Abstract: A versatile walking cane adapted to be used alternatively as a stringed musical instrument. The cane has a handle portion, a tip portion and an elongate, preferably cylindrical body portion therebetween. The body portion has a plurality of tuning pegs rotatably mounted thereon adjacent the handle portion, a nut rigidly mounted near the tip portion and a bridge rigidly mounted between the tuning pegs and the nut. One end of each of a plurality of strings are spaced from one another and attached to the nut while the opposing ends of the strings are attached to the tuning pegs such that the strings contact the bridge and the nut and are spaced from the portion of the body portion therebetween. The portion of the strings between the bridge and the nut overlie a plurality of frets rigidly attached to the portion of the body portion between the nut and the bridge. The body portion, which is preferably hollow, may further include a hole therein disposed between the bridge and the nut.

Abstract: A standard, high performance CATV signal splitter that operates at high signal levels with greatly reduced intermodulation distortion. The circuit retains the presently accepted performance standards for RF signal splitters while reducing the unacceptable distortion resulting from the higher signal levels currently encountered in applications such as Internet communication. The improved signal splitter circuitry reduces or eliminates signal distortion due to magnetization of the ferrite core material. Such core magnetization occurs in prior art signal splitters when the high permeability ferrite core of the transformer is exposed to random electrical spikes, power surges, and static charge build-up. In the present invention, a tuned circuit is added in the output balance section of a prior art signal splitter to confine the transformer performance to the narrower range of CATV frequencies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composting device for composting organic waste, specifically animal and vegetable household waste. The device consists of a container having four rectangular sides, a base and a removable, reversible cover. The container is provided with a sealable compost extraction opening disposed on a front side of the container near the base. Ventilation openings are provided in the sides. One surface of the cover and front side of the container is painted dark to absorb sunlight and heat the interior chamber defined by the container. The opposing side of the cover is painted white to substantially reflect sunlight. The cover is removed and waste is added to the container through the top. Worms and microorganisms provide a way for degrading the waste into compost, which is removed through the extraction opening adjacent to the base for recycling. The temperature in the compost may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing absorption of sunlight.

Abstract: Laminates consisting of a high-damping core material sandwiched between two stiff, weldable skins. The laminate structures have increased resonant freguencies, improved damping characteristics, do not outgas, and may have a decreased inertial moment. The laminates are comprised of 100% metal constituents, and do not rely on epoxy or low-melting point solders.

Abstract: Bone fasteners consisting of a rivet and an expansion pin for attaching soft tissue and bone plates to bone. The rivet has an enlarged proximal end, a tubular body portion dimensioned to fit snugly within a hole drilled in a bone, and a distal end having expandable legs. The expansion pin is either slidably or rotatably mounted within an axial bore in the rivet. In a first embodiment, the expansion pin has a metallic traction portion and a conical, preferably bioabsorbable, distal end portion releasably affixed thereto. In use, the rivet is inserted into a pre-drilled hole in a bone. When tension is applied to the traction portion of the expansion pin, the conical end portion progressively advances into the bore thereby forcing the legs on the distal end of the rivet to expand outwardly. When the legs are fully expanded, further progress of the conical portion is arrested by a shoulder stop within the axial bore.

Abstract: A coaxial cable installation tool useful for folding back an exposed portion of grounded shielding on the end of a coaxial cable in preparation for the attachment of the coaxial cable to a coaxial cable connector. In a preferred embodiment, the installation tool includes a handle portion that is adapted to be comfortably grasped by an installer, and a flaring tool recessed within one end of the handle portion. The flaring tool includes a spring-loaded cylindrical flaring rod slidably mounted within a coaxial tubular housing. The flaring rod has a cylindrical receptacle in the leading end thereof, the diameter of the cylindrical receptacle being dimensioned to receive the portion of the coaxial cable underlying the grounded shielding therewithin. The inner diameter of the receptacle permits the snug insertion of a variety of coaxial cable connectors, such as, for example, F-type connectors, thereinto.

