Abstract: A surgical device for ligating and severing a vessel. The surgical device including: a housing; a flexible suture having a looped portion extending from a distal end of the housing for capturing a periphery of the vessel; ligating means for tightening the looped portion around the periphery of the vessel; and a cutter for cutting the vessel. Also provided is a method for ligating and severing a vessel including: looping a flexible suture material around a periphery of the vessel; looping a flexible cutting material around the periphery of the vessel; ligating the vessel by decreasing the size of the loop of flexible suture material; and severing the vessel by decreasing the size of the loop of flexible cutting material. The method preferably further includes drawing the vessel against a cutting surface, such as a knife blade, which is retractable in a housing.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a grasping device and system and the method of using the device and system for capturing a thromboembolism and other objects or masses within a patient's body lumen, particularly from within a patient's cerebral blood vessels. The grasping device has an elongated core member with a grasping assembly of arms on the distal end of the core member which have an expanded and a contracted configuration. The expanded configuration permits the arms to surround an object such as a thrombus or clot and a contracted configuration to grasp or capture the object. The distal ends of the arms are provided with object grasping members such as one or more teeth to facilitate the capture and removal of the object. A delivery catheter and a shorter guide catheter aid in delivering the grasping device to the desired intravascular location within the patient.

Abstract: Spring clips are arranged end to end in a cavity of an inner shaft. Such shaft slides within an outer shaft, and a pusher member slides in the cavity behind the clips. The clips have jaws biased together, but which are wedged apart by an opener as the pusher is moved distally. An opened clip is ejected by relative movement of the inner and outer shafts to clamp body tissue at a desired site.

Abstract: A suture placer for placing a length of suture wire through tissue such that the suture wire is directed into the tissue and then back out again.

Abstract: The present invention relates to suture spacers and methods for their use. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices which permit a surgeon to create a consistent amount of suture slack in a suture line when tying sutures under very tight space constraints including procedures such as bladder neck stabilization and treatment of hypermobility or intrinsic sphincter deficiency. Further, the present invention relates to methods of tying sutures using the disclosed devices in such procedures.

Abstract: An adenoid curette that includes a shank, a handle, and a cutting head. The shank has a pin, male threads, and a collar. The cutting head is a loop that is continuous and has a groove, a slot, and a neck. The shank is placed in the groove and in the neck, and the pin is positioned in the slot. The collar is threaded onto the male threads, captures the neck during threading, and abuts against the cutting head during threading so as to force the pin further into the slot until the collar can no longer rotate indicating that the pin is fully seated in the slot and thereby causing the cutting head to be captured between the pin and the collar and thereby interchangeably retaining the cutting head on the shank.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for harvesting from the eye of a mammilian (e.g., cadaveric) donor a disc-shaped graft or lenticle consisting of corneal tissue and a quantity of scleral or pericorneal tissue wherein limbal stem cells are located. This graft or lenticle is then transplanted onto the eye of a human or veterinary patient to treat a disorder caused by the absence or deficiency of limbal stem cells in the patient's eye. The system of the present invention comprises a) an eye-contacting ring and cutter guide apparatus and b) a cutter apparatus. The eye-contacting ring and cutter guide apparatus is initially placed in contact with the donor eye such that a portion of the cornea and adjacent scleral or pericorneal tissue containing limbal stem cells protrudes upwardly through the center of the ring. The cutter is then engaged with guide member(s) formed on the ring and the cutter is advanced, severing the protruding cornea and stem-cell-containing pericorneal tissue.

Abstract: A method for detecting transverse mode vibrations in an ultrasonic hand piece/blade is achieved by monitoring the power delivered to the hand piece/blade to determine whether it increases as expected when power levels applied to the hand piece/blade are changed. While the blade is being held in midair, the power delivered to the hand piece/blade and/or the impedance of the hand piece/blade is measured at a first power level. Using the value obtained at the first power level, the expected power at a second power level is calculated and used to set a pass/fail threshold level for an actual measured power. Alternatively, the threshold is set for the impedance is set. Next, the actual power delivered to the hand piece/blade and/or the impedance of the hand piece/blade is measured at a level 5 power setting. A determination is made whether the hand piece/blade exhibits transverse mode behavior based on whether the actual measured power exceeds the established pass/fail threshold level.

