Abstract: An electronically controlled pneumatic fastener driving tool. The tool is of the type having a body containing a cylinder with a piston/driver assembly therein, a firing valve actuable to introduce high pressure air into the cylinder to cycle the piston/driver assembly, a manual trigger, a safety trip, and an electronic control system. The electronic control system comprises a remote solenoid valve to actuate the firing valve, a microprocessor having inputs from at least the trigger and safety trip and an output to energize the solenoid of the remote valve to cycle the tool, a battery to energize the microprocessor and a rechargeable battery to energize the solenoid of the remote valve. The microprocessor determines the mode of operation of the tool and may be designed to provide two or more modes selectable by a mode selection switch. The input from the trigger is provided with a reed switch closable by the trigger and the input from the safety trip is provided with a reed switch closable by the safety trip.

Abstract: A canister-type magazine for the class of fastener driving tool which uses a coil of tandemly arranged fasteners. The magazine comprises a substantially cylindrical body having a top, a bottom and a side wall, and is made up of a fixed body part and a movable body part. The fixed body part has a forward end attached to the tool fastener feed mechanism and a rearward end attached to the tool handle. The fixed body part comprises the top and a segment of the side wall of the magazine. The movable body part has forward and rearward ends and comprises the bottom, the fastener coil support surface, and the remainder of the side wall of the magazine. The movable body part is pivotally affixed at its rearward end to a hinge member. The hinge member, in turn, is adjustably mounted in a hinge member support constituting a portion of the rearward end of the fixed body part.

Abstract: A tool for driving a nail or other fastener is actuated by a caseless propellant charge formed of combustible material that is transported into a combustion chamber on a strip. The propellant charge is ignited by striking a sensitizer portion of the charge at an oblique angle. The ignition member intermixes the sensitizer material with an oxidizer layer of the surface of the propellant charge, resulting in combustion of the charge. When ignited, the propellant charge is compressingly interposed between an orifice plate and a movable portion of the combustion chamber. The orifice plate includes a pedestal with an annular compression surface that separates the surface of the ignition area from the remaining surfaces of the charge, insuring that ignition gases are forced through the charge. An annular C-shaped ring is interposed between the orifice plate and the movable portion of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A biocompatible poly(ethylene oxide) gel implant and method for production which can be injected into the human body for tissue replacement and augmentation. The implant is prepared by dissolving a sample of essentially pure poly(ethylene oxide) in a saline solution in a sealed canister, removing all free oxygen from the container and replacing it with an inert gas, such as argon, and irradiating the canister with a gamma ray source to simultaneously crosslink the polyethylene oxide while sterilizing it. The gel can then be placed into a syringe and injected into the body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical technique and instrument kit that allows for subtle modification of the corneal curvature by interlamellar injection of a synthetic gel at the corneal periphery while sparing the optical zone. The gel viscosity, volume and disposition within the surgical annular track as well as the diameter of the track, width, depth, and location are all parameters in the refractive change obtained. Following ultrasonic pachymetry performed centrally and at a selected wound entrance located about 2.5 to 3.5 mm from the apex, a one millimeter or so wide, about 75-85% corneal thickness depth radial incision is performed with a micrometric diamond knife adjusted to about 86% corneal thickness. Inserted through the partial-depth incision, a corkscrew-like dissector or helicoidal spatula forms a 360.degree. annular track centered about the apex. A transparent gel is manually injected through the incision, filling the annular channel.

Abstract: A biocompatible polyethylene oxide gel implant and method for production which can be injected into the human body for tissue replacement and augmentation. The implant is prepared by dissolving a sample of essentially pure polyethylene oxide in a saline solution in a sealed canister, removing all free oxygen from the container and replacing it with an inert gas, such as argon, and irradiating the canister with a gamma ray source to simultaneously crosslink the polyethylene oxide while sterilizing it. The gel can then be placed into a syringe and injected into the body.

Abstract: A biocompatible polyethylene oxide gel implant and method for production which can be injected into the human body for tissue replacement and augmentation. The implant is prepared by dissolving a sample of essentially pure polyethylene oxide in a saline solution in a sealed canister, removing all free oxygen from the container and replacing it with an inert gas, such as argon, and irradiating the canister with a gamma ray source to simultaneously crosslink the polyethylene oxide while sterilizing it. The gel can then be placed into a syringe and injected into the body.

Abstract: A canister-type magazine for a fastener driving tool using a coil of tandemly arranged fasteners. The magazine comprises a substantially cylindrical body having a top, a bottom and side walls. The magazine is openable, providing access to the interior thereof. A cylindrical magazine post extends upwardly from the center of the magazine bottom. A pair of latch members are located in diametric openings in the magazine post near the upper end thereof. The latch members are shiftable between a first position wherein they extend beyond the peripheral surface of the magazine post and a second position wherein they are within the confines of the peripheral surface of the magazine post. The latch members are biased to their first position. A fastener coil supporting platform is provided having a hollow center post with an interior diameter sized to slidingly receive the magazine post. The platform post has at least two pairs of diametric openings in its cylindrical side wall.

Abstract: A shingle gauge for use with a nail driving tool of the type having a magazine which feeds nails into a guide body to be driven through shingle elements into a roof structure and having a shingle element locating surface adjacent the guide body nose. The gauge comprises a mounting bracket fixed beneath the magazine and a gauge element slidably and pivotally supported on the bracket and shiftable therealong toward and away from the locating surface to adjust the distance therebetween to accommodate various sizes of shingle elements. A latch is attached to the gauge element and is capable of a locking engagement with the support bracket at any selected one of a plurality of predetermined positions therealong to locate and lock the gauge element at that selected position.

