Abstract: An endoscopic bipolar forceps comprises an elongated tubular member dimensioned to fit through the working lumen of an endoscope where the tubular member includes a handle at its proximal end and a pair of end effectors at its distal end and with a lumen extending between them. The end effectors each have a metal tissue cutting and tissue sample capturing and retaining element facing one another and capable of being open and closed by manipulating the handle. Each of the end effectors includes an electrode supported by and insulated from it. A push rod coupling the handle to the end effectors for inducing the pivotal movement thereof also serves as an electrical conductor for applying a first potential to the metal tissue cutting and tissue sample capturing and retaining element. A second conductor extends through the lumen of the tubular member and is electrically connected to the electrodes on each of the end effectors.

Abstract: A rotatable drum mixer of the type suitable for mounting in a mobile system for mixing and dispensing concrete is disclosed that includes a single full-length main helical mixing fin upstanding from the interior of the mixer, an auxiliary agitating fin in a forward portion of the drum and a pair of outlet flights near a discharge section of the drum mixer.

Abstract: A plastic snap nut is in the form of a molded plastic tubular member with a radially extending flange. The tubular member has a threaded bore and a slot formed through its wall into the bore. The slot width is slightly less than the diameter of the bore. The nut is sufficiently resilient, allowing it to be snapped onto an elongated threaded rod from the side at any location along the length of the rod, making it unnecessary to screw it on to the rod from one end thereof. Once secured, the threads on the nut engage the threads on the rod, allowing the nut to be repositioned by rotating it.

Abstract: An injection site and unsharpened drug transfer spike for facilitating coupling a syringe to a fluid line. The injection site has a uniquely designed housing and septum comprised of only two parts. The drug transfer spike has a positive locking member for restricting retraction from the injection site once it is inserted for injecting a medicant. The positive locking member preferably comprises a annular ridge defined about the shaft of the drug transfer spike. The septum includes a pair of axially aligned, oppositely oriented conical recesses with adjacent apices either separated by a thin membrane or intersecting at the time of manufacture. The housing has an inlet for receiving the septum and comprises a plurality of fingers with inwardly extending tabs for constraining the septum therewithin. The septum is ideally adapted to be applied to injection sites, Y-connectors, vial adaptors, single or multi-dose vials and blood collection tubes.

Abstract: A device for reliably and non-invasively measuring respiration rates and effort by encircling the patient's chest with a device having a large section of inelastic belt attached to a small section of elastic material. The elastic material having two magnetic tapes with wire windings thereon proximate each other with an insulation material therebetween. The wire windings are electrically connected to each other. The magnetic tapes have opposite ends attached to the elastic material such that when the elastic material expands and contracts the wire windings move relative to each. A toroidal transformer is connected to the wire windings. When a carrier signal is introduced to the transformer and the magnetic tapes move relative to each other on the elastic material when the patient breathes a mutual inductance in the wire windings modulates the carrier signal and thus measures the expansion and contraction of the patient's chest which is directly related to the patient's respiration rate.

Abstract: A gardening tool used for bulb planting having a frustoconically shaped earth removing portion with the approximate size and depth needed to remove enough soil to plant a bulb. The tool has a handle for holding onto the device and placing it on the ground for use without having to bend over. The tool also has a foot bar for ease of forcing the earth removing portion into the ground by standing on the foot bar. When the earth is removed and the bulb is placed in the ground, an actuating rod on the gardening tool is pulled to open the frustroconically shaped earth removing portion to deposit the soil therein on the bulb to complete the planting process.

Abstract: A pet waste disposal device having a handle with a squeeze grip for actuating a sweep arm adjacent the ground for urging objects on the ground into a hoop portion having a bag attached such that when the device is lifted toward the horizontal objects in the hoop portion fall into the bag. The bag is detachable from the hoop portion being secured thereto by a band around the bag and the hoop portion. The hoop portion has a lip such that the band will not slip off the hoop and will secure the bag to the hoop. Optionally the hoop portion is rotatably secured to the device such that objects may be picked up from the side of the handle or in front of the handle. A spring attached to the device opposes the squeeze grip to default the device in the open position with the sweep member away from the hoop. However a pin on the squeeze grip can be engaged by a member on the horizontal handle to lock the sweep member in a position adjacent to the hoop.

