Abstract: A laparo-suture needle and method for use thereof. A medical suturing instrument employs an outer, hollow shaft having a laterally-disposed, elongate handle at a proximal end and an elongate, inner shaft disposed within the outer shaft. The inner shaft has a cutting edge at the distal end and extends out of the outer shaft at the proximal end, terminating in a spring-loaded push button. A lateral notch is formed in the inner shaft proximal of the cutting edge. The spring forces the inner shaft rearwardly so as to pull the notch within the outer shaft. By gripping the handle and placing pressure on the push button, the inner shaft is moved forward so as to expose the notch. A suture may then be placed in the notch so that the instrument grips the suture between the outer shaft and the inner shaft when the push button is released.

Abstract: An electronic device enclosure is provided having a top and a bottom, preferably each made of a polycarbonate plastic material and having respective lower and upper edges which are the same shape, and an elastomeric cover which fits over the top and wraps around the lower edge thereof so as to seal the joint between the top and the bottom. Preferably, the cover is made of silicone rubber or urethane of a durometer in the range of 40 to 60. Push buttons with associated suspensions are moulded integrally into the cover so as to protrude downwardly through apertures in the top and engage push button switches on the electronic device therein. A display aperture may be provided in the top and, if so, a portion of the cover also wraps around the edges of the display aperture so as to be disposed between the display and the cover.

Abstract: A multi-ring gasket and flanged pipe joint assembly. A gasket for sealing the joint between two flanged pipes of polyvinylchloride, chlorinated polyvinylchloride or fiberglass-reinforced plastic pipe is provided. The gasket has an inner ring, an outer ring and a plurality of spokes connecting the inner ring to the outer ring. Voids, or reduced thickness areas, are formed between the inner ring, the outer ring and the spokes so as to leave substantial space between the flanges at the voids and thereby reduce the uneven distribution of stress on the flanges when the gasket is installed.

Abstract: An assembly having a plurality of elongate feet for supporting optical equipment. The feet are attached to the optical equipment by a fastener. A plurality of alternate carrier holes or an H-shaped aperture are provided in each foot so that, with the fastener disposed through any one such hole or at any one position in said H-shaped aperture, the fastener may be screwed into the adapter hole of the optical equipment. The feet are adapted to rotate about the fastener in respective planes parallel to the bottom of the optical equipment. Each foot has a plurality of alternate leg holes for receiving objects which function as legs supporting the assembly.

Abstract: A fast response liquid crystal optical retarder system. A liquid crystal retarder system employs one or more liquid crystal cells and corresponding drive circuits. The drive circuits provide to the cell a rectangular wave ac voltage signal whose RMS voltage is controlled. To switch from one retardance to another, the voltage is increased or decreased beyond the voltage corresponding to the target retardance and then, prior to or when the target retardance is reached, the applied voltage is switched to the voltage corresponding to the target retardance. One or more pairs of liquid crystal cells provided sequentially along the path of light propagation and with their eigen-axis orthogonal to one another to increase or decrease the total retardance rapidly. The retarder system is incorporated in a polarization control system and in a fiber-optic link.

Abstract: An ac mains test apparatus and method. An audio frequency signal measurement instrument is provided with a circuit for testing the ac mains to which the instrument is connected. The ac mains is internally connected to a coupler which presents an attenuated portion of the ac mains to the low level input of the instrument. A switch is provided for selectively connecting the input either to an audio signal to be measured or to the ac mains portion. The coupler both attenuates the ac mains for input to the instrument and isolates the relatively high ac mains voltage from the low level input.

Abstract: A numerically-controlled modulated oscillator and modulation method which selectively provides frequency modulation, phase modulation or amplitude modulation with minimal circuitry. A numerically-controlled modulated oscillator is provided having a tuning register for receiving a center frequency parameter, an adder for receiving at one input the frequency parameter, a phase accumulator for receiving a phase increment number from the adder and producing a waveform phase number, a waveform memory for producing a waveform amplitude number in response to the phase number, and a digital-to-analog converter for producing an analog signal in response to the waveform amplitude number. Another input is provided to the adder from an angle modulation register which provides an angle modulation parameter. This parameter can perform either phase or frequency modulation.

Abstract: A device for reclaiming waste heat from cooking appliances. The device includes a baffle through which exhaust from the cooking appliance flows, an inlet for receiving exhaust from the cooking appliance, and an outlet for venting exhaust to the atmosphere outside the building or vehicle in which the cooking appliance is located. The baffle extracts heat from the exhaust as the exhaust flows therethrough. The baffle is in thermal communication with a heat sink that directs the extracted heat to the building or vehicle spaces to be heated. The heat reclamation device has a generally thin profile so that the device may be installed above and behind the work surface of the cooking appliance so as to consume a minimal amount of space while not interfering with the normal use of the appliance. The heat reclamation device has means to vent the exhaust directly to the atmosphere, bypassing the baffle.

Abstract: A vascular access system and clearing method. A vascular access system is provided comprising an implantable access port for receiving medication transdermally, a catheter connected to an outlet in said port for infusing that medication into the blood stream, a wire for clearing the catheter of an obstruction, and a non-coring needle for inserting the wire transdermally into the access port and catheter. The access port includes a chamber for receiving medication, the chamber having an outlet whose bottom portion is substantially flush with the bottom portion of the chamber outlet to promote emptying of the chamber and feeding the guide wire into the outlet. The catheter is attached to the port by placing it over a cannula connected to the outlet and forcing a sleeve over the end of the catheter.

