Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle pedal lock having two elongated members that slide relative to each other. A stationary member has a base plate at one terminal end for placement on the floor of the vehicle. The stationary member defines a longitudinal channel through which slides the second, movable member. An upper pedal bracket supported by a yoke is mounted on the stationary member near the end of the longitudinal channel. The movable member has a lower pedal bracket at its terminal end. The movable member includes lock detents used to lock the movable member relative to the stationary member via a key-lock mounted to the stationary member. The key-lock includes a locking pin engageable with the locking detents. The pedal lock is adapted to capture and lock the vehicle pedal between the upper and lower pedal brackets such that the pedal may not be depressed.

Abstract: The controllable deployment system for a radially expandable frame utilized during catheterization includes a guide wire with a stop, a radially expandable frame through which the guide wire freely passes, an elongated actuation sleeve over the guide wire, and a friction locking mechanism located at the proximal end of the system. The expandable frame has a closed, radially compact form and an open, radially expanded form. The proximal end of the frame is coupled to an actuator sleeve. The actuator sleeve, at its proximal end, includes a friction locking mechanism having locking members with respective locking surfaces. The locking mechanism permits the user to lock or hold static the actuator sleeve (and therefore, the expandable frame) with respect to the guide wire, typically in an open, radially expanded form and a closed form. Tactile markers or indicia may be included.

Abstract: A plastic back-up shear plate is laterally disposed with a spring fit into the outwardly facing mouth of a metal window frame. The outwardly facing mouth is formed and defined by the window frame. The window frame is an elongated hollow body with opposing outer wall elements which define the outwardly facing mouth. The shear plate is snap fit into the mouth. The shear plate has laterally disposed opposite outer edge portions which are interlockable on the outer wall elements which define the mouth of the window frame. The shear plate has a lateral dimension slightly larger than the lateral mouth dimension which causes the shear plate to snap fit into the mouth with the spring fit. In one embodiment, the shear plate includes support ribs. In another embodiment, the outer base face of the shear plate includes at least one, and preferably two, shim elements which rise above the outer face. The shim elements may be arcuate elements. In another embodiment, compressible shim fingers are utilized.

Abstract: The suture lock or suture lock rivet for locking suture thread includes a lock head defining a cut-out, a first locking surface and a stem connected via a breakaway section. The lock also includes a lock base defining a second complementary locking surface. The locking surfaces trap the suture in the cut-out. The stem breaks away. A suture lock applicator is utilized to deliver and apply the suture lock to the surgical site. The system includes the lock loaded within the suture lock applicator. The applicator, or rivet gun, is designed to grip the stem body and coact with the lock base to cause the lock base to slide over the stem towards the lock head or rivet head, and subsequently, with the application of additional longitudinally directed force, to remove the stem from the lock head or first body part at the breakaway section.

Abstract: The plastic back-up shear plate is laterally disposed with a spring fit into the outwardly facing mouth of a metal window frame. The mouth is defined by the window frame. The shear plate has laterally disposed opposite outer edge portions which are interlockable on corresponding outer wall elements of hollow body metal window frame. In a perpendicular direction, the back-up shear plate has opposing edge portions which interlock on window frame mouths having a slightly different dimension. The shear plate is constructed and arranged to fit, with appropriate change in orientation, window frames of two different mouth openings. Multiple window frame mouths, on different window frames, are accommodated by a multiple sided back-up plate.

Abstract: The suture clip includes a pair of plates joined together at one end to form a vertex having an acute angle. Each plate, at its remote terminal end, defines an inwardly facing hook. The hook end members establish a clip mouth slightly larger than the diameter of the suture thread such that when the thread is passed through the clip mouth, the thread cannot easily escape entrapment from the central region of the clip. The suture clip may be C-shape, V-shape, broken leg V-shape, heart shape or pentagonal shape. In another embodiment, the clip is a closed loop or elliptical in shape. To enhance operability, the hooks on the C, U or V shaped sutures are disposed on tabs which are laterally displaced with respect to each other such that, upon collapse and closure of the clip plates, the tabs interleave each other and interlock over the opposite clip plate. This feature enhances attachment to suture thread.

Abstract: The automatically controlled pump supplies pressurized irrigation fluid to a surgical site. The pump system includes a motor in a housing and a pump in a housing defining input and output ports. The pump has a rotatable impeller. The motor is powered by one or more batteries. An ON/OFF motor switch is controlled by fluid flow above a nominal flow by a sensor typically mounted downstream of the pump. The system operates in conjunction with a downstream manual control valve. Flow above a system minimal flow is detected by a negative buoyancy poppet having a “leaky” valve seat. When the poppet moves into a flow chamber, the switched motor is ON. Various position sensors may be used, i.e., an optical sensor. The method automatically controls a pump by monitoring fluid flow above a system minimal flow and turning ON/OFF the motor based upon flow above the minimum.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for stapling and cutting a blood vessel or other organic structure utilizes surgical staple clips. The surgical instrument includes an elongated tube or rod having a longitudinally movable rod disposed therein. A handle is mounted on the proximal end of the tube. The handle has a movable member which causes the movable rod to longitudinally shift positions in the tube. In one version, a pair of surgical staple clip-carrying jaw sets are pivotally mounted on a common lateral axis located at the distal end of the elongated tube. A scissor jaw set may also be included in the system. When the rod longitudinally moves with respect to the elongated tube or rod, the clip jaw sets clip the surgical staple clips onto the blood vessel or other organic structure. The handle for the surgical instrument includes a movable member coupled to a movable rod and a stationary grip member mounted to the elongated tube, within which moves the longitudinally movable rod.

