Abstract: Archival quality aperture cards manufactured from stock formulation including:1. between 40 and 60% southern softwood kraft pulp;2. between 60 and 40% northern mixed hardwood pulp;3. between 1.5 and 2.5% on total pulp, calcium carbonate for alkaline reserve;4. between 0.05 and 1.0% on total pulp, alkyl ketene dimer as an internal sizing agent;5. between 0.2 and 1.0% on total pulp, cationic potato starch for internal bonding improvements;6. between 0.5 and 2.0% on total pulp, cationic potato starch as a surface sizing agent;7. between 0.5 and 2.5% solids added to the surface sizing agent, alkyl ketene dimer as a slip agent; and8. between 0.01 and 0.3% dyed rayon granitizing fibers.

Abstract: A laser imaging system includes a cartridge of photographic film, a laser imager, a film processor and an image management system responsive to image input data for controlling the imager and film processor. An optical bar code with a unique cartridge ID, film size, film type information and film sensitometric information is attached to the cartridge. The laser imager includes a cartridge receiving mechanism, a cartridge opening mechanism, a laser scanning system and an optical scanner mounted to the cartridge opening mechanism. Information is read from the bar code as the cartridge is opened. The image management system controls the laser imager as a function of the input data and the sensitometric information read from the bar code. The image management system causes the film processor to develop the film as a function of the film type information read from the bar code.

Abstract: System and method for programming a plurality of hearing aids physically located at a plurality of remote locations, each of the plurality of hearing aids being capable of being responsive to the auditory characteristics of an individual user, being responsive to a set of auditory parameters and having a programmable memory for storing the set of auditory parameters. A first transmitting mechanism, located at each of the plurality of remote locations, transmits the auditory characteristics of those of the individual users located at one of the plurality of remote locations to a central location. A calculating mechanism, located at the central location, calculates an appropriate set of auditory parameters for each of the hearing aids based upon the auditory characteristics of each of the individual users. A second transmitting mechanism transmits the appropriate set of auditory parameters from the central location to each of the plurality of remote locations for each of the hearing aids.

Abstract: An ergonometric chestpiece for a stethoscope adapted to receive auscultatory sounds from a body and adapted to be coupled to an earpiece for a user. The chestpiece is adapted to be grasped by a thumb and at least one finger of the user. The chestpiece has a bottom surface which is generally planar and is adapted to be placed near the body for receiving the auscultatory sounds. The chestpiece has an upper portion opposite the bottom surface. The upper portion has a raised center portion defining left and right gripping surfaces which form recesses defined by the left and right gripping surfaces and by a surface generally parallel to but opposite the bottom surface. The left and right gripping surfaces are adapted to receive the thumb and the at least one finger of the user.

Abstract: An adjustable, conductive body strap utilizing a connector securing a strip of material held in a closed loop with a mechanical connector with the interior surface of the strip of material being electrically conductive. An electrical connector connects the conductive surface of the strip of material to a connection point to provide for external electrical ground connection. The mechanical connector secures one end of the strip of material in place. The mechanical connector adjustably secures the opposite end of the strip of material.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the fluorescence of a luminescent material. Photo-semiconductors receiving the visible fluorescence from a target luminescent material and directly from a discharge lamp are electrically coupled to oppose each other resulting in a single-channel detector inherently balanced and insensitive to variations in the excitation stimulus. The photo-semiconductor output is sent through a second harmonic amplifier making available a phase detection of the fluorescence instead of an amplitude detection. The phase of the signal is compared with a known phase from the excitation power source. By adding signals that either reinforce or oppose, the phase information is converted back to amplitude information at a voltage level that can be easily detected. The compared output then triggers an indicator producing an indication of the amount of fluorescence of the target luminescent material.

Abstract: Apparatus and imaging method in which an LED exposure apparatus having an array of light emitting diodes stationed in a light exposing relationship to a photosensitive material to be imaged is calibrated to take into account the wavelength difference between light emitting diode emissions and the spectral sensitivity of the photosensitive medium. The exposure apparatus is calibrated by making separate energy measurements of each light emitting diode with a detector through a colored filter. The spectral response of the detector and filter combination matches that of the photosensitive material in the wavelength region of the emission of the light emitting diode. The energy measurement are used to modulate each exposure level of the array of light emitting diodes. The calibration method is used during exposure of the photosensitive material by the array of light emitting diodes, particularly for grey scale imaging. The detector and filter are used to modulate exposure in response to the energy measurements.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the fluorescence of a luminescent material. Photo-diodes receiving the visible fluorescence from a target luminescent material and a luminescent reference are coupled "back-to-back" resulting in a single-channel detector inherently balanced and insensitive to variations in the excitation stimulus. The photo-diode output is sent through a second harmonic amplifier making available a phase detection of the fluorescence instead of an amplitude detection. The phase of the signal is compared with a known phase from the excitation power source. By adding signals that either reinforce or oppose, the phase information is converted back to amplitude information at a voltage level that can be easily detected. The detected amplitude is compared against the amplitude of the excitation stimulus to account for amplitude variations in such stimulus. The compared output then triggers an indicator producing an indication of the amount of fluorescence of the target luminescent material.

