Abstract: A mold (form) in which an endotracheal tube, having a stylette therein, is received so as to form the overall configuration of the endotracheal tube is disclosed. The mold has a recess in the surface thereof to receive the endotracheal tube with a stylette therein. The recess has a curve therein adjacent one end of the mold to receive the distal end of the endotracheal tube. The recess in the opposite end of the mold has a bend therein to receive the proximal end of the endotracheal tube. The recess in the intermediate portion of the mold is substantially straight and interconnects the curved end and the oppositely disposed bent end of the recess. The stylette is fabricated from a thin metallic malleable rod which is bendable, and thus configurable, to retain the overall configuration of the endotracheal tube after being formed and removed from the mold.

Abstract: A fluidized bed for supporting a patient has a fluid-impervious peripheral wall, a fluid-porous membrane top covering and a fluid-porous floor defining a unit volume in which a quantity of glass bead support media is confined. Several diffusers supply air through the floor to fluidize the support media and support a body on the bed top covering. Each diffuser is a laminate having a porous membrane top and a porous membrane bottom spaced by a fluid-impervious boundary wall and a plurality of fluid-impervious interior walls that create discrete cells. Each cell contains a quantity of glass bead cell media. A pair of blowers supplies pressure air through one-way valves to the cells in the diffusers and through the cells up into the unit interior volume to fluidize the support media.

Abstract: A system that utilizes wireless devices as guard tour checkpoint data collection and checkpoint data communication devices is disclosed. The wireless devices have the capability of reading various types of checkpoints and communicating the collected checkpoint data with a computer via a cellular telephone communication system and either a land-based telephone network or the Internet or a cellular data communication device. Alternatively, a Wi-Fi network or the Wi-Fi network and the Internet can be used to communicate collected checkpoint data with the computer. The computer stores and processes the data according to guard tour expected performance parameters, such as rules, schedules, and exceptions, and then generates the necessary commands to produce exception notifications and reports at various types of peripheral equipment.

Abstract: A test source that combines infrared energy and visible light to produce a uniform output of energy in the visible and infrared spectra is disclosed. The test source includes an infrared energy source and a visible light source. The infrared energy source has a white coating thereon. The visible light source emits visible light onto the infrared light source, which generates a combination of infrared energy and visible light outwardly into the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator that can be operated in the d31 mode and which controls the potential energy of a spring is disclosed. The d31 mode of operation provides large actuator displacement and the potential energy of the spring significantly increases the force and work produced by the actuator. In a first embodiment, a single piezoelectric element, operating in the d31 mode, controls the potential energy of the spring. In another embodiment, two piezoelectric elements, both operating in the d31 mode, control the potential energy of the spring.

Abstract: The guard tour system of the present invention is comprised of a central computer which runs a computer program that enables a variety of electronic hardware components to function as the guard tour system. As a guard progresses through a guard tour, he or she uses a touch button reader to read information stored within a plurality of touch memory buttons located along the patrol route. At the end of the patrol, the guard places the touch button reader in a downloader that transfers the stored data to the central computer which processes the data and generates reports summarizing the patrol data. The computer program of the present invention provides a novel method of organizing security information in hierarchical categories. Further, the guard tour system of the present invention uses a novel method to determine the number of times a guard visited a location in a given time period.

Abstract: Displays for exhibiting guard tour data are disclosed. The displays are arranged in a manner such that the data can be easily analyzed and readily acted upon. The displays use a combination of colors, graphics, and text, arranged in the cells of a table or spreadsheet, to present large volumes of guard tour data in a compact and easily analyzed manner. Each row of the table or spreadsheet represents one location within the guard tour. Each cell within that row represents one visit by a guard to the location. Cell background color or pattern, graphic symbol shape and color, and/or text color within each cell indicate whether the guard's visit to a specific location fell within predetermined parameters for that location. Additional graphics appear within the cell if the system has additional information regarding the visit to the tour location that cannot fit within the area of the cell.

Abstract: A hot wire igniter for igniting a gaseous or atomized fuel is disclosed. The coil of the hot wire igniter is formed from a thin high temperature, iron, chromium, aluminum alloy having a center section that is tightly wound. The coil turns initially do not touch one another and each end of the coil is attached to a rod that is received within an insulator member. The rods are connected to a power source. The coil portion of the hot wire igniter is received within a gas collector box which is attached to the burner to be ignited. Application of the power source to the lead-in rods causes the coil of wire to reach a temperature in excess of the ignition temperature of the fuel mixture which surrounds same causing the ignition of the mixture.

Abstract: A check valve assembly for use in a plastic injection molding machine injection unit is disclosed. The check valve utilizes a free-floating poppet member which has tapered angularly spaced-apart tapered flutes on the outer surface thereof and a self-aligning spherical valve seating surface at one end thereof. When a predetermined shot volume in front of the check valve has been filled, forward advancement of the feed screw within the injection unit causes the molten thermoplastic material to grippingly engage the tapered surfaces of the flutes causing the poppet member to move along with the backflow of thermoplastic material closing the check valve.

Abstract: A dental supply cart comprising a base unit, a top that is rotatable and/or horizontally movable forward and rearward relative to the base unit and an upright open supply cabinet attached to the top is disclosed. The base unit has a number of drawers therein for storage purposes and has articulating arms on the front surface thereof to hold various supply lines and instruments required by the dentist when providing services. A rotating mechanism and/or telescoping track members are interposed between the top and the base unit permitting the top with the supply cabinet thereon to be rotated and/or moved horizontally forward and rearward relative to the base unit. The dental supply cart is typically placed adjacent to or behind the head of the patient so that it is readily available to the dentist while performing the required dental services.

Abstract: An active steel repassivator for the rehabilitation of chloride contaminated reinforced concrete structures and a method for the application of same is disclosed. The active steel repassivator is comprised of a continuous phase, a distributed phase, and/or an aqueous solution of an amine. The continuous phase, also known as the carrier phase, is selected from organic strong volatile bases, salts of weak volatile acids and a non-ionic surfactant. The distributed phase includes an anion containing vanadium in the +4 or +5 state of oxidation. The aqueous solution of the amine acts as a co-inhibitor in the composition.

Abstract: A guard tour system comprising a computer running a computer program that enables a variety of electronic hardware components to function as the guard tour system. It is contemplated that the computer program be multi-user and/or network compatible. The electronic hardware includes one or more touch button readers, or one or more positioning system receivers (such as a global or local positioning system receiver), or both; one or more downloaders for use with the touch button readers and global positioning system receivers; and optionally a plurality of touch memory buttons located along a guard tour. Each touch memory button includes preprogrammed information specific to its particular location. As a guard or night watchman progresses through the guard tour he or she either obtains a global positioning system location reading manually or automatically or reads the information stored within each touch memory button or both, using a hand-held, battery operated reader.