Author: claimsbot

1. An aquatic apparel comprising:
a life vest configured as a personal flotation device for a wearer, the life vest defining a neck opening, a torso opening, and a pair of opposed arm holes;
the life vest having at least one front panel extending over the wearer’s chest and a rear panel extending over the wearer’s back, each of the front panel and the rear panel having outer and inner surfaces;
the life vest including an attachment feature configured for securing the life vest around at least a portion of the wearer of the life vest;
the life vest further having one or more substantially rectangular slots for use as handles, wherein each substantially rectangular slot is oriented substantially vertically and sized for receiving a hand of an adult human, wherein each substantially rectangular slot is defined by two pairs of opposed walls extending between the outer and inner surfaces of the front panel or the rear panel to define an aperture through the life vest, the opposed walls of each pair being spaced away from each other, and wherein at least one wall of each slot comprises a plurality of raised portions to accommodate the fingers of hand to permit the user to grip the life vest.
2. The aquatic apparel of claim 1, wherein said one or more substantially rectangular slots comprise two or more substantially rectangular slots.
3. The aquatic apparel of claim 1, wherein said one or more substantially rectangular slots comprise one substantially rectangular slot positioned on the outer surface of the front panel such that it will be in front of an individual wearing the apparel.
4. The aquatic apparel of claim 1, wherein said one or more substantially rectangular slots comprise two or more substantially rectangular slots positioned on the outer surface of the front panel such that it will be in front of an individual wearing the apparel.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for indexing object oriented objects in an object oriented database, comprising:
providing an object data structure including a plurality of object oriented objects, wherein each object includes a key value, and wherein each object is associated with an object index;
providing a node data structure including nodes, wherein each node represents one object in the object store and includes one object index used to access the object represented by the node in the object store, and wherein the nodes in the node data structure are organized according to the key values in the objects represented by the nodes; and
using the node data structure to access the objects in the object store.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein each node is associated with one node index used to access the node in the node data structure, wherein each node is further capable of including one or more node indexes to further nodes, further comprising:
receiving a search key;
accessing one node using the node index for the node;
using the object index in the accessed node to access the object in the object store;
accessing the key value in the accessed object; and
performing an operation if the accessed key value matches the search key.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
if the accessed key value does not match the search key and if the accessed node includes a node index to another node, then using the node index to access the further node and performing another iteration of the steps of using the object index in the further node to access one object in the object store, accessing the key value in the accessed object, and performing the operation if the accessed key value matches the search key.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the nodes represent nodes in a tree data structure, wherein the further node accessed using the node index in one node comprises a child node of the node including the node index.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein each node is associated with a first node index and a second node index, wherein using the first and second node indexes to access the further node comprises:
using the first node index to access the further node if the search key is less than the accessed key value; and
using the second node index to access the further node if the search key is greater than the accessed key value.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein a node that does not include a value indexing another node in one node index comprises a leaf node, wherein the operation performed comprises a request to add a received object to the object data structure, further comprising:
if the accessed key value does not match the search key and if the accessed node comprises a leaf node, then performing:
(i) adding the received object to the object data structure;
(ii) associating one object index with the received object;
(iii) generating a new node for the received object including the object index associated with the received object;
(iv) generating one new node index to associate with the received object that is used to access the new node in the node data structure; and
(iv) updating the leaf node to include the new node index to the new node.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the leaf node includes a first node index and a second node index, wherein updating the leaf node to include the new node index further comprises:
updating the first node index to include the new node index if the search key is less than the accessed key value; and
updating the second node index to include the new node index if the search key is greater than the accessed key value.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein accessing the key value in the accessed object comprises:
issuing a request to access one field in the accessed object including the key value.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the field including the key value is embedded within one object embedded within the accessed object, wherein issuing the request comprises issuing the request against the accessed object, wherein the accessed object issues the request against the embedded object for the field including the key value.
10. The method of claim 2, wherein the operation comprises a request for one object in the object data structure having the key value matching the search key, and wherein performing the operation comprises:
returning the accessed object if the key value in the accessed object matches the search key.
