Abstract: Vehicle mounted container handling devices including a rotating swivel mount and an articulated arm connected to the swivel mount are disclosed. The swivel mount includes a housing operable to rotate about a shaft in a first plane. The articulated arm is attached at one end to the housing and disposed to pivot in a second plane which intersects the first plane. A grasping device is pivotally connected to the free end of the articulated arm for pivoting in the second plane. In operation, with the grasping device opened, the articulated arm is extended to reach out toward a container of interest. The swivel mount is operated to pivot the articulated arm as required for the grasping device to engage the container. The articulated arm is operated further to lift and dump the container in the vehicle above the swivel mount addressing a variety of dumping locations.

Abstract: A light delivery system for use in irradiating vascular tissue includes a balloon catheter with a working lumen for receiving an optical fiber therein and an inflation/flushing lumen adapted to receive a liquid at a proximal end and leading to a space defined within the balloon member attached to a distal end of the catheter. The balloon member has a pattern of holes or pores in the wall thereof through which the saline may flow when the balloon is inflated, causing any blood or other absorbing substances that may interfere with good radiant energy transmission to be flushed away from the treatment site.

Abstract: A kitchen appliance for preparing yogurt, soft frozen yogurt and ice cream, hard frozen yogurt and ice cream, and cheese. The appliance includes a container having a generally square open top around the periphery of which are switch actuators or contacts. A square cover having a plurality of vent openings formed therethrough and electrical switch devices positioned about its periphery for cooperation with those on the rim of the container is used to select the mode of operation for accommodating the type of food item being prepared based on which of the four possible ways it can be positioned on the container. A motor-driven paddle device is rotationally journaled with respect to the cover and the motors therefor are adapted to be driven either continuously or with a predetermined duty cycle, dependent upon the product being made.

Abstract: A vascular dilatation catheter including an elongated catheter shaft having a distal and a proximal end and a first lumen extending therethrough fluid connection with a distally located balloon and a second lumen capable of receiving a guidewire is provided with a clip device attached about a proximal portion of the catheter shaft and adapted to releasibly secure the catheter shaft in a coiled configuration between uses.

Abstract: A device for restricting access to the head (10) of a fastener (9) has a first part (18) including an attaching flange (26) adapted to be captive between the head (10) and a member 14 in which the shank (12) of the fastener is to be received. The first part (18) has a recess (13) which the head (10) is accommodated and the second part of the device (20) is dimensioned to be slidingly received in the recess to close the recess without engaging the head (10). The first and second parts (18, 20) have formations (30, 38) which cooperate when the second part 20 is sufficiently inserted into the recess (30), to prevent withdrawing of the second part (20) from engagement with the first part (18), whereby to prevent access to the fastener. The first and second parts comprise frustroconical external surfaces (22, 24), which in use taper in a direction away from the member (14) to which the device is to be secured in use.

Abstract: A dilatation balloon (20,98) is fabricated according to a process that yields high hoop strength and uniformity in balloon wall thickness. A length of tubing (34) is axially elongated and radially expanded in a form (36) to provide the requisite biaxial orientation and strength. Then, an excimer laser (46,66,84) is used to remove the polymeric material by photo-chemical ablation, virtually without thermal effects. Dilatation balloon walls are thinned primarily along tapered sections (26,28) between proximal and distal balloon stems (30,32) and a medial working section (24) of the balloon. Material removal, particularly near the balloon stems, enables tighter wrapping of the balloon for a reduced delivery profile, and reduces rigidity near the stems for better maneuverability of the catheter in tortuous passageways. The balloon tapered sections are reduced to a wall thickness substantially equal to that of the medial section. Alternatively, an array of grooves (96) is formed in each tapered section.

Abstract: A prosthesis for use in hernia repair surgery having a preformed prosthetic fabric supported along its periphery by shape memory alloy wire having a transformation temperature corresponding to normal body temperature allowing the prosthesis to be tightly rolled into a cylindrical configuration for delivery through a laparoscopic instrument and which deploys to a predetermined shape as it warms up to body temperature.

Abstract: An improved commutation position detection system for accurately determining commutation position within polyphase brushless motors without employing proximity sensors or transducers. The present invention determines commutation position. by differentiating the current flowing within the stator coils and comparing the differentiated current waveforms to one another (absolute commutation position detection) or a predetermined threshold (incremental commutation position detection) to obtain a real-time assessment of commutation position.

