Abstract: A necklace that does not fully encircle the neck of the user but, instead, has its two free ends with an affixing device at each free end to attach to the straps of the wearers garment or undergarment, such as a bra. In the preferred embodiment, the straps have a plurality of affixing devices vertically spaced along the strap so as to enable the user to position the necklace at differing heights on the wearer to suit the particular neckline of the attire worn by the user. In addition, the affixation and removal of the necklace takes place at the front of the wearer and thus is more convenient and easier to carry out than the use of a clasp that is intended to be manipulated behind the neck of the wearer.

Abstract: A mobile chair assembly includes a pair of wheels rotatably supported by a frame, a seat assembly mounted to the frame; and a transfer board assembly movable between a first position and a second position. The transfer board assembly includes a rigid transfer board and an attachment assembly. In the first position, the rigid transfer board and the attachment assembly are disposed under the seat assembly and in the second position, the rigid transfer board extends laterally from the seat assembly. The seat assembly includes a seat support pivotable relative to the frame; and a back support pivotably attached to a back of the seat support. In a folded position, the seat support and back support form an acute angle to one another and the seat support is inclined relative to the frame.

Abstract: A transport cart for attaching to a patient care apparatus having a locking system that converts the forward caster of the transport cart from an omni-directional pivotable caster to a fixed directional device by restraining its pivoting about a vertical axis. The forward caster is located at about the center of the footprint of the combined transport cart/patient care apparatus and the fixed directional movement of the forward caster provides stability in moving the combined apparatus. The locking mechanism may be internal to the caster or may have a pair of pivotable lock arms that contact the patient care apparatus as the two are brought together and the pivotable lock arms pivot to a locked position where they sandwich the caster therebetween to restrain its ability to pivot. The locking mechanism automatically or manually releases the forward caster to again freely pivot when the transport cart/patient care apparatus are separated.

Abstract: A bed leveling system for a dump truck to prevent an imbalance of the truck bed during unloading of material. The system controls the side to side tilt of the truck bed and returns that bed to a generally level orientation when the bed tilt exceeds a predetermined angle. The truck bed is pivotally affixed to the truck chassis through a hinge pin. Thus, the tilting of the dump bed is carried out by a hydraulic system that changes the tilt of the hinge pin. The leveling system includes a cylindrical tube that supports the hinge pin and which is rotatable with respect to the chassis. A roll cylinder rotates the cylindrical tube to change the tilt angle of the hinge pin. A tilt sensor senses the out of level orientation of the truck bed and activates the leveling system to bring the bed back to a generally level orientation.

Abstract: An infant care bed for supporting an infant having incorporated therein, certain testing and evaluation devices to carrying out the evaluation of an infant in a medical care facility. The apparatus can carry out at least one of the following tests on the infant: determining the weight of an infant, determining the sucking strength of an infant, determining the ability of the infant to hear certain frequencies and determining the bilirubin level of the infant's blood. The infant care bed includes a computer with a memory device such that the hospital can input a customized protocol of the tests to be performed on the infant and the criteria for passing the tests. A data input allows the personnel to input test results and a display provides an account of the tests performed and the tests not performed to assure that all of the tests required by the protocol are conducted.

Abstract: A transport cart for attaching to a patient care apparatus having a locking system that converts the forward caster of the transport cart from an omni-directional pivotable caster to a fixed directional device by restraining its pivoting about a vertical axis. The forward caster is located at about the center of the footprint of the combined transport cart/patient care apparatus and the fixed directional movement of the forward caster provides stability in moving the combined apparatus. The locking mechanism may be internal to the caster or may have a pair of pivotable lock arms that contact the patient care apparatus as the two are brought together and the pivotable lock arms pivot to a locked position where they sandwich the caster therebetween to restrain its ability to pivot. The locking mechanism automatically or manually releases the forward caster to again freely pivot when the transport cart/patient care apparatus are separated.

