Abstract: A photochromic material adapted for coating light transmissive materials. The photochromic material contains photosensitive silver halide crystals having dimensions in the range of approximately 50 Angstroms to 800 Angstroms. The silver halide crystals are surface doped with copper ions and another sensitizer selected from mild reducing agents or sulfur-bearing ions. The crystals are dispersed in a protective polymer that does not irreversibly bind halogen.

Abstract: A drill head assembly for drilling holes in bony structure is disclosed. The assembly has an inner drill and an outer drill which rotate together as a unit. The leading portions of the outer drill are contiguous with the peripheral portions of the inner drill, and the inner and outer drills are adapted to form a bore-countersink opening in the bone, whereby the drill head assembly may be used to safely drill through relatively thin bone.

Abstract: A device intended primarily for use in a shower stall that is adapted to dispense a predetermined total amount of a selected additive into a water stream, with the rate of mixing of the additive and water being controlled as a function of the water pressure. A positive displacement pump is used to dispense the additive from a storage chamber, and the additive is dispensed via a controllable applicator device.

Abstract: A new and improved suture anchor of the sort adapted to anchor an intermediate portion of a piece of conventional suture in bone, and a new and improved installation tool for deploying the same, said installation tool being adapted to releasably hold at least one curved needle which is attached to said piece of conventional suture.

Abstract: A miniature transducer designed for use in a medical imaging system catheter probe is disclosed. The transducer has an electric cavity and coaxial construction for preventing electric fields from being emitted or received by the transducers. The construction of the transducer enables two to be mounted very close to one another on a thin catheter probe, one for transmitting acoustic pulses and the other for sensing echoes in response to the acoustic pulses, for imaging extremely close targets. The transducers can be secured to the catheter probe in such a way as to substantially acoustically isolate one from the other.A method of making the transducer by applying several electrically-conductive and insulating coatings and layers to a core in selected sequence so as to create a transducer having an electrical cavity, coaxial construction.

Abstract: A rotary heat regenerator comprises a regenerator matrix mounted for rotation in a central aperture of a housing wall, and an improved seal disposed in the annular gap between the matrix and the housing wall. The seal includes (a) a first portion of pile-like material which is secured to the peripheral surface of the matrix, and (b) a second portion of pile-like material which is secured to the housing wall such that the two interact to provide a seal while allowing the matrix to rotate in the aperture.

Abstract: Pinhole-free, radiation absorbing, surgical quality latex gloves are formed from homogeneous suspension of natural rubber and high specific gravity metal or metal compund. The suspension is formed under conditions which prevent entrapment of gas in the suspension.

Abstract: A system for measuring a force applied to a mass so that the magnitude and direction of the force can be determined as well as the torque about three orthogonal axes. The system comprises an electromagnetic bearing support system for electromagnetically suspending the mass in a predetermined position and orientation relative to a three-dimensional coordinate system defining three mutually perpendicular axes. The forces applied to the mass are measured by measuring the force components of each applied force along one of the axes so that the one axis defines a reference axis. The force components in the direction of the two remaining force components are each measured at two locations along the reference axis. The roll of the mass about the reference axis is measured and the yaw and pitch of the mass about the two remaining axes is determined as a function of the two components in the direction of the of each of the two remaining axes.

Abstract: An IV lock for preventing IV connectors from separating. The IV lock has a split-fork lock at one end for releasably securing a male IV fitting or connector to the IV lock and a snap-fit clamp at the opposite end for releasably securing a catheter to the IV lock. The male IV fitting and catheter are prevented from moving axially and transversely of their length when secured in the IV lock. The IV lock supports the IV fitting and catheter at the same angle at which the catheter was inserted into the patient. Apertures are provided in the base of the IV lock so that IV fluid flowing through the male IV fitting may be viewed against the skin of the patient.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method is described for recording a pattern of track positioning servo signals at select locations of a magnetic tape for use in aligning a single track read head with each of the tracks defined by the signal pattern. The pattern is provided by recording two different signals with two write heads so that the signals are recorded as alternating strips. The differences between the two signals are then used to define the each track center.

Abstract: An intraocular lens assembly including an adjustable-power lens assembly and an adjustment mechanism coupled between the lens assembly and the ciliary muscle of the eye in which the lens assembly is implanted for adjusting the power of the lens assembly in response to contraction or relaxation of the ciliary muscle.

Abstract: A surgical suturing system having a probe assembly for positioning tissue to be sutured and a stapling system for suturing tissue. The stapling system includes a stapler having a housing with a staple ejection slot, a magazine of preformed staples received within the housing and a driver for driving the leading staple in the magazine through the ejection slot. The probe assembly includes a holding probe in close proximity to the staple ejection slot, the probe assembly being adapted to connect with a vacuum source. A working end of the holding probe is configured to selectively hold onto and position the edges of the tissue to be sutured in juxtapositional coplanar alignment while the tissue is being sutured by a staple ejected from the stapler.

