Abstract: An optical imaging system with a flexible cable having a first end and a second end. The cable has a central core element including a flexible optical conduit, with a number of wires surrounding the core element to form a tube concentric with an axis defined by the center of the core. The cable has a conductive shield layer surrounding the wires and uniformly spaced apart from the wires. An electronic instrument is connected to the first end of the cable and has an illuminator coupled with the optical conduit and a display device connected to the wires. An image transducer is connected to the second end of the cable and is connected to the wires. The wires may be twisted pairs evenly spaced apart from each other, and evenly spaced apart from an axis defined by the core.

Abstract: A medical imaging system with a base unit including an electronic display, and a remote imaging transducer connected to the display unit via a flexible cable. The cable includes a number of signal transmission lines, each of which includes a twisted pair of conductors for digital differential signal lines. Each conductor is connected at a first end to the transducer, and at a second end to the base unit. The signal transmission lines may be wrapped about a core, which may be an optical conduit communicating with a light source at the base unit.

Abstract: A cable includes a number of wires. Each of the wires has a number of signal conductors encompassed by a dielectric sheath, and the sheath is encompassed by a conductive shield. The wires are arranged side-by-side in a row at an end of each wire, where a termination element is connected. The termination element has opposed major faces, with an array of first contacts on a first face, and an array of second contacts on the opposed face, each of the first contact being electrically connected to a corresponding second contact. Each of the signal conductors of the wire elements is connected to a corresponding one of the first contacts. The signal conductors may be a pair of wires arranged in parallel, so that all signal conductors are in a common plane.

Abstract: A cable assembly has a number of wires each having a central conductor and a surrounding insulating layer. Each wire is unshielded from the other wires, so that the conductor is the only conductive portion of the wire. Each wire has a first end and an opposed second end. The first ends of the wires are secured to each other in a flat ribbon portion in a first sequential arrangement, and the second ends of the wires are secured to each other in the same sequence as the first arrangement, with indicia identifying a selected wire in the sequence. The intermediate portions of the wires are detached from each other, and a sheath having a braided conductive shield may loosely encompass the wires, permitting significant flexibility of the cable.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes a cable having a core surrounded by a sheath. A cone element has an interior bore receiving the cable core, and has a tapered exterior surface. At least a portion of the cone is received within the cable sheath. A cup has a tapered bore receiving the sheath and the core. A portion of the sheath is captured between the exterior of the cone and the interior of the cup bore. Tension applied to the cable with respect to cup generates compression of the sheath between the cone and cup, and tension is thus transmitted by the sheath without application of radial force to the core. The sheath may include a strength member such as a braided metal wrap, and an elastic jacket, so that the wrap bears the tension, and the jacket returns the sheath to its normal length upon cessation of tension.

Abstract: A flexible interconnect cable is manufactured by a method that includes providing a core, and wrapping a conductive shield element about the core. An insulating sheath layer is extruded about the core to encompass the shield element, and a multi-wire cable component having ribbonized ends and detached intermediate portions is connected to an end of the core. The core is removed from the sheath to insert the cable component into the sheath. The resulting assembly has intermediate portions of the cable component that are loosely received within the shield and sheath.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing wire from a conductor and a supply of thermoplastic insulating material. The method involves heating the insulating material, adding pressurized gas to the material, and extruding a sheath of the insulating material about the conductor to generate bubbles of the gas in the sheath. The method may operate by limiting the temperature of the material prior to extrusion, to increase viscosity to limit bubble expansion, and may provide a significant pressure drop on extrusion by limiting the gap between a wire-supplying guide and the extrusion die.

Abstract: A medical imaging system with a base unit including an electronic display, and a remote imaging transducer connected to the display unit via a flexible cable. The cable includes a number of signal transmission lines, each of which includes a twisted pair of conductors for digital differential signal lines. Each conductor is connected at a first end to the transducer, and at a second end to the base unit. The signal transmission lines may be wrapped about a core, which may be an optical conduit communicating with a light source at the base unit.

Abstract: A cable includes a number of coaxial wires. Each of the wires has a central conductor encompassed by a dielectric sheath, and the sheath is encompassed by a conductive shield. The wires are arranged side-by-side in a row at an end of each wire, where a termination element is connected. The termination element has opposed major faces, with an array of first contacts on a first face, and an array of second contacts on the opposed face, each of the first contact being electrically connected to a corresponding second contact. Each of the central conductors of the wire elements is connected to a corresponding one of the first contacts. An electronic device may include circuit boards at each end, with contacts arranged for compressive contact with the second contacts. The termination element may be captured between a clamp and the board, with an elastomeric spring maintaining compression, and pinned holes in the termination element and board ensuring registration of the contacts.