11. The method of claim 2, wherein one node in the node data structure comprises a root node, wherein a root node index used to access the root node in the node data structure is maintained in an additional data structure, wherein the first node accessed comprises the root node, and further comprising accessing the root node index from the additional data structure when accessing a first node in the node data structure.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the object data structure and node data structure comprise an array data structure, and wherein the object and node indexes are used to access the associated object and node, respectively, in the array.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the array data structure comprises a one dimensional array that can expand or contract automatically to accommodate adding and removing elements therefrom.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the array data structure comprises a Java vector.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the objects in the object data structure are instantiated from the same class and include the same field having the key value.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein each object includes multiple key value fields used to organize the nodes in the node data structure.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the objects in the object data structure are instantiated from different classes.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation is a member of a set of database operations comprising adding a new object, searching for one object, updating one object, and deleting one object in the object data store.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein there are multiple object data structures, wherein there is one node data structure for each object data structure, and wherein each object data structure includes objects instantiated from a same class, and wherein the classes used to instantiate the objects in different object data structures comprise different classes.
20. A system for indexing object oriented objects in an object oriented database, comprising:
means for providing an object data structure including a plurality of object oriented objects, wherein each object includes a key value, and wherein each object is associated with an object index;
means for providing a node data structure including nodes, wherein each node represents one object in the object store and includes one object index used to access the object represented by the node in the object store, and wherein the nodes in the node data structure are organized according to the key values in the objects represented by the nodes; and
means for using the node data structure to access the objects in the object store.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein each node is associated with one node index used to access the node in the node data structure, wherein each node is further capable of including one or more node indexes to further nodes, further comprising:
means for receiving a search key;
means for accessing one node using the node index for the node;
means for using the object index in the accessed node to access the object in the object store;
means for accessing the key value in the accessed object; and
means for performing an operation if the accessed key value matches the search key.
22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:
means for using, if the accessed key value does not match the search key and if the accessed node includes a node index to another node, the node index to access the further node and performing another iteration of the steps of using the object index in the further node to access one object in the object store, accessing the key value in the accessed object, and performing the operation if the accessed key value matches the search key.
23. The system of claim 21, wherein the nodes represent nodes in a tree data structure, wherein the further node accessed using the node index in one node comprises a child node of the node including the node index.
24. The system of claim 21, wherein each node is associated with a first node index and a second node index, wherein the means for using the first and second node indexes to access the further node performs:
using the first node index to access the further node if the search key is less than the accessed key value; and
using the second node index to access the further node if the search key is greater than the accessed key value.
25. The system of claim 21, wherein a node that does not include a value indexing another node in one node index comprises a leaf node, wherein the operation performed comprises a request to add a received object to the object data structure;
means for performing, if the accessed key value does not match the search key and if the accessed node comprises a leaf node:
(i) adding the received object to the object data structure;
(ii) associating one object index with the received object;
(iii) generating a new node for the received object including the object index associated with the received object;
(iv) generating one new node index to associate with the received object that is used to access the new node in the node data structure; and
(iv) updating the leaf node to include the new node index to the new node.
26. The system of claim 25, wherein the leaf node includes a first node index and a second node index, wherein the means for updating the leaf node to include the new node index further performs:
updating the first node index to include the new node index if the search key is less than the accessed key value; and
updating the second node index to include the new node index if the search key is greater than the accessed key value.
27. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for accessing the key value in the accessed object further performs:
issuing a request to access one field in the accessed object including the key value.
28. The system of claim 27, wherein the field including the key value is embedded within one object embedded within the accessed object, wherein the means for issuing the request issues the request against the accessed object, wherein the accessed object issues the request against the embedded object for the field including the key value.
29. The system of claim 21, wherein the operation comprises a request for one object in the object data structure having the key value matching the search key, and wherein the means for performing the operation performs:
returning the accessed object if the key value in the accessed object matches the search key.
30. The system of claim 21, wherein one node in the node data structure comprises a root node, wherein a root node index used to access the root node in the node data structure is maintained in an additional data structure, wherein the first node accessed comprises the root node, and further comprising accessing the root node index from the additional data structure when accessing a first node in the node data structure.
31. The system of claim 20, wherein the object data structure and node data structure comprise an array data structure, and wherein the object and node indexes are used to access the associated object and node, respectively, in the array.
32. The system of claim 21, wherein the array data structure comprises a one dimensional array that can expand or contract automatically to accommodate adding and removing elements therefrom.
33. The system of claim 21, wherein the array data structure comprises a Java vector.
34. The system of claim 20, wherein the objects in the object data structure are instantiated from the same class and include the same field having the key value.
