Abstract: The method and apparatus of the invention use laser emitted optical energy to effect wound closure and reconstruction of biological tissue. Optical energy is applied to produce thermal heating of biological tissue to a degree suitable for denaturing the tissue proteins such that the collagenous elements of the tissue form a "biological glue" to seal immediately and/or to reconstruct the tissue being heated. The collagenous glue is then reabsorbed by the body during the healing process. In a particularly advantageous method and apparatus, a Nd:YAG laser turned to 1.32 micrometers wavelength is used at low power levels to obtain deep tissue penetration with low thermal effect.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for implanting a prosthesis the length of a blood vessel. A generally tubular prosthesis member having an unobstructed central passageway is provided. The member contracts to a smaller dimension for delivery through the unobstructed portion of the length of blood vessel, and is outwardly expansible in the blood vessel. The prosthesis member is positioned in a contracted condition between a delivery catheter and an outer sheath, and expands outwardly responsive to removal of the sheath.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to apparatus for selectively limiting the speed of an internal combustion engine by momentarily removing the ignition voltage to the spark plug of said engine at one or two preselected speeds below the maximum speed capability of the engine. Said speed limits are activated in response to electrical input signals generated by switches controlled by the operating condition of a vehicle driven by said engine. Such electrical signals could be determined by whether the vehicle transmission is in reverse and/or switches selectively operated by the operator. This emitter therefore controls the engine and thus vehicle speeds to increase the safety of the vehicle under selective operating conditions.

Abstract: An automobile cooling system where electrical energy derived from solar cells are used to drive the pump and fan of a vehicle mounted evaporative cooling system. Automatic control of the system is provided by a thermostatic switch located within the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for supplying the excitation to a four quadrant drive DC electric motor having a forward and reverse controllable bridge rectifier power regulators for controlling the direction of motor rotation. The motor control system is capable of operating in a continuous and discontinuous current mode of operation and includes an electronic control circuit for calculating a firing angle from desired and measured system parameters.The electronic control system includes a reversing controller for developing a current command for generating firing pulses to fire selected switching elements in the power regulators for controlling the magnitude and polarity of the excitation, and a current sensor for sensing motor current. The method provides a smooth, continuous transitioning between the forward and reverse bridge in response to a sensed requirement for reversing excitation to the motor.

Abstract: Current limit protection is provided to ensure that the current flow within the transistor inverter does not exceed a predetermined safe level to thereby cause damage to the various components such as the transistor inverters. The current in the primary of the transformer is sensed and a representative signal is compared with a reference signal to provide a digital output indicating whether a safe limit has been exceeded. A logic network then operates on the output signal to shut down or reduce the system operation accordingly. In the event of a shut-down, current decay is accommodated by shutting off only the top transistors in the inverter diagonals so as to thereby allow the remaining current to flow in the bottom transistors and diodes.

Abstract: A cable-connector assembly adapted to be removably secured to a housing of a multiple connection device. The assembly has a cable with at least one end, and the cable includes a plurality of insulated conductors encased therein and extending beyond the at least one end of the cable for electrical connection within the housing of the multiple connection device, respectively. A connector is releasably secured in stress relief association with a part of the cable at least generally adjacent the at least one end thereof. The connector includes a sleeve disposed about the cable part and yieldable at least in part for releasable gripping engagement with the cable part, and means is associated with the sleeve for exerting a force thereon to effect the yielding of the at least part of the sleeve means into the releasable gripping engagement thereof with the cable part thereby to releasably secure the connector in the stress relief association thereof with the cable part.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling motion of power driven mechanisms in a medical x-ray spot filming system in order to minimize induced vibrations of x-ray film due to acceleration and deceleration of the power driven mechanisms. The invention includes a method and apparatus for establishing a desired profile of position of the x-ray associated mechanisms as a function of time and for implementing a move of the mechanism in accordance with the desired profile. In one form the profile is divided into a plurality of equal time increments and the motion of the mechanism is computed for each time increment as a function of a particular change in position such that a move can be completed within a fixed time interval. Depending upon the length of the move, a change in position for each time increment is determined and the mechanism is moved in accordance with the computed position change for each time increment.

