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.