Abstract: A positive fixation cardiac lead includes an electrode sleeve/crimp tube assembly in which a recess is formed for retaining a drug impregnated matrix. The electrode sleeve and crimp tube threadedly engage, to permit insertion of the matrix prior to their assembly. The distal end section of the crimp tube can be provided with a helical groove corresponding to the shape of a fixation helix, with the sleeve and distal section spaced from one another to permit insertion of an annular drug matrix. The distal portion of the electrode sleeve can have an annular groove formed to receive a length of platinum wire, for increased electrode sensitivity.

Abstract: An anti-sway system for a steerable vehicle of the type employing a torsion bar suspension. Operatively coupled to the torsion bar for each of the vehicle's steerable wheels or skis is a mechanism for increasing the effective spring rate of the suspension upon cornering over that prevailling when steering a straight line course.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing indicia upon a continuous paper web, and including an ink retaining robbon, supply and take-up reels for the ribbon, and with a web path for the paper web and ink ribbon being defined, and with a printing station situated in the web paths. The printing station includes a numbering machine with indicia to be printed, with the printing station further including a skate assembly which carries a rotatable pressure ring. The skate assembly is mounted upon an endless belt, and is arranged to run in a direction transverse to the paper web path. A single motor means is provided, and includes a first drive for providing intermittent draw-dwell motion to the paper web, while providing continuous motion of the endless belt carrying the skate assembly. The skate assembly is timed to move across the paper during paper dwell periods.

Abstract: A concrete mixing vehicle having a retractable tag axle assembly and a distribution chute is disclosed. To ensure that the tag axle assembly does not come into contact with the distribution chute as the tag axle assembly as it moves between a first ground engaging position and a second elevated position, a limit switch is provided in the control circuit for the tag axle assembly. The limit switch only permits movement of the tag axle assembly when the distribution chute is outside of the tag axle assembly's path of travel as it moves between said first and second positions.

Abstract: A tubular catheter having an inflatable expander member mounted thereon at the distal end thereof is provided with an extremely fine slit passing through the wall of the tubular catheter such that when a liquid is introduced under pressure into the proximal end thereof for inflating the balloon, any air present in the lumen of the catheter and in the yet unexpanded balloon is forced out through the slit. The slit or vent opening through the tube wall is so small that when the catheter is again aspirated to remove the purging fluid, air does not re-enter the expander through the vent opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for accommodating a purchaser at a vendor's check-out station or the like with the check writer being provided with a communication line for validating and clearing checks, along with a register for determining the transaction total. The apparatus and system of the present invention further permits the purchaser/customer to insert a check blank from a personal checking account into the writer, and means are provided for printing appropriate indicia on the check blank, including date, payee, and amount of the check, and further having an opening for enabling the person to execute the already-imprinted check.

Abstract: A thermally conductive laminate structure for use as a mounting base and/or chassis attachment member in combination with solid-state electronic devices, the laminate preferably comprising up to five layers including a pair of outer metallic layers disposed on opposite sides of center composite layers of electrically insulative layers separated by an interposed metallic layer. The center insulative layers are films of polyimide(amide) material, with the polyimide(amide) film being filled with a quantity of aluminum oxide, boron nitride, or other suitable particulate solid in an amount ranging from between about 30% and 100% by weight of polyimide(amide) solids. The outer layers are metallic, with the base member being a metallic pad of copper or aluminum, and with the opposed metallic layer being copper and arranged in a printed circuitry pattern or array.

Abstract: An improved fishing mitt comprised of a main body and a double cuff is disclosed. The main body includes eight separate layers for warmth. The main body also has two adjoining break-apart edges so that the mitt can be peeled back over the forearm to expose the hand when landing a fish.

Abstract: An improved electric cow trainer having a plurality of training members, each associated with a separate animal stall, is described. The design of the present invention permits all of the training members to be simultaneously rotated between their operating position just above the backs of the cows when they are standing in the stall to a second, elevated position well above the heads of people working in the barn. In this second position, the training members are neither a nuisance or dangerous to those working in the barn.

