Abstract: An improved head for a flexible line trimmer apparatus is provided. The improved head includes a metal tubing that extends through the head and surrounds a cutting line of selected length. The tubing is provided with a flared exit portal increasing the efficiency of the head. The contact surface eliminates the possibility of the cutting line fusing to plastic surfaces due to heating caused by friction. The head is surrounded with an interior perimeter counterweight to store kinetic energy on each end having a parabolic surface of revolution concentric with the axis of the tubing. A replaceable cartridge is provided to increase the ease of maintenance and the useful life of the head.

Abstract: An improvement for a programmable valve system of the type which is implanted in a medical patient and used to divert cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from an intraventricular space of the patient to a terminus such as the patient peritoneal cavity. Such system includes means for establishing a flow path for the CSF to the terminus, which flow path includes a normally closed valve and means for adjusting the opening pressure of the valve in order to regulate the quantity of CSF diverted. The improvement enables an operator to be apprised of the actual opening pressure setting of the valve. A sensor is implantable at the patient and responds to the actual opening pressure setting, by generating an NIR telemetry signal indicative of the actual setting. This signal is transcutaneously transmitted through the skin of the patient to an external point. The telemetry signal is processed to produce observer intelligible data indicating the opening pressure setting of the valve.

Abstract: An improved bicycle seat or exercise bicycle seat comprised of a narrow anterior portion leading to a wider posterior portion. The improved bicycle seat accommodates, supports, protects, and relieves the male genitals from the pressure of the rider's weight. The posterior portion includes two support surfaces divided by an indented channel. The support surfaces properly remove the weight of the rider from the soft tissues of the perineal area and distribute it to the ischial bones of the pelvis. Located between the narrow anterior portion and the wider posterior portion are two recessed concave cavities separated by a sloped raised ridge and a perineal support projection. The rider's external genitalia are properly supported and protected in the recessed cavities.

Abstract: A system for measuring and converting to an observer intelligible form an internal physiological parameter of a medical patient. The invention allows transcutaneous telemetry of the measured information intracranial pressure via a system which includes a patient implanted sensor module and a processing and display module which is external of the patient and optically coupled to the sensor module via an external coupling module. A sensor within the implanted module transduces the measured information and a near infrared (NIR) emitter transmits this telemetry information when interrogated by the complementary external coupling module. Power for the sensor module is derived inductively through rectification of a transcutaneously-applied high-frequency alternating electromagnetic field which is generated by a power source within the external coupling module, in concept much like a conventional electrical transformer.

Abstract: A technique for organizing a plurality of computers such that message broadcast, content searching, and computer identification of the entire collection or a subset of the entire collection may be performed quickly without the use of a controlling computer. The technique describes the creation, operation, and maintenance of a connection scheme by which each computer in the collection appears to be the top level of a hierarchical array. The maintenance of this hierarchical connection scheme allows one to many communications throughout the collection of computers to scale geometrically rather than linearly.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a system, apparatus and method for removing a paint roller cover from a paint roller frame. The paint roller frame includes a handle having a movable button, a hollow support shaft, a roller support pivotally attached to the hollow support shaft, a spring mechanism and a cable that is connected to the button and the roller support. The paint roller cover is released from the paint roller frame by pressing the button. When the button is pressed the cable is pulled towards proximally. As the cable is pulled proximally, the roller support is moved towards the spring mechanism. The movement of the roller support towards the spring mechanism causes the spring mechanism to transform into a position to release the paint roller cover.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for receiving, detecting and transmitting geophysical data from a plurality of electrodes placed in the soil utilizing a dynamically reconfigurable wireless control unit that is located on each electrode. Data from the control units is transmitted by a wireless signal to a centralized data processor for analysis. Control data is provided from a central control processor to the control unit by wireless transmission. The control unit, which is positioned, includes a multi-channel radio frequency transmitter/receiver and a processor to actuate relays and record data returns from the measured substrate soil for transmission to the central data processor. The control unit incorporates a changeable code or address to unambiguously identify itself, and its spatial relationship to other electrodes, to the central data processor and the central control processor.

Abstract: An optical text scanning device compatible with a small handheld computer such as a personal digital assistant (PDA). The scanning device allows for a clear view of the text that is scanned simultaneous to the scanning process so that the operator can continuously align the device to the text. The scanned images of the text are converted in real-time to standard byte or word characters for subsequent display on the computer's viewing screen. The operator can quickly verify the accuracy of the conversion by comparing the displayed character with the actual character of text on the surface that is being scanned. Scanned text characters are stored in standard digital text files for ease of manipulation.