Abstract: A water slide toy including: a downwardly inclined slide having an upper end and a lower end; a carrier for moving separate discreet objects such as human or animal figures from the lower end of the slide back up to the upper end of the slide so that the objects can slide downwardly from that slide upper end; a reservoir for holding a quantity of water; a pump for delivering the water to the upper end of the slide to facilitate the downward sliding movement of the objects; and a passageway between the slide and the reservoir for returning water to the reservoir.

Abstract: An automatic, sheet-feeding photographic film-holding apparatus that can be attached to or inserted into a processing area, such as a camera or enlarger, having the means to hold a plurality of semi-flexible material, such as photographic sheet film, both before and after processing, such as exposure; the means to feed a sheet from a stack of sheets, one by one, into a processing area; and to retrieve and store that sheet, while feeding the next sheet into the processing area.

Abstract: An optical fiber carries a light beam through a cardiovascular catheter and projects the beam into the patient's bloodstream. Two other fibers, spaced in a very carefully controlled configuration from the first, receive light scattered by corpuscles (and blood-vessel walls) and transmit this reflected light back through the catheter to respective detectors outside the patient's body. If preferred, two input fibers and a single output fiber--or other techniques for providing differential geometry--may be used instead. Electronic instrumentation finds the ratio of the two light fluxes, thus cancelling out unknown variables such as input light intensity and optical--connector attenuation. The known differential geometry between the two light paths permits calibration of the ratio measurement in terms of corpuscular concentration--i.e., hematocrit. Light at only one wavelength suffices for the measurement. Advanced forms of the invention correct for proximity of blood-vessel walls.

Abstract: A vacuum-type pickup and transfer apparatus for irregularly surfaced, shaped and sized objects such as populated printed wiring boards (PWBs) is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of downwardly directed vacuum conduits that have enlarged lips at their lower end. It also includes a thin, flexible, non-porous membrane which extends transversely and loosely between the conduits and through which the conduits extend so that their lower ends communicate with the region below the membrane. The pick-up apparatus is moved down to the PWBs and vacuum applied, so that the flexible membrane seals against the PWBs, adapting and conforming to any irregular surfaces, sizes and shapes. The apparatus includes a control for selectively regulating the movement of the pick-up apparatus and the application of the vacuum. The PWBs are accordingly moved to the desired location and the vacuum released to release the PWBs.

Abstract: An exercise device comprising a pair of weight plates (10) is disclosed which can be mounted for rotation about a lifting bar (22) with the plates' centers of gravity below the lifting bar. A leverage control bar, coupled to the plates for rotation therewith, is positioned to contact the users forearm during a portion of the curling movement, thereby limiting the rotation of the plates and maintaining the plates' centers of gravity in a lagging position with respect to the user's hands so as to exert relatively constant resistance during the movement.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for use with fluid jet cutting systems is disclosed which yields a lower profile, lower mass nozzle assembly, and which permits "finger-tight" assembly of the nozzle.Briefly, the assembly includes a nozzle housing, a generally tubular closure member (20) having a fluid-accommodating passageway, a collar (36) for positioning a jet-forming orifice (42) with respect to the passageway, and a sealing ring (38) retained to the tubular member by the collar to provide a high pressure seal between the tubular member and the nozzle housing.

Abstract: A cannula insertion needle projects from the "forward" end of a hollow handle. After use to start a cannula, the needle is released from the end of the handle and its sharp end retracted into the handle, beyond reach. Preferably the handle has an aperture big enough for the needle but too small for fingertips. In one preferred form of the invention, the needle rides in a carrier block that slides inside the handle. Initially the block is secured in the handle against the forward end, with the sharp end of the needle protruding outward through the aperture. A manually releasable latch holds the block in this position. The latch mechanism includes mutually interfering stop elements on the exterior of the block and interior of the handle. After the cannula is in place, the person using the device withdraws the needle from the patient and manually triggers the carrier-block latch by squeezing or rotating one of the stop elements out of engagement with the other.

Abstract: The catheter tip fits into a cavity in the boot and is held gently (in the longitudinal direction) by a detent formed within the cavity. A calibration substance faces the tip in a mechanically and optically standardized calibration relationship, to reflect light from within the catheter back into the catheter. The calibration substance is held in constant, precise contact with the tip--but passively, not by springs or other longitudinally forcible devices but by close fit between the tip and the precision-molded internal surfaces of the cavity. In the lateral direction the boot may tightly grip the tip, at a point where the optic fibers are protected against such force. To provide a reflection standard for calibration, the calibration substance is of standardized character and quality: it is preferably a homogeneous suspension of reflecting particles in translucent or transparent polymer.

Abstract: A cast gel elastomer implantable prosthesis for implantation in the human body. The gel prosthesis is formed for subcutaneous implantation and may be subsequently coated with a membrane-thin elastomer so that when it is implanted, it will retain its natural softness after the human tissue capsule forms around the prothesis.

Abstract: A fluid jet cutting system is described having a nozzle (12) through which a fluid jet is directed for cutting a workpiece (15). The workpiece (15) is supported using pins (17) each of which is provided with an alignment device in the form of a generally tubular body (104) provided with a through hole (106). The relative positions of the nozzle and workpiece (15) can be adjusted until the fluid jet passes through the through hole (106) with minimum disturbance.In alternative embodiments, the alignment device may be provided by a cap permanently affixed in an alignment plate, or it may be constituted by the pin (17) itself.The alignment system provides a simple method for visually verifying the jet alignment to a reference point before controlled cutting is carried out.

Abstract: A duplicating drawing apparatus includes a frame and a support assembly mounted on the frame for linear movement in an X direction. A pair of rotary members are rotatably mounted on the support assembly. Each rotary member rotates about a Z axis extending in the Z direction that is at a right angle to the X direction. In one form, a sub-assembly unit which carries the rotary members can be movably mounted on the support assembly for substantial linear movement in a Y direction that is substantially at right angles to the X and Z directions. An extension arm attached to each rotary member extends outwards away from the sub-assembly. Attached to the end of each extension arm is a holder means which holds a writing instrument. When the user writes or draws using either of the writing instruments, the other writing instrument moves to produce a duplicative mirror-image copy of the user's drawing.