Abstract: A centrifugal blood processing system is disclosed having a rotor drive assembly that is rotatably mounted to a stationary base for rotation along a predetermined axis. A rotor assembly, which includes a blood processing chamber, is rotatably mounted with respect to the base for rotation about the axis. A flexible umbilical cable segment is provided for establishing fluid communication with the blood processing chamber. One end of the cable segment is fixed with respect to the base along the axis at one side of the rotor assembly while the other end of the cable segment is attached on the axis in rotationally locked engagement to the rotor assembly. Guide means are provided for causing the umbilical cable to rotate about the axis with the motor drive assembly. Means are provided for rotating the rotor assembly and the rotor drive assembly in the same direction with a speed ratio of 2:1 to prevent the umbilical cable from becoming completely twisted during rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for handling a web of material fed from a roll. When the roll is larger than a selected amount, a roll contacting belt contacts the outer surface of the roll to aid in rotating the roll. The roll contacting belt is speed-responsive to a tension sensing means. Once the roll decreases to the selected amount, the roll contacting belt is disengaged from the roll and a positive drive controls the speed of the roll. This arrangement reduces web upsets caused by out of round new large rolls and eliminates telescoping due to the action of the belt against small diameter rolls.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for handling a web of material fed from a roll. When the roll is larger than a selected amount, a roll contacting belt contacts the outer surface of the roll to aid in rotating the roll. The roll contacting belt is speed-responsive to a tension sensing means. Once the roll decreases to the selected amount, the roll contacting belt is disengaged from the roll and a core brake controls the speed of the roll.

Abstract: A multi-programmable ROM-less cardiac pacer employs an intermittent microprocessor turned ON and OFF by a pacer timer clockwise independent of the processor to time intervals preset by the processor. Sensed activity and external communications restart the processor with an interrupt request. Five antitachycardia mechanism are externally programmable: programmed burst, burst rate scanning, automatic overdrive, programmed critically timed and critically timed scanning. In scanning mechanisms, the interval changes progressively until the tachycardia is terminated by a successful interval which is stored. Runaway protection is executed in the software. For telemetry, the pacer collects the following monitored pacing data over a programmable period of time: percent pacing, average rate, maximum rate, number of tachycardia episodes and maximum tachycardia duration.

Abstract: A hemostasis valve, for example, for a catheter for entering coronary blood vessels. The valve defines an adjustable high pressure seal and a second seal of typically lower pressure resistance.

Abstract: A hemostasis valve in which the valve member is a tubular, resilient gasket which may be compressed with variable pressure to provide a variable pressure seal to an elongated member extending through the tubular bore of the gasket. The gasket bore also defines at least one resilient, annular rib whereby the elongated member passing through the tubular gasket bore may be subjected at all times to at least a relatively low pressure seal from the resilient, annular rib, irrespective of the pressure of the variable pressure seal. Additionally, the pressure on the gasket may be applied and released by means of a pressure member positioned against the gasket. Structure is provided permitting longitudinal motion, but preventing rotational motion, of the pressure member.

Abstract: A body-implantable lead includes an electrical conductor encased in inert, insulating material. The lead terminates at one end with an exposed electrode tip. A first set of tines is positioned about the lead nearest the electrode tip, the tines having a length less than the tines of a second set positioned about the lead and more remote from the electrode tip than the first set. The tines of the first set may also carry fins which extend toward the electrode tip to facilitate lead insertion. The tines may also be disposed in longitudinal or spiral rows along the lead.

Abstract: A disposable oven pan is formed of stamped aluminum sheet material having a bottom, side walls and a rim at the periphery of the side walls. A pair of handles are fastened to the rim at opposed locations. Stabilizing bars bridge the connection points of each handle. A pair of support wires extend from the handle connection points, adjacent the outside of the side walls and under and adjacent the bottom of the pan for providing structural support to the pan. The handles, stabilizing bars and support wires are formed of steel, enabling the aluminum sheet to be relatively thin yet supportive of relatively heavy loads.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus having a grappler system by which one or a plurality of stacked containers may be lifted and transported. The grappler system includes pin devices capable of being inserted into standard holes provided at the corners of the container. The grappler system operates to support the bottom two containers of a plurality in a stack being lifted and is capable of dropping off the bottom container, while maintaining support of the container thereabove. The apparatus includes a hollow center design so that the containers can extend to a position above the top structural portions of the crane.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac pacer having pacer circuitry for producing output stimulation pulses on leads connectable to a patient's heart includes internal measurement circuitry for producing uncorrected measurement values relative to battery conditions and to pulses from the pacing circuitry. The pacer has a data processing unit with a microprocessor and a RAM device for storing, in dedicated locations, programmed gain and offset correction factors for the uncorrected measurement values. Telemetry means is responsive to the microprocessor for transmitting the uncorrected measurement values and the correction factors to an external programmer/receiver unit. The programmer/receiver unit includes telemetry means for receiving the uncorrected measurement values and the correction factors from the pacer.

Abstract: A telemetry system for communicating with a tank circuit contained in a pacer implanted in a patient includes a telemetry coil and a capacitor connected to the telemetry coil for forming a resonant tank. The telemetry coil is positionable externally on the patient's skin substantially overlying the implanted pacer. The resonant tank has a varying inpedance in response to telemetered data signals from the implanted tank circuit. A clock oscillator generates drive current pulses at a selected frequency to be applied to the resonant tank. A switching transistor generates a pulse waveform having a varying amplitude and frequency in response to the drive current pulses and to the varyng impedance of the resonant tank. A pair of sample and hold circuits are connected in series to function as a clocked filter for sampling the pulse waveform of a varying amplitude and frequency to provide a sample and hold signal.

