Abstract: A portable pump for the administration of a therapeutic liquid substance having at least one integral supply reservoir is disclosed. The object of the invention is to present a pump having at least two modules in which the sterilizable elements are divided from the non-sterilizable elements, the operation of the pump being started when the various modules are assembled and being permanently disrupted when the modules are separated. The object of the invention is achieved with the aid of a pump comprising a reservoir module having a supply reservoir of medicaments and at least one tube connected to the reservoir at the end of the pump, and a motor module comprising means for pumping motor means and control means. This pump is particularly useful for the treatment of patients in continuous low doses.

Abstract: A measurement sensor is disclosed having a frame, a support which is resiliently flexible under the influence of a physical parameter and is fixed to the frame, a mass connected to the support, a housing which is formed by the frame and surrounds the mass to dampen movement of the mass and its support, a detection device for supplying a signal representative of the physical parameter in response to flection of the support. The sensor includes an assembly for precisely positioning the mass in the housing. The sensor has applications in the measurement of a physical parameter such as, for example, acceleration.

Abstract: The invention concerns a simple, inexpensive and small detector, particularly for use in the medical pumps, for detecting over-pressure in a pipe (1) and setting off an alarm when an over-pressure is detected. The detector for detecting over-pressure in the pipe (1) along which a fluid (3) flows may comprise a T junction (5) for deriving a fraction of the flowing fluid (3) from the pipe (1); at least one tube (7) wherein there is fitted at least one obturating member (9); and an assembly for detecting the displacement of the obturating member (9) in the tube (7) and for generating a signal in response to detecting displacement of the obturating member (9).

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a piezo-electric motor. The motor comprises:a support (2)a stator (8) integral with the support (2)a rotor (30) rotatably mounted with respect to the support, the rotor being capable of being displaced in a displacement plane (Pdm) about a geometric axis of rotation (XI)transmission means (36) to transmit the vibratory movement of the stator (8) to the rotor (30) and to rotate it andmeans to support (40) the rotor on the stator the rotor being characterized in that the stator (8) has vibratory movement having velocity components essentially normal to the displacement plane (Pdm) of the rotor (30), the stator (8) cooperating with means for converting the vibratory movement of the stator in order to rotate the rotor.

Abstract: A method for measuring the distance e separating two faces (3, 4) of an object (1) employs the ultrasonic wave diffused back by said faces and received by a sensor (6). Following digitalization (11), the temporal signal is transformed (12) into a frequency spectrum. The modulus of the frequency spectrum is established (13) then the logarithmic derivative thereof is calculated (15) from whence there results a useful signal including a periodic signal onto which a linear signal is superposed. Following suppression (14, 16) of the linear signal the useful signal is applied (17) to a frequency window in order to eliminate the noise therefrom. The signal thus obtained is inversely transformed (18) to obtain a signal the amplitude of which is a function of the time and the envelope of this latter signal is determined (19). After having determined the temporal spread .DELTA.t separating the time origin from the envelope peak showing the greatest amplitude, the distance e is calculated from the relation e=c.multidot.

Abstract: The micromotor comprises a rotor rotatably mounted on a stator having copolanar electrodes for setting up an electric field between the stator and the rotor. To increase the useful torque that can be supplied by the motor, the rotor includes a peripheral ring disposed opposite the electrodes and which is connected to a hub by arms that enable the ring easily to tilt in response to the electric field set up by the electrodes.

Abstract: A radial field electrostatic micromotor produced by photolithographic micromanufacture includes a stator provided with several groups of electrodes angularly offset from one another about an axis of rotation of the micromotor, an electrically conducting rotor at least one arm of which has a counter electrode adapted to cooperate with the stator electrodes to form an air gap therebetween, and a guide ring adapted to drive the rotor in rotation and possibly in translation. The micromotor has a rotor comprising at least one bridging element arranged at least partly above an electrostatic field plane (PCE) of the micromotor. The bridging element constitutes an elevated arm of the rotor having one or more mechanically or electricity functional members adapted to cooperate with one or more complementary members located in or outside the electrostatic field plane and inside or outside the group of stator electrodes.

Abstract: This method for establishing the pressure-diameter relationship of an artery employs the measurement results from a non-invasive sensor (3) of the artery diameter, for instance of the humeral artery, and from a non-invasive sensor (4) of the blood pressure applied for instance to the end of a finger. The measurement locations being separated by a distance .DELTA.x, the method provides for the correction of the pressure measurements as if such measurements had been effected at the location of the diameter measurements. The method further provides a correction which takes into account the mechanical properties of the artery, defined by the parameters .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . . and which are calculated, if necessary by successive iterations, until the pressure-diameter curve appears free from all measurement anomalies (hysteresis).

Abstract: A processing circuit is provided for signals (S.sub.1, S.sub.2) supplied by two transducers measuring a physical quantity parameter in a differential mode and delivering a signal representative of this parameter. This processing circuit essentially comprises a first counter for counting within a measurement period an integer N.sub.1 of periods T.sub.1 of the signal S.sub.1, a second counter for counting within this period of measurement an integer N.sub.2 of periods T.sub.2 of the signal S.sub.2, and a logic circuit to deliver a signal S.sub.m representative of the difference between the interval N.sub.1 .multidot.T.sub.1 and the interval N.sub.2 .multidot.T.sub.2, this signal being representative of the value of the physical parameter. The circuit is useful for measuring acceleration, force, pressure or temperature.

