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Felix Hoffmann, a German chemist, was searching for something to relieve his father's arthritis. In doing so, he "rediscovered" acetylsalicylic acid and in 1900, patented a stable process for developing it. Hence, we have aspirin.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7993609 | Package for chemicals A container is provided for holding a chemical compound or mixture. Areas are provided on the surface of the container which allow for gaseous by-products from the chemical contained within the container to permeate from a chamber through the surface of the containe... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7850905 | On board monitor for endoscope reprocessor An on board monitor for an endoscope reprocessor for monitoring the performance and order of a predetermined set of critical steps for reprocessing an endoscope. The monitor will only allow the overall system to reach the last step indicating successful completion o... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7304259 | Mail processing system with multilevel contaminant detection and sterilization A method of sorting mail according to the invention includes the steps of receiving a plurality of first mail pieces of unknown origin in a first apparatus for bulk processing of the mail pieces, processing the mail pieces in the first apparatus by one of testing th... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7284900 | Apparatus and method for mixing specimens in vials Method and apparatus for mixing a specimen (e.g., a biological fluid specimen) in an upstanding container having an internal mixer with a cavity defined by an upstanding annular wall. The annular wall of the mixer is engaged by a movable holder, which is elevated al... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7194924 | System and method for biohazard detection using compression The present invention includes a system and method for detecting contaminated objects, for example mail pieces, through use of a pinching device that compresses the objects, thereby possibly releasing potential contaminant-containing particles into the air in a clos... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7186371 | Sealed enclosure sterilization An apparatus for sterilizing a sealed enclosure (1) includes a fan (8) for circulating a gas through a preparation circuit (11) and through the enclosure. The preparation circuit includes an evaporation chamber (10) for dispensing a decon... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7048517 | Pump as a pressure source for supercritical fluid chromatography The invention is a device and method in a high-pressure chromatography system, such as a supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) system, that uses a pump as a pressure source for precision pumping of a compressible fluid. The preferred exemplary embodiment comprise... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7045343 | Sterilization indicator test packs Sterilization indicator test packs for testing the effectiveness of a sterilization procedure are provided. Both non-challenge and challenge-type test packs are disclosed. The non-challenge test packs include generally comprise a tray for holding a sterilization ind... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7017592 | Regenerative fume-incinerator with on-line burn-out and wash-down system A method and apparatus for on-line wash-down of a heat sink media bed in a regenerative heat exchanger of a regenerative fume incinerator is disclosed. When a heat sink media bed requires cleaning, the selected regenerative heat exchanger is cooled while the remaini... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7008592 | Decontamination apparatus and method using an activated cleaning fluid mist Decontamination is achieved by producing an activated cleaning fluid mist using a decontamination apparatus having a source of a cleaning fluid, a mist generator having an input flow of the cleaning fluid and an output flow of a mist of the cleaning fluid at substan... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6969487 | Denaturing of a biochemical agent using an activated cleaning fluid mist A biochemical agent is denatured by producing an activated cleaning fluid mist containing activated hydroxyl species wherein at least a portion of the activated cleaning fluid mist is in an activated state at substantially one atmospheric ambient pressure, and conta... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6960321 | Sterilization of fire sprinkler systems New and in-use fire sprinkler systems can be sterilized by employing antimicrobial gases. The gases include steam, oxygen, and chlorine. Water added to the system after sterilization can be sterilized to prevent the reoccurrence of microbiological contamination.... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6905661 | System for sanitizing and sorting mail A mailpiece sorting apparatus is described which includes a feeder, an OCR scanner, a mailpiece transporter, a sanitizer and compartments or bins for receiving sorted mailpieces, an optical character recognition system (OCR) for reading addressee information, an add... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6599470 | Process and device for counteracting and deodorizing formalin gas A formalin gas counteracting and deodorizing device which is connected to a sterilization chamber including a main pipeline having an inlet for formalin gas at one end thereof and an outlet for processed gas at the other end, a fan connected to the inlet ... | 07/29/2003 |
| 6555379 | Device for monitoring a processing liquid A device for monitoring a processing liquid comprising at least one sensor for generating at least one monitoring signal, and a device for processing the monitoring signal and for generating a control signal for directly or indirectly influencing the comp... | 04/29/2003 |
| 6451270 | Brine maker with removable hopper The present invention is a brine-maker of a two-tank arrangement specifically designed for efficient removal of salt sludge. The first tank is a salt-hopper into which water flows from the bottom and up through salt to form brine and leaves mineral impuri... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6406665 | Transesophageal echo (TEE) probe disinfection and electrical safety test An apparatus is described for disinfecting and testing the electrical safety of a transesophageal echo--TEE-probe. The apparatus comprises a receptacle adapted to receive the TEE-probe, apparatus for supplying the receptacle with a disinfection fluid and ... | 06/18/2002 |
| 6387332 | Safety system A safety system for a gas process or facility for measuring the concentration of a specified gas in an area or chamber and determining whether it is safe to allow access to such area or chamber. In particular, the safety system is adapted for use in a gas... | 05/14/2002 |
