Abstract: Silicate minerals, including asbestos fibres, are rendered less harmful by forming metal-micelle polymer coatings on the silicate. A metal-micelle polymer coating is formed on a silicate by contacting a silicate mineral, such as asbestos, with a metal-weak base-strong acid aqueous ion system, or a metal-strong base-weak acid ion system. In these systems the metal is selected from the group consisting of manganese, chromium, cobalt, iron, copper, aluminum and mixtures of these metals. The product of reacting asbestos fibres with these systems is less irritating to living cells than asbestos fibres and also has substantially the same physical and chemical properties as asbestos fibres and can thus be substituted for asbestos fibres in most technological applications.

Abstract: A circuit design suitable for use with monolithic semiconductor fabrication techniques which provides two accurate reference voltages, one of which is a certain calculatable percentage greater than, the other of which is the same percentage less than, a fixed reference voltage. The magnitude of this voltage window is set by selection of the value of a single resistor which is connected between a single connection point in the circuit and ground. The two accurate reference voltages are fully compensated for changes in temperature.

Abstract: The vertically swingable boom of the apparatus is articulated to present a joint that is spaced outwardly from the horizontal swinging axis of the lift cylinder for the boom. A rigid link transversely and pivotally interconnects the lift cylinder and the inner section of the boom to control articulation of the latter about the joint during swinging of the boom. Consequently, the moment between the line of action of the lift cylinder and the boom remains favorably high at all locations on the path of swinging travel of the boom and the lift cylinder can swing through an arc approaching 180.degree. during its operation of the boom.

Abstract: A dispenser package for vessel occluding bands used in surgical procedures. A thin rectangular plastic card or sheet is provided with winding notches or grooves along opposed edges thereof, such that one or more bands or strands of elastic material may be wound on the card with the individual turns of the strand being spaced from one another. To keep the elastic band from unraveling from the card, slits are formed on the remaining opposed edges of the card and a tongue slit is formed centrally of the card such that one free end of the band can be retained in one of the edge slits and the other free end is retained in the tongue slit. An outer sleeve of transparent plastic film material is adapted to surround the card with the bands wound thereon to help ensure cleanliness of the bands, while allowing them to be dispensed from the card without removal of the card from the sleeve.

Abstract: A low-cost, disposable electrode for body surface stimulating applications having a backing layer formed from a sheet of foamed plastic material which is generally divided into two halves by a transversely extending fold line. The first half has an opening extending through the thickness dimension thereof and on a surface of the second half is adhesively affixed a flexible, conductive sheet which is so positioned that when the backing layer is folded along the fold line, the flexible conductive sheet fits through the opening formed on the first half. Completing the assembly is a layer of conductive adhesive which is affixed to the undersurface of the foamed plastic layer so as to abut the surface of the flexible conductive sheet exposed through the opening and an electrical lead connected to the flexible conductive sheet.

Abstract: An electronic interface module for use with patient monitoring equipment which allows use of the monitoring equipment at the same time that the patient is being treated through the application to his body of electrical stimulating pulses or the like. Body contacting leads used to pick up physiologically generated impulses from the body of the patient are coupled through a suitable amplifier to a sample and hold circuit. The interface module also includes means for generating a control pulse at the onset of a body stimulating impulse which control pulse persists for a predetermined time greater than the period of the stimulating impulse. This control pulse is also applied to the sample and hold circuit. The output from the sample and hold circuit (which may be analog or digital in nature) is, in turn, coupled through suitable matching circuitry to the patient monitoring equipment.

Abstract: The front and rear sections of the vehicle are normally free to rock relative to one another about a fore-and-aft extending, horizontal axis to the extent necessary to compensate for lateral variations in ground contour between the front and rear of the vehicle. However, when a lift on the front of the vehicle is operated and it reaches a predetermined height, a fluid-pressure circuit is activated to frictionally engage a pair of brake parts on the two sections of the vehicle so as to hold the same against free rocking, thereby making the combined masses of the two sections available to counterbalance any tendency of the lifted load to tip the vehicle over sideways as the load is raised.

Abstract: A method of preventing frost damage to plants comprising applying oleaginous materials to the tissues thereof, which materials are absorbed by the tissues in amounts sufficient to prevent swelling thereof by ice crystal formation.

Abstract: A light indicating monitoring system includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) having a common ground connected to a phase controlled silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) circuit. The SCR circuit limits conduction of rectified AC energy through the LED's and through corresponding resistors connected in series with the LED's for limiting the current through the LED's. The SCR circuit thereby provides for operating low DC voltage LED's from a high AC voltage source with a minimum of power and heat generation in the current limiting resistors.

Abstract: A disposable vascular tourniquet for controlling the constriction of a blood vessel during surgery. The vessel occluder comprises a flexible tubular sheath having a clamping structure disposed at its proximal end. The clamping structure is a unitary molded plastic part which has a tubular base portion adapted to be inserted into the proximal end of the flexible sheath and projecting from this base portion are bifurcated fingers, one of which includes a transversely extending latch portion which is adapted to mate with a recess on the other finger. A retractor or snare having a hook at one end and a ring-type handle at the other end may be inserted between the fingers of the clamp when in its unlatched condition and through the tubular base of the clamp and the sheath so as to extend outwardly from the distal end of the sheath. A cord may be looped around a vessel to be constricted and the ends of the loop are captured in the hook of the retractor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for incinerating combustible materials wherein the movement of the material particles is controlled as they are moved over an arrangement of grate sections during combustion in relation to particle density so that less dense particles travel faster than more dense particles to provide for increased combustion efficiency. The grate sections are arranged in adjacent groups and in an alined, downstepped succession. Each grate section has a downwardly inclined, upper support surface and a reciprocating pusher block is moved an adjustable distance over an inlet end portion of the upper support surface of each pusher block to impart moving forces through the material in a pushing stroke that is substantially shorter than the full travel distance of the material along the associated grate section.

