Abstract: A method is provided for reconditioning a medication infusion pump by removal of accumulated medication deposits and the like to restore pump performance without requiring surgical removal of an implanted pump from a patient. The reconditioning process comprises sequential delivery of a buffer solution and a rinse solution to internal pump flow passages. The rinse solution is effective to dissolve medication deposits and the like within narrow pump flow passages before the rinse solution is neutralized by intermixing with the buffer solution. Dissolution of accumulated medication deposits results in restoration of pump performance substantially to original product specifications.

Abstract: A device for use as a subcutaneous injection set is disclosed which has a soft cannula through which a selected medication can be administered to a patient, wherein the soft cannula is adapted for transcutaneous placement by an insertion needle substantially without crimping or kinking. The cannula is supported by and protrudes outwardly from a housing adapted to receive the selected medication. The insertion needle is initially inserted through a septum on the housing and further through the cannula to provide a rigid structure to insert the soft cannula through the patient's skin. The insertion needle and cannula are constructed to prevent longitudinal slippage of the cannula on the needle during the insertion process, thereby preventing undesired crimping or kinking of the soft cannula. After insertion, the needle is withdrawn from the cannula and housing to permit medication delivery to the patient.

Abstract: An improved process and related apparatus are provided for filling a pressure reservoir of an implantable medication infusion pump with a selected pressure fluid, wherein the pressure reservoir is separated by a movable wall from an adjacent medication chamber. The improved filling process includes vacuum-draw filling of the pressure reservoir with relatively purified pressure fluid in liquid state. The specific quantity of pressure fluid within the pressure reservoir is thereafter calibrated by filling the adjacent medication chamber with a calibration fluid at a predetermined positive pressure, thereby expelling excess pressure fluid from the pressure reservoir. The pressure reservoir is then sealed and the performance characteristics thereof are tested under simulated implantation conditions to confirm the capability of the pressure reservoir to maintain medication within the medication chamber under substantially constant pressure conditions.

Abstract: An implantable medication infusion pump is provided which utilizes an improved and simplified pressure reservoir to maintain a selected medication in liquid form within a pump housing under a substantially constant pressure. The pressure reservoir comprises a hollow structural enclosure having at least one flexible resilient wall and is adapted to be filled with a selected quantity of a pressure fluid, such as a selected fluorocarbon in a liquid-vapor state, prior to mounting of the reservoir as a structural unit into the infusion pump housing. Within the pump housing, the flexible reservoir wall defines one side of a medication chamber, with the pressure fluid undergoing appropriate change of state to expand or contract the reservoir in a manner maintaining the medication under a substantially constant pressure.

Abstract: An improved subcutaneous injection set is disclosed which has a soft cannula for subcataneous delivery of a selected medication to a patient. The cannula is supported by and protrudes outwardly from a cylindrical support hub of a housing adapted to receive the selected medication. A flanged base end of the cannula is disposed within the housing and is captured by a swaged lock rim to retain a sealing gasket under compression against an annular seat within the support hub, thereby preventing leakage of the medication through the hub and about the exterior of the cannula.

Abstract: An adapter plug clip is provided for convenient and secure temporary support of an electrical plug associated with an electronic instrument, particularly wherein the plug is formed as part of a relatively heavy AC/DC plug-in power supply adapter. The adapter plug clip is designed for clip-on mounting to a support structure, such as a bracket arm of a clamp fixture having an electronic instrument such as a medical fluid infusion pump mounted thereon. The adaptor plug clip includes a face plate having a visually identifiable pattern of holes formed therein for seated reception of the conductive prongs of the electrical plug, thereby providing a stable temporary plug mounting site.

Abstract: An improved and simplified pressure reservoir is provided for use with an implantable medication infusion pump to maintain a selected medication in liquid form with a pump housing under a substantially constant pressure. The pressure reservoir comprises a hollow structural enclousre having at least one flexible resilient wall and is adapted to be filled with a selected quantity of a pressure fluid, such as a selected fluorocarbon in a liquid-vapor state, prior to mounting of the reservoir as a structural unit into the infusion pump housing. Within the pump housing, the flexible reservoir wall defines one side of a medication chamber, with the pressure fluid undergoing appropriate change of state to expand or contact the reservoir in a manner maintaining the medication under a substantially constant pressure.

Abstract: An optical motion sensor is provided for monitoring movement of a mechanical device, particularly such as an infusion pump of the type used for controlled delivery of medication to a patient. The motion sensor includes a disk member mounted upon a selected mechanical output component driven by the infusion pump, such that the disk member undergoes displacement during normal pump operation. The disk member defines a pattern of reflective and substantially nonreflective surface zones which are alternately illuminated by a light source during normal pump operation. A light detector responds to the level of reflection from the disk member to provide an output signal which varies according to disk member displacement. This output signal is connected to a controller for comparison with drive signals supplied to the infusion pump, to verify proper mechanical output operation of the pump.

