Abstract: A surgical laser system combines a laser diode array remotely connected to a hand-held surgical probe by a fiber bundle. The surgical system has a which includes a laser head which produces a laser beam for surgical tissue ablation that is delivered through a disposable intraocular probe tip. The probe tip is made of a short section of optical fiber. Preferably, the laser head is an Er:YAG rod pumped by energy from the laser diode array to operate at a wavelength of 2.94 microns. Auxiliary water and thermal electric cooling integral to the hand piece cools the laser head.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp and ballast assembly is designed to thermally isolate a ballast circuit from the illuminated lamp and thereby reduce the heat surrounding the ballast circuit. The fluorescent lamp of the assembly is attached to a housing that reduces the heat transferred to the ballast circuit. The housing includes a bowl-shaped member, a shield, and a thermal isolation member connected between the bowl-shaped member and the shield. The bowl-shaped member is designed to hold and encircle the electronic ballast circuit, and the shield is designed to engage and secure the fluorescent lamp and attached cathode lead wires of the invention. The thermal isolation member is connected between the bowl-shaped member and the shield, and provides an air gap between the lamp and the ballast circuit.

Abstract: A supply circuit used in electronic ballasts for discharge lamps having an inverter for generating a supply voltage at a specified switching frequency for a load circuit comprising at least one lamp and a resonant circuit in series with the electrodes of the lamp. The supply circuit also includes a control circuit connected to the load circuit and the inverter so as to reduce the supply voltage provided to the load circuit in case of defective operation of the lamp. The control circuit includes a band-pass filter centered on the switching frequency of the inverter, a level discriminator, and a logic circuit. The control circuit receives an input signal that is dependent on the voltage at a point of the load circuit, and it is filtered through a band-pass filter. The output signal from the band-pass filter is provided to the level discriminator, which determines whether the lamp being used is defective by the frequency of the voltage and provides a corresponding high or low signal to the logic circuit.

Abstract: An automatic telephone line call monitoring and line assignment device is installed at a subscriber location to assign incoming calls on a master ringing line to a user selected slave line in response to taking that line off-hook. A programmable logic unit detects incoming calls, off-hook lines, and directs the device to automatically dial a central office call intercept service to move incoming calls off the master line to the slave lines.

Abstract: The present device relates to an agricultural chemical applicator for applying herbicides. The system is activated by a sensor bar having a plurality of conductive wire rod sensors. When a sensor contacts an unwanted plant, a detector and control circuit detects the current leakage and activates a time delay circuit which uses two timers in series and an opto-isolator to activate a solenoid valve. When a particular sensor is activated, a particular valve will be opened, thereby sending chemicals through a specific nozzle. Each sensor has its own circuit and its own nozzles.

Abstract: A waste airstream decontamination unit has a series of grounded electrodes extending vertically from rotating shafts mounted transversely across a decontamination chamber. Corresponding upper and lower positive electrodes extend toward the rotating grounded electrodes in an angular relationship. Rotation of the shafts causes the charged electrodes to produce and sustain a repeating sequence of arcs which ionize and control the airborne contaminants which are passed through the chamber.

Abstract: A system for recycling and tracking of reusable surgical instruments includes a remotely located instrument sterilization and maintenance facility, electronically linked to a shipping carrier and a hospital facility. Orders for surgical instrument kits needed during a predetermined surgical schedule are placed electronically from the hospital site and transmitted to a host computer at the remote sterilization and maintenance facility. Instrument kits are stored at the sterilization and maintenance facility which also receives used instrument kits from the hospital. Decontamination, inspection, repair, recycling, and sterilization stations at the sterilization and maintenance facility allows for rapid, efficient, and low cost maintenance and repacking of used instruments for reuse at the hospital.

Abstract: A microchannel plate detector device is intended for use in the detection of low energy electrons and negative ions in particle time-of-flight measurement systems. A vacuum isolator isolates the microchannel plate signal output from ground as well as from the vacuum chamber of the meaurement system. A coupling unit includes a pulse isolator for separating pulse signals from the microchannel plate DC bias voltage. Electronic circuitry matches the output impedance of the coupling unit to the input impedance of the measurement system signal processor, thereby minimizing reflection and distortion of high frequency pulse signals.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a singulation system for recyclable materials which has a vacuum chamber having a slot down the middle. The vacuum chamber is substantially hollow such that air being pulled through one side of the vacuum chamber is pulled through the slot. Air is pulled through the vacuum chamber using a vacuum. A belt is rolled around the vacuum chamber, and the belt has hole arrays. The vacuum pulling air through the slot pulls air through the hole arrays, thereby allowing the belt to grab hold of and pull containers up the belt. Various outlet hoses can be provided from the vacuum to blow containers off the belt which are not firmly attached at the hole arrays, or to blow air against the diverter which then blows air across the belt, or to blow air through the hole arrays on the underside of the vacuum chamber to clear out holes which may be clogged from time to time.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a hand gun case having a top section hingedly attached to a bottom section. Into the top section there is placed a top insert that supports the front and two sides of the top section against prying and also has an additional guide through which the bolt of the lock is directed. A lock is attached proximate to the front of the top section. A bottom insert is placed into the bottom section which has a block which aligns underneath the lock when the top section is in a closed position. The bottom section also has a lock protection bar.

