Abstract: A novel three-dimensional infrared imager for study of the vascular network so as to cause blood vessels to be visualized for accurate subcutaneous puncture during insertion of a hypodermic needle. The invention uses the properties of near infrared light as it is absorbed and reflected by the human body, allowing the user to visualize the tissues a few millimeters in depth from the skin's surface. The use of infrared light permits the manipulation of the acquired information to a grade of sensed visualization, which is impossible to reach with visible light. The invention imitates the human three-dimensional perception by use of a stereoscopic infrared viewer, and is designed to be user friendly, allowing the health care professional to work in his usual manner. A double image is superimposed on the viewer and the user wears blue-red eyeglasses to create the three-dimensional image from the double image on the viewer.

Abstract: A novel closed loop FET biasing circuit featuring a standard logic control format for operational mode switching between operating states of an FET power amplifier. In a preferred embodiment, an FET gate bias control device is provided for configuring a gate bias circuit in an FET power amplifier to accommodate a broad range of output power levels, wherein the configuration is responsive to a command which establishes an FET bias condition. The gate bias control device of the present invention comprises a circuit having a controllable switching unit which connects a plurality of resistors in the source-drain voltage circuit portion individually or in parallel to provide a multiple of resistance values each corresponding to one of four amplifier operating modes.

Abstract: A cutter assembly for use in a shaver for shaving hair from the skin of a user includes a casing formed with a static blade configuration and a static bearing surface removed from the static blade configuration. Mounted within the casing is a moving cutter, which has a number of blades and a bearing surface formed to complement the static bearing surface. A spring element biases the moving cutter against the casing so that the complementary bearing surface slides against the static bearing surface, this sliding corresponding to a shearing cutting action of the moving blades relative to the static blade configuration. This reduces the frictional heating between the blades. Also described is a static blade configuration in which extended open-ended slots are reinforcement by transverse support ribs.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for adaptive adjustment of the phase and amplitude controllers that are needed in Feed Forward Linearized Amplifiers (FFLA) to balance, first, the desired signal component and then the distortion component for the eventual full suppression of the latter. The particular advantage of the methods of the invention is that the adaptive adjustment is achieved without the need for additional RF reference or pilot signals and without RF correlators as proposed in prior art; rather, it is based solely on envelope-detected samples of the signal at two test points and on perturbations of the quiescent operating points of the amplifiers and/or other components, such as vector modulators, by appropriately selected voltage patterns. All these operations are at base band frequencies which makes the apparatus for the adaptive control implementable in simple digital circuitry.

Abstract: A three cycle, two-stroke internal combustion engine from which work can be extracted in two directions. In the preferred embodiment, the inventive two-stroke engine is constructed as a cylinder having a reciprocating piston slidably seated therein, with the piston defining a compression and combustion chamber between the cylinder wall and each side of the piston. The two-stroke engine can provide work in bi-directional fashion from the two combustion chambers acting in phase. A piston rod is provided with reciprocating linear motion, and a mechanical converter is used to change the linear movement to rotational motion providing torque from which rotational power can be extracted for machinery. In an alternative embodiment, the cylinder is shaped with a bottom portion which is split into two sections, in which a bifurcated piston is seated in reciprocating fashion.

Abstract: An extendible-retractable device, which is made up of a number of interconnected members and to which a suitable tool may be attached. The device makes it possible to continually change the position of the tool as a task is being performed. The device includes members which are attached to each other through flexible cables so that relatively small movements of a handle or similar device in the hand of the user results is relatively large extension or retraction movements of the farthest member which carries the tool.

Abstract: An improved protective breathing mask comprising fire-resistant stretchable material shaped as a hood for wearing over and enclosing the head. An access opening allows the head to be placed therethrough such that a substantially airtight closure is provided at the neck. The mask includes a visor and filter materials sealed to the stretchable material. The improvement to the basic mask construction is a breathing adaptor provided on the interior side of the mask face, which encloses a one-way respirator. The breathing adaptor maintains the mouth and nose spaced apart from the filter, and efficiently directs breathing efforts to equalize inhalation airflow via substantially all of the filter, while the one-way valve eases exhalation airflow and reduces condensation on the interior side of the visor. Thus, filter utilization is improved and the filter protection time is extended, for increased safety.

Abstract: A flexible cuff for wrapping around a part of a limb, that is comprised of multiple patch units of a required size and shape to fit the body contour for applying to an area of skin. The cuff has an array of flexible (polymer) electrodes held at constant potential with alternating polarities. A network of supply tubes connected to an external liquid reservoir, provides a slow supply of a medicated fluid to each electrode.An electric field applied through the cuff then causes the drug to be rapidly absorbed throughout the skin. The electrodes within the cuff, or applicator pads which it is comprised of, can be additionally be used for applying Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation, and for Electrical Muscle Stimulation. Alternately, the cuff can be used to assist rehabilitation exercise therapy conditioning in combination with Electrical Muscle Stimulation.

Abstract: A refrigerator door-mounted beverage dispenser device for use with bottled beverages, to control beverage flow during dispensing from a bottle. The device comprises a generally cylindrical housing engaging the mouth of the bottle, an operating lever pivotably attached to the housing and movable between upper and lower positions, a self-closing flow valve, and a valve actuator operable with the operating lever to open the flow valve by applying pressure thereto while it is in either of the upper and lower positions, to enable controlled beverage flow. In a preferred embodiment, the beverage dispenser device itself is threaded onto the beverage bottle, sealing it closed. A retractable lever is arranged to displace a ball valve and enable liquid beverage flow into a cup.

Abstract: A diffusion cell for ex-vivo transcorneal drug penetration studies. The diffusion cell design enables control of the pressure and the flow in the acceptor chamber, and can be used for in-vitro studies of the effect of intraocular pressure on transcorneal drug penetration. Validation tests were carried out and reproducible results of the transcorneal drug penetration experiments were obtained with a practical experiment protocol.