Abstract: An improved infusion pump is provided for controlled delivery of medication from a syringe to a patient, wherein a pump housing includes a syringe chamber and associated lock members for receiving and supporting the syringe in one of two different positions. The syringe includes a medication-containing barrel connected to a luer fitting at a nose end thereof by a luer neck of reduced cross sectional size. In one position, the syringe seats into the chamber with the luer neck protruding through an outlet port of mating size and with the luer fitting disposed outside the housing, such that the housing defines a lock member engaged axially between the syringe barrel and luer fitting to secure the barrel against axial displacement. In another position, a retainer key is adapted for installation into the syringe chamber at a position spaced inboard from the outlet port and defines an alternative lock member for axially securing the syringe with the luer fitting disposed inside the housing.

Abstract: An improved clamp fixture is provided for supporting a medical instrument or the like in a selected orientation relative to a variety of different support structures, such as an upright pole, a tabletop edge, a bed rail, etc. The clamp fixture comprises an open-sided base bracket for receiving the selected support structure to extend through the base bracket along a first axis. A clamp screw is carried by the base bracket and is adjustable to securely retain the support structure against an inner support surface of the base bracket. A frame member is mounted on the base bracket for rotation generally about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, with a spring-loaded lock pin releasably securing the frame member in one of several preset rotational positions. At least one frame arm extends outwardly from the frame member for connection to the medical instrument or the like in a manner permitting rotation of the medical instrument about a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes.

Abstract: A compound planetary gear assembly has multiple ring gears driven by a set of planet gears and coupled to multiple loads. Two of the ring gears are coupled to a common load via mechanical reaction paths of substantially different lengths to permit the entire assembly to fit within an envelope of reduced overall size. The shorter mechanical reaction path incorporates a compliant gear member which decreases the stiffness or spring rate of the shorter path to correspond substantially with the stiffness or spring rate of the longer path thereby insuring symmetric loading of the planet gears for smooth operation.

Abstract: A compressor wheel assembly for turbochargers and the like comprises a compressor wheel including a boreless hub formed integrally as by casting with a circumferential array of aerodynamically contoured centrifugal impeller blades. The wheel hub is secured at its base by inertia welding to a thrust spacer sleeve having an internally threaded bore for threaded reception of a rotatable shaft. In use of the compressor wheel assembly, the absence of a bore within the wheel hub substantially improves wheel fatigue life.

Abstract: A gear pump is provided with a pair of rotatable pumping gears for pumping fluid between inlet and outlet ports formed in a gear pump housing, wherein a portion of the housing is adapted for positional adjustment to reduce internal operating clearances and thereby regenerate pump output performance without requiring pump disassembly or rebuilding.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic assist turbocharger system is provided of the type having an hydraulic turbine for supplementally driving a turbocharger during selected engine operating conditions when supplemental air flow to the engine is required. The improved system is adapted for improved engine starting during cold weather conditions by increasing the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to the hydraulic turbine during engine cranking and/or decreasing the viscosity of said hydraulic fluid, thereby accelerating the turbocharger rapidly to a rotational speed for supplying sufficient air flow to the engine for starting purposes.

Abstract: An integrated and automated multistation machine is provided for placement and attachment of electrically conductive interconnectors onto solar cells and the like. The machine comprises a rotatable turntable for supporting a plurality of solar cells in respective association with a corresponding plurality of operating stations and then for indexing the solar cells to the next operating stations in sequence. More particularly, the machine includes a cell loading station for transfer of a solar cell from a loading magazine and for precision placement onto one of a plurality of cell-supporting fixtures carried by the turntable. The turntable indexes the solar cells one at a time on the fixtures from the cell loading station first to a flux station whereat a liquid flux material is applied to predetermined points on the cell.

Abstract: A one-piece hanger plate is detachably secured to the underside of a shoe plate for a roller skate. Front and rear wheel trucks are mounted to the hanger plate independent of the shoe plate. The hanger plate is constructed with bends to provide strength against twisting of the shoe plate and hold the front and rear wheel trucks in proper alignment. A unique king pin elastomer mounting for each wheel truck permits adjustment of the degree of firmness. A toe stop is designed to be detachable from the shoe plate so that the roller skate can be lightened for certain skating activities.

Abstract: The staple comprises a top having four downwardly depending legs adjacent to its four corners. Two of the downwardly depending legs on the same side of the top are spaced inwardly from the corners relative to the remaining two legs so as to be transversely offset therefrom. The offset legs avoid the risk of splitting the bone when the staple bridges the bone "grain". In other words, the two legs will enter different cleavage planes of the bone rather than the same cleavage plane. Projections are provided on the underside of the top of the staple to aid in frictionally gripping and retaining a tendon or equivalent tie being held by the staple to a bone.

Abstract: A control system is provided for a supercharged diesel engine to control engine air inflow in response to an operator-selected fuel flow and in accordance with a predetermined air-fuel ratio schedule chosen for minimizing undesirable exhaust emissions throughout a broad range of engine operating conditions.

Abstract: A control system is provided for a supercharged diesel engine to control engine air flow in response to an operator-selected fuel flow and in accordance with a predetermined air-fuel ratio schedule chosen for minimizing undesirable exhaust emissions throughout a broad range of engine operating conditions. The control system includes a force-biased relief valve movable between closed and open positions in response to the pressure of air supplied to the engine, wherein the force-bias acting upon the relief valve is altered in response to the operator-selected fuel flow to the engine.