Abstract: A trolley for suspending and retaining the hooked ends of clothes hangers in a piece of luggage such as a garment bag includes gripping structures which contact the hooked ends of the hangers. The gripping structures incorporate an arrangement for creating a greater resistance against withdrawing the hanger ends from between the opposed gripping structures than for moving the hanger ends into the trolley. The effect is preferably established by a rib configuration integral with the gripping structures that creates a pawl-like resistance. The pawl-like resistance retains the hanger ends in the trolley and inhibits them from unintentional withdrawal from the trolley.

Abstract: An inhibitor of platelet-related procoagulant activity is included in a collection medium into which a whole blood sample is collected. The inhibitor prevents an initial drop in the recalcified activated clotting time measured during an assay test conducted on the whole blood sample collected in citrate in the medium. The discovery of the problem of the initial drop in the activated clotting time and the solution of including the inhibitor of the procoagulant activity is of considerable importance in heparin therapy, since the initial drop in the activated clotting time of heparinized blood is substantial. The inhibitor can be included with a calcium chelating agent in the collection medium. Prostacylin and imidazole, which is an inhibitor of platelet thromboxane A2 synthesis, are effective inhibitors of this platelet-related procoagulant activity.

Abstract: An anode used in electroplating is formed by a plurality of individual anode segments. The anode segments are arranged in predetermined patterns. The segments of certain patterns are selectively energized to establish an effective anode size that relates to the size of the article to be electroplated, thereby establishing an electrical field of uniform characteristics to transfer ions from the anode to the article at a uniform deposition rate over the whole surface of the article. By adjusting the effective size of the anode to correspond or relate to the size of the article, the non-uniform deposition rates associated with concentrated localized field are avoided, and the physical size of the electroplating apparatus can be reduced. An electrophoretic ion filter is also placed between the cathode and the article. This ion filter is preferably formed of a plastic porex material, such as porous polypropylene or polyethylene.

Abstract: Plated through holes in a printed circuit board can be conveniently produced during manufacture of the circuit board under the control of a computer controlled plotter by the use of a pen-like instrument which positively displaces a thick film fluid conductive adhesive on a tip of the instrument. The fluid is smeared onto the side walls of the hole by moving the tip in a peripheral motion around the side wall of the hole. Copper is electroplated directly onto the conductive adhesive. Resist material is applied in a similar fashion prior to etching the circuit traces on the surface sheets of the circuit board.

Abstract: Rigid aerodynamic shells increase the aerodynamic shear efficiency of a bicycle ladened with luggage bags, luggage racks and/or luggage attached to the luggage racks. The aerodynamic shells substantially frontally surround or enclose the luggage bags, racks and luggage attached above the front and rear wheels of the bicycle. The shells are pivotably connected to the bicycle to provide access to the bags, racks and luggage. Contoured luggage bags for connection to the conventional luggage rack are provided to substantially conform to and occupy a majority of the interior space defined by the shells.

Abstract: A conductor tracer which is used to trace and identify an energized conductor includes a transmitter which draws a current tracing signal from the energized conductor. The magnitude of the current drawn is regulated substantially independently of the voltage on the conductor. A current regulating circuit is periodically switched to conduct current from the energized conductor. The constant current circuit responds both to the current drawn and the voltage on the conductor. At relatively high voltages the current is conducted primarily through passive resistive elements which can absorb the relatively high power and dissipate it as heat. At relatively low voltages, a current regulating transistor regulates the amount of current drawn. At relatively low voltages on the conductor the regulating transistor does not experience damaging heat.

Abstract: An arbitration techique for a split transaction bus of a computer system obtains higher data throughput as a result of giving responders (e.g. memories) absolute priority over initiators (e.g. processors and I/O adapters), as a result of assigning all responders a higher priority than any initiator. Precedence is also given to retrying initiators which failed to complete a transaction because the module to which the transfer was addressed was busy. The requests from non-retrying initiators are temporarily rescinded to give precedence to the requests from retrying initiators. There is an absolute limit or bound to the number of requests which a retrying module may make before it is granted mastership of the bus to accomplish its transfer. To accomplish test and set and memory scrub transactions with a minimum time loss, the bus of the computer system creates a null conductivity cycle immediately following the cycle in which the address of the memory location to be tested and set or scrubbed is transferred.

Abstract: A multilevel communication structure controls input/output (I/O) data transfers and control functions in a computer system. Communication is achieved through shared memory structures in main memory commonly connected to each processor and each I/O adapter in the system. The levels of the communication structure are for communicating information between adapters or processors and processors, for communicating information relative to I/O control functions of an I/O device, and for specifying I/O functional operations. The information contained in the memory structures may be directly interpreted by sequencers of the I/O adapters, to achieve the I/O data transfers.

Abstract: A connection device for releasably interconnecting two members (16, 18) preferably a receptacle and its lid, comprising an upper component (1, 101) which is provided with a hook (21, 102) and a lower component (2, 103) and a one- or two-armed lever (3, 104) which is articulated on said lower component and which is provided with a counterhook (15, 105). In order to avoid that the connection device springs open or disengages unintentionally, a snapper (5, 109) is pivotably attached to the end of the lever (3, 104) facing away from the counterhook (15, 105), said snapper being provided with a locking projection (13, 113) which is associated with a complementary, projecting locking member (14, 114) of the lower component (2, 103) and which is equipped with a spring (12, 115) holding the snapper (5, 109) in its locking position.

