Abstract: A method and system for sensory prostheses are disclosed, particularly with respect to implanted auditory prostheses and implanted visual prostheses both of which function as artificial receptors. The method and system are utilized to provide prostheses that use sensory codes which simulate the natural sensory code for recognition and identification which has been found to be the integral of the temporally dispersed receptor signal. Speech recognition is improved by incorporating temporal dispersion into cochlear prostheses and visual pattern reognition is improved by manintaining current levels below those needed for detection.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus is disclosed for a device having variable volume chambers formed by the walls of a case and a piston. The device includes a piston assembly having an outer piston structure with an inner piston structure therein. The inner piston structure is mounted on an eccentric on a crank shaft, the rotation of which causes nutating movement of the inner piston structure and a reciprocal linear movement of the outer piston structure. First sealing elements are mounted on the outer piston structure to provide sealing for the chambers having the outer piston structure forming part of the chambers, and second sealing elements are mounted on the ported faces of the inner piston structure to provide sealing for the chambers having the inner piston structure forming part of the chambers. Each sealing element includes one portion received in grooves in the piston structures and another portion with a plurality of spaced raised sections which engage the case walls.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for failure prediction of earth structures. The apparatus is intrinsically safe with all necessary electronics contained in a portable central unit except for a sensor and a preamplifier which are positioned contiguous to an earth structure to be monitored and are connected through an electrical cable to the central unit. The entire apparatus is powered by a six volt battery power source also contained in the central unit with electrical isolation being featured. The apparatus monitors the selected earth structure and predicts failure through analysis of determined microseismic emissions arising from changes in mechanical loading of the selected earth structure.

Abstract: Structure and method for providing timed valving in which a nutating plate having an opening defined therethrough moves relative to at least one other nominally static plate having a complementary opening defined therethrough, the nutating plate at one portion of the nutating travel bringing the opening defined thereto in alignment with the complementary static opening and in another portion of the nutating movement positioning such opening therethrough in a spaced, sealing relationship relative to the complementary static opening. Either the nutating or nominally static plate may be utilized in pairs such that a sandwiched relationship between one type of plate and the other exists. The static and nutating plates may advantageously be biased together. Timing of the opening and closing of the valving structure may be adjusted relative to a nominal rotating shaft such as to provide opening and closing cycles of selected portions of an entire rotation.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a measurement of the time integral of concentrations of substances in a biological fluid, without the necessity to collect samples of that fluid, and a device useful in the practice of that method. The concepts accomplish time-integrated measurement of the freely-diffusable fraction of substances of interest by providing conditions under which the rate of accumulation of such substances by a device placed in intimate contact with the biological fluid is at all times proportional to their concentration.

Abstract: A laser having a stabilized external passive cavity is disclosed, with stabilization being effected by modulation of an external mirror positioned along the laser axis. The laser system includes first, second and third spaced mirrors with the second mirror being an output coupler positioned between the first and third mirrors so that an active cavity is defined between the first and second mirrors and a passive cavity is defined between the second and third mirrors. The active cavity feeds, or pumps, the passive cavity which is stabilized by modulation of the third mirror by movement along the laser axis by linear oscillation to Doppler shift the reflected waves within the passive cavity and thereby produce frequencies that do not interfere with the stable modes of the active cavity.

Abstract: A securing device is disclosed for use in conjunction with a rope or like article to secure the positioning thereof. The securing device is coarsely adjustable to establish the maximum permissible spacing between a pair of clamping plates when the device is in an open position. The clamping plates are configured to allow dual sections of rope to be received through the securing device between the plates while the device is in the open position, with the rope being engageable with the plates at a plurality of points when in the closed position. A camming unit is mounted adjacent to the outside surface of one plate, with the camming unit having a cam surface, that acts in conjunction with the adjacent plate, and an actuating lever, the positioning of which establishes the open and closed positions of the lever and device.

Abstract: A securing device is disclosed for the attachment of an assembly, such as a pannier bag, to a structure, such as a bicycle frame. The device includes a clamping member formed by a supporting engagement member and a lever member that exerts clamping pressure in a direction toward the supporting engagement member. The supporting engagement member and the lever member are mounted on a stiff wall with the lever member including a lever arm that is pivotally mounted on the stiff wall so that a compressible bumper is brought into engagement with structure being clamped to establish the engaged position. An adjustable locking mechanism is also provided for engaging the lever arm to releasably lock in the engaged position.

