Abstract: An elongated clear fluid orifice device which includes a plurality of different exterior widths for accommodating the mounting of different sized hoses thereon while having a constant interior width. The device may be used in any liquid cooled engine having heated fluid flowing therethrough. The device is best made pressure resistant and high temperature resistant polycarbonate material such as EMS Grliamid TR-55 (clear nylon) compound and having an interior fluid tube with a cylindrical center section having a predetermined, constant interior width. The exterior tube levels have a raised ridge at each level to assist in securing a clamp to hold the hose in place at each level.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of making a thinwall guide catheter useful in delivery of therapeutic devices through a body vessel. The method comprises braiding a flat wire over the surface of a cylindrical core, placing a heat bondable polymer tube over the braid, surrounding the polymer tube with a heat shrink sleeve, heating the assembly to a temperature and for a time period sufficient to expand the core into braid interstices and bond the polymer tube to substantially only the outer surface of the braid and finally removing the heat shrink sleeve and core. The resulting guide catheter has approximately half the wall thickness of prior guide catheters and has excellent column stiffness and kink resistance.

Abstract: An apparatus for centering a radiation delivery device at a selected location in a body vessel such as a coronary artery. An elongated catheter is insertable into the body vessel until the catheter head is in the desired position. The catheter has a guidewire lumen, inflation lumen and treatment lumen running lengthwise. The catheter head includes an expandable mechanism for engaging the vessel internal wall with the treatment lumen centered in the vessel. At least one channel is provided extending past the expandable mechanism so that a fluid, such as blood, can perfuse past the catheter head. A radiation delivery device, such as a wire having a radiation source at the distal end can be inserted into the treatment lumen to uniformly irradiate the vessel wall at the selected location.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump for pumping liquids through a resilient tube. In one embodiment, the pump includes a curved concave platen against which a resilient tube is placed. A multi lobed cam is positioned adjacent to the platen and tube. A plurality of pump fingers are mounted between tube and cam in a manner permitting radial movement of the pump fingers. As the cam rotates, the fingers are pressed toward the tube sequentially so as to pump liquid through the tube. The lobe end should press the tube sufficiently to occlude the tube and prevent back flow without over pressing and damaging the tube. A transverse pinch finger is provided on each pump finger, extending from the tube pressing face of each pump finger. At the tube occluding position, the pump finger nearly occludes the tube and the pinch finger completes occlusion without pressing the tube beyond the fully occluded position. A fixed or slidable spring pressed pinch finger may be used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enables the securing of balls to ball grid array electronic components. A component having a surface with rows and columns of electrical contact pads is removed from a printed circuit board for rework. Excess solder is removed from the pads and the surface is pressed against a stencil having a pattern of holes corresponding to the component contact pad pattern. The holes are filled with a paste continuing flux and solder particles. The assembly is heated to melt the solder particles, which agglomerate into generally spherical balls bonded to the contact pads. The assembly is cooled, the stencil is removed, the component is cleaned and is ready for reuse. Preferably, the stencil is formed from a material that bows in one direction when heated, so that when the stencil is held against the pad array surface and heated, bowing forces will very tightly press the stencil against the surface, preventing molten solder from migrating between surface and stencil.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB) having various electronic components installed on one side with that side down so that other components can be installed on the opposite side. An assembly of three perforated plates has deformable, typically rubber-like, pins projecting through the perforations. Springs below the assembly bias the pins to a position extending above the plate. When a PCB is laid on the pins with mounted electronic components downward, the components with pres the pins down distances corresponding to component thickness. The pins provide uniform support while working on the opposite side. The center perforated plate of the three is moved to the side, clamping the pins in position, so that the PCB can be removed and replaced with another identical PCB. Different devices for causing the plate clamping action and devices for indexing PCB position and for maintaining the PCB flat and level are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning an electronic component with a base member where a pattern of contacts on the component are to be bonded to an identical pattern of contacts on the base member. Templates having indentations along one edge shaped to align with the contact pattern on the component and base member can be positioned in alignment with the base member contact pattern along two sides of the pattern and releasably secured in place, such as by tape. The component is placed over the base member with its contacts aligned with the template. This assures precise alignment of the two contact patterns. The assembly can be heated to the melting point of the solder and cooled to bond all of the contacts together. The templates are removed for reuse. With ball grid array components, the template indentations are preferably partially-circular to align with the edge row of round solder contact pads.

