Abstract: The compliance of human tissue is determined by impinging a target area with acoustical energy over a range of frequencies. The target is dynamically sealed within a chamber and the pressure response produced in the chamber over the frequency range is measured. The characteristic of the frequency response is related directly to the compliance of the target.

Abstract: An acoustical tonometer having an ocular chamber in which a target eye is positionable, a drive chamber containing an acoustical generator and an inertia tube connecting the two chambers. Sound waves produced in the drive chamber are used to excite the target eye. The behavior of the eye on the resonant response of the system is used to determine the health of the eye.

Abstract: A biopsy channel for use in an endoscope having a tubular substrate formed of a lubricious material that is wound with a high strength wire filament helically wound thereabout to provide spaces between the windings and a relatively softer elastomeric material blanketing the windings. A top coating also containing a lubricious material is placed over the filler material to provide a tubular structure that can be bent into a tight radius without collapsing.

Abstract: The fluid flow of the passive hydraulic damper is regulated by a command responsive valve so as to in effect disable the damper at those times when it would amplify rather than attenuate movement of the vehicle component whose motion is to be minimized. The command responsive valve, along with all other valves of the system, preferably is carried and protected by an accumulator which receives hydraulic fluid from the damper during both extension and retraction thereof. The control valve is of an improved voice-coil type capable of exceedingly rapid response to command signals directed thereto from an electronic controller receiving input data from motion detecting sensors associated with the vehicle components interconnected by the damper.

Abstract: A system and method for forming a segmented pultruded shape is provided in which a continuous length of fiber reinforcements are impregnated with a matrix material and then formed into a continuous series of alternating rigid segments and flexible segments by curing the matrix material impregnating the rigid sections and removing the matrix material impregnating the flexible sections.