Abstract: Apparatus for selecting connections from each of two or more inlet streams, at least two of which flow simultaneously, to one or more exit streams of a group of at least two. The apparatus has at least one rotatable first body, a first surface of which is adjacent to a first surface of a second body. The first body provides at least first and second fluid conduits, at least one end of each conduit terminating at the first surface of the first body. The second body also provides at least first and second fluid conduits, at least one end of each conduit terminating at the first surface of the second body. The first ends of each conduit provided by the first body and the first ends of each conduit provided by the second body are in such predetermined positions that the first conduit of the first body communicates with the second conduit of the second body.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of repairing tears or ruptures in an anterior cruciate ligament of the human knee, by reattaching the ligament to its anatomic insertion site on the intercondylar notch of the femur using a suture anchor, with healing at the insertion site being enhanced by formation of a cancellous bleeding bed.

Abstract: An apparatus generates power at micro-scale dimensions that is sufficient to simulate the muscle activity required by the joints of robotic fingers. The apparatus includes a bellows device for generating a motion stimulus in response to pressure changes within the bellows. A configuration of programmable micromachined valves is used to regulate the flow of pressurized fluid within the bellows. A microprocessor is responsive to motion commands for controlling the operation of the apparatus. The apparatus is configured as an integrated device that is coupled to the articulations of a robotic hand via suitable attachment mechanisms.

Abstract: An implantable access device suitable for delivering a liquid medication to a site remote from the site of port implantation is disclosed, which contains a filter assembly for removing particulate material from fluid injected into the port. The filter assembly of the invention contains a first reservoir chamber having cutouts, recesses, and/or sharp corners in which particulate material may be trapped, and additionally having a first wall forming a filter barrier capable of 360.degree. of fluid flow therethrough. The implantable access device may also include an infusion pump apparatus coupled to the access device. A filter assembly for insertion into an implantable treatment material device is also described.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for regenerating and/or stabilizing catalyst used in dehydrogenation of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The alkylaromatic hydrocarbon (1) and steam (2) are combined to form feedstream (3) and pass into reactor (50). The ensuing product stream (4) is reheated in heater (52) to restore the heat lost and passed as partially converted reactant stream (5) into second reactor (54) and leaves as stream (6) comprising the dehydrogen product. Restoration and/or stabilization of catalyst is accomplished by an alkali metal compound which is fed into feedstream (2) and/or product stream (5) via supply means (46 and 66), respectively. The amount of alkali metal compound entering the reactor(s) is monitored by means (42 and 62) which may in turn be coupled to activating means (44 and 64) to signal and activate the supply means. This method and apparatus permit the restoration and/or stabilization of the catalyst to be performed without interrupting the dehydrogenation reaction.

Abstract: The disclosed hunting suppressor is for use with n-phase electric motors including a stator having n windings and a rotor. The hunting suppressor is responsive to a reference clock signal characterized by a frequency f.sub.c and an associated phase angle .phi..sub.c.A controlled frequency oscillator generates n drive signals, where the drive signals are mutually shifted in phase by 180/n degrees. The drive signals are each coupled to drive a respective one of the n windings of the motor. A phase locked loop network locks the frequency and phase of one of the drive signals to that of an applied clock reference signal. With that configuration, the rotor is controlled to rotate at the frequency of the clock reference signal with substantially no hunting.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled ventilator controls a patient's breathing selectively. In a preferred aspect, the ventilator utilizes intratracheal pulmonary ventilation and a reverse thrust catheter to provide all patient inspiration. The microprocessor connects to a pneumatic subsystem which includes a variety of sensors and actuators and the catheter disposed in the patient's trachea. A feedback control loop provides a basis for controlling selected actuators within the subsystem to control the patient's breathing. The microprocessor provides the selective venting of expiration gases, and the selective mixing of treatment gases, such as anesthesia. The ventilator has a plurality of possible ventilating modes, each selectable by the user, thereby reducing the number of hospital equipment needed to all forms of ventilation required by a patients.

Abstract: The disclosed flowmeter includes a sensor tube and a heater. The sensor tube defines an input end, an output end, and an interior channel extending from the input end to the output end and permits fluid to flow from the input end through the channel to the output end. The heater includes a first end and a second end, and the heater establishes a non-uniform heater density function between the first and second ends. The heater is disposed proximal to the sensor tube for heating the tube.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus includes first and second delay lines, the first delay line having an input tap and a set of n output taps F.sub.1, F.sub.2, . . . F.sub.n, and the second delay line having an input tap and a set of n output taps S.sub.1, S.sub.2, . . . S.sub.n, and each of the output taps has an associated delay interval. A first signal representative of a first event is applied to the input tap of the first delay line, and a second signal representative of a second event is applied to the input tap of the second delay line. The disclosed apparatus further includes a set of n latches L.sub.1, L.sub.2, . . . L.sub.n, and a set of n delay units D.sub.1, D.sub.2, . . . D.sub.n. The output signals generated by taps F.sub.i and S.sub.i are applied to a first input terminal and a second input terminal, respectively, of latch L.sub.i.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the polymerization of molecules having electrophilic and nucleophilic substituents on the same or different molecules, such polymerization mediated by aminopyridine catalysts which are substantially regenerated during polymerization. The invention also pertains to polymer products of such polymerization, to permselective membranes containing such polymers, and to processes and apparatus for separating fluids.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of correcting multiple distortions in the form of amplitude variations in and extending the output response of acoustic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a set of one or more hollow pipes or conduits of predetermined sizes is positioned adjacent to an acoustical source and oriented such that the axis of each pipe is at an angle to the axis of the sound and at least one open end of each of the pipes intercepts the sound as it is propagated. In an alternative embodiment, comparable results are achieved by positioning a slotted bridge, with one or more elongated slots of predetermined size, adjacent to an acoustical source such that the axis of each slot is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of the sound and the sound wave intercepts the open edge of each of the slots.

