An analytical test device useful for example in pregnancy testing, comprises a hollow casing ( 500 ) constructed of moisture-impervious solid material, such as; plastics materials, containing a dry porous carrier ( 510 ) which communicates indirectly with the exterior of the casing via a bibulous sample receiving member ( 506 ) which protrudes from the casing such that a liquid test sample can be applied to the receiving member and permeate therefrom to the porous carrier, the carrier containing in a first zone a labelled specific binding reagent is freely mobile within the porous carrier when in the moist state, and in a second zone spatially distinct from the first zone unlabelled specific binding reagent for the same analyte which unlabelled reagent is permanently immobilised on the carrier material and is therefore not mobile in the moist state, the two zones being arranged such that liquid sample applied to the porous carrier can permeate via the first zone into the second zone, and the device incorporating means, such as an aperture ( 508 ) in the casing, enabling the extent (if any) to which the labelled reagent becomes bound in the second zone to be observed. Preferably the device includes a removable cap for the protruding bibulous member.

Capillary immunoassay and device therefor comprising mobilizable particulate labelled reagents

A self-sustaining, portable, power station that may be moved by land, air, or sea to an area that has no utilities. The station is provided with at least one wind turbine and/or solar panel arrays in communication with at least one electrical distribution and storage means. The derived electricity is used to power various systems including, albeit not limited to, a communications system, a water filtration system, a water distribution system to allow the public to draw potable water and provide basic hygiene. The electricity derived may also be used to run outside systems, such as schools, hospitals, or the like.

Portable, self-sustaining power station

A method for modifying the curvature of a live cornea to correct a patient's vision. First, at least one relatively small opening is made in the cornea for inserting a fiber optic cable or micro-cutting tool therein to create a pocket or cavity with first and second opposed internal surfaces. The laser beam or micro-cutting tool can be directed onto one of the first and second internal surfaces, or both, if needed or desired to incrementally and sequentially ablate or remove three-dimensional portions of the cornea. If a laser beam is used, then a flexible template can be inserted into the opening in the cornea for accurately controlling the pattern to be ablated within the cornea. Preferably, the live cornea is then left alone to collapse and obtain its new refractive power by waiting a set period of time. After waiting the set period of time, the cornea is then examined to determine the new refractive power of the cornea. Now, ocular material can be introduced to the cornea to further modify the curvature of the cornea as needed. The ocular material can be either a fluid or a solid lens or a combination thereof. In either case, the ocular material is transparent or translucent material with either a refractive index substantially the same as the intrastromal tissue of the cornea, or a different refractive index from the intrastromal tissue of the cornea.

Intrastromal corneal modification

A method and apparatus for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye is comprised of a lens body, an optic in the lens body configured to produce light interference, and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic. The optic may be configured to produce light scattering or composed of a light reflective material. Alternatively, the optic may increase the depth of focus via a combination of light interference, light scattering, light reflection and/or light absorption. The optic may also be configured as a series of concentric circles, a weave, a pattern of particles, or a pattern of curvatures. One method involves screening a patient for an ophthalmic lens using a pinhole screening device in the lens to increase the patient's depth of focus. Another method comprises surgically implanting a mask in the patient's eye to increase the depth of focus.

System and method for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye

A method for economically separating organic contaminants such as volatile organic chemicals (VOC's) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), even if the contaminants are present at low concentrations, from inert materials such as soils or sludges, comprising subjecting inert materials contaminated with organic compounds to a temperature effective to volatilize the organic contaminants but below incineration temperature, with continuous removal and condensation of evolved vapors, for a period of time sufficient to effect the desired degree of separation of contaminants.

Process and apparatus for separating organic contaminants from contaminated inert materials

A low polluting solid waste burner utilizes a first combustion chamber in which the solid waste is partially oxidized under a positive pressure with the partially oxided gaseous combustion products passing out into a first conduit where the gas is recycled for dual burning back into the first combustion chamber. A conduit is also provided between the ash compartment and the combustion chamber to completely oxidize ash compartment gases with complete combustion product gases being conducted away to a spray tower or water curtain by the positive pressure in the combustion chamber produced by the combustion air blower. A second combustion chamber may be used to further oxidize the gaseous combustion products.

Low pollution solid waste burner

A solid fuel burner utilizing at least two stacked chambers one of which contains a combustion bed for the solid fuel burning process. A second chamber below the first bed containing chamber serves to combust volatile gases unburned in the first chamber with the aid of an oxidizing rejector.

Solid fuel burner

An optical lens for eyewear for correcting severe myopia molded from a lens blank having an outer perimeter portion and an inner central portion, and having an inside and outside surface, the inside and outside surface of the outer perimeter portion being without prescription and the inner central portion having a discontinuous inside surface with a raised beveled section around an inner concave section having a corrective curvature for myopia vision.

Corrective lens configuration

A three-stage liquid fuel burner designed to combust fuel efficiently at a temperature less than 2600° F. to substantially inhibit fixation of polluting nitrogen compounds, the burner including three concentric cylindrical chambers of increasing diameter and staggered length, with provision for gradual introduction of air longitudinally through the chambers for full stoichiometric combustion, fuel being injected into the innermost chamber with air supplied below stoichiometric proportion for in complete combustion, the partially combusted gases passing longitudinally to a secondary outer chamber where air is supplied to approximately stoichiometric proportion, the relatively fully combusted gases passing longitudinally to a tertiary outermost chamber where air is supplied to nearly twice stoichiometric proportion.

Three-stage liquid fuel burner

A toilet for conserving water, the toilet having a water storage chamber which includes an expandable diaphragm wall that on filling under household water supply pressure conforms to a wall of a complimentary air chamber separated from the storage compartment by the diaphragm. The chamber communicating with a gated discharge cavity between a trap and a sewage line, wherein water in the storage compartment is released at a high flow rate into a bowl having sedentary waste water, the waste water being exhausted from the bowl into the discharge cavity by a partial vacuum action generated by the contracting diaphragm concurrent with the introduction of the supply water, the waste water being gated from the discharge cavity into the sewer line on reduction of the vacuum pressure, whereby the supply water replaces rather than flushes the waste water.

Hector A. Dauvergne

Papers

Low pollution solid waste burner

Solid fuel burner

Corrective lens configuration

Three-stage liquid fuel burner

Diaphragm activated toilet