Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of performing surgery on a spinal column utilizing a posterior spinal system including components designed to be affixed to the spinal column of a person to correct for various lateral and sagittal deformities. The method includes the use of a pair of smooth surfaced rods mounted in spaced relation to one another on the spinal column in conjunction with various fixation devices such as clamps with hook bodies, hooks, screws with hook bodies and couplers. Each such fixation device utilizes locking sleeve assemblies at each connection point to secure the respective fixation device to the respective rod or rods. The coupler assemblies are provided to maintain the spacing of the rods.

Abstract: An having comprising a top ring supported above a base container by three ornamental posts, wherein the base container has a ring-shaped, tapered top edge at the top in outer diameter larger than the top ring for guiding cigarette butt from the top ring into the chamber inside the base container.

Abstract: An exercise chair is specifically designed to be usable as an ordinary office chair or as a device for exercising the muscles of the lower back. The chair employs both anterior and posterior pelvic restraints to prevent rotation of the pelvic region during an exercise routine. The chair includes a variable resistance mechanism for selectively varying the forces that must be overcome during an exercise movement which consists of forcing the back of the chair rearwardly from a desired initially forward position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heart massage and artificial respiration device comprising a patient adapter, a compressible, elastically re-expanding bellows or the like adapted to be placed on the thorax of the patient, an air intake valve associated with the bellows, a patient valve between the bellows and the patient adapter and a normally closed pressure relief valve which, after completion of the compression step, is necessarily opened mechanically, wherein to achieve the objects of simplification, more economical manufacture, simple assembly, cleaning and maintenance, and for absolutely reliable functioning under rough usage both in and out of hospitals, the air intake valve and the pressure relief valve are combined to form a universal valve.

Abstract: Cigarettes have a tobacco rod including smokable material circumscribed by a paper wrapper. The paper wrapper includes a cellulosic base web (e.g., flax and/or wood pulp fibers) and particles of at least one inorganic filler material. The inorganic filler material includes particles of agglomerated calcium carbonate particles.

Abstract: There is provided a smoking article having a mouthpiece 9 and a rod of smoking material 12 wrapped in a wrapper 14. A rod 15 constructed of for example activated carbon is provided within the smoking material 12. Between puffs the smoking material extinguishes leaving the rod 15 smouldering. During each puff the smoking material is reignited by the rod 15.

Abstract: An ashtray is disclosed of the kind including a container with extinguishing liquid or particulate material. The top of the container has a grid of a series of inclined ribs forming a venetian blind like structure. The rim of the grid has specially designed rest means which allows the placement of a smoked but not yet finished cigarette or the like only at a predetermined position relative to the ribs. The ribs are spaced from each other a distance sufficient to allow the rolling therebetween of a finished cigarette or the like down into the container. The ribs being flat and inclined, they obstruct the view of the unsightly interior of the container and thus provide a more pleasing overall appearance of the ashtray.

Abstract: An apparatus according to the present invention, which is used to form a large number of fine pores in the peripheral surface of each of cylindrical articles, such as cigarettes, by means of a laser beam, comprises first and second perforating disks. A plurality of retaining arms are arranged on the respective peripheral edges of these perforating disks. The cylindrical articles are held by means of these arms, and are caused to move around the disks and rotate around their own axes. The cylindrical articles are alternately supplied half and half to the two perforating disks by means of two intermediate supply rollers. Beamsplitters are located individually in the respective central portions of the perforating disks. The laser beam emitted from a laser source is split into two beam halves by means of a pre-beamsplitter, and these beam halves are delivered individually to the beamsplitters. The beam halves delivered to these beamsplitters are radially split over a range of about 180.degree.

Abstract: An artificial respirator includes an atomospheric opening, a corset for enclosing a patient's thorax, an inspiration tube connected at one end thereof to the corset, a suction pump, a switching device for connecting the other end of the inspiration tube to either the suction pump or to the atmospheric opening so as to change the pressure within the corset between a negative and an atmospheric pressure, thereby providing artificial respiration to the patient. The artificial respirator further includes a device for varying the time constant of the change between the negative and atmospheric pressure within the corset so as to provide a smooth change between the pressures.

Abstract: A dynamic joint support having proximal and distal support sections and means for rigidly connecting each support section to bone and a pair of hinges connecting each support section to each other and pivoting at the joint to cause movement of the support section and its corresponding attached bone through the movements of flexion and extension. The hinge may be driven in its movement by a gear mechanism which may be disengaged by means of a clutch. The dynamic joint support may also include a distraction mechanism for movement of the bones out of contact in the joint, while allowing for an active range of motion at the joint.

