Other

Conceptus, Inc.

Fountainhead, LLC

Fiberstar, Inc

Fiberstar Bio-ingredient Technologies, Inc.

Micro-magnetics, Inc.

Dale C Lindquist

Brock M Lundberg

Loren R Keldahl

Paul L Miller

Mario F Fernandez

Mark E Quale

Brock Lundberg

The present invention comprises an improved method for refining cellulose that produces a highly refined cellulosic material. The method comprises soaking raw material from primarily parenchymal cell wall structures in an aqueous solution which need not contain an agent to modify the fiber (e.g., a mild alkalizing or alkaline agent and/or solution) using reduced temperatures and pressures, and refining the material with a plate refiner so that a waste water stream is reduced in volume. The mass is dried to produce the HRC fiber. The HRC fiber displays a water retention capacity of about 25 to at least about 56 g HO/g dry HRC and retains moisture under conditions that are ordinarily used to remove moisture from materials. The highly refined fiber product can also provide excellent thickening properties and can be used in a wide variety of materials, including edible materials.

Highly refined fiber mass, process of their manufacture and products containing the fibers

Process of manufacturing and using highly refined fiber mass

A windrower (1) useful for collecting stalk material from a field (43) and depositing the material In a windrow (61). The collection of dust and debris in the windrow is minimized by the use of a screen (24) located above the auger (29) which transports the cut stalk material to a discharge chute (14). The screen (24) permits lighter airborne particles to escape from the region surrounding the auger (29) before they are entrained and deposited into the windrow. A screen (47) is also placed beneath the auger (29) to permit small, dense particles to fall from the region surrounding the auger and be deposited on the ground (43). A flexible barrier (48) is placed between the auger and the cutting assembly (32) so that material falling through the screen is not reintroduced to the cutting blades (39, 42). A second barrier (64) is positioned behind the auger so as to form a volume (66) within which material is confined so that it will not become airborne. The windrower wheels (3-10) are adjustably spaced and arranged in pairs so that the number of individual wheels riding on a peak contour (56) within the field (43) is maximized.

Corn stover collection apparatus

A self-contained, implantable device for controlling passage of material through internal body conduits, and in particular to control the material passage through a closure point commonly referred to as a sphincter, such as flow through the urethra from the bladder, movement through the bowel, or flow of medications from an artificial conduit that is implanted. The magnetic occluding device comprises a fixed magnetic pressure plate assembly, positioned on one side of a conduit, and a permanent magnet on an opposite side of the conduit. The permanent magnet can be moved so that the magnetic force between the pressure plate and the magnet can be altered from a position wherein the attraction between the movable magnet and the pressure plate carries the conduit between the magnet and the pressure plate to collapse to close off flow through the conduit, to a position wherein the conduit can open. The position of the magnetic poles of the movable magnet is changed either by being rotated or displacing it laterally with the pressure plate so the magnets tend to at least slightly repel each other when the conduit is to be opened. Control of the magnetic force is achieved to insure that the flow of blood in the conduit is not cut off.

Magnetic occluding device

A device for alleviating problems associated with urinary incontinence in female patients that has an external, magnetically retained, elastically expandable receptacle which includes a rim that can be formed to fit between the labia of a female circumscribing the urthra outlet with a rear portion inserted in the vagina using magnetically attractable elements implanted at the foward portion of the labia. The set of implanted elments mate with a set of elements mounted on the receptacle rim and the sets of elements are magnetically attractable to each other. Suitable sealing jels can be used around the edges of the rim. The receptacle includes an anterior collection cylinder, which is folded when empty and which is sufficiently expandable so that it will unfold and hold voided volumes adequately to permit rapid voiding without causing pressures that break the seals of the rim. The collection cylinder can be drained when convenient.

Incontinence appliance

A hanger strip for envelopes that contain flat articles such as high quality collector art prints in a storage rack, which has a leg that extends along the top edge of the envelope adjacent the opening to the envelope, and which has a cover flap that can be pivoted open to permit access to the envelope opening. The hanger is at the top edge of the cover flap on a suitable web. The envelope is adhesively secured to the one depending leg so that it can be quickly attached, and then when stored is hung from the hanger to hold the envelope closed completely.

Growing community of inventors

Willmar, MN, United States of America

Dale C Lindquist