Abstract: An electrosurgical technique of achieving coagulation involves conducting a predetermined ionizable gas in a jet to the tissue at a predetermined flow rate sufficient to clear natural fluids from the tissue and to substantially expose the tissue stroma. Electrical radio frequency energy is conducted to the tissue in ionized conductive pathways in the gas jet. To achieve fulguration, the electrical energy is conducted as arcs in the ionized conductive pathways. To achieve a non-contact type of electrosurgical desiccation, the electrical energy is conducted as a non-arcing diffuse current in the ionized conductive pathways.

Abstract: An inhibitor of Platelet Factor 3 activity is included in a collection medium into which a whole blood sample is a collected. The inhibitor of Platelet Factor 3 activity, it has been discovered, prevents an initial drop in the activated clotting time measured during an assay test conducted on the whole blood sample collected in the medium. The discovery of the problem of the initial drop in the activated clotting time and the solution of including the inhibitor of Platelet Factor 3 activity is of considerable importance in heparin therapy, since the initial drop in the activated clotting time of heparinized blood is substantial. The inhibitor of Platelet Factor 3 activity can be included with a calcium chelating agent in the collection medium. Prostacylin and imidazole, which is an inhibitor of platelet thromboxane A2 synthesis, are effective inhibitors of Platelet Factor 3 activity.

Abstract: A conductor tracer which is used to trace and identify a conductor energized by an AC energizing signal includes an improved transmitter by which to draw a current tracing signal from the energized conductor. The current tracing signal is phase shifted by 180.degree. upon the occurrence of each subsequent half cycle of the AC energizing signal. By phase shifting the current tracing signal when the direction of current flow in the conductor reverses due to the change in polarity of the AC energizing signal, the net effect is that a uniform phase or polarity magnetic field tracing signal about the conductor is maintained. The uniform phase or polarity magnetic field tracing signal makes detection of the conductor more reliable and easily accomplished.

Abstract: A stent for the anastomosis of a vessel comprises an integral solid of biologically compatible material which is adapted to melt from a solid into a fluid in response to heat energy or body temperature into the fluid which flows through the vessel. Preferably the stent is formed of frozen material, and has a temperature which is substantially less than the temperature of the vessel upon insertion. Upon melting, the biologically compatible material naturally integrates with the fluid normally conducted by the vessel. The stent may be advantageously formed of frozen blood plasma or other blood fluid which is compatible with the blood normally conducted by an artery or a vein. When used in conjunction with thermal bonding techniques, the stent aligns the ends of the vessel for thermal bonding without the necessity for taking the time-consuming circumferentially-spaced stay sutures.

Abstract: An electrical connector achieves improvements in connecting a patient plate to an electrosurgical generator. The connector is preferably of the lever operated type, and electrical contacts are connected on the lever and connected within a passageway internally in a housing of the connector. A tongue portion of the patient plate is inserted in the passageway. Upon closure of the lever, the contacts on the lever extend into the passageway above the lower contacts to mechanically contact and retain the tongue portion between the contacts and to electrically contact the tongue portion by which to conduct current to the patient plate. A recess is formed in the lower marginal area of the passageway and a retaining structure on the lever member extends into the passageway to deform the tongue portion into the indention.

Abstract: Coagulation is detected in a fluid sample such as blood which has been inserted into a cartridge and operated on by an actuator mechanism. The cartridge may be of either of two types: a plunger sensor cartridge wherein a plunger assembly is reciprocated in a predetermined manner within the fluid sample and the descent of the plunger assembly is sensed to determine coagulation conditions, and a gas flow cartridge wherein gas is passed through the fluid sample to transmit liquid in bubbles and the accumulation of the coagulating liquid from the bubbles is sensed to detect coagulation. An actuator mechanism operates with either one or both types of cartridges to create the conditions under which coagulation can be detected and to sense the coagulation detection conditions. The actuator mechanism reciprocates the plunger assembly and forces gas through the liquid sample to create the bubbles.

Abstract: A breath alcohol detector measures and compensates for distance between the mouth of the individual exhaling breath into the ambient air and the detector, the atmospheric pressure, and the temperature. Blood alcohol content information is calculated using these compensation factors and a signal obtained from an electrochemical fuel cell which is indicative of the amount of alcohol or other gas contained in the sample. The detector also includes a reciprocally acting electromagnetically energized motor which drives a diaphragm pump to draw the sample into the electrochemical fuel cell.

Abstract: A selective ringing circuit for a telephone line includes a rectifier which is normally connected to the telephone line for rectifying the AC ringing and other signals. The rectified ringing signals will not activate the ringing circuit of the telephone equipment, because a capacitor in the ringing circuit is charged and will not pass current therethrough in response to the DC signal. The selective ringing circuit includes a switch-selective signal-detecting arrangement by which a predetermined one of the ringing signals is detected and is used as an activation signal, while the other ringing signals are rejected. The activation signal activates an electrical connecting device which, when activated, electrically bypasses the rectifier and directly electrically connects the predetermined selected ringing signal to the telephone equipment. An automatic number identification circuit includes a transistor switch which connects a predetermined ground resistance to the telephone line.

Abstract: A pulse width modulation technique regulates the output power of each cycle of a radio frequency surgical signal of an electrosurgical generator. The delivered power of the surgical signal is determined by multiplying the sensed current and the sensed voltage of the surgical signal. An error signal is established by the difference of the actual delivered power with respect to a selected desired output power. The error signal is operatively utilized to modulate the pulse width of each driving pulse which creates the cycles of the surgical signal. Limits on the sensed voltage and sensed current signals are established to limit the output characteristics of the surgical signal. A minimum current limit signal is utilized to limit the maximum output voltage into relatively high impedances. A minimum voltage limit signal is utilized to limit the maximum output current into relatively low impedances.