Abstract: A combination of a top, and a base that has a flat surface upon which the top may be spun and a cavity for storing the top when the top is not in use. The top has a pointed end upon which it is spun, an opposite handle end and an intermediate disk-like mass. The surface has an upstanding peripheral ridge to keep the spinning top on the surface. The cavity is sized to receive the top pointed end first. An O-ring is held in a groove in the cavity surface and extends into the cavity. When the top is pushed into the cavity, the disk engages the O-ring and is resiliently held in place. The top is removed for use by reaching fingers into the cavity opening, grasping the handle and withdrawing the top. A base having a number of these cavities may also be provided for storing a number of the tops.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming perfusion balloons from thermoplastic materials. A helical member having a cross section corresponding to a desired perfusion channel cross section is placed in a tubular mold in contact with the mold wall. A thermoplastic tube is inserted into the helical member in the mold. The assembly is heated to the glass transition temperature of the tube and the tube is pressurized to expand into contact with the helical member and mold wall. After cooling, the formed balloon is removed from the mold. The helical member has a "T" shaped, or rectangular, or square, or triangular cross section. Limited pre-pressure and pre-stretch are preferably applied prior to the tube expansion and post forming tube conditioning may be used. Axial stretching of the tube in a mold, with our without the helical member, by microprocessor controlled air actuators provides highest quality balloons having selected wall thicknesses.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving fitness and muscle rehabilitation which includes a horizontal base having an upwardly extending structure secured thereto. A seat is provided at the lower end so that a user may sit with legs extended up the slope. A carriage is mounted for movement along the structure, with a seat oriented so that a user can selectively push the carriage upwardly or restrain carriage movement downwardly. A power drive selectively moves the carriage up and down the structure at a desired rate against which the user works. Multiple safety devices are included to prevent the carriage from moving down the slope beyond a selected point and to prevent the carriage from moving at a speed beyond a selected rate. A convenient control box is provided for operating the apparatus in a selected mode.

Abstract: A cover system for covering open topped containers such as truck trailers carrying particulate material such as dirt, gravel, grain and the like. The cover is a flexible sheet material sized to cover the open top and can extend over the end and down the sides of the container, if desired. A roller is provided at one end of the open top for rolling up the cover to store the cover with the top open. A transverse rod runs through a hem at the opposite end of the cover. Edge guides on the rod maintain the cover in alignment with the container top when the cover is unrolled over the top. At least one freely rotatable roller or slide is provided on the rod near the rod center. A rope, strap or the like is secured to the rod to pull the rod and cover over the open top.

Abstract: An insulated building block system for use in building walls and other structures. Each full block has sidewalls and endwalls with a generally open interior and flat upper and lower surfaces. Two vertical ridges are provided along the interior of one sidewall, with a protrusion extending above the upper surface. The ridges are located such that an upper block arranged in staggered relationship to a block in a lower course will interlock with the lower block. Recesses are provided in the interior endwall surfaces to retain a thermal insulation panel against the interior sidewall surface opposite the ridges. Half blocks are also provided to fill spaces in wall end surfaces between staggered full blocks. The half blocks have open interiors for placement of insulation panels and include ridges for interlocking with protrusions on adjacent full blocks.

Abstract: A coadunate emitter/detector assembly for use with fiber optics. A housing has a socket for receiving an end face of a fiber optic or thin bundle of fiber optics. A detector is mounted in the socket for receiving light from a portion of the end face. An emitter is mounted close to the detector for directing light into another portion of the end face. The detector can respond to changes in the light received, which is generally varied by a device at the opposite end of the fiber optic that reflects more or less of the emitter generated light back to the detector. A condensing lens may be placed between the emitter and the fiber optic end face to maximize emitted light that enters the fiber optic. The emitter and detector may be placed in a single plain with a light barrier between them, may be stacked or may be axially spaced. The emitter may be located in a can with upstanding walls to reduce light scatter.

