Abstract: A cannula includes a cannula cap connected to a proximal end of the cannula, which cap has cap body having a bore defining an instrument receiving passageway. A monolithic flapper valve is positioned within the cannula proximal end and adjacent the cap body. The flapper valve includes a flapper, a flapper mount positioned adjacent the cap body, and an integrally formed hinge connecting the flapper mount to the flapper for permitting the flapper to move to an open position when an instrument is positioned within the instrument receiving passageway and for biasing the flapper toward a closed position when the instrument is removed from the passageway. A sealing washer is carried by the flapper mount for positioning between the valve and the cannula cap enclosing the flapper valve within the cannula.

Abstract: A surgical drape having a transparent, flexible tubular body for enclosing a non-sterile video camera includes a closed end and an opening adjacent the closed end. A flat reinforcing washer formed to the tubular body adjacent the opening defining an access opening into the tubular body for receiving a male threaded connection of a sterile camera coupler. The access opening of the reinforcing washer is sized to snugly fit the male threaded connection of the coupler so that the drape is readily secured to the coupler for providing an effective seal. When the coupler is screwed onto the camera, there is a clear optical channel between the camera and the coupler. With such an arrangement, the coupler is accessible from outside the drape. The drape separates the camera from the coupler and in operation, the coupler is sterilized prior to the start of the surgical procedure. As a result, both the coupler and the endoscope are easily accessible during the procedure.

Abstract: A cannula cap embodiment includes a monolithic elastomeric cap body having a sidewall portion for engaging a proximal end of a cannula, and an end portion connected to the cylindrical sidewall portion. The cannula cap also includes a monolithic flapper valve positioned within an interior of the cap body. The monolithic flapper valve includes a flapper portion, a ringed-shaped flapper mounting portion connected to adjacent interior portions of the cap body, and an integrally formed hinge portion connecting the flapper mounting portion to the flapper portion for permitting the flapper portion to move to an open position when an instrument is positioned within the instrument receiving passageway, and for biasing the flapper portion toward a closed position when an instrument is removed from the instrument receiving passageway.

Abstract: A power demand control method uses a temporary demand limit in excess of the demand limit assigned as a target at the end of the demand period, and such temporary demand limit is reduced by steps from control point to control point until it coincides with the assigned target at the very end of the demand period. More specifically, the demand limit used for prediction is reduced by a major portion always the same from predicted demand error to the reset, thereby progressively reducing the same down to zero at the end of the period.

Abstract: The invention relates to power demand control of a number of loads in a plant facility in order to keep the power within a demand limit at the end of a demand period. During the billing period the invention provides for a demand limit floating up and/or down over the demand periods, and means is provided to dampen control action whenever the demand limit would tend to oscillate up and down over the successive demand periods.

Abstract: Power demand control in a plant facility is improved by allowing the demand limit imposed as a target to be met at the end of a control period to follow the actual demand in the plant. The demand limit is automatically optimized as actual demand fluctuates and it is set in accordance with past history.

Abstract: An energy conservation schedule is followed automatically in response to production activity in a plant facility. The demand of power from the utility company is used as an indicator of actual production activity. The ON/OFF ratio of non-production loads is reduced to conserve energy and such adjustment is automatic in relation to actual demand of power. In one embodiment of the invention, a higher level of constraint is imposed on the non-production loads as soon as the demand has passed a critical threshold downward. In a second embodiment of the invention, control of the demand is installed in the plant in order to meet a demand limit at the end of a period of control involving the production loads as well as non-production loads under constraints. In the latter situation, whenever demand control is ineffective for a full control period to affect switching of the production loads, the system goes to energy conservation with a higher level of constraints applied to the non-production loads.