Abstract: An electrosurgical probe (10) comprises a shaft (13) having an electrode array (58) at-its distal end and a connector (19) at its proximal end for coupling the electrode array to a high frequency power supply (28). The shaft includes a return electrode (56) recessed from its distal end and enclosed within an insulating jacket (18). The return electrode defines an inner passage (83) electrically connected to both the return electrode and the electrode array for passage of an electrically conducting liquid (50). By applying high frequency voltage to the electrode array and the return electrode, the electrically conducting liquid generates a current flow path between the return electrode and the electrode array so that target tissue may be cut or ablated. The probe is particularly useful in dry environments, such as the mouth or abdominal cavity, because the electrically conducting liquid provides the necessary return current path between the active and return electrodes.

Abstract: A method of creating a lesion in tissue with infusion includes providing an apparatus comprising a first elongated delivery device with a lumen, an obturator with a second elongated delivery device and an energy delivery device positional in a lumen of the first elongated delivery device. The energy device includes at least a first and a second RF electrode each with a tissue piercing distal portion, the first and second RF electrodes being deployable from the first elongated delivery device with curvature in a deployed state. The energy delivery device includes an infusion lumen and at least one infusion port. The obturator and second delivery device are introduced to a selected tissue site. The obturator is removed from a lumen of the second delivery device and the first delivery device and energy delivery device are introduced into the lumen of the second delivery device. The first and second RF electrodes are advanced from the first delivery device to at least partially surround a target tissue site.

Abstract: A tissue ablation apparatus comprises a first elongated delivery device including a lumen and an obturator with a tissue piercing distal end. The obturator is positionable in the lumen of the first elongated delivery device. A second elongated delivery device is positionable in the lumen of the first elongated delivery device. An energy delivery device is positionable in the second elongated delivery device. The energy delivery device includes at least a first and a second RF electrode each with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second RF electrodes are positionable in the second elongated delivery device in a compacted state and deployable from the second elongated delivery device with curvature in a deployed state. The first and second RF electrodes exhibit a changing direction of travel when advanced from the second elongated delivery device to a selected tissue site.

Abstract: A system for treating atrial fibrillation includes a stent and a delivery catheter for carrying the stent to a treatment site. The stent is self-expanding, for example, being formed of a shape memory alloy, and is configured to lodge against the interior wall of a pulmonary vein. The stent may be formed as a loop, helix, progressively wound helix or other suitable shape, and in one embodiment has an exposed proximal portion including an ablation region that contacts and subtends a circumference of the vein, or contacts endocardial wall tissue along a circumferential path at the ostium. The proximal portion is attached to an energy delivery line in the catheter to energize the stent and ablate tissue in the circumferential region, forming a lesion to block conduction across the ostium or preventing trigger signals originating in the pulmonary vein from initiating or sustaining fibrillation in the atrium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bone fixation device of the type useful for connecting soft tissue or tendon to bone or for connecting two or more bones or bone fragments together. The device comprises an elongate body having a distal anchor thereon. A proximal anchor is axially movably disposed with respect to the distal anchor, to accommodate different bone dimensions and permit appropriate tensioning of the fixation device. In one embodiment, the fixation device is optimized for construction from a biocompatible metal such as titanium, and the proximal anchor is removable to permit removal of the fixation device.

Abstract: A method of resecting a proximal tibia and distal femur for implanting a partial knee prosthesis uses a resecting kit which includes multiple spacers, each of which has a different spacing dimension. A surgeon selects the appropriate spacer with the amount of correction desired to align the patient's leg and installs the spacer with the spacing dimension between the distal femur and proximal tibia which is to receive the partial knee prosthesis. The spacers have projecting stems, upon which a resector is installed. The resector is then aligned with the axis selected by the surgeon according to known methods, and is pinned to the femur and proximal tibia. A distal femoral cut is then made in the femur after which the resector is removed while leaving at least two of the pins in place, the pins being headless pins. A second resector is then installed on the pins to effect the required cut of the tibia.

