Abstract: A heart stabilizer includes a shaft and two articulating arms coupled to a distal end of the shaft. At the end of each arm is a rotatable foot adapted to be angled relative to the heart wall contour and apply pressure against the wall of the heart to effectively eliminate motion of the heart wall between the feet. The stabilizer is adapted to provide a stabilized area sufficiently large to allow an accurate anastomosis to be performed. According to preferred aspects of the invention, the stabilizer is particularly adapted to be collapsible (foldable) to be inserted through the port device and locked longitudinally relative thereto. The stabilizer is also preferably adapted to be automatically deployed into its final configuration by release of a lock actuated at a proximal portion of stabilizer extending outside the port. In addition, the stabilizer is adapted to automatically fold when being pulled back through the port.

Abstract: The desynchronizer of the present invention includes two FIFOs. The first FIFO has two address counters (write and read), an intermediate count register, circuitry for calculating the difference between the write and intermediate counts and the intermediate and read counts, a logic block for performing pointer leak and other arithmetic functions, and a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO). The second FIFO has read and write counters, a phase-frequency detector, and an internal VCO controlled by length measurements of the second FIFO. The desynchronizer receives data bits, pointer movement indications, and stuff indications from a DS-3/E3 demapper and, using the first FIFO, the address counters, etc., removes the low frequency components, including SONET/SDH systemic gapping in order to provide the second FIFO with a DS-3/E3 signal having a high frequency phase modulation. The second FIFO removes the remaining high frequency gapping jitter.

Abstract: A fishing lure includes a plurality of substantially rigid, preferably plastic body sections including a head section, a tail section, and three central body sections, decreasing in size from the head to the tail, therebetween. Each section behind the head section includes a hinge portion, and each section in front of the tail section includes a cavity, and each hinge portion is snap fit into the cavity of an adjacent section to form a hinge assembly having a pivot axis inside the respective cavity. The hinge assemblies are together adapted to permit different degrees of relative movement of selected adjacent sections to more closely simulate the movement of a live bait fish, and particularly produce fluid tail end movement, as the lure is being pulled through water. Various embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reliably detecting both AIS and AIS-CI signals in the presence of a bit error ratio up to 1×10−3 includes an AIS detector having an AIS indication output, a CI detector having a CI indication output, and a two signal AND gate having its inputs coupled to the respective outputs of the detectors and having an output indicative of an AIS-CI detection. The AIS detector has an adjustable zero threshold and the CI detector has a threshold output coupled to the AIS detector for adjusting the zero threshold. According to the method of the invention, the AIS detector zero threshold is normally set at the normal threshold (1×10−3) but is reset to a higher threshold (e.g., 2×10−3) when the CI detector detects the presence of the CI code word.

Abstract: An air compressor for charging an internal combustion engine includes a compressor for blowing compressed air into the intake manifold of the engine and a gas powered turbine for driving the compressor. In a first embodiment, the exhaust from a small gas powered turbine is coupled to the driving turbine of a standard turbocharger. In a second embodiment, the drive shaft of a small gas powered turbine is coupled to the drive shaft of a standard supercharger. In a third embodiment, a compressor turbine having an air intake, a compressed air outlet, and a bleed air outlet is coupled to a small gas powered turbine such that the bleed air outlet supplies the combustor intake of the gas turbine. The gas powered turbine drives the compressor and receives compressed air from the compressor via the bleed outlet. The system provides a constant boost, does not use engine horsepower, is easy to install, and does not need to be coupled to a rotating shaft or the exhaust system of the engine.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus includes a SAW oscillator and a “push oscillator” to force the SAW oscillator into a desired mode of operation. A SAW temperature oscillator and a thermistor are also provided. The frequency of the “push oscillator” is made immune to temperature changes by generating it via a mixer mixing the SAW temperature oscillator with an adjustable fixed frequency oscillator. Long term stability of the SAW temperature oscillator is achieved by periodic calibration with the thermistor.