Abstract: A solar cell fabrication procedure is described in which a trench is cut in the substrate so as to electrically isolate front and back regions of a flat solar cell. The trench is preferably cut around the perimeter of the rear side of the cell. The trench is preferably formed by an excimer laser which may be used to ablate a trench without diffusing conductive material deeper into the cell.

Abstract: A system is described for sensing the relative angular orientation of two relatively movable joint segments of a living body joined together at a joint. The system comprises at least two links coupled together about a pivot axis so that the links are pivotable relative to one another about the axis so as to define a variable mechanical angle between the links about the axis. The two links are secured respectively to the joint segments so that the links pivot about the pivot axis when the joint segments pivot about said joint. A Hall effect sensor is used to accurate sense the mechanical angle. The mechanical angle sensed by the sensor is then correlated with the actual angle made by the joint segments. The arrangement is used with each finger and thumb joint of the hand to provide data representative of finger and thumb orientations of a hand.

Abstract: A safety key for a toolroom lathe chuck having (1) a housing having a top end, a bottom end and an internal bore opening on the bottom end and extending towards the top end, (2) a sleeve concentrically surrounding said housing and axially slidable thereon between a first position and a second position, (3) a handle connected to and extending transversely to the top end of the housing, (4) a key member sized to be movably received in the internal bore of the housing at the bottom end thereof, (5) securing apparatus for securing the key member to the sleeve, (6) a spring for biasing the sleeve into its first position when no axially downward pressure is applied to the sleeve, whereby the key member will be completely withdrawn into the internal bore of the housing, and (7) a lever attached to the handle for applying axially downward pressure to said sleeve, the lever being adapted to provide such downward pressure to the sleeve when the lever is moved towards the handle, whereby the sleeve may be moved axially

Abstract: A fiber drawing process and apparatus in which the fibers are drawn in small increments by passing the fibers in multiple wraps over on rotatably mounted spaced apart spindles having discrete circumferential microterraced surfaces which support the fiber. The terraced sufaces are parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindles and each microterraced surface having a continually increasing radius. The number of microterraces is equal to or less than the number of wraps of the fiber about the spindle. Cylindrical rolls in tandem with the microterraced spindles permit fine adjustments of the draw ratios.

Abstract: A miniature transducer designed for use in a medical imaging system catheter probe is disclosed. The transducer has an electric cavity and coaxial construction for preventing electric fields from being emitted or received by the transducers. The construction of the transducer enables two to be mounted very close to one another on a thin catheter probe, one for transmitting acoustic pulses and the other for sensing echoes in response to the acoustic pulses, for imaging extremely close targets. The transducers can be secured to the catheter probe in such a way as to substantially acoustically isolate one from the other.A method of making the transducer by applying several electrically-conductive and insulating coatings and layers to a core in selected sequence so as to create a transducer having an electrical cavity, coaxial construction.

Abstract: A microsurgical stapling system for suturing delicate tissue. The system comprises a staple magazine and a stapler. The magazine has a framework to which a plurality of pre-formed staples are integrally attached in parallel, spaced-apart formation. The stapler comprises a housing, a staple support and ram assembly, a driver body and a driver assembly. The magazine is disposed within the housing and is advanced toward the staple support and ram assembly. The staple support and ram assembly comprises a front wall that engages the front edge of the leading staple in the magazine and a rear wall that engages the trailing edge of the leading staple, whereby the leading staple can be captivated between the front and rear walls. The front wall may not be movable; the rear wall is movable so that it can move down to engage the rear side of a staple which has just passed beneath the rear wall.

Abstract: A system for continuously supplying solid silicon particles to an apparatus for growing hollow, tubular crystalline bodies. The system includes a container for storing solid silicon particles, a vibratory, pneumatic, or other device for causing the particles to exit the container through an aperture in the bottom thereof, a receiving chamber coupled with the container for receiving the particles which are dispensed from the container, and means for providing a jet of pressurized fluid in the receiving chamber. The latter is coupled with the crucible of the crystal growth apparatus via a conduit extending up through the center of the crucible.In operation, silicon particles are dispensed from the container, travel into the receiving chamber where they are entrained by the jet of pressurized fluid which drives the particles out of the receiving chamber, through the conduit, and into the crystal growth furnace where they fall back into the molten silicon supported in the crucible.

Abstract: A novel suture anchor comprising (a) a coupling member having a first end portion and a reduced second end portion, and a shoulder formed at the junction of the first end portion and the reduced second end portion, (b) at least one barb, the barb having a first end and a second end and being curved in its normal unstressed state and being capable of being elastically deformed to a substantially straight configuration, the barb being attached to the coupling member so that the second end of the barb is substantially displaced from the coupling member when the barb is in its normal unstressed state but is capable of being aligned with the coupling member when the barb is deformed to a substantially straight length, and (c) attachment means for attaching one end of a suture to the suture anchor.