Abstract: A stepping motor isolated physically from electrical power sources and powered by the influence of a magnetic field applied from outside the apparatus, the stepping motor including a rotor and one or more stator elements, the stator elements being composed of magnetically soft and permeable material shaped and positioned with respect to the rotor so that when magnetized under the influence of the external field the stator elements strengthen and orient the magnetic field in their vicinities so as to cause movement of the rotor.

Abstract: A technique for transmitting from within the body information concerning an internal parameter (e.g., a measurement of a physiopathological parameter or a parameter generated by an implanted pacemaker), without physical connections to the implanted device, without an externally applied or internally generated electromagnetic field, and without implantation of radioactive material. The implanted device generates a magnetic field having an orientation influenced by changes in the internal parameter. The field is generated by one or more permanent magnets in the implanted device. The orientation of the field is detected externally using a viewer that provides a display indicative of the orientation. The display may provide an image of the magnetic field (e.g., a compass needle or magnetometer) that aligns itself with the field in a known manner. The magnetic field can be generated by a rotatable element on which are carried one or more permanent magnets (e.g.

Abstract: A surgically-implantable shunt valve in which the popping pressure is adjusted in finite increments by application of an external magnetic field.

Abstract: A surgically-implantable shunt valve for venting cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus and for shunting other body fluids, the valve having a flexible diaphragm mounted within a non-metallic housing, a plate mounted on the flexible diaphragm, the plate having a circular aperture and the diaphragm having an opening aligned with the aperture, the diaphragm being generally coplanar with the plate, the diaphragm and plate dividing the housing into inlet and outlet chambers that communicate through the aperture, the inlet and outlet chambers being generally free of blind cavities so as to inhibit collection of debris, the valve having a valve element (such as a spherical ball) residing on the inlet side of the aperture, the valve element being biased against the circular periphery of the aperture to keep it closed until the cerebrospinal fluid pressure in the inlet chamber exceeds a preselected popping pressure, and the valve having a screw for making external adjustments to the popping pressure.

Abstract: A water turbine for open stream use featuring a vertical-axis cross-flow turbine in which cyclically-pitching blades are supported from one end only to permit the supporting structure and power generation gear to be supported out of the water. In preferred embodiments, there is independent pitch control of the turbine blades to make the blades responsive to the instantaneous flow in their vicinities.