Abstract: An audio crosstalk-cancelling network that may be implemented in software, such that when run in real time on a personal computer, the canceller has very low mips requirements and uses a small fraction of available CPU cycles. The network is particularly useful for rendering surround sound images outside the space between left and right computer multimedia loudspeakers when the audio from such sources is reproduced. The network includes two signal feedback paths, each feedback path having a time delay and frequency dependent characteristic. The frequency dependent characteristic represents the smoothed difference in the attenuation in the acoustic path between a transducer and the listener's ear farthest from said transducer and the attenuation in the acoustic path between the same transducer and the listener's ear closest to said same transducer. The smoothed difference in the attenuation is implemented by one or more simple digital filters requiring low processing power.

Abstract: An ampoule incubator and light analyzer is provided which includes a housing having at least one receptacle for an ampoule, an incubation system, a light analysis system, and a master control system. According to the invention, the incubation system includes, for each receptacle, a heating element which heats the ampoule and a temperature sensor which senses the temperature of the ampoule. Each receptacle is preferably insulated to prevent unintended heating of neighboring receptacles of the apparatus. The incubation system is adapted to quickly heat the receptacle, and consequently the ampoule provided therein, up to the desired temperature. The incubation system is calibrated by soaking the circuits of the control system in a controlled temperature environment maintained at the desired operation temperature for analysis of the ampoules.

Abstract: A volar fixation system includes a T-shaped plate intended to be positioned against the volar side of the radial bone, a plurality of bone screws for securing the plate along an non-fractured portion of the radial bone, and a plurality of bone pegs which extend from the plate and into bone fragments of a Colles' fracture. The plate includes including a plurality of screw holes and a plurality of threaded peg holes. The bone pegs can be articulated through a range of angles within respective peg holes and fixed at a desired angle within the range. For each peg, once the peg has been appropriately positioned within the peg hole, a set screw is threaded into the peg hole and tightened, thereby securing the peg in the selected orientation.

Abstract: An air compressor for charging an internal combustion engine includes a compressor for blowing compressed air into the intake manifold of the engine and a fuel powered turbine for driving the compressor. According to a first embodiment, the exhaust from a small gas powered turbine is coupled to the driving turbine of a standard turbocharger. According to a second embodiment, the drive shaft of a small gas powered turbine is coupled to the drive shaft of a standard supercharger. According to a third embodiment, a compressor turbine having an air intake, a compressed air outlet and a bleed air outlet is coupled to a small gas powered turbine such that the bleed air outlet supplies the combustor intake of the gas turbine. The gas powered turbine drives the compressor and receives compressed air from the compressor via the bleed outlet.

Abstract: An open back speaker module includes a speaker mounting element having a front face defining at least one sound transducer opening and a rim provided with a first set of electrical contacts, and at least one sound transducer for creating sound waves mounted to the sound transducer opening of the speaker mounting element. The open back speaker module is couplable to a structural element such that the speaker module and the structural element at least partially define a chamber behind the sound transducer. A receptacle or a gasket, couplable to the structural element and adapted to engage or be engaged by the speaker mounting element, may also be provided to help secure the open back speaker module to the structural element. The speaker module, receptacle, and the gasket are preferably flexible such that they may conform to any shaped of structural element. However, the speaker module and/or the receptacle may instead be rigidly formed and pre-shaped to conform to the shape of a specific structural element.

Abstract: A frame expandable in a structural opening has a stretchable substantially fluid impermeable cover membrane disposed across the frame and arranged to stretch with expansion of the frame. The frame is preferably expandable in mutually perpendicular directions, and provided with peripheral seals for sealing in the structural arrangement. The barrier is conveniently fitted in openings such as doors and the like to provide a temporary barrier to rising floodwaters and the like.

Abstract: A distributed processing system includes a plurality of cells where each cell processes information in response to a type of event, and cells communicate with each other according to an (asynchronous) event-reaction protocol. Cells maintain mailing lists which are associated with events and which indicate the address(es) of cell(s) to whom a message is sent in response to the event. According to one embodiment, at least one cell is provided with the ability to read, write, and delete any address on any mailing list in the system. According to another embodiment, at least one cell keeps a list of events (subscription list) that are deemed important by the user where it is the cell's responsibility to insure that it remains subscribed to the mailing lists associated with these events. According to another embodiment, at least one cell serves more than one mailing list and preferably keeps a list of the mailing lists it serves.

