Abstract: A washable baby bottle holder is provided which is constructed of a washable cloth bib having mounted to its face a covered foam member with a groove or trough for holding the baby bottle. The washable cloth bib is provided with neck straps attached to the upper end and a pair of straps attached near the lower end which are gathered to secure the lower end of the bib to the trunk of the baby. On the face of the bib is a foam member having a groove or trough shaped and adapted to receive a baby bottle. The foam member is preferably covered by a washable cloth covering and secured to the face of the bib around the periphery of the foam member. The groove or trough is formed in the foam member such that the base of the groove projects further from the face of the bib near the lower end of the bib than near the upper end of the bib thereby directing the bottle for use in nursing the baby while the baby is seated or lying down. The strap is used for holding the baby bottle in the groove.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a two-color non-slip tread or flooring plate includes the steps of dimensioning the plate, cleaning the plate and applying a bonding agent to the plate. A uniform layer of plastisol of a light color, containing gritty particles such as aluminum oxide, is sprayed on one of the surfaces of the plate or tread. After partial curing by baking, a masking material is applied along one of the edges. This edge is selected to be the edge which would abut a discontinuity in the floor such as the edge of a step or a flooring area which is raised. A second layer of plastisol containing gritty particles with a darker pigment is then sprayed on to the first layer of plastisol. The plastisol layers are then cured by baking and the masking material is removed. The invention includes tread plates and flooring plates made in accordance with the method of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of producing a dental post for use in restoring or stabilizing one or more teeth includes the steps of creating a hole in a tooth and obtaining a woven hollow rope which is mounted over a mandrel and inserted into the hole. The mandrel is withdrawn and the hollow rope is filled with a core-paste material. In a presently preferred embodiment, the woven hollow rope is woven in the form of a braid and the mandrel is in the form of a hollow needle attached to a syringe. In the preferred embodiment, the hollow rope is provided with a closed end and the needle is withdrawn while simultaneously filling the hollow rope with a core-paste material. The invention includes a new use for hollow woven rope, which is preferably hollow braided rope, in the formation of non-metallic fiber reinforced posts for use in dental application varying from dental posts used to support cores in root canal procedures to providing structural support for bridges, pontics and the like.

Abstract: A reagent strip slide treating apparatus includes a reagent strip comprised of a plurality of chambers. A reagent passageway on the strip connects to each of the chambers and connects to a common passageway. The chambers are arranged at variable predetermined distances along the strip. A double slide is provided which is comprised of a first and a second slide spaced apart by a predetermined distance and adapted to have therebetween biological material to be treated sequentially by a plurality of reagents. A tube connects the common passageway of the reagent strip to the space between the space slides. The capsules containing reagents are provided within the chambers on the strip. The capsules are provided with thin walls which are adapted to burst upon the application of pressure. A press moving at a constant speed is provided to press the reagent strip and capsules in the chambers causing the capsules to burst. The spacing between the chambers determines the timing of the application of the reagents.

Abstract: An occluding collector is a housing with two tubular members adapted to be inserted into a duct carrying a biological fluid. A biological fluid passageway is provided within the housing between the two tubular members. A flexible member is operable to selectively close or open the biological fluid passageway in response to a fluid operating pressure in a catheter. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible member is a diaphragm which is movable to a convex condition for closing the biological fluid passageway and retaining the closed condition in the absence of sustained operating fluid pressure. The diaphragm may be moved to a concave condition for opening the biological fluid passageway in response to suction or partial vacuum created by retraction of some operating fluid. The diaphragm also retains its concave or open condition until again acted upon by the operating fluid. When the biological passageway is closed, the biological fluid may be drained or collected through a second catheter.

Abstract: A hydraulic system, device and method for dispensing fluids. Water and air are preferred. At least two tanks are preferably used for holding water under air pressure. In a preferred embodiment, one of the tanks is at a higher elevation than the second, so there is an additional pressure drop added to the pressure in the second or lower tank. The tanks have valves for introducing and discharging air under pressure. The tanks further include pipes extending into each to a point proximate one surface, such as the bottom, so that fluid enters and exits the container as close to the one surface as possible. Water is pumped into at least one of the containers to permit transfer of water between the tanks. Air hoses equalize pressure in the two containers. A discharge valve is employed for discharging fluid from one of the tanks under the equalized pressure. Prior to discharging any water, water and/or air is added to one of the tanks. The increase in pressure inside the tank is transferred to the other tank.

Abstract: A liquid level detecting system for detecting a conducting liquid level in a non conductive container which utilizes a grounding rod mounted in a lower portion of the container and a conductive sensing rod mounted at a position above the grounding rod. An oscillator is provided having a frequency in the range of about 600 hertz to about 100 kilohertz. The output of the oscillator is applied to the sensing rod through a high impedance circuit and a high pass filter. In another embodiment, the high pass filter may have the higher end frequencies attenuated to produce a band pass filter which selectively passes the frequency of the oscillator. The voltage drop across the circuit which includes the conductive sensing rod to ground is detected by a voltage peak detector and a threshold detector to produce an output which detects the drops in voltage when the conductive fluid level in the tank rises so that both the sensing rod and the grounding rod are covered, completing the circuit.

