Abstract: An optical apparatus for obtaining one or more measurements of portions of an eye having means for providing a narrow beam of light through the eye, a lens system that collects light that is reflected from the eye and forms an image on the surface of a television camera tube and including means for determining when the narrow beam of light passes through the center of curvature of the cornea and when the instrument is correctly positioned for proper focus on the eye. Means are connected to the television camera for receiving and processing the video signals while the camera scans the image of the eye for measuring various portions of the eye such as the thickness of the cornea, the curvature of the leading edge of the cornea, the depth of the anterior chamber, the thickness of the lens, the transparency of the cornea, the transparency of the aqueous humor, and the transparency of the lens.

Abstract: A pneumatically driven balloon activated blood pump for connection either in parallel with or to one side of the heart for temporary mechanical support of an inadequately functioning heart. A tubular conduit with a sealable opening for insertion or removal of the balloon having an inlet and an outlet for connection to the circulatory system. A gas line extends from outside of the conduit through the opening and into the conduit and is connected to an inflatable balloon which is expanded and contracted by gas to form the blood propelling member. An inlet and an outlet valve are positioned on opposite sides of the balloon to provide unidirectional flow of blood through the pump. The inlet valve may be a separate occluder balloon connected to and actuated from the gas line or may be a portion of the balloon occluding the inlet side of the conduit during inflation. An outlet valve may be attached to the pump balloon.

Abstract: An electrical capacitance measurement system for monitoring at a distance the instantaneous blood volume within the body of an air or gas activated blood pump. Electrical capacitance changes within the pneumatic blood pump frequency modulates an oscillator, and the extraneous capacitances encountered are incorporated as electrical, integral components in oscillator operation. An inductor, placed within or in close proximity to the pump, and the relatively small electrical capacitance within the pump form an oscillator tank which primarily determines oscillator frequency. By thus creating a tank at the site of measurement, active and other oscillator components can be placed at a distance from the pump, and undesirable cable capacitances can conveniently be incorporated as participating feedback capacitors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided which will attenuate bioelectric interference when measuring the activity in an intact nerve. An electrode probe is provided having first and second electrodes positioned on opposite sides of a thin, flexible, insulating carrier. The probe is inserted between the nerve to be measured and the underlying body tissue with one electrode contacting only the nerve and the second electrode contacting only the tissue. The nerve and the tissue thereby form in effect a Wheatstone bridge about the carrier and the symmetrical electrodes which thus provides a nulling effect on extraneous electrical potentials, while a measurement of nerve potentials appearing as a voltage difference between the electrodes provides a measurement of activity in the nerve. Additional, symmetrical pairs of electrodes may be positioned on the same carrier, and their outputs may electronically be combined for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio in the measurement.

Abstract: Wastewaters heavily laden with organic compounds and containing viruses and other microbiological flora are sterilized and maintained sterile for prolonged periods of time by the addition of a base, such as lime, and a quaternary compound, preferably cetyl pyridinium chloride, in amounts to maintain the pH of the wastewaters at about 9-11, or higher, and with sufficient quaternary compound for suspended solids present. This prevents the formation of methane gases, which are tentative hazards in that they are inflammable, asphyxiant and narcotic. Similarly, toilets are rendered sterile by the addition of the base and quaternary compound so that, upon flushing, aerosols generated will not contain active infectious agents. All bacteria and fungi are inactivated under these basic conditions by the addition of quaternary compounds. Viruses are also inactivated under these basic conditions but only with quaternary compounds which contain the pyridinium moiety.