74results about How to "Minimize adhesion" patented technology

A multilumen vascular catheter (1) for treatment of patients by insertion of the vascular catheter in a venous blood vessel (14) by means of a guide-wire (28), the vascular catheter having a proximal connection point (10), a distal end-portion (12) which is terminated within a guide-wire opening (26), and a flexible catheter tube (16) arranged between the proximal connection portion (10) and the distal end-portion (12). The catheter tube (16) has a first lumen (18) for extraction of fluid such as untreated blood from the vessel (1) and a second lumen (20) for introducing fluid such as treated blood to the blood vessel (14). One or more suction openings (22) communicate with the first lumen (18) and are located upstream of one or more outlet openings (24), which in turn communicate with the second lumen (20), the suction openings (22) and the outlet openings (24) being located at the distal end-portion (12). The distal end-portion (12) is permanently bulbous and has a first, widening section (A) starting from the catheter tube (16) with a gradually increasing external cross-section in the direction toward the guide-wire opening (26). The first section (A) transits downstream via a shoulder (30) with a maximum external diameter into a second, narrowing section (B) having a gradually decreasing external cross-section in the direction toward the guide-wire opening (26). One or more of the suction openings (22) are located in the first, widening section (A) of the distal end-portion (12) while one or more of the outlet openings (24) are located in the second, narrowing section (B).

The present invention relates to a novel pH triggered, targeted controlled release system. The controlled delivery system of the present invention is substantially a free-flowing powder formed of solid hydrophobic nano-spheres comprising pharmaceutical active ingredients that are encapsulated in a pH sensitive micro-spheres. The invention also relates to the processes for preparing the compositions and processes for using same. The controlled release system can be used to target and control the release of pharmaceutical active ingredients onto certain regions of the gastrointestinal tract including the stomach and the small intestine. The invention further pertains to pharmaceutical products comprising the controlled release system of the present invention.

A system for reducing the diameter of a stent comprises a stent contracting assembly and a fluid source. The assembly comprises a plurality of contracting members that define a diameter reduction chamber for receiving a stent. When the chamber is in a pre-reduction configuration the stent has a first diameter and when the chamber is in a reduced configuration the stent has a second diameter. The second diameter is less than the first diameter. The fluid source is in fluid communication with the chamber and is constructed and arranged to inject a fluid therein. The fluid forms a fluid bearing between the contracting members and the stent which prevents the contracting members from contacting the stent in the reduced diameter configuration.

A mask blank container adapted to house a mask blank with a resist film. The container comprises a container body 5 for receiving the mask blank; a cap member 6 to be put on the container body; and a fixing member 9 adapted to fix the container body and the cap member to each other when the cap member is put on the container body. The container body and the cap member have fitting portions 51 and 61 made of a resin material and fitted to each other, respectively. The fixing member comprises a first member 91 having an engaging portion 91 a to be engaged with the fitting portion of the cap member, and a second member 92 having an engaging portion 93 to be engaged with the fitting portion of the container body. A distance between the engaging portions of the first and the second members is desired to be variable.

Embodiments of the invention provide methods for reducing formation of void-type defects on the surface of a substrate during electrochemical plating. Embodiments of the invention provide methods to improve the wetting of a substrate surface prior to immersion and thereby minimize adhesion of bubbles to the substrate surface during immersion. A thin uniform metal oxide is formed on a metal layer on the substrate immediately prior to substrate immersion. In one aspect, exposing the substrate to an oxygen-containing gas, e.g. air, forms the metal oxide. The oxygen-containing gas may be flowed over the substrate or the substrate may be rotated at a high rate in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas. In another aspect, non-uniform metal oxides are first removed from the substrate in an anneal process and a thin uniform metal oxide is subsequently re-formed. An optimized substrate immersion method may also be used to further reduce void defects.

A snow removal machine including a housing with a forward opening through which snow enters the snow removal machine. At least one rotatable member is positioned and rotatably secured within the housing for engaging and eliminating the snow from within said housing. The snow removal machine also includes a surface treatment application system with a treatment material dispensing system connected to the housing for dispensing a liquid or solid deicer and / or anti-icing treatment material over an area from which snow has been removed.

