Abstract: An implantable cardiac defibrillator employing a switched capacitor filter stage having charge steering resistors connected in series with corresponding switched capacitors that are coupled to a sensitive node of an operational amplifier. The stored channel charges in associated switches when they are turned off are directed away from the sensitive node. The switches associated with the switched capacitors are operated by control signals having a generally trapezoidal shaped waveform so as to slowly turn off the same, thereby reducing clock feedthrough and charge injection induced offset voltage on the output of the operational amplifier.

Abstract: A pallet rack comprises a least one pair of spaced, parallel rails and at least one wheeled cart mounted in rolling relation with the pair of rails and defining a load-carrying area. By this invention a cross brace extends between the rails, being positioned to support the bottom of a weak or poorly placed pallet placed on the rails adjacent the front end. The cross brace defines a space adjacent each of the rails to permit the front end of the cart to roll to the front end of the rails between the cross brace and each rail. The cart comprises a pair of wheel-carrying side members positioned parallel to the rails, plus transverse support members connecting the side members. The transverse support members are spaced from the cart front end by a distance sufficient to allow the front end of the cart to roll between the cross brace and each rail.

Abstract: An inside antenna is provided comprising a housing, a capacitor and an inductor located within the housing and cooperating to form an LC network, a radiator connected to the inductor, and a coaxial cable with its central conductor tapped to a selected location of the inductor. The capacitor is formed by a radiator plate to which the radiator and inductor are connected and a ground plate. A set screw is carried by the housing and engages the ground plate so that movement of the set screw varies the position of the ground plate relative to the radiator plate.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac defibrillator includes electrodes coupled to a patient's heart, a sensing system having inputs connected to the electrodes for sensing cardiac electrical signals from the atrial and/or ventricular channels, means for storing a charge, and means for delivering a shock to the heart. The sensing system includes switched capacitor means for amplifying the cardiac electrical signal with non-binary gain changing steps.

Abstract: A cardiac therapy method with duration timer is disclosed, using an implanted cardiac pulse generator. A patient's heartbeat is sensed and the intervals between heartbeats are averaged. The number of temporary storage bins, in the form of RAM locations, are provided, including a sinus bin, a low rate tachycardia bin, a high rate tachycardia bin, and a fibrillation bin. The storage bin corresponding to the cardiac rhythm band of the determined average heartbeat interval is incremented. A maximum count limit is assigned to each storage bin. When the first bin reaches its maximum count limit, a diagnosis of the patient's cardiac rhythm is provided. Upon detection of a tachycardia, a duration timer is started and the tachycardia is treated in accordance with a programmed routine. If sinus is detected during the predetermined time period, then the duration timer is cleared.

Abstract: A cardiac therapy method is disclosed, using an implanted cardiac pulse generator. A patient's heartbeat is sensed and the intervals between heartbeats are averaged. The number of temporary storage bins, in the form of RAM locations, are provided, including a sinus bin, a low rate tachycardia bin, a high rate tachycardia bin, and a fibrillation bin. The storage bin corresponding to the cardiac rhythm band of the determined average heartbeat interval is incremented. A maximum count limit is assigned to each storage bin. When the first bin reaches its maximum count limit, a diagnosis of the patient's cardiac rhythm is provided. Upon detection of a tachycardia, a duration timer is started and the tachycardia is treated in accordance with a programmed routine. If sinus is detected during the predetermined time period, then the duration timer is cleared.

Abstract: A water softening system is provided including a service step, a regenerating step and a rinse step. The service step includes introducing relatively hard water into the inlet, through an ion exchange resin and out the outlet to a service location. The regenerating step includes introducing a brine solution into the inlet, through the resin and out the outlet to drain. Prior to the service step, an automatic rinse step is provided by which an amount of the relatively hard water is introduced into the inlet, through the softening medium and out of the outlet to drain.

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-legs extend from below the handle connection points, adjacent the outside of the side walls and under the bottom of the pan for providing structural support to the pan and for providing legs to raise the pan above a table so that heat can be applied to the bottom of the pan to keep the food contained therein warm. The handles, stabilizing bars and support-legs are formed of steel, enabling the aluminum sheet to be relatively thin yet supportive of relatively heavy loads.

Abstract: A pinball machine having a first ramp on a play field. The first ramp is positioned so that pinballs may be propelled up the ramp to fly through space before landing again on the play field. Preferably, a second ramp is positioned on the play field to receive at least some of the flying balls launched up the first ramp.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac defibrillator includes electrodes coupled to a patient's heart, sensing circuitry having inputs connected to the electrodes for sensing cardiac electrical signals, charging means for storing a charge, and discharge means for delivering a shock to the heart. The sensing circuitry includes switched capacitor gain/filter means for providing an output signal which is transient-free during a gain change operation and which maintains a constant filter bandwidth for each gain setting.

