Abstract: The Flash Technique is a new concept in thermodynamics. This technique of accumulating heat energy in a small air plenum being instantaneously flashed over the problem region of the body in a thermowave manner is capable of accomplishing with high efficiency and simultaneously Thermotherapy, Immunetherapy and Chemotherapy treatments in the patients' own home. The term “problem region” refers to tumors, a set of muscles, or any other site causing difficulty and which lends to the use of instantaneous high temperature air pulse flashes. The low power and the small size and weight of this home unit lend to the use of a flexible belt to support two applicators against different parts the body.

Abstract: A chemo-thermo applicator insertable into a tubular membrane in the body of an individual to occupy a site therein in which the surface of the membrane is disrupted by cancerous lesions. The applicator includes concentric inner and outer tubular balloons in which the annular space therebetween is filled with a chemotherapy supply the outer balloon being perforated. In operation, a stream of heated air is fed into the inner balloon which acts to inflate this balloon and to heat the supply to cause it to melt and form a cream. Inflation of the inner balloon acts to expand the outer balloon causing it to conform to the surface of the membrane. The pressure imposed on the supply as the inner balloon expands, forces the heated cream to extrude through the outer balloon perforations to coat the surface of the membrane with the heated cream which then functions as a chemo-thermo agent to destroy the cancerous lesions.

Abstract: A chemo-thermo applicator insertable into a tubular membrane in the body of an individual to occupy a site therein in which the surface of the membrane is disrupted by cancerous lesions. The applicator includes concentric inner and outer tubular balloons in which the annular space therebetween is filled with a chemotherapy supply the outer balloon being perforated. In operation, a stream of heated air is fed into the inner balloon which acts to inflate this balloon and to heat the supply to cause it to melt and form a cream. Inflation of the inner balloon acts to expand the outer balloon causing it to conform to the surface of the membrane. The pressure imposed on the supply as the inner balloon expands, forces the heated cream to extrude through the outer balloon perforations to coat the surface of the membrane with the heated cream which then functions as a chemo-thermo agent to destroy the cancerous lesions.

Abstract: An adjustable stand anchored on a base to support an electrically-powered applicator so that it may be brought by an operator to a properly oriented position adjacent a selected site on the body of a subject to be treated and maintained at its set position. The stand is composed of series of interconnected arms, at least two adjacent arms being formed by pipes having a right angle bend and articulated by a knuckle formed by a four-sided rectangular block. The block has a first bore extending between one pair of opposing sides and a second bore extending between the other pair, an end of one arm being socketed in the first bore and the adjacent end of the other arm being socketed in the second bore whereby the arms articulated by the knuckle are swingable about axes at right angles to each other to afford a wide range of angular adjustment.

Abstract: A technique for inducing analgesic effects to relieve pain in a living organism whose central nervous system is associated with thermal receptors in the skin that sense heat and transmit signals through afferent fibers reflecting the intensity of the heat and its duration to the brain via the spinal cord. Applied to an area of the skin for a predetermined period is an air stream whose temperature is periodically elevated to create high-temperature pulses separated by lower temperature intervals whereby as a result of heat transfer from the skin area to tissue underlying the skin, the temperature at the surface of the skin is at a tolerable level. The signals transmitted to the brain during this period that reflect the sensed high temperature pulses stimulate the brain into producing endorphins having analgesic effects on the organism and relieving pain.

Abstract: A technique for inducing analgesic effects to relieve pain in a living organism whose central nervous system is associated with thermal receptors in the skin that sense heat and transmit signals through afferent fibers reflecting the intensity of the heat and its duration to the brain via the spinal cord. Applied to an area of the skin for a predetermined period is an air stream whose temperature is periodically elevated to create high-temperature pulses separated by lower temperature intervals whereby as a result of heat transfer from the skin area to tissue underlying the skin, the temperature at the surface of the skin is at a tolerable level. The signals transmitted to the brain during this period that reflect the sensed high temperature pulses stimulate the brain into producing endorphins having analgesic effects on the organism and relieving pain.

