Abstract: An apparatus for bidirectionally translating and positioning loads under tension includes a linear hydraulic actuator suspendible from a hoist such as a crane and is useable to support, raise and lower heavy loads in precisely controllable small incremental distances. The apparatus utilizes a strain-gauge type load cell positioned between an upper end of the actuator and an upper anchor connector eye suspendible from a crane. A digital display device operatively coupled to the load cell provides an accurate indication of static weight of a load supported by a load connector eye attached to a lower end of a piston rod protruding from the actuator, and accurate and immediate indications of any load weight deviation resulting from contact of a load with an obstruction while being raised or lowered. A pressure relief valve is provided to enable flow of hydraulic fluid from the actuator cylinder to a fluid reservoir to prevent inadvertent over-pressuring of the cylinder.

Abstract: An electromechanical, remotely operated Auxiliary Hoist Control and Precision Load Positioner system and device is disclosed utilizing a Radio Frequency Hand Controller transceiver Unit distal to a Radio Frequency Hoist Controller Transceiver Unit for raising and lowering a large, heavy, bulky, fragile, or expensive piece of equipment by very gradual means to avoid hang ups that might otherwise destroy or seriously damage the equipment.

Abstract: An electromechanical, remotely operated Auxiliary Hoist Control and Precision Load Positioner system and device is disclosed utilizing a Radio Frequency Hand Controller transceiver Unit distal to a Radio Frequency Hoist Controller Transceiver Unit for raising and lowering a large, heavy, bulky, fragile, or expensive piece of equipment by very gradual means to avoid hang ups that might otherwise destroy or seriously damage the equipment.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and an apparatus for creating an optical disc master by forming pits having ideal shapes and without berm buildup. These ideally shaped pits are improvements in the technology of disc mastering, due to the manufacturing and data playback advantages that are inherent in the ideally shaped pits. A disc substrate has a very thin partially reflective layer applied to the surface of the optical disc upon which data will be recorded. The substance used to make the partially reflective layer is normally considered opaque in more commonly occurring thicknesses. However, the partially reflective layer, is created to be so extremely thin that it becomes partially optically transparent. The partially reflective layer then has spin coated, thereon, an optically active lamina to enable the recording of data on the disc by laser means in the form of pits.

Abstract: An ambulatory physiological computer recorder that includes multiple selective plug and play signal input conditioners, a microprocessor system with operating and analyzing software and a removable memory module for data storage. The removable memory module may consist of any non-volatile memory such as IC memory, magnetic memory, optical memory or magneto-optical memory. The removable memory module used in the recorder excludes operating software; the purpose of the removable memory module in the recorder is only to receive and store acquired data. The recorder uses an alpha-numeric LCD display with control buttons for user interface to enter patient ID and recorder functional perimeters. Both operational and selective analysis software is resident in the microprocessor EEPROM memory. Software is installed in the recorder by transfer from an external source via standard serial or parallel links with applicable connectors, or by a plug-in EEPROM.

Abstract: A mobile audio visual presentation system contained within a telescoping tower platform that provides height adjustment means for video display devices. The telescoping tower provides stability, transportability, versatility and optimum sound/video projection angles for multimedia audio visual presentations. The system remotely programs and controls a plurality of multimedia projection devices by interfacing ambulatory hand-held controllers, via radio frequency, to select and control multimedia elements within the system. The radio frequency signals containing desired commands are transmitted and automatically switched to multimedia devices sensitive to either infrared signals or X.10 power line carrier signal (PLC).

Abstract: A system for monitoring the operation of a cardiac pacemaker and the response of the patient to the pacemaker includes an ARRHYTHMIAGRAPH that displays the occurrence of pacemaker signals in relation to overall QRS cycles and analyses the relationship of pacemaker signals to QRS cycles. A predetermined set of values are used to compare against measured QRS and pacemaker values. The result of the comparison is a determination of whether a QRS was initiated by a pacemaker signal. This determination is conveyed to display means where an ARRHYTHMIAGRAPH is used to illustrate the result in a visually discernible manner.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus utilizing conventional photo-reactive and reflective layers of a recording medium for optically recording and reading both digital and variable length, analog pulses of data, in an exacting manner to eliminate excess energy absorption by the medium and for reducing latent recording errors due to defects in the recording medium as well as due to the recording process itself. With this precise recording and reading technique, analog variable-length pulse recording, with its inherent wide bandwidth, as well as coded digital pulse recording, with its inherent narrow bandwidth, can be accommodated. The system monitors the optical transmissivity and reflectivity of the recording medium during the recording process in real time to accurately determine initial and terminal inflection points denoting inception and end of a recorded pulse in an exacting manner and to pinpoint and make allowances for recording defects which may yet yield errors on playback.

Abstract: A system for filtering stochastic signals as embodied in stress test systems for measuring electrocardiographic (ECG) activity in response to exercise employs a bidirectional Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filtering process over a predetermined window on a digitized version of an ECG signal to eliminate noise up to the 0.67 Hz frequency range. To eliminate phase shifting distortion in the ECG signal, the IIR filter is applied in a first direction over a predetermined window of the ECG and then applied in a second direction opposite the first direction segment over the identical window. In this manner the phase shift distortion normally associated with IIR filters is completely eliminated and superior bandwidth (as compared to FIR filters) is obtained. The response is achieved fast enough to be used in real time purpose.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically estimating the ST segment of a rate varying electrocardiogram by comparing the result yielded from a mathematical relationship between calculated beat averages and a predetermined standard. Typically a table of known heartbeats is made from which means for estimating are created. An average of beat to beat intervals is compared with the means for estimating and the length of the ST segment for any particular beat is derived making it possible to dynamically alter ST segment length for any given heartrate.

