Abstract: A system comprising a housing containing a signal generator coupled to an antenna and a dielectric material disposed about the antenna. The device is adapted to generate and direct a plurality of signals towards the heart of the person and measure a magnitude of a signal returned from the heart. The device further comprises a processor to compare differences between a magnitude of a signal propagated and the magnitude of the signal returned off the heart and determine a signal frequency having a maximum return loss value based on those differences. The processor also estimates a change in the amplitude of motion of a portion of a wall of the heart based on the differences between the magnitude of the signal propagated by the device and the magnitude of the signal returned off of the portion of the heart.

Abstract: A system comprising a housing containing a signal generator coupled to an antenna and a dielectric material disposed about the antenna. The device is adapted to generate and direct a plurality of signals towards the heart of the person and measure a magnitude of a signal returned from the heart. The device further comprises a processor to compare differences between a magnitude of a signal propagated and the magnitude of the signal returned off the heart and determine a signal frequency having a maximum return loss value based on those differences. The processor also estimates a change in the amplitude of motion of a portion of a wall of the heart based on the differences between the magnitude of the signal propagated by the device and the magnitude of the signal returned off of the portion of the heart.

Abstract: A method and system for recording acceleration and body position data from elderly or disabled persons. The fall monitoring system includes signal feature extraction and interpretive methods for characterizing accelerations and body positions during fall events. The system can detect health and life threatening fall events in elderly persons, and can autonomously notify nursing personnel or family members that the person is in need of immediate assistance.

Abstract: A method and system for recording acceleration and body position data from elderly or disabled persons. The fall monitoring system includes signal feature extraction and interpretive methods for characterizing accelerations and body positions during fall events. The system can detect health and life threatening fall events in elderly persons, and can autonomously notify nursing personnel or family members that the person is in need of immediate assistance.

Abstract: A system for remotely monitoring personnel status includes a plurality of sensors disposable on a soldier or other person for developing signals which may be used to determine the physiologicalal status. The sensors communicate with a soldier unit which can process the information to ensure that the sensor data falls within acceptable ranges and communicate with remote monitors. The soldier unit also includes a global positioning system. By using the sensor data and the global positioning system, leaders and medics can quickly and accurately track and treat casualties in battle. The system enables more rapid location of the casualty, as well as remote triage/initial diagnosis, thereby assuring that those who are most in need of treatment are attended to first. Typically, the system monitors both body surface and ambient temperature, heart rate, shivering, motion status and body condition.

Abstract: A low-profile multipathway automatic drug delivery system utilizing a battery powered control pad coupled to a disposable drug storage and delivery system and strapped to a patient's limb or torso. A preprogrammed or on-demand drug administration sequence is input to the control pad. When a drug is to be administered, the control pad ignites a high energy density propellant charge in the drug delivery system. Expanding propellant gas exerts pressure on a drug in a second chamber and forces it from the storage reservoir.

Abstract: A system for remotely monitoring a person's physical activity includes at least one accelerometer capable of measuring both the magnitude and direction of an acceleration. The acceleration data is processed to determine motion/position status and to decide whether there is a likelihood that the person has fallen, and if so, the likely direction that the person has fallen. Based on this data, the likely severity of the fall is calculated. If the severity of the fall is outside an acceptable limit, an alert state is reached upon which a signal is communicated to a remote monitoring unit. Likewise, various physiological conditions may be measured to determine the existence of any anomalous vital signs that would trigger an alarm state. If so, the remote monitoring unit will sound or otherwise communicate an alarm to a person associated with the remote monitoring unit.

Abstract: A low-profile multipathway automatic drug delivery system utilizing a battery powered control pad coupled to a disposable drug storage and delivery system and strapped to a patient's limb or torso. A preprogrammed or on-demand drug administration sequence is input to the control pad. When a drug is to be administered, the control pad ignites a high energy density propellant charge in the drug delivery system. Expanding propellant gas exerts pressure on a drug in a second chamber and forces it from the storage reservoir.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for supporting rotor blades includes a plurality of axially adjoining discrete disks each having a rim. The rims include axial dovetail posts defining therebetween dovetail grooves for collectively supporting a respective blade dovetail therein. The disks are fixedly joined together by integral beams so that upon a crack failure of one of the disks, centrifugal load from the failed disk is transferred to an adjacent disk and crack propagation thereto is inhibited.

Abstract: To eliminate stress peaking at the bearing surface interface of the blade and disk slot dovetails in a gas turbine engine, the slot dovetail in undercut to remove disk material from contact with the blade dovetail radially inner edges where surface stress peaking would otherwise occur. The undercut contour radially inward of the blade dovetail is determined by analysis based on each engine design such as to achieve a substantially uniform distribution of surfaces stress along the dovetail slot fillet radius.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the movement of materials having different physical properties when one of the materials is a fluid. The invention does not rely on flocculation, sedimentation, centrifugation, the buoyancy of the materials, or any other gravity dependent characteristic, in order to achieve its desired results. The methods of the present invention provide that a first acoustic wave is propagated through a vessel containing the materials. A second acoustic wave, at a frequency different than the first acoustic wave, is also propagated through the vessel so that the two acoustic waves are superimposed upon each other. The superimposition of the two waves creates a beat frequency wave. The beat frequency wave comprises pressure gradients dividing regions of maximum and minimum pressure. The pressure gradients and the regions of maximum and minimum pressure move through space and time at a group velocity.

