Abstract: A fluidic control system for use in irrigation and aspiration of the anterior chamber of the eye during ultrasonic emulsification of a cataract therein. The system comprises a handpiece with an (ultrasonically vibrated) hollow tip, the hollow tip being connected to the fluid withdrawal or aspirating portion, while an annular passage around the tip is used to introduce fluid for irrigation purposes. The aspirating portion comprises a withdrawal hose attached to the output manifold of the handpiece in fluid communication with the hollow tip, a constant flow pump attached to the other end of the withdrawal hose, and a vacuum relief valve connected to the withdrawal hose intermediate the pump and the handpiece. The irrigation portion comprises a fluid supply bottle at a predetermined height above the eye, and administration set attached to the bottle, and an inflow hose attached to the intake manifold of the handpiece and in fluid communication with the annular passage.

Abstract: A contactless activity and respiration monitor is described which includes a resilient, capacitive pad, which may be a mattress, or a pad used with a mattress, having a capacitor therein responsive to the activity or respiration of a body lying on it. Electronic capacitance sensing circuitry is disclosed which provides an indication or alarm in the event of excessive activity or apnea, or low or high respiration rate. Readouts of respiration rate, and number of events of activity may also be provided. Circuits are disclosed for filtering out large static or relatively long term changes in the capacitance of the capacitive pad while maintaining the high sensitivity necessary to sense movements caused by respiration.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for use in surgically removing tumorous neurological tissue which apparatus comprises a handpiece mounting a hollow tool tip vibrating transversely to its long axis in the ultrasonic range, means for introducing fluid adjacent the tool tip to flush the operative site area, and means adjacent the tool tip for withdrawing the fluid mixture from the site. The method comprises applying an ultrasonically vibrated tool to tumorous nerve tissue, while simultaneously introducing irrigation fluid to flush the area of the tissue and withdrawing the resulting mixture from the area adjacent the tool.

Abstract: In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a method and apparatus for logging an earth formation of interest is disclosed in which repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons are emitted that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole traversing the earth formation. Thereafter, indications of photons resulting from the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media are obtained, each indication begin obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of the borehole. Finally, the indications are compared to determine representations of a characteristic of the media surrounding the borehole. According to one aspect of the present invention, at least one of the indications is the result of annihilation photons produced by the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media.