Abstract: A tinnitus suppression device using an in-the-canal external ear canal pressure regulating device to alter the pressure of the fluid of the external ear canal interior of the pressure regulating device. The device has a body which can be inserted into the external ear canal and which seals the canal from ambient pressure. An adjustably sized body such as a collapsible bulbous portion or a bellows type wall provides a mechanism for altering the pressure in the canal. Either a valve or a mechanical displacement device maintains the pressure differential created.

Abstract: A Doppler blood flow system and method in which an ultrasonic wave is reflected off of red blood cells in blood flowing in tubing. The reflected ultrasonic wave is digitally processed in the frequency domain. The flow rate of the blood is directly related to the average frequency of the Doppler signal. The typical Doppler signal is not a single frequency representing a single flow rate but is really an entire range of frequencies in which certain frequencies predominate which are indicated by increased amplitude of the signal when plotted in the frequency domain. The typical Doppler signal may actually have two "humps", one at a higher frequency which represents the actual information bearing content of the signal related to flow rate and one at a lower frequency which is caused by vibrations in the blood tubing system itself and could be caused by motor noise from the blood pump.

Abstract: A calibration device for an auditory prosthesis, such as a hearing aid, and an auditory prosthesis which contains such a calibration device. The calibration device comprises memory in which is stored information which is characteristic of information intrinsic to the invididual auditory prosthesis, the information being either information which represents a sufficient set of adjustment parameters required to calculate the transfer function of the auditory prosthesis or manufcturing information and a mechanism by which this information may be utilized by the auditory prosthesis or by the programming system of such auditory prosthesis.

Abstract: A Doppler blood flow system and method in which an ultrasonic wave is reflected off of red blood cells in blood flowing in tubing. The reflected ultrasonic wave is digitally processed in the frequency domain. The flow rate of the blood is directly related to the average frequency of the Doppler signal. Because the Doppler blood flow system calculates flow rate solely on the basis of frequency, a special case exists at zero rate of flow where the received signal is not a valid Doppler flow signal, but rather purely noise. The noise at zero flow rate is random and will not have an average frequency which is unique to zero flow. The Doppler blood flow system and method must invoke a special case determination of when a zero flow condition exists in order to accurately provide a blood flow rate. The system utilizes a method of determining the rate of flow of a fluid containing particles flowing through a tube. An ultrasonic signal is transmitted through the tube at an oblique angle thereto.

Abstract: A software model of the auditory characteristics of an auditory prosthesis is stored independently of the actual auditory prosthesis being fitted to determine the acoustic parameters to be utilized. A transfer function of the auditory characterictics of the individual auditory prosthesis to be fitted, or of an exemplary model of such an auditory prosthesis, is created, transformed into a table, or other usable form, and stored in software usable by the automated fitting program. The automated fitting program may then "test" or try by iterative process, the various settings for the acoustic parameters of the auditory prosthesis and determine accurately the results without actual resort the physical auditory prosthesis itself.

Abstract: A strip material (18) for forming an inductive loop (10) adapted to be applied to the surface of a roadway (12). The strip material (18) consists of and the loop (10) is formed from a ductile, flexible, flattened, extensible conductor (20) and a protective covering (22). A protective underlayment (24) is optional. The conductor (20) may be formed from a compressed, flattened metallic wire braid (28) or from a wire mesh containing 25% to 75% voids. The protective covering (22) may be formed from either combination unvulcanized elastomer precursor base sheet (30) and a vinyl based polymer support film (32), or a covering (26) selected from the group of epoxy, polyester, urethane and polyurethane.

Abstract: A system and method of modifying pixels supplied to the system that a multiple level signals for a digitized image wherein a moving pixel window with a center pixel, D.sub.c, is used from which the annular means, m.sub.a, of the center pixel (the mean of the 2.sup.N pixel values of the window surrounding the center pixel, where N is an integer of 1 or more) is determined with the center pixel and selected pixels surrounding the center pixel, D.sub.c, are used to determine a measure of deviation (center deviation, .sigma..sub.c) of the center pixel relative to the center pixel that is used to obtain a modification gain, f(.sigma..sub.c,C.sub.g). The center pixel, D.sub.c, its annular mean, m.sub.a, and its modification gain, f(.sigma..sub.c,C.sub.g) or F'(.sigma..sub.c,C.sub.g) are used to obtain a modified center pixel value, D.sub.c 40 , in accordance with one of the following equations that are of the form for an algorithm for determining the unsharp marking filter value for an image pixel:D.sub.c '=[f(.

Abstract: A biological tissue stimulator having a time-shared logic element alternately supplying switching signals to a step-up voltage circuit powered from a low-voltage power source and supplying a plurality of amplitude timing signals to an output circuit utilizing the high-voltage output from the step-up voltage circuit. A high-voltage storage device is utilized to store the voltage generated in the step-up voltage circuit until it can be utilized by the output circuit.

Abstract: A biological tissue stimulator is disclosed having an adjustable high voltage power supply. The high voltage power supply is coupled to a battery producing a high voltage signal to be supplied to an output circuit for supplying an electrical stimulation signal of a predetermined current amplitude. An electrode is coupled to the electrical stimulation pulse and is adapted to be coupled to the biological tissue to deliver the electrical stimulation signal to the biological tissue. An adjustment mechanism is coupled to the output stage and to the adjustable high voltage power supply for comparing the amplitude of the high voltage signal to the amplitude of the voltage drop across the biological load and adjusting the amplitude of the high voltage signal dependent upon the result of that comparison.