Abstract: Apparatus for exercising the muscles of the respiratory system for improving endurance. The apparatus includes a bag which is inflatable for receiving a predetermined volume of expired air. A valve is closed during rebreathing of expired air in the bag and is adapted to open in response to deflation of the bag to admit fresh air to the air way. The valve is also adapted to open when the bag is fully inflated to release excess expired air. The breathing frequency is paced so that, in combination with the predetermined volume, the overall ventilation may be maintained over a period of time for increasing endurance. As endurance is increased over time, the bag may be replaced with incrementally larger volume bags or the bag volume may be incrementally increased. Guidance of the training schedule and central monitoring of the training are also provided.

Abstract: An isolation device has a movable frame and a barrier mounted on the frame. The barrier partially encloses a space to be occupied by a patient. The device also includes an air conducting unit having a primary duct attached to the barrier such that air can be conducted between the partially enclosed space and an outside location through the primary duct. Attached to the primary duct is a means for moving air between the partially enclosed space and the outside location.The present invention also includes a method of isolating a patient that begins by providing an isolating device according to the present invention. Air is conducted between the partially enclosed space and the outside location through the primary duct using the means for moving air, and a patient is positioned in the partially enclosed space.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a packaging container designed to transport an inner container containing a liquid. The packaging container has at least one sealing multi-layer comprising a first water soluble film and an absorbent material. The inner layer of the packaging container is the water-soluble film that forms the boundary between the cavity that hold the inner container and the packaging container. When the liquid leaks from the inner container while in the packaging container, the liquid passes through the water-soluble film. When the liquid contacts the absorbent material, the absorbent material absorbs and immobilizes the liquid material. This immobilization prevents the liquid from escaping from the packaging container. The present invention also includes a security feature, an apparatus to identify where or whom the liquid was obtained from and/or tests to be conducted, and/or the ability to extract the liquid from the absorbent material.

Abstract: A chemical dispenser for dispensing chemicals into a tank holding liquid, such as a swimming pool. The chemical dispenser has a housing, a lid, an inlet and an outlet. The lid is selectively attachable to the housing to permit a sanitizing chemical to be placed in the housing.In a method according to the present invention, a chemical dispenser having a housing, a lid selectively attachable to the housing, an inlet orifice and outlet orifice is provided, and the inlet orifice is positioned to receive circulated liquid from the circulating system outlet. Next, chemical to be dispensed into the circulated liquid is provided and placed in the housing. Then the lid is attached to the housing, and the outlet orifice is positioned such that the flow of liquid from the outlet orifice establishes a flow pattern in the tank which causes debris to travel to and be collected at a debris collection site of the tank.

Abstract: A compliant hydrodynamic fluid film journal bearing for handling high loads. The bearing assembly includes a first thin smooth compliant sheet for facing a shaft, one or more corrugated foils, and a second sheet between the foils and the compliant sheet for supportedly underlying the compliant sheet for preventing sagging of the first sheet between ridges of the foils. A foil element is anchored at a position intermediate its ends to the bearing sleeve whereby both ends thereof are unanchored. A pair of radially outer and inner corrugated foils have outer foil ridges which underlie some inner foil ridges and outer foil furrows which underlie others of the inner foil ridges. A bearing assembly includes a plurality of rows of corrugated foil elements wherein ends of foil elements are offset circumferentially from ends of foil elements in adjacent rows symmetrically from the radial centerplane to provide a herringbone pattern effect.

Abstract: A railroad vibratory system having a hopper, a shaker, a conveyor assembly and a handling device that fastens railroad material to secure a railroad track onto a railroad track system. The hopper releases the railroad material, through an aperture. The shaker oscillates the hopper so the railroad material releases, controlled and orderly, through the aperture. The conveyor assembly receives the railroad material through the aperture and transports the railroad material to the handling device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting a patient on a surface and stabilizing the patient's arm. The apparatus includes a rigid board and an arm support extendably attached to the rigid board. The apparatus further includes a rigid board support attached to the rigid board for supporting the rigid board from the surface a sufficient distance to allow the arm support to be extended from a first retracted position to a second extended position.

Abstract: A trap seal primer valve for automatically charging water into a sewer line trap from a water line containing water under variable pressure.