Abstract: A tool for driving a nail or other fastener is actuated by a caseless propellant charge formed of combustible material that is transported into a combustion chamber on a strip. The propellant charge is ignited by striking a sensitizer portion of the charge at an oblique angle. The ignition member intermixes the sensitizer material with an oxidizer layer of the surface of the propellant charge, resulting in combustion of the charge. When ignited, the propellant charge is compressingly interposed between an orifice plate and a movable portion of the combustion chamber. The orifice plate includes a pedestal with an annular compression surface that separates the surface of the ignition area from the remaining surfaces of the charge, insuring that ignition gases are forced through the charge. An annular C-shaped ring is interposed between the orifice plate and the movable portion of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A collated fastener strip for use in a pneumatic fastener driving tool of the type having a magazine containing parallel spaced grooves for accommodating the heads of fasteners as they are fed within the magazine. The strip comprises a plurality of headless fasteners with at least one headed fastener positioned near the end of the strip such that the strip may be used in a magazine designed for using headed fasteners.

Abstract: A tool for driving a nail or other fastener is actuated by a caseless propellant charge formed of combustible material that is transported into a combustion chamber on a strip. The propellant charge is ignited by striking a sensitizer portion of the charge at an oblique angle. The ignition member intermixes the sensitizer material with an oxidizer layer of the surface of the propellant charge, resulting in combustion of the charge. When ignited, the propellant charge is compressingly interposed between an orifice plate and a movable portion of the combustion chamber. The orifice plate includes a pedestal with an annular compression surface that separates the surface of the ignition area from the remaining surfaces of the charge, insuring that ignition gases are forced through the charge. An annular C-shaped ring is interposed between the orifice plate and the movable portion of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical technique and instrument kit that allows for subtle modification of the corneal curvature by interlamellar injection of a synthetic gel at the corneal periphery while sparing the optical zone. The gel viscosity, volume and disposition within the surgical annular track as well as the diameter of the track, width, depth, and location are all parameters in the refractive change obtained. Following ultrasonic pachymetry performed centrally and at a selected wound entrance located about 2.5 to 3.5 mm from the apex, a one millimeter or so wide, about 75-85% corneal thickness depth radial incision is performed with a micrometric diamond knife adjusted to about 86% corneal thickness. Inserted through the partial-depth incision, a corkscrew-like dissector or helicoidal spatula forms a 360.degree. annular track centered about the apex. A transparent gel is manually injected through the incision, filling the annular channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for the optoelectronic evaluation of test paper strips for use in the detection of certain analytes in blood or other body fluids. The test strip comprises an elongated plastic part including a hinged portion to allow a first portion to be folded over a second portion. A series of layers of test strips are disposed between the folded over portions of the test strip. The test strip is configured such that the chemistry layers are placed in contacting engagement with one another, but not compressing one another. A reflectance photometer is provided and includes various features, including a lot number reader wherein if the test strip does not match the memory module, a test is not performed, and the user is instructed to insert a correct memory module.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool capable of locating a preformed hole in a first workpiece, aligning the drive track of the tool with the hole, and thereafter driving a fastener, such as a nail, through the hole and into a second workpiece to attach the first workpiece to the second workpiece. The tool has a magazine comprising an outer portion affixed to the tool and its drive track containing guide body, and an inner portion containing a strip of nails and pivoted at its rearward end to the rearward end of the outer magazine portion. The inner magazine portion is pivotable within the outer magazine portion between a first position wherein the forwardmost nail of the strip extends well beyond the nose of the guide body serving as a probe to locate and enter the workpiece hole, and a second position wherein the forwardmost nail of the strip is still engaged in the workpiece hole and is properly aligned in the drive track to be driven by the tool driver through the first workpiece hole and into the second workpiece.

Abstract: A tool for driving a nail or other fastener is actuated by a caseless propellant charge formed of combustible material that is transported into a combustion chamber on a strip. The propellant charge is ignited by striking a sensitizer portion of the charge at an oblique angle. The ignition member intermixes the sensitizer material with an oxidizer layer of the surface of the propellant charge, resulting in combustion of the charge. When ignited, the propellant charge is compressingly interposed between an orifice plate and a movable portion of the combustion chamber. The orifice plate includes a pedestal with an annular compression surface that separates the surface of the ignition area from the remaining surfaces of the charge, insuring that ignition gases are forced through the charge. An annular C-shaped ring is interposed between the orifice plate and the movable portion of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical technique and instrument kit that allows for subtle modification of the corneal curvature by interlamellar injection of a synthetic gel at the corneal periphery while sparing the optical zone. The gel viscosity, volume and disposition within the surgical annular track as well as the diameter of the track, width, depth, and location are all parameters in the refractive change obtained. Following ultrasonic pachymetry performed centrally and at a selected wound entrance located about 2.5 to 3.5 mm from the apex, a one millimeter or so wide, about 75-85% corneal thickness depth radial incision is performed with a micrometric diamond knife adjusted to about 86% corneal thickness. Inserted through the partial-depth incision, a corkscrew-like dissector or helicoidal spatula forms a 360.degree. annular track centered about the apex. A transparent gel is manually injected through the incision, filling the annular channel.