Abstract: A disposable pneumatic thermal blanket for controlling a patient's body temperature wherein the blanket includes structure for providing access through the blanket for surgical purposes. The inflatable blanket consists of upper and lower thermoplastic sheets heat sealed at the periphery and specified locations and sealed slits within the blanket central region permit access to a patient without loss of temperature controlled air. The blanket includes strategically placed adhesive strips or patches to aid the positioning of folded blanket access portions, or positioning of the blanket on the patient, and the location and relationship of the slits permit a variety of shapes and sizes of access openings to be selectively formed.

Abstract: A pneumatic, disposable, temperature control blanket pressurized with a heated or cooled air comprises an inflated envelope having a lower sheet having openings formed therein for impinging the air upon a patient. Air is introduced into the blanket envelope at a single inlet port, and an interior flexible conduit or subtube located within the envelope communicates with the inlet for distributing freshly introduced air throughout the blanket length with little temperature loss.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the method and apparatus for forming air flow control orifices in a patient body temperature regulating blanket consisting of an inflated envelope defined by thin plastic film wherein temperature controlled air flows through the blanket orifices upon the patient's body. The blanket side disposed toward the patient is pierced by a sharp pointed punch having a plurality of intersecting facets defining sharpened intersecting edges. The punch apex and facet intersecting edges are related to the moving film in such a manner that the penetration of the punch forms a plurality of flexible valve flaps, and the valve flaps engaging the patient's body will be retained in a closed condition to restrain air flow through those orifices engaging the body to prevent exposure to excessive air temperatures.

Abstract: A hypothermic therapy heater blower control system for use with patient warming blankets flowing warm air over the patient wherein the control system includes a data display indicating the temperature of the supplied air and the circuitry includes audible and visual alarms to indicate overheating or failure modes. The circuitry includes dual safety heater shut-off circuits and also includes a self-testing cycle which tests all of the major safety features and shut-offs, and in the test mode the circuitry simulates an over temperature condition.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a fiber optic lamp system such as those employed in medical diagnostic systems using a cabinet containing a power supply having a front extendible drawer containing a 250 watt focused beam metal halide arc lamp mounted in a removable bracket which includes a sensing tab extension. The bracket sensing tab operates an electrical interlock switch when the proper lamp is properly installed. The interlock switch controls power to the system whose circuit includes pin and floating sleeve electrical connectors which automatically directly completes the circuit to the arc lamp upon the drawer being closed. The amount of light transferred to the fiber optic cable is optimized by offsetting the axis of focused light with respect to the optic cable axis at the cable interface.

Abstract: A light fixture having an arcuate convex lens includes a decorative strip extending across the lens convex configuration usually adhered thereto by an adhesive mounted on the strip. Decorative strip end retainers are homogeneously defined at lateral edges of the lens and comprise recesses having an opening adjacent the lens exterior convex surface whereby the decorative strip ends are received within the recess opening and the recesses retain the decorative strip end preventing the ends from pulling away from the lens surface.

Abstract: A disposal pneumatic temperature controlled blanket consisting of flexible upper and lower sheets interconnected at their peripheries to define an inflatable envelope. The lower sheet outer surface is provided with a friction producing layer and a plurality of orifices are formed in the lower sheet and layer whereby temperature controlled pressurized air introduced into the envelope will be distributed through the orifices upon the patient's body to regulate patient body temperature. The envelope sheets are staked or tacked intermediate the peripheries to control inflation and distribute the air and the location of the tacks define primary and secondary air passages to quickly and uniformly distribute the air with a minimum of heat loss to various blanket locations so as to achieve substantially uniform patient body temperature exposure.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the method for forming air flow control orifices in a patient body temperature regulating blanket consisting of an inflated envelope defined by thin plastic film wherein temperature controlled air flows through the blanket orifices upon the patient's body. The blanket side disposed toward the patient is pierced by a sharp pointed punch having a plurality of intersecting facets defining sharpened intersecting edges. The punch apex and facet intersecting edges are related to the moving film in such a manner that the penetration of the punch forms a plurality of flexible valve flaps, and the valve flaps engaging the patient's body will be retained in a closed condition to restrain air flow through those orifices engaging the body to prevent exposure to excessive air temperatures.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a fiber optic lamp system such as those employed in medical diagnostic systems using a cabinet containing a power supply having a front extendible drawer containing a 250 watt focused beam metal halide arc lamp mounted in a removable bracket which includes a sensing tab extension. The bracket sensing tab operates an electrical interlock switch when the proper lamp is properly installed. The interlock switch controls power to the system whose circuit includes pin and floating sleeve electrical connectors which automatically directly completes the circuit to the arc lamp upon the drawer being closed. The amount of light transferred to the fiber optic cable is optimized by offsetting the axis of focused light with respect to the optic cable axis at the cable interface.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a fiber optic lamp system such as those employed in medical diagnostic systems using a cabinet containing a power supply having a front extendible drawer containing a 250 watt focused beam metal halide arc lamp mounted in a removable bracket which includes a sensing tab extension. The bracket sensing tab operates an electrical interlock switch when the proper lamp is properly installed. The interlock switch controls power to the system whose circuit includes pin and floating sleeve electrical connectors which automatically directly completes the circuit to the arc lamp upon the drawer being closed. The amount of light transferred to the fiber optic cable is optimized by offsetting the axis of focused light with respect to the optic cable axis at the cable interface.

