated with respect to the intended volumetric capacity of the apparatus, so that turbulence in the liquid flowing through the filter body is minimized.

Abstract: Waste water containing pollutants such as suspended solids and emulsified oil is pumped continuously through a self-contained separating or polishing system utilizing a simplified plug-in module to remove the pollutants. The suspended solids are removed by mechanical filtration and the emulsified oil is separated by coalescing oil into floatable droplets which can be skimmed from a water surface and withdrawn for external accumulation. The treated waste water may be returned for further use or pumped to other facilities for further treatment.

Abstract: An automatic oil-water separating device used within an oil-water separating container for skimming the oil off the top of the water and directing same through a collecting conduit to an associated container. The device includes a skimming trough supported by first floatation means mounted on opposite sides of the trough, and a second floatation means transversely disposed to the trough. The specific shape of both the first and second floatation means is designed to immediately restore the trough to the skimming position in the event the unit is accidentally submerged below the surface of the water and to automatically pivot the unit to accelerate oil separation.