Abstract: The quickly erectable canopy shelters include a plurality of legs connected together by an extendible perimeter assembly of link members. The roof structure is formed by a pole members pivotally mounted to the upper ends of the legs so as to extend across the shelter, and movable between a lowered position and a raised, upwardly arching position. The pole members are pivotally coupled to a central hub, and each of the pole members is formed of pole sections hinged to permit downward folding and upward unfolding until they are fully extended. Corner support strut members are pivotally mounted to the extendible perimeter assembly of link members adjacent to the legs, to support the pole members. The outer ends of the pole members are pivotally connected to the upper ends of the legs by pivoting link members that pivot between a lowered position and a raised position extending above the legs when the shelter is extended.

Abstract: A mask and harness system for use in providing breathing oxygen and protection from pollutants for the eyes and respiratory system as might be encountered in high altitude aviation environments. In one preferred embodiment, the mask system has a face seal, a soft flexible lens, a pneumatically-actuated harness, and a regulator with microphone to control the flow of oxygen and to facilitate communications in aircraft flight decks and other aircraft compartments. The system is designed for required five-second donning with one hand and because of the flexible lens, is capable of storage in the relatively preferred on crowded flight decks. It is connected to an oxygen source and, optionally, with aircraft communications. The regulator controls the flow rate of oxygen to the wearer based on altitude and physiological requirements. The regulator includes a valve for purging the condensation-prone moist gases from the lens area and provides positive pressure in the mask.

Abstract: A centrifugal impeller-type pump for transporting blood has a new and improved design in the impeller, to allow for the elimination of stagnant flow areas, and a geometrical design that minimizes damage to the blood components. A system for controlling and stabilizing the speed of centrifugal-type pumps used in a human cardiovascular system is also provided. Further provided are methods of corrosion protection and enhancing thromboresistance, rejection of waste heat, and methods to connect the artificial heart to the cardiovascular system as a Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVAD) and as a Total Artificial Heart (TAH).

Abstract: The collapsible shelter has a canopy that can be raised above the upper level of the leg assembly in an extended configuration. A perimeter truss linkage assembly connected to the leg assembly, and two or more central truss pairs of link members are provided, with each of the central truss pairs connected to the inner ends of one of the perimeter truss pairs on a side. At least one vertically oriented central support members for supporting the canopy above the upper level of the leg assembly is provided, and preferably three central support members are provided, including at least one vertically oriented inner central support member, and at least two peripheral central support members. The central support members comprise upper and lower telescoping sections, with the upper telescoping section having an upper end for supporting the canopy.

Abstract: The composite guidewire includes an elongated, flexible core formed from a nickel titanium alloy, with a distal tapered portion, a reinforcement tube disposed over the proximal region of the core, a primary coil disposed over the tapered distal region of the core, and a coating of a heat shrinkable material. A distal tip is secured to the distal end of the core. The proximal reinforcement member has a distal tapered portion, to provide for a transition in stiffness of the guidewire. The heat shrinkable coating is formed from an elongated tube of PTFE, and the distal primary coil is formed from one or more nickel titanium alloy strands or wires, one or more platinum wires, or a combination. The distal tip may be formed of platinum or a tantalum filled epoxy.

Abstract: The reciprocating valve actuation and control system includes a poppet valve moveable between a first and second position; a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; a hydraulic actuator including an actuator piston coupled to the poppet valve and reciprocating between a first and second position responsive to flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator; an electrically operated valve controlling flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuator; and an engine computer that generates electrical pulses to control the electrically operated valve. The electrically operated valve preferably comprises a three path rotary latched magnetic motor actuating a rotary valve portion having a housing, a rotor, and a stator receiving and supplying hydraulic fluid pressure to the rotor, which alternately directs the hydraulic fluid pressure to the valve cylinder for opening of the valve, or to return to the engine oil sump, for closing the valve.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to emplacable devices for interventional therapeutic treatment or vascular surgery, and more particularly concerns a stranded micro-cable with enhanced radiopacity that can be used to fabricate a vascular device, a stent, a guidewire or the like. The micro-cable is made of strands of a material exhibiting super-elasticity or shape memory properties, such as nickel-titanium, and includes a strand of radiopaque material, such as platinum or gold, in order to provide a radiopaque marker during interventional therapeutic treatment or vascular surgery. The micro-cable can be used to form occluding coils which can be used in devices to restrict, reinforce, or to occlude areas of small diameter vasculature such as an aneurysm or malformation in an artery or vein in the brain.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter quantizer and bidirectional counter using superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID's) as the principal elements. A double-junction non-latching SQUID is used as a quantizer to produce unipolar output pulses on two different output lines, indicative of positive and negative increments of change in an analog signal current. The unipolar pulses are then counted in a bidirectional counter that employs double-junction non-latching SQUID's as counter stages and as logic gates for the propagation of carry and borrow signals from stage to stage.