Abstract: A hood assembly placeable over a person's head for treating a person with a gas such as oxygen. Basically the assembly includes a resilient neck ring around a user's neck, a soft, rubbery, tubular neck seal with one end connected to the neck ring and the other configured to fit around the user's neck and a transparent hood fastened to a hood ring that can be sealed against the neck ring. Tubes direct gas into and out the hood through ports through the neck ring. Preferably, the seal that engages the neck is marked with indicia showing a series of varying circumferences, so that the neck seal opening can be trimmed to provide a comfortable and sealing circumference for engaging the user's neck. The assembly is particularly adapted to use in providing oxygen to a patient in a hyperbaric chamber.

Abstract: A two piece portable chair movable between a use and a storage position. A seat member has two elongated side members with a number of slats fastened transversely across the side members. A back has two elongated side members with a flexible back supporting sheet across the side members, two cross pieces at the ends and two spaced support members extending transversely between the side members. The seat can be inserted between the support members for use as a chair. The seat can also be inserted lengthwise between the back side members and wedged in place to provide a compact package for transport and storage. Tapered ends on the seat side members wedge between the support members to hold the seat in place. One of the cross pieces provides a convenient carrying handle. Movable brackets may be provided, pivotable on a rod extending between the seat side members or between the back side members to allow the angle between seat and back to be varied.

Abstract: A dilation catheter having a balloon inflation shaft with an inflation lumen into which a stiffening wire extends and a guidewire shaft having a guide wire lumen adjacent to the balloon. The stiffening wire includes at least two stepped diameter reductions along its length to vary stiffness from a stiff proximal end providing improved pushability to a less stiff distal end providing improved trackability. A manifold at the inflation shaft proximal end includes a handle for adjusting the distance the stiffening wire extends into the inflation lumen to allow stiffness to be optimized. The handle includes a tubular flange frictionally engaging the manifold to prevent inadvertent handle movement. The balloon inflation shaft and guidewire shafts are bonded together in a manner producing an assembly having a circular cross section for improved connection to a circular balloon and improved catheter performance.

Abstract: A current limiter arrangement particularly adapted to be positioned at a substation of an electrical power system for limiting the fault current for a predetermined period of time to permit protective devices positioned downstream in the network to clear the fault. If the fault is not cleared and the fault persists for a predetermined period of time the current limiting arrangement acts as a circuit breaker to open the load circuit. The arrangement includes an SCR bridge having a superconducting coil connected across two nodes. A novel gate pulse firing circuit generates two pulses per ac cycle for application to the gates of the SCR's of the bridge at 90.degree. and 270.degree. of each 360.degree. cycle and is ON at all times to provide for prompt dc charging of the super conducting coil with no ac load current and non-fault conduction of ac current at less than the maximum current limit.

Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring detectable intermittent signals generated by a living being. In one embodiment, a pregnancy monitoring system monitors fetal heat beat and/or uterine contractions. A belt is configured to fit around the abdomen of a pregnant woman, with belt ends fastened together at her back. A number of sensors are mounted on the belt to detect fetal heartbeat and transmit corresponding electrical systems, preferably by wireless means, to a distant monitoring station. At least one uterine contraction sensor may also be mounted on the belt for detecting uterine contractions and transmitting a corresponding electrical signal to the monitoring station. In a second embodiment, an apron or jacket for placement in tight, uniform contact over the chest contains a plurality of sensors for detecting cardiac signals. These electrocardiographic signals are transmitted by a wireless transmitter to a distant, central monitoring system to produce a valid data signal at the remote station.

Abstract: An intraoral semi-custom device for the prevention of chronic tension and common migraine headaches and temporomandibular disorders that are caused by chronic clenching of the posterior mandibular and maxillary teeth by the temporalis muscle. The device includes a trough, curved to correspond to the curvature of the maxillary incisors, from which distally extends a dome shape. The trough and dome are formed from a reshapable synthetic resin sheet material. The trough is retained by a cured in place acrylic resin, which is placed into the trough by a dentist and then placed over the maxillary incisors by the dentist. The cured, now substantially rigid, acrylic fits tightly and retains the device around the wearer's upper incisors. Once in place in the wearer's mouth, the dome will come into contact with one or two lower incisor teeth prior to the posterior teeth coming into contact.