Abstract:
The present invention provides novel medical devices for use in surgical procedures and methods for manufacturing novel medical devices. In some embodiments, the novel medical devices can include surgical needles that are capable of being repeatedly passed through tissue using minimal force. More particularly, the surgical needles can be manufactured with one or more coatings that provide the surgical needles with both durability and lubricity for ease of repeated and successive passes through tissue. Novel methods for manufacturing the surgical needles and for providing and applying coatings to the surgical needles are also provided.
Abstract:
Microsurgical probes having a distal tip with a flat outer surface and a flat inner surface, and methods of forming such probes, are disclosed.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a liquid clarifier useful for removing solids suspended in a wastewater stream. Settled biological solids are taken from the clarifier and combined in a mixing chamber with a wastewater stream. The combined liquid is provided to a settling region of the clarifier, and suspended solids settle in a biological solids collection region, from which the solids are taken. Clarified liquid can be withdrawn or permitted to overflow from an outlet region in the settling region of the clarifier. The clarifier can enhance the degree of solids removal from wastewater streams having relatively low total suspended solids values, such as outlet streams from fixed film-type digesters. The clarifier is suitable for use in combination with other components of wastewater treatment systems, and can be included as a module in many kinds of wastewater treatment systems.
Abstract:
A demodulator circuit for demodulating an input signal constituted by a modulated carrier. The circuit is provided with a phase control loop composed of a signal mixer having two inputs and an output and providing a signal at its output proportional to the algebraic product of the signals at its inputs, one of the mixer inputs being arranged to receive the demodulator circuit input signal, a voltage controlled oscillator having a control input and an output connected to the other input of the mixer and providing a signal at a frequency varying linearly with the voltage at its control input, and a lowpass filter connected between the mixer output and the oscillator control input. The components of the loop present a set of parameters defining the operation of the loop, which parameters include the peak voltage at the output of the oscillator, the oscillator modulation sensitivity, the voltage amplification factor of the lowpass filter and the gain of the mixer. Circuit devices are connected to the loop for varying at least one of the parameters in inverse proportion to the peak amplitude of the input signal carrier for causing the product of the parameters and the carrier peak amplitude to be substantially constant.
Abstract:
Thin porous moldings of silicone copolymers, suitable for use as membranes in separation processes, are prepared by forming a solution or suspension of silicone copolymer in two solvents L1 and L2, casting the suspension or solution, and removing solvent L1 to form a silicone copolymer rich phase A, effecting structure formation, and then removing solvent L2 and residues of solvent L2 to form a thin porous molding.
Abstract:
A method of mechanically treating alloy metal surgical needles to improve bending strength is disclosed. The needles are curved and reverse-curved in this method to improve bending strength.
Abstract:
The invention relates to pigments whose color depends on the viewing angle, their preparation and use.These pigments comprise oriented three-dimensionally crosslinked substances of liquid-crystalline structure having a chiral phase and, if desired, further dyes and pigments, the further dyes and pigments if present not serving as base for the oriented three-dimensionally crosslinked liquid-crystalline substances having a chiral phase.
Abstract:
A synchronous receiver comprising a high frequency section realized by analog components, including an input preamplifier followed by two quadrature operated mixers with associated .pi./2 phase shifter and a voltage controlled oscillator wherein the high frequency signal is converted by multiplication by means of a phase locked loop directly into the base band and lowpass filters following the mixers for select out interfering mixed products, and a low frequency section following the high frequency section. The receiver is used as a radio or television receiver and the low frequency section is realized by digital components.