Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon pump catheter includes an inner lumen formed by a thin walled superelastic metal alloy tube, namely of nitinol, with an inside diameter sufficient for a guidewire and a small outside diameter which allows reduction of the outer lumen and related components by at least one size French while providing gas shuttle capacity between the lumens for conventional intra-aortic balloon pump operation. The outer lumen is a tube formed of co-extruded plastics to enhance the size reduction and capacity goals, with an inner nylon portion for strength and a relatively thin polyurethane outer portion for biocompatability, flexibility and compatibility for bonding to a thin polyurethane balloon. The proximal end sleeve of the balloon is stretched and then stress-relieved by heating with an internal heater on a mounting mandrel to effect a desired small diameter sizing.

Abstract: A method of forming intra-aortic balloons includes forming a balloon blank having a sleeve section at its proximal end. To reduce the diameter of the sleeve section of the balloon, the sleeve section is stretched longitudinally by gripping a first portion of the balloon blank at the distal end of the sleeve section, gripping a second portion of the balloon blank at the opposite end of the sleeve section and moving at least one of the gripped portions away from the other so as to reduce the diameter of the sleeve section. A heating element is positioned within the sleeve section to relieve the stress in the sleeve after stretching, by heating the sleeve section. The sleeve section is then cooled in order to preserve the sleeve section in its reduced diameter state thereby forming an intra-aortic balloon having a balloon blank with a reduced diameter sleeve section.

Abstract: Two transistors are operated individually as emitter follower buffer amplifiers for R-Y and B-Y input signals and are operated together as an inverting summing matrix for deriving a G-Y output signal from the R-Y and B-Y input signals. All three output signals are "buffered" (i.e., provided by low impedance sources) and are subject to substantially equal delays. Advantageously, the circuit implementation requires only two transistors and three resistors to provide output signals which are (1) buffered, (2) matrixed and (3) delay compensated and which features improved reliability (due to reduced "parts count") and an economic implementation of the buffering, delay compensation and matrixing functions.

Abstract: A non-linear (e.g., "white stretch") processor and a brightness control processor are coupled in cascade between an input for receiving a video input signal to be processed and an output for providing a processed video output signal. A control signal for controlling the transfer characteristics of the non-linear processor is provided by an amplifier having a first input coupled to receive an average picture level (APL) indicating signal derived from the processed video output signal and having a second input coupled to receive a reference level signal supplied thereto. A brightness control signal is applied to a control input of the brightness control processor for controlling the brightness level of the processed video output signal.

Abstract: A dual, side-mounted inlet for air-launched ramjet missiles that require h angle-of-attack capability. The inlets are located symetrically on both sides of the vehicle pitch plane at an optimum angular displacement around the vehicle's lower surface from windward side meridian, lying in the pitch plane. The inlet pressure recovery and relative weight flow reach maximum values at angular displacements between 45.degree. and 60.degree. at positive angles of attack. The inlet is attached to the vehicle with a conventional boundary layer diverter of minimum height.