Abstract: A master-slave processor human interface system. An electronic device, a slave processor for controlling the electronic device and performing certain computational functions, a master processor for controlling the slave processor, an input device and an output device associated with the master processor, and an information storage device are provided. Individual slave processor programs are selected, retrieved from the information storage device, and loaded into the slave processor for implementing corresponding functions of the slave processor and electronic device, while a single master processor program which adapts itself to the selected slave processor program accepts input data and operational selections and displays output information according to a predetermined spatial arrangement for each such function, thereby providing the human interface.

Abstract: A swimming pool cover elevation device. A substantially rigid pole is provided with a plurality of ropes attached at one end to the bottom thereof and having hooks disposed at the other end thereof for attachment to structure at or outside the rim of a swimming pool. A cup is provided to be affixed to the underside of the pool cover and to receive the top of the pole. The cup has a concave receptacle and the top of the pole has a convex, rounded end that conforms generally to the shape of the receptacle. Apertures are provided in the cup and the top of the pole for receiving a pin to interconnect the two. The pole has at least two portions that fit slidably together and may be pinned in place to adjust the length of the pole.

Abstract: A layout square having a handle and two legs that extend away from the handle in the same direction, both perpendicular to the handle. The handle includes a level to allow angular measurements against level, as well as for plumbing and leveling purposes. The legs correspond in width to standard dimensions of construction materials to facilitate the measuring and marking of those dimensions on materials. One leg is marked along its edges with linear and angular measurement marks for measuring and marking lines and angles, and has holes disposed selectively along its length for receiving a marker, such as a carpentry pencil. The other leg is marked with angular measurement marks along its edges and has a window with pitch marks along the edges thereof to facilitate the measurement and marking of angles and pitch.

Abstract: A natural bottom culvert and installation method that preserves the in-stream environment for fish to spawn, forage and migrate, while being able to withstand high-water levels. The culvert has an arch-shaped member that is placed over the stream in connection with elongate footings placed on terraces prepared on each stream bank. The footings have a plurality of apertures spaced along their elongate dimensions. Anchor posts are driven into the terraces through the apertures and affixed to the footings. Fill material is placed over this assembly and a road is constructed over the fill material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a digital signal processing system for the occurrence of bit errors. A mathematically-predictable test signal is applied to the input of a digital signal processing system The test signal components are removed from the output signal of the system by filtering, curve fitting or other techniques, leaving a resultant signal. The peak amplitude of the resultant signal is measured as an indication of the occurrence of errors. A time integrated measure of the resultant signal is made as an indication of the amount of noise and distortion artifacts. The peak amplitude is compared to a reference or the time integrated measure to identify errors. A histogram of the resultant signal amplitude may also be produced.

Abstract: An environmental monitoring well housing and protection method. A housing is disposed over the end of an environmental monitoring well pipe and set in concrete along with the well pipe itself so that the space between the housing and the well pipe is filled with concrete below the end of the well pipe. Fins extend outwardly from the housing into the concrete to anchor the housing. The housing has an interior ledge for receiving and supporting a cover. A flexible gasket is placed on the ledge, the cover is placed on the flexible gasket, and the two are fastened down by a pair of bolts that screw into threaded bores in the ledge. The bolts have five-sided heads and a special tool is provided for installing and removing them. The cover thickness is substantially the same as the distance from the top of the housing down to the ledge, so that where the top of the housing is mounted flush with the ground the top of the cover is also flush with the ground.

Abstract: An electric current sensor assembly and method. A housing containing a Hall effect device is provided with at least one curved, concave surface for placement against a wire carrying a current. The housing is attached to the wire by a strap that fastens around the housing and the wire and fits in grooves in the housing. When the assembly is installed, the Hall effect device is positioned so that the magnetic field produced by current in the wire passes through the Hall effect device and produces an electric signal proportional to the amplitude of the current in the wire. A set screw is movably mounted in the housing adjacent the Hall effect device to adjust the sensitivity of the current sensor assembly.

Abstract: A dual function antenna system and method. A system is provided for using a single antenna for both the reception of low frequency navigational signals, such as LORAN-C, and high frequency communications signals in the VHF region. The antenna is at a remote location from a low frequency receiver and a high frequency transceiver. Both the low frequency and the high frequency signals are coupled to the receiver and transceiver, respectively, over the same transmission line at one end thereof. A preamplifier is provided at the location of the antenna to increase the strength of the low frequency signal applied to the transmission line. A high pass filter is provided to couple the antenna and the transmission line and prevent feedback from the output of the preamplifier from reaching its input. The other end of the transmission line is coupled to the high frequency transceiver by a high pass filter, and to the low frequency receiver by a low pass filter.

Abstract: An electronic flux gate compass calibration method and apparatus. An electronic flux gate compass mounted on a terrestrial vehicle is first rotated 360 degrees by driving the vehicle in a circle to determine four reference points where the locus of points representing the orthogonal outputs of the compass crosses over the X and Y axes of a reference Cartesian coordinate system. These four reference points are employed to calibrate the orthogonal outputs of the compass and compute a calibrated compass heading. Thereafter, as the vehicle moves from place to place, the output of the compass is monitored. If the output is within a predetermined region around one of the reference points, the reference point is modified to be closer to that output point. When the vehicle has moved through a closed loop, i.e., rotated a net 360 degrees, the compass is recalibrated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring and controlling the level of a selected hormone in the circulatory system of an animal. The relationship between the level of a hormone, such as the immune-regulating cylokine IL-1, in the blood stream of an animal and application of sensory stimuli to the animal is determined by periodically taking discrete samples of the animal's blood while the stimuli are applied, measuring the levels of the hormone in the discrete samples, and correlating these levels with the application of the stimuli. Thereafter, the level of the hormone is controlled by applying to the subject those stimuli have been found to produce a desired effect on the level of the hormone in the blood. Biofeedback training and relaxation techniques are used to increase the effectiveness of the method and apparatus.