Abstract: Laparoscopic apparatus and method for insertion into a space or potential space in a body including an introducer device having a tubular member with a bore extending therethrough. A tunneling shaft assembly is provided and is slidably mounted in the bore of the introducer device. The tunneling shaft assembly includes a tunneling shaft having proximal and distal extremities. A tunneling member is mounted on the distal extremity of the tunneling shaft. A balloon assembly is provided which is removably secured to the tunneling shaft. The balloon assembly includes a balloon wrapped about said tunneling shaft. A sheath is provided which encloses the balloon on the tunneling shaft. The sheath has a slit extending longitudinally thereof permitting the sheath to be removed whereby the balloon can be released and inflated. A tubular member is provided which has a balloon inflation lumen thereon and is coupled to the balloon for inflating said balloon.

Abstract: A medical airway instrument (1) is provided which is capable of facilitating creation of an air passage in the larynx to prevent collapse of the root of a patient's tongue, and having a lingual strip (2) curved in a longitudinal direction to conform with curvature of the tongue and palatal strip (3) curved in roughly the same manner as the lingual strip (2) such that the palatal and lingual strips (2,3) overlap in the anterior direction of curvature. The lingual and palatal strips (2,3) are rotatably coupled by a spindle (5) in the vicinity of a posterior part (2b, 3b) thereof. A stopper (4) is provided on a side of the lingual strip (2) to project in the direction of overlapping, in a position forward of the spindle (5) to hold anterior parts (2a, 3a) of the lingual and palatal strips (2,3) apart from one another at any desired gap without contact therebetween, to thereby secure a breathing passage (10) between the strips (2,3).

Abstract: A delivery sheath is provided for deploying a self-expanding intravascular filter. The sheath includes a stiff proximal portion which provides for good pushability and trackability through tortuous vessels and a soft, flexible, low profile, radiopaque distal tip for holding and delivering a deployable filter. The soft distal tip minimizes the formation of embolic particles that may be produced by contact between the sheath and an arterial lesion. The distal tip may be molded from a polymer containing radiopaque particles held in suspension and thereby provides for good visualization under fluroscopy.

Abstract: The endoluminal device delivery assembly and method for release and deployment of an endoluminal therapeutic device at a desired location for treatment within the vasculature of a patient utilizes an elongated flexible tubular catheter with a tubular distal tip formed of a yieldable material mounted to the distal end of the catheter for releasably holding the proximal end of the endoluminal device. The endoluminal device can be dislodged from the tubular distal tip by a pusher member or pressurized fluid to expel the endoluminal device through at the desired location for treatment within the vasculature of a patient. A flexible coil can be mounted to the distal end of the elongated pusher member to provide for improved tracking.

Abstract: A surgical stapler for use at visually inaccessible sites comprises a shaft having a stapler head at its distal end and a guide means for accommodating a separate, pre-positioned guide wire whereby the stapler may be slid bodily along the guide wire to guide the stapler head towards the exterior of a blood vessel. A blood vessel locator tube has a forward end projecting forwardly of the stapler head for entering the blood vessel through a puncture site and a rear end remote from the distal end of the shaft. The locator tube allows the positioning of the stapler head at the blood vessel to be indicated by a flow of blood from the rear end of the tube.

Abstract: The invention comprises a chiropractic table having a base, a plurality of frames, a plurality of drop mechanisms, and a plurality of cushions. The base has a longitudinal axis and the plurality of frames are attached to the base. Each frame has a first lateral side and a second lateral side which are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base. In addition, each frame has a pair of transverse sides which are substantially perpendicular to the first and second lateral sides. Each lateral side includes a frame hole. The frame holes in the first lateral side of each frame are substantially identically located with respect to the transverse side associated therewith, and the frame holes in the second lateral side of each frame are substantially identically located with respect to the transverse side associated therewith. The table is also provided with a plurality of cushions, each of which is adapted to be received by a frame.

