Abstract: An index tab labeling system for use with suspended file folder of the type having vertical slots along an upper margin, the labeling system comprising a flexible index tab having a single layer of flexible material with lugs for insertion into the vertical slots in the file folder. A pad of labels is affixed to the index tab by a releasable adhesive. The pad of labels has multiple labels which are held to each other by releasable adhesive. The user may write index information on the uppermost label and when the index information requires changing, the uppermost label may be peeled off and the next label is made available for index information to be entered thereon. A pad of three labels is considered to be optimum. When all the labels in one pad are used, a new pad of labels may be releasably adhered to the index tab. In an alternative embodiment, each of the labels may be supplied with a portion that does not have a releasable adhesive applied to it.

Abstract: An insulating cap and method of using the same is disclosed. The insulating cap has one or more slots sized to accept edges of a rib of an arrester bracket so that the cap may be affixed to the rib by sliding the cap over the rib. Tabs at lower portions of the slotted side portions provide for snap fitting the cap to the rib. A cover portion of the cap extends forward from the slotted portion and is sized to at least partially cover a bolt or fastener that connects the arrester bracket to a mounting bracket that is, in turn, affixed to a transformer tank. The cover portion has curved or rounded upper surfaces to serve as a perch deterrent. The insulating cap is formed from a UV stabilized, polypropylene copolymer.

Abstract: An insulator bushing wildlife guard having features for easier alignment and installation of the guard on the bushing. The guard has two hinged body sections of insulating material. An outer edge of each body section is provided with a plurality of flexible fingers that allow conductors to pass through from the interior to the exterior of the enclosure when the two portions of the guard are engaged. In one embodiment, the guard is spring biased toward a closed position. A handle on the back has inner grooves to make it easier to grasp and manipulate the guard using a shotgun stick. On a lower front side of each portion of the guard, spaced-apart, curved, horizontal upper and lower flanges help align the guard with the topmost skirt of a bushing. Medial walls having a curved, sloped, concave or otherwise inwardly-directed configuration between the two flanges facilitate forcing the guard open by pushing it against the bushing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for using ultrasound augmented with microbubbles, thrombolytic drugs or other agents for clot lysis wherein at least one ultrasound transducer generates a plurality of acoustic signals and time, amplitude, phase and frequency modulation of the signals provide more uniform power delivery with fewer gaps in the ultrasound field. Interference patterns from one or multiple transducers are constantly shifted in position. A phased array of transducers may generate a beam that is swept over the area to be treated. In another embodiment, an array of transducers may generate ultrasound at a number of slightly varying frequencies to produce an interference pattern that sweeps in and out through the targeted tissue. A single array may be used to produce both effects simultaneously or separately.

Abstract: A transparent electromagnetic shield to protect solar panels and the like from dust deposition. The shield is a panel of clear non-conducting (dielectric) material with embedded parallel electrodes. The panel is coated with a semiconducting film. Desirably the electrodes are transparent. The electrodes are connected to a single-phase AC signal or to a multi-phase AC signal that produces a travelling electromagnetic wave. The electromagnetic field produced by the electrodes lifts dust particles away from the shield and repels charged particles. Deposited dust particles are removed when the electrodes are activated, regardless of the resistivity of the dust. Electrostatic charges on the panel are discharged by the semiconducting film. When used in conjunction with photovoltaic cells, the power for the device may be obtained from the cells themselves. For other surfaces, such as windshields, optical windows and the like, the power must be derived from an external source.

