Abstract: A machine readable binary code which is dynamically variable in size, format and density of information is provided. The binary code is formed as a matrix having a perimeter and data contained therein. The perimeter is provided with density indicia for indicating the density of data contained within the matrix. The perimeter is also provided with size indicia for indicating the size of the matrix. By utilizing the density indicia and size indicia, a scanning device is able to calculate the size and information density of the binary code.

Abstract: A heart signal sensor 11 is connected by a flexible cord 13 to a catheter 17. The sensor 11 and the catheter 17 are attached to install the sensor in the cardiac wall, and thereafter are disunited and separately attached to the cardiac wall 1. The sensor is attached to the cardiac wall by claws projecting from the sensor surface, and may be installed by rotating or by deformation of the sensor.

Abstract: A transaction system comprises a plurality of components each performing a respective function, the components being interconnected by a serial data bus. Each component can initiate an information exchange operation with any other component. A component may transmit a message consisting of either a general instruction for causing the component receiving the message to carry out one of a plurality of different types of operations depending upon the nature of the instruction, or a message in the form of a direct memory access request identifying a specific location in a memory of the receiving component to which data is to be written or from which data is to be read.

Abstract: Directing to the difficulties involved in the deep rectal surgery, the present invention relates to a sutureless intestinal anatomosis gun which facilitates the rectal surgery to be performed by entering through the anus and protruding out from the upper end of rectum so as to install an anastomosis ring that has been connected to the intestine for anastomosis of the rectum, comprising a plurality of tubes, an anastomosis ring seat, a fixed shaft, a screw rod and a nut. During the operation of intestinal anastomosis, the inner sleeve and the anastomosis ring seat can be driven in sequence by means of the nut and the screw rod such that the end of the rectum is pushed precisely to enter into the gap of the anastomosis ring and then the anastomosis ring is precisely closed. Thereafter, the anastomosis ring seat and the anastomosis ring are disengaged and then the said anastomosis gun is removed to complete the intestinal anastomosis.

Abstract: An OTDR to examine light reflected from an optic fibre has an amplification stage that operates in either a high gain or low gain mode. To avoid saturation of the amplifier in the high gain mode, the trace is examined to identify the location of spikes and a switch is controlled to connect the amplifier to the signal after the occurrence of the spike.

Abstract: The suture anchor comprises a first main body (11) of a generally cylindrical shape having a front portion (1), a rear portion (2), a longitudinal axis (3), a curved surface (4) with protrusions (5), a central through-going bore (19) extending from said front portion (1) to said rear portion (2), and a longitudinal slit (12) which opens at said front portion (1) and curved surface (4) and is closed at said rear portion (2).It further comprises a second conical body (14) having a smaller base (15), a larger base (16), a curved surface (17) and a longitudinal axis (13), said second conical body (14) being coaxially introducible with its smaller base (15) into said slit (12) thereby causing expansion of said first main body (11). The second conical body (14) is provided with a through-hole (6) running transversely to said longitudinal axis (13) and two channels (7) positioned on said curved surface (17) and extending from the orifices (18) of said through-hole (6) to said smaller base (15).

Abstract: A machine readable binary code which is dynamically variable in size, format and density of information is provided. The binary code is formed as a matrix having a perimeter and data contained therein. The perimeter is provided with density indicia for indicating the density of data contained within the matrix. The perimeter is also provided with size indicia for indicating the size of the matrix. By utilizing the density indicia and size indicia, a scanning device is able to calculate the size and information density of the binary code.

Abstract: A device for treating fractures of the neck and shaft of bones such as the femur, which includes a sleeve strap and a trochanter stabilization plate, and is designed so that the stabilization plate can be positioned over a previously installed sleeve strap.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for classifying cardiac rhythm by analyzing sensed atrial and ventricular heartbeats, and determining if the rhythm might be pace-terminable in a given chamber. The method maintains a histogram of the sensed beat interval in the chamber of interest and a second histogram of conduction time from the other chamber. The method classifies a rhythm as pace terminable in the given chamber when the intervals in that chamber are stable, and the conduction times to that chamber are unstable. It applies further criteria when the intervals in the given chamber are stable, and the conduction times are also stable. Antitachycardia pacing is deliverable to terminate tachyarrhythmias determined to be pace terminable.

Abstract: A system for validating coins comprises a transmitter coil for transmitting low-frequency electromagnetic radiation through a coin to be validated and a receiver coil for receiving radiation having passed through the coin. An inverting amplifier is provided in a feedback path between the receiver coil and the transmitter coil thereby providing a 180.degree. phase shift. Thus, for the unique frequency which causes a 180.degree. phase shift within the coin, there is provided positive feedback, and a resonance condition occurs at that frequency. By measuring the frequency of this resonance and comparing it with a reference value, the coin can be validated.

Abstract: A coin validator checks the measured properties of a tested item against stored ranges to determine whether the tested item is acceptable. Individual sets of ranges can be enabled and disabled, and switched between narrow and wide ranges, in a teach mode of the validator. Selection of the ranges to be enabled, disabled or switched is accomplished by causing the validator to test an item to determine its type.