35. The system of claim 20, wherein each object includes multiple key value fields used to organize the nodes in the node data structure.
36. The system of claim 20, wherein the objects in the object data structure are instantiated from different classes.
37. The system of claim 20, wherein the operation is a member of a set of database operations comprising adding a new object, searching for one object, updating one object, and deleting one object in the object data store.
38. The system of claim 20, wherein there are multiple object data structures, wherein there is one node data structure for each object data structure, and wherein each object data structure includes objects instantiated from a same class, and wherein the classes used to instantiate the objects in different object data structures comprise different classes.
39. An article of manufacture for indexing object oriented objects in an object oriented database by:
providing an object data structure including a plurality of object oriented objects, wherein each object includes a key value, and wherein each object is associated with an object index;
providing a node data structure including nodes, wherein each node represents one object in the object store and includes one object index used to access the object represented by the node in the object store, and wherein the nodes in the node data structure are organized according to the key values in the objects represented by the nodes; and
using the node data structure to access the objects in the object store.
40. The article of manufacture of claim 39, wherein each node is associated with one node index used to access the node in the node data structure, wherein each node is further capable of including one or more node indexes to further nodes, further comprising:
receiving a search key;
accessing one node using the node index for the node;
using the object index in the accessed node to access the object in the object store;
accessing the key value in the accessed object; and
performing an operation if the accessed key value matches the search key.
41. The article of manufacture of claim 40, further comprising:
if the accessed key value does not match the search key and if the accessed node includes a node index to another node, then using the node index to access the further node and performing another iteration of the steps of using the object index in the further node to access one object in the object store, accessing the key value in the accessed object, and performing the operation if the accessed key value matches the search key.
42. The article of manufacture of claim 40, wherein the nodes represent nodes in a tree data structure, wherein the further node accessed using the node index in one node comprises a child node of the node including the node index.
43. The article of manufacture of claim 40, wherein each node is associated with a first node index and a second node index, wherein using the first and second node indexes to access the further node comprises:
using the first node index to access the further node if the search key is less than the accessed key value; and
using the second node index to access the further node if the search key is greater than the accessed key value.
44. The article of manufacture of claim 40, wherein a node that does not include a value indexing another node in one node index comprises a leaf node, wherein the operation performed comprises a request to add a received object to the object data structure, further comprising:
if the accessed key value does not match the search key and if the accessed node comprises a leaf node, then performing:
(i) adding the received object to the object data structure;
(ii) associating one object index with the received object;
(iii) generating a new node for the received object including the object index associated with the received object;
(iv) generating one new node index to associate with the received object that is used to access the new node in the node data structure; and
(iv) updating the leaf node to include the new node index to the new node.
45. The article of manufacture of claim 40, wherein the leaf node includes a first node index and a second node index, wherein updating the leaf node to include the new node index further comprises:
updating the first node index to include the new node index if the search key is less than the accessed key value; and
updating the second node index to include the new node index if the search key is greater than the accessed key value.
46. The article of manufacture of claim 40, wherein accessing the key value in the accessed object comprises:
issuing a request to access one field in the accessed object including the key value.
47. The article of manufacture of claim 46, wherein the field including the key value is embedded within one object embedded within the accessed object, wherein issuing the request comprises issuing the request against the accessed object, wherein the accessed object issues the request against the embedded object for the field including the key value.
48. The article of manufacture of claim 40, wherein the operation comprises a request for one object in the object data structure having the key value matching the search key, and wherein performing the operation comprises:
returning the accessed object if the key value in the accessed object matches the search key.
49. The article of manufacture of claim 40, wherein one node in the node data structure comprises a root node, wherein a root node index used to access the root node in the node data structure is maintained in an additional data structure, wherein the first node accessed comprises the root node, and further comprising accessing the root node index from the additional data structure when accessing a first node in the node data structure.
50. The article of manufacture of claim 39, wherein the object data structure and node data structure comprise an array data structure, and wherein the object and node indexes are used to access the associated object and node, respectively, in the array.
51. The article of manufacture of claim 50, wherein the array data structure comprises a one dimensional array that can expand or contract automatically to accommodate adding and removing elements therefrom.
52. The article of manufacture of claim 51, wherein the array data structure comprises a Java vector.
53. The article of manufacture of claim 39, wherein the objects in the object data structure are instantiated from the same class and include the same field having the key value.