Abstract: Substrates such as soft tissue bone plates are secured to a bone with a reabsorbable or metallic split rivet bone fastener. The split rivet bone fastener consists of two rotatably connected elongate pins: a pivoting pin and a locking pin, rotatably connected to one another by a transverse pivot pin. Each elongate pin comprises a proximal head portion, a distal leg portion and a body portion therebetween. The pivoting pin and the locking pin each have a transverse cylindrical cavity in the body portion thereof which houses the pivot pin. The pivoting pin and the locking pin each have a semicylindrical groove extending from the head portion thereof to the transverse cylindrical cavity which grooves form a cylindrical lumen when juxtaposed. In a preferred embodiment, a substrate fastener such as a suture is affixed to the pivot pin with the two opposing ends of the suture extending proximally through the cylindrical lumen to project outwardly from the head of the fastener.

Abstract: A gastric banding device for implantation within a person for the treatment of morbid obesity. The gastric banding device includes an inflatable band portion dimensioned to encircle the stomach and an inflation conduit operable for conducting a percutaneously injected inflation fluid into the band portion. The band portion is a toroidal member having a head end with first fastening means thereon and a tail end having second fastening means thereon and an inflatable shell therebetween. The outer surface of the toroidal shell in reinforced with a non-extensible, biocompatible material which serves to limit outward expansion of the shell when an inflation fluid is injected thereinto. The inner, stomach-contacting surface of the shell has a layer of an open-cell elastomeric foam affixed thereto and integral therewith. In operation, when the band is placed in an encircling relationship with the stomach, the first and second fastening means on the ends of the shell are engaged in locking relationship.

Abstract: A method for preserving cytological specimens for histological or histopathological use. A cytological sample from a biological tissue such as a tumor or a tumor cell line is dehydrated, disbursed and evenly distributed throughout a volume of molten material. The molten material is then drawn into a tubular member such as a pipette and allowed to solidify. Upon solidification, the cylindrical specimen is partially or completely extruded from the tube for further processing, including fixation, dehydration and molten paraffin infiltration and embedding as required for presentation to a sectioning device such as a microtome. Thin circular slices of the cylindrical specimen are removed from the cylindrical specimen and transferred to a slide, fixed and stained as desired. The device and method enable the production of a slide bearing a spatially homogeneous distribution of cytological material for microscopic examination.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the treatment of cellulite. The connective tissue subjacent to the dermis provides a barrier resisting protrusion of adipose tissue located beneath the dermis. Such connective tissue is generated or strengthened by applying radiation of appropriate frequency to disrupt or otherwise destroy normal cells within or underlying the dermis adjacent to the interface between the dermis and the subcutaneous adipose tissue, or exclusively within the subcutaneous fat or dermis. Following cell destruction, the body's repair mechanism causes a sheet-like fibrous layer to form at the site of cell destruction which is resistant to the protrusion of depot fat underlying the fibrous layer into the dermis. The technique may be useful for other cosmetic procedures which benefit from a contraction or stabilization of the skin or tissue immediately underlying the epidermis, such as facelifts or strengthening of flaccid tissue.

Abstract: A crankset for a bicycle in which the crankshaft separates into two pieces. The separation point is approximately midway between the support bearings for the crankshaft, creating two crankarm/spindle portions. Dowel pins and a bolt are used to connect the two portions. The crankarm/spindle portions are constructed in a tubular fashion, with the tubular element bent to accommodate the transition from the crank arm to the spindle. Additionally, the crankarm/spindle portions are preferably fabricated from composite materials, to offer a lightweight yet strong and stiff crankset.

Abstract: Compositions containing insulin formulated for topical application and a method for using the compositions for the cosmetic treatment of wrinkles. The formulation is useful for contouring the skin for the reduction of wrinkles, furrows and the like. Insulin, delivered transdermally by means of topical application to a portion of skin having wrinkles and/or furrows therein, permeates the epidermis and accumulates in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue underlying the portion of skin. The elevated insulin concentration in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, relative to the concentration of insulin in other analogous, remotely located tissue, typically in the range of about 25-50 &mgr;U/gm, stimulates the formation of a layer of adipose tissue in the insulin-rich tissue underlying the portion of skin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the non-invasive treatment of varicose veins. The vibrational energy in acoustic waves emanating from one or more source of ultrasonic energy is focused beneath the skin to cause localized heating and tissue disruption and/or destruction in and around the varicosed segment of the vein, particularly the venous endothelium. The localized tissue destruction is followed by localized fibrosis in and around the dilated portion of the varicosed vessel. The ultrasound-induced fibrosis includes thickening and loss of elasticity of the vascular wall. If a sufficiently high dosage of ultrasound energy is delivered to the vein, the varicosed portion of the vessel will be obliterated, providing a therapeutic result similar to that obtained by injection sclerotherapy or vein stripping.