Abstract: This invention is a dual axis, continuous flow centrifuge apparatus and method. A centrifuge head rotates in a vertical orientation about a first axis which, in turn, is rotated in a horizontal plane about a second axis. The rotation of the centrifuge head is matched to the rotation of the second axis to cancel out any net rotation of flexible conduits attached to the centrifuge head. The nonrotating coupling of the conduits permits continuous flow through the centrifuge head in the absence of seals. An angled centrifuge chamber inside the centrifuge head provides a more rapid separation of the components in the liquid passing through the centrifuge head. The path of travel of a particle in a centrifuge chamber inside the centrifuge head follows a generally cycloidal path thereby undergoing a pulsatile centrifugal force component.

Abstract: This invention is an ultrasound apparatus for determining hematocrit. A sample of blood in a microhematocrit capillary tube is acoustically coupled to an ultrasound transducer which creates a standing wave in the blood sample. Red blood cells in the blood sample are packed in bands that correspond to the nodes of the standing wave. The thickness of the bands as a function of the thickness of the remaining plasma is an indication of the hematocrit of the blood sample.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for maintaining urinary continence in normally incontinent individuals. The present invention involves the non-surgical implantation of a bolus of ferromagnetic material into the bladder. The bolus of ferromagnetic material may comprise a biocompatible membrane, containing a ferromagnetic material. The bolus will normally rest at the juncture between the bladder and the urethra and will prevent the flow of urine from the bladder into the urethra. Essentially, the bolus serves as a seal between the urethra and the bladder. When it is desired to void the bladder, the ferromagnetic bolus is moved out of the intersection between the bladder and the urethra by positioning a magnet along the external surface of the person's body and manipulating the magnet until the desired movement of the bolus is accomplished. Movement of the magnet is sufficient to displace the bolus such that flow may be initiated from the bladder into the urethra.

Abstract: This invention relates to the ultrasound enhancement of sedimentation of particulates in a particulate-bearing fluid medium while the fluid medium is undergoing centrifugation. The ultrasound energy forms standing waves in the fluid and cause particulates in the fluid, whether solids, liquids, or gases, to agglomerate in bands. The bands approximate either the nodes or antinodes of the standing wave, depending on the density of the particulate relative to the fluid. The banded or agglomerated particulate enhances the rate of sedimentation as well as the reverse flow of suspernatent by removing particulate which would otherwise impede this flow.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the movement of materials having different physical properties when one of the materials is a fluid. The invention does not rely on flocculation, sedimentation, centrifugation, the buoyancy of the materials, or any other gravity dependent characteristic, in order to achieve its desired results. The methods of the present invention provide that a first acoustic wave is progpagated through a vessel containing the materials. A second acoustic wave, at a frequency different than the first acoustic wave, is also propagated through the vessel so that the two acoustic waves are superimposed upon each other. The superimposition of the two waves creates a beat frequency wave. The beat frequency wave comprises pressure gradients dividing regions of maximum and minimum pressure. The pressure gradients and the regions of maximum and minimum pressure move through space and time at a group velocity.

Abstract: A hand-held centrifuge apparatus for sedimenting a fluid suspension in a sample tube, the sample tube being subjected to centrifugation at an acute angle to the axis of rotation. An electronic circuit activates an electric motor for a preselected time period as a function of voltage supplied by a battery to the motor to provide a predetermined degree of centrifugation to the sample. A voltage tester periodically tests the voltage in the circuit to assure that adequate voltage is being supplied by the battery. A deactivation circuit is actuated if inadequate voltage is sensed and a disabling circuit disables the electronic circuit until adequate voltage is again available. The disabling circuit is masked during acceleration to preclude deactivating the circuit when the motor is in acceleration.

Abstract: A sequential flow washer for photographic prints and film consisting of a tank having sidewalls, endwalls and a base, said tank being divided into multiple compartments by a series of alternately arranged baffles located between the sidewalls, one of said baffles being an overflow baffle and the adjacent baffle being an underflow baffle. From an intake manifold, water overflows one sidewall into the first of the multiple compartments and then flows down through said compartment which is created by an underflow baffle and up into the next compartment defined by an overflow baffle and over the top thereof and continues serially through compartments created by alternating underflow and overflow baffles and out over the opposite sidewall into an exit manifold. The upper edges of both sidewalls are preferably slotted to allow for the uniform flow of water into and out of the adjacent manifolds.