Abstract: A measuring gauge for measuring the relative position of two bones during surgery, the measuring gauge comprising an anchor, an adapter, an outrigger and a locking joint.

Abstract: A resection head for endoscopic resection of tissue comprises an endoscope receiving channel extending therethrough so that an endoscope may be slidably received therein and a first position adjusting mechanism for moving the resection head relative to an endoscope received in the endoscope receiving channel between first retracted position in which a distal end of the endoscope extends beyond a distal end of the resection head and a deployed position in which the distal end of the endoscope is received within the endoscope receiving channel. The resection head also comprises a resection chamber within outer wall of the resection head, at least a first portion of the outer wall being moveable with respect to a second portion thereof to open the resection chamber to an exterior of the resection head and a resection mechanism for resecting tissue received within the resection chamber.

Abstract: The present invention regards system, method, and apparatus for selectively and accurately deploying one or more sequentially positioned medical appliances from a portable medical device. An apparatus, in accord with one embodiment of the present invention, includes a ligation tip having an internal passage and an outside surface wherein the outside surface has a plurality of sequentially ordered deployable medical appliances in contact with it. The apparatus also includes a body having a channel in communication with the internal passage of the ligation tip, a string passing through the internal passage and the channel, and an indicator, coupled to the string, for affirmatively verifying that a specific medical appliance, from the plurality of sequentially ordered medical appliances, has been deployed from the ligation tip.

Abstract: An apparatus for anastomosing an organ of a subject to be anastomosed such as patient comprises a pair of magnets being disposed to predetermined sites or regions of organs of the subject each other so as to be opposed through wall portions of the respective organs, the magnets being adsorbed to each other so as to form an anastomosis site having a through hole for making communication between the organ walls, a flexible soft guide wire detachably mounted to at least one of the paired magnets, and a guide tube inserted into a body of the subject with the guide wire being inserted therein, the guide tube coming into contact with a guide wire mount surface of the one of magnets so as to support the one magnet when the guide wire is removed from the one magnet and the guide tube being inserted into the through hole of the anastomosis site to maintain formation of the through hole.

Abstract: An ablation system comprising an atherectomy device and an aspiration catheter, each routed to a position just proximal to a lesion within a patient's vessel to ablate the lesion. The atherectomy device includes a flexible driveshaft coupled to an ablation burr. The ablation burr includes a concave front surface and a generally frusto-conical rear surface, both having an abrasive disposed thereon. The aspiration catheter has an elongate body and includes a centrally located lumen. The distal portion of the lumen is frusto-conical in shape and is positioned at the distal end of the catheter to define an aspiration mouth. The taper of the frusto-conical portion of the lumen corresponds to the taper of the rear surface of the ablation burr so that the ablation burr may be pulled back into the distal portion of the lumen of the catheter during operation of the system to clear captured ablated material therein.

Abstract: A device for incising a stenosis in the vasculature of a patient includes a plurality of blades mounted on a resilient base member. The blades are arranged in a pattern to allow for relative movement between adjacent blades. Specifically, at least one end portion of each blade is juxtaposed with an end portion of the next closest blade. The base member, in turn, is mounted on the external surface of an inflatable angioplasty balloon. When the balloon is inserted into the vasculature of a patient, positioned across a stenosis and subsequently inflated, the individually moveable blades form an effective cutting edge that conforms to the surface of the stenosis to effectively allow the stenosis to be incised to a substantially uniform depth.

Abstract: This invention is a surgical device for producing a generally circular, interlamellar pathway within the corneal stroma of the eye. The device is made up of three major components: a vacuum centering guide having an inner bore which fits at one end against the front of the eye, a barrel which fits within the inner bore of the centering guide and to which is attached the third major component, a generally circular dissecting ring. The dissecting ring is shaped in such way that when an eye surgeon twists the barrel to which the ring is attached, the ring moves through the interlamellar space in the stroma producing the desired channel or pathway. The centering guide may optionally include a ring having one or more pins which firmly engage the cornea's epiphilium. The constituent parts of the surgical device, particularly the dissecting ring, also form a part of this invention.

