Abstract: A method for rupturing cell walls and membranes of organic cells while leaving intra-cellular organelles substantially intact employs a culture dish for holding the cells. A pestle includes a cylindrical portion that metes with the culture dish. Extending from the cylindrical portion is an axially aligned shaft. The method includes the steps of: emplacing a layer of cells in the culture dish; placing the pestle in contact with the layer of cells; applying a pressure axially to the shaft to force the pestle into contact with the cells; and rotating the shaft and pestle a plurality of reverse-direction partial rotations to achieve a rupture of cellular membranes of cells within the culture dish. Both the base of the culture dish and the pestle are substantially planar thereby enabling uniform pressure application across the base of the culture dish.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for disrupting cells, including microorganisms, and facilitating thereby the release of cellular components including RNA and DNA into solution. Solutions or suspensions of cells are placed in a container with minute beads of various composition. The container is then placed in an ultrasound bath or otherwise subjected to sonication until the cells disrupt releasing their cellular components, including RNA and DNA. The released RNA and DNA are then available for hybridization with genetic probes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preparing fine graphite particles which can be used as a highly functional graphite material in wide applications. According to this method, foliated fine graphite particles having a high aspect ratio and hence well-developed anisotropy can be prepared, without formation of secondary particles, by dispersing expanded graphite particles into a liquid and then exposing them to ultrasonic waves. Articles molded of the resulting foliated fine graphite particles exhibit high electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting injectable collagen from human adipose tissue, such as removed by liposuction procedures. The apparatus includes a clear container with inlet and outlet fittings to be attached to the suction line of a liposuction machine to collect globules of adipose tissue. The container has a needle-like rod disposed in its center and an electric motor and belt drive to rotate the rod at a speed sufficient to cause interstitial reticular fiber from adipose tissue to adhere to and wrap around the rod. Water may then be flowed in through the inlet fitting and drawn out through the outlet fitting to flush the adipose tissue out of container, leaving the reticular fibers on the rod. The rod is then retracted (lowered) through a sleeve which has a rotating chopping blade, scrapping the fiber into a cup area of chopping blades. A pharmaceutical carrier such as saline solution is injected into the container.

Abstract: A novel process has been found in which the two types of plastic particles having similar specific gravities in a mixture are safely, efficiently, effectively and economically separated after being soaked in a plasticizer for a predetermined amount of time. The recovered and reclaimed particles can be reprocessed without any additional steps other than washing and drying. This novel process is useful in recycling waste plastic materials especially those materials containing polyvinyl chloride.

Abstract: Biological material is suspended in a liquid and, in the presence of reverberative bodies suspended in the suspension of biological material, subjected to ultrasound thereby to disintegrate the biological material. The disintegration is conducted in a spherical chamber at approximately the center of which is the radiating surface of a sonotrode. The diameter of the chamber is at least three times the diameter of the radiating surface and the radiating surface faces the bottom of the chamber. The suspension of the biological material is pumped upwards through the chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic cell-destroyer using cell-suspending solution containers each having a groove at its bottom, thereby causing ultrasonic energy available to converge to the container bottom to increase the efficiency at which cells can be destroyed in the cell-suspending solution. The ultrasonic cell-destroyer may use a rotary container holder, which is capable of rotating a plurality of containers in the bath to evenly expose all the containers to ultrasonic wave.

Abstract: There is provided a continuous flow type homogenizer. The homogenizer comprises, a tubular container having at upper end thereof an inlet for introducing tissue to be homogenized and at lower end thereof an outlet for discharging the homogenized tissue, a pestle disposed freely rotatable in the tubular container with a clearance defined between the inner surface of the tubular container and the peripheral surface of the pestle, a rotation shaft driving means connected to a rotation shaft of the pestle, a speed setting means for setting the rotation speed of the pestle, and a speed controlling means for controlling the speed of the rotation shaft with a predetermined speed gradient with respect to a speed value set by the speed setting means.

Abstract: A composition such as a biologically active substance is delivered upon demand from a polymeric matrix by exposing the polymeric matrix containing the composition to ultrasonic energy.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for releasing blossom pollen from its outer skin by a combination of drying and size reduction pressure treatment steps.

