Abstract: A system and method for monitoring remote equipment such as HVAC equipment, are provided. A sensor is in communication with a piece of remote equipment. An interface unit, having a message generating mechanism, is capable of receiving signals from the sensors. The interface unit is provided with a programmable logic controller which performs Boolean operations or expressions on the signals received by the sensors. A central computer server is in communication with the interface unit and is adapted to receive and preferably store messages generated by the interface unit. When a sensor detects an exception condition in a piece of remote equipment, the sensor transmits a signal to the interface unit, and the interface unit generates an incoming exception message and forwards the message to the server. The server forwards at least one outgoing exception message to at least one predetermined user-defined communication device based on the incoming exception message.

Abstract: A box (200) for solid and semi-solid food products is formed from a blank and has a body portion, a base portion and a lid portion, the lid portion having a tear-away strip for opening the sealed box. Side panels (22) of the body portion have overlapping end flaps (34, 38) which lie across the top of the body portion and have crease lines (46) running substantially parallel to the fold line which separates the flaps from their respective panels. The creased regions are pushed inwards towards their respective panels and the non-creased region of each flap lies substantially perpendicular to the side panels to form a suspended surface. This surface may support a spoon (S) or other item and is covered by the overlapping end flaps (54, 56) on the front and rear panels of the body portion; thereby allowing the item to be sold with the food product as a single unit but without contacting the food product.

Abstract: A dual LNB/TV antenna multi-switch allowing DC voltage provided by a satellite receiver to travel through the terrestrial antenna input without causing interference, distortion or lowering the signal strength of the satellite and terrestrial antenna pictures. By including an external DC block adapter with the invention, the multi-switch can be used with both amplified and non-amplified antennas and not require an external power injector.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for drilling an orifice in a human cranium at an angle of substantially 90 degrees to a plane defined by a tangent to the surface of the cranium at the orifice and for guiding ventricular catheter placement. The apparatus has a first tubular guide for directing a drill at the proper angle, the first tubular guide being supported upon the cranium by a plurality of leg members and having a slot or opening which allows for visualization of the drilling point. The invention further includes a second tubular guide for directing a catheter into the ventricular portion of the patient's brain. The second tubular guide, has a slot or opening which allows for pre-loading of the catheter. The second tubular guide inserts within the first tubular guide and receives the catheter and directs it into the ventrical. The slotted design of the first and second tubular guides allow the guides to be removed from the side of the catheter rather than over the end of the catheter.

Abstract: Multiple sample introduction means have been configured in Atmospheric Pressure Ion sources which are interfaced to mass analyzers. Different samples can be introduced through multiple Electrospray (ES) or Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) probes individually or simultaneously and ionized. The gas phase ion mixture resulting from individual solutions sprayed from multiple ES or APCI probe inputs is mass analyzed. In this manner a calibration solution can be introduced through one ES or APCI probe while one or more sample solutions are spray from additional probes. Simultaneous spraying of calibration and sample solutions, results in an acquired mass spectrum containing peaks of ions with known molecular weights as well as sample related peaks. The calibration peaks can be used as an internal calibration standard during data analysis.

Abstract: A collapsible antenna is provided; it is preferably a folded dipole antenna. The antenna has a main body section and two arm sections attached to the main body. At least one of the arms may be moved from an extended position to a collapsed position, thereby reducing the overall length of the antenna. Preferably, the arms may be rotated or pivoted from a first expanded configuration in which they extend in opposite directions from one another to a second collapsed configuration in which they subtend an angle substantially less than 180°. Preferably, the arms extend from the body section in substantially the same direction when they are in the collapsed configuration. A locking mechanism selectively secures the arms in both configurations. Alternatively, one or both arms may telescope. The invention also includes mutual inductance cancelling coils for further reducing the overall length of the antenna without reducing the effective length of the antenna.

Abstract: A Time-Of-Flight mass spectrometer is configured with a pulsing region and electronic controls to cause the directing of ions to a surface in the Time-Of-Flight pulsing region. The population of ions resulting from the collecting of said ions on or near said surface is subsequently accelerated into the Time-Of-Flight tube for mass to charge analysis. Ions produced away from said surface located in the pulsing region of a Time-Of-Flight mass spectrometer can be directed to the surface with high or low surface collisional energies. Higher energy ion collisions with the surface can result in Surface Induced Dissociation fragmentation and the resulting ion fragment population can be accelerated into Time-Of-Flight tube where the ions are mass to charge analyzed. Ion mass to charge selection can occur prior to directing ions to the pulsing region surface allowing MS/MS Time-Of-Flight mass analysis with SID.

Abstract: A wave collector structure (51) for electrical power generation powered by wave energy comprises an outwardly extending and downwardly depending lip (105, 107) below which is situated a mouth (61, 67) of the collector. The collector further comprises side walls (75, 79) for channelling waves into the collector mouth. These side walls (75, 79) extend horizontally substantially up to or beyond the lip, partially enclosing a volume of water between the lip and side walls. The collector is placed in its desired location by sealing the mouth (61, 67) with gates (not shown) and floating the structure to its desired location. Control valves are opened to allow water into the collector to sink the structure to the sea bed (63) whereupon the gates are removed.