Abstract: A disposable medical electrode for delivering high-energy defibrillation or pacing stimulation and having energy dispersion characteristics. A fanned wire contacts the top of an electrode member for delivering energy to and transmitting energy from the electrode. A hydrogel is disposed on the bottom of the electrode member and an electrically conductive metal/metal chloride ink coating underlies the hydrogel. The ink coating has (a) a center with a first amount of ink, (b) an inner edge defining the terminus of the center and a step at which the ink content of the ink coating drops from the first amount of ink to a lesser second amount of ink, (c) an outer edge defining the terminus of the ink, and (d) a predetermined gradient disposed between the inner edge at which the ink coating has the second amount of ink and the outer edge at which the ink is substantially absent.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes a cable having a core surrounded by a sheath. A cone element has an interior bore receiving the cable core, and has a tapered exterior surface. At least a portion of the cone is received within the cable sheath. A cup has a tapered bore receiving the sheath and the core. A portion of the sheath is captured between the exterior of the cone and the interior of the cup bore. Tension applied to the cable with respect to cup generates compression of the sheath between the cone and cup, and tension is thus transmitted by the sheath without application of radial force to the core. The sheath may include a strength member such as a braided metal wrap, and an elastic jacket, so that the wrap bears the tension, and the jacket returns the sheath to its normal length upon cessation of tension.

Abstract: A cable assembly has a number of wires each having a central conductor and a surrounding insulating layer. Each wire is unshielded from the other wires, so that the conductor is the only conductive portion of the wire. Each wire has a first end and an opposed second end. The first ends of the wires are secured to each other in a flat ribbon portion in a first sequential arrangement, and the second ends of the wires are secured to each other in the same sequence as the first arrangement, with indicia identifying a selected wire in the sequence. The intermediate portions of the wires are detached from each other, and a sheath having a braided conductive shield may loosely encompass the wires, permitting significant flexibility of the cable.

Abstract: A cable assembly has a number of wires each having a central conductor and a surrounding insulating layer. Each wire is unshielded from the other wires, so that the conductor is the only conductive portion of the wire. Each wire has a first end and an opposed second end. The first ends of the wires are secured to each other in a flat ribbon portion in a first sequential arrangement, and the second ends of the wires are secured to each other in the same sequence as the first arrangement, with indicia identifying a selected wire in the sequence. The intermediate portions of the wires are detached from each other, and a sheath having a braided conductive shield may loosely encompass the wires, permitting significant flexibility of the cable.

Abstract: A cable assembly has a number of wires each having a central conductor and a surrounding insulating layer. Each wire is unshielded from the other wires, so that the conductor is the only conductive portion of the wire. Each wire has a first end and an opposed second end. The first ends of the wires are secured to each other in a flat ribbon portion in a first sequential arrangement, and the second ends of the wires are secured to each other in the same sequence as the first arrangement, with indicia identifying a selected wire in the sequence. The intermediate portions of the wires are detached from each other, and a sheath having a braided conductive shield may loosely encompass the wires, permitting significant flexibility of the cable.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes a printed circuit board having a pattern of conductive traces on a major surface of the board. The cable has a number of conductors electrically connected to the traces, and a number of elongated spring contact elements are connected to the board. Each contact element has a sleeve oriented parallel to the major surface and connected to a first pad portion of a selected trace. Each contact element has an spring pin slidably received in the sleeve and extending beyond a first peripheral edge portion of the board.

Abstract: A disposable medical electrode for delivering high-energy defibrillation or pacing stimulation and having energy dispersion characteristics. A fanned wire contacts the top of an electrode member for delivering energy to and transmitting energy from the electrode. A hydrogel is disposed on the bottom of the electrode member and an electrically conductive metal/metal chloride ink coating underlies the hydrogel. The ink coating has (a) a center with a first amount of ink, (b) an inner edge defining the terminus of the center and a step at which the ink content of the ink coating drops from the first amount of ink to a lesser second amount of ink, (c) an outer edge defining the terminus of the ink, and (d) a predetermined gradient disposed between the inner edge at which the ink coating has the second amount of ink and the outer edge at which the ink is substantially absent.

Abstract: A fetal electrode sleeve and wire interconnect system for transmitting signals indicative of fetal heart rate from a fetus inside a mother through a cable to a monitor external to the mother. The system includes a holder having a fetal spiral electrode on one end and a maternal reference electrode on its opposite end. A safety cap has a retention groove, a grip, a tip with a recessed end opposite the grip, and a conductive sleeve. The conductive sleeve has a first end enclosed by the grip, a second end enclosed by the tip, and an intermediate exposed portion enclosed by neither the grip nor the tip.