Abstract: The purpose of the disclosed thermostat is to prevent age-related diseases, induced by long term cool indoor temperatures. As people age, the body produces progressively less heat while aging-impaired vasoconstriction results in progressively more heat being lost. This age-induced cold stress requires ever greater use of vasoconstriction or behavior to maintain the body's heat balance. When behavioral regulation becomes diminished with age, vasoconstriction becomes progressive throughout life. In at risk elderly, an ongoing mild indoor cold stress can unknowingly maximize negative feedback vasoconstriction leaving it unable to further defend core body temperature. Before hypothermia occurs, positive feedback vasoconstriction activates as a defense mechanism. Like inflammation and fever, this beneficial defense mechanism can also cause harm when its use becomes excessive.

Abstract: A wound treatment apparatus that ventilates a wound dressing with warm humidified oxygen and/or air at a very low flow rate while under a sub-atmospheric pressure. A controlled flow of filtered air and/or oxygen is selected or blended under atmospheric pressure. This gas is pulled by a downstream vacuum source through a flow limiting device and exits at a sub-atmospheric pressure equal to the vacuum source. The gas flow is then humidified and heated to prescribed conditions before entering a substantially airtight negative pressure type wound dressing which is adapted for ventilation with an added inlet connection. This conditioned gas ventilates and nourishes the wound environment exiting the dressing outlet, through a fluid trap, to the vacuum source.

Abstract: A method of treating a wound by restoring a bodies' physiological norms is disclosed. A wound dressing is applied over the wound in which the wound dressing has an inlet and an outlet and furthermore forms a substantially airtight cover over the wound. A vapor is supplied to the wound dressing via the inlet. The wound is warmed by condensing the vapor into a condensate on a surface of the wound, thereby releasing a latent heat of vaporization and adding moisture to the wound. The excess condensate is removed from the wound dressing via the outlet.

Abstract: A method of treating a wound using condensation warming is disclosed. A wound dressing is applied over the wound in which the wound dressing has an inlet and an outlet and furthermore forms a substantially airtight cover over the wound. A vapor is supplied to the wound dressing via the inlet. The wound is warmed by condensing the vapor into a condensate on a surface of the wound, thereby releasing a latent heat of vaporization. The condensate is removed from the wound dressing via the outlet.

Abstract: A wound treatment apparatus that ventilates a wound dressing with warm humidified oxygen and/or air at a very low flow rate while under a sub-atmospheric pressure. A controlled flow of filtered air and/or oxygen is selected or blended under atmospheric pressure. This gas is pulled by a downstream vacuum source through a flow limiting device and exits at a sub-atmospheric pressure equal to the vacuum source. The gas flow is then humidified and heated to prescribed conditions before entering a substantially airtight negative pressure type wound dressing which is adapted for ventilation with an added inlet connection. This conditioned gas ventilates and nourishes the wound environment exiting the dressing outlet, through a fluid trap, to the vacuum source.

Abstract: A fluid distribution device which can direct the flow of a fluid from a common source to a plurality of outlet ports wherein a distribution plate is sandwiched between members which serve as inlet and outlet ports. In a preferred manner, there is a flow restrictor in the distribution plate which is provided by passages extending through the plate. The members are symmetrical in configuration with one of the members providing as inlet port and both members providing outlet ports. This results in cost reduction. The fluid distribution device is particularly suitable for use with pneumatic control systems.

Abstract: A fluid module for a fluid control apparatus which has an internal fluid operated diaphragm which will permit the manifolding of several modules together. Each of the modules is of the same configuration and is interconnected to a common main fluid supply source. The modular units are plugged together using couplings with the main fluid source piped only to one device with an internal fluid passage delivering the fluid to all of the modular units. The modular units can be connected in a series or parallel combination with respect to signalling fluids. The modular units eliminate the cost of interconnecting different units at a variety of locations with different couplings as well as independently supplying each unit with a supply fluid.

Abstract: An engine analyzer in which testing apparatus is controlled in accordance with a signal generated from voltage pulses applied to the spark plugs, the signal being converted into a square wave voltage of a frequency corresponding to the frequency of occurrence of the ignition voltage pulses. Specifically, this is accomplished by producing a first square wave voltage of one-half the frequency of occurrence of the pulses, integrating this square wave voltage to form a first triangular wave voltage of the same frequency, inverting portions of this first triangular wave voltage to form a triangular wave voltage of the same frequency as the frequency of occurrence of the pulses and differentiating this further triangular wave voltage to form a square wave voltage of the frequency of occurrence of the pulses.