Abstract: An electrical contact assembly comprises an annular housing defining an interior space, the housing including a tubular wall having an outer surface facing the interior space and an inner surface defining a central opening adapted to receive an electrical contact, the wall defining at least one aperture. Contained within the interior space of the housing is a garter spring having an inner diameter, the garter spring encircling the outer surface of the wall under preload so that a portion of the inner diameter of the spring projects through the at least one aperture into the central opening of the housing for engaging an electrical contact received within the central opening. An implantable medical device incorporating such an electrical contact assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A connector system for use with a sealed implantable medical device has a lead receiving channel with an open end for slidably receiving a connecting lead tip pin of an electrical lead and includes an electrically conductive connector body and a tip assembly coaxial with the connector body mounted on the proximal end thereof for slidably engageably receiving the lead tip pin. The tip assembly includes an electrically conductive retention mechanism for achieving and maintaining electrical continuity with the lead tip pin and for firmly engaging the lead tip pin as it is inserted into the lead receiving channel. The retention mechanism includes a tubular carrier coaxial with the connector body, a plurality of bearing members rotatably mounted on the tubular carrier engageable with the lead tip pin, and a resilient member biasing the bearing members into engagement with the lead tip pin.

Abstract: A gear combination is disclosed in which a spherical body has a plurality of grooves defined therein into which a pin gear enmeshes. Substantially all the pins on the pin gear engage the grooves in the spherical body at all times. The spherical body rotates about a first axis and the pin gear rotates about a second axis. The grooves are cut into the spherical body by a computer-controlled milling machine. The groove is endless or eventually returns to its beginning position. The axis of the milling tool may be oriented at any angle with respect to the axis of the lathe head, since the resulting motion of the milling tool necessarily cuts whatever lissajous shape is dictated by the relative periodic motions of the lathe head and milling table. The pins in the pin gear thus follow the grooves defined in the spherical body so that the rotation of the pin gear relative to the spherical body mimics the relative motions of the lathe head and milling table when the spherical body was cut.

Abstract: An improved numerically controlled machine tool is provided by resiliently coupling an independent drive mechanism to a toolholder which in turn is fitted to the numerically controlled machine. The drive mechanism in turn is coupled to a working tool used for drilling, tapping, milling or other machine functions. The drive mechanism and the toolholder are resiliently coupled together so that they may be relatively displaced one with respect to each other depending upon the amount of vertical force being through the working tool applied to the drive mechanism tending to urge the drive mechanism either toward or away from the toolholder. The torque, power and/or rate of rotation of the working tool is controlled as a function of the relative displacement of the working tool with respect to the toolholder along a predetermined axis of coupling between them.