A surgical tissue macerating and removal tool is disclosed wherein a rotating member having a cutting tip is utilized. When the instrument is to be used in an eye, a treatment fluid is supplied to the operative site and a first pump is provided to evacuate macerated material and treatment fluid from the eye. A second pump means is provided on the rotating member to provide a counter flow of treatment fluid into the space between the rotating member and the support tube. The second pump may provide additional support for the rotating member. Means is also provided for axially positioning rotating member to increase or decrease cutting action.

The development and chemical composition of a substance to prevent fogging of windows, mirrors, glasses, space suit visors, and similar optical equipment are discussed. The materials consists of an alkyl glyceral sulfonate, water, and a time extender in the form of an oil. The materials is expected to prevent fogging of visual surfaces for periods of five hours or more during maximum netabolic loads.

MODIFICATION OF THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

OF FREEZE-DRIED RICE

NASA Case No. MSC-13540-1

Great Britain, France, Canada,
Japan, Australia, Switzerland,
India, Korea

Address inquiries to:
Manned Spacecraft Center
Attn: Patent Counsel

Mail Code: AM

Houston, TX 77058
U.S.A.

[Corresponding to U.S. Patent No. 3,692,533]

The method steps include first cooking rice over a low simmering heat until it is tender and edible. Then it is frozen and thawed for two complete cycles. Thereafter, the rice is again frozen and freeze dried in a vacuum sufficient to remove water from the rice by sublimation. Rehydration is accomplished by placing the rice in water at an elevated temperature and normally requires only a minute or so. The cycle of first freezing and then thawing appears to change grain porosity and permits easy and rapid sublimation of the water vapor.

AIR CUSHION LIFT PAD

NASA Case No. MFS-14685

Canada,

Address inquiries to:
Marshall Space Flight Center
Attn: Patent Counsel
Mail Code: A&PS-PAT
Huntsville, AL 35812
U.S.A.

[Corresponding to U. S. Patent No. 3,534,826]

An air cushion lift pad has been developed which utilizes an air cushion of pressurized air to support a device above a surface. The pad includes an upper wall which stopes upwardly from a center portion. Should the pad tend. to tilt, the vertical lift force component acting on the inner wall will tend to decrease on the high side and increase on the low side, thereby producing a torque tending to stabilize the pad along the horizontal. A plurality of pads may be used and the design achieves a very stable device with no flutter, vibration, heaving or pitching. The lift pad may be employed to support an object, vehicle, etc. above a surface. Although the surface may be rough or unprepared, stability is achieved.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR

MAKING DIAMONDS

NASA Case No. MFS-20698

Canada, France,

Japan, Great Britain,
West Germany

Address inquiries to:
Marshall Space Flight Center

Attn: Patent Counsel
Mail Code: A&PS-PAT
Huntsville, AL 35812
U.S.A.

[Corresponding to U.S. Patent No. 3,632,242)

Diamonds of industrial grade may be fabricated from graphite by this simple but effective apparatus. An exponential horn is vertically positioned with its small end in a graphite receiving pocket. A magnetic hammer above the horn, generates a shock wave in the exponential horn and due to the horn geometry, the velocity of the shock wave is amplified and the shock wave energy concentrated so that all of the energy arrives simultaneously at the small end of the horn. This energy is transferred to the graphite in the anvil pocket and results in pressure and temperature levels that causes the graphite to be transformed, in part, to diamonds.