Abstract: A resection instrument, especially for the minimally invasive, subanodermal, submucous removal of hemorrhoidal tissue, comprises a narrow oblong carrier provided with a resection portion for removing tissue on a front part. In order to improve a resection instrument such that tissue can be resected precisely and as gently as possible by handling the instrument in the easiest possible way it is suggested according to the invention that the resection portion has a trough-like bulge being curved in a convex manner and approximately spoon-shaped in the longitudinal section, with a resection surface provided with a resection element being disposed on the inner side of the trough-like bulge.

Abstract: A laparoscopic apparatus for tunneling dissection including a hollow tunneling member and an inflatable balloon disposed at the distal end of the tunneling member to form together a blunt tipped obturator. The tunneling member has a bore sized allow the insertion of a conventional laparoscope therein to provide observation during surgical procedures. The laparoscope provides direct observation of dissection through the open distal end of the tunneling member. Observation is provided both when the device is used to tunnel between tissue layers to a region of interest within the body of a patient, and during subsequent balloon inflation when the tissue layers are dissected to cause separation of the tissue layers and the creation of an anatomical working space. After the anatomic space has been created, the device and laparoscope are withdraw through the incision.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an inflatable device for use in restoring the anatomy of diseased or fractured bone. The inflatable device may be a balloon of varied size or shape to conform to the bone to be treated and may be deployed in any type of bone where collapsed fractures of cortical bone may be treated by restoring the bone from its inner surface. Once the bone has been sufficiently restored the balloons may be deflated and removed, or may remain inside the bone. The balloon may have multiple layers to provide desired surface characteristics, resistance to puncture and tearing, or other beneficial properties, as appropriate for the particular application of the device.

Abstract: Apparatus for occluding a vessel and enhancing blood flow within a catheter are provided, wherein a catheter comprises a multi-section self-expanding wire weave forming a radially expandable body and an occlusive distal section, covered with an elastomeric polymeric coating, and disposed within an outer sheath. Methods of using the apparatus of the present invention to remove emboli also are provided.

Abstract: A sealing device for a puncture in a blood vessel, device being slidingly receivable over a guide tube and comprising a tubular, resilient sealing member formed with a sealing portion spontaneously sealable upon deployment of the device into an activated state, an engaging portion for bearing against an external surface of the blood vessel and a plurality of anchors fitted at their fore end with fasteners for engaging a corresponding internal surface of the blood vessel and at a rear end with a manipulating bit. The anchors being displaceable between a constricted position in which they blend with the tubular sealing member, and an operative position in which the fasteners are laterally expanded and engage the internal surface of the blood vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for use in sealing a vascular puncture site. The invention comprises an introducer sheath with an integrated closure component. The closure component includes an advanceable resilient spring clip with an expanded delivery configuration in which opposing sides do not contact one another, and an unstressed deployed configuration, in which opposing sides close towards one another. The clip is advanced along the sheath until it pierces opposing sides of a vessel wall at a puncture site. The sheath then is withdrawn, thereby causing the clip to resiliently return to its unstressed deployed configuration and draw opposing sides of the puncture together to seal the wound.

Abstract: A constriction device that constricts body tissue is configured to be safely sutured to constricted body tissue. The device includes a generally cylindrical elastic sleeve including opposed opened ends and having a wall of substantially uniform thickness that receives body tissue therein to be constricted. The sleeve includes a plurality of suture holes to receive a suture to maintain the sleeve the tissue constricted by the sleeve. The sleeve includes a suture hole reinforcement structure, as for example an increased wall thickness, about each suture hole to permit the device to be sutured to constricted body tissue without damaging the device.