Abstract: A combined chemo-thermo therapy technique in which a pharmaceutical agent, such as a lipolysis cream, is topically applied to a localized skin surface overlying a problem region to be treated. This surface is then subjected to an air stream whose temperature alternates periodically from a high peak level to a lower base level in a pulsatory heat energy wave pattern. Because heat transfer takes place under the skin in the intervals between successive peaks, the temperature of the problem region is significantly raised, but that on the skin surface remains at a tolerable level. As a consequence, the absorption of the agent and its diffusion throughout the tissues of the heated problem region is accelerated and its interaction therewith is promoted to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment.

Abstract: A power control unit for a thermotherapy applicator adapted to direct toward a localized skin area of a patient overlying a problem region, a stream of hot air whose temperature cyclically alternates between a base level above ambient to a peak level above base to produce a pulsatory heat wave which promotes the transfer of heat to the problem region to raise it to an elevated temperature. The applicator includes a fan driven by a d-c motor that blows air through an a-c powered heater coil to produce an air stream whose temperature depends on the velocity of air blown through the coil; the higher the velocity, the lower this temperature. The velocity is a function of the level of d-c voltage applied to the motor by a rectifier connected to a voltage-divider tap on the coil.

Abstract: A combined thermotherapy and electrotherapy technique in which directed toward the skin surface overlying a problem region in the body is a stream of air whose temperature alternates periodically from a high peak to a low value, the duty cycle being such as to allow internal heat transfer to take place in the intervals between successive high temperature peaks, whereby the temperature of the problem region is increased to an elevated level while the skin temperature remains at a tolerable level. Concurrently directed toward the skin surface and penetrating the body region is electromagnetic energy whose therapeutic effect on the problem region is enhanced by its elevated temperature.

Abstract: A universal applicator for applying therapeutic heat to a localized skin area of a patient. The applicator includes a casing dome whose open base is maintained in spaced relation to the skin area to define an air flow zone therebetween. Coaxially mounted at an intermediate position within the dome is a motor-driven fan which creates a negative pressure region in the dome above the fan and a positive pressure region therebelow, whereby air drawn from the negative pressure region is propelled into the positive pressure region from which it is discharged into the air flow zone. From this zone, the air is returned to the negative pressure region, thereby creating a circulatory flow loop minimizing the discharge of air into the atmosphere outside the flow zone. Mounted coaxially within the dome in the negative pressure region is an electric heater ring formed by a helical resistance coil.

Abstract: A universal applicator for applying therapeutic heat to a localized skin area of a patient. The applicator includes a casing dome whose open base is maintained in spaced relation to the skin area to define an air flow zone therebetween. Coaxially mounted at an intermediate position within the dome is a motor-driven fan which creates a negative pressure region in the dome above the fan and a positive pressure region therebelow, whereby air drawn from the negative pressure region is propelled into the positive pressure region from which it is discharged into the air flow zone. From this zone, the air is returned to the negative pressure region, thereby creating a circulatory flow loop minimizing the discharge of air into the atmosphere outside the flow zone. Mounted coaxially within the dome in the negative pressure region is an electric heater ring formed by a helical resistance coil.

Abstract: An articulated hand-held exerciser constituted by left and right-hand weighted clubs having replaceable handles which simulate the grip of a standard handled sports appliance such as a tennis racquet. The ends of the clubs are hinged together by a spring or other means so that the clubs, when held by a user, may be more or less angled and the exerciser is capable of executing both simple and complex motions. These bring into play and develop the muscles of the muscular system associated with the shoulders, arms and wrists of the user, the same muscles which are involved when using the sports appliance.

Abstract: A technique for applying therapeutic heat to a skin surface area of a patient whose threshold of sensitivity is determined by that temperature level of the heating medium to which the patient is continuously exposed, above which the patient experiences discomfort. In this technique, the skin surface area is exposed to a heating medium whose temperature is at a base level that is well above ambient but no higher than the temperature sensitivity threshold, the temperature of the medium being periodically raised above the base level to create high heat energy pulses whose peaks are much higher than the threshold. The duty cycle of the pulses is such as to allow for internal heat transfer to take place in the region below the exposed area of the patient in the intervals between pulses to an extent preventing an excessive rise in temperature at the skin surface whereby the patient gains the benefit of high heat energy treatment without discomfort or injury.

