Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the reciprocal movement of a free, gas-driven displaced in a cooling engine are disclosed. Mechanical stops in the form of a crank mechanism prevent axial overshooting of the gas-driven displacer in each direction. A uni-directional magnetic "detent" is established for the displacer at predetermined location beyond the top dead center and bottom dead center portions of the cooling cycle. Each uni-directional magnetic "detent" provides a magnetic retention force to hold the displacer from moving until a pre-determined pressure differential is established across the displacer's drive piston. The magnetic "detents" are formed by magnetic elements that operate in cooperation with the crank mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the reciprocal movement of a free piston, gas-driven displacer in a cooling engine are disclosed. A bi-directional magnetic "detent" is established for the displacer at both the top dead center and bottom dead center portions of the cooling cycle. Each bi-directional magnetic "detent" provides a magnetic snubbing force to limit overshooting of the displacer in one direction and a magnetic retention force to hold the displacer from moving in the other direction until a pre-determined pressure differential is established across the displacer's drive piston. The magnetic "detents" are formed by means of a three pole double magnet with a single core or alternatively, by a two pole single magnet with a double core. The magnetic snubbing and retention forces can be made equal or unequal in magnitude either through the selection of permanent magnet(s) or core configuration(s) or by controlling the field strength of electro-magnets.

Abstract: An inflatable/deflatable compression device, such as, a sleeve or cuff for use in simulating blood circulation in the limbs. The compression device is designed for use with a source of cyclical fluid pressure to provide alternating inflation and deflation cycles of the device. The compression device has at least one inflatable/deflatable fluid chamber. A safety bleed hole fluidly couples the interior of the fluid chamber to the exterior so that fluid pressure will be released from the at least one fluid chamber in the event that the source of cyclical inflating and deflating fluid pressures does not cycle to its deflating mode.

Abstract: An ice cream dispensing machine having at least one storage container for storing liquid ice cream. The storage container is connected to a freezing cylinder that contains a mixing spiral. The freezing cylinder is connected to a dispensing apparatus that includes a vertically movable ice cream cornet holder. Cornet position sensing switches are employed to initiate machine operations. Timing clocks control the dispensing of the ice cream and provide a safety factor with respect to the maximum quantity of ice cream that can be dispensed during a single dispensing operation. The time interval between two successive dispensing operations is controlled to insure that sufficient time has elapsed for complete freezing of the liquid ice cream for the next dispensing operation.

Abstract: A hermaphroditic or "genderless" electrical connector having a main housing and an auxiliary housing. The main housing contains primary electrical contacts while the auxiliary housing provides mechanical keying and, preferably, contains auxiliary electrical contacts. The auxiliary housing can be positioned within the main housing in a plurality of orientations to provide mechanical keying when the electrical connector is telescopically engaged with a duplicate electrical connector.

Abstract: A chopping- and slicing machine for the crushing of bulky, hard or soft materials whereby these might also be dirtied by soil and stones. The machine has a system of blades that has sharp cutting blades in one direction of course and blunt cutting blades in the other direction of course.

Abstract: This invention relates to the construction of a cardiac ablation electrode with a thermosensing detector at one or more positions in the distal tip. The distal tip is uninsulated in contrast to the rest of the flexible length of the electrode to enable radiofrequency (rf) potential to be applied there. This rf potential causes heating of cardiac tissue when the catheter electrode is inserted into the heart via venus pathways. A thermocouple sensor is embedded in the electrode tip with the detection wires running along the catheter to external apparatus for measurement to application of radiofrequency. The thermocouple sensor is integral and at the surface of the distal electrodes for true surface temperature recording with fast response.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for premetered "patch" coating discrete, incremental surfaces or substrates, such as printed circuit boards, integrated circuits and the like, with a pre-configured layer of a liquid in which a controlled volume per unit area of the liquid is applied to the substrate are disclosed. The liquid is dispensed from an applicator slot that is fluidly coupled to a liquid containing chamber. The volume of the liquid in the liquid containing chamber is varied in order to (1) sharply and distinctly start the coating "patch" by producing a pulse of liquid that flows out of the applicator slot to form a connecting bead of liquid coating on the coating surface and (2) sharply and distinctly terminate the coating "patch" by removing the bead of liquid connecting the applicator slot with the coated surface. The width of the coated "patch" is determined by the length of the applicator slot.

Abstract: A constant deviation beam scanning apparatus having a rotatable beam deflector with at least one reflective surface thereof lying in a plane that intersects the axis of rotation at an acute angle. One embodiment utilizes a rotatable, truncated, n-sided pyramidal mirror with at least one planar reflective scanning segment located on one of the n-sides of the pyramidal mirror. The pyramidal mirror's truncation surface lies in a plane normal to the mirror's rotation axis and contains at least one planar reflective segment. A constant deviation reflector having two reflective surfaces is positioned so that a collimated beam of light reflected by the truncation surface reflective segment is reflected by one of the constant deviation reflective surfaces to the other reflective surface and then to the at least one planar reflective scanning segment of the pyramidal mirror.

