Abstract: A skate wheel including a tire support structure adapted to reduce roll resistance generally encountered from a tire comprising a 60 A to 75 A Shore hardness material. The tire support structure comprises a flexible torus portion proximal to an inner core, and a substantially rigid radially extending portion extending radially outward from the flexible torus portion. The flexible torus portion cooperates with the inner core to form a cavity. The radially extending portion extends to approximately eighty to ninety five percent of the total wheel diameter. When a load is placed on the wheel, the radially extending portion is pressed against the flexible torus portion, and the flexible torus portion deforms into the cavity. The combination of the radially extending portion and the flexible torus portion moderates distortion of the soft tire, thereby reducing roll resistance.

Abstract: A sprinkler circuit responds to the presence of water and limits watering accordingly. The sprinkler circuit comprises a control circuit and a moisture responsive circuit. The control circuit may be wired in series to a sprinkler cable at any point between a sprinkler controller (e.g., timer) and a sprinkler valve, and is powered by a valve signal sent from the sprinkler controller to the valve. The moisture responsive circuit includes two pairs of electrodes wired in series and residing at different depths. When resistance across both pairs of electrodes drops sufficiently, a relay in the control circuit opens and interrupts the valve signal to the valve.

Abstract: A fixation device fixes the position of an implantable microminiature device residing proximally to a target site such as a nerve or a muscle. In one embodiment, the device comprises a sheath and a means for attaching the device to adjacent tissue. The means for attaching may be any one of several embodiments including one or more grasping members, a combination of grasping members and one or more helices, or an extension adapted to accept a suture. In another embodiment, the fixation device comprises an assembly residing in the implantation pathway, behind the stimulation device, thus preventing retreat of the stimulation device in the pathway. In a preferred use, the fixation device fixes the position of a microstimulator component of a Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) system.

Abstract: A surface effects skimmer vehicle generates a downward air flow into a tunnel under a main hull to lift the main hull off an adjacent surface, and rearward air flows for thrust. The air flows are generated by ducted fans or jet engines, and directed to the rear and/or down by controlling the degree of opening of a Deflector Air Gate (DAG) on the bottom of the main hull. The tunnel includes tunnel edges to contain the downward air flow under the main hull for surface lubrication. The vehicle further includes a rear portion with horizontal and vertical stabilizers to provide air-craft like behavior.

Abstract: A system and method for blowing lint from clothing dryer exhaust ducting. The system includes a high capacity electric blower, an adapter to connect the blower to a dryer exhaust hook-up, and a lint catcher to capture lint blown from the ducting. The lint catcher may be connected over an exterior wall vent, or to a portion of the ducting exposed in an attic. The method includes removing a flexible dryer exhaust hose from the exhaust hook-up, connecting the adapter between the blower and the wall hook-up, connected the catcher to the exterior vent or to the exposed ducting, and running the blower.

Abstract: An automatic air bleed valve which allows air to escape from water lines. Allowing air to thus escape, prevents pump cavitation and/or air in the heater. The air bleed valve is positioned between a pump and the heater, and is higher than the heater, and no higher than the water level in the spa. The air bleed valve comprises a vertically disposed cylinder containing a piston and having a valve bottom, a valve inlet proximal to the valve bottom, valve top, and a valve outlet proximal to the valve top. The piston moves vertically in the cylinder. While water is present in the cylinder, the piston raises and cooperates with a seal to prevent a flow of water through the valve. While air is present in the cylinder, the piston drops and allows the air to flow past the piston to the valve outlet.

Abstract: A push-pull amplifier efficiency provides a 4:1 (12 dB) course adjustment of power output by using a single digital control input. The amplifier is provided with an input voltage (VDD) having sixteen steps ranging from 1.25 volts to 3.00 volts. Based on the digital control, an integrated circuit switches between a high power mode and a low power mode. In the low power mode, the output voltage is equivalent to the input voltage. In the high power mode, the amplifier provides an output of twice the input voltage (or four times the power).

Abstract: An improved multi-voltage power supply charges individual small capacitors to different voltages. Each small capacitor is assigned to a circuit, and is charged to a voltage level sufficient for the circuit. In one embodiment, an improved switching regulator includes a multiplicity of small capacitors. The small capacitors are assigned to stimulation channels of a stimulation system. Each channel has a unique compliance voltage which the assigned small capacitors are charged to. By charging the small capacitors to the corresponding compliance voltages, versus charging a single large capacitor to the maximum compliance voltage, unnecessary power dissipation is avoided. In another embodiment, a switched capacitor power supply benefits from the present invention in the same manner as the switching regulator power supply. Further, any system requiring a plurality of different voltages may benefit from the present invention.

Abstract: An In The Ear (ITE) microphone improves the acoustic response of a Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system during telephone use. An acoustic seal provided by holding a telephone earpiece against the ear provides improved coupling of low frequency (up to about 1 KHz) sound waves, sufficient to overcome losses due to the near field acoustic characteristics common to telephones. In a preferred embodiment, the ITE microphone is connected to a removable ear hook of the BTE ICS system by a short bendable stalk.