Abstract: A disposable patient heating or cooling blanket having three layers of flexible sheeting two of which form an air chamber, the third of which is a comfortable layer for contact with the patient and which, having a greater friction characteristic, aids in keeping the blanket in place on the patient. The patient is bathed in conditioned air through a multiplicity of orifices in the bottom layers of the blanket and the size and location of the orifices are such that sufficient pressure exists within the blanket to prevent crimping blockage and to insure a uniform flow of air through the orifices throughout the blanket area. Conditioned air is introduced horizontally through an external nozzle which is inserted into a low cost foldable fitting plate bonded to the blanket which permits the blanket to be concisely folded and packaged.

Abstract: A power supply for a gas discharge lamp includes a current regulator for regulating the current supplied to a lamp and current steering means for steering current from the current regulator in alternating directions through an isolation transformer primary winding, the secondary winding of the transformer being connected with a lamp through an arc striking circuit. The frequency of alternating the current through the transformer is controlled as a function of the lamp voltage in order to regulate the volt-second product of the transformer through all portions of a lamp operating cycle including arc striking. This reduces saturation of the transformer and allows a much smaller transformer to be used. In a preferred embodiment, the current regulation and steering functions are performed in a bridge circuit having FET switches in each leg and in which the transformer primary spans the sides of the bridge.

Abstract: A control circuit for fluorescent lamps having gas filled tubes and a pair of discharge electrodes in the tubes includes a transformer, a gated switching device and a control signal generating circuit. The transformer has a secondary winding connected with the lamp discharge electrodes and a primary winding to which power is applied by the switching device when a gating signal is applied to its gating terminal. The control signal generating circuit normally controls the gating of the switching device by alternatingly applying, and then ceasing to apply, a control signal to the gating terminal. The control circuit is capable of continuing a current between the discharge electrodes once the lamp is conducting. The control circuit is further capable of "starting" a lamp by applying a high voltage to the discharge electrodes. The high voltage is generated when the gated switching device is not applying power to the primary winding.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in light fixtures of the type having a base, a socket receiving a bulb, and a primary reflector defined on the base located in relatively close proximity to the bulb. The improvement consists of a secondary reflector located between the primary reflector and the bulb. The secondary reflector is closely spaced from the primary reflector defining an air gap therebetween. The secondary reflector provides dispersion of concentrated heat produced by the bulb to maintain the primary reflector at a lower temperature whereby the air gap reduces heat transfer between the reflectors, and the secondary reflector is formed of a reflective material to provide improved light reflectance qualities.

Abstract: A shipping container assembly formed of cut and scored fiber board having a rectangular shape including side walls, closeable end flaps forming the top and bottom of the container and a plurality of inner dividers dividing the interior of the container into at least two adjacent sub-compartments. At least one of the side walls is provided with an access door in alignment with one of the sub-compartments providing a separate access. One of the dividers includes a flat portion and a rectangular box portion being open on both ends defining a sub-compartment, whereby at least one of the open ends is in alignment with an access door.

Abstract: The invention relates to a snap-on frame for recreational vehicle light fixtures wherein the frame is formed of a synthetic plastic material and is added to the fixture to improve the appearance, and may also be employed to convert a fixture capable of being recess mounted to a surface mounting. An annular frame molded of a synthetic plastic semi-rigid resilient material includes protuberances on a skirt portion circumscribing the fixture edge and the dimensions of the protuberances are related to the fixture base dimension such that the mounting slightly distorts the normal frame configuration to frictionally mount the frame on the fixture base by a snap-on connection.