Abstract: A surgical procedure is disclosed utilizing a cordless surgical handpiece powered from a sterile battery pack that contains a battery in condition for immediate use without further charging or sterilization. The battery chemistry is based upon lithium/manganese dioxide, and the battery after a single use may be disposed of into non-hazardous waste. The compact surgical handpiece has a brushless DC motor and a manually operated external trigger for activating and controlling the motor operations. Interengaging sets of contacts on the handpiece and battery are adapted to become lockingly and conductively interengaged upon rotation of the battery pack relative to the handpiece, in a manner that rapidly achieves correct alignment of the parts and also ensures stable mechanical attachment and support during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A foam-in-bag assembly with a film feed mechanism which feeds film with a film driver and a bag forming assembly which includes an edge sealer that contacts film being fed by the film driver and which is supported on a moving member of the film feed mechanism and retains a fixed position relative to the moving member while in sealing engagement with the film being fed by the film driver. The edge seal assembly is preferably for use with a nip roller set and has a bearing through which a driving shaft of the nip roller extends and an edge wire is received on an edge wire support of the edge sealer. The support for the edge wire retains a fixed edge seal position while the driving member rotates within the sleeve.

Abstract: A catheter handpiece apparatus and method for delivering a desired dose with minimal potential for contamination of the injected substance and rapid, accurate delivery of the desired dose. In one embodiment, a carriage assembly affixed to an inner lumen is slidably located within a handpiece housing equipped with an outer lumen. The carriage assembly receives a dose carpule. An actuator knob cocks the carriage assembly and a spring-powered actuator mechanism. After the catheter is maneuvered to a desired injection site and a desired dose is set, depressing a first trigger causes the inner lumen tip to extend beyond the outer lumen into the injection site. Depressing a second trigger causes the actuator mechanism to push the desired dose from the dose carpule through the inner lumen into the injection site. A second embodiment provides a catheter handpiece with a carriage assembly cocking lever and an operator-powered dose delivery mechanism.

Abstract: A pencil ignition coil assembly module (40) that has a frusto-conically tapered core (46) and encapsulation (280) surrounding the side of the core. Features (216, 230, 234) center the core to a bobbin 48. A retainer (240, 240A) captures the core within the bobbin.

Abstract: An advanced cleaning system comprising cleaning compositions, pads, and implements provide effective cleaning of soft and hard surfaces. The implement comprises a handle portion (14) with a proximal end and a distal end, a cleaning head portion (12), the cleaning head portion (12) adapted for use with a removable cleaning pad (40), and an aerosol cleaner (24) coupled to the cleaning head portion (12) such that cleaning fluid is applied adjacent the cleaning head portion (12).

Abstract: A pencil ignition coil assembly module (40) that has a frusto-conically tapered core (46) and encapsulation (280) surrounding the side of the core. Features (216, 230, 234) center the core to a bobbin 48. A retainer (240, 240A) captures the core within the bobbin.

Abstract: A pencil ignition coil assembly module (40) that has a frusto-conically tapered core (46) and encapsulation (280) surrounding the side of the core. Features (216, 230, 234) center the core to a bobbin 48. A retainer (240, 240A) captures the core within the bobbin.

Abstract: An ignition coil assembly of the type which is directly mounted onto an associated internal combustion engine spark plug. The coil assembly includes a spark plug boot section made of a highly elastic material with an inside cylindrical passageway. The inside passageway features ribs which engage a high voltage connection coil spring positioned in the passageway to make an electrical connection between the coil and spark plug high voltage terminals. The spring has a generally constant outside diameter outer section except its end segments have a reduced diameter where they contact the high voltage terminals. The passageway ribs retain the spring in position prior to its installation and after its removal from the associated spark plug.

Abstract: A pencil ignition coil assembly module (40) that has a frusto-conically tapered core (46) and encapsulation (280) surrounding the side of the core. Features (216, 230, 234) center the core to a bobbin 48. A retainer (240, 240A) captures the core within the bobbin.

Abstract: A removable mounting bracket for attaching a component to a mounting surface includes a bracket body having a mounting projection and a plurality of elongated retaining members extending outwardly therefrom. The mounting projection cooperates with a fastener for fastening the component to the mounting surface. At least one of the retaining members has an aperture formed therein that releasably engages a corresponding plurality of mounting tabs formed on the component.

Abstract: A lapping tool for localized optical polishing of a workpiece, the tool having a flexible working surface and being characterized by means for selectively varying the pressure applied, in use, on the workpiece by different regions of the tool working surface whereby to vary the effective area of contact with the workpiece. A method of optical polishing and optical workpiece using a lapping tool whose maximum working surface area is substantially smaller than the workpiece, comprising determining the path to be travelled by the tool across the workpiece, and determining the pressure and effective area of contact of the tool on the workpiece, in order to achieve the next stage of polishing, and then driving the tool over that path while dynamically varying the said applied pressure and effective contact area.