Abstract: A sample card for use in a spectroscopic analytical instrument. The card is preferably disposable and includes an aperture through the card in which there is positioned a sample supporting window on which a sample is adapted to be placed. The sample supporting window is made from a light energy transmitting material by one of the steps such as cleaving, fly cutting, chipping milling, sawing or scaling. A method of manufacturing the card and for using the card are also included where the method includes the step of providing light supporting window by forming that window by the aforedescribed processes.

Abstract: A patient carestation for providing care to a patient including at least one environmental sensor sensing information concerning the environment surrounding the patient and providing electronic signals indicative of that environment. There are also physiological sensors sensing information relating to physiological conditions of the patient other than skin temperature and providing electronic signals indicative of physiological conditions of the patient. There may also be therapeutic sensors providing data based on therapy administered by peripheral apparatus and an input receiving patient information. A signal processor receives the signals from the physiological sensors, the environmental sensor, the therapeutic sensor and the patient information input and combines those signals into an integrated combination of signals for use by the caregiver. The integrated combination of signals can be used in a smart alarm or to generally appraise the caregiver at a central location as to the status of the patient.

Abstract: An adjustable sling that can be used to hold a patient's arm, wrist and hand in a multiple positions and eliminate stress to the neck and shoulder. The adjustable sling has a pouch for holding the patient's arm, wrist and hand and the pouch is held at its opposite ends by a pair of straps that are detachably affixed to the pouch. The straps pass over the shoulders of the patient on both sides of the head with free ends extending downwardly over the back of the patient to be affixed to the clothing of the patient much in the manner of suspenders. Both of the straps have length-adjusting devices that allow the length of the straps to be adjusted in accordance with the desired position and angle of the pouch. The free ends may be attached to the belt of the patient at the patient's back with connecting devices that clamp onto the belt.

Abstract: A blanket or article of wearing apparel for a subject such as an infant. A fiber optic temperature sensing element is integrated into the fabric by a process such as weaving. The temperature sensing element is a optic fiber having inscribed therein one or more fiber Bragg grating sensors such that a light is introduced into the optic fiber and that light directed onto the subject at a grating interface. A return light signal is received, either by a reflectance mode or a transmission mode, where the return light signal has a wavelength shift indicative of the temperature of the subject by Bragg resonant effect. Higher temperature sensitivity is obtained with a metal material of a high thermal expansion coefficient that is coated around the fiber sensor cladding.

Abstract: An infant care apparatus having a door latching mechanism that provides a positive latching of a door to the hood of the apparatus. The mechanism has a door latching assembly that is affixed to the door and which is latched to a floating catch housing that is affixed to the hood in a manner that the floating catch housing is vertically movable with respect to the hood. When the door is moved into its closed, latched position, the door latching assembly vertically aligns the floating catch housing so that a movable latch member is correctly oriented with respect to latch openings in the floating catch housing so that the movable catch member can enter the latch openings sufficiently to assure a positive, secure latch therebetween.

Abstract: A device to carry out tests of the macula of a subject's eye to identify disease such as age related macular degeneration. The device includes a stimulus light source comprising a stimulus spheroidal chamber with a stimulus light located therein to emit light through an aperture in the stimulus spheroidal chamber into the eye of a subject. The stimulus light source may include a plurality of light emitting diodes of differing colors. A controller controls the intensity and the color of the light emitted through the aperture of the stimulus spheroidal chamber to the subject. There is also an adapting light source comprising a light contained within an adapting spheroidal chamber. The adapting light source provides a bright light that can be used to remove the subject's dark adaption. There is also an alignment detection system that verifies that the gaze of the subject is toward the stimulus light source.

