Abstract: A blood filter for use in filtering blood having side walls, a top, and a bottom joined to the side walls defining an axis with a filtration element surrounding at least a portion of the axis is disclosed. A delivery conduit delivers blood to the interior of the filter at an angle extending upwardly away from a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of the filter to form a vortex which is offset from the filter axis for release of entrapped air through an overlying top vent offset from the central axis, and an exit conduit connected to the interior of the filter element allows blood to flow from the filter element to an exit opening.

Abstract: An emergency vehicle lighting system is disclosed having one or more emergency vehicle lights with a switch operable by movement of the emergency vehicle transmission shifter. An electronic circuit for disconnecting power to the emergency lights is provided when the emergency vehicle shifter is shifted into a park or neutral position. The circuit can comprise discrete components including a flip flop or a micro-processor circuit connected to the shifter switch to provide power to the emergency lights, and which has been programmed to cut off the lights when the switch indicates that the shifter has been placed in a park or neutral position.

Abstract: An emergency vehicle multiple sound siren disabling circuit is disclosed having a multiple sound siren circuit for emanating signals equivalent to a particular type of sound with an amplifier adapted for connection to a speaker. The siren circuit has a switch for selecting respective siren sounds and a circuit for disabling the multiple sound siren when the emergency vehicle transmission is placed in a park or neutral position. The circuit further disables the multiple sound siren after the emergency vehicle transmission is removed from the park or neutral mode, and enables it again after selective inputs thereto.

Abstract: A diver's face mask having a centrally offset purge valve which is easily purged by tilting the mask toward the purge valve to accumulate any water within the mask and exhaling through the nose.

Abstract: A data converting apparatus and process for converting outline representations of a character into its bit mapped form using two buffers one being for the bit mapped form of the character symbol and the other for the chain-code representation of the outline of the character are disclosed. Three steps are utilized in the process. The first step draws the character outline on to the drawing buffer and generates the chain-code representation with flags to indicate contour collisions. The contours are then scanned one more time to add missing flags on the chain-code representation. Finally, the inside part of the contour on the drawing buffer is filled using the chain-code representations of the contour, to provide a filled character.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed of the dot matrix type having a series of hammers with pins that print upon an underlying media, and which are released from magnetic retention by reversing the polarity of a permanent magnet and having electro-mechanical drive circuits and logic circuits. A power supply supplies an output of a voltage level for driving the electro-mechanical circuits connected to a ribbon drive, platen drive, paper feed, shuttle motor, and fans at a given voltage and the hammers at a different voltage. A thermal sensor is connected to a heat sink of the power supply, and to the printer controller to change the rate of printing when pre-established temperatures are sensed.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel backpack for use with a vest and buoyancy compensator combination. The backpack has a recess in which is disposed a novel traction pad. The traction pad is formed of a thin pad of resilient material capable of compression when a breathing gas tank is tightly held against it by means of a strap and fastener. This active compression holds the breathing gas tank in place.

Abstract: A food bar is formed of a double walled, insulated open chamber and a support grid disposed within the chamber. The support grid is formed of divider bars and cross rails arranged in a pattern across the open chamber of the food bar to divide the opening into compartments for support of food containers and panel inserts. The divider bars have a substantially U-shaped cross section and have spaced apart openings along the top. The cross rails have a substantially U-shaped cross section and have ends which terminate in a downward flange adapted to be received in the openings of the divider bar. A clear panel of material is preferably suspended above the food bar to act as a "sneeze bar".

Abstract: A modular pharmacy and a modular pharmacy system and process for the admixture of intravenous drugs and total parenteral nutrition solution which includes automatic daily computer download of hospital prescriptions and the daily compounding under controlled systematic aseptic conditions including individually controlled environments at each work station and following systematically controlled process steps.

Abstract: A regulator of the type used for second stage regulation of air or breathing gas having a circular portion and a valve body mounted within the body. A diaphragm is mounted in the circular portion which responds to pressure differentials on either side of the diaphragm with a spring loaded poppet for valving gas. Two angled walls extend from the circular portion, each forming a plane which intersects the other, and at least one exhaust valve is mounted in each of the two respective walls which are angled to each other forming an angled cavity adjacent the valves.

Abstract: This specification discloses apparatus and a process for printing data on a web of print from data related to a wider web than that to be printed upon. It includes a printer having a paper output of a narrower web than data from the wider web, and the provision of data as to the narrow and wide web width. The apparatus and process establishes the difference between the narrow web width of the printer and the wide web width and calculates the number of pages of narrow web width to be printed thereafter forming a raster output from the difference between the narrow web width and the wide web width to establish the width for printing by the printer.

Abstract: A stethoscope head having a first pair of acoustical passages in sound communication with a low frequency sound receiving bell and a second pair of acoustical passages in sound communication with a high frequency sound receiving diaphragm. A cylindrical valve plug having a third pair of acoustical passages is disposed within a cylindrical bore into which the first and second pairs of acoustical passages open. A pair of sound tubes are connected to the third acoustical passages within the cylindrical valve plug. The pair of sound tubes act as a lever to facilitate rotation of the cylindrical valve plug to acoustically connect the third acoustical passages with either the first or second pair of acoustical passages.

Abstract: An antegrade/retrograde cardioplegia valve, system and method are provided. The valve includes conduits for entry of blood and cardioplegic solution, for pressure sensing, and for delivery of blood and cardioplegic solution to the aortic root by means of an aortic root cannula for antegrade infusion or to the coronary sinus by means of a coronary sinus cannula for retrograde infusion. Within the valve a cylindrical sliding member slides axially within an inner cylindrical chamber for selection of retrograde or antegrade infusion. An independent conduit communicates with the coronary sinus cannula for continuous coronary sinus pressure monitoring. A method and system incorporating the valve are also provided.