Abstract: A speed controlling hydraulic dampener comprises a tubular housing defining a closed cylindrical chamber for containing a hydraulic fluid. The chamber containing two separate pistons and piston rods that extend through sealed openings in the ends of the housing. The second piston is spring-biased. First and second orifices are provided in the wall of the housing which are connected by a tubular passageway. A special seal arrangement cooperates with the first piston rod and with the wall of the housing defining the cylindrical chamber. This seal includes a third orifice extending longitudinally therethrough and cooperating with this orifice is a flow-controlling needle valve that can be used to adjust the rate of flow of hydraulic fluid from a first portion of the chamber through the first orifice, the tubular passageway and the second orifice to a zone between the first and second pistons.

Abstract: A loom for weaving pile fabric is disclosed, including a plurality of healds for shedding warp yarns, a pile-forming reed through which said warp yarns are guided and a plurality of pile loop forming lances extending in the warp direction so that each pile-forming lance passes through an associated dent in the read, each dent being defined between a pair of spaced apart dent fingers. Each loop forming lance and at least one dent finger of said pair of dent fingers cooperate to guide lateral displacement of the loop forming lance relative to said associated dent. A first group of healds are threaded with ground forming warp yarns and the first group of healds and the loop forming lances are arranged such that the upper and lower shedding positions of said ground forming warp yarns are located below the loop forming lances.

Abstract: An instrument for achieving rapid hemostasis at the conclusion of a catheterization procedure comprising a hemostatic agent injection device for use with a conventional introducer sheath used to gain access to the blood vessel. The injection device includes an elongated tubular member having ejection ports proximate its distal end. A hub member includes an elongated groove or track located in its surface with a transparent cover. The enclosed track is sealed from the lumen extending through the tubular member with a compliant membrane and filled with a predetermined amount of fluid. After the catheterization procedure, the device is inserted into the introducer sheath. Blood flows into the lumen of the device and pulsates against the compliant membrane. The fluid in the track pulsates within the enclosed track, clearly indicating that the ports are located in the blood vessel and subjected to variations in blood pressure.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac rhythm management device adapted to receive and digitize electrocardiogram signals from leads placed on or in the heart and capable of automatically adjusting an evoked response detection threshold dependent upon a modulation of the amplitude of the evoked response. Respiration, activity level, and lead maturation, among others, all effect the modulation of the evoked response and the amplitude of a signal associated with evoked response. The present invention automatically adjusts the evoked response detection threshold to account for this modulation. Without limitation, the automatic adjustment of the evoked response detection threshold may be utilized during an automatic capture verification sequence. In the event of non-capture or fusion beats during an automatic adjustment, the evoked response detection threshold is not adjusted.

Abstract: An electrosurgical coagulation instrument specifically designed to be insertable through a cannula for use in coagulating tissue during a laparoscopic or other scope-type procedure. The instrument has both bipolar forceps jaw paddles and bipolar needle electrodes. The needle electrodes are selectively extendable from the distal end of the instrument by manipulation of a knob member in a proximal handle. The needle electrodes can be extended to thereby enter certain tissue such as a tumor to thereby effectuate desiccation thereof and a gradual shrinkage.

Abstract: A rapid set-up end prep lathe for machining piping and piping components in the field comprises a mandrel mountable to the internal diameter of a tubular workpiece and with the ability to rapidly establish a concentric orientation of the mandrel with the workpiece. Mounted on the mandrel is an annular housing that is longitudinally displaceable along the mandrel. It supports a gear ring carrying either one or two tool feed assemblies thereon for orbital and radial movement of a cutting tool relative to the workpiece. The tool slide assemblies are adjustably mounted permitting the tool to travel at an angle between 0° and about 37° with respect to the surface of the gear ring. Ramps of adjustable slope affixed to the annular housing are coupled through a one-way ratchet clutch to permit variation of the feed rate of the tool slide.

Abstract: A portable tool for squaring the ends of tubes is adapted to be coupled to an electrically powered hand drill for driving a shaft carrying a cutting tool at the free end thereof. The shaft is journaled for rotation in a tubular torque housing that is effectively clamped to the drive motor partially. Surrounding the torque housing is an axial feed housing that is keyed to the torque housing by elongated keys disposed in axially aligned keyways formed in both the torque housing and the axial feed housing. A portion of the axial feed housing has external threads adapted to mate with internal threads on a manually rotatable feed ring. A workpiece clamping collet assembly is affixed to the end of the axial feed housing such that when the feed ring is rotated, the workpiece is may be axially displaced against the spinning/cutting tool.

Abstract: An in line feed method and apparatus for forming slugs of incoming items, which are standing on edge and aligned front-to-back is disclosed. The process uses a conveyor belt and a vacuum chamber aligned end to end for separating the flow of items and creating slugs. The items introduced to the system are on a conveyor belt. The belt is periodically stopped and the items blocked from being sucked into the vacuum chamber. While the product is blocked from entering the vacuum chamber a moving finger which travels through the chamber is introduced at the mouth of the vacuum chamber and the items are released from the conveyor belt such that they are sucked into the vacuum chamber but are limited by and stack up against the finger. In this manner slugs are formed.