Abstract: A stent-graft having an exo-skeleton attached to a tubular graft, the tubular graft having a peripheral wall defining a lumen therein extending between first and second ends. The exo-skeleton may assume contracted and enlarged conditions, and includes one or more serpentine elements, each extending both peripherally and axially along at least a portion of the peripheral wall. Coiled-sheet stents are provided on the ends of the tubular graft for anchoring the ends within a body passage. Each serpentine element is a zigzag structure extending peripherally about the peripheral wall, with a plurality of serpentine elements distributed axially along the peripheral wall. The serpentine elements are individually attached to the peripheral wall and/or connector elements may extend between adjacent serpentine elements. Alternatively, each serpentine element may define a generally sinusoidal shape extending axially along the peripheral wall.

Abstract: A self-expanding, pseudo-braided device embodying a high expansion ratio and flexibility as well as comformability and improved radial force. The pseudo-braided device is particularly suited for advancement through and deployment within highly tortuous and very distal vasculature. Various forms of the pseudo-braided device are adapted for the repair of aneurysms and stenoses as well as for use in thrombectomies and embolic protection therapy.

Abstract: A stent for a vessel inserted in use into the vessel of a living body including a tubular member constituting a passageway from one end to its opposite end. The tubular member includes a main mid portion and low tenacity portions formed integrally with both ends of the main mid portion. The low tenacity portions are lower in tenacity than the main mid portion. These low tenacity portions are formed so as to have the Young's modulus approximate to that of the vessel of the living body in which is inserted the stent, so that, when the stent is inserted into the vessel, it is possible to prevent stress concentrated portions from being produced in the vessel.

Abstract: A device to provide body fluid flow control in the form of a valve to be located within a duct or passageway. The device is controlled through pressure above a preselected threshold. Bulk resilience about a passageway in a valve body provides the mechanism for controlled flow. One-way valve operation may be provided through a flap or through a pressure differential on the valve body depending upon the direction of flow. A frame structure positioned within a resilient seal includes longitudinally elongate elements which may be of spring material, malleable material or heat recoverable material so as to accomplish an initial insertion state and an expanded anchoring state. A valve support transitions between the resilient seal portion and the valve body to insure that the states do not change the threshold opening pressure. Insertion devices may be employed to position and actuate a change of state of the frame in the body duct or passageway.

Abstract: Prosthetic implants designed to be implanted in the cornea for modifying the cornea curvature and altering the corneal refractive power for correcting myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia, and, in addition, such implants formed of a micro-porous hydrogel material.

Abstract: A system for securing a tendon to a bore hole surface in a femur and a tibia, the system including a bone anchor having a flexible body with a distal end having an aperture to receive the tendon, and two legs forming a concave relief extending from the aperture to a split end, with the concave relief forcing the tendon into direct contact with the femur bore hole surface. An anchor insertion instrument is used to insert the anchor into the femur bore hole, the instrument having a pair of spaced apart pins to hold the bone anchor. A tibia fixation device joins the tendon to the tibia bore hole and has a generally cylindrical body with an open proximal end and at least two rounded legs formed by at least two slits extending from a distal end. At least one opening is located adjacent to the open proximal end for receiving the tendon. A clamping screw and spiked washer are used to lock the tibia fixation device and tendons into the tibia bore hole.

Abstract: A cartilage plug, which is made from a biocompatible, artificial material, that is used to fill a void in natural cartilage that has been resected due to traumatic injury or chronic disease is disclosed. Alternatively, the plug may be relied upon to anchor a flowable polymer to subchondral bone. The plug is prebricatable in any size, shape, and contour and may be utilized either singly or in a plurality to fill any size void for any application. The plug may be formed of a laminated structure to match the physiological requirements of the repair site. Additionally, ridges may be formed about the periphery of each plug to facilitate its anchoring to surrounding cartilage, bone and/or adjacent plugs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an implant comprising two or more bone fragments that are combined to form a single unit. Cancellous bone or cortical bone is removed from a source and fashioned into bone components with desirable shapes and sizes. The bone components may be integrated to form implants for implantation in the body. Bone stock may be formed by combining sections of various bones of the body, and the bone stock may be further fashioned for use as implants with particular geometries.