The present invention is a charging device that electrically charges an object that is charged while being moved in a predetermined direction and an image forming device having such a charging device. The charging device has: a charging member that electrically charges the charged object; a power source that supplies electric power to the charging member in order to electrically charge the charged object; a contact member arranged downstream relative to the charging member as viewed in the moving direction of the charged object and adapted to contact the charged object directly or by way of a predetermined intermediary medium; an ammeter that gauges an electric current caused to flow through the contact member due to an electric charge on the charged object electrically charged by the charging member; and a power source control section that controls the power source based on the electric current gauged by the ammeter.

An apparatus for printing on a continuous web of linerless tape defined by a print side for subsequent application to an article. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support for a continuous web of linerless tape; an undriven platen roller located downstream of the support; a print head associated with the undriven platen roller, wherein the undriven platen roller directs the continuous web of linerless tape past the print head for printing on the print side thereof; and a driven roller positioned adjacent the platen roller and downstream of the print head for pulling the web of linerless tape from the platen roller. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a support for a continuous web of linerless tape; a driven platen roller located downstream of the support; a print head associated with the platen roller, wherein the platen roller directs the continuous web of linerless tape past the print head for printing on the print side thereof; and a driven roller positioned adjacent the platen roller and downstream of the print head for pulling the web of linerless tape from the platen roller. Methods of printing indicia on a continuous web of linerless tape are also included.

A multilumen vascular catheter (1) having a flexible catheter tube (16) with a distal end-portion (12) which is terminated by a guide-wire opening (26). The catheter tube (16) has a first lumen (18) for extraction of fluid from the vessel (1) and a second lumen (20) for introducing fluid to the blood vessel (14). One or more suction openings (22) communicate with the first lumen (18) and are located upstream of one or more outlet openings (24), which in turn communicate with the second lumen (20). The distal end-portion (12) is permanently bulbous and has a first, widening section (A) starting distally from the catheter tube (16) with a gradually increasing external cross-section to a shoulder (30) with a maximum external diameter into a second, narrowing section (B) having a gradually decreasing external cross-section distally. One or more of the suction openings (22) are located in the first, widening section (A) of the distal end-portion (12) while one or more of the outlet openings (24) are located in the second, narrowing section (B).

This invention provides a solution to increase the yield strength and fatigue strength of miniaturized springs, which can be fabricated in arrays with ultra-small pitches. It also discloses a solution to minimize adhesion of the contact pad materials to the spring tips upon repeated contacts without affecting the reliability of the miniaturized springs. In addition, the invention also presents a method to fabricate the springs that allow passage of relatively higher current without significantly degrading their lifetime.

A pre-treatment method for cleaning and maintaining reverse osmosis membrane filters by injecting sulfurous acid into waters with suspended solids in a liquid fraction to be filtered to form sulfurous acid (H2SO3) to acid leach heavy metals into the liquid fraction, reduce alkalinity and mineral scaling, add sufficient SO2 as a biocide to attack bacteria and other micro organisms to prevent membrane fouling, reduce iron to prevent iron deposit build-up, scavenge and remove dissolved oxygen prior to filtration to prevent membrane oxidation, and then sequentially filtering the acidified water through membrane filters to create a metal free permeate and a brine retentate, which can be pH adjusted to remove the heavy metals as metal hydroxide precipitates.

A shear valve assembly includes a stationary valve manifold having a manifold planar surface containing a plurality of manifold input ports and one or more manifold output ports, a movable valve switch having a switch planar surface in slidable, interactive contact with the manifold planar surface forming an interactive contact junction, the switch planar surface having a fluid switching channel capable of connecting one of the plurality of manifold input ports with one of the one or more manifold output ports, a surface modifying component disposed at the interactive contact junction that provides a period of extended useful life of the manifold planar surface and the switch planar surface beyond the useful life of pre-lubricated interactive contact junction, a drive shaft connected to the valve switch, and a valve housing supporting the stationary valve manifold, the movable valve switch, and the drive shaft.

A method for cleaning and maintaining reverse osmosis membrane filters by injecting sulfurous acid into water to form sulfurous acid (H2SO3), and then sequentially filtering the acidified water through membrane filters to reduce alkalinity and mineral scaling, add sufficient SO2 as a biocide to attack bacteria and other micro organisms to prevent membrane fouling, reduce iron to prevent iron deposit build-up, scavenge and remove dissolved oxygen prior to filtration to prevent membrane oxidation, and prevent concentrated salts within the retentate from precipitating out of solution during transport for land application.