Abstract: An abdominal muscle and spine exercising device includes a frame having a top and a bottom surface with first and second bladders disposed on the top surface for bearing directly against thoraco-lumbar and lumbo-sacral vertebrae of a users spine in vectored directions in order to enhance an elliptical arch in the lower spine. A second arch projection is disposed on the bottom surface of the frame for enabling the frame and bladders to be rocked by the user in a transverse direction to a longitudinal axis of the frame.

Abstract: A coil spring includes a plurality of primary wire coils and a plurality of secondary wire coils, the primary and secondary coils being contiguous and differentiated from one another by a dimensional size in order to provide variable force and variable deflection.

Abstract: A binding assay device includes a porous membrane comprising a material enabling capillary movement of a liquid sample from a first area on the membrane on a second area on the membrane. A detection site is disposed on the membrane between the first and second areas in a non-absorbent medium disposed on the membrane between the detection site and the membrane first area is attached by an adhesion with a dry reagent disposed between the medium and the membrane in order to enable mobilization of the reagent by passage of a liquid sample therepast.

Abstract: A boat propeller includes a hub having a front, back, and an axis of revolution extending therebetween. A plurality of blades provide and extend from the hub between the front and back. Each blade includes a surface adjacent of the hub disposed at an oblique angle to the hub axis and a blade tip having an adjacent surface forming a dihedral angle with a surface adjacent to the hub extended on the forward camber only. The surface adjacent to the blade tip is inclined at a greater angle to the hub axis than the surface adjacent to the hub. Each blade includes a trailing edge extending radially from the hub with each trailing edge being substantially straight and a tip is provided joining the trailing edges at approximately a 90° angle. An arcuate leading edge is provided between each blade tip and a hub and a flange is disposed on each blade tip and extends parallel to the hub axis toward the hub back.

Abstract: A seat cushion includes a flexible base having a pandurate shape symmetrical and foldable along the centerline thereof. An undulant pattern of cells is disposed on one side of the base and extend outwardly from each side of the centerline to a base perimeter with each of the cells being defined by a fabric adhered to the base in the undulant pattern. A gel is provided which fills each of the cells.

Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of dental caries includes a source of oxidizing gas and a handpiece for delivering the gas to a tooth. A cup attached to the handpiece is provided for receiving the gas and exposing a selected area of the tooth to the gas. The cup includes a resilient edge for sealably the edge for engaging the tooth around the selected area to prevent escape of a gas therepast.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provided for controlling fluid control to and from an eye or a phacoemulsification handpiece. The handpiece includes an ultrasonically driven, hollow, sleeved needle and the method includes inserting the needle and sleeve into an eye for phacoemulsification of eye tissue and introducing fluid into the eye through an annulus established between the sleeve and the needle. Aspiration of fragmented tissue and fluid from the eye is conducted through the hollow needle. An initial irrigation fluid pressure is determined and the irrigation fluid flow and aspiration fluid flow are adjusted based upon the initial determination. Thereafter continued determination of irrigation fluid pressure is utilized to continuously adjust irrigation fluid flow and/or aspiration fluid flow.

Abstract: A pressure assisted dual flush operating system includes a vessel for receiving, containing and discharging pressurized water and an outlet for discharge of water from said vessel. An anti-siphon valve includes an air inlet for introducing water into said vessel and an inlet valve is provided for admitting water to the anti-siphon valve. A dual flush valve selectively releases different quantities of water from said vessel through the vessel outlet and a control valve selects one of the different quantities of water released by the dual flush valve.

Abstract: The invention provides a medical device having a thermister for temperature measurement, irrigation/aspiration ports for fluid exchange and application of therapeutic modalities, a pressure manometer for pressure measurement, and an external system for control of temperature, pressure, and flow rate. When applied to the central nervous system (CNS), this device can be used in hypothermia or hyperthermia applications, the exchange of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), the application of treatment modalities, and the insertion of a ventriculostomy or ventriculostomy-like unit. When applied to spinal cord applications, this device can provide temperature control and a method for application of treatment modalities by using a venting device placed in the space surrounding the spinal cord, a device with similar instrumentation to measure temperature and pressure. A device for ultrasound localization of the CNS device is described. A device for a fiber optic endoscope for visualization and localization is also described.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor system for controlling operation of a device in response to a rate of change in capacitance due to motion of a proximate object includes at least two sense electrodes disposed on a surface and a phase locked loop, including a voltage controlled oscillator and a phase/frequency comparator, connected between the sense electrodes and an RC network for providing an operating frequency to the sense electrodes. A circuit loop, including a reference oscillator, provides a fixed frequency reference for the phase locked loop to follow and a phase delay circuit connected between the phase/frequency comparator and the voltage controlled oscillator causes the voltage controlled oscillator to run ahead of the reference oscillator. A trigger circuit provides a control output in response to a change in phase shift between the fixed frequency and the operating frequency.