Abstract: A current fed inverter circuit is provided in which there are two interconnected circuits, each of which shares a common inductor and transformer primary. These interconnected circuits are arranged so that an operator selector switch can connect the two circuits in a first configuration to form a current fed half bridge circuit and in a second, different configuration, to form a current fed push-pull circuit.

Abstract: A method for printing by magnetography under atmospheric conditions of relative humidity exceeding 65 or even 75% consists in transferring to a sheet of paper a fusible magnetic ink in powdered form which is distributed on a temporary magnetizable support in accordance with the configuration to be produced, whereupon the ink is fixed by fusion on the sheet of paper. The paper has a surface resistivity of at least 10.sup.10 ohms square and a relative smoothness of at least 20 Bekk.

Abstract: At the time of expansion and accompanying kinetic degradation of a flowing stream of fluid, the flow is stabilized by forming at least two contiguous flow streams which consist of the same fluid but have a different velocity distribution and the two streams are then mixed. When applying the method to a valve provided with a so-called "hemispherical" closure member for compressible fluids, subsonic discharge nozzles are formed by cutting recesses in the valve seat downstream of the zone in which the valve closure member bears on the valve seat in the closed position. The subsonic discharge nozzles are disposed in alternate sequence with supersonic discharge nozzles formed by the opposite surfaces of the valve closure member and of the valve seat outside the recesses. When the method is applied to a multi-bore pressure reducer for compressible gases, a pressure-reducing plate is provided with low-discharge ducts in adjacent relation to high-discharge ducts.

Abstract: A programmable power supply is disclosed which combines a linear power supply with a switching power supply. The switching power supply includes a pulse width modulator, a main power transformer, and a DC to AC inverter which is responsive to the pulse width modulator for varying the input to the main power transformer. The linear power supply includes a FET that is coupled to the output of the switching power supply. The FET is controlled in response to a feedback signal representing the output of the FET and also a voltage programming signal representing the voltage to be programmed. The pulse width modulator is controlled in response to the feedback signal representing the output of the FET and also a feedback signal responsive to the voltage drop across the FET. The output from the switching power supply, which is fed to the FET, is controlled in response to the output from the pulse width modulator.

Abstract: A system is provided for alleviating harmonic distortion in a power supply having an AC input, a full wave rectifier and filter capacitors. The rectified voltage is chopped at a frequency that is higher than the frequency of the original AC waveform. The higher frequency cycle is provided by timing means coupled to the gate of a FET. The chopped and rectified voltage is stored in an inductor device during one portion of the higher frequency cycle and the energy from the inductor device is transferred to the filter capacitors during another portion of the higher frequency cycle. A reverse protection diode, and a capacitor for delivering high frequency energy to the FET are connected across the output of the full wave rectifier.

Abstract: A system is provided for supplying purified water, without requiring continuous flow of water across the water purification device. A reverse osmosis unit is provided having an unpurified water inlet, a reject water outlet and a product water outlet. The unpurified water inlet is connected to a source of unpurified water. The reject water outlet and the product water outlet are connected to water regulating means. The water regulating means has outlets to drain and to an accumulator tank. When pressure in the accumulator tank is below a predetermined amount, a diaphragm responsive to the pressure operates a pair of spool valves to first automatically direct a first amount of product water only to drain. Thereafter, the spool valves automatically discontinue flow of the first amount of product water to drain and direct the product water to the accumulator tank.

Abstract: A water purifier unit mounted on the outlet end of a faucet includes a housing defining an inlet port, a labyrinth flow passage, and an output port. The flow passage communicates between the inlet and outlet ports, with the housing carrying a wall formed of ultraviolet-transmissive material adjacent to the labyrinth flow passage. An ultraviolet radiation source is positioned to irradiate the labyrinth flow passage through the wall. In the illustrative embodiment, means are provided for mounting the unit with the inlet port directly connected to the outlet of the faucet.

Abstract: A suture sleeve assembly is provided for placement around an elongated lead body, for example a cardiac pacing lead. The assembly anchors the lead body in position relative to the adjacent tissue, and comprises a tubular sleeve and a collet member. The collet member defines a plurality of axially extending legs residing in the bore of the tubular sleeve. The inner surfaces of the legs define frictional gripping members to engage a lead body positioned within the sleeve assembly. Structure is also provided for retaining the collet member in a position with the legs occupying the bore of the tubular sleeve.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for priming an ultrafiltration unit (10) connected to a blood source, without requiring a pump in the blood line. An ultrafiltration unit (10) is provided having an ultrafiltration membrane which separates a blood compartment from an ultrafiltrate compartment, a blood inlet port (12), a blood outlet port (14), a second inlet port (16) communicating with the ultrafiltrate compartment, and an ultrafiltrate outlet port (18). A feedback tube (38) connects the blood outlet port (14) to the second input port (16). Priming solution (36) is introduced to the blood inlet port (12) and a vacuum is applied to the ultrafiltrate outlet port (18). The priming solution (36) is drawn through the blood compartment, through the ultrafiltrate compartment, out the ultrafiltrate outlet port, and to drain.