Abstract: A circuit breaker tank heating insulation unit blanket and circuit breaker insulation blanket wherein the insulation blanket is comprised of an elongated fibrous insulation encased within a fabric that is impervious to the outdoor environment. The insulation blanket is detachably secured over and encircling the circuit breaker tank. The insulation blanket includes an attachment means for detachably securing the insulation blanket to the circuit breaker tank. The heating insulation unit being comprised of an insulation blanket and a heating system wherein the heating system is positioned in contact with the tank of the circuit breaker and encircled by the insulation blanket.

Abstract: A method for remotely tracking and analyzing lightning induced electric power disturbances to determine whether the disturbances were caused by malfunction of a specified transmission line and or asset of a selected segment of the impacted electric power transmission system or by lightning induced voltage or current levels on the specified transmission line and or asset that exceed voltage or current threshold levels for specified line and or asset.

Abstract: A device and method wherein electrical components are mechanically suspended and electrically interconnected in an insulative elastomeric body, such as silicone, thereby eliminating the need for a circuit board or other circuit substrate. The device can change shape through compression, distension, flexure, and other external forces while maintaining its electrical performance and mechanical integrity. The device can be compressed and deformed to fit snugly within another device, such as the shell of an electrical connector or a plastic clamshell, simultaneously creating spring forces for reliable electrical contacts and an environmental seal. Accordingly, the device and method can be used for a wide variety of purposes such as electrical filtering for avionics, computer or automotive connectors, or a non-intrusive manner to package electronics for medical implants.

Abstract: A fiberoptic fluid pressure transducer system involving a thin flat diaphragm, fiberoptic elements, a tubular member having an opening of fixed dimensions on the side thereof, an L-shaped cantilevered beam and a remotely located electronic control unit. The cantilevered beam has one leg horizontally attached to a recessed ledge surrounding the opening such that a vertical leg extending from the horizontal leg, including a light reflector, extends into the opening. A diaphragm covers the opening and makes physical contact with the horizontal leg of the L-shaped beam. Pressure applied to the diaphragm flexes the horizontal leg of the beam which, in turn, causes a spatial displacement of the vertical leg with respect to the fiberoptic elements. The resulting change in reception of the reflected light is proportional to the pressure applied to the diaphragm or membrane. The sensitivity of the transducer can be altered and the system can have two or more levels of sensitivity over a range of pressure measurements.

Abstract: An arterial shunt is disclosed having means for indicating the flow of blood through the shunt. The shunt comprises a movable indicator element responsive to the flow of blood. Whether or not blood is flowing through the shunt may be quickly and easily ascertained by visual inspection of the indicator element through a transparent window. Alternatively, electromagnetic or optical means may be employed to measure the velocity of the movement of the indicator element which also allows the rate of blood flow through the shunt to be quantified.

Abstract: A device to protect against accidental exposure to the needle on a hypodermic syringe. A flexible tubular covering is attached to the syringe surrounding the needle and extending beyond the tip of the needle. A cap is mounted on the end of the tubular covering to enclose the needle tip. An orifice extends through the cap such that as the cap is retracted towards the syringe, the tubular covering is flexed allowing the needle to pass through the orifice in the cap.

Abstract: A temperature measuring system that utilizes an electronic control unit and a rod made of a first material with a first thermal coefficient of expansion, the rod being attached at one end within a tubular device made of a material having a second coefficient of expansion. A reflecting surface is on the outer end of the rod of first material. At least one optical fiber is associated with the tubular member and is located so as to create a gap between the optical fiber and the reflecting surface. The first and second materials are chosen based upon their respective coefficients of thermal expansion such that a change in temperature of both materials will cause the length of the gap to either increase or decrease, thereby causing a change in the amount of light that is reflected and detected by the optical fibers.