Abstract: A carpenter's square that can have the arms thereof separated for ease of storage and joined together during use includes a over-center latch arrangement designed to be no thicker than the thickness dimension of the arm members and which, when operated, tightly clamps the arms of the square at right angles to one another. A first arm of the square has an opening formed through the thickness dimension thereof along with alignment bores extending inwardly from a side edge thereof on either side of the opening. The second arm includes the over-center latch pivotally mounted in a slot or channel and includes a latch plate pivotally joined to a coupling member having a head thereon designed to fit within the opening on the first arm member. When the latch plate is manually actuated so as to reside within the slot of the second arm, the head on the coupling member cooperates with an edge defined by the opening in the first arm to tightly clamp the first and second arms one to the other.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter suitable for use in light-powered electronic systems. The DC electrical output from a solar cell is stepped-up in a chopper-type inverter that is driven by a gated oscillator. The output from the inverter is then rectified and is adapted to be applied to a load through a series connected switch whose on/off state is determined by the output from a voltage regulator. Connected between the rectifier and the series switch are energy storage capacitors which become charged when the series switch is open and which provide energy to the load when the series switch is closed. Feedback from the regulator circuitry controls the on/off state of the gated oscillator and, therefore, the energy delivered by the inverter. Further circuitry is provided for signaling a light transmitting device that the fiber-optic link delivering energy to the photo cell is intact.

Abstract: A delivery system for procuring implantation of an expandable stent into a bodily lumen of interest is disclosed including a fluid-operated moving cylinder sleeve for retaining the stent in place during delivery. The sleeve to release a stent at the implantation site. A fluid driven bellows may be employed to retract the sleeve.

Abstract: Side-loading refuse vehicles are disclosed including an offset or recessed hopper section having at least one recessed side which accommodates a loading bin or bucket which is moveable between a lowered position and a raised dumping position. Followers attached to the bucket on each end are engaged in candy cane shaped guide channels situated at the front and rear of the hopper. The guide channels are angled away from the base of the hopper and curved into the top of the hopper to guide the bucket in an angled and arcuate path over the sidewall of the hopper which is built to accommodate the bucket. In some embodiments, a bin handler is built into the bucket or an automated arm is provided for dumping refuse cans or containers directly into the hopper. The refuse vehicles may have side-loading buckets on one or both sides of the vehicle and the vehicles may be single or multiple compartment vehicles.

Abstract: An arthroscopy instrument for debriding tissue also includes an electrocautery electrode for effecting hemostasis in the surgical site. The drive motor for the debriding instrument is placed remotely from the instrument's handle and provision is made for electrically insulating the handle from the drive motor and associated power supply even though the arthroscopic surgery is taking place under saline.

Abstract: Intravenous cardiac leads having at least one electrode intended to be implanted within the coronary artery are disclosed. Also disclosed are structures and techniques for advancing such leads through the atrium and coronary sinus into the coronary veins overlaying the left ventricle.

Abstract: A container (10) for shipping items, such as silicon wafers, rigid memory disks, photo masks, liquid crystal displays and flat panel displays, is disclosed. The container has a bottom (20) and a removable top (30). Mounted to the inside of the container are three cushions (50, 51, 52). When the cover (30) is in place, the cushions are centered on support lines (60) which are 120.degree. from each other. When so arranged, the cushions securely hold a plurality of items in a parallel, spaced-apart registration.

Abstract: A body compatible stent is formed of multiple filaments arranged in two sets of oppositely directed helical windings interwoven with one another in a braided configuration. Each of the filaments is a composite including a central core and a case surrounding the core. In the more preferred version, the core is formed of a radiopaque and relatively ductile material, e.g. tantalum or platinum. The outer case is formed of a relatively resilient material, e.g. a cobalt/chromium based alloy. Favorable mechanical characteristics of the stent are determined by the case, while the core enables in vivo imaging of the stent. The composite filaments are formed by a drawn filled tubing process in which the core is inserted into a tubular case of a diameter substantially more than the intended final filament diameter. The composite filament is cold-worked in several steps to reduce its diameter, and annealed between successive cold-working steps.

Abstract: A visual indicator for attachment to bicycle wheels to enhance visibility and provide a warning of the presence of the bicycle in poor lighting conditions. The device comprises a resilient and flexible elongated hollow tubular structure rendered highly visually reflective by application of a coating or film of enclosed lens reflective material thereon. The tubular structure is readily attached to the spokes of a bicycle wheel, thus providing a large and broad effective area for visually responding to incident light radiation so as to provide a source of retro-reflective light.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management device includes a dual chamber pacemaker especially designed for treating congestive heart failure. The device incorporates a programmed microcontroller which is operative to adjust the pacing mode-AV delay of the pacemaker so as to achieve optimum hemodynamic performance. Atrial cycle lengths measured during transient (immediate) time intervals following a change in the mode-AV delay are signal processed and a determination can then be made as to which particular configuration yields optimum performance.

Abstract: A refuse collection apparatus including a container lifting and emptying apparatus connected to a collection receptacle which is dumped into a refuse hauling vehicle. The container lifting and emptying apparatus includes a container manipulator attached to a support arm which is connected to an extensible boom which is, in turn, connected to the collection receptacle. The container manipulator engages a container of interest and the support arm pivots the engaged container between a lowered position and a raised position for dumping. The collection receptacle typically includes multiple compartments wherein the support arm includes a pendulum pivot or is pivotally attached to the collection receptacle such that the engaged container may be tilted over any one of a plurality of the storage compartments. Another version of the collection apparatus includes a collection receptacle having three or four compartments wherein one compartment is adjacent and between the manipulator and a far storage compartment.