Abstract: A transport cart for attaching to a patient care apparatus, such as an infant care apparatus to move that infant care apparatus from one location to another. The transport cart is dockable to the infant care apparatus forming an overall footprint of the combination transport cart/infant care apparatus. The infant care apparatus has wheels to provide mobility thereto and the transport cart has a rear section with wheels and having a handle to push the transport cart and a front section with wheels that docks with the infant care apparatus. There is a flexible coupling between the front and rear sections of the transport cart that allows the transport cart to rock as it passes over an uneven floor surface, such as an incline or a decline to maintain contact with the floor by the wheels of both the front and rear sections to provide stable movement of the combined transport cart and infant care apparatus as it is rolled over that floor.

Abstract: An infant care apparatus for supporting an infant upon an infant platform having a humidification control system. The user can initial select a manual mode where the humidity is inputted through a user input to control the humidity within an infant compartment. The system has an automatic mode where the user can then input humidity levels and a successive time periods to establish a protocol for controlling the humidity within the infant compartment over the time period the infant is being treated within the infant care apparatus. Each successive time period inputted by the user has a different humidity level associated herewith. As a further feature, there is an evaluation system to monitor whether the infant has been overstressed by any of the automatic reductions in the levels of humidity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing simulated oil paintings by means of a variety of commercial software programs. A digital color image is created and printed on to a substrate. Also printed on to the same substrate and registered thereto, is a slow drying, clear, embossing liquid in the pattern of brush strokes derived from one or more of the colors printed on to the substrate. A thermographic powder is dusted onto the embossing liquid while still wet and excess powder removed. The substrate is then heated to dry and raise the brush stroke pattern of the embossing ink to create a three dimensional effect on the substrate. The raised brush stroke pattern in combination with printed color image creates a work that has the three dimensional effect simulating an original oil painting.

Abstract: An infant warming apparatus for supporting an infant upon an infant bed. The apparatus has a sensor that is affixed to the skin of the infant to detect one or more physiological functions of the infant. A transmitter is located within the enclosure of the sensor and which transmit the information detected by the physiological sensor to a receiver that is located on the infant care apparatus and which can then convert that information into a recognizable or usable medium. An alternative embodiment includes the transmitter located proximate to the infant within an infant scale located beneath the infant. The sensor is hardwired to the transmitter in the infant scale and signals relating to weight and/or a condition of the infant are transmitted by wireless telemetry to a monitor or other display device to display that information to the caregiver.

Abstract: An infant warming apparatus for supporting an infant upon an infant platform. The apparatus has a procedure light that is recessed into the normal horizontal overhead housing of the apparatus and thus integrated into the infant apparatus. The procedure light is conveniently located above and centrally positioned with respect to the infant so as to direct the light toward the infant. The mounting provides omnidirectional movement of the procedure light and the movement can be easily controlled by means of a control handle that extends downwardly with a distal end readily accessible to the caregiver. At or proximate to the distal end there is an electrical controller to enable the caregiver to change the intensity of the light beam. The light beam can also be easily focused so as to allow the caregiver to direct the desired beam of light onto the area of interest of the infant.

Abstract: An infant care apparatus having a canopy movable with respect to an infant support for supporting an infant between a lower position enclosing the infant in an infant compartment and an upper position opening the infant compartment. The canopy has an opening and a door that can be closed to block the opening and opened to unblock the opening. A radiant heater is located in a fixed position above the infant support to direct infrared energy toward the infant support. When the canopy is in its lower position, a convective heating system warms the infant compartment. The door either closes as the canopy moves to its lower position or opens as the canopy moves to its upper position.

Abstract: An infant warmer for supporting an infant upon an infant platform. A radiant heater is located above the infant platform to direct infrared energy toward an infant positioned upon the infant platform. There is a pre-heat cycle that is carried out by a controller of the radiant heater that may be activated, manually or automatically, at the start-up of the infant warmer. The pre-warm cycle then warms the infant platform as well as other surfaces in close proximity thereto in order to heat those components prior to the infant being placed on the infant platform. The pre-warm cycle continues until those components are sufficient heated whereupon a signal, audible, visual or both, alerts the user that the pre-heat cycle has been completed and the infant warmer is ready to receive the infant. By warming those components, the possibility of hypothermia of the infant is reduced.