Abstract: An ultrasonic disintegrating apparatus with a tank containing a liquid, an ultrasonic wave generating device operatively coupled to a bottom wall of the tank, and at least one vessel vertically immersed in the liquid contained in the tank such that ultrasonic waves propagated from the bottom wall of the tank disintegrate cells in the vessels. Each vessel includes a cylindrical metallic tube having an open upper end and a closed lower end, a cap detachably coupled to the open end of the tube, and a downwardly depending metallic bar suspended from the center of the cap into the metallic tube so as to terminate at a point spaced from the lower end of the metallic tube to thereby facilitate complete disintegration of cells within the vessel when exposed to ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the removal of mold core material from metal castings and for fragmentation of municipal waste material, e.g., paper products, involves heating and hydrating the materials within a pressure vessel. Chemicals active on the material to be processed or the hydration water are added during hydration to soften the material to be removed or fragmented. Excess liquid in the vessel is drained and pressurized steam is added for a selected period of time. A suitable temperature and pressure are achieved such that the moisture or liquid carried by the processed material will rapidly turn to steam or vapor when the pressure in the vessel is rapidly reduced by quickly opening an unloading means at the bottom of the pressure vessel. The sudden release of the pressure in the vessel causes the moisture to change to steam and a certain portion of the liquid in the material to flash to vapor in accordance with thermodynamic laws.

Abstract: A tissue pulverizer for pulverizing specimens of living tissues for facilitating chemical testing and the like. The pulverizer has a base, a guide member for emptying into a receiving tube and an elongated pestle member. The parts are cooled with liquid nitrogen and the specimen inserted, covered with the cooled pestle and frozen. The pestle member is then struck with a hammer to pulverize the frozen sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously disintegrating cells of microorganisms comprising a mixing vessel and an accumulating vessel communicating with one another through a disintegration device. The disintegration device comprises a hollow body having a seat in which there is installed a needle valve member. The hollow body further comprises a sleeve having a bottom wall incorporating the needle valve member and a side wall having openings for communicating the interior of the sleeve with the accumulating vessel. An insert is installed in the opened end of the sleeve which is connected to the sleeve and has a central passage coaxial with the valve member and communicating with the mixing vessel.

Abstract: Offal from a poultry hatchery, including new-born chicks, is processed into a form suitable for rendering or disposal as land fill by dumping same into a device including a pair of elongated, generally cylindrical, counter-rotating rollers. Each roller has external longitudinally extending corrugations which mesh with the corrugations on the other roller. The corrugations are configured so that, as the offal passes between the counter-rotating rollers, new-born chicks and live, unhatched embryos are killed instantly and other debris, such as egg shells, are crushed into a smaller form.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for treating a fluid-permeable hydrocarbonaceous solid, such as coal, containing an admixture of hydrocarbonaceous components and mineral and sulfur components, to separate the solid into a hydrocarbonaceous enriched fraction and a mineral and sulfur enriched fraction. The process involves comminuting the solid in the presence of a low molecular weight alcohol under conditions sufficient to substantially scission the hydrocarbonaceous components from the mineral and sulfur components and to selectively comminute the hydrocarbonaceous components. The resultant product is thereafter separated into the enriched hydrocarbonaceous fraction and the enriched mineral and sulfur fraction.In a preferred embodiment of the process, the hydrocarbonaceous solid is mixed with a low molecular weight alcohol, such as methanol, to form a slurry. The slurry is then heated and pressurized to a temperature and pressure above the critical temperature and pressure of the alcohol.

Abstract: The decomposition of cells of biomasses or the like or of substrates containing biomass, e.g. for releasing cell content substances, for separating cell content and cell sheath or for inactivating enzymes or the like is performed by heating and expanding. According to the invention, the biomass or the like is heated by friction, optionally under pressure, to temperatures above the point of evaporation of water and it is subsequently expanded into atmosphere or in a reduced pressure. As for the apparatus, the cells of biomasses or the like are decomposed by means of a centrifugal machine in which a rotor and a stator with facing radial surfaces are coacting. Between the rotor and the stator, there is provided a gap producing frictional heat in a predetermined amount for the material passed continuously therethrough, and at the outlet of the gap, there is an expansion chamber which is in communication the atmosphere.

