Abstract: Surgical apparatus and method for incising an aperture in the anterior capsule of the human eye. The apparatus for capsulorhexis comprises a shaft, a cutting member with a sharp cutting edge, and a fastener connecting the shaft to an ultrasonic power source. After making an initial incision in the eye, the surgeon uses the apparatus to make a smooth, continuous, curvilinear aperture in the anterior capsule of the eye.

Abstract: A refuse compactor includes a frame enclosing a compaction ram for compacting waste deposited into a container. A safety chute, having a magnet, is detachably mounted to the frame via pivots and notches. A magnet sensing switch wired into the compactor's control circuit interacts with the magnet on the safety chute to prevent operation of the refuse compactor when the safety chute is misaligned or absent. A ring bolt, collar, spring and washer are mounted within the frame. A plunger on a contact switch wired into the compactor's control circuit touches the washer. The contact switch interacts with the washer on the ring bolt to prevent operation of the refuse compactor when a predetermined amount of weight is placed on the safety chute. Deflection of the spring moves the washer toward the spring, breaking contact between the washer and plunger, opening the contact switch and immediately disabling the compactor.

Abstract: The invention determines the batch size of materials required for each process within a workstation based on a given shipment schedule, as well as the values of several other workstation variables that are determinative of workstation and factory performance. With this information, the user of the invention may schedule production for the factory or spot and prioritize workstations requiring the most improvement, and determine the character and quantity of improvement.

Abstract: A catheter assembly and a method of performing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The catheter assembly has a dilating catheter and a guiding catheter. The guiding catheter has an inflatable balloon near the tip for engaging the inner surface of the coronary lumen when inflated. The guiding catheter also has a side hole for perfusion of blood through the guiding catheter while the balloon on the guiding catheter is inflated. The balloon on the guiding catheter can be repeatedly inflated and deflated, and radiopaque material may be used to inflate the balloon on the guiding catheter. The method of performing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty includes inserting the tip of the guiding catheter into a coronary lumen of a coronary artery, and inflating the balloon on the tip of the guiding catheter until the balloon engages the inner surface of the coronary lumen. A dilating catheter is then passed within the guiding catheter through a stenotic lesion within the coronary lumen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for simultaneously injecting confetti and air into a balloon by utilizing an air pump in conjunction with a separate container for storing confetti and guiding the air flow provided by the air pump. As the pump is operated, the air flow from the attached container mixes with the confetti and the air-confetti mixture injected into a balloon attached to the container. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for simultaneously injecting confetti and gas into a balloon by utilizing a standard flex-tip balloon inflation regulator in connection with the confetti container and a gas cylinder.

Abstract: A condiment pump having a container and a lid. A cylinder extends downward into the container and contains a piston and a piston rod. A lower ball valve is located near the bottom of the cylinder, and a side arm tube extends from the lower ball valve to the top of the container. An upper ball valve is located at the top of the side arm tube, and a spout extends upward from the side arm tube. A washer plate covers the upper end of the side arm tube and has a eccentric hole and a post. The post extends downward from the washer plate to keep the ball of the upper ball at least a predetermined distance away from the hole. A pin engages one of eight notches in the rim of the washer plate. This allows the washer plate and the spout to be rotated through eight different positions.

Abstract: A catheter asembly and a method of performing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The catheter assembly has a dilating catheter and a guiding catheter. The guiding catheter has an inflatable balloon near the tip for engaging the inner surface of the coronary lumen when inflated. The guiding catheter also has a side hole for perfusion of blood through the guiding catheter while the balloon on the guiding catheter is inflated. The balloon on the guiding catheter can be repeatedly inflated and deflated, and radiopaque material may be used to inflate the balloon on the guiding catheter. The method of performing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty includes inserting the tip of the guiding catheter into a coronary lumen of a coronary artery, and inflating the balloon on the tip of the guiding catheter until the balloon engages the inner surface of the coronary lumen. A dilating catheter is then passed within the guiding catheter through a stenotic lesion within the coronary lumen.

Abstract: An apparatus for making candles which includes one or more receptacles. Support means are provided to support a length of wick material strung across each receptacle. The apparatus also has posts where a continuous length of wick material is secured across each receptacle and around the posts.

Abstract: A catheter having a tubular portion, a corrugated section, and a tubular tip portion. The tip portion may have side holes. A method of inserting the catheter into a selected artery by first inserting the catheter into an artery, until the tip of the catheter is near the selected artery. Then, the proximate end of the catheter is manipulated to bend a corrugated section of the catheter by forcing the tip of the catheter into the wall of the artery and pushing on the proximate end of the catheter. The proximate end of the catheter is then maneuvered to insert the tip of the catheter into the selected artery.

Abstract: A catheter assembly having a dilating catheter and a guiding catheter. The guiding catheter has elongated, coaxial inner and outer tubes. The distal ends of the inner and outer tubes are connected together. A plurality of passages allow fluid flow through the connection between the inner and outer tubes. A plurality of support flaps are formed on the outer tube by a plurality of longitudinal slits. As the outer tube is moved longitudinally relative to the inner tube, the support flaps bend and move radially outward from the inner tube. The expanded support flaps, within the aorta, help to hold the end of the guiding catheter within the selected coronary artery. Radiopaque rings, mounted on each end of the support flaps, help to determine the location of the support flaps.

Abstract: A catheter for performing various medical procedures, such as coronary angiography or angioplasty. The catheter has an elongated, tubular, inner wall, enclosing a central lumen. An elongated, tubular, outer wall encloses the inner wall and a minor lumen between the inner and outer walls. A side hole passes through the outer wall, but not through the inner wall. Therefore, when the catheter is inserted into a coronary artery, blood can perfuse through the side hole and the minor lumen, without affecting the functions of the central lumen.

Abstract: A catheter assembly including a dilating catheter, a guiding catheter, and a length of tubing. The tubing is connected to the guiding catheter, and is pivotable between two positions. In the first position, the proximate end of the tubing is end to end with the tip of the catheter. In the second position, the proximate end of the tubing is adjacent the tip of the guiding catheter. The tubing has a plurality of side holes. A guide wire holds the tubing in the first position. The catheter assembly is inserted into the patient's aorta, while the tubing is in the first position. The guide wire is removed, and the tubing is pivoted to the second position. The proximate end of the tubing and the tip of the guiding catheter are then inserted into an artery. Angiography or angioplasty then proceeds normally.

Abstract: An apparatus for "fast erase" of thermochromic information displays is provided. A piezoelectric substrate (10) has a thin film (18) of vanadium dioxide deposited on the surface thereof. The film undergoes marked increases in reflectance at any region thereof experiencing thermal heating in excess of its predetermined transition temperature. An ultrasonic surface acoustic wave transducer (11) is provided which includes a pair of electrodes (12, 14) spaced apart in substantially parallel relation on the surface of the substrate (10) such that application of an RF signal across the electrodes (12, 14) causes deformation of the substrate to generate surface acoustic waves on the surface thereof and in the film to counteract built-in strains in the film to erase images written into the film.A solid state information display using pressure sensitive material is also disclosed. A thin film of samarium sulphide (30) is deposited on the surface of a piezoelectric substrate (10) such as lithium niobate.