Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved tray for use in producing a denture either in-situ or by use of a model of the patient's mouth. The tray comprises a basic tray of disposable material approximating the shape of either the palate or the lower gums and having inner and outer wall portions integral therewith and forming a trough defining a gum receiving portion with a U-shape opening in the trough mounting, means for mounting a plurality of artificial teeth approximating the teeth found in either the upper or lower portion of the mouth, the mounting means having a flange portion made of dental acrylic which rests on the sides of the trough adjacent the U-shaped opening with the plurality of the teeth extending through the opening.

Abstract: A system and method analyzes tonosignals and other electrical signals such as those representative of force-displacement information from applanating probes initially to determine the presence of an acceptable waveform or tonosignal. Once an acceptable waveform is found, that waveform is analyzed further to locate the point of applanation. The level of the waveform at that point may be converted to a digital signal and displayed to indicate the pressure within the eye or other objects to which the probe is applied.

Abstract: A precisely movable mirror mount has a mirror pivotally supported on an elongated member. The member is rotationally supported by a support spaced along the member from the mirror, the support also supporting a winch. One end of a strand is windingly connected to the winch and the other end of the strand is connected to the mirror for rotating the mirror in one direction against a bias device which urges mirror rotation in the other direction. The strand mirror-rotating arrangement makes the device slim and thus visually non-distracting and the spacing to the member and winch support minimizes noise at the mirror to make the device audibly non-distracting, both of which are important to the preferred use of the device in a visual field tester in which the patient is close to the device.

Abstract: A method of observing the aim or effect of a laser beam on a target which fluoresces upon irradiation with a laser beam uses the laser beam to provide light for observing the target, but shields the observer from the laser beam. The method comprises irradiating with a laser beam a target which fluoresces upon exposure to the laser beam and blocking the reflected or scattered laser light from the observer while passing the light from the target fluorescence to the observer for viewing the aim or effect of the laser beam on the target.

Abstract: A device using longitudinal ultrasonic vibrations for rotating a shaft at relatively low rotational speeds is particularly useful for rotating a brush-type tooth polisher on an insert for an ultrasonic dental prophylaxis unit. The device has a sleeve which supports the rotatable shaft and a vibrator. A disc is normal to the axis of rotation of the shaft and connected to the shaft for rotation. A transducer at one end of the vibrator responds to excitation for producing longitudinal ultrasonic vibrations in the vibrator, and the other end of the vibrator which is urged against the disc with a constant force converts the longitudinal vibrations into elliptical motion to engage one face of the disc during an arc of the elliptical motion. This imparts substantially only pulses of tangential driving force and normal vibrational forces to rotate the disc and shaft unidirectionally. In one preferred embodiment, the vibrator has a single driving pad urged against the disc.

Abstract: A system controls the flow of a drive fluid for driving a tool on a handpiece. The system comprises a drive fluid line communicating with the handpiece and a drive fluid control motor for controlling the flow of the drive fluid in the line. Control means is operatively associated with the fluid drive motor control, and responsive actuation means on the handpiece which is manually engaged by the finger of the user. Upon actuation, the control means controls the drive fluid control to provide initially a flow of the drive fluid such that the handpiece is powered at an initial level, the fluid motor then being continuously responsive for a time interval substantially coinciding with the operation of the actuation means by the finger of the user for altering the level of drive fluid flow to vary the power availabile in the handpiece. The level of flow when the finger releases the actuation means is then maintained until the actuation means is again actuated whereupon drive fluid flow is stopped.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber optic fiber transmission line which transmits light a distance from its source and is terminated, at its light delivery end, by a second fiber optic fiber of a larger diameter than the first fiber. An interlocking connector keeps the first and second fiber in positive contact in an efficient light energy transmission relationship. A plurality of second fibers form a set of tips for use in causing light convergence or divergence at the transmission line output.

Abstract: The pressure difference across a pneumotach restriction is sampled with a gas chopper connected across a pressure difference detecting transducer. The gas chopper alternates the pressures backward and forward in application to the transducer so that the latter develops an AC sampling signal, the strength of which is related to flow. This AC signal is sampled in synchronism over intervals having a duration related to the power line frequency to develop an integrated value of the pressure difference free of drift caused by power line interference. The resultant signal is smoothed and summed in alternating response at double the gas chopper sampling rate to give a smooth output which is then multiplied by a linearizing circuit to obtain a flow signal which is proportional to the pressure difference. Specific gas flow structures and electronic sampling circuitry are disclosed.

Abstract: Brassiere tapes having a body portion and a pair of overlapping tabs extending outwardly therefrom are manufactured by providing a continuous strip of material for the tapes having fastener elements spaced along the strip and layers in the body portion and in each of the tabs weldable with ultrasonic vibratory energy. The tabs are separated physically from each other such that the individual layers in the strip may be simultaneously severed and welded across the body portion and the tabs when interposed between ultrasonically vibrating horn and anvil devices, except that the tabs which are physically separated from each other are not welded to each other. Compliant means for mounting of the anvil is provided so that the cutting edge for severing the tapes from the strip which is associated with the anvil is not readily dulled by the repetitive contacting engagement of the horn and anvil surfaces in the operative position.

Abstract: Apparatus for the surgical removal of tissue is disclosed comprising a handpiece having a resonant vibrator with a magnetostrictive stack and connecting body encompassing a hollow elongated tool which is ultrasonically vibrated at its tip longitudinally to a peak to peak stroke of at least 0.005 inches at about 25,000 cps (25 KHz). A generator powers the vibrator and is automatically controlled at the frequency to maintain the resonant vibration. Aspiration is provided by suction through the hollow tool at its tip, and a manifold enclosing the tool end of the handpiece provides irrigation.