Abstract: A system for harvesting and processing aquatic plants growing on the surface of a body of water includes a shore mounted harvesting apparatus which gathers the plants from the surface of the water and conveys them to a first chopper assembly which rips and shreds the plants to a first manageable size. The harvester assembly includes a first rotating drum positioned in the water which forces the plants upward and into engagement with a second rotating drum having a plurality of spiral wound vanes which engage the material and forces it along the passageway into further engagement with a third rotating drum which cooperates with a cutting bar to serrate and shred the material. The shredded material is thereafter transferred to a chopping assembly which comminutes the aquatic plants into very small pieces.

Abstract: A blow pin for molding machines includes first and second separate members juxtaposed adjacent to each other, with a replaceable cutting member positioned between the first and second members and with a shoulder-fastener arrangement associated with the blow tube for holding the first and second members together with the cutting member therebetween.

Abstract: A sweat band made of a moisture absorbing material is shaped to fit around the head of a person and has strips of hook and loop material attached thereto for attaching a sun visor or cap. The sun visor has a concave curved portion shaped to fit the forehead of the user and a strip of hook and loop material attached to the visor curved portion so that a molded plastic visor can be attached and detached as needed by the user. The cap has a portion removed from the rear crown and sweat band and a moisture absorbing sweat band is removably attached to the cap's sweat band with hook and loop material. The moisture absorbing sweat band is elasticized and can expand in the removed portion of the crown and cap sweat band.

Abstract: A geodesic dome construction system utilizing a plurality of prefabricated panels having a triangular shape. Each panel includes a core of insulative material, an exterior cementitious face, an interior wall surface face, and edges of the core at an angle with respect to the faces. The exterior face includes an uncovered border portion and a wire mesh extending from the cementitious face into the border portion. The panels are assembled edge-to-edge to form a dome and the joints between panels reinforced with a wire mesh strip. The border portions and exposed wire mesh are covered with cured cementitious material forming a reinforced concrete rib along each joint.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed that can be worn by a user for monitoring and recording electrocardiographic data from the user. The apparatus provides for continuous storage of predetermined time increments of such data in digital form, with new data being stored over preexisting data and the apparatus being operable by the user halt further such recordings to hold for subsequent output the data corresponding to such a predetermined time increments.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device in a piezoelectric medium includes input and output transducers for launching and detecting a surface acoustic wave along the piezoelectric medium. The device is arranged in a ring loop to process the bidirectional acoustic wave launched from the input transducer. Multistrip couplers in the ring loop between the input and output transducers are used to achieve low loss characteristics. A phase shift introduced by the multistrip couplers between portions of the surface acoustic wave is used to cancel triple-transit reflections.

Abstract: An aeration/mixing apparatus for a water body has a centrally located circular manifold and a plurality of evenly spaced, peripherally located air output connectors is positioned over a base plate. The manifold is supported a fixed distance above the plate and a plurality of microporous diffuser tubes inserted in the output connectors. The plate is at least coextensive with the tubes. The apparatus is placed in the bottom sediment of a water body and air supplied to the manifold. Air escaping from the diffuser tubes creates an upwelling convection current which mixes oxygen in the water by direct contact with the air. The base plate isolates the turbulent water at the diffuser assembly from the loose bottom sediment thereby preventing stirring of such sediments and concomitent resuspension of oxygen depleting nutrients into the water.

Abstract: Apparatus for permitting exercise by a bedridden patient includes a patient bed having guard rails extending generally along one side and with a bracket supported by the rails. A motor is carried by the bracket, the motor having a drive shaft extending generally normal to the rails and toward the bed. A crank arm is fixed at one end to the drive shaft and dimensioned substantially shorter than the distance between the drive shaft and the surface of the bed, with a handle or footstrap at the other end of the crank arm for permitting a hand or foot of the patient to be coupled to the crank arm so that the patient may exercise by rotation of the crank arm and the drive shaft.