Abstract: A device to guide the placement of the catheter needle more accurately by placing the needle with a mechanical firing mechanism. The device is an integrated handheld unit comprising an ultrasonic probe with a miniature display and a mechanical firing mechanism that holds the catheter needle and deploys it into the target. The device is connected to an external ultrasound machine which provides the imaging for the device. The display provides a graphical user interface to assist in alignment with the target. The depth of placement of the catheter is set by moving a horizontal indicator over the target display using thumb switches on the handle of the device. The thumb switches are connected to a servo motor or the like that adjusts the angle at which the catheter is deployed. The servo motor simultaneously adjusts the distance of the catheter from the skin of the patient to compensate for the change in the length of the path to the target caused by the change in deployment angle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for thermally destroying tumors in which heat is generated by electrical resistance heating conducted to the target tissue. Computerized scanning is used to optimize the geometry of a thermal probe. The probe has a metal tip heated by a remote laser. The metal tip is mounted on the end of a wave guide fiber for transmitting the laser radiation to the metal tip. The tip is coated with a thin layer of biocompatible ceramic to avoid coagulated tissue sticking to the tip. The tip has one or more thin, thermally-conductive elements which deploy in stages to coagulate the tumor. The conductive elements may be thin wires or blades. On one embodiment, the conductive elements are composed of a shape memory material that is folded against the tip at lower temperatures and deploys at selected higher temperatures. In another embodiment, the conductive elements are blades that are deployed mechanically.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for microsurgical training using cadaveric anatomy with filling of the vascular system by fluids under pressure to simulate the appearance and function of live surgery. One or more arteries on the specimen of cadaveric anatomy are cannulated and connected to an arterial reservoir having a flexible container holding an arterial fluid simulating the appearance of blood circulating in the arteries of the living organism from which the cadaveric anatomy is derived. Suitable static pressure simulating the arterial pressure appropriate to that of the living organism is applied to the air in an air-tight space surrounding the flexible container in the arterial reservoir. A pulsating machine provides air pulsations to the space surrounding the flexible fluid container to simulate the normal pulsations of the arterial system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for thermally destroying tumors in which heat is generated by electrical resistance heating conducted to the target tissue. Computerized scanning is used to optimize the geometry of a thermal probe. The probe has a themally conductive tip containing an electrical resistance heating element. The thermally conductive tip is mounted on the end of a fiber that contains the electrical power leads and other electrical leads connecting to monitoring devices associated with the tip. The tip is coated with a thin layer of biocompatible ceramic to avoid coagulated tissue sticking to the tip. The tip has one or more thin, thermally-conductive elements which deploy in stages to coagulate the tumor. The conductive elements may be thin wires or blades. On one embodiment, the conductive elements are composed of a shape memory material that is folded against the tip at lower temperatures and deploys at selected higher temperatures.

Abstract: A device for inducing a cycling motion in patients who have little or no motor control of their legs. The device has bicycle-type pedals connected via a belt or chain drive to a motor with a speed control allowing a very low rate of rotation from 0.1 cycles per second up to about 1.0 cycles per second. The device includes straps for wheelchair wheels for locking a wheelchair in position such that the patient's feet may be strapped onto the pedals. The diameter of rotation of the pedals is adjustable to accommodate different leg lengths and to allow various diameters of rotation of the pedals. The motor is housed within a console with medial and lateral supports so that the legs of the patient are maintained in alignment.

Abstract: A tire cord having core filaments preformed into a helical configuration while maintaining the core filaments in a parallel, side-by-side relationship. The core filaments are not twisted or stranded together. High tensile strength sheath filaments are also preformed into a flattened helical configuration so that the sheath filaments can be wrapped around the side-by-side core filaments such that the sheath filaments do not put such tension on the core filaments as to cause the core filaments to bunch. The core filaments are maintained in a flat, side-by-side configation so that no voids are formed and rubber can penetrate into the tire cord. The core filaments may number from three to six and the sheath filaments from one to seven. The cross-section of the tire cord is flattened and confined within an oval-shaped outer bound, the oval outer bound being characterized by a major axis and a minor axis.

Abstract: A contact lens for rehabilitation or training of targeted portions of the brain in which the contact lens has occluded regions to selectively blind portions of the central visual field corresponding to non-targeted areas of the brain to force visual processing to a particular portion of the brain which is thereby stimulated. The region of the contact lens over portion of the pupil of the eye corresponding to the central visual field of the targeted area of the brain is substantially transparent. In order to preserve sufficient visual cues for the patient to maintain balance and orientation, at least a portion of the contact lens over the portion of the pupil of the eye corresponding to the peripheral visual field of the non-targeted area of the brain is also transparent.

Abstract: A flexible external prosthesis formed by first creating a thin walled hollow elastomeric shell of the shape required for anatomical augmentation. The interior of the hollow shell is filled with a flexible foam body formed into the same shape. The foam is formed by either of two methods. In one method the same mold used to form the thin walled hollow shell is used again to shape the foam into the same shape as the hollow shell. The hollow prosthesis may then be opened, the foam body inserted and the shell resealed. In another method, the foam is injected into the hollow shell while it is contained in the mold. The foam is desirably a two-part material which chemically generates a foaming agent when the two parts are mixed together. The foam then expands into the interior of the hollow shell and assumes the shape imposed by the mold. The foam body is lubricated to ensure free movement of the shell with respect to the foam body, desirably using a triglyceride oil, such as soy bean oil.

