Author: claimsbot

1. A method of using an endoscope and a guide having an elongated body member with a handle at a proximal end to perform a colonoscopy in a colon, the method comprising the steps of:
a) inserting a tip of the endoscope into the colon through the anus;
b) advancing the endoscope in the colon;
c) withdrawing the endoscope to reduce or straighten a loop in the sigmoid colon;
d) introducing a distal end of the body member into the rectum generally along the endoscope with an inner side of said body member substantially adjacent or against the endoscope;
e) advancing the inner side of the body member along the endoscope;
f) tilting the body member of the guide to direct the endoscope towards the descending colon; and
g) advancing the endoscope against the body member in the colon to perform the colonoscopy.
2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:
h) repeating steps f) and g) as necessary upon formation of a subsequent loop in the sigmoid colon.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tilting step is achieved by manipulating the handle.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distal end of the body member has a curved cross-section configured to improve contact of the inner side with the endoscope.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the inner side of the body member is coated or lined with a liner material.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the liner material is coated or impregnated with a lubricant.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inner side of the body member is coated or lined with a liner material.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the liner material is coated or impregnated with a lubricant.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner side of the body member is coated or impregnated with a lubricant.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the lubricant is a hydrophilic material.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least part of the body member is rigid.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the guide has an injection port generally at said proximal end of said body member on or near the handle, one or more discharge openings on the inner side of the body member and one or more channels interconnecting the injection port and the one or more discharge openings, the method further comprising the step of injecting a fluid onto the endoscope.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the guide further comprises a ring member integral with or attached to the body member, the ring member sized and configured to substantially encircle the endoscope.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the ring member comprises a slot configured to facilitate placement of the endoscope in the ring member prior to the introducing step and the method comprises the step of closing said slot prior to the introducing step.
15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the guide further comprises an elongated tube member at or near said distal end of the body member, the tube member integral with or attached to the body member.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the tube member extends substantially the entire length of the body member.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the tube member has graduated stiffness along its length, the distal end of the body member being generally more flexible than the proximal end thereof.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the tube member is at least partially rigid.
19. A method of using an endoscope and a guide having an elongated body member with a handle at a proximal end and means for engaging the endoscope at or near a distal end to perform a colonoscopy in a colon, the method comprising the steps of:
a) inserting a tip of the endoscope into the colon through the anus;
b) advancing the endoscope in the colon;
c) with the tip of the endoscope in the sigmoid colon or beyond, withdrawing the endoscope to reduce or straighten a loop in the sigmoid colon;
d) placing the engaging means over the endoscope outside the anus;
e) introducing the distal end of the body member into the rectum generally along the endoscope with the endoscope disposed in the engaging means so as to place an inner side of the body member substantially adjacent to or abutting the endoscope;
f) advancing the inner side of the body member along the endoscope;
g) manipulating the handle to tilt the body member to direct the endoscope towards the descending colon; and
h) advancing the endoscope against the body member in the colon to perform the colonoscopy.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the engaging means comprises one or more ring members integral with or attached to the body member, each of the one or more ring members having a slot configured to receive the endoscope therein.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the one or more ring members is at the distal end of said body member.
22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the engaging means is a tube member integral with or attached to the body member at or near the distal end of the body member, the tube member having a slot configured to receive the endoscope therein.
23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the guide has an injection port generally at the proximal end of the body member on or near the handle, one or more discharge openings on the inner side of the body member and one or more channels interconnecting the injection port and the one or more discharge openings, the method further comprising the step of injecting a fluid onto the endoscope.
24. A method of using an endoscope and a guide having an elongated body member with a handle at a proximal end and means for engaging the endoscope at or near a distal end to perform a colonoscopy in a colon, the method comprising the steps of:
a) inserting the endoscope through the engaging means;
b) moving the guide towards the proximal end of the endoscope;
c) inserting a tip of the endoscope into the colon through the anus;
d) advancing the endoscope in the colon;
e) withdrawing the endoscope to reduce or straighten a loop in the sigmoid colon;
f) sliding the distal end of the body member to the anus;
g) introducing the body member into the rectum generally along the endoscope with the endoscope disposed in the engaging means to place an inner side of the body member substantially adjacent to or against the endoscope;
h) advancing the inner side of the body member along the endoscope;
i) manipulating the handle to tilt the body member to direct the endoscope towards the descending colon; and
j) advancing the endoscope against the body member through the colon to perform the colonoscopy.
25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the engaging means is one or more ring members integral with or attached to the body member.
26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the engaging means is a tube member integral with or attached to the body member at or near the distal end of the body member.
27. The method according to claim 24, wherein the colonoscope guide has an injection port generally at the proximal end of the body member on or near the handle, the method further comprising the step of injecting a fluid onto the endoscope through the injection port.
28. A method of using an endoscope and a guide having an elongated body member with a handle at a proximal end and means for engaging the endoscope at or near a distal end to perform a colonoscopy in a colon, the method comprising the steps of:
a) inserting the body member of the guide into the colon through the anus;
b) inserting a tip of the endoscope into the colon through the anus;
c) tilting the body member to direct the endoscope towards the descending colon; and
d) advancing the endoscope in the colon against an inner side of the body member to perform the colonoscopy.
29. The method according to claim 28 further comprising the step of:
e) withdrawing the endoscope to reduce or straighten a loop in the sigmoid colon while maintaining the body member against the endoscope so as to generally align the rectum with the descending colon;
f) advancing the endoscope to perform the colonoscopy; and
g) repeating steps e) and f) as necessary upon formation of a subsequent loop in the sigmoid colon.
30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the guide further comprises an elongated tube member extending substantially the entire length of the body member, the tube member integral with or attached to the body member.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the tube member is at least partially rigid.
32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the tube member has graduated stiffness along its length, the distal end of the body member being generally more flexible than the proximal end thereof.
33. The method according to claim 28, wherein the colonoscope guide has an injection port generally at the proximal end of the body member on or near the handle, one or more discharge openings on the inner side of the body member and one or more channels interconnecting the injection port and the one or more discharge openings, the method further comprising the step of injecting a fluid onto the endoscope.