Abstract: A catheter system for controlling the body temperature of a patient by modifying the temperature of blood flowing within a blood vessel of the patient. The catheter system comprises a catheter body having a heat exchange region in contact with the blood; and a temperature probe having a distal end that extends from the catheter body, thereby monitoring the temperature of blood flowing within the blood vessel.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for heating or cooling a surrounding fluid in a feeding vessel. The device includes a catheter assembly capable of insertion to a selected feeding vessel in the vascular system of a patient. The assembly includes a heat transfer element at a distal end of the catheter assembly, the heat transfer element having a plurality of exterior surface irregularities shaped and arranged to create turbulence in a surrounding fluid, the surface irregularities having a depth at least equal to the boundary layer thickness of flow of the surrounding fluid in the feeding vessel. The assembly also includes a supply catheter to deliver a working fluid to an interior of the heat transfer element, a return catheter to return a working fluid from the interior of the heat transfer element, and a drug delivery catheter running substantially parallel to the axis of the catheter assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a facial treatment device which can repeat warming and cooling of the face of a person while the massages are given to the face at the same time, whereby the beauty effects such as the facial treatment and body slimming can be mutually and efficiently obtained. A Peltier element 12 is placed adjacent to a probe 11 having a high thermal conductivity, which can abut the face of a person 19 to be treated. Then, the current is supplied by a DC power supply 101 to the Peltier element 12 and the direction of the current can be switched between the forward and backward directions by the selector switch 100. Thereby, the cooling and warming of the probe 11 is repeated. At the same time, a motor 15 having an eccentric weight 17 attached thereto is driven, whereby the probe 11 is vibrated.

Abstract: A catheter assembly is provided having an inner member and an outer member extending along a longitudinal axis, the inner member and the outer member having a coaxial configuration and dimensioned for relative axial movement. The outer member has a wall defining an opening such as a longitudinal slot; an expanding member such as a leaf spring is connected to the inner member, the leaf spring being adapted to engage with the longitudinal slot so as to maintain rotational alignment between inner member and outer member.

Abstract: An intraluminal stent ideal for intravascular and other applications. The stent comprises a plurality of circumferential bands interconnected by rows of links. Each of the bands is formed of a serpentine strand forming a plurality of loops. The loops form repeating bends along the edges of the bands. Except for the bends on the outer most edges of the end bands, the internal bends are radiused to greater than 180 degrees. This forms a crimped neck or narrowed portion from which the legs of each loop extend, and three “joints” in each leg. The bends on the outer edges of the stent may be simple 180-degree curves, to provide relatively rigid leading edges. The links that connect the bands preferably are serpentine as well, and more preferably are S-shaped. The rows of serpentine links may alternate between being right-handed and left-handed.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a stent provides a folded strut section that provides both structural rigidity and reduction in foreshortening of the stent mechanism. A flexible section provides flexibility for delivery of the stent mechanism. In a second embodiment, flexible section columns are angled with respect to each other, and to the longitudinal axis of the stent. These relatively flexible sections are oppositely phased in order to negate any torsion along their length. In yet another embodiment, the flexible connector can take on an undulating shape (like an “N”), but such that the longitudinal axis of the connector is not parallel with the longitudinal axis of the stent. Finally, a new method is disclosed for making stents. The method consists of performing a standard photochemical machining process of cutting, cleaning and coating the tube with a photoresist.

Abstract: Disclosed is a breast prosthesis comprised of at least one layer and formed to imitate the shape of a breast, the at least one layer being welded in a plastic film, comprised of a phase change material having a phase change temperature approximate the user's body temperature.

Abstract: The biocompatible material has a resilient, porous structure and is suitable for in vivo implantation. It possesses pores of a narrow pore size distribution between 150 to 300 &mgr;m and is usable for forming a sheeting with a thickness of less than 0.8 mm for tissue reinforcement or which is usable for forming shapes for soft tissue augmentation and with an improved tensile strength. The material provides an environment in which normal tissue growth is fostered. The material has a porous structure comprising fibers or particles having a critical surface tension of 35 mN/m or higher. The material has a porous structure of alumina fibers or particles and PTFE resin fibers and particles bonded together by sintered polytetrafluoroethylene in a manner to expose a maximum amount of fiber surface. The method of preparing the material includes the steps of mixing, filtering, compressing, rolling, sintering, drying, sintering and leaching or solving of leachable or solvable material.