Abstract: Expandable electrodes for intravascular leads permit the electrodes to be placed and retained in the vasculature of the left side of the heart. Such electrodes can be in the form of a balloon, an expandable wire coil, or other expandable shapes.

Abstract: A self-propelled carpet/tile stripping tool of the walk-behind type includes a drive train including an electric motor coupled through an electromagnetic clutch and a gear reduction box to ground-engaging wheels for advancing the machine in a forward direction when the clutch is energized. The same motor driving the wheels also is coupled to a cutting head member by means of an eccentric drive where the cutting head member is suspended in elastomeric shock mounts to reduce vibration while yet permitting orbital movement of a floor-engaging cutting blade. Finger-tip controls allows selective operation of the drive motor and electromagnetic clutch. The machine is further weighted to increase the frictional engagement between the floor scraper blade and the floor surface and because of the self-propelled aspect, operator fatigue is minimized.

Abstract: A system for joining an expansion line to a main line of a sanitary sewage or storm sewage system. The system of the present invention joins an expansion line to a main line while reducing the amount of required excavation and minimizing the obstruction of a high capacity drainage line extending vertically within a manhole system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assessing the status of well-being of patients being treated for CHF using cardiac pacing as a therapy. By sampling the output from an activity sensor or the like, and by noting the frequency with which the averaged rectified sensor output exceeds a preset threshold following changes in the pacing mode, the efficacy of the new mode compared to the previous one can be evaluated.

Abstract: A recording and ablation catheter method and system for creating linear lesions in an atrial or other chamber of a heart is disclosed which includes an array of readily controlled electroded arcuate distal working catheter shapes that are easily deployed to contact the inner wall surface of the right atrial cardiac chamber in a manner that enables easy recording and mapping of impulses and thereafter facilitates sustained contact so that linear lesions can be produced from an array of mapping and ablation electrode devices serially spaced along the working catheter shape.

Abstract: An apparatus for tracking items in a factory is disclosed. The apparatus is partially well suited for manufacturing environments wherein there are a plurality of items to be kept together in groups. The invention is particularly useful in semiconductor processing facilities wherein batches of semiconductor wafers to be processed are placed in wafer carriers which are, in turn, placed in work-in-progress boxes. Applying identification tags to one item that can be read and processed by a microterminal attached to the other item provides an effective way to prevent improper grouping of the items which can lead to misprocessing or handling of the batches of wafers.

Abstract: A pacing lead for a cardiac stimulator that includes an elongated flexible insulating lead body. An electrode is attached to the lead body at its distal end. An elongated conductor extends through a lumen of the elongated lead body for connecting the electrode to the terminal pin. The conductor is in the form of a coiled wire until it reaches approximate the electrode. It is then crimped to a cable conductor which in turn is crimped or welded to the electrode. The electrode is supported at the distal end by a molded support body which includes a lumen for a guide wire.

Abstract: An apparatus for fixing a cardiac lead in place within the vasculature of the heart includes a coil having a normal helical shape and a stylet for holding the coil straight during insertion of the coil through a lumen of the lead. Upon retraction of the stylet, the coil returns to its helical shape along with the lead, forcing portions of the lead into contact with the vessel wall.

Abstract: An improved sealing cartridge for use in a reciprocating plunger pump which includes a low pressure seal, a vacuum seal, and an oil seal within a unitized cartridge assembly to facilitate servicing and/or replacing the various seals with minimal effort and which provides improved sealing characteristics to prevent the unwanted migration of oil, fluid, and air during both priming and normal operating conditions.

Abstract: An implantable device and method of cardiac stimulation that automatically verifies capture and a threshold effectiveness of stimulation of a cardiac stimulator. During predetermined periods, the device utilizes 2 or more pacing/sensing electrodes positioned within an electrically continuous area of the heart, wherein one electrode is used to provide a pacing stimulus while the other electrode or electrodes are used to verify capture or a threshold effective strength. A predetermined blanking period is provided to avoid detection of the electrical stimulus transmitted to one electrode from a pulse generator. After expiration of the predetermined blanking period the remaining electrodes detect depolarization of the surrounding tissue.