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. An assay device for a sample of bodily fluid containing at least one of a plurality of analytes selected for determining its presence, the device comprising:
a sample receptor for receiving the sample, the sample receptor being located on the exterior surface of a device housing and allowing the sample to be applied to a transport matrix; and
chemically reacting the clean with at least one chemical reagent corresponding to an assay located on the transport matrix, each reagent chemically reacts with the sample in a corresponding reaction zone located on the transport matrix to produce a reaction product mixture corresponding to each reagent.

1. A mask assembly comprising a mask and a nipple mounted in the mask.
2. The mask assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the mask has
an inner layer cloth,
an outer layer cloth combined with the inner layer cloth,
two suspension loops mounted respectively at two ends of the mask, and
a hole defined through the inner layer cloth;

the nipple includes
a plate mounted between the inner layer cloth and the outer layer cloth; and
a sucking member integrally formed on the plate and extending out from the hole in the inner layer cloth.
3. The mask with a nipple as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the mask has
an inner layer cloth,
an outer layer cloth combined with the inner layer cloth,
two suspension loops mounted respectively at two ends of the mask, and
a slit defined through the inner layer cloth;

the nipple includes
a plate mounted between the inner layer cloth and the outer layer cloth through the slit; and
a sucking member integrally formed on the plate and extending out from the slit in the inner layer cloth.
4. The mask with a nipple as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the mask has
an inner layer cloth,
an outer layer cloth combined with the inner layer cloth,
two suspension loops mounted respectively at two ends of the mask, and
multiple male buttons mounted on the inner layer cloth;

the nipple includes
a plate mounted between the inner layer cloth and the outer layer cloth;
multiple female buttons mounted on the plate and respectively corresponding to and engaging with the male button on the inner layer cloth; and
a sucking member integrally formed on the plate and extending out from the hole in the inner layer cloth.