Abstract: The felling and accumulating head has a large accumulation or storage area for severed trees, separate from the severance area at the front of the head, obtained by elevating the accumulation area to extend preferably at least over the rim of the saw disc, and preferably outwardly and rearwardly over the teeth of the saw. Trees are swept from the severance area, up a small ramp into the accumulation area, by arms, at least one of which preferably sweeps at least partially over the saw motor so as to be able to sweep trees a substantial distance rearwardly, i.e. at least beyond an imaginary lateral line through the saw axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pilot operated low pressure shut off valve. The valve is used within a mattress unit and has an air inlet, an air chamber, an air outlet, a pressure inlet, an adjustable pressure chamber, and a movable shank. The air inlet receives and directs pressurized air into an air chamber. The air chamber directs the pressurized air into the mattress unit when the movable shank opens the air outlet. The movable shank opens the air outlet when (1) the pressure inlet receives and directs a portion of the pressurized air toward an adjustable pressure chamber and (2) the pressurized air is at or above a first predetermined air pressure. When these two conditions are met, the pressurized air enters the adjustable pressure chamber which results in the movable shank moving which in turn opens the air outlet to allow the pressurized air to enter the mattress unit.

Abstract: An alkali metal secondary electrochemical cell, and preferably a lithium ion cell, activated with a quaternary solvent system, is described. The solvent system comprises a quaternary mixture of dialkyl carbonates and cyclic carbonates, and preferably dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, ethylmethyl carbonate and ethylene carbonate. Lithium ion cells activated with this electrolyte have good room temperature cycling characteristics and excellent low temperature discharge behavior.

Abstract: A drill member comprising a drill head located at the distal end of a catheter. The drill further includes a divice for anchoring the tip of the drill head against at least a portion of a face of occulusion whilst allowing the drill to rotate.

Abstract: The present invention details a pressurizable mattress. The mattress has at least one inflatable cushion having a pair of sides, and at least one set of an electromagnetic energy emitting device and an electromagnetic energy receiving device. The electromagnetic energy emitting device, when operating, illuminates the interior of the inflatable cushion. The electromagnetic energy receiving device collects the illuminating energy. The operation of the mattress requires a means for measuring the optical aperture of the inflatable cushion. The measuring means determines the optical aperture of the inflatable cushion by measuring the quantity of illuminating energy collected by the electromagnetic energy receiving device when the electromagnetic energy emitting device illuminates the interior of the inflatable cushion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-invasive method and device for detecting hormonal changes in humans by monitoring and detecting changes in psycho-acoustic sensitivity of humans. In particular, the onset of ovulation in a female, preceded by a sudden increase in the level of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the blood stream, is predicted by measuring various psycho-acoustic responses of the female in certain frequency ranges. The measured psycho-acoustic responses include monaural and binaural audio interpretation.

Abstract: A trap seal primer distribution unit capable of providing charges of water to two, three, or four sewer trap lines depending on the initial setting of the unit. The distribution unit comprises two main components. A lid for splitting the water from the trap seal primer valve removably attaches to a distribution body such that rotation of the lid into three alternate positions enables the distribution unit to alternately serve two, three, or four sewer trap lines.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously electroplating metal webs by coating a masking ink thereto in a fashion resembling flexographic printing, then electroplating the uncoated areas of the web and finally removing the ink, is described. The masking ink is applied continuously from a reservoir to an "anilox" roller which synchronously and rotatingly contacts either a plate roller or an intermediate roller. Contact between the rollers transfers the masking ink from one roller to the other. The plate roller has "proud" or raised areas in which the ink is drawn and contacts a guided metal web that is coated with the ink in a pattern matching that of the plate roller. Electroplating is effected after cleaning the inked web in an aqueous acid media. Finally, the masking ink is removed in an alkali medium.

Abstract: A lithium ion electrochemical cell having high charge/discharge capacity, long cycle life and exhibiting a reduced first cycle irreversible capacity, is described. The stated benefits are realized by the addition of at least one nitrate additive to an electrolyte comprising an alkali metal salt dissolved in a solvent mixture that includes ethylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, ethylmethyl carbonate and diethyl carbonate. The preferred additive is an organic alkyl nitrate compound.

Abstract: A solid cathode liquid organic electrolyte alkali metal high rate cell wherein a combination of an elongated alkali metal anode and elongated solid cathode with separator therebetween is wound to form an anode-cathode subassembly having a jellyroll type configuration and wherein the combination is shaped so that the resulting sub-assembly has a substantially rectangular cross-section, the shaping of the combination being done either simultaneously with or subsequent to the winding thereof. The anode-cathode sub-assembly is placed in a conductive cell casing of prismatic shape having opposed flat faces, a lead of either the anode or cathode is attached to the cell casing depending upon whether case positive or case negative electrical configuration is desired and a lead of the other of the anode or cathode is connected to an electrical connector means extending through the casing in an insulated manner.

Abstract: A substantially ungrounded crystal that has at least one external line angle emits a low level energy field about itself when an electromagnetic radiation is incident to its surface. An unenergized object may be placed in the field and energized such that the object may be used to stimulate biological processes when placed in proximity to the tissues to be stimulated.