Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulsed radio frequency therapy system adapted to project the beam onto the skin surface of a living body overlying a problem region, the beam serving to relieve pain and to obtain other health related beneficial effects. The system includes an energy-generating unit in which a radio-frequency carrier is over-modulated by a sonic signal to produce periodic bursts of radio-frequency energy whose repetition rate corresponds to the frequency of the signal. The output of the unit is fed to a tank circuit tuned to the carrier frequency and housed within the barrel of a portable applicator gun. Supported within the barrel and coupled to the tank circuit is a discharge electrode whose tip is adjacent to the mouth of the barrel whereby a pulsed radio frequency is projected from the tip. The portable applicator gun includes automated applicator coil tuning, automated coil protection, and a phase-up conditioning system.

Abstract: An electronic stimulation system for treating a patient suffering from a tinnitus disorder in which the patient hears ringing or other sounds originating in the ear. The system includes an electrodynamically-actuated diaphragm and probe assembly acting as an applicator to which is applied a complex signal in the sonic range to cause the probe to vibrate in accordance with the signal and the diaphragm to audibly reproduce the signal. The probe is placed at a site on the patient in proximity to the cochlea of the inner ear whereby the probe vibrations are transmitted to the cochlea to stimulate this organ and thereby alleviate the tinnitus disorder. Because the patient who hears the internally-generated tinnitus sounds, also hears the reproduced complex signal he is able to adjust the generator of the complex signal so that its frequency components act to mask the frequencies of the tinnitus sounds.

Abstract: A disposable paper pouch enclosing a food product, the pouch being both biodegradable and recyclable. The pouch is made up of two superposed paper plies which are rendered liquid impervious by water-based acrylic layers coated on the inner and outer faces of the plies, the acrylic inner layer having a low melting temperature and the acrylic outer layer having a high melting temperature. The superposed plies are subjected to heat and pressure by standard sealing bars that have no effect on the outer layers but cause the inner layers which face each other to fuse together in a predetermined sealing pattern to define an inner pocket that is fillable with the food product.

Abstract: A disposable paper pouch enclosing a small supply of cream or other flowable food product, the pouch being both biodegradable and recyclable. The pouch is made up of two superposed paper plies which are rendered liquid impervious by water-based acrylic layers coated on the inner and outer faces of the plies, the acrylic inner layer having a low melting temperature and the acrylic outer layer having a high melting temperature. The superposed plies are subjected to heat and pressure by standard sealing bars that have no effect on the outer layers but cause the inner layers which face each other to fuse together in a predetermined sealing pattern to define an inner pocket that is fillable with the cream and a spout leading from the pocket to an outlet adjacent one end of the pouch. The outlet is normally blocked, but when the pouch is to be put to use, it is torn along a line intersecting the outlet to open the outlet whereby the cream may then be expelled therefrom by squeezing the pouch.

Abstract: A corona discharge beam thermotherapy system adapted to project the beam onto the skin surface of a living body overlying a problem region, the beam serving to relieve pain and to obtain other beneficial effects. The system includes an energy-generating unit in which a radio-frequency carrier is overmodulated by an audio frequency signal to produce periodic bursts of radio-frequency energy whose repetition rate corresponds to the frequency of the signal. The output of the unit is fed by a flexible coaxial cable to a tank circuit tuned to the carrier frequency and housed within the barrel of a portable applicator gun on whose grip is mounted a trigger switch operatively connected to the unit. Supported within the barrel and coupled to the tank circuit is a discharge electrode whose tip is adjacent the mouth of the barrel.

Abstract: A corona discharge beam thermotherapy system for veterinary applications adapted to project the beam onto the skin surface of an animal overlying a problem region, the beam serving to relieve pain and to obtain other beneficial effects. The system includes an energy-generating unit having a power in excess of 25 watts in which a radio-frequency carrier is overmodulated by an audio frequency signal to produce periodic bursts of radio-frequency energy whose repetition rate corresponds to the frequency of the signal. The output of the unit is fed by a flexible coaxial cable to a tank circuit tuned to the carrier frequency and housed within the barrel of a portable applicator gun. Supported within the barrel and coupled to the tank circuit is a discharge electrode whose tip is adjacent the mouth of the barrel. The electrode is formed by a helical wire, one end of which is coupled to the tank circuit, the other end defining the tip.

Abstract: A technique for treating a thick film resistor subsequent to manufacture to correct its value and at the same time enhance its electrical characteristics, such as its resistance stability. Use is made for this purpose of a generating unit in which a radio-frequency carrier is overmodulated by a sonic signal to produce periodic bursts of radio-frequency energy at a repetition rate determined by the frequency of the signal. Coupled to the unit is an UP probe whose tip when brought into contact with the surface of the resistor and scanned thereacross acts to bring about an increase in its ohmic value. Also coupled to the unit is a DOWN probe from whose tip is projected a corona discharge beam which when directed toward the resistor and scanned thereacross to irradiate the resistor acts to decrease its ohmic value.

Abstract: A system for trimming the ohmic value of a resistor included in a microelectronic chip to raise or lower its resistance without changing its physical dimensions. The system is provided with a self-contained unit which generates a low radio-frequency carrier overmodulated by a sonic frequency signal to yield at its output terminal pulsed radio-frequency energy. Coupled by an extension cable to the output terminal of the unit is a portable probe assembly whose position may be manipulated to bring the assembly into operative relation with the resistor to be trimmed. The assembly includes a tank circuit connected by the cable to the output terminal of the unit and tuned to the carrier frequency so that the pulsed energy is stored therein and not radiated. A "Down" probe is inductively coupled in step-up relation to the tank circuit to cause a corona discharge beam to be projected from the tip of this probe, which beam when directed toward a point on the resistor acts to reduce its ohmic value.

Abstract: A non-invasive thermotherapy technique for relieving pain and obtaining other beneficial effects. In this technique, the skin surface of a patient overlying a problem region such as an arthritic joint is scanned by a corona discharge beam emanating from a discharge electrode to which is applied periodic bursts of radio-frequency energy whose repetition rate is at a sonic frequency and whose peak amplitude is such as to cause a corona discharge. This energy is derived from a radio-frequency carrier generator whose operating frequency is preferably in the range of 100 to 300 KHz. This carrier is overmodulated in amplitude at a sonic rate, whose frequency is preferably in the 3000 to 5000 Hz range, so that the carrier is interrupted periodically to produce the bursts.