Abstract: User-selected customization information for a network (e.g., HTML) document is stored at a server with reference to user identifying information that uniquely identifies the user. Whenever the user navigates back to the network address of the HTML document, the user is identified automatically and receives a customized HTML document formed in accordance with the customization information.

Abstract: A method for using a web page to perform web-based services on a document of an application program module is provided by one embodiment of the invention. A user editing a document running on an application program module selects to view web-based services that may be performed on the user's document. In response to the user's selection, the application program module hosts a services web page in a dialog box of the application program module using an HTML rendering engine. The services web page may list a number of services or features that may be performed on a user's document. The services may be listed as a number of links. In response to the user selecting one of the services, the HTML rendering engine is directed to the selected web page. The web page script of the selected web page requests that the application program module expose its object model to the web page script.

Abstract: A card creation method and system includes defining a data entry screen including a plurality of screen fields and creating at least one card layout, including defining specific positions for a plurality of card fields. Data is input into the screen fields using the data entry screen, and then transferred to a one of the card layouts to create the card. The data entry screen definition and the card layouts may be saved prior to inputting data. Still further, a data source having at least one data field may be identified for providing data, and a screen field may be linked to a data field. Data from the data field is copied to the linked screen field. Additionally, a card filed may be linked to a selected screen field. The created card may be saved and/or printed. Thus, a user is able to create customized data entry screens, as well as custom card designs.

Abstract: Document producing support system including: input means like a keyboard or a mouse; display means; a user profile database storing user profiles; a logon/logoff module connected to the user profile database for identifying roles of users based on the user profiles; a semantic database storing semantic elements; a dossier database for storing drafts of documents; a publishing database for storing final versions of documents; a workflow module arranged for at least controlling which roles of users are entitled to carry out specific activities and which activities may be carried out at a specific moment, as well as tracking which activities have already been carried out and how much process time has already been spent within any of the activities, activities being defined as sets of tasks allowed to be carried out by any individual user depending on his role; language technology modules for terminology control, machine-aided translation and language task support; a processor coupled to and arranged for controll

Abstract: A sensor system includes a housing that houses a thermally sensitive sensor, a transmitter portion and a power source. Preferably, the sensor device is encapsulated to protect the components from the environment. The transmitter generates a signal in response to the sensor detecting a temperature in a vehicle component that exceeds a predetermined temperature. A receiver is located remotely from the transmitter to receive the signal. The power supply generates electricity when the temperature of the vehicle component achieves an initial threshold temperature that is less than the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for cleaning fiber. Fiber is first provided for being washed in a solution. Such solution includes ingredients such as stain remover, whitener, brightener, conditioner, and/or odor remover.

Abstract: The effects of ultraviolet induced damage to cationic dyeable nylon fibers dyed at a pH of about 2.5 or less with an acid dye, a premetallized acid dye or a reactive dye are arrested or attenuated by applying to the dyed fibers either before of after exposure to ultraviolet light a neutralizing aqueous solution having a pH of about 7.5 or greater and heating the fibers.

Abstract: The invention relates to the compacted granular products of a mixture of (A) at least one water-soluble dye, (B) at least one extender, and (C) at least one compound of formula:  wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic residue with 12 to 22 carbon atoms, R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently of one another are each hydrogen or a residue of formula—(OCH2CH2)nH in which n is a number from 20 to 100, and B and B1 independently of one another are each C1-C4alkylene, and optionally (D) a dust-binding oil and/or (E) further additives, their production and their use.