Abstract: The use of radio frequency currents to heat and destroy neurological tissues is well known in the field of neurosurgery and typically involves monitoring of the tissue temperature as it is being heated by an in-dwelling electrode. This patent deals with an apparatus and method which enables the operator of such apparatus to be in control of the rise of temperature and the increase in radio frequency power delivered to such electrodes, and yet also to pre-set a temperature and have control circuitry and other means to prevent the electrode temperature to exceed a set temperature point. We refer to this as an over-temperature control for heat lesion generation equipment in the case of neurosurgery. The system is a hybrid between a purely manually controlled radio frequency heating unit and a completely automatically controlled radio frequency unit, the latter being such that it automatically raises the radio frequency power and feedbacks on a set temperature to stabilize the final electrode temperature.

Abstract: A method for temporarily sealing holes in a printed circuit board laminate during processing is disclosed. A sheet of deformable material is placed on one side of the PCB and then deformed so that the material extends into each hole to form a protectively sealing plug therein. Thereafter, the other side of the PCB is coated with a suitable resist for subsequent processing. The resist can be either photo-imagable or non-photo-imagable, such as silk screening inks, lacquers and varnishes. After conventional processing of the resist coated PCB, the deformed sheet material that forms the protectively sealing plugs is removed from the PCB. In the preferred embodiment, deformation of the sheet material is accomplished by thermally deforming a thermodeformable sheet material with a pressure differential applied across the thickness of the sheet material.

Abstract: A symmetry calibration method for calibrating multi-configuration robots is disclosed. Specific points in the robot envelope are selected and the robot is moved to each point twice using different configurations. A linear measurement is made from an arbitrary fixed surface to a selected point on the robot at each envelope point. The origin for an axis is determined when the measurements for both configurations at the envelope point are substantially equal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented here which allow for easy quantitative determination of a position on a patient's skin as seen in CT scanner images. It is based on a device which is a lattice of fiducial rods that can be placed on or near the patient's skin. The images from this device then enable specific points on the skin itself to be readily identified by the operator. It requires a minimum of complication or calculation, and can be used in a variety of procedures which involve placing a probe through the patient's skin to a target, such as a tumor, as seen on the CT scan. The localizaing ladder, as it will be called, can be quickly placed in an aligned fashion on the patient's body, and, depending on several embodiments of the invention, coordinate points on the skin can be determined thereafter by either CT scanner software output, a simple off-line numerical calculation, or, even simpler, counting of the ladder localizer points.

Abstract: An X, Y, Z (and .theta.) article positioner and method are disclosed in which two axial elements, one inclined at an angle .alpha. and the other inclined at an angle -.alpha., are utilized in conjunction with each other to accomplish moves in a pure X or pure Z direction or a combination thereof. Each axial element is driven by a lead screw, which in turn is driven by a motor. Pure X movement is achieved by driving the lead screws the same amount, at the same rate, in the same direction. Conversely, to achieve a pure Z movement, the two lead screws are driven the same amount, at the same rate, but in opposite directions. In the preferred embodiment, three superposed and independently driven wedges are used to provide the desired single axis or combinational axis movement to position a workpiece in X, Y and Z with rotational movement of the three wedges providing .theta. axis positioning.

Abstract: An electrical connector handle for use with a plural cable electrical connector assembly. The handle has a pair of D-shaped, spade handles extending rearwardly from a housing that releasably retains the electrical cable-connector assembly. An integral cable strain relief is provided together with cable control switches and a power condition indicator.

Abstract: A constant deviation beam scanning apparatus having a rotatable beam deflector with at least one reflective surface thereof lying in a plane that intersects the axis of rotation at an acute angle. One embodiment utilizes a rotatable, truncated, n-sided pyramidal mirror with at least one planar reflective scanning segment located on one of the n-sides of the pyramidal mirror. The pyramidal mirror's truncation surface lies in a plane normal to the mirror's rotation axis and contains at least one planar reflective segment. A constant deviation reflector having two reflective surfaces is positioned so that a collimated beam of light reflected by the truncation surface reflective segment is reflected by one of the constant deviation reflective surfaces to the other reflective surface and then to the at least one planar reflective scanning segment of the pyramidal mirror.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for snubbing the movement of a free, gas-driven displacer in a cooling engine are disclosed. The reciprocal movement of the free, gas-driven displacer is snubbed in each direction of movement as the displacer approaches top dead center and bottom dead center of its cycle by means of a magnetic snubber. Magnetic repulsion forces are generated between the displacer and the displacer containing cylinder of the cooling engine as the displacer approaches both top dead center and bottom dead center of its cycle. Each magnetic repulsive force is non-linear with respect to the displacer and the corresponding end of the displacer containing cylinder.

Abstract: The sensor-valve disclosed herein is an element in a fluid shunting system such as used in hydrocephalus and controls the flow of fluid in the shunt system according to the difference in pressure at some point inside the valve and the pressure in a bodily region outside and near to the valve. This is accomplished by means of a flexible diaphragm portion of the valve which communicates with the shunt fluid pressure on one side and the bodily region pressure on the other, the pressure difference causing the diaphragm to move and thus change the degree of opening of the valve fluid passage aperture. This would, for example, enable maintaining the difference between ventricular fluid pressure and pressure at the brain's surface at some desired valve in the situation of an implanted hydrocephalus shunt valve system.