Abstract: A system for filtering stochastic signals as embodied in stress test systems for measuring electrocardiographic (ECG) activity in response to exercise employs a bidirectional Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filtering process over a predetermined window on a digitized version of an ECG signal to eliminate noise up to the 0.67 Hz frequency range. To eliminate phase shifting distortion in the ECG signal, the IIR filter is applied in a first direction over a predetermined window of the ECG and then applied in a second direction opposite the first direction segment over the identical window. In this manner the phase shift distortion normally associated with IIR filters is completely eliminated and superior bandwidth (as compared to FIR filters) is obtained. The response is achieved fast enough to be used in real time purpose.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for a portable clean environment used for recording optical disc masters by enclosing a light sensitive optical disc in a container that prevents ambient contamination from destroying the pristine environment necessary to create optical disc masters. A transparent optical disc, having an optically active lamina on at least one surface of the transparent optical disc, is enclosed in a dish shaped container that is generally free of particulate larger than 0.2 microns, the enclosure assembly effectively preserving a class 10 cleanroom environment. The dish shaped enclosure isolates the surface of the optical disc used to record data from contamination due to ambient conditions while exposing the nonwriting surface of the optical disc to enable laser writing. A foil seal protects the exposed nonwriting surface of the optical disc from ambient contamination during storage and until recording is desired.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and an apparatus for creating optical disc recordings by forming pits having ideal shapes. These ideally shaped pits are improvements in the technology of disc mastering, due to the manufacturing and data playback advantages that are inherent in the ideally shaped pits. A disc substrate has a very thin partially reflective layer applied to the surface of the optical disc upon which data will be recorded. The substance used to make the partially reflective layer is normally considered opaque in more commonly occurring thicknesses. However, the partially reflective layer, is created to be so extremely thin that it becomes partially optically transparent. The partially reflective layer then has spin coated, thereon, an optically active lamina to enable the recording of data on the disc by laser means in the form of pits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring system for recording, detection, measurement, analysis and plotting of high resolution electrocardiographic data having a modified Holter recorder that performs digital signal averaging of selected signals as well as storing for future playback all ECG beats. The digitally signal averaged beats are correlated with a previously defined correlation coefficient yielding summated results that have eliminated nonrepetitive noise to less than a microvolt. By real time averaging approximately 1000 beats during a 10 to 15 minute period and digitally storing the averaged data, micropotential averaging can be performed several times per hour for up to 24-hours. Analog recordings are precalibrated for accurate amplitude representation as well as providing an option for standard one millivolt calibration pulses at the beginning of the tape.

Abstract: A frequency domain signal processing and analysis method and apparatus displays, plots and makes measurements upon electrocardiographic signals (ECG) recorded from the body surface. Both the graphic plots and the numeric parameters measured reveal abnormalities of electrical conduction within the heart thought to be important in the identification of patients at risk of serious disturbances of heart rhythm including sudden death. The invention employs Fourier analysis of short overlapping segments of ECG signal to create a three dimensional map ("spectrocardiogram") whose axes are time, fequency and power thus disclosing changes in the frequency content of the ECG signal over short intervals of time.

Abstract: The invention discloses a simplified four step process for making an optical disc master or alternatively a WORM disc by first making or obtaining a transparent polymer disc with a tracking groove of desired geometry molded therein, then spin coating an optically active lamina on the grooved side of the disc, then recording data on said polymer disc with groove controlled and tracked laser means by ablating active lamina, forming pits, the shape of which is determined by the groove geometry and finally depositing a conductive and reflective lamina over the pitted active lamina. To change the OD master to an OD WORM, a protective cover is added to the electrically conductive and optically reflective lamina.

Abstract: Frequency domain ECG signal processing systems and methods plot spectral maps and compute statistical parameters from surface electrocardiographic signals, which plots and parameters reveal abnormalities of electrical conduction within the hearts of patients at risk of ventricular tachycardia. Fourier analysis of short overlapping time segments of QRS ECG signal are used to create three dimensional spectral maps disclosing changes in the frequency spectral content of the ECG signal over the whole QRS region. Correlations and statistical evaluations of the spectral content between QRS time segment pairs quantify the spectral turbulence of the ECG and distinguish those at risk from ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Abstract: A time saving automatic screening system for detection, measurement, analysis and plotting of electrocardiographic (ECG) signals employing arrhythmia analysis programs on long term ambulatory (Holter) recordings to assess the ECG signals and categorize the recorded data as either artifact, ventricular ectopic, superventricular ectopic, unknown or normal and to calculate a level of confidence that the category as chosen is a correct assessment. A system is disclosed that thresholds the occurrences of each category as well as the level of confidence to determine if significant abnormalities have occurred in the recording process, the hearts arrhythmia, or the heartbeat morphology. The method and apparatus disclosed make it possible to identify and screen out entire long term (Holter) ECG recordings containing no significant abnormalities in the hearts arrhythmia or the beat morphology.

Abstract: The invention is a sealed optical tape cassette. Sealed means is employed to pull optical tape across a mobile recording bridge situated behind a transparent window. Bridge is operated upon by a pair of sealed internal/external pins to control tape tilt, focus and tracking of a light beam from a spinning optical head in a recorder/player to a desired point on the optical tape.

Abstract: The invention discloses a simplified four step process for making an optical disc master or alternatively a WORM disc by first making or obtaining a transparent polymer disc with a tracking groove of desired geometry molded therein, then spin coating an optically active lamina on the grooved side of the disc, then recording data on said polymer disc with groove controlled and tracked laser means by ablating active lamina, forming pits, the shape of which is determined by the groove geometry and finally depositing a conductive and reflective lamina over the pitted active lamina. To change the OD master to an OD WORM, a protective cover is added to the electrically conductive and optically reflective lamina.