Abstract: A miniature surgical clip made of a single continuous length of spring material comprising, in combination, first and second operating members arranged at an acute angle with respect to one another connected together at a common apex, the first operating member having an inwardly bent base leg which defines a guide element and a first jaw member which extends from the base leg in a direction away from the common apex. The second operating member includes a portion defining a second jaw member which extends adjacent to and beyond the guide element in a direction away from the common apex and substantially parallel to the first jaw member to form cooperating jaws which are straight and parallel.

Abstract: A surgical clamp for clamping a blood vessel and preferably made of a single piece of plastic material is provided with a hinge element flexibly connecting one end each of an upper and lower clamping arm at a spaced distance. The other end of one of the clamping arms has a locking pawl flexibly connected thereto. A mating locking mechanism flexibly connected to the other of the clamping arms engages a latch pin on the locking pawl when the clamping arms are brought together. The four hinge points, including the point of juncture between latch pin and the locking mechanism, are arrayed in a parallelogram configuration which provides for parallel movement and automatic self adjustment of the distance between the clamping arms as the clamping arms are brought together to clamp the blood vessel. Combined flexible wall andlocking mechanism elements prevent the blood vessel from being dislodged after the clamping operation, and provide ease of application of the clamp to the blood vessel.

Abstract: Fiber optic transducers are constructed from a single optical fiber wherein the geometry of the fiber is altered such as by introducing a bend or curve area in the fiber adjacent to the exit end of the fiber or by forming a canted or angled reflective surface at the exit end of the fiber. The alteration in the geometry of the fiber at or adjacent to the exit end thereof causes the light exiting from the fiber to project therefrom in a modified or expanded cone enabling more sensitive measurement capabilities.

Abstract: A fiber optic light coupling assembly is disclosed including at least one local physical distortion introduced into the geometry of a fiber at a position intermediate its ends. Light is introduced into the fiber at this position and is directed essentially unidirectionally therefrom toward a desired end of the fiber for processing and retransmission of a light signal back through the fiber for exit at the other end thereof.

Abstract: A surgical clip comprises a body with two outwardly projecting jaws. The body includes a passage through which one of the jaws is inserted to form a looped body with the jaws extending outwardly in mutually juxtaposed relationship. The body is integrally hinged at its midsection. The jaws are formed to provide a reverse curve clamping path for an interposed member such as a blood vessel and, in a preferred embodiment, a trough for supporting the member is formed in one of the jaws.

Abstract: A miniature surgical clip made of a single continuous length of spring wire for clamping blood vessels in brain surgery and the like. The clip includes a pair of operating members arranged at an acute angle and connected together at a common apex. The operating members are symmetrically formed and have inwardly bent legs which extend mutually inward in overlapping relation to form spaced parallel portions defining between them a lateral guideway. Each of the inwardly bent legs terminates in a 270.degree. exit loop having straight exiting portions which are captive in, and which extend through, the guideway parallel to one another to form cooperating jaws which are straight and parallel. The operating members are outwardly sprung with respect to one another for biasing the jaws resiliently into clamping engagement.

Abstract: A microsurgical clip for clamping of small blood vessels formed of a hollow shell of generally rectangular shape having opposed side walls and a front wall, the shell having a duck bill, or jaw, extending forwardly at the lower edge of the front wall. A cooperating insert of zigzag shape nested in the shell includes a top wall, front wall and duck bill, the insert being hinged between the side walls. An expansible spring is seated between the bottom wall of the shell and the top wall of the insert for biasing the duck bills into resilient clamping engagement. The hinge connection includes a hinge pin extending between the side walls at the upper back corners encircled by a tab bent at the end of the top wall of the insert. The side walls are angled downwardly from the hinge pin and the front wall of the shell is foreshortened so that when the duck bills are in clamping engagement the insert projects upwardly beyond the shell.