Abstract: A switch assembly comprising a housing including a baseplate on which are mounted a magnet core having a pair of flanges and a winding wound around it, and two switch capsules positioned on either sides of the magnetic core with each capsule being insulated from each flange magnetic core by insulating means. Magnets are also positioned to provide either a monostable or a bistable mode of operation as desired. With this construction, the magnetic and electric paths in the assembly are physically separate from one another, thereby allowing the magnetic and electric materials to be chosen independently from each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for regenerating and/or stabilizing the activity of a dehydrogenation catalyst used in dehydrogenating an alkylaromatic hydrocarbon to obtain an alkenylaromatic hydrocarbon, the method comprising the steps of continuously or intermittently adding to a reactant stream an effective amount of an alkali metal compound without interrupting the dehydrogenation reaction.

Abstract: A method for refilling an ink cartridge which contains an elastic bladder within the ink reservoir cavity that is connected to outside pressure. The methodology of the invention teaches how to seal and unseal the bladder and ink regions in sequential steps and how to inject ink into the ink reservoir cavity so it may be re-used and not discarded.

Abstract: An optical component for use in optical devices, such as an interferometer fiber optic gyroscope including a polarizing beamsplitter and a non-reciprocal optical device mounted on a common substrate; and an optical transceiver. The optical component may be used in a low loss configuration with an optical source and a photodetector and associated focusing lenses and a fiber optic ring or coil sensor for a gyroscope. The non-reciprocal device rotates the polarization plane of light. transmitted from the source through the beamsplitter to the sensor, and light returned from the sensor toward the beamsplitter, by 45 degrees in the same direction so that substantially all return light incident on the beamsplitter is reflected toward the photodetector.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of measuring mass flow of a gas in a gas delivery system. The apparatus is adapted to be connected to a source of a gas. The apparatus includes a fixed-volume chamber in fluid connection with the gas source. A flow control device can be used to control the flow of the gas into the chamber. A transducer assembly comprises, in combination, a pressure transducer in fluid connection with the chamber, and a signal modifying network associated with the pressure transducer. The pressure transducer permits measurement of the pressure of the gas in the chamber and provides a first electrical signal representative of the pressure of the known volume of the gas. The signal modifying network modifies the first signal to produce an output signal which is proportional to PV/RT and thus directly represents the number of moles of the gas in the chamber. The apparatus is useful for calibrating mass flow controllers and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antenna including a relatively thin substantially planar electrically conductive first layer substantially lying in a first plane, and a relatively thin substantially planar electrically conductive second layer substantially lying in a second plane. The first and second layers are disposed such that the first and second planes are substantially parallel and such that they are separated by a distance d. The second layer is smaller than and overlies the first layer and defines a first region extending between the second layer and a portion of the first layer underlying the second layer. The antenna further includes a first dielectric medium having a relatively high dielectric constant and disposed in the first region, and a second dielectric medium having a relatively low dielectric constant and disposed in a second region extending between the first layer and portions of the second plane overlying the first layer and excluding the first region.

Abstract: A monitoring detector assembly is positioned outside the scanning plane of a CT scanner to insure detection of unattenuated X-rays from the X-ray source of the scanner. The monitoring detector assembly preferably provides a sequence of monitor detection measurements simultaneously with the sequential acquisition of the image data during each projection of the scan by a filtered CT scanner. The image data are normalized using the closest in time monitor detection measurement.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a microtiter plate formed of a substantially rigid, polymeric plate having a substantially flat upper surface and a regular array of similar wells, typically either cylindrical or frusto-conical, each well being defined by a fluid-impervious peripheral wall extending a predetermined distance along an axis substantially perpendicularly to that upper surface between an opening in the upper surface and a well bottom. Disposed within the well adjacent the bottom is a porous structure providing a surface area at least five times greater than the surface area of the interior well bottom. The well bottom may be either fluid impervious or pervious. Where the well bottom is fluid pervious, it may be formed from a fluid impervious sheet apertured to accept and be bonded to the peripheries of the ends of a plurality of fluid pervious ultrafiltration fibers that may have hollow cores.

Abstract: A quadrupole mass spectrometer includes means for measuring total ion current having an electron repeller cage disposed about an electron source filament. The electron repeller cage repels electrons emitted by the electron source filament, urging them away from both the repeller and the filament, while also attracting positive ions. When the positive ions contact the electron repeller cage, a current is induced that is measured at the electron repeller cage. The measured current represents total ion current transmitted through the spectrometer. Thus, the need to include a total pressure measurement plate to measure total ion current is eliminated, and since the ion-exposed surface area of the electron repeller cage is greater than the ion-exposed surface area of the total pressure measurement plate, the invention provides improved total pressure measurement sensitivity.