54. The article of manufacture of claim 39, wherein each object includes multiple key value fields used to organize the nodes in the node data structure.
55. The article of manufacture of claim 39, wherein the objects in the object data structure are instantiated from different classes.
56. The article of manufacture of claim 39, wherein the operation is a member of a set of database operations comprising adding a new object, searching for one object, updating one object, and deleting one object in the object data store.
57. The article of manufacture of claim 39, wherein there are multiple object data structures, wherein there is one node data structure for each object data structure, and wherein each object data structure includes objects instantiated from a same class, and wherein the classes used to instantiate the objects in different object data structures comprise different classes.
58. A computer readable medium including data structures for indexing object oriented objects in an object oriented database, comprising:
an object data structure including a plurality of object oriented objects, wherein each object includes a key value, and wherein each object is associated with an object index; and
a node data structure including nodes, wherein each node represents one object in the object store and includes one object index used to access the object represented by the node in the object store, and wherein the nodes in the node data structure are organized according to the key values in the objects represented by the nodes, wherein the node data structure is used to access the objects in the object store.
59. The computer readable medium of claim 58, wherein each node is associated with one node index used to access the node in the node data structure, wherein each node is further capable of including one or more node indexes to further nodes, wherein the node index for one node is used to access the node, wherein the object index in the accessed node is used to access the object in the object store, wherein the key value is accessed from the accessed object, and wherein an operation is performed if the accessed key value matches the search key.
60. The computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein if the accessed key value does not match the search key and if the accessed node includes a node index to another node, then the node index is used to access the further node and another iteration is performed of the steps of using the object index in the further node to access one object in the object store, accessing the key value in the accessed object, and performing the operation if the accessed key value matches the search key.
61. The computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein the nodes represent nodes in a tree data structure, wherein the further node accessed using the node index in one node comprises a child node of the node including the node index.
62. The computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein each node is associated with a first node index and a second node index, wherein the first and second node indexes are used to access the further node by using the first node index to access the further node if the search key is less than the accessed key value and using the second node index to access the further node if the search key is greater than the accessed key value.
63. The computer readable medium of claim 58, wherein the field including the key value is embedded within one object embedded within the accessed object, wherein accessing the key value in the accessed object comprises issuing a request against the accessed object, wherein the accessed object issues a request against the embedded object for the field including the key value.
64. The computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein the operation performed comprises a request for one object in the object data structure having the key value matching the search key, and wherein performing the operation comprises:
returning the accessed object if the key value in the accessed object matches the search key.
65. The computer readable medium of claim 59, further comprising:
a root node data structure including a root node index used to access a root node in the node data structure, and wherein the root node index is accessed from the additional data structure when accessing a first node in the node data structure.
66. The computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein the object data structure and node data structure comprise an array data structure, and wherein the object and node indexes are used to access the associated object and node, respectively, in the array.
67. The computer readable medium of claim 66, wherein the array data structure comprises a one dimensional array that can expand or contract automatically to accommodate adding and removing elements therefrom.
68. The computer readable medium of claim 67, wherein the array data structure comprises a Java vector.
69. The computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein the objects in the object data structure are instantiated from the same class and include the same field having the key value.
70. The computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein each object includes multiple key value fields used to organize the nodes in the node data structure.
71. The computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein the objects in the object data structure are instantiated from different classes.
72. The computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein the operation is a member of a set of database operations comprising adding a new object, searching for one object, updating one object, and deleting one object in the object data store.
73. The computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein there are multiple object data structures, wherein there is one node data structure for each object data structure, and wherein each object data structure includes objects instantiated from a same class, and wherein the classes used to instantiate the objects in different object data structures comprise different classes.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for sterilizing one or more heart valves that are sensitive to radiation, said method comprising irradiating said one or more heart valves with radiation for a time effective to sterilize said one or more heart valves at a rate effective to sterilize said one or more heart valves and to protect said one or more heart valves from said radiation.
