Abstract: A ratchet mechanism for a surgical retractor blade having a dual ratchet holder. A pivot ratchet is mounted on the dual ratchet holder. A pawl key mounted on the dual ratchet holder. The pawl key is used to engage the teeth on the pivot ratchet. The mechanism also has a pivot thumb piece that is pivotally attached to the pawl key. The thumb piece is used to release the pawl key when it is activated. A rocker thumb piece is mounted on the dual ratchet holder. It is used to engage and disengage a tooth on the stem of a surgical retractor blade.

Abstract: A stack of laminated transparent lenses consists of two alternating optically clear materials in intimate contact. The materials are a plastic lens and clear adhesive. The adhesive is uninterrupted. The lens and the adhesive have refraction mismatch of less than 0.2. A tab portion is part of each lens and acts as an aid in peeling away the outermost lens after contamination of the lens layer during racing conditions. The lens stack can be mounted to the posts on the face shield of a racing helmet or laminated directly to a windshield.

Abstract: A cylinder-shaped expandable spinal implant is disclosed. The implant is a hollow housing having a cylinder-shaped wall, with a circular sealed distal end, and an opposite proximal circular open end. The open end of the housing has internal threads for securing a cap to it. A removable cap is threaded on the open end of the housing. The housing has two opposite large rectangular openings located longitudinally in the wall of the housing for receiving two arcuate sections. Each arcuate section is positioned in the rectangular opening in the wall of the implant. A locking means for locking the arcuate section in the rectangular opening in the wall is provided. A plurality of small ports are drilled in the wall for allowing bone growth after implantation of said implant in a patient. The arcuate sections have transverse ribs for locking the implant in position are implantation. Openings between the ribs are provided for allowing bone growth.

Abstract: A method of making a quilt through decorative jersey squares constructed from recycled sports jersey.

Abstract: A solid state electronic digital pressure gage which is responsive to the inlet pressure (P1) and the outlet pressure (P2) of a device undergoing a flow test to measure the pressure differential across the device at different flow rates. The pressure gage includes a housing, a face plate mounted on the housing, and a printed circuit board may be mounted on the back of the face plate on which various electronic circuitry, components and controls are mounted. Certain of the controls may be adjustable from the front of the face plate. A pair of solid state pressure transducers is mounted on the housing, and these transducers generate electric signals which are a function of the pressures applied to the transducers. The transducers are connected to an electronic signal difference determining circuit which is included in the electronic circuitry, and the difference determining circuit generates a signal representing the difference between the pressures applied to the two transducers.

Abstract: The present invention can be described as a ball pitching machine having an integral pitching barrel and motor mount and three spaced drive wheels partially projecting into the barrel to grip and propel a ball placed in one end of the pitching barrel. The barrel has three longitudinally aligned slots or windows in the surface of the barrel to provide clearance for secant portions of each of the three wheels. The planes formed by each drive wheel extend radially from the longitudinal axis of the barrel. Each radial plane is equally spaced from each other at 120 degrees relative to each other. Each domed drive wheel is rotatably mounted on the end of a rotatable drive shaft of an electric motor. The three electric motors are mounted on the integral pitching barrel and mount by C-shaped clamps.