Abstract: A system capable of remotely validating the identity of individuals and monitoring their locations includes a first device attached to the individual being monitored by a circumferential band worn around his wrist, ankle or neck that is capable of electronically generating a sequence of pseudorandom numbers that will cease to function if the band is cut or otherwise opened to detach the device from the individual. The system also includes a second device which is a remote microprocessor or computer based monitor synchronized to the same sequence of pseudorandom numbers and in occasional communication with the individual over telephone lines or some other remote means such as a radio frequency transmission link. The system may be used to limit remote access of computer data bases to authorized individuals or to limit entry to facilities such as offices or buildings on a campus. Access is authorized when the individual communicates a current valid pseudorandom number to the central computer-based monitor.

Abstract: A brake monitoring and warning system is intended for use on a motor vehicle (110), and more particularly is intended for use on tractor-trailer combinations. The vehicle includes plural, powered brakes. Each brake includes a brake activation arm (18) and a mechanism (16) for shifting the brake activation arm between a brake-off position and a brake-applied position, such as an air-driven cylinder. The monitoring and warning system includes a sensor (26) which is connected to the brake-activation arm (18) and monitors the position of the brake-activation arm. The sensor generates and transmits a brake condition signal which is representative of a safety condition of the brake associated with a particular brake activation arm. A logic mechanism is connected to the sensors and receives and interprets the brake condition signal. Visual (160, 162) and auditory (164) warning devices are connected to the logic mechanisms for warning the vehicle operator of the safety condition of the brakes on the vehicle.

Abstract: A stent/sensing device is provided by attachment of an in vivo sensor such as a blood glucose sensor to the inner surface of the multiple layer roll. Electrical leads extending from the sensor device pass through an elongated groove provided in the inner supporting spool for the stent.

Abstract: A vascular graft is held in a collapsed state on a pair of stents which take the form of flexible sheets wound around a spool. A sheath is fitted closely around the graft to hold it in its collapsed state and to retain the stents in rolls tightly wound on the spool. After the spool has been inserted into a damaged vessel and advanced to the area of vascular damage, the sheath is withdrawn. The stents then unwind and expand to press the ends of the graft against healthy parts of the vessel on opposite sides of the damaged area. An alternative embodiment of the invention includes a Y-shaped graft for application to a branched part of a vessel. In place of a sheath, control cords with slip knots are used to retain the stents in their contracted conditions while the graft is being positioned in the vessel.

Abstract: A medical catheter which includes one or more optical fibers, each of which transmits both ultrasonic signals for imaging of the treatment area and laser energy for treatment of a medical condition. Different embodiments of the invention make use of different ways to utilize the same fiber for both ultrasonic and laser transmission.

Abstract: A stent for reinforcing a damaged wall in a body passage such as a vascular passage. The stent takes the form of a sheet of metal foil wound tightly around a spool in a multiple layer roll and held in a contracted state by a sheath sleeved around the roll. The spool is inserted into the body passage until the stent is adjacent to the area of the damaged wall. The spool and stent are then advanced while the sheath is held stationary. This pushes the stent out the end of the sheath and releases the stent such that the roll unwinds and expands against the damaged vessel wall.

Abstract: An improved, low-cost stretchable band incorporating a conductor for disposition around the human torso or other three-dimensional object, and particularly intended for use with respiration monitoring apparatus, is disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid detection system by which the presence or absence and identity of fluids may be detected within confined areas, such as those existing within underground storage tank systems and in which fluids may accumulate. The fluid detection system includes a probe assembly having circuitry which determines the presence of fluids by the capacitance developed across a variable capacitor. The output signal provided by the capacitor is converted to frequency values, is filtered by a receiver included with the system, and transmitted to a remote location for display. The system is suitable for deployment within and monitoring of one or a multiple of tank systems.

Abstract: A float actuated resistive oil level display with warning for providing continuous visual indication of oil level in the oil pan of an internal combustion engine. The system includes a reservoir which communicates with the oil pan such that the oil level in the reservoir corresponds to that in the oil pan. A selectively designed float resistor is disposed within the reservoir in such a manner as to compensate for the quantity of oil distributed throughout an engine's lubricating system while it is running, and is part of an electrical circuit which includes a meter and an alarm circuit remotely positioned within the view of the operator of the motor vehicle or other device powered by the engine to provide a continuous visual indication of oil level in the oil pan, even while such motor vehicle or other device is being operated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system that can monitor occupied or unoccupied buildings, and annuciate to a distant point, e.g. a digital pocket paper, emergency events such as burglaries, fires, high or low temperature, high or low flow rate in such devices as boilers and many more. The system has a circuit that makes interfacing with most commercial field detectors especially easy, and a circuit that enables the system to easily access telephone lines, so as to transmit annunciation messages.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fluid line pressure monitor insertable in a pipe line having a pressure side and a vent side. The monitor comprises a pair of strip members joined along their longitudinal edges and the ends of the monitor being passed over the ends of a break in the pipe line. The inside of the strip members is subjected to the pressure of the fluid being passed through the pipe and the outside of the strips being subjected to the hydrostatic pressure in a receptacle or pressure within a chamber which is pressurized from a source to be monitored. The strips may be both of an elastomeric material or a flexible metallic material or a combination of one elastomeric material and one flexible metallic material so long as the two strips are fused along their longitudinal length and fit snugly about the ends of a pipe through which a fluid flow passes from a pressure side to a vent side.

Abstract: The invention is a novel method and apparatus for counting pipe joints, passing through a bell nipple, going downhole and uphole by sensing, at spaced apart positions along the nipple utilizing magnetic fields, for the presence of a joint. Each sensor develops signals as the joint passes it and a logical network determines which direction the pipe joint is traveling, adds a plus count to the joint counter for joints going downhole and subtracts a minus count from the joint counter when a joint is sensed coming uphole. Another logical circuit converts the joint count to a stand count, and the negative signals from the stand count trigger an adder network to introduce a binary number to a numeric read-out display, which number is indicative of pipe displacement per stand, withdrawn from hole.