Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted into sealing elements of a single surgical access device. The sealing elements can be movable along predefined pathways within the device to allow surgical instruments inserted through the sealing elements to be moved laterally, rotationally, angularly, and vertically relative to a central longitudinal axis of the device for ease of manipulation within a patient's body while maintaining insufflation.

Abstract: An over-current electronic protection system includes a first solid state reversibly interruptible electronic switch including first output control logic and first controlled output channels controlled by the first control logic. The first output control logic reversibly interrupts power at any output channel when their current exceed limits. The system includes a second solid state reversibly interruptible electronic switch including second control logic and second controlled outputs. A power supply input of the second switch is coupled to one of the first controlled output channels to receive the power. The second controlled outputs provide power to loads under normal operating conditions and reversibly interrupt the power for second output channels when their current exceeds limits. A CPU having is coupled to the second output channels and external inputs of the second switches via an isolation device to provide a supervisory and monitoring function.

Abstract: A multi-level over-current electronic protection system for protecting a plurality of outputs includes a first solid state reversibly interruptible electronic switch including first output control logic and a plurality of first controlled output channels controlled by the first control logic. The first switching device is coupled to receive power from at least one power supply selected to power a plurality of loads. The first switching device provides power at its plurality of first output channels under normal operating conditions, wherein the first output control logic is operable for reversibly interrupting power at any of the first output channels when current in any of the first output channels exceed limits for the first output channels. At least one second solid state reversibly interruptible electronic switch including second control logic and a plurality of second controlled outputs control by the second control logic is also provided.

Abstract: A method for compressing a frame-based program image (FBPI) includes identifying common envelope data in the FBPI. Identified common envelope data is removed from the FBPI. At least one instance of an identical repeated frame of the FBPI is identified. A first instance of an identified identical repeated frame is replaced with a pointer to a second instance of the identified identical repeated frame. A method for decompressing a compressed FBPI includes identifying at least one pointer in a compressed FBPI, wherein the at least one pointer comprises a reference to an identical repeated frame of the FBPI. The identified at least one pointer is replaced with the identical repeated frame to which the at least one pointer refers, to generate a half-decompressed FBPI. Envelope data is inserted into the half-decompressed FBPI to generate a full-decompressed FBPI. A computer program product and a system for compressing/decompressing an FBPI are also provided.

Abstract: A current generator that provides a first current level to read a configuration parameter of a field device. The current generator also provides a second current level. The first current level is lower in amperage than the second current level. The first current level does not operate the field device. The second current level operates the field device. A current sensor is connected in circuit with the field device. The current sensor reads the configuration parameter associated with the first current level. A method is provided that creates a current that reads a configuration parameter. The current has less than a minimum amplitude to operate necessary to operate a field device. The configuration parameter is read from the field device through employment of the current. The field device is configured through employment of the configuration parameter.

Abstract: An integrated control system for use with an atmospheric sounding device and a telemetry receiving system. The control system controls sounding device preparation and deployment for semiautomated preparation that is operator assisted, or fully automated preparation that is periodically assisted. Deployment is fully automated and accomplished by local or remote terminal, time delay, or user input command. The control system receives and manipulates telemetry received by way of a telemetry receiving system that automatically tracks a transmitting sounding device, or is manually directed toward a transmitting sounding device by user input command. Prior to the present invention, sounding device preparation and deployment was a manual labor intensive process requiring more than one operator and subject to failure and inconsistent telemetry.

Abstract: Described herein are heat recoverable composite coupling comprising an outer, tubular heat-shrinkable sleeve and a hollow insert member adapted to receive plural substrates. The insert member has a tapered surface to allow it to accommodate substrates of different sizes. Recovery of the outer member forces the insert member into secure contact with the substrate forming a union between the substrates.

Abstract: A gutter device (10) for capturing and channeling run-off rain water from a roof (12). The gutter device (10) comprises a vertical back wall (16), a bottom wall (18) extending outwardly from the back wall (16) and a front wall (20) extending upwardly from the bottom wall (18) to define a generally U-shaped trough portion (14). A hinge (24) is provided at the intersection (22) of the bottom wall (18) and the front wall (20) for allowing the front wall (20) to rotate the trough portion (14) to an open position. A lip portion (42) extends rearwardly of the back wall (16) for insertion underneath the shingles along the roof edge. A perforated top wall (16) extends between the front wall (20) and the back wall (16), and includes a downwardly extending male leg (34) which interlocks with a female channel (36) disposed on the back wall (16). A drip edge (40 ) extends outwardly from the back wall (16).