Abstract: The retrofit patient call system retrofits onto the preexisting patient call system. The retrofit system includes a wireless patient call unit mounted on a patient using a wristband or strap and a wall unit retrofit mounted near the preexisting patient call system room port. The patient call unit allows the patient to activate a user actuated control coupled to a transmitter which generates a radio frequency (RF) patient call signal. The wall unit receives the RF patient call signal and produces a patient alarm signal which is sent via the preexisting room port and patient call system to a central monitoring station. The wall unit is programmed either to send the patient alarm signal in the same form as the preexisting hard-wired patient call switch or to activate the preexisting room port to generate the alarm. The wall unit may include a reset and a display for other valuable information.

Abstract: The sizable plastic back-up shear plate is laterally disposed with generally a spring fit into the outwardly facing mouth of a metal window frame. For windows having smaller mouths, the shear plate is cut along a discardable edge portion. The outwardly facing mouth is formed and defined by the window frame elongated hollow body and particularly by outer wall elements which face each other in an opposing manner. The plastic back-up shear plate has laterally disposed opposite outer edge portions which are interlockable on corresponding outer wall elements of hollow body metal window frame which wall elements define the mouth of the window frame. An intermediately disposed locking lip is utilized on smaller frame mouth after cutting or separating off the bread away edge portion. The plastic back-up shear plate has a lateral dimension slightly larger than the lateral mouth dimension and thereby achieves a spring fit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an increasing income financial product. According to one embodiment of the invention, each subscriber invests in a financial contractual product or program. Each subscriber designates primary and secondary beneficiaries. The subscriber has various payment plan options to fund the financial product. Those plans include (a) lump sum payment, (b) periodic payments, (c) a pledge of a subscriber's financial asset, and (d) a pledge of a subscriber's financial asset accompanied with periodic payments. The primary beneficiary is assigned, along with a number of demographically similar beneficiaries, to a certain contract group. In the event the subscriber utilizes the pledge payment plan, when the primary beneficiary dies, the pledged assets of the subscriber are placed under the control of the financial product administrator or its designee.

Abstract: The compact disk carrying case has two clam-shell members as an outer enclosure with mating interfacing edges and a closure system, such as a zipper. A plurality of compact disk carrying plates are disposed in the case and opposing plates are hinged together by plate hinge segments along a spine. Hinge segments form progressively increasing larger spanning hinges from interior plates to the outer plates. The maximum spanning hinge is disposed proximate the clam-shell member hinge, any intermediate spanning hinge or hinges (if present) are disposed intermediate, and the minimum spanning hinge is disposed in an interior region such that respective opposing plates are proximately facing each other when the CD carrying case is closed. The spanning hinges may be permanently mounted or removably mounted. The plates may carry a plurality of CD pouches.

Abstract: The suture delivery system utilizes two sutures. Each suture has a filament body and a toggle bar. The delivery system includes an elongated central tube with two needle retainer guides and a cam distally disposed on the central tube. The needles have piercing needle ends and each needle end carries a respective toggle bar for a suture disposed thereon. A longitudinally movable member is coupled to the needles. The needles are movably disposed in respective needle retainer guides. An actuator is coupled to the movable member such that when the actuator moves, the needles extend outward such that the needle ends move over the cam. In a further embodiment, the actuator includes a first user actuation surface coupled to the movable member and the central tube includes a second user actuation surface which is generally static. In a further embodiment, a locking member is disposed on the second user actuation surface. The cam may take one of a variety of shapes.

Abstract: The L-shaped, end cap is adapted to be mounted on a concrete balcony. The balcony has a rise (a vertical height) an upper run and a lower run. The end cap is an L-shaped end piece having a front plate and a lower plate. The front plate of the end piece has a plate rise substantially equivalent to the concrete balcony rise. The L-shaped end piece has a depending lip along the interface between the plate rise and the lower plate run. The depending lip is adapted to collect and disperse water droplets therefrom. Preferably, the end piece is made of pultruded fiberglass. However, the end piece may be made of plastic, stainless steel, copper, aluminum or other similar materials. For example, pultruded fiberglass may be utilized as the end piece. A method of capping a concrete balcony includes covering the rise and a portion of the lower balcony run by adhering plastic thereon and forming, with the plastic, a depending drip edge.

Abstract: The present invention is an inflatable, reversible life raft with a raft body including upper and lower inflatable, peripherally disposed bladders defining a closed geometric shape. The raft body also includes upper and lower inflatable masts in pneumatic communication with the upper and lower bladders, respectively. A floor closes the geometric shape between the upper and lower bladders. The upper and lower masts support upper and lower canopies, respectively. The upper canopy forms an upright, above-water enclosure to protect survivors from the elements. The lower canopy forms an underwater ballast beneath the floor of the raft, stabilizing the life raft. The reversible life raft is equipped with a reversible, collapsible ladder attached to an exterior portion of the two stacked bladders, and is equipped with two reversible ballast pouches mounted to an exterior portion of the two stacked bladders opposite the ladder.