1. An isolated DNA from a mutant strain of a genus Sphingomonas, wherein said DNA comprises a mutated phaC gene encoding a polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthase, and wherein said mutant strain produces sphingan without producing PHB.
2. The isolated DNA of claim 1, wherein said DNA comprises a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7.
3. The isolated DNA of claim 2, wherein said DNA further comprises flanking regions.
4. The isolated DNA of claim 3, wherein said DNA comprises a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:13.
5. The isolated DNA of claim 1, wherein said PHB synthase comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:8.
6. A vector comprising the isolated DNA of claim 1.
7. A vector comprising the isolated DNA of claim 2.
8. A vector comprising the isolated DNA of claim 3.
9. A vector comprising the isolated DNA of claim 4.
10. The isolated DNA of claim 1, wherein said sphingan is gellan, diutan (S-657), welan (S-130), rhamsan (S-194), S-198, S-7, S-88, NW-11, or B-16.
11. The isolated DNA of claim 1, wherein said sphingan is gellan.
12. The isolated DNA of claim 1, wherein said sphingan is diutan.
13. A recombinant DNA comprising a mutated phaC gene encoding a polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthase, wherein a Sphingomonas strain comprising said recombinant DNA produces sphingan without producing PHB.
14. The recombinant DNA of claim 13, wherein said DNA comprises a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7.
15. The recombinant DNA of claim 14, wherein said DNA further comprises flanking regions.
16. The recombinant DNA of claim 15, wherein said DNA comprises a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:13.
17. The recombinant DNA of claim 13, wherein said PHB synthase comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:8.
18. A recombinant vector comprising the recombinant DNA of claim 13.
19. A recombinant vector comprising the recombinant DNA of claim 14.
20. A recombinant vector comprising the recombinant DNA of claim 15.
21. A recombinant vector comprising the recombinant DNA of claim 16.
22. The recombinant DNA of claim 13, wherein said sphingan is gellan, diutan (S-657), welan (S-130), rhamsan (S-194), S-198, S-7, S-88, NW-11, or B-16.
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.-15. (canceled)
16. Apparatus for forming a temporary fluid-tight seal on the inner wall of a fluid conduit through an aperture therein within a patient’s body, the apparatus comprising a fluid-impervious flange having an outer periphery and a protrusion thereon disposed to protrude through the aperture in a wall of the fluid conduit for positioning the flange against the inner wall over the aperture, the flange including a balloon disposed to be inserted in deflated condition through the aperture for configuring the flange into sealing engagement against the inner wall covering the aperture in inflated condition and for selectively reconfiguring the flange in deflated condition for removal through the aperture.
17. Apparatus according to claim 16 including segments of the flange disposed about the protrusion for flaring radially outwardly against the inner wall in response to the inflated condition of the balloon.
18. Apparatus for forming a temporary fluid-tight seal on the inner wall of a fluid conduit through an aperture therein within a patient’s body, the apparatus comprising:
a fluid-impervious flange having an outer periphery and a protrusion thereon disposed to protrude through an aperture in a wall of the fluid conduit for positioning the flange against the inner wall over the aperture, the flange including a plurality of ribs radially disposed about a distal end of the protrusion, and including a web of flexible material disposed about the plurality of ribs for configuring the fluid impervious flange into sealing engagement against the inner wall of the fluid conduit, and for selectively reconfiguring the flange in deflated condition for removal through the aperture.
19.-20. (canceled)