Abstract: Described herein are heat recoverable composite couplings comprising an outer, tubular heat-shrinkable sleeve and a hollow insert member adapted to receive plural substrates. The insert member has a tapered surface to allow it to accommodate substrates of different sizes. Recovery of the outer member forces the insert member into secure contact with the substrate forming a union between the substrates.

Abstract: Described herein are composite devices comprising two members. The first member is a heat recoverable driving member and the second is a metallic member associated with the first in such a way that upon heat recovery of the driver, the second member is dimensionally altered to engage a substrate. In one embodiment, useful for example as a composite coupling for joining cylindrical substrates, the driver comprises a tubular heat recoverable compression sleeve having a generally uniform interior surface. In this embodiment, the second member comprises a tubular insert snugly, and concentrically disposed within the sleeve. Although both its interior and exterior surfaces may be uniform, preferably one or both surfaces has a weakened portion to facilitate its deformation or bears integral radial teeth or a combination thereof. Upon heat recovery of the compression sleeve, the insert is compressed about the substrate.In another embodiment, the driver is positioned internally of the second member.

Abstract: The positions of the ends of circularly disposed optical fibers of an optical fiber cable are re-arranged into a substantially linear side-by-side relationship by a device having a solid elongated body with first and second opposite end faces between which extend elongated grooves. Each groove receives only one of the optical fibers. The grooves intersect the first end face in a topological arrangement that is similar to the topological arrangement of the fibers in the cable so that the fibers in the cable can extend into the grooves without crossing each other. The grooves intersect the second end face in a substantially linear topological arrangement. The grooves extend between the first and second end faces in such a manner that they do not intersect.

Abstract: Described herein are composite devices comprising two members. The first member is a heat recoverable driving member and the second is a metallic member associated with the first in such a way that upon heat recovery of the driver, the second member is dimensionally altered to engage a substrate. In one embodiment, useful for example as a composite coupling for joining cylindrical substrates, the driver comprises a tubular heat recoverable compression sleeve having a generally uniform interior surface. In this embodiment, the second member comprises a tubular insert snugly, and concentrically disposed within the sleeve. Although both its interior and exterior surfaces may be uniform, preferably one or both surfaces has a weakened portion to facilitate its deformation or bears integral radial teeth or a combination thereof. Upon heat recovery of the compression sleeve, the insert is compressed about the substrate.In another embodiment, the driver is positioned internally of the second member.

Abstract: Described herein are heat recoverable composite couplings comprising an outer, tubular heat-shrinkable sleeve and a hollow insert member adapted to receive plural substrates. The insert member has a tapered surface to allow it to accommodate substrates of different sizes. Recovery of the outer member forces the insert member into secure contact with the substrate forming a union between the substrates.

Abstract: Described herein are composite devices comprising two members. The first member is a heat recoverable driving member and the second is a metallic member associated with the first in such a way that upon heat recovery of the driver, the second member is dimensionally altered to engage a substrate. In one embodiment, useful for example as a composite coupling for joining cylindrical substrates, the driver comprises a tubular heat recoverable compression sleeve having a generally uniform interior surface. In this embodiment, the second member comprises a tubular insert snugly, and concentrically disposed within the sleeve. Although both its interior and exterior surfaces may be uniform, preferably one or both surfaces has a weakened portion to facilitate its deformation or bears integral radial teeth or a combination thereof. Upon heat recovery of the compression sleeve, the insert is compressed about the substrate.In another embodiment, the driver is positioned internally of the second member.

Abstract: Described herein are composite coupling devices, particularly useful for joining cylindrical substrates. The device comprises a tubular heat recoverable member referred to as a driver that acts upon a second member, usually a sleeve concentrically disposed within the driver, causing the latter to engage the substrate. According to the present invention, the driver has a discontinuous or non-closed cross-section perpendicular to the axis about which it recovers allowing a high percentage of recovery to be imparted to it.

Abstract: A sorption tube atmospheric sampling system having a sorption tube, a vacuum pump and a flow meter. The sorption tube is made of a hollow elongated tubular-shaped element of rigid, non-corrosive material having a pair of mesh filters located at each end thereof and the sorbent material located therebetween. After the sampling operation has been completed, analysis of the collected pollutants within the sorption tube is accomplished by means of a conventional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis in which Helium is passed through the sorption tube while the tube is located within a uniquely designed thermal desorption block. The desorption block is configurated so as to encompass the sorption tube during utilization thereof. As a result, it is now possible to utilize the same sorption tube for both the sampling and desorption operation.