Abstract: A medication cart has a base formed of a pair of molded plates interconnected by rails. The plates have molded grooves and holes for receiving structural elements of the cart. Molded hollow plastic end panels have horizontal ribs that support drawers. The end panels are seated in grooves in the base plates. A top cap covers the top of the cart. Lock bars are provided to retain the drawers in the cart.

Abstract: A method for testing a semiconductor wafer processing step. An overlying electrical structure is created on a bare wafer to form a test wafer which simulates the surface contours of production wafers that will be exposed to the tested processing step. The overlying electrical structure of the test wafer is created using the same processing steps are used in manufacturing the overlying electrical structures of production wafers. Although the test wafers have the same surface contour as the production wafers they simulate, the test wafers are less expensive to manufacture because the test wafers do not include any underlying layers found in the production wafers which are not exposed during the tested processing step, and therefore the steps which form these layers can be omitted when making test wafers.

Abstract: A range hood having a sleek, modern appearance has a keypad and control circuit which enable adjustment of fan speed and light intensity. The range hood includes a keypad having a linear array of keys which may be individually or collectively used to energize the fan at one of a variety of speeds. A control circuit responds to depression of one or a group of two of the keys and in response selects one of a plurality of possible fan speeds. The array of keys is also used in conjunction with a separate night light key to program the intensity of the light for use as a night light. An automatic shutoff key is used to gradually reduce the fan speed until, ultimately, the fan is deenergized.

Abstract: A dish assembly for a burial casket comprises a generally rectangular cap panel having a pair of opposed sides, a puffing member attached to each side of the pair of sides along respective adjacent edges of the puffing member and side, a cap panel insert removably inserted between the puffing members and juxtaposed relative to the cap panel, a tab removably inserted between the respective adjacent edges of each attached puffing member and side, and a first portion of a fastener attached to said tab and a second portion of the fastener attached to the cap panel insert. The first and second portions of the fastener are removably secured one to another such that the cap panel insert is removably secured to the cap panel of the dish assembly. The respective adjacent edges of the puffing members and sides may be secured together with staples. The tab comprises a rectangular portion and two leg portions extending from said rectangular portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition at temperatures substantially lower than conventional thermal CVD temperatures comprises placing a substrate within a reaction chamber and exciting a first gas upstream of the substrate to generate activated radicals of the first gas. The substrate is rotated within the deposition chamber to create a pumping action which draws the gas mixture of first gas radicals to the substrate surface. A second gas is supplied proximate the substrate to mix with the activated radicals of the first gas and the mixture produces a surface reaction at the substrate to deposit a film. The pumping action draws the gas mixture down to the substrate surface in a laminar flow to reduce recirculation and radical recombination such that a sufficient amount of radicals are available at the substrate surface to take part in the surface reaction.

Abstract: The vehicle brake system including an electronically controlled brake booster (10), comprising a first actuator (350) which is connected to a second actuator (360) for transmitting to the same an actuating movement (P) of a brake pedal, wherein the second actuator (360) transmits the movement to a master brake cylinder, a signal generator (365) disposed between first and second actuators (350, 360) for generating a signal to be supplied to the controller of the brake booster (10), wherein the signal generator (365) is triggered by a relative movement between the first actuator and the housing of the brake booster.

Abstract: A compound engine including a gas turbine unit and a two-stroke uniflow scavenge piston unit having a hollow cylindrical exhaust valve mounted concentrically with an associated piston to form a portion of the combustion chamber within a peripheral wall of the exhaust valve. A double acting exhaust valve actuator is responsive to rotation of the crankshaft and is operatively coupled to the peripheral wall of the hollow cylindrical exhaust valve to produce forces derived directly from rotation of the crankshaft to open and close the exhaust valve. The actuator is a camshaft having two sets of cams which drive a cam follower in response to rotation of the crankshaft.

Abstract: A new carbothermic reaction process is described for the thermochemical processing of nanophase WC-Co powders. The process permits shorter reaction times, reduced temperatures, and finer microstructures compared to conventional processing methods.The process builds on our experience with spray conversion processing [1], but involves 1) chemical vapor infiltration reaction of the carbon infiltrant and particle substrate to from WC-CO; and 2) removal of any excess (unreacted) carbon by controlled gasification. A feature of the carbothermic reaction process is its adaptability to conventional WC-Co processing technology, as well as to spray conversion processing technology.The resulting power particles consist of a network of fine grains, (less than 100 nm) of WC and Co with interconnected fine porosity. Powder particles suitable for subsequent handling and consolidation are readily produced with diameters greater than 10 microns.