Abstract: A multi-chambered air cleaning device is disclosed for removing particulate and other material from air passing through the device, as is a method for removing particulate and other matter from exhaust air. The device includes a front portion for collecting hot exhaust air to be cleaned and vaporizing the same to coagulate particulate matter in the air, and a back portion with a plurality of filters for removing the particulate material as well as other impurities such as gaseous odors. The device is particularly useful to clean air exhausted from a tail pipe connected with an internal combustion engine, and is also useful to clean gases emitted from pipes and/or stacks connected with combustion-type devices such as are commonly found in industrial plants.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for enabling in-place swimming. This apparatus includes a tank or pool assembly that is of just sufficient dimensions so as to allow a swimmer to execute normal swimming strokes and a restraining assembly to maintain the swimmer in place within the tank during swimming. The tank assembly is preferably largely enclosed and may have included therewith one or more comfort and/or utility features to enhance swimming. The restraining assembly is preferably configured to allow the swimmer relatively free rolling movement while precluding appreciable forward movement due to swimming strokes executed by the swimmer. The apparatus is useful for diverse purposes including exercise, rehabilitation, teaching, training and relaxing.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for monitoring the sensory system of a patient to enable determination of the level and depth of spinal and epidural nerve blocks, including those induced by anesthetics administered to a patient, which blocks affect the sympathetic and motor nervous systems. The anesthesia level is sequentially and repeatedly scanned at a plurality of spaced points to provide a continuous determination of the extent and depth of superficial and deep sensation and sympathetic and motor integrity. The electronic apparatus includes a stimulator that provides selective stimulation to each element of a multiple element transmitting unit the elements of which are non-invasively positioned contiguous to the skin of a patient, and a physiological response detector to detect patent responses to stimulation sensed by the elements of a multiple element sensing unit the elements of which are also non-invasively positioned contiguous to the skin of the patient.

Abstract: An aerosol sampling device and method are disclosed having improved sample flow characteristics. Sample flowing through an inlet nozzle is heated prior to discharge from the nozzle toward a measurement area to maintain sample flow more nearly laminar by compensating for the adiabatic cooling that occurs due to acceleration of flow through the nozzle. In addition, heating of the sample flow prevents condensation which can result with ambient air having a relative humidity of fifty percent. An optical particle measuring apparatus is shown having a generator for providing a laser beam, the path of which is through a measurement area, and an inlet nozzle through which aerosol sample is injected into the measurement area, after heating in accordance with this invention, to allow operation of the laser at a relatively high Q by reducing non-laminar flow characteristics.

Abstract: A video equipment bag is disclosed that is useful both as a secure transporting case for video equipment and as a carrying case to facilitate ease of operation of a complete video equipment recording assembly, including allowing operational functioning of the components of the video recording equipment assembly without requiring removal of at least some such components from the case. The bag includes a plurality of interior compartments, each of which receives different components of the video recording equipment assembly to be utilized, and specifically includes compartments for receiving a video camera, a spare battery pack, accessories, and a video cassette recorder with the video cassette recorder being positioned so that the recorder controls are accessible through an opening at one side portion of the bag and external electrical cable connections can be made to the recorder through an opening at the bottom of the bag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for magnetically separating particles from a liquid, which particles include diamagnetic, non-magnetic and/or very weakly paramagnetic particles. To achieve separation, the magnetic susceptibility of the liquid is modified, such as through dissolving a paramagnetic substance (such as manganese chloride) or a diamagnetic substance (such as bismuth diiodide) in a liquid (such as water, alcohol or glycerine), after which the modified paramagnetic liquid is passed through a filter formed of magnetic material in a magnetic field with the filter being preferably formed of ferromagnetic material establishing a high gradient magnetic filter.

Abstract: Bonded phase chromatography is disclosed wherein an organosilane reacts with a polyamine to form a support matrix which is attached to the inorganic surface of a support structure. In forming an organic polyamine support matrix, a neutral organosilane is bonded to the inorganic surface with the organosilane having a functional group sufficiently reactive so that an organic amine polymer reacts with the functional group to cause covalent bonding of the organic amine polymer to the inorganic surface. By addition of an organic stationary phase group, the organic polyamine support matrix is formed into any predetermined one of a plurality of types of chromatography supports.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for measuring heat flux, as is a method for forming a device for such use. Thermopile junctions are formed on a belt-like support so that the heat flux from an article, such as a pipe or process equipment, is sensed while the support is positioned against a surface of the article, and a voltage indicative of the sensed heat flux is generated and coupled to an outlet connector adapted for connection to a voltage readout device. The belt-like support is relatively narrow, flexible, and has one side of a polymer with high infrared emissivity and the other side of a metal foil with low infrared emissivity.

Abstract: A digital teleconferencing control device, system and method are disclosed for use in telecommunications. A digital conference control circuit having pulse code modulation and time division multiplexing is used in connecting a plurality of telephone subscribers together for conference purposes. When so connected, a plurality of then selected speakers can be heard by all other subscribers connected into the conference with the number of subscribers connectable into the conference being unlimited. Logic gates at the digital level in the control circuitry prevents return of signals generated by a speaking subscriber back to that subscriber.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming fine, relatively dry particles into shaped refractory, ceramic and porcelain preforms or similar compacted articles by confining the loose particles in a shaped enclosure having at least one movable, preloaded side to maintain the particles in a loose but contiguous mass, accelerating the mass particles and at least a portion of the mold in such a manner as to induce a positive or negative acceleration of the mass of a magnitude at least 25 to 50 G's, depending upon the particle composition, and preferably in the range of 500 G's to 5000 G's, or greater, again depending on the particle composition in order that each particle undergoes a force generating impact with adjacent particles to homogeneously compact and fuse the adjacent particles one to the other in a nonbridging manner.