Abstract: A computerized exercise game machine provides continuous and instantaneous feedback to the exerciser or user to maintain the user's exercise goal in real time. The exercise goal is updated by the computer system each time the user uses the exercise game machine. The machine includes a fixed frame and moveable component. A signal is generated in response to the speed of movement of the moveable component. The user or exerciser is prompted to maintain a video object representing the user within a shadow object or domain on the video screen. The shadow object represents the exercise goal, such as running at five miles per hour. Different video objects are utilized for users of different physical fitness levels. A shadow object (domain) or course environment is associated with each different video object. The game machine may also provide feedback to the exercise device to control the speed of movement or resistance to movement, slope, such as raising or lowering a treadmill or curve simulation.

Abstract: A flexible surgical instrument is provided which is ideal for providing flexibility in surgery performed through a small incision, such as arthroscopic surgery. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument is provided with an outer member having at least one opening in a distal region and a hollow inner member disposed within the outer member for transmitting force applied to the proximal end to move a cutting implement disposed at the distal end. The cutting implement is constructed and adapted to perform a cutting function at the opening in the outer member. The hollow inner member is substantially flexible between its proximal and distal ends. The outer member is provided with a predetermined flexibility and rigidity such that the outer member is provided with sufficient flexibility to be manually bent by a surgeon during and operation, and provided with sufficient rigidity to retain such bend during the continued performance of the operation with the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A liquid level detecting system which utilizes audio frequency with components having sizes and values usually associated with RF frequencies, thereby providing the reliability and low cost of audio components with the small size typically associated with RF systems. A conductive element is mounted within a container, the conductive element is provided with an insulative coating. A large change in capacitance and capacitance reactance is produced when the insulated conductive element is immersed in a conductive liquid. The change in output of the audio oscillator, passed through the low pass network, which includes the capacitance of the conductive element is fed to an active detector. In one application, the detector is utilized to sense the level of water in a fuel/water separator and, in a second application, a pair of liquid level detectors are utilized to control the operation of a bilge pump.

Abstract: An aerobic exercise machine is disclosed in which aerobic exercise may be conducted using the trunk and hip flexor and extensor muscles. The exercise machine does not require dynamic use of the extremities. The exercise machine provides a uniform level of resistance to contact means adapted to contact both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the trunk of the person exercising. The exercise machine enables exercise by flexion and extension of the trunk muscles and flexion and extension of muscles controlling the hip joint. An energy storage device is utilized to provide uniform resistance to movement in both directions and during the reversal of directions. A counter is provided and various levels of resistance may be selected by switching selected amounts of resistance across the output of a generator driven by the motion of the exerciser.

Abstract: A flexible surgical instrument is provided which is ideal for providing flexibility in surgery performed through a small incision, such as arthroscopic surgery. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument is provided with an outer member having at least one opening in a distal region and a hollow inner member disposed within the outer member for transmitting force applied to the proximal end to move a cutting implement disposed at the distal end. The cutting implement is constructed and adapted to perform a cutting function at the opening in the outer member. The hollow inner member is substantially flexible between its proximal and distal ends. The outer member is provided with a predetermined flexibility and rigidity such that the outer member is provided with sufficient flexibility to be manually bent by a surgeon during and operation, and provided with sufficient rigidity to retain such bend during the continued performance of the operation with the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A method of locating infarcted myocardial tissue in a beating heart includes the step of inserting an impedance measuring tip of a catheter into the chamber of the beating heart, particularly the left or right ventricle, and measuring the impedance of the endocardium at various locations within the chamber of the beating heart. The values measured are compared to impedance values with a predetermined range of values to identify an infarcted area of myocardium and distinguish such area from normal myocardium. The measurements are also compared to a range of values for an infarction border zone. In accordance with the invention, the infarction border zone may be located. The infarction border zone is a significant source of arrhythmia, and particularly of ventricular tachycardia.

Abstract: A food handling spatula-tongs which provides a means of picking up food and expressing excess oil or fat from the food prior to serving. The spatula-tongs are comprised of a pair of pivotally connected members with flat food compressing members mounted to one end of each of the pair of pivotally connected members. Each of the food compressing members is provided with apertures which are not aligned with apertures in the other compressing member. Both rectangular and pie (triangular) shaped compressing members are utilized to adapt the tongs maximally to various types of foods, including pizza pie. The compressing plates may be interchangeably and removably mounted to the tongs. The upper plate is pivotally mounted to the tongs to provide maximum compressing force for various types of foods.