Abstract: A shear mechanism for cutting worn out vehicle tires into arcuate segments to facilitate storage and transportation. First and second vertically extending anvil members are mounted on a base in parallel, spaced-apart relationship to one another. The anvil members include removable female die members. Pivotally joined to the base is a blade member, the blade member also having a replaceable working edge. The blade is driven by a hydraulic ram and when a tire is positioned against the anvil and the ram is actuated, the blade will move into the gap between the spaced-apart anvil members and, in doing so, will sever through the side walls and tread surface of the vehicle tire.

Abstract: A hydrophobic microporous membrane substrate can be coated with a plasma polymerizate coating in order to reduce the pore size of the substrate to a size smaller than the original pore size but not less than about 10 A. By selecting the particular plasma polymerizate coating, the surface of the substrate may be rendered either hydrophilic or hydrophobic, while the body of the substrate retains the substrate's original properties of mechanical strength and chemical resistance. Three different methods of applying plasma polymer coatings by plasma polymerization techniques are disclosed. These membranes are suitable for separating particulate larger than about 10 A from solutions. These membranes in the form of hollow fibers can be incorporated into separatory modules.

Abstract: An article of footware comprising a shoe having a removable and replaceable heel. Attached to the sole surface of the shoe's upper is a outwardly projecting shaft which is adapted to fit into an internal bore formed in the core of the shoe's heel member. A latch mechanism is provided for inhibiting unintended separation of the heel from the upper.

Abstract: A method of attaching a plastic hub member to the proximal end of a Teflon-lined thermoplastic tubular catheter so as to prevent delamination of the Teflon lining at the site of the attachment. The thermoplastic outer layer of the tubular catheter is removed in a grinding operation for a predetermined distance from the proximal end of the tube to expose a short length of the Teflon lining. Next, a spinning forming tool is forced against the proximal end of the tubular catheter causing the exposed Teflon lining to be rolled back over the outer surface of the thermoplastic tube. Next, the proximal end of the catheter is inserted into the bore of the hub and because the Teflon layer has been rolled over the end portion of the tubular catheter, it is trapped against an internal flange formed in the catheter hub when the hub is adhesively bonded to the exterior of the thermoplastic layer and prevented from delaminating and possibly occluding the lumen of the catheter.

Abstract: An anti-sway system for a steerable vehicle of the type employing a torsion bar suspension system. Operatively coupled to the torsion bar for each of the vehicle's steerable wheels or skis is a mechanism for increasing the effective spring rate of the suspension upon cornering over that prevailing when steering a straight line course.

Abstract: A wide dynamic range digital receiver for radar or sonar applications wherein the wide dynamic range is achieved by increasing the sampling rate of the received signals through the use of a special purpose microprogrammed digital receiver processor implemented with a plurality of processing elements especially designed for performing sum of products' computations on a pipelined basis. The processing elements utilize VHSIC technology to achieve multiplication of two 24-bit operands at nanosecond rates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for carrying air tanks of the type typically used by underwater scuba divers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a harness used to transport such tanks to or from a boat, a car or a vendor used to fill such tanks with air.

Abstract: Described is a surgical tool having a unique blade comprised of a blank made of electrically conductive material, a first insulative member, a plurality of electrically conductive members laminated to the first and insulative member and a second insulative coating. The blade acts as a capacitive device or as a resistive device depending upon the precise configuration of the second insulative coating.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for suppressing the ventricular component from an atrial sensing lead used with a dual chamber cardiac pacer, thus obviating the need for an atrial sense refractory period to prevent oversensing of the ventricular interference. The invention utilizes an adaptive filter embodying the Widrow-Hoff least mean square (LMS) algorithm which is connected to receive signals from an endocardial lead having a bipolar ventricular electrode and a unipolar atrial electrode. The bipolar electrodes disposed in the ventricle are connected as the "input" X.sub.k signal to the LMS adaptive filter while the unipolar atrial electrode output is connected as the "desired" or reference signal d.sub.k.

Abstract: A tachyarrhythmia/fibrillation detector in which the Widrow-Hoff LMS algorithm is utilized for estimation of a transfer function. One or more LMS cancellers are placed between two separate sensing electrode pairs placed in or on the heart and by noting the convergence of the error signal or the lack thereof the type of tachyarrhythmia or a ventricular fibrillation condition can be discerned. With sinus rhythm, the error signal is small in power compared to the power of the desired response. With ventricular fibrillation, however the filter weights are unable to converge to cause the filter output signal to track desired signal and the filter output waveform becomes asynchronous with the desired response, yielding a detectably high error power.