Abstract: An electronic peripheral nerve stimulator which may be used to monitor the type of neuromuscular blocks present in a patient following the administration of a muscle relaxant drug. An integrated circuit monostable multivibrator or one-shot is coupled to an amplifier and output stage. Plural integrated astable multivibrators are provided which may be selectively employed to trigger the one-shot circuit to thereby produce stimulating impulses of several predetermined repetition rates and duty cycles useful for producing the so-called "twitch" and "tetanus" responses of a patient's digital members. The peripheral nerve stimulator also includes indicating means for the power-on condition of the unit as well as for a low battery charged condition.

Abstract: A character display system which generates analog signals to write sequentially specified strokes forming a character on a display device is described. The character strokes are stored as digital words in a Read Only Memory (ROM) and are sequentially read out in response to instructions to write a specified character. The ROM also contains address words that specify a group of words elsewhere in the ROM that together constitute the instructions for writing the character designated. The address words include fields controlling incrementing within the addressed word group, movement on the display device to a new character space, and positioning of the character space on that display device. Each word in a character word group includes fields representing the X- and Y-end points of the stroke signal, the slope of the X- and Y-components, the blanking and unblanking of the stroke signal, and, in some cases, a pause in movement where a change in slope occurs during execution of a single word.

Abstract: A charging stand for a rechargeable battery pack having a receptacle for receiving a battery pack to be charged and/or tested and having indicator means for providing a visual indication of the condition of the battery pack. The charging stand is adapted to be connected to the output of a standard AC to DC converter and includes a circuitry for applying a charging current to the battery pack as well as sensing and indicating that charging is in progress and that the battery potential is low or fully charged. A manually operated switch is also provided to permit the testing of the condition of a battery pack. When the pack to be tested is inserted into the receptacle in the test stand and the switch is operated, a battery, which is partially discharged, will result in a "low" indication being given, but if fully charged, a "high" indication will result.

Abstract: A female receptacle for a male pin-type coaxial jack of the type having first and second cylindrical conductive segments coaxially aligned and having ends thereof separated by an insulating segment and having an annular detent notch formed in the endmost conductive segment. The receptacle comprises a conductive sleeve having a generally U-shaped cross-section, the sleeve being of a predetermined length. The sleeve is adapted to be mounted on a printed circuit board which has a pattern of electrical conductors thereon and an aperture formed therethrough inwardly of one side edge of the printed circuit board. The conductive sleeve is connected to the printed circuit board by means of projections which extend through holes drilled in the board and when so mounted, has a first open end proximate the side edge of the board and its opposite open end proximate the edge of the aperture.

Abstract: A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator in which a unijunction transistor relaxation oscillator is used to produce variable frequency, variable width pulses. The relaxation oscillator drives a two stage transistor amplifier and the output therefrom is transformer coupled to a set of output electrodes which are adapted to be placed on the area of a patient to be treated. The amplitude of the signals applied to the patient as well as the rate and duration thereof are controllable so that the patient may adjust the nerve stimulation to suit his particular needs.

Abstract: Transcutaneous nerve stimulating apparatus wherein a portable, battery-operated variable pulse width, variable pulse rate oscillator is coupled through a variable amplitude current amplifying device to a set of electrodes adapted to be positioned upon the skin of a patient in proximity to a pain exhibiting area. The electrical signals or impulses are transmitted through the skin to the underlying nerves and serve to block the pain.

Abstract: A high speed vector generating electrical system is provided which provides the deflection voltages required to draw a vector line from one point to another on the screen of a cathode-ray tube. The system is particularly useful for drawing images in any desired pattern on the screen of the cathode-ray tube, whereby the images are composed of a multitude of vector lines. The system of the invention is simplified as compared with the prior art systems of the same general type, and it requires less adjustments and exhibits greater stability. The system also has a readily programmable drawing rate, and it requires shorter drawing time for short vectors.

Abstract: Each mold in a battery of molds consists of a female die which has a cylindrical mold cavity which is open on both ends. A coaxial end probe or plug is slidable into and out of one end of the cavity and has a duct therein through which plastic material is injected into the cavity. A coaxial center probe or plug is slidable into and out of the other end of the cavity and has a duct therein through which steam is injected into the cavity to heat the plastic therein. A coaxial crush probe or plug with a bore through which the center probe is slidable is itself slidable toward and away from the end of the cavity adjacent the center probe and closes that end of the cavity. A small vent gap is held open between the female die and the crush probe while the plastic beads are being injected into the cavity to allow air to escape from the cavity. The vent gap is closed after the cavity has been filled with plastic beads.

Abstract: A method of swelling the cell membranes of the cell surrounding the latex containing vessels in the underpeel of bananas to enable the latex vessels to be more resistant to temperatures within the range of 45.degree. to 55.degree. F. The method includes treating the exterior peel of the banana finger with an application of an oleaginous material having a viscosity of 10 to 10,000 centistokes, maintaining the underpeel at a temperature of above 55.degree. F during the application and holding the underpeel for a dwell period of at least 24 hours. The amount of the oleaginous material applied is sufficient to permit the oleaginous material to penetrate completely below the exterior peel and into the sites of the latex vessels' cell membranes to swell these membranes in order to prevent both a phase change in the cell membranes and an increase in the permeability of the liquid and solutes of the cells surrounding the latex vessels into the latex contained in these vessels.