Abstract: A method of making a flexible, yet durable expansion joint that is at a general even grade with abutting roadway surfaces. The method includes cutting a recess into adjacent roadway slabs having a gap therebetween, and thereafter cleaning the recesses. A flexible membrane strip is placed across the gap from slab to slab and secured thereto. Then, the recesses and gap are substantially filled with a mixture of sealant and aggregate. A final layer of aggregate is applied on top of the mixture such that the final layer of aggregate is at about an even grade with the abutting roadway slabs.

Abstract: A medical transaction system is disclosed which is capable of permitting a plurality of healthcare providers to communicate with a plurality of payors and financial institutions. The healthcare providers, payors, and financial institutions do not have to communicate in the same data message formats nor in the same communication protocols. Such a system facilitates not only the processing of medical claims submitted by the healthcare providers to the payors, but also permits the transfer of medical data records between healthcare providers. The system supports the processing of medical claims without requiring a centralized database or imposing a uniform claim format on the healthcare providers and payors. The preferred embodiment of the invention further includes a financial transactor that uses remittance information from the payors to generate the electronics funds transfer messages to credit and debit accounts.

Abstract: A brake booster with a master cylinder (10) comprises: a primary piston (12) and a secondary piston (14), with the secondary piston (14) being limited in its axial movability by a stop pin (25) being accepted transversely to a longitudinal axis (L) of the master cylinder (10) in a hole (24), and a reservoir (16) for brake fluid, comprising a connection (17) via which the reservoir (16) is connected with the master cylinder (10), with the connection (17) being arranged in the radial extension of the stop pin (25), with the connection (17) comprising a transverse web (28) in its flow cross sectional area which covers the hole 24 at least partially.

Abstract: An orally administrable therapeutic protein is provided by combining the therapeutic protein with a stabilizing agent in an aqueous solution. The solution is coated onto nonpareils and microencapsulated with a water emulsifiable enteric coating composition. The microcapsules are orally administered. The coating protects the protein as it passes through the stomach. Upon reaching the small intestines, the basic pH of the intestinal juices will dissolve the coating, allowing the protein to be released and induce antigen specific immune response which has the specificity of the native molecule. The stabilizing agent protects the therapeutic protein from denaturation during the encapsulation process.

Abstract: A laparoscopic hook knife for use in surgical procedures includes an elongate shaft having a pistol grip handle at its proximal end and a blade support with a hook-shaped member at the distal end. The hook-shaped member has a blunt distal tip which is formed in the shape of a spade contained in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane containing the attached blade. An outlet is provided at the proximal end of the instrument for attaching a source of unipolar electric current for the purposes of creating hemostasis along the cutting path in the tissue. The shaft and blade support, except for the spade tip and at least one contact point between the blade and the blade support, are coated with an electrically insulating material to prevent any undesirable conduction of electricity. A second embodiment includes a blade member having an outer, straight cutting edge and an inner, curved cutting edge.

Abstract: A multiple section door system, such as an overhead residential garage door, wherein a variety of different door front configurations are formed with a limited number of panel designs by flipping or turning at least one panel relative to an adjacent panel. Each panel includes identical structured joint members along two longitudinal edges thereof which enable one panel to be "flipped" or turned such that the lower edge becomes the upper edge and vice versa, while an adjacent panel may remain in its original orientation. A third structured joint member is connected between the two adjacent joint members of adjacent panels. The third structured joint member is a male member, while the two structured joint members attached to each panel are female members. Adjacent female joint members of two panels form a universal pinch resistant joint with the male joint member.

Abstract: An interconnect between a conductor and a transistor body above a gate electrode is established by forming a conductor separated and alongside a gate electrode. Both the conductor and the gate electrode are coated with a dielectric material such as silicon dioxide. The silicon dioxide layer is subsequently coated with a thin layer of polysilicon and a contact hole is photolithographically etched through the polysilicon layer and through the silicon dioxide layer to establish a contact hole to said conductor. The polysilicon layer protects the silicon dioxide layer from impurities in the photolithography process. After the photolithographic mask is removed, a second layer of polysilicon is deposited on the first layer of polysilicon, coating the polysilicon layer and partially filling the contact hole, establishing a contact between the combined polysilicon layers and the conductor.

Abstract: A constant torque joint utilizes joint elements extending respectively between brace attachments for use in an anatomical brace. The brace has a range of motion dependent upon the particular application and in one embodiment from about 65.degree. to about 215.degree. with an included angle of motion of approximately 150.degree.. A constant torque in the joint is provided by a spring-loaded cable wherein a cam driven cable anchor pin is utilized to compensate for variations in the spring cable joint system to produce a constant torque within the joint throughout the full range of motion of the joint.