Abstract: A skin clip remover for removing skin clips or staples which have been placed into the skin across a wound to close and retain the wound in a closed and healing position comprises a handle element and a trigger element joined together at a pivot point to form a hand operated tool capable of gripping and deforming the crown of a skin clip when the proximal ends of the two elements are forced toward each other to bring together into such gripping and deforming attitude the opposing faces of the distal ends of such two elements which are in the form of a pair of parallel anvil feet at an obtuse angle on the distal end of the handle element and a hawk bill projection at an obtuse angle on the distal end of the trigger element, such obtuse angles opposing each other to form a diamond shaped pocket to entrap the crown of a skin clip for deformation and removal.

Abstract: An ostomy device comprises an ostomy bag with a first coupling member attached thereto. A second coupling member for mating engagement with the first is attached to an adhesive backed label for adhering to the skin of the wearer around a stoma by a flexible mounting member comprising first and second sections coupled together at an inner peripheral region defining a stoma aperture therein. The second coupling member is attached to the first section at an outer peripheral region spaced apart from the inner peripheral region by hot melt adhesive while the second section is attached to the label at an outer peripheral region spaced apart from the inner peripheral region. The second section is attached by hot melt adhesive.

Abstract: A connector and sampling line for obtaining sample gases from a patient's exhaled gas stream present in an air tube coupled to the patient is disclosed. The sampling line comprises a sampling end portion having an open end and at least one hole in a wall of the end portion. A tubular shaped connector through which the gas stream passes along a first path includes a hollow cylinder coupled to the wall of the connector and protruding therefrom. The hollow interior of the connector communicates with ambient atmosphere through a distal open end and to the interior of the tubular portion of the connector through a hole in the connector wall. The sampling line includes a reinforced portion adjacent the sampling end portion for reinforcement. The hollow cylinder has an interior diameter large enough to receive the reinforced portion and substantially larger than the hole in the connector wall which hole is large enough to receive the sampling end portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for smoothing the reproduction of digitized waveforms on a raster scan line display by providing control signals which increase and decrease the electron beam pattern along the scan line in a trapezoidal pattern which is representative of the amplitude of the sampled waveform along that scan line. A microprocessor provides a plurality of digital signals which define the slopes of the increasing and decreasing ramps of the trapazoids and their starting points along the scan line. The digital signals for an entire frame of scan lines are stored during the frame blanking interval of the display and are accessed for each scan line during the scan line blanking interval. The digital signals are stored in a random access memory (RAM) at raster scan line addresses provided by the processor through a scroll counter and at digital signal addresses provided through a display controller.

Abstract: A crossed light beam coordinate detection and encoding system having a plurality of emitter/detector pairs along each axis of the display space is disclosed. The emitters are modulated in amplitude and the detectors are biased with a low load resistance to provide a wide dynamic range. The wide dynamic range and amplitude modulation detection provides immunity to unwanted interference. After band pass filtering, the carrier is amplified by high gain amplifier with auto bias control. The output of the amplifier generates a true/false output corresponding to the presence/absence of a beam. A single chip microprocessor controller checks the screen for interrupted beams and when not clear generates coordinates of the interrupted beams. The coordinates can be calculated as a weighted average of the interrupted beams for each axis or as the min and max coordinates along each axis. Reporting is done repeatedly at preselected time intervals.

Abstract: An ostomy device for releasably connecting an ostomy bag to an adhesive backed label including a mounting member for connecting one of two coupling parts to the label. The mounting member comprises an expandable portion for facilitating displacement of the connected coupling part between a normal closed position and an expanded position. The expanded portion comprises a pair of accordion-like folds including an inner fold and a smaller outer fold. The connected coupling part comprises a rib portion having a deflectible sealing strip extending therefrom. The rib portion is connected to the mounting member adjacent the outer folds such that the sealing strip is positioned intermediate the inner and outer folds when the coupling part is in the normal closed position. The inner fold guides discharge from the stoma into the bag and away from the interengaged coupling parts. In an alternate embodiment, the mounting member is affixed to the label.

Abstract: A power supply circuit for an output stage portion of a magnetic deflection circuit amplifier is disclosed. It comprises a power supply means for supplying a supply voltage during the collapse of the magnetic field associated with the yoke following the retrace portion. The power supply means also restores energy to another power supply means to which it is coupled, the other power supply means providing a supply voltage to the amplifier during a portion of the raster scan just preceding the retrace.

Abstract: A crossed light beam coordinate detection and encoding system having a plurality of emitter/detector pairs along each axis of the display space is disclosed. The emitters are modulated in amplitude and the detectors are biased with a low load resistance to provide a wide dynamic range. The wide dynamic range and AM modulation detection provides immunity to unwanted interference. After band pass filtering, the carrier is amplified by high gain amplifier with auto bias control. The output of the amplifier generates a true/false output corresponding to the presence/absence of a beam. A single chip microprocessor controller checks the screen for interrupted beams and when not clear generates coordinates of the interrupted beams. The coordinates can be calculated as a weighted average of the interrupted beams for each axis or as the min and max coordinates along each axis. Reporting is done repeatedly at preselected time intervals.