Abstract: An anti-snoring device has maxillary and mandibular bite forms with outwardly extending pivots which are mounted to the bite forms by frameworks which are at least partially embedded in the bite forms. This retains the pivots securely in place even in the face of extensive bruxing. In constructing the device, a jig may be used for positioning the pivots. The method of manufacturing the device involves casting the frameworks, such that each framework has a pair of pivot mounts, mounting pivots to the pivot mounts, and at least partially embedding the frameworks in the bite forms.

Abstract: A bridging device for mapping and demapping Ethernet data packets onto a SONET network includes an Ethernet controller chip set which receives packet data, a SONET framer for a SONET interface, a UTOPIA interface for the SONET framer, and an FPGA (or ASIC) which bridges the UTOPIA interface and a system bus interface of the Ethernet controller. The FPGA is preferably implemented in VHDL software code as several modules: an Ethernet controller interface module, a chunk memory module, a UTOPIA interface module, a microprocessor interface module, and a UTOPIA OUT module. In a transmit mode, the Ethernet controller interface module interfaces with the data and control signals from a thirty-two bit data bus of the Ethernet controller chip set and writes the data to chunk memory implemented in the FPGA. The chunk memory module implements the chunk memory to a programmable size.

Abstract: An article of jewelry includes a plurality of settings coupled to each other by slidable links and an elastic member threaded through the settings extending substantially parallel to the links in a “string”. The settings may include stones or any other decorative element. According to one embodiment, the ends of the string are coupled to each other without the use of a clasp. The elasticity of the elastic member keeps the settings close together with little or no space between them but allows the string to be stretched thereby separating the settings by the length of the links. According to the first embodiment, where no clasp is used, the string and the links are dimensioned such that when the string is stretched the article can be fit over a body part such as a wrist or ankle and remain in place when released.

Abstract: A laser eye surgery system includes a laser for producing a laser beam capable of making refractive corrections, an optical system for shaping and conditioning the laser beam, a digital micromirror device (DMD) for reflecting the shaped and conditioned beam toward the eye, and a computer system for controlling the mirrors of the DMD. The computer system generates one-bit resolution images corresponding to ablation layers defining a correction for the eye. The images are then transferred to the DMD for appropriate reflection of the laser beam toward the eye such that the shape of the cornea of the eye is corrected.

Abstract: An electrical system, such as a motor control system for a motorized wheelchair, includes a two-part electrical connector which connects a first sub-system to a second sub-system. A reference terminal of one part of the connector is connected to a voltage detecting circuit but is otherwise unconnected: in the event of the connector terminals corroding, a conductive path develops between the reference terminal and one of the other, active terminals and the voltage detecting circuit detects the resulting change in voltage at the reference terminal.

Abstract: A coaxial cable includes an inner conductor, a multifilament twisted and drawn or swaged tubular cable outer conductor, and a dielectric (insulative) material therebetween. According to one embodiment, the filaments of the multifilament twisted and drawn or swaged outer conductor are twisted about a central inner conductor provided with an insulative sheath. The outer conductor filaments are arranged such that when they are drawn or swaged, the compressive forces are directed on neighboring filaments and not directed radially inward toward the inner conductor, thereby preventing deformation of the inner conductor. According to another embodiment, each of the filaments is provided with an insulative sheath. According to other embodiments, a cable is formed with a central filament harder than the surrounding filaments. The central filament is withdrawn leaving behind a twisted and drawn or swaged tube with a hollow.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention (a) monitors a subscriber line for the presence of DTMF tones, (b) intercepts DTMF tones by transmitting a set of DTMF harmonics onto the subscriber line, (c) detects the intercepted DTMF tones and records them or the digits they represent, (d) analyzes the intercepted digits to determine whether a long distance number has been dialed, and (e) if a long distance call has been dialed, transmits onto the subscriber line a DTMF signal which includes the intercepted DTMF signal plus a service provider access code DTMF signal inserted before it. According to a presently preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a voltage sensor which detects a drop in voltage whenever a phone connected to the same subscriber line as the apparatus goes off-hook. The voltage detector turns the apparatus “ON” when an off-hook condition is detected.