Abstract: A heart rate monitor adapted to be worn on eyewear such as a pair of eyeglasses, a mask or goggles. The heart rate monitor includes a sensor in contact with the bridge of the user's nose. The sensor is responsive to pressure variations or pulses produced during a heart beat cycle. The sensor provides an analog signal having a frequency equal to the user's pulse rate. The analog signal output from the sensor provides an input signal for a microprocessor which includes a frequency counter and signal averager. A microprocessor output signal having a magnitude which is proportional to the heart rate in beats per minute provides the input signal for an optical readout device such as a digital display which is preferably mounted on the frame or stem of the user's eyewear. The image on the optical display is conducted to an eyepiece lens which is mounted most preferably on one of the lenses of the eyewear by means of an image conduit such as a fiber optic or fiber optic bundle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display apparatus and a method for viewing liquid crystal displays over a wide range of viewing angles with minimal loss in image contrast and gray level. Prior art liquid crystal displays (LCDs) exhibit low contrast and gray level inversion when viewed at large viewing angles. Prior art solutions to these problems include using a phase retardation plate or film interposed between the liquid crystal layer and a polarizer layer as an optical compensator. While such a solution improves image contrast and reduces some undesirable angular effects, the fabrication of such phase retardation compensator films requires precise thickness control and is expensive.

Abstract: A fixation pin adapted for use with a frame assembly for the external fixation of a bone. The fixation pin includes a metallic pin having a bioabsorbable threaded tip attached thereto. The metallic pin is a shaft having a proximal end and a shaped distal end. The bioabsorbable tip is a cylindrical unitary body having a distal end, a proximal end and a threaded outer surface therebetween. The proximal end of the tip is affixed to the shaped distal end of the metallic pin. To implant the fixation pin, a hole is drilled and tapped in a first or second bone segment comprising a fracture site. The bioabsorbable tip of the fixation pin is inserted into the hole and the fixation pin is rotated until the threaded outer surface of the tip is embedded within the bone. The proximal end of the metallic pin, projecting outwardly from the skin, is attached to a rigid frame by a clamp.

Abstract: A tool for stripping the jacket, conductive braid and dielectric layer of a coaxial cable to the correct length required for attachment to a coaxial cable connector, and for attaching the stripped end of the coaxial cable to a coaxial cable connector by means of crimping. The stripping portion of the tool has a dual blade cutter that has preset blade separation, fixed cutting depths, and includes preset spring pressure to insure a complete cut. The tool further includes means for applying the force needed to hexagonally crimp a compression crimp ring having a length of up to ½ inch on a standard coaxial cable connector in order to attach the connector to the stripped cable. The invention provides an economical tool, and method for using the tool, for hex crimping a compression crimp ring of up to ½ inch in length on standard coaxial cable connectors.

Abstract: A portable case for storing an orthodontic retainer. The case includes a movable cover that provides access to the interior of the case. A switch mounted within the case actuates a timer circuit when the retainer is disposed within the case and the cover of the case is closed. After the retainer is placed within the container and the cover is closed, the timer begins counting. When a preset period of time has elapsed, the timer actuates an audible signal generator. Upon actuation, the audible signal generator generates a pulsed audible signal such as a beep. The audible signal is preferably generated periodically, with progressively shorter intervals between audible signal pulses. The audible pulses serve to remind the owner to replace the retainer in his or her mouth after eating. Further, in the event that the case is misplaced, the audible signal can be used to locate the retainer case.

Abstract: An automatic teeing apparatus for a ball. A ball, preferably a baseball or softball, is affixed to one end of an elastic cord such as, for example, a “bungee” cord. The opposing end of the elastic cord is affixed to a stable platform or base plate adapted to support the teeing apparatus on the ground. The length of the elastic cord between the ball and the base portion is coaxially housed within a hollow, substantially cylindrical flexible pedestal mounted in a vertically upright position on the base portion. In a preferred embodiment of the device, the pedestal, the height of which is telescopically adjustable, includes a coil spring having a lower end rigidly affixed to the base portion and an upper end in opposition thereto. A rigid cylindrical tubular member has a lower end, which is concentrically disposed within the upper end of the coil spring and is adjustably attached thereto to permit telescopic adjustment of the tubular member within the coil spring.