Abstract: Apparatus for retaining concentric parts within one another and enabling limited axial movement therebetween, includes an inner component having a shoulder disposed in an external perimeter thereof and an outer tubular component having a wall and an open end for receiving the inner component and an inner surface for abutting the shoulder and enabling a sliding interface therebetween. A retaining tab is provided and disposed in the wall proximate the open end for depression of a free end toward the wall and a slot formed in the wall beneath the tab enables the free end to be forced therepast for retaining the free end inside the wall for engagement with the shoulder, thus preventing separation of the inner component from the outer component.

Abstract: A sensor unit comprises a mounting base (1) on which an air moisture sensor (3) and an air temperature sensor (4) are disposed. The air moisture sensor (3) is disposed over a bore (5) of the mounting base and covers the bore (5) at least partially. An intensive thermal coupling between the air moisture sensor (3), air temperature sensor (4) and air mixture to be analysed is produced.

Abstract: An adjustable intraocular lens system is provided by detachably attaching a secondary intraocular lens having a thin, contact lens-type optic onto a primary intraocular lens that has previously been implanted into an individual's eye. The preliminary intraocular lenses have two or more shallow, narrow slits formed adjacent the optical peripheries thereof. These slits may be formed in or through the preliminary intraocular lens optic itself or outside the optic in tabs, in haptic attachment regions or in plate-type haptics. The associated secondary intraocular lens optics are formed having two or more insertion tabs extending radially from the optical peripheries thereof. The secondary intraocular insertion tabs are shaped and located to penetrate corresponding ones of the primary intraocular lens slits and have wedge-shaped free end regions to facilitate slit insertion. The secondary intraocular lens provides a required power correction to the primary intraocular lens to which it is attached.

Abstract: A combination chipper and putter golf club has a club head with a ball putting side surface and an opposing ball chipping side surface. The club head has a bore formed perpendicularly therethrough which receives a tube extension fixed to a hosel short depending shaft. Hosel orientation detents are provided by an opposing pair of detent notches formed into the tube extension lower end which fit onto a raised portion of a plug closing the bottom of the bore. A tension spring installed through the hosel tube extension is rotatably connected between the hosel pivot shaft and the bore bottom plug to hold the hosel tightly to the club head while permitting the hosel to be lifted sufficiently to retract the tube extension detent notches from the plug raised portion so that the hosel can be reoriented 180 degrees relative to the club head according to which chipping or putting surface is to be used. Alternatively hosel detents are formed at the top of the club head for use with the tension spring.

Abstract: A quick coupling nut includes a body having a bore therethrough and adjacent side holes. A pair of threaded members are disposed in the bore and moveable in a radial direction of the bore and a cap having a bore therethrough, coaxial with the body bore, includes depending guides which are received by the guide holes for enabling axial movement between the cap and the body. Actuators depending from the cap engage the threaded members in order to urge the threaded members radially inward to engage a threaded bolt shank, extending through the cap and body bores, as the cap is moved axially toward the body. This threaded engagements enables tightening of the quick coupling cap by rotation about the threaded bolt shank.

Abstract: A computer drawer assembly, preferably constructed from a rigid plastic material, includes a computer having an enclosure with at least one unused, standard-sized, 5¼ inch expansion slot having a detachable plate covering an entrance thereto. The computer enclosure is removable and covers a computer frame. A rectangular drawer holder is sized for being received and closely fitting into the unused expansion slot after removal of the detachable plate, and has a bottom, a top, opposing side walls and an open front. A drawer having a bottom, opposing sides and a closed front and rear closely fits into the drawer holder through its open front, being axially slidable in the drawer holder between a closed position fully recessed in said drawer holder and an open position extending from said open front of the drawer holder.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for adjusting a compression ratio of an engine having a crankshaft, a plurality of combustion cylinders, a moveable piston disposed within each combustion cylinder, and rods connecting each piston of the crankshaft. The apparatus generally includes a plurality of bearings surrounding a crankshaft at each main bearing with each bearing having an offset bore therethrough supporting the crankshaft. Rotational displacement of the bearings causes off axis displacement of the crankshaft along the longitudinal axes of the rods, thus raising and lowering the scope of movement of each piston and thereby increasing and decreasing the compression ratio without changing piston stroke. Rotational displacement of the bearings may be provided through an actuator interconnected to a throttle linkage.

Abstract: Low-coherence interferometric device for light optical depth scanning of an object (13) positioned in front of a measurement aperture (12) of the device by detecting the position of light-reflecting sites which are located at different measurement depths within the object (13) along a scanning path (19) running into the object in a scanning direction (25) using a low-coherence interferometer which comprises a low-coherence light source (7), a beam splitter (8), a reference reflector (9) and a detector (10). The interferometer is a free-space in-line interferometer (6) having a beam splitter (8) running transversal to the direction of scanning (25). The light transmitter (7), the detector (10) and the reference mirror (9) are arranged on the side of the beam splitter facing away from the measurement aperture. A movable scanning lens (11) is arranged between the beam splitter (8) and the measurement aperture (12).