2. A method for sterilizing one or more heart valves that are sensitive to radiation, said method comprising:
(i) applying to said one or more heart valves at least one stabilizing process selected from the group consisting of:
(a) adding to said one or more heart valves at least one stabilizer in an amount effective to protect said one or more heart valves from said radiation;
(b) reducing the residual solvent content of said one or more heart valves to a level effective to protect said one or more heart valves from said radiation;
(c) reducing the temperature of said one or more heart valves to a level effective to protect said one or more heart valves from said radiation;
(d) reducing the oxygen content of said one or more heart valves to a level effective to protect said one or more heart valves from said radiation;
(e) adjusting the pH of said one or more heart valves to a level effective to protect said one or more heart valves from said radiation; and
(f) adding to said one or more heart valves at least one non-aqueous solvent in an amount effective to protect said one or more heart valves from said radiation; and

(ii) irradiating said one or more heart valves with a suitable radiation at an effective rate for a time effective to sterilize said one or more heart valves.
3. A method for sterilizing one or more heart valves that are sensitive to radiation, said method comprising:
(i) applying to said one or more heart valves at least one stabilizing process selected from the group consisting of:
(a) adding to said one or more heart valves at least one stabilizer;
(b) reducing the residual solvent content of said one or more heart valves;
(c) reducing the temperature of said one or more heart valves;
(d) reducing the oxygen content of said one or more heart valves;
(e) adjusting the pH of said one or more heart valves; and
(f) adding to said one or more heart valves at least one non-aqueous solvent; and

(ii) irradiating said one or more heart valves with a suitable radiation at an effective rate for a time effective to sterilize said one or more heart valves, wherein said at least one stabilizing process and the rate of irradiation are together effective to protect said one or more heart valves from said radiation.
4. A method for sterilizing one or more heart valves that are sensitive to radiation, said method comprising:
(i) applying to said one or more heart valves at least two stabilizing processes selected from the group consisting of:
(a) adding to said one or more heart valves at least one stabilizer;
(b) reducing the residual solvent content of said one or more heart valves;
(c) reducing the temperature of said one or more heart valves;
(d) reducing the oxygen content of said one or more heart valves;
(e) adjusting the pH of said one or more heart valves; and
(f) adding to said one or more heart valves at least one non-aqueous solvent; and

(ii) irradiating said one or more heart valves with a suitable radiation at an effective rate for a time effective to sterilize said one or more heart valves, wherein said at least two stabilizing processes are together effective to protect said one or more heart valves from said radiation and further wherein said at least two stabilizing processes may be performed in any order.
5. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent is an organic solvent.
6. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said effective rate is not more than about 3.0 kGyhour.
7. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said effective rate is not more than about 2.0 kGyhr.
8. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said effective rate is not more than about 1.0 kGyhr.
9. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said effective rate is not more than about 0.3 kGyhr.
10. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said effective rate is more than about 3.0 kGyhour.
11. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said effective rate is at least about 6.0 kGyhour.
12. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said effective rate is at least about 18.0 kGyhour.
13. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said effective rate is at least about 30.0 kGyhour.
14. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said effective rate is at least about 45 kGyhour.
15. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said one or more heart valves is maintained in a low oxygen atmosphere.
16. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said one or more heart valves is maintained in an atmosphere comprising at least one noble gas or nitrogen.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said noble gas is argon.
18. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said one or more heart valves is maintained in a vacuum.
19. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is reduced by a method selected from the group consisting of lyophilization, drying, concentration, addition of a second solvent, evaporation, chemical extraction, spray-drying and vitrification.
20. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 15%.
21. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 10%.
22. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 3%.
23. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 2%.
24. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 1%.
25. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 0.5%.
26. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 0.08%.
27. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein at least one sensitizer is added to said one or more heart valves prior to said step of irradiating said one or more heart valves.
28. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said one or more heart valves contains at least one biological contaminant or pathogen selected from the group consisting of viruses, bacteria, yeasts, molds, fungi, parasites and prions or similar agents responsible, alone or in combination, for TSEs.
29. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said at least one stabilizer is an antioxidant.
30. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said at least one stabilizer is a free radical scavenger or spin trap.
31. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said at least one stabilizer is a combination stabilizer.
32. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said at least one stabilizer is a ligand.
33. The method according to claim 32, wherein said ligand is heparin.
34. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said at least one stabilizer reduces damage due to reactive oxygen species.
35. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said at least one stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of: ascorbic acid or a salt or ester thereof; glutathione; vitamin E or a derivative thereof, including Trolox; albumin; sucrose; glycylglycine; L-carnosine; cysteine; silymarin; diosmin; hydroquinonesulfonic acid; 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid; uric acid or a salt or ester thereof; methionine; histidine; N-acetyl cysteine; lipoic acid; sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate; gallic acid or a derivative thereof; propyl gallate; ethanol; acetone; rutin; epicatechin; biacalein; purpurogallin; coumaric acid; and mixtures of two or more thereof.
36. The method according to claim 35, wherein said mixtures of two or more stabilizers are selected from the group consisting of: mixtures of ethanol and acetone; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid, and albumin; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid, albumin and sucrose; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and glycylglycine; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, glycylglycine and albumin; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and L-carnosine; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and cysteine; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and N-acetyl cysteine; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid, and silymarin; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid, and diosmin; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and lipoic acid; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and hydroquinonesulfonic acid; mixtures of Trolox, -lipoic acid, coumaric acid and n-propyl gallate; and mixtures of uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, lipoic acid, sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate, gallic acid, or a derivative thereof, propyl gallate; and 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid.
37. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said at least one stabilizer is a dipeptide stabilizer.
38. The method according to claim 37, wherein said dipeptide stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of glycyl-glycine (Gly-Gly), carnosine and anserine.
39. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said radiation is corpuscular radiation, electromagnetic radiation, or a mixture thereof.
40. The method according to claim 39, wherein said electromagnetic radiation is selected from the group consisting of radio waves, microwaves, visible and invisible light, ultraviolet light, x-ray radiation, gamma radiation and combinations thereof.
41. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said radiation is gamma radiation.
42. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said radiation is E-beam radiation.
43. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said radiation is visible light.
44. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said radiation is ultraviolet light.
45. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said radiation is x-ray radiation.
46. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said radiation is polychromatic visible light.
47. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said radiation is infrared.
48. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said radiation is a combination of one or more wavelengths of visible and ultraviolet light.
49. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said irradiation is conducted at ambient temperature.
50. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said irradiation is conducted at a temperature below ambient temperature.
51. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said irradiation is conducted below the freezing point of at least one or more solvents within or surrounding said one or more heart valves.
52. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said irradiation is conducted below the eutectic point of at least one or more solvents within or surrounding said one or more heart valves.
53. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said irradiation is conducted at a temperature above ambient temperature.
54. A composition comprising one or more heart valves and at least one stabilizer in an amount effective to preserve said one or more heart valves for their intended use following sterilization with radiation.
55. A composition comprising one or more heart valves, wherein the residual solvent content of said one or more heart valves is at a level effective to preserve said one or more heart valves for their intended use following sterilization with radiation.
56. The composition of claim 55, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 15%.
57. The composition of claim 55, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 10%.
58. The composition of claim 55, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 5%.
59. The composition of claim 55, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 2%.
60. The composition of claim 55, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 1%.
61. The composition of claim 55, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 0.5%.
62. The composition of claim 55, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 0.08%.
63. The composition of claim 54 or 55, wherein said one or more heart valves is glassy or vitrified.
64. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said non-aqueous solvent is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, DMSO, ethanol, acetone, PPG, and mixtures thereof.
65. The method according to claim 64, wherein said PPG is PPG 400, PPG 1200 or PPG 2000.
66. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is about 0%.
67. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is about 1%.
68. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is about 2.4%.
69. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is about 4.8%.
70. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is about 7%.
71. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is about 9%.
72. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is about 10%.
73. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is about 20%.
74. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is about 33%.
75. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 33%.
76. The composition of claim 54, wherein said at least one stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of: ascorbic acid or a salt or ester thereof; glutathione; vitamin E or a derivative thereof; albumin; Trolox; coumaric acid; sucrose; glycylglycine; L-carnosine; cysteine; silymarin; diosmin; hydroquinonesulfonic acid; 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid; uric acid or a salt or ester thereof; methionine; histidine; N-acetyl cysteine; lipoic acid; sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate; gallic acid or a derivative thereof; propyl gallate; ethanol; acetone; rutin; epicatechin; biacalein; purpurogallin; and mixtures of two or more thereof.