Abstract: A dynamic joint support having proximal and distal support sections and means for rigidly connecting each support section to bone and a pair of hinges connecting each support section to each other and pivoting at the joint to cause movement of the support section and its corresponding attached bone through the movements of flexion and extension. The hinge may be driven in its movement by a gear mechanism which may be disengaged by means of a clutch. The dynamic joint support may also include a distraction mechanism for movement of the bones out of contact in the joint, while allowing for an active range of motion at the joint.

Abstract: A radiant energy reflector sleeve is provided for a smoking or flavor generating article of the type having a heat source and a flavor bed which generates a flavored aerosol or other flavors when heated. The sleeve can be erected from a one-piece foil blank in a continuous or semi-continuous process as part of the assembly of the article.

Abstract: An article is provided in which a flavor generating medium is electrically heated to combustion to evolve inhalable flavors or other components in vapor and/or aerosol form. The article has a plurality of charges of the flavor generating medium which are heated to combustion sequentially to provide individual puffs.

Abstract: Apparatus for treatment of the back is disclosed. The apparatus includes a table for supporting a patient lying on this back. Traction units are provided to place the patient's spine in traction, one side independent of the other, as he lies on the table. A back support is positioned underneath the patient's back for engagement with an area of the back to be treated. The back support is connected to a lift mechanism to move the back support laterallly toward one side or the other and vertically and in an inclined direction with is the resultant of a horizontal and vertical motion.

Abstract: The quality of finished cigarettes is assured by incorporating an individual, predetermined lubricant at predetermined locations in the cigarette manufacturing process. When a cigarette spotted or stained by a lubricant deposit is obtained, the lubricant deposit is analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography techniques to identify the flavoring agent. As such, the cigarette manufacturer can identify the source of the lubricant which is staining, and hence lowering the quality of the appearance of its cigarettes.

Abstract: An apparatus for eliminating sidestream smoke from a cigarette or other smoking article includes a smoke collecting chamber adapted to collect sidestream smoke from the lit end of the smoking article along with air for combustion of the sidestream smoke and to direct the mixture of sidestream smoke and air to a combustion area associated with the smoke collecting chamber. An ignition device is included in the apparatus for igniting at least a portion of the sidestream smoke received in the combustion area by heating the smoke in the combustion area to an ignition temperature. The preferred ignition device includes a heat source for constantly producing a flame in the combustion area. The apparatus may also include a smoke particle capturing arrangement in a capture chamber connected to the smoke collecting chamber.

Abstract: A taxidermic eye-mounting method wherein moist paper-mache or the like is stuffed through the eye opening of a hallowed-out animal head such as a fish head. A slightly flexible eye socket of substantially rigid material which has been molded to receive an artificial eye is set in the eye opening in the moist paper-mache. A fish eye is popped into the eye socket after the paper-mache has dried. The eye socket is formed to resemble the eye lid and eye membrane of an open animal eye such as an open fish eye. The socket may be made by a method of forming a moldable, pliable, non-hardening material around the animal eye to create a model which emulates the eye lid and eye membrane of an open animal eye such as an open fish eye.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for opening cigarette packs involving minimal contact with the cigarettes in the pack and little likelihood of damage or degradation of the tobacco contained in the cigarettes. The invention includes conveying packs to a first location where they are received, moving the packs to a second location where they are pressurized and expanded, moving the pressurized expanded packs to a third location where one end is cut off, moving the packs to a fourth location where impulse is applied to the pack as a whole, resulting in the transfer of the pack to a fifth location, where the motion of the pack itself is stopped, but the inertia of the cigarettes themselves is conserved sufficiently that they are transferred to a conveyance for further processing. The empty packs are disposed of at a sixth location. The method and apparatus is intermittent, involving regular starting and stopping motions.

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing reading skills whereby readers can improve both reading speed and comprehension. This novel teaching method and system associatively combines input to visual, tactile, auditory senses. The reader is trained to conceptualize the meaning of words directly from symbols rather than from symbols and related sounds by causing the eyes to scan text more rapidly than both symbols and related sounds can be assimilated. The eyes are prompted to follow a rapidly moving finger induced to rhythmically move back-and-forth across the text at rapidly driven rates by an auditory beat. Different auditory inputs are provided to each ear, such that each hemisphere of the brain predominately receives signals which are related to its primary function. Rhythmic beats to induce higher reading rates are addressed to the left hemisphere of the brain which governs spatial relations, time, rhythm, and reading the written word.

Abstract: A smoking article includes a generally cylindrically shaped fuel column with a corrugated-shaped channel formed longitudinally through the fuel column and concentric therewith. A flavor releasing material coats the corrugated wall of the channel and the flavor material is aerosolized by the heat generated by the burning of the fuel column when it is ignited. A filter rod is coaxially located at one end of the fuel column.