Abstract: The surface of a positive-electrode active material layer or a negative-electrode an active material layer is coated with a gel electrolyte composition to form a gel electrolyte layer. The positive and negative electrodes are laminated such that the gel electrolyte layer is sandwiched. At this time, the gel electrolyte composition is formed into a sol form so as to be applied to the surface of the positive-electrode active material layer or the negative-electrode active material layer. The viscosity of the gel electrolyte composition formed into the sol form is 1 cp to 50 cp. The gel electrolyte composition is formed into the sol form by heating the gel electrolyte composition or diluting the gel electrolyte composition with nonaqueous solvent. When dilution with the nonaqueous solvent is performed, solvent having a high boiling point and solvent having a low boiling point are mixed with each other.

Abstract: The addition of a magnesium compound to an ash bearing fuel results in a reduction in the formation of deposits in the turbine and extending the interval between turbine washes when burning the ash bearing fuel in a turbine compared to burning the ash bearing fuel in a turbine without the addition of a magnesium compound. The additive is desirably effective with ash bearing fuel having less than 0.5 ppm vanadium by weight, less than 1 ppm sodium and potassium combined by weight, and greater than about 25 ppm ash by weight or greater than 2 ppm calcium by weight. The additive is blended with the ash bearing fuel to give a mass ratio of magnesium to ash of between about 0.5 to 1 and about 3 to 1, and desirably about 1 to 1 on a mass basis after mixing.

Abstract: Coal beneficiation is achieved by suspending coal fines in a colloidal suspension of microscopic gas bubbles in water under atmospheric conditions to form small agglomerates of the fines adhered by the gas bubbles. The agglomerates are separated, recovered and resuspended in water. Thereafter, the pressure on the suspension is increased above atmospheric to deagglomerate, since the gas bubbles are then re-dissolved in the water. During the deagglomeration step, the mineral matter is dispersed, and when the pressure is released, the coal portion of the deagglomerated gas-saturated water mixture reagglomerates, with the small bubbles now coming out of the solution. The reagglomerate can then be separated to provide purified coal fines without the mineral matter.

Abstract: A method for chemical mechanical polishing of semiconductor substrates containing a metal layer requiring removal and metal interconnects utilizing a composition containing engineered copolymer molecules comprising hydrophilic functional groups and relatively less hydrophilic functional groups; the engineered copolymer molecules enabling contact-mediated reactions between the polishing pad surface and the substrate surface during CMP resulting in minimal dishing of the metal interconnects in the substrate.

Abstract: Enclosures having adjustable clean gas flow environments and methods of enclosed pressure differential distribution technology. Specifically, clean gas flow enclosures, which provide for the isolation of materials from airborne micro-particulate contamination. An embodiment of the invention utilizes a small footprint, modular, selectable, clean-gas flow environment for handling and isolating materials. The environment can be a clean room class environment by providing filtered gas from a gas flow generator (12) through a gas filter (13) to a filtered gas flow space (20). An embodiment of the invention provides a first plenum (23) and a second plenum (26) so that both a horizontal filtered gas flow and vertical filtered gas flow may be used separately or in combination within the same filtered gas flow space (20).

Abstract: A flash arrestor applicable to suppress explosions in gas lines generally, but specifically appropriate for suppressing explosions of pyrophoric gases, particularly silane in connection with integrated circuit manufacturing, has two identical flash suppression assemblies that are interconnected and act bidirectionally so as to suppress explosions occurring on either side of the apparatus. The positioning of a poppet relative to a poppet seat can be set manually into “open,” “closed” and “armed” positions, the latter indicating that the apparatus has been configured so as to intercept automatically any explosion that is transmitted to it through a gas line so as to yield a valve “closed” configuration, and that closed position can then be locked in manually.

Abstract: A controlled release urea-formaldehyde liquid resin having a nitrogen level of at least 28 wt % and its method of manufacture. The controlled release urea-formaldehyde resin is useful as a fertilizer.