Abstract: A high impedance tap for monitoring traffic over a communication link of a fast Ethernet local area network (LAN). The circuit of the present invention is advantageously used for tapping into a fast Ethernet communication link (e.g., bi-directional communication channel) of a LAN using, for instance, {fraction (10/100)} BaseT Ethernet communication protocol. The novel circuit is particularly useful in point to point communication links (e.g., supporting fast Ethernet communication) where two communication nodes are coupled together using a bi-directional communication link (e.g., two twisted pair cables). Unlike the prior art monitoring probes, the probe of the present invention does not insert itself in series between the communication link, but rather taps onto the communication link in parallel using a high impedance termination circuit thereby leaving the existing communication link undisturbed electrically.

Abstract: An ignition coil assembly module (40) that can be connected to and disconnected from an engine spark plug. The module elements are arranged as a succession of cylindrical layers about a central ferromagnetic core (46). From innermost to outermost, the succession is: a) a secondary bobbin (48), b) a secondary coil (58), c) a secondary encapsulant (194) encapsulating the secondary coil, d) a primary bobbin (50), e) a primary coil (56), f) an inner wall (181) of an environmental shield (42) encapsulating the primary coil, g) a ferromagnetic shell (52), and h) an outer wall (180) of the environmental shield encapsulating the shell. The primary bobbin forms a liquid container for holding secondary coil encapsulant. A terminal (100) extends through a transverse wall (71) of the primary bobbin for carrying secondary current from the secondary coil to another terminal (118) on the other side of the transverse wall that connects to a spark plug (80).

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to immunogens and their use in vaccine preparations. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a peptide or polypeptide or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof which corresponds to, mimics, or cross-reacts with, B-cell or T-cell epitopes on surface polypeptides encoded by Mycoplasma pneumoniae or M. genitalium. The immunogens of the present invention are particularly useful in vaccine preparations for the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of individuals against infections by Mycoplasma ssp. The present invention further provides diagnostic reagents for the detection of Mycoplasma ssp. in biological samples derived from individuals suspected of being infected therewith.

Abstract: An ignition coil assembly module (40) that can be connected to and disconnected from an engine spark plug. The module elements are arranged as a succession of cylindrical layers about a central ferromagnetic core (46). From innermost to outermost, the succession is: a) a secondary bobbin (48), b) a secondary coil (58), c) a secondary encapsulant (194) encapsulating the secondary coil, d) a primary bobbin (50), e) a primary coil (56), f) an inner wall (181) of an environmental shield (42) encapsulating the primary coil, g) a ferromagnetic shell (52), and h) an outer wall (180) of the environmental shield encapsulating the shell. The primary bobbin forms a liquid container for holding secondary coil encapsulant. A terminal (100) extends through a transverse wall (71) of the primary bobbin for carrying secondary current from the secondary coil to another terminal (118) on the other side of the transverse wall that connects to a spark plug (80).

Abstract: A laser diode is driven by a first, integrating, amplifier receiving a d.c. reference voltage V.sub.ref and negative feedback from a back-facet photodiode, and by a second, wideband, amplifier receiving the data and the negative feedback.

Abstract: A wireless communication processor system includes a wireless data/control commands transmission/reception unit, buffer memory for storing wirelessly received data and control commands, buffer memory for storing data and control commands for wireless transmission, buffer memory for receiving and storing data and control commands from host units such as computers and printers, buffer memory for storing data and control commands to be transmitted from the processor to a host unit, and a system for establishing a link with other wireless communication processors for transmitting data and control commands to, or for receiving data and control commands from, the other processors.

Abstract: A bias controller for a semiconductor laser, for example, a laser having an light output which exhibits a threshold at a threshold value of an input drive current, is disclosed. The bias controller includes a test signal generator arranged to generate a low frequency test signal which is the superposition of a modulated control signal on a DC bias signal which is applied to the laser as a drive current superimposed on a high frequency data signal. A detector is arranged to determine the value of either the third harmonic component, or the second harmonic component, of the light output of the laser. A control means is arranged to control the DC bias current to have a value close to the threshold value by maintaining the detected value of the harmonic component of the light output of the laser near to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A carrier vessel for a pneumatic tube transport system provides substantially leak-free containment of fluids transported therein. The vessel includes first and second shell members having opposing engagement surfaces extending substantially about a perimeter thereof. A sealing member disposed adjacent one of the engagement surfaces is compressed between the engagement surfaces when the vessel is closed to provide substantially fluid-tight seal between the first and second shell members. The vessel includes removable wear bands connected to the shell members, a hinge interconnector assembly for connecting the shell members together at one of their longitudinal sides and latch assemblies for releasably connecting them together at an opposite longitudinal side.

Abstract: A keyboard storage device assembly of parallelogram shape is disclosed comprising first and second arms (18, 20), and first and second parallel platform housing arms (12, 14), each having an inner channel (42) axially receiving the arms (18, 20) therein with the arms (18, 20) moving reciprocally within the channels (42) between a retracted storage position and an extended position. A back plate (16) connects rearward ends of the arms (12, 14) and a wrist rest (26) connects forward ends of the arms (18, 20) such that the assembly may be varied in width and length. A pair of keyboard supporting plate arms (22, 24) have forward ends pivotally coupled to forward ends of the arms (18, 20) and pivot between a horizontal orientation over the arms (18, 20) into a vertical or inclined position. A keyboard positioned upon the arms (22, 24) is thus pivoted therewith and maintains an orientation such that the keys of the keyboard face forwardly and remain accessible to the user throughout the range of motion.