Abstract: An implantable support apparatus cushions between articulating structures, such as bone or other tissue. The apparatus includes a plurality of sheets of a substantially biocompatible tissue, which are connected together to form a laminated stack of the biocompatible tissue. Alternatively, the prosthesis may be formed of a molded protein, which has been cross-linked and substantially detoxified.

Abstract: An articulating spinal implant for intervertebral disc replacement. The articulating spinal implant is formed from two elements, each engaging one of an adjacent pair of vertebra. Articulation features between the two elements resist compression and lateral movement between the vertebra, but allow the adjacent vertebra to articulate about an instantaneous axis of rotation.

Abstract: A shoulder prosthesis system has a glenoid socket with an interior face with couplers and an exterior face being a concave articulating face with a first longitudinal radius of curvature and a second latitudinal radius of curvature. A backing plate has an outer extent and an inner extent. The outer extent has a cylindrical base and a recess around the periphery and a plurality of tapered bores extending through the outer extent spaced between the recess and the center of the backing plate. The inner extent is formed with a projection with threads adapted to be rotatably coupled into a scapula of a patient. The couplers of the outer extent are adapted to snap couple with the recesses of the glenoid socket.

Abstract: An implant for installation into a portion of an articular surface includes a protrusion configured to cover an un-excised portion of articular surface proximate to the implant. Another implant may form a cavity to allow the un-excised portion of articular surface to remodel over a perimeter edge of the implant. The implant may also include indentations such as grooves to promote articular cartilage remodeling over a portion of the load bearing surface of the implant. An elongated or non-round implant is also provided having two opposing concentric arcuate shaped sides, as well as a method to seat such an implant in an articular surface. A method for seating an implant without cutting articular cartilage is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions for an implantable putty material for delivery of active compounds to a patient. More specifically, the present invention provides a material having a pH of between about 3 and 6 and possessing putty-like physical properties, wherein the composition of the material includes collagen and water. The present invention also provides a method for using the implantable putty material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an artificial dura mater prepared from an biodegradable and bioabsorbable synthetic polymer sheet and having a total light transmittance of 30% or more as defined by JIS K7105, a haze (cloudiness value) of 80% or less as defined by JIS K7105 or a specular glossiness at 60° (Gs 60°) of 10-20% as defined by JIS Z8741.

Abstract: A device and a method for remote maintenance of an electronically controllable prosthesis (1) are provided. The prosthesis comprises a controller in which operating and/or movement data characterizing the prosthesis are detected and are then transmitted to a remote maintenance device (20) with a storage and evaluation unit (20). Remote maintenance of the prosthesis using the detected data is possible via a remotely located remote control unit (23) that can access the storage and evaluation unit via the telephone network. Corrected operational data are transmitted from the storage and evaluation unit (20) back to the controller of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A prosthetic connector includes a cylindrical housing having a semi-toroidal top surface and a flat bottom surface with a mated pin receiving aperture extending axially therethrough and a diametrically positioned cavity therein. The flat bottom surface of the connector is mounted to a prosthetic. A shuttle lock latch is slidingly disposed in the cavity, and the connector includes a means for biasing the shuttle lock latch wherein a portion of latch is available to positively secure a mated pin inserted into the pin receiving aperture. The prosthesis includes an actuator means for releasing the pin. The shuttle lock latch is securable to the pin by engagement of the shuttle lock latch, and the connector is manually releasable by means of the actuator.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for preparing an article capable of detoxifying a pesticide, such as textiles, comprising: (a) immersing the article in an aqueous treating solution which comprises a catalyst, a wetting agent and a heterocyclic amine; and (b) treating the article with a halogenated aqueous solution, thereby rendering the article capable of detoxifying a pesticide.

Abstract: The invention concerns a composition for dyeing keratin fibers, in particular human keratin fibers such as hair comprising at least one pyrazolin-4,5-dione of formula (I) and at least one aromatic primary amine. Said composition enables the dyeing of keratin fibers without an oxidizing agent in shades which are strong, varied, resistant and less selective than those of prior art. The invention also concerns dyeing methods and devices using said composition.