Abstract: An iron-based sintered powder metal mixture for valve guides, valve seat inserts and other high temperature, high wear applications requiring excellent net-shape stability during sintering comprises a powder metal mixture consisting essentially of 0.5-2.0 wt. % of fine, soluble graphite which goes into solution in the elemental iron matrix, 0.5-2.5 wt. % stable graphite which remains as free graphite in the sintered structure, 0.5-3.0 MoS2, which reacts with 1.0-5.0 wt. % copper to drive a sintering reaction at relatively low sintering temperatures of between 1030—1150° C. The resulting sintered particles have good mechanical strength and wear resistance and possess excellent machineability and dimensional stability.

Abstract: Processes for recovering gold from copper-gold ores thiosulfate leaching or gold ores copper catalyzed thiosulfate leaching using ion exchange technology are disclosed. The processes include subjecting the gold-bearing and copper-bearing thiosulfate solution to a pH and/or temperature adjustment to reduce tetrathionate concentration in the thiosulfate solution prior to contacting with an ion exchange resin. The ion exchange resin once loaded with gold and optionally copper is eluted with a mixture of sodium tetrathionate, ammonium thiosulfate and sodium sulfite. Gold and optionally copper are recovered from the eluate by electrowinning or precipitation.

Abstract: The nickel powder is characterized in that the rate of the nickel particles whose particle size is not less than 1.2 time the average particle size as determined by the observation with an SEM is not more than 5% of the total number of nickel particles and that the rate of nickel particles whose particle size is not more than 0.8 time the average particle size is not more than 5% of the total number of nickel particles. The nickel powder is produced by bringing a slurry, containing nickel hydroxide, which is prepared by adding an aqueous solution of a nickel salt to an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide, into contact with a hydrazine reducing agent under the temperature conditions of not less than 55° C. to reduce the nickel hydroxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of separating one or more components from a multi-component gas stream comprising at least one non-acid gas component and at least one acid gas component. A multi-component gas stream at a pressure above 1,200 psia (82.8 bar) and a temperature above 120° F. (48.9° C.) with the concentration of at least one acid gas component in the gas stream being at least 20 mole percent is passed to a membrane system that selectively separates at least one acid gas component from the multi-component gas stream as a permeate stream. The permeate stream has a pressure at least 20% of the pressure of the feed pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for separating materials in the form of particles and/or drops from a gas flow, in which method the gas flow is directed through a collection chamber the outer walls of which are grounded, and in which high tension is directed to the ion yield tips arranged in the collection chamber, thus providing an ion flow from the ion yield tips towards the collection surfaces, separating the desired materials from the gas flow. It is characteristic of the invention that the collection surfaces conducting electricity are electrically insulated from the outer casings; and that high tension with the opposite sign of direct voltage as the high tension directed to the ion yield tips is directed to the collection surfaces. According to an embodiment of the invention the electrical insulation is made of ABS, and the surface conducting electricity comprises a thin chrome layer arranged on the insulation layer.

Abstract: A two-dimensional gas chromatograph with a primary column (14) and dual secondary columns (26, 28) is described. Flow rates in the primary column are less than those in the secondary columns due to an accumulation valve (16). Typically the ratio of second and third column flow capacities combined to primary column flow capacities between about 10 to 1 and 30 to 1. Volatile organic compounds are detected in environmental samples of air water, soil and in body fluids of animals and humans.

Abstract: A furnace filter assembly for removing dirt and contamination from air entering an existing furnace is installable on the existing furnace without the need for modification thereof, and includes a filter frame, a supply roll for supporting a continuous length of bulk filter media, a take-up roll for receiving the filter media as it is advanced from the supply roll across the filter frame, a motor for rotating the take-up roll for advancing the filter media, all of which components are mounted on the filter frame. The assembly further includes a motor control system having a pressure sensor, a timer, and a switch in electrical communication with a controller for energizing and de-enegizing the motor in response to conditions of the filter media.