Abstract: A machine for calibrating clips used for clamping blood vessels during surgery. First and second heads are arranged in a frame in opposed relation for relative separating movement from a start position in which the heads are bottomed together. The presented adjacent ends of the heads have registering hooks oriented transversely and parallel to one another, each of the hooks having an adjacent clearance opening for receiving the jaw of an inserted clip. An insertion stop is positioned behind the hooks for limiting the degree of insertion. A drive is interposed between one of the heads and the frame for separating the heads by a predetermined increment thereby to spread the jaws of an inserted clip by a reference amount. A force transducer is interposed between the remaining head and the frame for producing an electrical signal which depends upon the reaction force corresponding to the reference separation.

Abstract: A surgical clip for clamping of small blood vessels having arms integrally joined and terminating in a pair of flat jaws. The arms are formed of springy material and outwardly sprung. The first arm has a cam track on its outer edge which is divergently angled. A cam follower including a resilient rod is mounted cantilever-fashion on the second arm having at its end a cam follower member riding upon the cam track to bring the jaws into a desired degree of clamping force with a blood vessel. In the preferred embodiment the resilient rod is mounted in position to have a condition of maximum curvature when the cam follower is in its jaw-releasing position so that when the cam follower arm is flexed and then manually released the cam follower tends to move automatically to a clamping position. The cam track is preferably convexly curved and made up of a closely spaced series of transversely extending detent recesses.

Abstract: A microsurgical clip for clamping of small blood vessels formed of a hollow shell having openings top and bottom with an integral duck bill extending forwardly from the lower edge of its front wall. A cooperating insert of inverted "U" shape is nested in the housing to define a central pocket and terminates in a duck bill which cooperates with the duck bill of the shell. The shell and the insert have their back walls hinged together, and an expansible spring is seated in the pocket with one end coupled to the shell and the other end coupled to the insert for urging the insert upwardly into the shell to bias the duck bills together. The insert has a crown which projects upwardly through the opening at the top of the shell so that upon application of pinching pressure the insert is pressed downwardly with respect to the shell to compress the spring and to spread the duck bills for clamping engagement of a blood vessel therebetween.

Abstract: A blood sample collection device and procedure which employs a series of pre-evacuated rubber-capped vials for the drawing of successive samples. A hollow cylindrical carrier is used consisting of two cups which are integral base-to-base defining a main chamber and a mid-chamber. A soft rubber disc encloses the mid-chamber and defines an antechamber communicating with an intravenous needle. A piston carrying a double-ended auxiliary needle is slideable endwise in the mid-chamber. The antechamber is enclosed by transparent material such as plastic and is of such size as to admit only a trace of blood through the intravenous needle under venous pressure before the vial is connected, the blood in the antechamber serving as a visual telltale informing the user that the needle is in the lumen of the vein.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube assembly which includes a curved section of flexible tubing suitable for insertion into the trachea and having a junction fitting at its outer end extending outside of the mouth of the patient, the junction fitting providing a male connection having an interference fit with the tubing so that the tubing is stretched and enlarged in the region of overlap. The assembly is distinguished by bite block in the form of a ferrule of relatively soft resilient plastic having an inner diameter greater than the diameter of the tubing while providing a snug frictional fit with the tubing concentrated at its outer end in the region of overlap. The bite block has substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces for safe gripping by the teeth of the patient, interconnected by side walls of sufficient thickness as to prevent collapse of the tube upon clenching of the teeth.

Abstract: A vacuum bag assembly for wound drainage which utilizes a bag of thin flexible plastic in the form of an initially flat sealed envelope having opposed walls with sealed side edges and end edges and having a sealed catheter to provide communication. Vacuum is created by a pair of springs spaced along the axis of the bag with each spring being in the form of a pair of leaf spring elements lying back-to-back with their ends in register with one another and extending from one side edge of the bag to the other, the leaf spring elements being pre-stressed for bowing mutually outwardly away from the central axis. Relatively stiff flexible sheets are interposed between the springs and the walls of the bag so that upon bowing of the springs the walls of the bag are bowed outwardly uniformly over the major portion of the length thereof into distended pillow shape for development of vacuum at the catheter connection.