Abstract: A hot air oven for heating food-loaded cartridges, each constituted by a stack of sealed trays nested within an open carton whose side walls have holes therein to admit heated air, the trays containing pre-cooked meals. The oven includes a rotating turntable provided with a raised annular shelf for supporting a circular array of cartridges, the side walls of which define a hollow center core. A driven propeller is disposed within the core, the space between the shelf and the turntable forming a restricted flow passage whose inlet communicates with the core and whose outlet lies at the periphery of the turntable. A heater assembly above the cartridge array produces heated air which is sucked by the propeller into the hollow core. Because of the flow restriction, a substantial portion of the heated air is forced through the holes of the cartons to heat the food in the trays.

Abstract: A localized thermotherapy technique in which heated air is so projected onto a limited surface area on the body of a patient overlying a problem region as to bring about the rapid transfer of heat energy toward this region to raise the temperature thereof without, however, causing undue discomfort or injury to the patient. In apparatus for practicing this technique, air heated to a temperature well above normal body temperature is projected as a high velocity wind toward the limited surface area in a pulsatory thermal-wave pattern, thereby subjecting the area to high-temperature, high-velocity air pulses separated by lower air temperature, relatively static intervals. As a consequence, rapid heat transfer takes place through the body tissue during these intervals, this inward transfer acting to reduce the temperature at the surface to a degree preventing an undue rise thereof.

Abstract: An articulated exercise bar having left and right hand weighted arms provided with rotatable handles. The arms are joined together by a rotatable hinge assembly making it possible for the arms to be held initially at parallel positions lying within a main plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the arms. The rotating hinge assembly permits a user grasping the rotatable handles to swing the arms in and out within the main plane or at right angles thereto, or to rotate the entire bar and to thereby execute more or less complex movements which function to bring into play and develop many of the muscles in the muscular system associated with the user's arms which are uninvolved in conventional arm exercisers.

Abstract: An automatic dough-producing system including a controllable mixing stage into which are fed flour and a dough-forming solution to produce a paste which is then supplied to a development stage yielding dough. In the development stage, the incoming paste is fed through a lateral inlet to a screw rotating within an elongated tube at a variable speed, the inlet position being adjustable along the screw to vary the length of that portion of the screw which acts to knead and develop the paste to produce the dough, this adjustment being independent of the mixing stage.

Abstract: An automatic paste-producing apparatus which includes a vertical assembly constituted by a tubular chamber whose upper end communicates with a metering tube of enlarged diameter to which flour or other powder is supplied. Coaxially mounted within the assembly is a rotating shaft having a main screw section of uniform diameter operating within the chamber and a conical screw section operating within the metering tube. Slidable within the metering tube is a ring which surrounds the conical screw section to define an annular valve orifice, the ring being axially shiftable to set the size of the orifice. The flour admitted into the chamber by the metering tube is hurled by the main screw section against the inner wall of the chamber to create a thin powder film thereon which is then intermixed with a liquid to form a paste, air being drawn from the chamber through the main screw section to control the entrainment of air within the paste.

Abstract: A system for processing an organ such as a kidney so as to render it suitable for storage, shipment and eventual transplantation. After its removal from a donor, the organ is cradled in a net suspended within a basin. A preservative fluid initially at normal blood temperatures progressively cooled to avoid thermal shock, the fluid being pumped through the organ to flush out its natural fluids. The pumping action is such as to simulate that of the heart and its associated circulatory system. The exterior of the organ is chilled by simultaneously introducing the preservative fluid into the basin. After this chilling procedure is completed, the cradle carrying the cooled organ is transferred to a basin disposed in a thermally-insulated shipping box which is then filled with chilled preservative fluid and maintained at a desired low temperature level by an associated refrigeration unit.

Abstract: A counter-top oven adapted to effect low-temperature cooking of food at a relatively rapid rate whereby food nutrients and other valuable constituents are preserved. The oven includes a food-receiving compartment having a perforated wall and means to heat air to a temperature well above the cooking temperature of the food and to force the heated air through the perforations to cause the air to flow at high velocity through the compartment in heat-exchange relation with the food.