Abstract: A system and method for pre-operatively optimizing a fit of an orthopaedic implant relative to a particular individuals anatomy is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing the voltage transformation functions of a conventional electrical power transformer. An AC input signal is chopped in a solid state switching converter at a frequency very much larger than the frequency of the input signal and then filtered to attenuate the high frequency component while passing the frequency of the AC input signal. The switching converter includes a pair of bidirectional solid state switches, an inductor and a capacitor connected in a buck converter, boost converter or buck-boost converter arrangement to provide a step up, step down, or step up/step down capability, respectively. A feedback signal modulates the duty cycle of the switching converter to provide automatic voltage regulation under varying loads and leading and lagging power factors.

Abstract: A improvement in a combination for responding to an emergency, characterized by audible instruction means for instructing a participant in handling the emergency and an activator for activating the instruction means to give particular audible instructions to the participant handling the particular emergency so that the participant can use both hands and eyes in treating the emergency rather than having to read instructions or the like. In specific aspects, multiple instructions may be included with a selector for selecting a particular emergency; or a particular type of emergency such as instruction and precautions for a particular type of fire extinguisher may be implaced at a particular location for a particular type fire extinguisher or the like.

Abstract: A power converter which provides precise waveshape regulation. An input pr waveform (three-phase or single phase power) is rectified and modulated to form a chopped waveform within an envelope defined by the rectified input waveform. The modulation is removed by passing the chopped signal through a low-pass filter. The output of the low-pass filter, which is equal to the instantaneous value of the chopped waveform envelope times the instantaneous value of the duty cycle of the chopped waveform, is converted to a complete sine wave output voltage in a power inverter. The output of the power inverter is sampled and compared with a low-power reference waveform in a differential amplifier. The output of the differential amplifier is phase compensated for the effects of the low-pass filter and applied as an error signal to a pulse-width-modulated oscillator to adjust the duty cycle of the chopped waveform so that the sine wave output voltage follows the reference waveform.

Abstract: An active power-line filter which provides bandpass filtering and transient uppression. The high-power signal to be filtered is modulated to form a chopped waveform within an envelope defined by the input waveform and the modulation is removed by passing the chopped signal through a low-pass filter. The output of the low-pass filter is then compared in a differential amplifier with a low-power reference signal which is phase-locked to the primary component of the high-power signal. The output of the differential amplifier is phase-compensated for the effects of the low-pass filter and is compared to the reference in a phase-detection multiplier to produce an error signal to adjust the duty cycle of the chopped waveform so that the waveform at the output of the low-pass filter is identical to the reference waveform.

Abstract: The specification discloses a closed system for cleaning, pressure testing, and drying fire extinguisher containers. The system comprises two tanks for holding trichloroethane and flow lines and a valve control system for flowing the liquid from one tank into the container to be cleaned, pressure tested, and dried and then from the container to the other tank. After a number of containers are cleaned and pressure tested and the second tank becomes full, the valve control system can be controlled to reverse the flow of liquid from the second tank to the containers to be cleaned, pressure tested, and dried and then back to the first tank.In a further embodiment, there is provided a universal head adapted to fit many different sizes of fire extinguisher container openings and in addition an adjustable holding device for holding the container to be tested between a support plate and the head and for inverting the container to allow the container to be emptied after the test is completed.