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 permselective asymmetric membrane comprising a surface layer and a porous substrate layer wherein said surface layer is deposited by the chemical vapor deposition of a CVD reactant gas having a concentration of less than 0.03 molem3 in a CVD gas stream wherein said deposition is carried out such that said membrane has a hydrogen permeance of at least 5\xd710\u22128 molm2\xb7s\xb7Pa and a permselectivity of at least 100 for hydrogen relative to argon.
2. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 1 wherein the surface layer is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, zirconia, titania, silicon nitride, silicon carbide and zeolites.
3. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 1 wherein the porous substrate layer is selected from the group consisting of porous metals, porous ceramics and porous refractory metal oxides.
4. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 1 wherein the porous substrate layer is selected from the group consisting of porous alumina, porous modified alumina, porous titania, porous carbon and porous stainless steel.
5. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 1 wherein the surface layer is comprised of silica.
6. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 5 wherein the CVD reactant gas comprises tetraethyl orthosilicate and the CVD gas stream lacks substantial concentrations of oxygen, ozone and moisture.
7. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 1 further comprising at least one or more porous intermediate layers.
8. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 7 wherein at least one of the one or more porous intermediate layers is deposited by chemical vapor deposition.
9. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 7 wherein at least one of the one or more porous intermediate layers is deposited by sol gel deposition.
10. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 1 wherein said membrane has a permeance of at least 1\xd710\u22127 molm2\xb7s\xb7Pa for hydrogen and a permselectivity of at least 300 for hydrogen argon.
11. A permselective asymmetric membrane comprising a surface layer, one or more porous intermediate layers and a porous substrate layer wherein said surface layer and at least one porous intermediate layer are deposited by chemical vapor deposition of a CVD reactant gas in a CVD gas stream, such that said membrane has a hydrogen permeance of at least 5\xd710\u22128 molm2\xb7s\xb7Pa and a permselectivity of at least 100 for hydrogen relative to argon.
12. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 11 wherein the surface layer is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, zirconia, titania, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, and zeolites.
13. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 11 wherein the porous substrate layer is selected from the group consisting of porous metals, porous ceramics and porous refractory metal oxides.
14. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 11 wherein the porous substrate layer is selected from the group consisting of porous alumina, porous modified alumina, porous titania, porous carbon and porous stainless steel.
15. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 12 wherein the surface layer and at least one porous intermediate layer comprise distinct layers of silica.
16. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 15 wherein the CVD reactant gas is selected from the group consisting of tetraethyl orthosilicate, tetraethyl silicates, tetraisopropyl silicates, tetramethyl silicates, and chlorosilanes including chloro-, dichloro-, and trichloromethyl silanes.
17. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 16 wherein the CVD gas stream lacks substantial concentrations of oxygen, ozone and moisture.
18. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 15 wherein the CVD reactant gas is tetraethyl orthosilicate.
19. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 18 wherein the CVD gas stream lacks substantial concentrations of oxygen, ozone and moisture.
20. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 18 wherein the concentration of tetraethyl orthosilicate in the reactant gas stream is about 0.112 molem3 or less during the chemical vapor deposition of at least one layer.
21. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 18 wherein the concentration of tetraethyl orthosilicate in the reactant gas stream is about 0.03 molem3 or less during the chemical vapor deposition of at least one layer.
22. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 12 wherein the surface layer and at least one porous intermediate layer comprise distinct layers.
23. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 11 wherein said membrane has a permeance of at least 1\xd710\u22127 molm2\xb7s\xb7Pa for hydrogen and a permselectivity of at least 300 for hydrogen relative to argon.
24. A permselective asymmetric membrane comprising a surface layer and a porous substrate layer, said membrane having a permeance of at least 5\xd710\u22128 molm2\xb7s\xb7Pa for hydrogen and a permselectivity of at least 100 for hydrogen relative to argon.
25. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 24 wherein the surface layer is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, zirconia, titania, silicon nitride, silicon carbide and zeolites.
26. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 24 wherein the porous substrate layer is selected from the group consisting of porous metals, porous ceramics and porous refractory metal oxides.
27. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 24 wherein the porous substrate layer is selected from the group consisting of porous alumina, porous modified alumina, porous titania, porous carbon and porous stainless steel.
28. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 24 wherein the surface layer is deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of a CVD gas stream comprising a CVD reactant gas.
29. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 28 wherein the CVD reactant gas is present in the CVD gas stream at a concentration of less than about 0.112 molem3.
30. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 28 wherein the CVD reactant gas is present in the CVD gas stream at a concentration of less than about 0.03 molem3.
31. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 28 wherein the surface layer is comprised of silica.
32. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 31 wherein the CVD reactant gas is selected from the group consisting of tetraethyl orthosilicate, tetraethyl silicates, tetraisopropyl silicates, tetramethyl silicates, and chlorosilanes including chloro-, dichloro-, and trichloromethyl silanes.
33. The permselective membrane of claim 31 wherein the CVD reactant gas comprises tetraethyl orthosilicate.
34. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 33 wherein the CVD gas stream lacks substantial concentrations of oxygen, ozone and moisture.
35. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 28 further comprising one or more porous intermediate layers.
36. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 35 wherein at least one of the one or more porous intermediate layers is deposited by chemical vapor deposition.
37. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 36 wherein the surface layer and at least one of the one or more porous intermediate layers are deposited using the same CVD reactant gas under different deposition conditions.
38. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 37 wherein the CVD reactant gas is tetraethyl orthosilicate and the CVD reactant gas is present in the CVD gas stream at a concentration of less than about 0.112 molem3.
39. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 38 wherein the CVD gas stream lacks substantial concentrations of oxygen, ozone and moisture.
40. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 35 wherein at least one of the one or more porous intermediate layers is deposited by a sol gel deposition.
41. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 40 wherein at least one of the one or more porous intermediate layers deposited by a sol gel deposition is selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, titania and combinations thereof.
42. A permselective asymmetric membrane comprising a surface layer and a porous substrate layer, said membrane having a permeance of at least 1\xd710\u22127 molm2\xb7s\xb7Pa for hydrogen and a permselectivity of at least 300 for hydrogen relative to argon.
43. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 42 wherein the desired permeate is hydrogen and the one or more undesired permeates are selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and water.
44. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 43 wherein the one or more undesired permeates are selected from the group consisting of methane and carbon dioxide.
45. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 43 wherein the undesired permeates are selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, methane, carbon dioxide and water.
46. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 43 wherein the undesired permeates are selected from the group consisting of ammonia and nitrogen.
47. The permselective asymmetric membrane of claim 43 wherein one of the undesired permeates is hydrogen sulfide.