Abstract: A trailer tongue jack includes a grease (or zerk) fitting for providing grease to internal parts The jack includes an outer tube and an inner telescoping tube. A threaded insert (or nut) is fixedly attached inside an upper end of the inner telescoping tube. A screw shaft threadedly cooperates with the insert to extend or retract the inner telescoping tube from a lower end of the outer tube. A crank is provided to turn the screw shaft either directly or through gears, and a thrust bearing carries a vertical load between the screw shaft and the outer tube. The grease fitting allows the internal parts, and the thrust bearing in particular, to be easily lubricated.

Abstract: An improved switching regulator for implantable medical devices includes a control circuit with a capacitor divider to conserve energy, and selectable duty cycles to efficiently match the duty cycle to the charge level in a holding capacitor. The switching regulator charges the holding capacitor to commanded voltage levels, and the holding capacitor provides current for tissue stimulation. The commanded voltage level is reached by “pumping-up” the holding capacitor with the output of the switching regulator. For control purposes, the high voltage (i.e., the voltage across the holding capacitor) is divided between a fixed capacitor and a variable capacitor, and the voltage between the fixed capacitor and the variable capacitor (i.e., the divided voltage) is compared to a reference voltage. The result of the comparison is used to turn-off the switching regulator once the commanded voltage level is reached. The switching duty cycle is set to one of two values.

Abstract: An In The Ear (ITE) microphone improves the acoustic response of a Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system during telephone use. An acoustic seal provided by holding a telephone earpiece against the ear provides improved coupling of low frequency (up to about 1 KHz) sound waves, sufficient to overcome losses due to the near field acoustic characteristics common to telephones. In a preferred embodiment, the ITE microphone is connected to a removable ear hook of the BTE ICS system by a short bendable stalk.

Abstract: A moveable contact connector system provides easy lead insertion, lead retention, and reliable electrical connection for implantable devices. The connector system may be used with in-line leads commonly found in such applications. Moveable contacts are provided in the connector, which contacts are placed in a first position for easy lead insertion, and in a second position for lead retention. The second position also provides a good electrical connection between the moveable connector contacts and the lead contacts. Multiple means for moving said at least one moveable contact between the first and second positions are described. A first embodiment uses a rotatable cam which is rotated to align the cam lodes with said at least one moveable contact, pushing the movable contacts against the lead contacts. The second and third embodiments use a sliding key to force said at least one moveable contact against the lead contacts.

Abstract: An envelope based amplitude mapping achieves the signal compression required to provide a natural sound level without the high processor loading or waveform alteration. In a preferred embodiment, the output of a family of parallel bandpass filters is processed by an envelope detector, followed by decimation. The resulting reduced data rate envelope is log mapped to produce a scaling factor for the original high data rate bandpass filter output sequence. The resulting scaled signal determines the current level for stimulation of the cochlea for each frequency band, which stimulation achieves a log mapping of the sound amplitude effect similar to natural hearing, while reducing processor load, and preserving waveform shape.

Abstract: An activity monitoring system measures the effectiveness of pain management using using data from motion or activity sensors attached to the patient's body to compute measures of exertion level of a patient. Increased levels of exertion are an indication of successful pain management. The patient's walking gait smoothness and walking gait stability are also graded as indicators of pain management effectiveness. The motion or activity sensors may be part of a temporary stimulation system used during percutaneous trials, part of a permanent implanted system, or an independent sensor package carried on the patient's body. The particular location and axes of the motion or activity sensors may be chosen based on the location of the pain being treated. The effectiveness of a particular pain management stimulation parameter set is based on the statistics accumulated over a period of time, for example one hour.

Abstract: A rechargeable hearing aid eliminates the requirement for frequent replacement of a disposable hearing aid battery. The rechargeable hearing aid features inductive recharging using a charging reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, a lithium-ion battery is used with a Completely-In-the-Canal (CIC) hearing aid. The CIC hearing aid is inserted into a reservoir throat of the charging reservoir. In a preferred embodiment a primary coil of the inductive recharger is wound around the reservoir throat, and a secondary coil of the hearing aid is wound around the diameter of the body of the CIC hearing aid, thus providing coupling of the primary and secondary coils that is independent of the rotation of the hearing aid in the charger throat.

Abstract: A medication infusion system includes an implantable device and an external control device. The implantable device includes a constant flow pump and a flow rate that may be altered by commands received from the external control device. Power to execute the commands is also provided to the passive pump from the external control device. The external control device sends a command only when a flow rate change is to be made, or when status information is required. In one embodiment, the flow rate provided by the passive pump is controlled by a flow regulator, where the flow rate is changed by changing the restriction of a passage between regulator chambers.

Abstract: An improved hair-clip rotatably secures a headpiece of a Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system adjacent to an implantable device of the ICS system. The hair-clip includes three fingers to securely grasp the headpiece around the cylindrical edge of the headpiece, while allowing rotation of the headpiece relative to the hair-clip. Both power and control signals are transmitted transcutaneously from the head piece to the implantable device. Efficient transmission of these signals requires that the headpiece be securely held in close alignment to the implantable device. The improved hair-clip securely holds the headpiece in place, and allows the headpiece to be rotated to position the headpiece cable. The ability to position the cable allows a user to achieve a comfortable and inconspicuous cable routing. The hair-clip also provides: retention regardless of skin flap thickness, secure retention during physical activity, and permits magnet-less retention thus minimizing interference with MRI examination.