Abstract: A bone-in ham steak is made by separating the muscle, fat, and femur bones from green hams and curing the muscle in a conventional manner. The femur bones are cut into linear segments and aligned lengthwise on a skewer and then placed in a casing. The aggregated and cured ham muscle and fat are tumbled and massaged to extract protein and placed into said casing so as to concentrically surround the bone segments. The product is then cooked and sliced into ham steaks of uniform size and weight with a central bone piece.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an endoscopic retractor for use in minimal invasive surgery. A retractor blade is pivotally attached to an elongated hollow cylinder. An elongated shaft slides and rotates within the cylinder. At one end of the shaft is a handle. The other end includes a locking surface which bears against the blade. The blade can be positioned for movement of the retractor through a cannula, then moved into a closed position for use during the procedure.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a panel system and method for building construction in which standing seam panels are attached to one another such that the inner flange of one panel attaches to the outer flange of an adjacent panel such that the tongue of the inner flange is received by the groove of the outer flange. Multiple panels are joined together to form wall, ceiling, and roof sections. Clips are used to secure wall sections to ceiling sections.

Abstract: An electronic wheel balancer apparatus includes an operator interface which adapts the device for concurrent use by multiple operators. A microprocessor works in conjunction with internal memory units to save and retrieve data associated with each operator for use by the processor when a selected operator is actively in control of the balancer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a greeting card holder having a base and a top joined by support. Around the support there are placed plural rods which are received by the base at one end and the top at the other. The greeting cards are placed initially in between any two of the rods with the end of the greeting card being deflected by the support to come back such that the spine of the card resides along one of the rods. Rods are sufficiently flexible so that they may be temporarily bent to allow placement of the cards yet sufficiently rigid so that the cards have consistent spacing thereby preventing bunching of the cards along their respective spines.

Abstract: A bone-in ham steak is made by separating the muscle, fat, and femur bones from green hams and curing the muscle in a conventional manner. The femur bones are cut into linear segments and aligned lengthwise on a skewer. The aggregated and cured ham muscle and fat are placed into a casing so as to concentrically surround the skewered bone. The product is then cooked and, after removing the skewer, sliced into ham steaks of uniform size and weight with a central bone piece.

Abstract: Electromagnetic radiation is projected through various types of plastics materials such as plastic containers. The readings from the electromagnetic radiation transmitters are received by a sensor array. Plural readings are taken from each plastic bottle as it passes under the sensor. The measurements from the sensor array output are then fed into a computer. The materials are then separated into three classes. The first class contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene teraphalate (PET) containers. The second class contains polypropylene (PP) and natural (primarily milk containers) high density polythylene (HDPE) containers. The third class contains opaque materials such as rigid, mixed color high density polythylene (HDPE) containers, opaque polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containers, opaque polystyrene (PS) containers, and opaque polypropylene (PP) containers. The groups of plastics contained in each of the classes are then separated out using the same or other detection means.

Abstract: A robotic joint for use in toys or other robotic assemblies to provide locomotion to animated figures, sub-assemblies, and toy construction building sets. The robotic joint is particularly adaptable because one side of the joint carries the motor that is powering the joint. It also provides for four-way action in a joint in a very compact space by attaching a motorized joint directly to the shaft of another motor. It can also provide omni-directional action in a joint, since each motor turns the shaft or turns the motor housing based on the amount of resistance applied to the shaft. This can be demonstrated in a joint that is used to support a leg in which the joint has two motors attached by their shafts, perpendicular to each other in the same joint. A joint structure is provided in which two parallelograms are placed substantially perpendicular to one another to distribute the weight.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a wheel balancer having a floor standing base and an operator keyboard and display pod mounted to a support above the base. Manually adjustable brackets attaching the substantially L-shaped support to the base and to the pod allow the pod to be adjusted by the operator through four degrees of freedom, including into a space minimizing position for shipping or storage.

Abstract: A hybrid dredging apparatus uses a clamshell attached to a rigid boom to dig and remove material. The clamshell then deposits the material into the hopper of a positive displacement pump for discharge at low velocities and with minimal water content. Transducers are be used to determine and control the area of excavation.