Abstract: A monitoring device for detecting adulteration of an article used in critical use applications such as a surgical glove where the gloves are worn by the surgeon and are exposed to the body fluids of a patient. The device includes the detection of a particular value of electrical condition, preferably resistance or impedance, as well as the first and second derivatives of electrical condition. These values are monitored in a substantially continuous manner and are smoothed and filtered to determine when a hole or thin spot in the glove occurs. In addition, the device includes an autoranging function which maintains the measured voltage in a prescribed range, thus allowing the device to operate at a higher level of accuracy for a greater period of time than a device without the feature. Also, the device warns the health care professional when the electrical properties of the gloves have degraded to a point where the device may no longer reliably detect holes in the gloves.

Abstract: A single-grating method and apparatus is described for a laser pulse stretcher and compressor. The method and apparatus exploits a two-layer vertical structure. One layer for the stretcher, and the other, for the compressor. Such a stretch-compressor is particularly suitable for using in a chirped-pulse or regenerative laser amplifier where laser wavelength tuning is desirable. When a change in the wavelength is applied, only one rotational adjustment is required to resume the alignment of the whole stretcher and compressor. This apparatus shows significant simplification in structure and alignment over the existing stretcher and compressor systems.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting adulteration or a condition of near-adulteration of a glove used in critical use application such as in surgery where the gloves are worn by the surgeon and are exposed to the body fluids of a patient. The apparatus and method includes the detection not only of a particular level of conductivity which may be caused by a hole or thin spot in the glove but also the detection of a sudden change in conductivity which may be caused by a sudden change in the condition of the glove, such as the opening of a hole or a sudden thinning of the glove. In this manner, the apparatus and method provides detection not only for an actual condition of the glove but also for a change in condition of the glove. In addition, the circuit is a low impedance circuit, which automatically and continuously discharge static charge build-up on the surgeon.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a diffuser for use in a drying system and more particularly, a tubular diffuser for use in a drying hopper. The present invention is especially useful in the conditioning of resin pellets prior to molding or extruding. It is comprised of a hollow perforated body, a closed end, an open end through which clean, warm, dry air may be supplied, and a stiffener.

Abstract: Viscous oil in a geological formation is recovered by producing hydrogen peroxide near the formation, injecting hydrogen peroxide into the formation to effect its decomposition and reaction of oxygen with resident hydrocarbon, and recovering oil in response to injection of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A measure window (29-30, FIG. 2d) is provided in a Doppler velocity profile (FIG. 2c) by deleting an initial section (T.sub.1) and a terminal section (T.sub.2) of each emission cycle of a train of ultrasound of a period T so as to conserve only the section (T.sub.o) which it is desirable to study. The conserved section (T.sub.o) is thereafter segmented into a certain number (N) of measure channels. The advantage of restricting the zone divided into channels to the part which is really useful is that the definition of the profile which is obtained is improved, even when the emitter-receptor of ultrasound is located at a relatively important distance in comparison with the depth of the zone which is studied.

Abstract: A digital readout electronic blood pressure and pulse rate monitor. A finger cuff occluder is pressurized by a single stroke plunger and an automatic vent means provides linear pressure decay while a pressure transducer measures the pressure and converts it to an electronic signal. A sound transducer senses sound transmitted from the cuff through the pressure tube, and an electronic system distinguishes the various characteristics of the sound to measure the systolic and diastolic pressures. The electronic system also measures the pulse rate. All three readings are digitally displayed only if several predetermined conditions indicating a proper reading are fulfilled.

Abstract: A pulse rate monitor for use while exercising. A clothespin type finger clip remote from the counting and display unit grips the user's finger in a predictable, mechanically stable manner. A light emitting diode, strobed to reduce battery drain, transmits infrared radiation through the finger, and electronic circuitry monitors the modulation of radiation caused by changes in capillaries with each heart beat. The circuitry includes an active load for the phototransistor, which, by means of bandpass filtered feedback, enhances heart beat signal and reduces sensitivity to ambient light, noise, and variations in phototransistor characteristics.