Abstract: A process for the fractionation of a porous or fluid-permeable hydrocarbonaceous solid, such as coal, containing an admixture of mineral matter and hydrocarbonaceous matter, into a separate mineral enriched fraction and a separate hydrocarbonaceous enriched fraction is disclosed. In this process, the hydrocarbonaceous solid is comminuted to convert the hydrocarbonaceous matter in the coal into discrete particles having a mean volumetric diameter of less than about 5 microns without substantially altering the size of the mineral matter originally present in the coal. As a result of this comminution, the hydrocarbonaceous particles can be fractionated from the mineral particles to provide a hydrocarbon fraction having a lesser concentration of minerals than in the original uncomminuted material and a mineral fraction having a higher concentration of minerals than in the original uncomminuted material.A preferred method for comminuting the porous or fluid-permeable hydrocarbonaceous solid, i.e.

Abstract: A continuous flow tissue homogenizer is disclosed and includes a generally tubular container (12) with an inner surface (60) defining a tissue homogenization chamber (19). One end of the container has an inlet (46) for the introduction of non-homogenized tissue in solution and the other end of the container has an outlet (36) for the discharge of homogenate. A pestle member (38) is disposed within the homogenization chamber and mounted to a shaft (40) for rotatably driving the pestle member. The pestle member has an outer surface (62) that is spaced apart from the inner surface of the container to provide a tissue disruption zone (64) therebetween. The pestle member divides the homogenization chamber into first portion (54) and second portion (56). A plurality of grooves (68) are circumferentially spaced about the outer surface of the pestle member and open into the first chamber portion to channel the tissue solution into the tissue disruption zone of the apparatus.

Abstract: A multiple tube holder is suspended at the upper end on a frame so that the lower end can pivot through a small arc about a horizontal axis adjacent the upper end of the holder. A motor is connected to the lower end of the holder for pivoting the lower end of the holder through said small arc at a rate of approximately 1800 cycles per minute. A tray means is positioned below the holder for supporting a cooling liquid at a controlled temperature so that the lower end of the tubes on the holder will be immersed in the liquid to prevent destruction of proteins and enzymes released during cell breakage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering embryos from embryonated eggs wherein the egg is cracked open the shell discarded and the contents dropped onto a continuously vibrating screen which separates the embryo from the yolk sac and accompanying fluid. This associated material, which is less cohesive than the embryo, passes through the screen. The screen itself is tilted at a compound angle from the horizontal and its vibrating action causes the embryos to move along the upper surface of the screen toward a discharge chute located at the lower corner of the screen.

Abstract: A novel roasted and ground coffee product having a unique appearance is produced by roasting a first coffee fraction to a first roast color and water quenching said roasted beans to a relatively high moisture level, separately roasting a second coffee fraction to a second, discernibly different roast color and water quenching said roasted beans to a relatively low moisture level. The two roasted coffee bean fractions are then blended together and ground, producing a coffee product having a speckled appearance wherein the average particle size of the high-moisture fraction is at least 300 microns larger than the average particle size of the low-moisture fraction.

Abstract: Certain solid waste, particularly that comprising trash, rubbish, refuse, garbage, animal and organic remains, and similar materials as is collected from municipalities, is heated and pressurized, preferably with the addition of moisture which saturates those components of the waste which will accepted it, to a suitable temperature and pressure in a pressure vessel. The suitable temperature and pressure are such that the moisture or liquid already in the waste will rapidly turn to steam or vapor at the temperature of the waste when the pressure in the vessel is rapidly reduced. Unloading means at the bottom of the pressure vessel then quickly open. The sudden release of the pressure in the vessel then causes the moisture to change to steam and a certain portion of the liquid in the waste material to flash to vapor in accordance with thermodynamic laws. The resulting rapid expansion within the waste material fragments the waste material.

Abstract: Improved allergen-containing extracts are obtained by the extraction of allergy-causing materials, such as pollen and house dust, with hydrophilic aqueous extractants, by pretreating the allergen-containing material with a lipophilic, aqueous extraction liquid. Allergens extracted in the two steps can be combined and formed into allergen preparations, which can be used both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: Sewage is subjected to a sudden pressure release to break up the organic solids particles for improving subsequent treatment or separation operations.