1-29. (canceled)
30. A method, comprising:
applying pressure at more than one angle to a plurality of fibers to form a plurality of modified fibers; and
after applying pressure, incorporating at least some of the fibers into a battery electrode paste,
wherein the plurality of fibers has an average length of greater than 1.5 millimeters before applying pressure and the plurality of fibers has an average length of less than 1.5 millimeters after applying pressure.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein pressure is simultaneously applied at more than one angle.
32. The method of claim 30, wherein pressure is sequentially applied at more than one angle.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the plurality of fibers is rotated between sequential steps of applying pressure.
34. The method of claim 30, wherein the pressure is at least 50 pounds per square inch.
35. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of fibers comprise a plurality of glass fibers.
36. The method of claim 30, wherein the first average length is at least five millimeters.
37. The method of claim 30, wherein pressure is applied for at least one second.
38. The method of claim 30, wherein the second average length is less than 0.5 millimeter.
39. The method of claim 30, wherein after applying pressure the plurality of fibers has an acid absorption of less than 1350%.
40. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of fibers comprise a plurality of C glass fibers.
41. The method of claim 30, forming the battery electrode paste into a battery electrode.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein the battery electrode is a lead acid battery electrode.
43. A method, comprising:
applying pressure to the plurality of fibers; and
after applying pressure, incorporating at least some of the plurality of fibers into a battery electrode paste,
wherein the plurality of fibers has a first average length before applying pressure and a second average length after applying pressure, the first average length being at least 15 times greater than the second average length.
44. The method of claim 43, wherein the first average length is at least 20 times the second average length.
45. The method of claim 43, wherein the first average length is at least 25 times the second average length.
46. The method of claim 43, wherein pressure is simultaneously applied at more than one angle.
47. The method of claim 43, wherein pressure is sequentially applied at more than one angle.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein the plurality of fibers is rotated between sequential steps of applying pressure.
49. The method of claim 43, wherein the pressure is at least 50 pounds per square inch.
50. The method of claim 43, wherein the plurality of fibers comprise a plurality of glass fibers.
51. The method of claim 43, wherein the first average length is at least five millimeters.
52. The method of claim 43, wherein pressure is applied for at least one second.
53. The method of claim 43, wherein the second average length is less than 1.5 millimeter.
54. The method of claim 43, wherein after applying pressure the plurality of fibers has an acid absorption of less than 1350%.
55. The method of claim 43, wherein the plurality of fibers comprise a plurality of C glass fibers.
56. The method of claim 43, forming the battery electrode paste into a battery electrode.
57. The method of claim 56, wherein the battery electrode is a lead acid battery electrode.
58. A method, comprising:
applying a first pressure to the plurality of fibers;
removing the first pressure from the plurality of fibers;
rotating the plurality of fibers;
applying a second pressure to the plurality of fibers; and
after applying the second pressure, incorporating at least some of the plurality of fibers into a battery electrode paste,
wherein the plurality of fibers has a first average length before applying the first pressure and a second average length after applying the second pressure, the first average length being greater than the second average length.
59. The method of claim 58, wherein a pressure selected from the group consisting of the first pressure and the second pressure is at least 50 pounds per square inch.
60. The method of claim 58, wherein the plurality of fibers comprise a plurality of glass fibers.
61. The method of claim 58, wherein the first average length is at least five millimeters.
62. The method of claim 58, wherein a pressure selected from the group consisting of the first pressure and the second pressure is applied for at least one second.
63. The method of claim 58, wherein the second average length is less than 1.5 millimeters.
64. The method of claim 58, wherein after applying pressure the plurality of fibers has an acid absorption of less than 1350%.
65. The method of claim 58, wherein the plurality of fibers comprise a plurality of C glass fibers.
66. The method of claim 58, forming the battery electrode paste into a battery electrode.
67. The method of claim 66, wherein the battery electrode is a lead acid battery electrode.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A tissue illuminator to facilitate viewing of tissues that lie below the skin of a portion of an infant’s body, comprising in combination:
a) a base unit;
b) an electrical power source housed within the base unit;
c) a lighting head, the lighting head including a semi-rigid elongated board, the board including a plurality of electrical conductors for conducting electrical signals;
d) a plurality of light-emitting devices supported by the lighting head, each light-emitting device being electrically coupled to at least one of the electrical conductors for selectively causing each such light-emitting device to emit light; and
e) an electrical cable coupled to the base unit and coupled to the lighting head for supplying electrical power from the base unit to the lighting head to selectively operate the plurality of light-emitting devices;
whereby placement of the lighting head behind a portion of the infant’s body causes light to be directed into such portion of the infant’s body for enhanced viewing.
2. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 1 wherein the lighting head includes a flexible cover over the board for resting against the infant’s skin, the flexible cover being translucent.
3. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 2 wherein the flexible cover is relatively clear.
4. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 2 wherein the flexible cover is formed of thermoplastic.
5. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 2 wherein the flexible cover is a padded sleeve surrounding the board.
6. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 5 wherein the padded sleeve includes a layer of soft padding having at least one aperture formed therein proximate to the plurality of light-emitting devices for allowing light emitted by the plurality of light-emitting devices to pass therethrough.
7. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 1 further including at least one fastening strap for releasably securing the lighting head behind a portion of the infant’s body that is to be viewed.
8. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 1 wherein the electrical cable is releasably coupled to the lighting head.
9. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 8 wherein the lighting head is disposable, and wherein the base unit is used with a plurality of lighting heads.
10. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 1 wherein the plurality of light-emitting devices are light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
11. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 10 wherein the board includes an upper surface directed toward the infant’s body, and wherein the LEDs are surface mount LEDs that are physically mounted upon the upper surface of the board.
12. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 10 wherein the plurality of light-emitting devices include LEDs that emit substantially the same color of light as each other.
13. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 10 wherein the plurality of light-emitting devices includes a first LED that emits light of a first color, and a second LED that emits light of a second color substantially different from the first color.
14. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 10 wherein the plurality of light-emitting devices includes at least first and second LEDs that are electrically coupled in parallel fashion with each other along a first electrical path, and the plurality of light-emitting devices including at least third and fourth LEDs that are electrically coupled in parallel fashion with each other along a second electrical path different from the first electrical path.
15. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 14 wherein the first and second LEDs emits light of a first color, and the third and fourth LEDs emit light of a second color substantially different from the first color.
16. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of light-emitting devices emits light in a low energy portion of the visible light spectrum.
17. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 1 wherein the plurality of light-emitting devices are arranged upon the board substantially co-linearly.
18. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 1 wherein the base unit includes batteries for supplying electrical power to the lighting head.
19. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 18 wherein the batteries are rechargeable.
20. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 1 wherein the base unit includes an electrical control circuit for selectively applying electrical power to the lighting head through the electrical cable.
21. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 20 wherein the electrical control circuit includes at least one user-operated control for selecting between at least two different modes of operating the plurality of light-emitting devices.
22. The tissue illuminator recited by claim 1 further including a semi-rigid plastic housing for releasably receiving the lighting head, the housing including a contact portion for being secured to a portion of the infant’s body, at least the contact portion of the housing being translucent for allowing light emitted by the light-emitting devices to pass into the infant’s body.
23. A method of illuminating tissues of an infant for the purpose of a venipuncture, said method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a semi-rigid elongated board;
b. supporting a plurality of light-emitting devices from the elongated board;
c. placing the elongated board beneath the arm of an infant;
d. securing the elongated board to the infant’s arm to immobilize the infant’s arm;
e. supplying electrical power to the light-emitting devices to illuminate the infant’s arm;
f. performing the venipuncture while the infant’s arm is illuminated;
g. removing electrical power from the light-emitting devices after performing the venipuncture.
24. The method recited by claim 23 wherein the step of supplying electrical power to the light-emitting devices includes the steps of:
a. providing a base unit separate from the elongated board, the base unit including a source of electrical power; and
b. releasably coupling an electrical cable between the base unit and the elongated board for supplying electrical power from the base unit to the light-emitting devices.
25. The method recited by claim 24 wherein the step of removing electrical power from the light-emitting devices includes the step of uncoupling the electrical cable from the elongated board.
26. The method recited by claim 23 wherein steps c) and d) include the steps of:
a. providing a semi-rigid plastic housing for releasably receiving the elongated board, the housing including at least one contact portion for engaging the arm of the infant, the at least one contact portion of the housing being translucent;
b. securing the at least one contact portion of the housing behind the infant’s arm to immobilize the infant’s arm;
c. releasably securing the elongated board to the housing; and
d. removing the elongated board from the housing after performing the venipuncture.
27. The method recited by claim 26 including the steps of:
a. removing the housing from the infant’s arm after intravenous access to the infant is no longer required; and
b. disposing of the housing.