Abstract: A combined stethoscope and reflex hammer. Preferably, the head of the reflex hammer is incorporated into an o-ring securing the diaphragm membrane of the stethoscope chest piece so that a standard stethoscope may be easily retrofitted to add the reflex hammer function. A rigid handle for the reflex hammer is provided by a penholder rigidly affixed to the stethoscope in proximity to the chest piece. The pen may be provided with a penlight so that the combined instrument also provides that function in addition to providing a writing pen, a reflex hammer and a stethoscope.

Abstract: A fluid handling device to assist in the mixing or separation of two or more fluids utilizing a stack of two types of alternating plates. A first plate has an aperture; a second plate has peripheral spaces around which the fluids may flow. Both types of plates are provided with a plurality of projections that serve to space the plates apart and to provide additional turbulence to the fluids as they flow around the projections. The fluids are forced to proceed back and forth through the alternating plates. The plates may be designed to fit within a housing of circular or polygonal cross-section. The projections may be tapered or non-tapered. The projections may be circular or polygonal in cross-section. Further the heights of the projections may vary to adjust the separation between adjacent pairs of plates to obtain the appropriate degree of turbulence for optimum mixing or separation of the fluids.

Abstract: A spiked H-style link for a sharp chain conveyor where the single centrally-placed saddle of the prior art is replaced by a double saddle with a centrally-located opening shaped to receive a sprocket tooth. The double saddle moves each saddle outward from the central portion of the spiked link to enhance the rigidity of the legs between which the connecting pins act. The legs are provided with a thickened offset step on the lower inner portion of each leg. There is a corresponding decrease in the thickness of the legs in the region where the connecting link works. By decreasing the thickness of the legs in the region outside the offset step, the connecting link may be widened, allowing for a greater bearing surface on the connecting pin and thus reducing the rate of wear on the connecting pin.

Abstract: A device for the physiotherapeutic irradiation of spatially extensive pathologies by light with the help of a matrix of the sources of optical radiation such as lasers or light diodes placed on the surface of a substrate whose shape is adequate to the shape of the zone of pathology is disclosed. In addition, the device contains stops and a holder to fix the substrate against the bioobject. Additional modules are provided to adjust the temperature, pressure, gas composition over the pathological area. As a source of radiation, chemical reactions accompanied by the luminescence of the products of reaction are suggested. The power supply unit can be autonomous with remote feeding through pulse magnetic field. A supplementary hood optically transparent is provided to localize the pathology as well as the strips that scatter the radiation to get a more uniform bioobject's exposure.

Abstract: A stereotactic device for localizing an MRI-imaged mass using horizontal and vertical protractors on which a laser is mounted. The protractors and laser are mounted on a table which may be positioned horizontally and vertically with respect to the patient table. The portion of the patient's body being imaged is fixed by a compression plate to which a reference target is mounted. The reference target incorporates a substance which is strongly imaged by the MRI. The compression plate comprises an array of relatively large apertures through which the radiologist may guide an instrument. From the MRI images, the radiologist takes an angle between the reference target and the suspect mass from each of two perpendicular planes and inputs these angles into the protractors of the stereotactic device. The table of the stereotactic device is adjusted horizontally or vertically with respect to the patient table so that the beam of the laser aligns with the reference target.

Abstract: A counter flow, re-circulating, externally refrigerated auger type chiller. The chiller has a tank that is semi-cylindrical in shape so that the walls of the tank conform closely to the circular cross section of the auger. By minimizing the gap between the walls of the tank and the outer edges of the rotating auger, the counter flowing chilled water is forced to flow in the helical path determined by the auger. This assures a longer residence time for the chilled water in the auger, more thorough and more intimate contact between the poultry carcasses and the chilled water, and thus more efficient transfer of heat from the poultry carcasses to the chilled water.

Abstract: A method of rehabilitation or training of targeted portions of the brain in which hemi-lenses having semi-opaque radial segments selectively blind portions of the visual processing areas of the brain to force visual processing to a particular portion of the brain which is thereby stimulated. Such rehabilitation consists of having the patient perform visual and non-visual tasks constructed to activate processing in the targeted portion of the brain. The hemi-lenses may be employed in a series of gradually increased translucency to allow the patient's visual system to adapt in stages to the rehabilitated balance between intact visual processing and relearned visual processing.