Abstract: This method for establishing blood pressure in an artery employs the measurement results from two non-invasive sensors (5, 6) of artery diameter at two closely spaced locations (3, 4) separated by a distance .DELTA.x. The method provides for measuring the time spread .DELTA.t(7) between each pair of diameter measurements and establishing the propagation velocity of the pressure wave (9). Next, this value is compared with an expression (11) of the form c(D)= c(D, .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . . ) which takes into account the physical behavior of the artery. This comparison permits one, following adjustment (12) based on a mathematical procedure for minimizing spreads, to calculate the parameters .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . . of the relation given hereinabove. By replacing the parameters .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . . by their values in a relation (10) D(p)= D(p, .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . .

Abstract: The miniature peristaltic pump (1) of this invention includes a pump module (2) comprising a gear (11) arranged to drive a rotor bearing rollers, said rollers crushing locally at least one tube into which a medicinal preparation may be sucked in at the input (13) and expelled at the output (14) thereof. The gear (11) meshes with a pinion (12) forming part of a motor module (3) adapted to be mounted with or dismounted from the pump module. The motor module comprises a timepiece movement of the type currently employed in a wrist watch, such movement including a stepping motor, an integrated circuit, a quartz resonator and down gearing by means of toothed wheels. An energy cell renders the pump self contained. The pump is intended to be carried on the human body and thus renders unnecessary that the patient recline on a bed.

Abstract: The liquid crystal cell comprises a volume divided by a separating wall into a main chamber and a secondary chamber which define an active surface and a passive surface respectively. The secondary chamber is partially filled with the liquid crystal and with a gas. According to the invention the cell comprises, in addition, compensation means for variations in the volume of the liquid crystal constituted by a secondary chamber divided into a plurality of compartments, a plurality of passage openings being provided in the separating wall so that the main chamber and the secondary chamber are intercommunicating.

Abstract: An electrooptical cell has electrical connection means between electrodes and a control unit which comprise a contact block of a synthetic adhesive material having conducting particles applied on the edge of each plate in contact zones which are provided flush with said edge, the contact block constituting both the electrical connection and the mechanical bond with at least one other element of said connection.

Abstract: A cathodic sputtering operation using a target of a material containing titanium, aluminium, oxygen and nitrogen in an argon atmosphere is disclosed.This sputtering operation gives rise to a layer containing the same elements as the target. The resulting layer is opague, has an attractive, deep and brilliant black color, adheres well to the substrate and is resistant to wear and corrosion. The physical structure of the layer is characterized by a transparent and insulating amorphous phase in which are dispersed a plurality of inclusions having a size on the order of nanometers.

Abstract: A cathodic sputtering operation using a target of a material containing titanium, aluminum, oxygen and nitrogen in an argon atmosphere is disclosed.This sputtering operation gives rise to a layer containing the same elements as the target. The resulting layer is opaque, has an attractive, deep and brilliant black color, adheres well to the substrate and is resistant to wear and corrosion.

Abstract: An optically pumped laser comprising a securing arrangement (14) for the bar assuring, on one hand, the rigid interconnection of the bar (4) and the framework (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) by gripping the former and in bearing on the latter and, on the other hand the thermal insulation of the lateral faces of the bar. The securing arrangement (14) is obtained from an elastically deformable fitting of plastics material.

Abstract: The invention discloses an optically pumped laser comprising suspension means (7) for the bar (2) having inherent elasticity for assuring elastic gripping of the latter. The suspension means (7) comprise at least two suspension elements (17a, 17b) having a generally planar form extending parallel to the pumping faces of the bar. Each suspension element exhibits at least one peripheral securing zone (19a, 19b), a central clamping zone (20a, 20b) and an elastically deformable intermediate zone (21a, 21b) coupling these latter.

Abstract: A device for displaying the value of a quantity represented by input data comprises a mobile indicator member (24) driven by a stepping motor (20), a control circuit (18) for this motor for delivering drive pulses to the motor in response to the input data to move the indicator member to a position corresponding to the value of the quantity, and a dial (26) for showing an indexing system, for example a scale, which cooperates with the indicator member to indicate the value at least approximately. The dial comprises a liquid crystal, electrochromic or electroluminescent electrooptical display device (26) which displays the indexing system in response to signals from another control circuit (28) when the latter receives an activation signal. The device enables values of a single quantity situated in different ranges or values of distinct quantities to be indicated, by making the cell selectively display corresponding indexing systems. A specific application of the device is for automobile dashboards.

Abstract: An echo tracker clamps a time window for detecting an echo at the position of an echo produced by a mobile wall receiving an ultrasonic pulse signal at a repetition rate F.sub.r. It includes a depth counter (28) which counts in order to define the beginning of the time window in relation to a pulse of the pulse signal and which when it reaches a given value, supplies an enabling signal to activate authorization means (30) and a position detector (32).Enabling means (30) provide an enabling signal for a given time which defines the detecting time window. During this time, the position detector counts until the echo is detected. The value reached at that instant is used to clamp again the time window and to modify the initial value of the depth indicator.The invention is useful in the medical field for measuring the changes of the position of an interface between two tissues.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for measuring a physical quantity, for example a force (A), and providing an output signal (Vs) whose amplitude represents the measured value. The device comprises a first oscillator (1) including a resonator (3) to which the force (A) is applied, this oscillator delivering a first alternating signal (S1) whose frequency depends on the magnitude of the force (A), a second oscillator (2) supplying a second alternating signal (S2) whose frequency is determined by the amplitude of the output signal (Vs), an EXCLUSIVE OR gate (20) receiving the first and second signals, and a low-pass filter (21) delivering the output signal (Vs) in response to a signal supplied by the gate (20). The amplitude of this output signal depends on the phase difference of the first and second signals, and constitutes a measurement of the magnitude of the applied force (A). The device is advantageously used when the measurement is to be displayed in analog form.