Abstract: This invention is directed to treatments for dyed textile goods that will improve their fastness properties. More particularly, the invention is directed to certain fixatives that, when placed on the dyed textile, allow the dye to be permanently or substantially permanently affixed to the fabric. The dye-reactive fixative comprises a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer or oligomer having reactive groups that react with a dye on a dyed web to affix the dye to the web.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a negative material and a secondary battery in which a belt-shaped positive electrode and a belt-shaped negative electrode are wound together with a separator in between them to form a wound electrode body. The wound electrode battery is then inserted inside a battery can. Preferably, the negative electrode is produced with crushed silicon or a silicon compound in an oxygen partial pressure atmosphere within a value from higher than 10 Pa to lower than an oxygen partial pressure of air.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery including an anode and cathode containing an active material capable of incorporating and releasing lithium ions, wherein the cathode is a porous sintered material made of a lithium-transition metal oxide, the porosity of the sintered material is 15 to 60%, and the electrical conductivity is not less than 0.1 mS/cm. Since the sintered material is sufficiently sintered so that the electrical conductivity may be more than 0.1 mS/cm, the bonding power of the primary particles of the sintered material is strong, and therefore the primary particles do not come off and the electrodes do not collapse even if the sintered material expands or shrinks because of the charge/discharge. Since the mechanical strength is great, the cathode can have a larger area. The electrolyte penetrates well into the sintered material because of its 15 to 60% porosity, and consequently the internal electrical resissitivity is low.

Abstract: A toy which emits sounds as it is moved, comprising: a toy body; and a plurality of mechanically-operated sound tubes carried within the toy body, each sound tube including a sliding whistle which moves along the tube by the force of gravity, and each sound tube lying along a longitudinal axis, in which the axes are transverse to one another, so that the sound tubes emit sound when the toy is moved along various axes.

Abstract: A polishing composition for polishing a semiconductor substrate has a pH of under 5.0 and comprises (a) a carboxylic acid polymer comprising polymerized unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers having a number average molecular weight of about 20,000 to 1,500,000 or blends of high and low number average molecular weight polymers of polymerized unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers, (b) 1 to 15% by weight of an oxidizing agent, (c) up to 3.0% by weight of abrasive particles, (d) 50-5,000 ppm (parts per million) of an inhibitor, (e) up to 3.0% by weight of a complexing agent, such as, malic acid, and (f) 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of a surfactant.

Abstract: A polishing composition comprising the following components (a) to (g): (a) at least one abrasive selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide and titanium oxide, (b) an aliphatic carboxylic acid, (c) at least one basic compound selected from the group consisting of an ammonium salt, an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt, an organic amine compound and a quaternary ammonium salt, (d) at least one polishing accelerating compound selected from the group consisting of citric acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, glycine, &agr;-alanine and histidine, (e) at least one anticorrosive selected from the group consisting of benzotriazole, benzimidazole, triazole, imidazole and tolyltriazole, (f) hydrogen peroxide, and (g) water.

Abstract: A device for reducing pressure loss of a cyclone dust collector is disclosed, in which a turbulence flow generated when inlet air into a cyclone body is discharged out through an air outlet passage can be laminated. The device for reducing pressure loss of a cyclone dust collector prevents fine dust as well as relatively weight dust from being contained in discharge air.

Abstract: A method for recovering metallic chromium from slags which contain chromium oxide from converter processes, such as AOD, MRP, AOD-L, MRP-L, CLU, ASM, Conarc stainless steel or vacuum processes, such as VOD, SS-VOD, RH, RH with lanze, includes drawing off the slag which is produced at the end of a blowing or treatment operation in a converter or a vacuum installation in unreduced form. The slag is charged into an electric furnace, which is also charged with a standard charge of scrap and, if appropriate, dust residues. Carbon and, if appropriate, silicon are additionally added to the electric furnace.

Abstract: A ferrous sintered valve seat material is made of mixed powders comprising a sinter-hardenable phase and a finely dispersed carbide phase. The powder mixture comprises a sinter-hardening prealloyed powder forming 75 to 90 wt. % of the mixture and a tool steel powder with finely dispersed carbides forming 5 to 25% of the mixture. Machinability additives of MnS, CaF2 or MoS2 types are added in an amount of 1 to 5 wt. %. Improved thermal conductivity is obtained by infiltrating the compact with Cu up to 25 wt. %.