Abstract: An aerosol interface comprises a housing defining a fluid receiving chamber in open communication with the atmosphere, with inlet means operatively associated with the housing for permitting continuous delivery to the chamber of a flow of an aerosol fluid so as to obtain an accumulation of the aerosol fluid therein for inhalation by a patient using the aerosol interface. Breath transmission means, operatively associated with the housing, has a passageway therethrough defined by an inner end and an outer end, the outer end being adapted for communication with the breath of a patient using the aerosol interface for the inhalation through the passageway of the aerosol fluid in the chamber and the exhalation of expired fluid by the patient into the passageway.

Abstract: A system and method analyzes tonosignals and other electrical signals representative of force-displacement information from applanating probes such as those initially to determine the presence of an acceptable waveform or tonosignal. Once an acceptable waveform is found, that waveform is analyzed further to locate the point of applanation. The level of the waveform at that point may be converted to a digital signal and displayed to indicate the pressure within the eye or other objects to which the probe is applied.

Abstract: Brassiere tapes having a body portion and a pair of overlapping tabs extending outwardly therefrom are manufactured by providing a continuous strip of the tape material having elements spaced there along and layers at least in the body portion-forming part thereof. The material is weldable with ultrasonic vibratory energy, and the tabs are separated physically from each other while simultaneously maintained in acoustical energy coupling relation to each other, such that the individual layers of material in the strip are welded together across the body portion of a tape defined thereby and the tabs are individually welded along an edge but not welded together when interposed between an ultrasonically vibrating horn and an anvil. The strip is advanced on an intermittent basis between the horn and the anvil by the elements for continuously producing tapes having a desired number of elements thereon.

Abstract: Brassiere tapes having a body portion and a pair of overlapping tabs extending outwardly therefrom are manufactured by providing a continuous strip of material for the tapes having fastener elements spaced along the strip and layers in the body portion and in each of the tabs weldable with ultrasonic vibratory energy. The tabs are separated physically from each other such that the individual layers in the strip may be simultaneously severed and welded across the body portion and the tabs when interposed between ultrasonically vibrating horn and anvil devices, except that the tabs which are physically separated from each other are not welded to each other. Compliant means for mounting of the anvil is provided so that the cutting edge for severing the tapes from the strip which is associated with the anvil is not readily dulled by the repetitive contacting engagement of the horn and anvil surfaces in the operative position.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in surgically removing tumorous neurological tissue comprises a handpiece in which a tool tip vibrating transversely to its long axis in the ultrasonic range, is mounted an irrigation fluid outlet for introducing fluid adjacent the tool tip to flush the operative site, and a fluid inlet adjacent the tool tip for withdrawing a fluid mixture from the site.

Abstract: A breath volume indicating system has a regulator controlling the flow of gas from a source of gas under pressure to a supply system delivering the gas under pressure to a patient as well as to a chamber providing a fixed volume to receive a supply of the gas. The regulator includes two valves respectively operatively associated with the supply system and the chamber, each valve being operable simultaneously between closed and open positions. In the closed position of the valves, generally coinciding with an inhalation period of the patient, the regulator provides a flow of the gas to the patient through the supply system and into the chamber, concurrently, and, in the open position, generally coinciding with the exhalation period of the patient venting of the supply system (and thereby the patient) and the chamber, concurrently.

Abstract: An optical gas analyzer is disclosed utilizing the infrared absorption principle having a sample chamber and reference chamber with infrared source and detector assembly spaced at opposite ends of and in alignment with the chambers with baffle means provided in cooperating relation with the infrared source to prevent cross-currents with respect thereto and masking means provided in cooperating relation with the detector assembly to mask out a gas having a partially overlapping infrared absorption band. The electronic processing system utilizes the total area under the signal waveform to derive the desired measurement. In addition barometric correction means is provided to permit on site calibration by the user of the gas analyzer.

Abstract: Apparatus for the surgical removal of tissue is disclosed comprising a handpiece having a resonant vibrator with a magnetostrictive stack and connecting body encompassing a hollow elongated tool which is ultrasonically vibrated at its tip longitudinally to a peak to peak stroke of at least 0.005 inches at about 25,000 cps (25 KHz). A generator powers the vibrator and is automatically controlled at the frequency to maintain the resonant vibration. Aspiration is provided by suction through the hollow tool at its tip, and a manifold enclosing the tool end of the handpiece provides irrigation.

Abstract: An improved coaxial ophthalmoscope incorporating both a light trap for absorbing substantially all of the light not utilized for illuminating the eye under examination, and thereby preventing the unused light from reflecting back into the eye of the viewer thus obscuring the vision thereof, and a filtering means for filtering out the light reflected from the cornea of the eye under examination but allowing the light reflected from the retina to pass therethrough.

Abstract: An ultrasonic hand-held cleaning device having a housing enclosing a casing, an energyzing winding about the casing, and a fluid conduit attached to the interior of the casing. A sleeve is insertably mounted into the end of the casing, and acts to support a connecting body at a spaced distance within the sleeve so as to form an annular space in fluid communication with the casing. A vibrator is attached at the casing end to the connecting body and is therefore located in the casing opposite the energyzing winding. A cleaning tool is attached at the other end of the connecting body. In one version fluid moving through the annular space is sprayed out an annular nozzle around the tool which is itself vibrating ultrasonically as a result of reverbretory vibrations induced by the vibrator. In a second preferred embodiment the connecting body has a ring at its nodal point, the sleeve being cut out to accommodate the ring and having two longitudinal slots for the passage of fluid.