Abstract: A strap for glasses with forms a loop about each temple bar for retention thereto. By this invention, an enlargement is defined in the outer portion of each temple bar loop, to inhibit removal of a sliding member carried on the temple bar loop from its sliding relation with the temple bar loop, so that the sliding member cannot be lost.

Abstract: A testing system for determining accelerated weathering characteristics of various items such as fabrics and paint samples. Rack means are provided for carrying samples to be tested. A source of irradiation of the inner-facing surfaces of the samples carried on the rack is also provided, along with a blower system for directing a stream of air through the rack. In accordance with this invention, a generally conical member is positioned in the stream of air to redirect the stream outwardly in a generally conical flow path. The generally conical flow path is positioned by the conical member to flow across the inner-facing surfaces of the samples carried on the rack.

Abstract: A method for cardiac defibrillation is described, for use with an implanted defibrillator. A patient's R-waves are sensed to detect the R-R intervals. If an arrhythmia is detected, the charging of a capacitor is commenced. Determination are made whether the arrhythmia is still in progress and whether the capacitor is charged a predetermined amount. If the arrhythmia is not still in progress, the charging is discontinued. If the arrhythmia is still in progress and the capacitors are charged a predetermined amount, another R-R interval is detected and if the R-R interval is shorter than a selected amount, a shock is delivered to the heart.

Abstract: A balloon catheter in which its inflatable and collapsible balloon is of larger diameter than adjacent portions of the catheter body. The balloon defines transition zones at the respective ends which are of fluted shape. Thus, the balloon can assume a collapsed position in which the collapsed transition zones collapse in a substantially star-shaped cross section rather than in a flat-collapsed configuration. Central portions of the catheter follow suit on collapse of the balloon, to avoid the undesired "winging" phenomenon in balloon catheters, particularly PTCA catheters.

Abstract: A pinball machine defines a play field pivotally carried by a housing to permit pivoting of the play field upwardly to a repair position from a lower, operating position. The housing carries on its lower side a metal bracket defining a downwardly facing base. A retaining aperture is defined in the base of the metal bracket. The support arm is carried by the housing and is pivotable whereby an outer end of the support arm can engage the retaining aperture when the play field is in its repair position, to reliably hold the play field in the repair position. The support arm preferably defines a longitudinally projecting tab of narrower width than the rest of the support arm, the aperture being proportioned to receive the tab while the outer end of the rest of the support arm bears against the base of the bracket when the play field is in the repair position.

Abstract: The method for cooling a hot web by passing it across a rotating thermally conductive chill roller having a circulating coolant therein. In accordance with this invention, one introduces as a coolant to the chill roller a liquid refrigerant at a temperature and pressure permitting the refrigerant to exist in liquid form, the temperature being also above the dew point of the ambient atmosphere. Likewise, the boiling point of the refrigerant at the desired temperature and pressure is low enough to cause heat to be absorbed by the chill roller substantially by vaporization of the liquid refrigerant. One then withdraws refrigerant vapor from the chill roller, and typically refrigerates it to reform the liquid phase for return to the chill roller. Typically, chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants are preferred.

Abstract: In a catheter which comprises a tubular body having a bore, a wire member is loosely positioned in the bore. The wire member is secured to the catheter at a position adjacent the distal end, such position being radially spaced from the axis of the catheter. The wire member extends through the bore and out of the proximal end of the catheter, so that the distal end of the catheter can be bent by pulling the wire member. The wire member may also be connected at the distal end of the catheter to an electrode, so that the wire member serves both as a bending control member and as the means for electrical connection with the electrode.

Abstract: A pallet rack comprises at least one pair of spaced, parallel rails and first and second wheeled carts mounted in rolling relation with the pair of rails, the wheels of first and second carts respectively rolling on the same rolling surfaces. The front wheels of the second cart are positioned between the front and rear wheels of the first cart. As the result of this, the second cart can roll between a first, vertically overlying position relative to the first cart, and a second position where most of the second cart is spaced along the rails from the first cart.

Abstract: An additive for gasoline comprises a polyoxyethylene sorbitol polyoleate. It may be provided to the gasoline, which is typically gasohol, as a dispersion in a gasoline - miscible solvent to typically provide an additive concentration in the gasoline of 100 to 1000 p.p.m. The additive acts to prevent formation of a separate alcohol-water phase in the gasoline by making the phase more readily dispersable in the gasoline.

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.