Abstract: In a system for feeding slivers from an aging room to a spinning frame room through tubes, a simple method is proposed, capable of maintaining a moisture content of sliver at a predetermined value even though the meandering state of sliver in the tube varies in accordance with the change of the operational conditions. A spinning frame room (1) and a sliver-aging room (5) are respectively provided on the first and second floors so that a sliver (8) is fed, through a tube (10) communicating both the rooms with each other, into a drafting mechanism (3) of a spinning frame installed in the spinning frame room (1). Air pressure in the aging room (5) is controlled to be higher than that in the spinning frame room (1) so that a downward air stream always generates in the tube (10) from the aging room (5) to the spinning frame room (1). An air-through aperture (9) with a damper (11) for adjusting an opening degree thereof is provided between the aging room (5) and the spinning frame room (1).

Abstract: A tissue penetrating apparatus including a surgical appliance having a sharp tip for penetrating tissue, a first optical element for emitting one or more selected monochromatic wavelengths of light, and a second optical element for sensing light corresponding to the one or more selected monochromatic wavelengths of light. The first and second optical elements are optical transmission fibers secured to the appliance proximate to the tip so that one fiber passes one or more monochromatic wavelengths of light into the tissue to be penetrated, and the other fiber passes the light sensed to a light detector. A control circuit is used to illuminate the one or more light sources to emit light out one of the first and second optical fibers, and to provide an electrical signal corresponding to the light sensed at the other of the first and second optical fibers. The electrical signal includes sensed light at each of the monochromatic wavelengths of light emitted, and sensed light in the absence of emitted light.

Abstract: An X-ray source that produces X-rays as a result of igniting an electron cyclotron resonance plasma inside a vacuumated dielectric spherical chamber filled with a heavy atomic weight, non-reactive gas or gas mixture at low pressure. The spherical chamber is located inside a non-vacuumated microwave resonant cavity that is in turn located between two magnets to form a magnetic mirror. Conventional microwave energy fed into the resonant cavity ignites the plasma and creates a hot electron ring which electrons bombard the heavy gas and dielectric material to create an X-ray emission. The X-ray source is suitable for surface and volume sterilization of foodstuffs, packaged goods, medical supplies, blood products and other materials and medical diagnostic and therapeutic devices such as tomography, mammography and radiology.

Abstract: An anesthesia delivery device comprising an elongate flexible tubular member in the form of a hollow suture made of bioabsorbable material, the tubular member having a proximal end portion with a continuous cylindrical side wall and a distal end portion provided with a plurality of apertures spaced longitudinally along the distal end portion. The delivery device further comprises an injection pump or other component connected to the proximal end portion of the tubular member for injecting a local anesthetic into the tubular member. A timer can be provided for determining a time for an injection of the local anesthetic into a patient in which the distal end portion of the tubular member is implanted.

Abstract: A coin mechanism having a plurality of coin storage and dispensing assemblies (2, 4; 2', 4'), each one of the assemblies being provided with a plurality of detectors (6, 8; 10; 12, 14) each for detecting a respective parameter of that assembly, characterized by a plurality of output lines (01, 02) one for each assembly, each of which output lines is coupled to all the detectors of its assembly, a plurality of activation lines (A1, A2, A3), each of which is coupled to a group of said detectors comprising a detector for each assembly, and control circuitry connected to the activation lines, wherein the control circuitry drives the activation lines one at a time to activate the detector groups one at a time, whereby to produce sequentially on the single output line of each assembly signals indicative of all the parameters for that assembly as its detectors are sequentially activated by the driving of the activation lines.

Abstract: A process and arrangement for separating and recovering polyol production wastes, including polyol, potassium or sodium phosphate and magnesium silicates, is disclosed. According to the invention, the polyol product waste and caustic salt are combined in a vessel, emulsified and then deemulsified. This causes the contents of the vessel to stratify into three layers. A first stream containing primarily magnesium silicates and a minor amount of caustic salt solution is withdrawn from the vessel and then waterwashed. The water-washed magnesium silicates are then dehydrated and desiccated to obtain commercial grade magnesium silicates. The minor amount of caustic salt solution is dehydrated, crystallized and then desiccated to yield commercial grade anhydrous potassium or sodium phosphate. A second stream containing predominantly polyol oil is withdrawn from the vessel and subsequently filtered and dehydrated to obtain commercial grade polyol.

Abstract: A premix storage hopper for storing a hot, viscous, paste-like mixture containing cellulose dispersed in a solution of tertiary amine oxide and water, comprises a vertical contain having a central shaft rotatable about a vertical axis and carrying stirring members and heating means for heating side walls of the container.

Abstract: Certain organic diesters and triesters have been found to be useful as flushing oils in retrofitting CFC-based cooling systems to HFC-based cooling systems. These include compositions of the formulae R.sub.1 OOC--Q--COOR.sub.2, ##STR1## and mixtures thereof, wherein Q is a straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbon group having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms and R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 can be the same or different and are straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbon groups containing from 6 to 13 carbon atoms. In use as a flushing oil, the lubricating oil is drained, the flushing oil is added and the system is run for about 24 hours. This oil is then drained and fresh flushing oil is added. The process is repeated until the original lubricating oil is within a desired range of the total flushing oil, say up to about 5% wt.

Abstract: A coin testing device comprising two parts carrying coin sensor elements, the two parts being capable of relative movement apart from each other for access to the space between them. When the parts are closed, their relative positioning is defined by features at four positions. At three of those positions the features are such as to determine the spacing between the two parts and at two of those positions the features are such as to prevent relative translational and rotational movement of the two parts in their own plane. A loose hinging arrangement is provided so that only the features of those four positions, and not features of the lid, determine the relative position of the two closed parts.