| 6290906 | Method for removing sterilant from objects subjected to gaseous sterilization A method of removing sterilization gas from a load disposed in a chamber. In accordance with the method, the chamber is evacuated to a subatmospheric pressure. A diffusion gas comprising helium is provided. An amount of the diffusion gas is introduced int... | 09/18/2001 |
| 6136267 | Fuel ignition arrester system and method A fuel ignition arrester system that has a feedback control to maintain the fuel/air mixture in the ullage of a fuel tank above the flammability range. The system uses a photoelectric detector to signal when the fuel/air mixture concentration falls or ris... | 10/24/2000 |
| 6019940 | Method of processing industrial air stream for medical sterilizers An improved method for processing an industrial sterilization agent utilized to sterilize medical instruments includes the use of a regenerative thermal oxidizer. The sterilization agent is removed from the sterilization chamber and directed into the comb... | 02/01/2000 |
| 5891390 | Method for reducing the danger of fire or explosion from sterilant leakage A novel apparatus and method for sterilizing microbially contaminated materials, e.g., hospital linens, packaged goods, etc., by contact with a flammable chemical sterilant gas such as ethylene oxide, employs a bulk supply vessel for the sterilant gas and... | 04/06/1999 |
| 5837192 | Process and apparatus for inert blanketing of reactors When reactors charged with nitrogen as inert-blanketing gas are opened, high losses of inert-blanketing gas occur which previously have only been able to be compensated for by increased feed of inert-blanketing gas. To minimize the consumption of inert-bl... | 11/17/1998 |
| 5500184 | Self-contained biological indicators A biological indicator is disclosed for determining the efficacy of a sterilization cycle using hydrogen peroxide vapor at subatmospheric conditions. The biological indicator includes a vial formed of a substance which resists retention of residual steril... | 03/19/1996 |
| 5415585 | Decompression apparatus A decompression apparatus comprises an exhaust line connected to a processing unit, an exhaust device connected to the exhaust line, whereby the processing unit is exhausted through the exhaust line, and an ambience in the processing unit can be set under... | 05/16/1995 |
| 5405580 | Self-contained biological indicators A biological indicator is disclosed for determining the efficacy of a sterilization cycle using hydrogen peroxide vapor at subatmospheric conditions. The biological indicator includes a vial formed of a substance which resists retention of residual steril... | 04/11/1995 |
| 5294412 | Steam autoclave unit for delivering sterilized medical waste to a portable carrier A method of disposing of medical waste is disclosed wherein medical waste generated at a facility such as a hospital, clinic, and/or a doctor's office, after being bagged and sterilized, usually by a stem autoclave, is delivered to a mobile carrier having... | 03/15/1994 |
| 5258921 | Automated purge control of sterilizers Apparatus for and method of enhancing the safety of a vapor sterilizer using a programmed EEPROM signal to show when sterilant is present in the sterilizer chamber. The EEPROM signal electrically controls a door lock on a sterilizer door to prevent injury... | 11/02/1993 |
| 5256371 | Method and arrangement for disinfecting a dialysis fluid circuit Not only the dialysis machine, but also its outer supply conduits and connection tubes together with the associated water distribution system can be flushed and disinfected in the present disinfection method by including these members in the cleaning circ... | 10/26/1993 |
| 5229071 | Catalytic oxidizer for treating fixed quantities of gases A batch method and apparatus provides controlled release of gaseous air contaminants into the atmosphere through catalytic oxidation while minimizing both the energy required and the volume of waste gas exhausted into the atmosphere. The device has a reci... | 07/20/1993 |
| 5227132 | Sterilization method Apparatus and method for sterilizing articles includes a sealed first enclosure made at least partially of a gas-permeable plastic film and a sealed container releasably containing a gaseous sterilant under pressure, the container being enclosed within th... | 07/13/1993 |
| 5173266 | Safety pipet A disposable one-time use, inexpensive, capillary-action safety micro-pipet for obtaining a sample of blood or other liquid comprises a transparent glass tube which is capable of drawing blood or other liquid into the tube by capillary action, and a resil... | 12/22/1992 |
| 5151250 | Automatic purge method for ozone generators A negative pressure flow regulation and automatic purge method which provides an improved ozone delivery system for use with ozone generators using venturi devices or other negative-pressure ozone injection schemes, such as in ozone water purification sys... | 09/29/1992 |
| 5148950 | Helmet and fluid reservoir apparatus A helmet structure includes a separably movable fluid pouch mounted within the helmet below the forward helmet shell opening, including an "L" shaped conduit directed upwardly and mounted medially to a respective right and left fluid cavity of the reservo... | 09/22/1992 |
| 5128101 | Sterilization with ethylene oxide A method of treating an article with a mixture of ethylene oxide gas, air, and an inert gas which makes possible reuse of the ethylene oxide for an indefinite number of successive treatment cycles. The gas mixture is refortified with ethylene oxide when n... | 07/07/1992 |
| 4981691 | Oxygenated fluorocarbon nutrient solution The invention provides novel improved oxygenated fluorocarbon nutrient solutions for treatment of hypoxic-ischemic neurologic tissue in mammals. The invention also provides methods of making such nutrient solution and methods of administering them.... | 01/01/1991 |
| 4939254 | Template synthesis of macrocyclic catecholamide complexes A method is provided for a high yield template synthesis of macrocyclic catecholamide ligands.... | 07/03/1990 |
| 4812292 | Chemical sterilant recovery and conversion Chemical sterilants such as ethylene oxide are recovered from sterilization processes and converted into safer chemical compounds by non-catalytic hydrolysis.... | 03/14/1989 |
| 4622209 | Process and apparatus for reducing the chances of ignition and explosion due to the decomposition of high-pressure industrial process gases The danger of explosion due to decomposition of high-pressure industrial process gases, such as ethylene, is reduced by beginning to cool the decomposition gases with a delay of no more than 25 milliseconds from the onset of flow of the gases out of a hig... | 11/11/1986 |
| 4457892 | Biocidal gas sterilization and gas leakage determination Methods and apparatus for the timely determination of potentially harmful biocidal gas leakage from a pressurized chamber during sterilizing operations are disclosed. Biocidal gas make-up values are monitored during the sterilizing phase to provide prompt... | 07/03/1984 |