Abstract: An annular ring resonator for a high-energy laser, including a waxicon/reflaxicon pair and a conical rear mirror, which combine to provide high energy extraction efficiency, reduced sensitivity to alignment errors, and no polarization state mixing. A cylindrical beam returned from a scraper mirror is first expanded by the waxicon to an annular beam that makes a first pass through a gain region of the laser. The annular beam impinges on the conical mirror and is reflected as an annular beam, to make a second pass of the gain region before encountering the reflaxicon, which compacts the beam for transmission to the scraper mirror. One embodiment employs a double-cone rear mirror, and another employs a single conical surface. The structure may also employ feedback decentering.

Abstract: A composite printed circuit board structure including multiple layers of graphite interleaved with layers of a dielectric material, such as a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and woven glass laminate. Some of the dielectric layers are copper clad, and at least some of the graphite layers are positioned in close proximity to the copper cladding layers, to provide good heat dissipation properties. The PTFE provides a desirably low dielectric constant and the graphite also provides good mechanical strength and a low or negative coefficient of thermal expansion, to permit matching of the coefficient with that of chip carriers used to mount components on the circuit board.

Abstract: Apparatus and a related method for interfacing digital device with a communication bus in a local-area computer network. Each device in the network is connected to the bus through a bus interface unit providing the device user with the ability to establish a connection with another device by means of a simple CALL command that does not require the use of physical identifiers. The unit also allows the user to enter a TAlK mode in which a two-way conversation may be conducted over the network without the intervention of a host computer. A REMOTE command allows an unattended device to be controlled from another user site and also permits one user to connect two remotely located devices. A message command allows a message to be stored and held for a remote user, again without the intervention of a host computer.

Abstract: A metallic mesh, and a method for its manufacture, for use in making antenna dishes to operate in space at frequencies above 10 GHz. The mesh is formed by making a mesh pattern, photolithographically transferring the pattern onto a sheet of photo-resist coated metal foil, exposing the photo-resist, and then etching the foil. The strands of the mesh have a periodically repeating curved shape to provide a low spring constant resistant to the effects of large temperature changes.

Abstract: A process for constructing a strong, ultra lightweight support substrate for use in outer space applications for support and protection of items, such as solar cells, in both stored and deployed configurations. The process provides for forming a series of elongated, parallel ribs in polyimide films with the selective application of heat, pressure and vacuum to the films. The sheets are bonded back-to-back with the ribs oriented at right angles to produce the substrate.

Abstract: A fluid coupling assembly is provided for fluid transfer with relatively small pressure loss between a pair of fluid flow conduits and with little or no fluid spillage upon subsequent conduit separation. The coupling assembly comprises male and female valve units mounted respectively on the flow conduits and matingly engageable to align valve unit flow paths for fluid transfer between the flow conduits. The flow path of each valve unit is normally closed by an externally finned, motor-driven poppet valve having a valve head contoured for seated reception onto a valve seat and for substantially flush surface abutting engagement with the valve head of the other poppet valve to define a substantially minimum residual volume between the valve heads when the two valve units are matingly engaged.

Abstract: A system for processing of multifrequency input signals to provide a Fourier transform output is provided which can, for example, partition a wide input frequency band into a number of narrow bands and concurrently detect the presence of one or more signals of different frequency in the input. An array of input wave energy transducers is energized with the broadband signal, and by virtue of progressive shifting of the transducers relative to the propagating medium (such as a surface acoustic wave substrate) generates one or more composite wavefronts dispersed at frequency dependent angles. An array of output transducers are disposed along a focal region, each responding to wave energy within a specific frequency range received at its location due to dispersion of the composite wavefront. Such systems preserve phase coherence while responding to multiple input frequencies, but are compact and mass producible at relatively low cost.

Abstract: A deployable panel structure for spacecraft solar cell arrays and other collapsible panel structures. The panel structure consists of a number of panel sections mounted edge to edge along parallel hinge lines by hinges which allow the panels to be collapsed accordian fashion toward a support. The panels are attached to and deployed by an extendable boom which is extended from and retractable to the support. In the deployed configuration, the panels are extended to form a planar surface in which the boom is essentially coplanar. The panel sections are formed from a plurality of layers of thin film insulative substrate which is stiffened with ribs formed into the substrate during the manufacturing process. The hinges are formed of the same material as the substrate and bonded to the edges of the panel. The bonding is accomplished while the panels are in the folded, face-to-face position such that maximum stored energy and out-of-plane stiffness is available in the deployed configuration.

Abstract: A collapsible dish structure composed of a plurality of rows of rigid radial petal assemblies concentric with the axis of the dish. The petal assemblies consist of a center petal and two side petals, the center petal hinged on an axis tangent to a circle concentric with the axis of the dish and the side petals hinged to the center petal at their mating edge. The center petal is foldable inwardly and the side petals rotate about their hinges such that the collapsed dish structure occupies a much smaller volume than the deployed dish. Means of controlling the shape of the dish to compensate for differential expansion of the deployed dish are also provided.