Abstract: A system and related methods for configuring and monitoring a spraying application system for installation and use at a site that is remotely located from the spraying system manufacturing site. The system provides a configuration module that allows a customer or purchaser to configure a system electronically based on the customer's spraying needs. The selected configuration may further be linked to a pricing and inventory database module to allow the customer to order the system components, and obtain price and delivery schedules. In one embodiment, the configuration module is available to the customer via a secure web site over the Internet provided by a server accessed from a computer such as a personal computer at the customer's site. The system also provides a remote access module that provides spraying system operation and parametric information to be monitored at the manufacturing site to determine how the spraying system is operating and whether repair or maintenance should be initiated.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for transferring electrically conductive coating materials, such as water-based paint, from at least one source to one or more coating dispensers for discharge onto a substrate. One voltage block is provided to avoid the creation of an electrical path between one or more sources of coating material and the coating material which is electrostatically charged during a coating operation, and a secondary voltage block is provided between each of a number of individual spray guns and the charged coating material so that each spray gun can be electrically isolated from the charged coating material when not in use. The apparatus is optionally provided with a color changer, and/or a heater which is electrically isolated from the charged coating material and is effective to elevate the temperature of the coating material prior to discharge from the spray guns.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for transferring electrically conductive coating materials, such as water-based paint, from at least one source to one or more coating dispensers for discharge onto a substrate. One voltage block is provided to avoid the creation of an electrical path between one or more sources of coating material and the coating material which is electrostatically charged during a coating operation, and a secondary voltage block is provided between each of a number of individual spray guns and the charged coating material so that each spray gun can be electrically isolated from the charged coating material when not is use. The apparatus is optionally provided with a color changer, and/or a heater which is electrically isolated from the charged coating material and is effective to elevate the temperature of the coating material prior to discharge from the spray guns.

Abstract: For non-invasive diagnosis of conditions subsequent to a medical operative procedure, at the time of operation a "target" is sutured to tissue. Later, by use of an ultrasonic imaging system or other diagnostic instrument, the location of the target can be accurately determined. Thereupon, non-invasive techniques may be used in the target area to determine changes in physiology subsequent to implanting the target. For example, a target consisting of a fused array of small stainless steel balls is sutured to a coronary artery bypass graft. Later, to determine if the bypass graft is patent, by ultrasonic methods the location of the target and hence the bypass graft is determined. Then, using a Doppler-effect flowmeter, flow through the bypass graft may be measured and compared with prior measurements. The marking technique is also believed to be useful in postoperative determination of tumor growth at the locus of said marker.