Abstract: A multipole ion guide which begins in one pumping stage and extends continuously into one or more subsequent pumping stages has been incorporated into an atmospheric pressure ion source mass spectrometer system. Ions delivered into vacuum from an Electrospray, Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization or Inductively Coupled Plasma ion source are guided and focused into a mass analyzer with high efficiency using the multipole ion guide. The background pressure over a portion of the multipole ion guide length is high enough to cause kinetic energy cooling of ions traversing the ion guide length due to ion collisions with neutral background gas molecules. This ion kinetic energy cooling lowers energy spread of ions traversing the multipole ion guide length. The multipole ion guide DC offset potential can be used to adjust the mean ion energy and the ion guide an and qn values can be set to reduce or expand the range of ion mass to charge which will be transmitted through the ion guide.

Abstract: An activity controlled audio-visual system is disclosed. A device for connecting exercise equipment such as a pedal exerciser to a user sensory interface, such as a television set or computer so that the user has to pedal at a rate above a preset rate or threshold rate in order to be able to view the user sensory interface signal. The act of pedaling above a preset rate turns on a switch box which controls the input to the user sensory interface. In this way a normally sedentary activity such as watching television or a video, playing a video game, or using a computer is converted to one that requires physical activity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for digitally compressing video signals. The method and apparatus provides a system which generates values related to the differences between respective pixel locations and an x,y pixel display. The differences generated between proximate pixel locations are used to generate various delta values which are encoded in an asymmetric fashion. The asymmetric coding eliminates artifacts in the displayed image, and the delta encoding is performed in both a horizontal and vertical direction (otherwise known as Two-Dimensional Delta Encoding) and this operation tends to randomly distribute error in the compression process across the visual image so as to approximate noise or grain generally perceived by the viewer in an analog display.

Abstract: A low profile fluorescent lamp ballast assembly is provided to allow compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The assembly includes a ballast mounting plate on which the lamp ballast and lamp socket are adjacently mounted, so that the fluorescent bulbs in the socket extend over the lamp ballast. The ballast mounting plate is provided with side flanges for removably securing the lamp ballast and socket assembly to the plate. The lamp ballast may be provided with notches into which side flanges of the ballast mounting plate resiliently project to secure the same. The mounting plate is securable to the electrical junction box, contained within a wall, in a conventional matter.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling the administration of intravenous drugs for sedation of a patient. Safe and controlled levels of sedation are provided by the use of a system for continous monitoring of patient pulse oximetry levels during the sedative's adminstration. Adequate levels of sedation that are clinically desirable are accomplished by the device, safely and smoothly, without the risk of respiratory depression. Preestablished oximetry ranges are provided before and/or during administration of the analgesic as the maximum and minimum acceptable saturation levels. Levels of sedation are continuously adjusted in response to increases or drops in oxygen saturation to smoothly maintain the saturation levels within the preestablished parameters.

Abstract: A method is provided for surgically treating obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. In a first embodiment of the invention, a procedure is provided which includes the step of splitting the hyoid bone to open the pharyngeal space anteriorly, posteriorly and laterally, using the mandible as support for both anterior and lateral advancement and expansion, thereby relieving the effects of OSAS. In another embodiment of the invention, a modified version of the first embodiment is provided in which the hyoid is suspended but not split. In this embodiment, the pharyngeal space is increased anteriorly and posteriorly, but to a lesser degree laterally. Splitting the hyoid and distracting it is believed effective as it provides increased pharyngeal space.

Abstract: A Patient Protocol Card ("PPC") is provided on which a physician may store the information required for a prescribed treatment, for example, the patient's name, prescribed intensity of the treatment, duration of different phases of the treatment, and number of treatments. PPC may then be used to initiate and control the work of the device administering the prescribed treatment. To initiate the procedure and to convey required information to a control unit, the card is inserted into a card receptacle of the control unit, which preferably incorporates a card reading mechanism. When the treatment information is conveyed, the control unit administers the procedure in accordance with the physician's prescription. In the preferred embodiment, there are three versions of the PPC: a clinician card, a patient card, and a physician card. The clinician card initializes the control unit to begin treatment. The patient card contains the patient's name, treatment protocol, and treatment number.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring remote equipment such as HVAC equipment, are provided. A sensor is in communication with a piece of remote equipment, and a local transmitter is connected to the sensor. An interface unit, having a message generating mechanism and an antenna, is capable of receiving signals from the sensors of several pieces of equipment, forming a local network. A central computer server is in communication with the interface unit and is adapted to receive and preferably store messages generated by the interface unit. When a sensor detects an exception condition in a piece of remote equipment, the sensor transmits a signal to the interface unit, and the interface unit generates an incoming exception message and forwards the message to the server. The server forwards at least one outgoing exception message to at least one predetermined user-defined communication device based on the incoming exception message.