Abstract: A gussetting machine having adjustable spans between the gussetting fingers. The gussetting fingers on opposite sides of a wrapper move in opposite directions driven by rotating a spline shaft which engages a hub having an angled bore therethrough such that the surface of the hub nutates with a pitch and yaw motion. A housing riding on the surface of the hub experiences the pitch and yaw motions. A bracket surrounding the hub has a shaft for allowing the hub to rotate about the pitch axis. A the bracket is pivotably mounted on a pivot block to allow the bracket to yaw. Gussetting arms attached to the brackets swing back and forth in opposite directions simultaneously. The angled bores in the hubs are 180 degrees offset from each other such that the gussetting arms move in unison in opposite directions. The angles of the bores can be increased for larger gussetting arm swings or decreased for smaller gussetting arm swings.

Abstract: A method of manufacture for an adhesive-based system to removably stick relatively flat articles on large area surfaces. A cured pressure-sensitive adhesive is coated on both sides of a central flat, flexible support scrim in a zoned thickness pattern which includes sufficient, continuous thickness such that the system is well suited to the removable installation of many types of articles having rough surface textures including, but not limited to, floor coverings such as woven and double-backed carpets having backs of a relatively rough texture and unitary backed carpet having a rough latex or polymeric coating and no applied secondary scrim. The adhesive is cured in situ but remains pressure sensitive.

Abstract: A body implantable lead for placement in a selected coronary vein includes a resilient retention structure for inhibiting displacement of the lead because of heart beat action, breathing or other body movement. The retention structure includes a plurality of resilient projections that are attached to the lead body and which are adapted to project at a predetermined acute angle to the axis of the lead body when unconstrained. Prior to being routed through the vascular system, the projections can be bonded to the lead body to provide a low profile with a biodegradable adhesive. Following exposure to body fluids, the adhesive dissolves, releasing the projections so that they can engage the walls of the vein in which the lead is disposed.

Abstract: A new technique for efficiently manufacturing jewelry includes the use of a universal frame in combination with a low cost flexible mold. Various inserts can also be used to customize jewelry pieces made using the mold and frame.

Abstract: A cardiac pacing/defibrillation system that enhances the ability of a cardiac pacer to automatically detect whether a pacing stimulus results in heart capture or contraction. The cardiac pacing/defibrillation system includes a pacing circuit that attenuates polarization voltages or “afterpotential” which develop at the heart tissue/electrode interface following the delivery of a stimulus to the heart tissue, which thereby allows the pacing electrodes to be utilized to sense an evoked response to the pacing stimulus. The cardiac pacing/defibrillation system may utilize the ventricular coil electrode and superior vena cava coil electrode to sense an evoked response, thereby eliminating the necessity for an additional ventricular lead for sensing an evoked response. The present invention allows accurate detection of an evoked response of the heart, to thereby determine whether each pacing stimulus results in capture.

Abstract: A lubricated wing nut device for attaching a cover plate to a container such as on a gravity tee of the type used for closing a discharge hopper of a tank transport vehicle. The lubricated wing nut inhibits corrosion and seizing of the bolt used in securing the cover plate to the container opening. It comprises a cast metal body having a longitudinal bore of a predetermined diameter inwardly from a base end thereof. Fitted into the bore is a stainless steel nut having an internally threaded surface for engaging the threads on a bolt. The longitudinal bore is adapted to be filled with a lubricating grease.

Abstract: A method of and system for sterilizing the internal surfaces of one or more elongate relatively narrow passages of interest contained in a device of interest, said passages having end openings and being susceptible of sustaining flow therealong by inducing a positive flow of sterilizing gas through each passage of interest in a selected direction. Gas flow through a device of interest is caused by a passive two-chamber device which generates a transient pressure gradient between the ends of the lumens of the device in response to externally imposed variations of pressure. Sterilant gas is provided from outside the two chamber systems.

Abstract: A method of molding soft member constituting the main portion, and a rigid member. The soft member at least partially embedded in a soft member to form a semi-rigid grommet member has a loop rib integral therewith, and the rigid member has a loop base element almost entirely embedded in the rib. The base element has load pads spaced therealong for lockingly engaging the panel in which the grommet is positioned. The base member is molded in the bottom part of the mold, and then it is lifted out of its original molding position to expose it for injecting the soft material in surrounding position around the base member.

Abstract: An interbody implant for enhancing fusion of adjacent vertebral bodies comprises a rectangular cage member of an open construction dimensioned to fit between adjacent vertebral bodies following surgical removal of the disk. The rectangular cage member includes a plurality of ribs for engaging the plateaus of adjacent vertebral bodies for preventing lateral shifting of the cage. It is held against anterior/posterior motion by a locking screw which threadedly engages the cage and adjacent bone tissue. The cage is adapted to be packed with bone graft material for enhancing solid bone fusion.

Abstract: Fecal leakage and contamination from the vent opening of an animal carcass during slaughtering and processing is eliminated by injecting a highly viscous material comprising a mixture of food grade constituents through the vent opening so as to create a self-adhering plug in the lower colon and rectum of the animal. The plug material preferably comprises a blended mixture of water, gum, modified food starch and a preservative whose viscosity is in the range of from about 220,000 centipoise to 480,000 centipoise. Being formed from food grade constituents, the offal can safely be harvested and used in animal feed as a by-product of the meat processing operation.