Abstract: An ostomy device comprises an ostomy bag with a first coupling member attached thereto. A second coupling member for mating engagement with the first is attached to an adhesive backed label for adhering to the skin of the wearer around a stoma by a flexible mounting member comprising first and second sections coupled together at an inner peripheral region defining a stoma aperture therein. The second coupling member is attached to the first section at an outer peripheral region spaced apart for the inner peripheral region by hot melt adhesive while the second section is attached to the label at an outer peripheral region spaced apart from the inner peripheral region. The second section is attached by hot melt adhesive.

Abstract: A tap or valve comprising a first tube and a second tube with a flexible elastic coupling between said tubes to allow fluid passage between said tubes when said tubes are substantially coaxially aligned and to allow displacement of one of said tubes relative to the other in order to close said fluid passage. The tap or valve is primarily intended for use with wire drawings tubing or intravenous drip tubing. The tap or valve further comprises means for releasably locking the tap or valve in the closed position.

Abstract: A method for dynamically assigning addresses to new modules as they are coupled to a communication system with a synchronous data link control (SDLC) bus is described. These modules communicate with a display unit via the SDLC bus. The SDLC bus is controlled by a primary station in the display unit, with all modules acting as secondary stations. The primary station periodically broadcasts a time-tag to all modules at a thirty-two hertz rate. At power up, each module obtains a number, module 16, derived from the lower four bits of its unique twenty-four bit serial number. The module uses this number as a count of the number of time-tags which must occur before the module responds to the primary with an address request. If there are no collisions with other modules, the primary sends the module a packet which assigns the module the next available address. In the event of a collision (i.e.

Abstract: A power switching circuit for providing variable pulse width drive signals for a laser in response to pulsed control signals. The power switching circuit includes a transformer circuit and a power transistor output circuit. The transformer circuit comprises a first pair of primary windings coupled to input terminals through a switch and an associated pair of secondary windings coupled to the output circuit to apply switching signals thereto. The transformer circuit further includes a second pair of primary windings coupled through a resistor to the input terminals with a polarity opposite that of the first pair. Control signals having a pulse width and repetition rate associated therewith are applied to the switch. During inter pulse intervals the voltage applied to the second pair of primary windings biases the transformer into saturation in a direction opposite to that of the first pair.

Abstract: An improved heater assembly for an aroma generating unit is disclosed. A serpentine heater element is disposed between mica insulating layers. The terminals of the heater element are extended through one of the layers. A two piece frame holds the heater element and insulating layers together. Both pieces have outer peripheral wall portions adapted for mating engagement when the frames are attached together. One of the pieces further comprises an inwardly divided flange while the other includes an inner peripheral wall portion which is shorter than the outer wall portion. When the heater assembly is joined together the insulating layers and intermediate heater element are held together between the flange and inner wall portion. A pair of opposite sides of the inner wall are spaced apart from the corresponding sides of the outer wall to form compartments which enclose the extended terminals of the heater element and the terminal ends of external power source leads such as an AC cord and related circuitry.

Abstract: A pulsed laser system capable of operating in a plurality of modes for delivering a burst of laser pulses to a target wherein the pulse width of the laser pulses are automatically controlled in response to the mode selected. A special calibration procedure allows the system to determine the pulse width and pulse repetition rate when the laser is producing a predetermined power output level as measured by a power meter at the target site. Using calibrated pulse width and pulse repetition rate, the pulse width and pulse repetition rate of the laser pulses to be delivered to the target for any particular treatment burst can be determined. Means are provided for determining the energy delivered to the target for any particular treatment burst. A potentiometer coupled to a laser spot size control lense assembly provides a signal proportional to the spot size. From this signal and the energy delivered, the energy density can be calculated.

Abstract: A removable package for use primarily in an ambulatory monitoring device, such as a medical monitor includes a RAM and a power supply. The RAM package is connected to an external device via an edge connector which includes interlock means for sensing when the removable RAM package is properly connected to the external device in order to prevent inadvertent writes into the RAM. In a preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed, the removable RAM circuit also includes a microprocessor compatible real time timer which is connected to the same data and address buses as the RAM.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic rhythm analysis of digitized ECG signals. Candidate heartbeats are detected and the noise of the ECG signal portion containing the candidate is evaluated to determine whether the candidate is a valid nominal or noisy beat or an invalid noisy saturated signal. The timing of detected heartbeats, both noisy and nominal, are determined relative to prior validated heartbeats. Features of the detected heartbeats are automatically extracted including onset, offset and R wave locations; QRS complex width; R-R interval based on the onset points; instantaneous and averaged heartrates; and others. A 16 point template of the heartbeat starting at the onset is also determined. Beats are then classified in a two step process; first, by template comparison with a previously determined dominant template, and second, by a finite state machine process based on the results of the template comparison and relative timing of the beat.

Abstract: A pulsed laser system capable of operating in a plurality of modes for delivering a burst of laser pulses to a target wherein the pulse width of the laser pulses are automatically controlled in response to the mode selected. A special calibration procedure allows the system to determine the pulse width and pulse repetition rate when the laser is producing a predetermined power output level as measured by a power meter at the target site. Using calibrated pulse width and pulse repetition rate, the pulse width and pulse repetition rate of the laser pulses to be delivered to the target for any particular treatment burst can be determined. Means are provided for determining the energy delivered to the target for any particular treatment burst. A potentiometer coupled to a laser spot size control lens assembly provides a signal proportional to the spot size. From this signal and the energy delivered, the energy density can be calculated.