77. The composition according to claim 76, wherein said mixtures of two or more stabilizers are selected from the group consisting of: mixtures of ethanol and acetone; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid, and albumin; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid, albumin and sucrose; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof and glycylglycine; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, glycylglycine and albumin; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and L-carnosine; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and cysteine; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and N-acetyl cysteine; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid, and silymarin; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid, and diosmin; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and lipoic acid; mixtures of ascorbic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and hydroquinonesulfonic acid; mixtures of Trolox, -lipoic acid, and coumaric acid; mixtures of Trolox, -lipoic acid, coumaric acid and n-propyl gallate; and mixtures of uric acid, or a salt or ester thereof, lipoic acid, sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate, gallic acid, or a derivative thereof, propyl gallate, and 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid.
78. A method for prophylaxis or treatment of a condition or disease in a mammal comprising introducing into a mammal in need thereof one or more heart valves stabilized according to a method of one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4.
79. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent is an aqueous solvent.
80. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said one or more heart valves is suspended in said solvent.
81. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said irradiation is conducted below the glass transition point of at least one or more solvents within or surrounding said one or more heart valves.
82. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the recovery of the desired characteristic(s) or composition of the one or more heart valves after sterilization by irradiation is greater than 100% of the pre-irradiation value.
83. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the recovery of the desired characteristic(s) or composition of the one or more heart valves after sterilization by irradiation is at least about 100% of the pre-irradiation value.
84. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 11, wherein the recovery of the desired activity of the one or more heart valves after sterilization by irradiation is at least about 90% of the pre-irradiation value.
85. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 11, wherein the recovery of the desired activity of the one or more heart valves after sterilization by irradiation is at least about 80% of the pre-irradiation value.
86. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 11, wherein the recovery of the desired activity of the one or more heart valves after sterilization by irradiation is at least about 70% of the pre-irradiation value.
87. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 11, wherein the recovery of the desired activity of the one or more heart valves after sterilization by irradiation is at least about 60% of the pre-irradiation value.
88. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 11, wherein the recovery of the desired activity of the one or more heart valves after sterilization by irradiation is at least about 50% of the pre-irradiation value.
89. One or more heart valves prepared according to a method of one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4.
90. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 80%.
91. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 50%.
92. The composition of claim 55, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 80%.
93. The composition of claim 55, wherein said residual solvent content is less than about 50%.
94. A composition comprising one or more heart valves, at least one non-aqueous solvent and at least one stabilizer in an amount effective to preserve said one or more heart valves for their intended use following sterilization with radiation.
95. The composition of claim 94, wherein said at least one non-aqueous solvent comprises DMSO and said at least one stabilizer comprises ascorbate.
96. The composition of claim 94, wherein said at least one non-aqueous solvent comprises DMSO and said at least one stabilizer comprises a mixture of ascorbate, coumaric acid and n-propyl gallate.
97. The composition of claim 94, wherein said at least one non-aqueous solvent comprises PPG and said at least one stabilizer comprises ascorbate.
98. The method according to claim 4, wherein, said at least two stabilizing processes comprise:
a. adding to said one or more heart valves at least one stabilizer; and
b. adding to said one or more heart valves at least one non-aqueous solvent.
99. The method according to claim 98, wherein said at least one non-aqueous solvent comprises DMSO and said at least one stabilizer comprises ascorbate.
100. The method according to claim 98, wherein said at least one non-aqueous solvent comprises DMSO and said at least one stabilizer comprises a mixture of ascorbate, Coumaric acid and n-propyl gallate.
101. The method according to claim 98, wherein said at least one non-aqueous solvent comprises PPG and said at least one stabilizer comprises ascorbate.
102. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the residual solvent is a mixture of an organic solvent and an aqueous solvent.
103. A composition comprising one or more heart valves and at least one stabilizer, wherein the residual solvent content of said one or more heart valves is at a level that together with said at least one stabilizer is effective to preserve said one or more heart valves for their intended use following sterilization with radiation.
104. The composition according to claim 54, 55 or 103, wherein the oxygen content of said one or more heart valves is reduced to a level that together with said at least one stabilizer andor said residual solvent content is effective to protect said one or more heart valves from with radiation.