Abstract: A copper graphite composite material suitable for use in applications such as brushes, switches and contact materials for rail systems and other industrial devices. The composite comprises a copper network matrix having a plurality of pores containing graphite. The composite may have an IACS value of at least 40% which may even be higher than 70% and a density value of at least 6.0 g/cm3. The method for preparation of the composite comprises mixing graphite and copper powder under non-oxidising conditions, compacting the mixture and sintering under non-oxidising conditions.

Abstract: Nitrided valve metals are described, such as nitrided tantalum and nitrided niobium. The nitrided valve metals preferably have improved flow properties, higher Scott Densities, and/or improved pore size distribution which leads to improved physical properties of the valve metal and improved electrical properties once the valve metal is formed into a capacitor anode. Processes for preparing a nitrided valve metal are further described and involve nitriding the valve metal at a sufficient temperature and pressure during a heat treatment that is prior to the deoxidation step. Capacitor anodes and other products incorporating the valve metals of the present invention are further described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lubricant system in the pressing of powders to form a part. The lubricant system is a solid at ambient conditions. However, upon application of pressure during the pressing of the metal parts, the lubricant system forms a liquid phase along the walls of cavity in which the powder is being pressed.

Abstract: A tool or fluxing head for fluxing molten metal that comprises a fluxing gas supply line that communicates with the interior of an inverted plunger cup providing a hollow interior into which refining agents and other additives that are to be introduced into a molten metal can be incorporated. In use, the fluxing head is introduced into a molten metal body with the plunger cup in the inverted position. The inverted plunger cup has a closed top at the point where the gas supply line enters and an open bottom that allows molten metal to enter the inverted cup to make contact with the refining agent or other additive. Apertures are provided in the wall of the inverted plunger cup to allow gas introduced therein to escape therefrom. According to a preferred embodiment, a porous layer is provided at the top of the inverted plunger cup to allow for the escape of gas into the molten metal through the porous layer.

Abstract: Copper metal powders, methods for producing copper metal powders and products incorporating the powders. The copper metal powders have a small particle size, narrow size distribution and a spherical morphology. The method includes forming the metal particles in a continuous manner.

Abstract: A spray pyrolysis method for producing pure metal and/or metal oxide particles uses a mixture of a carrier gas and a solution of a metal salt precursor, water and a co-solvent reducing agent. The metal salt precursors preferably comprise metals from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pd, Ag and Au, whereas the salt anions preferably comprise nitrates, acetates, oxalates and chlorides. The co-solvents are those that act as a reducing agent, are vaporizable, are inert with respect to the carrier gas, and are hydrophilic, such as alcohols, in particular, low-carbon numbered alcohols such as methanol or ethanol.

Abstract: In a process for the fractional condensation of an acrylic acid-containing product gas mixture of a gas-phase partial oxidation of C3 precursors of acrylic acid with molecular oxygen under heterogeneous catalysis, the separation column used contains both dual-flow trays and hydraulically sealed cross-flow trays as baffles having separation activity.

Abstract: When an ionization section is taken out of a main body housing of a conventional air cleaner in order to wash the ionization section, an ionization line may be cut by being accidentally touched. In order to avoid this problem, a pre-filter (7) is mounted on a front surface of an ionization and dust collection unit (6) so as to be detachable. The pre-filter (7) is slidably guided by guide furrings (23) in a sub-frame (12), and is mounted on a front surface of the sub-frame (12). When the pre-filter (7) is mounted, ionization lines (15) are not exposed, so that the pre-filter (7) protects the ionization lines (15). When the ionization and dust collection unit (6) is detached from the main body housing, therefore, there is no problem that the ionization lines (15) might be cut by being accidentally touched with worker's hands, for example.

Abstract: A process for preparing products containing mineral particles and asphaltenes-containing binder, said process involves (a) preparing a fluid mixture of mineral particles and asphaltenes-containing binder by mixing (i) solid particles containing from 10 to 95% by weight of asphaltenes-containing binder having a penetration of less than 15 dmm and from 90 to 5% by weight of small particles having an average particle size of less than 5 millimeter, with (ii) hot mineral particles having a temperature from 100 to 300° C., and (b) use of the fluid mixture for preparing products containing mineral particles and asphaltenes-containing binder.