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. Isobaric rotary filling machine for filling containers, which comprises a support structure having, rotatably mounted thereon, a rotating table which supports a tank for containing a liquid gasified under pressure, which is provided with a supply pipe and a plurality of valve units which are mounted peripherally and each have: a filling duct for supplying the liquid from said tank to a container, associated with first shut-off means for controlling the flow of liquid to said container; an air return pipe, associated with second shut-off means for controlling the pressure balance between said container and said tank; first raising means able to adjust the height of said rotating table;
said machine comprising at least one flushing station operationally associated with said rotating table, but fixed with respect thereto and having at least one receiving tray connected to a flushing circuit and able to be operated by movement means so as to move between a non-operative position, where it is situated outside the travel path of said valve units, and an operative position, where it is situated underneath one or more valve units able to pass over it, said first and second shut-off means being able to perform the opening of each filling duct and each pipe with said receiving tray in the operative position and with said flushing circuit connected to said supply line of said tank, causing the liquid to fall from said one or more valve units into said receiving tray and the circulation of said flushing fluid inside said flushing circuit via at least said filling duct, said air return pipe and said receiving tray; and
wherein said machine further comprises one or more of the following operating circuits: a gas-release circuit connected to each valve unit for ensuring that the container is under atmospheric pressure again at the end of filling; a self-levelling circuit for reaching the desired liquid level inside the containers; a pre-evacuation circuit for drawing the air from said containers prior to the introduction of said liquid; a back-pressure circuit for keeping said tank at a desired overpressure; wherein each of said one or more operating circuits is provided with corresponding fourth shut-off means which can be actuated so to open with said receiving tray in the operative position so as to cause the circulation of said flushing fluid of said flushing circuit through said at least one operating circuit.
2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said fourth shut-off means associated with one of said operating circuits is formed by a valve operated by a fluid under pressure so as to allow the flow of the flushing fluid with the receiving tray in the operative position.
3. Machine according to claim 2, wherein said receiving tray has a plurality of nozzles connected to said flushing circuit and able to wash externally with jets of flushing fluid each of said valve units when the latter are arranged opposite said receiving tray.
4. Machine according to claim 3, wherein said receiving tray is bounded by an outer wall having, associated therewith, said plurality of nozzles and by an inner wall having a height less than said outer wall.
5. Machine according to claim 4, wherein said inner and outer walls of said tray are arc-shaped so as to be positioned underneath one or more valve units.
6. Machine according to claim 3, wherein said receiving tray has a front wall and a rear wall provided with large openings for allowing the valve units to pass through with said tray in the operative position.
7. Machine according to claim 1, wherein said movement means comprise at least one linear actuator able to displace said tray between said operative position and said non-operative position.
8. Machine according to claim 1, wherein said receiving tray, when it is arranged in the operative position, is able to receive the part of the liquid left inside said valve units at a height less than the discharge outlet of said storage tank, said first shut-off means being for this purpose open during the passing movement of each valve unit above said receiving tray.
9. Machine according to claim 1, wherein said flushing fluid which flows inside said flushing circuit through said operating circuits is conveyed to said valve units andor to said tank so as to then fall inside said receiving tray.
10. Isobaric rotary filling machine for filling containers, which comprises a support structure having, rotatably mounted thereon, a rotating table which supports a tank for containing a liquid gasified under pressure, which is provided with a supply pipe and a plurality of valve units which are mounted peripherally and each have: a filling duct for supplying the liquid from said tank to a container, associated with first shut-off means for controlling the flow of liquid to said container; an air return pipe, associated with second shut-off means for controlling the pressure balance between said container and said tank; first raising means able to adjust the height of said rotating table;
said machine comprising at least one flushing station operationally associated with said rotating table, but fixed with respect thereto and having at least one receiving tray connected to a flushing circuit and able to be operated by movement means so as to move between a non-operative position, where it is situated outside the travel path of said valve units, and an operative position, where it is situated underneath one or more valve units able to pass over it, said first and second shut-off means being able to perform the opening of each filling duct and each pipe with said receiving tray in the operative position and with said flushing circuit connected to said supply line of said tank, causing the liquid to fall from said one or more valve units into said receiving tray and the circulation of said flushing fluid inside said flushing circuit via at least said filling duct, said air return pipe and said receiving tray; and
wherein said machine further comprises separator cowls situated on the sides of said valve units and each formed as two portions sliding vertically with respect to each other, a first portion being fixed to the rotating table underneath the valve units and a second portion being mounted movably on the rotating platform and being able to be displaced by second raising means between two positions, i.e. a first raised position for allowing the insertion of said receiving tray via said movement means underneath said valve units, and a second lowered position for enclosing the valve units, assumed during said flushing.