Abstract: A log construction, such as a log home or log cabin. The construction includes a plurality of horizontal logs extending between vertical log posts. A cap log can extending across a length of at least three vertical log posts. The load of the structure, particularly the roof, is supported by the vertical log posts. The ends of the horizontal logs abut and are preferably secured to the vertical posts. In one embodiment, old or dead logs, rather than green logs, are used in the construction.

Abstract: A combination heat exchanger and oxygenator device is provided. The device includes a generally cylindrical housing having first and second compartments with hollow heat exchange tubes and hollow gas exchange tubes disposed therein, a blood inlet, a blood outlet, a heat exchanges medium inlet, a heat exchange medium outlet, an oxygenating fluid inlet and an oxygenating fluid outlet. The housing has a central axis with the second compartment being concentric thereto. The blood flow passage is defined by blood entering the device generally axially through a path extending along the central axis of the housing and flows generally radially through the second, oxygenating compartment.

Abstract: A web of material, typically paper, metal or film and most commonly roll photographic plate material, passes between a first, driven, roller made from material with a high coefficient of friction, typically neoprene rubber, and a second, driven, roller made from material with a low coefficient of friction, typically metal or nylon. The high-friction drive roller (only) is positionally adjustable. The web is driven straight ahead, without appreciable undesirable steering or skew, over a broad range of adjustments of the separation, and the parallelism, between the two rollers. The web motion is responsive substantially to only the high-friction drive roller, and the web speed may accordingly be regulated, including so as to be maintained highly uniform, in response to the drive roller (only).

Abstract: A compact, cylindrical integrated blood heater/oxygenator in which the blood flows transversely to the axial direction of hollow heat exchange and oxygenation fibers. Blood enters a longitudinally extending central chamber of the blood heater/oxygenator, and moves radially through annular hollow heat exchange and oxygenation fiber bundles in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the device and generally transverse to the axial direction of the fibers. The blood proceeds toward the outer wall of the oxygenator where the temperature is adjusted and oxygenated blood is collected and passed out of the oxygenator through an exit port.

Abstract: A device having a blood oxygenator and heat exchanger of the outside perfusion type. The blood oxygenator employs a tightly packed, crisscrossing bundle of gas permeable hollow fibers. The heat exchanger employs a bundle of polyurethane, liquid impermeable hollow tubes. A center divider facilitates two separate compartments and allows control over pack densities within each compartment while allowing blood to move in a planar manner throughout the device.

Abstract: A method for non-destructive testing for approximation of oxygen transmission in hollow fiber blood oxygenators or the like is provided which method includes passing a first fluid at a predetermined temperature and volume flow rate through the hollows of the fibers and a second fluid at a second predetermined input temperature and volume flow rate across the outside of the fibers and measuring the heat rise or fall of the fluids and comparing the results with standards for a given blood oxygenator device.

Abstract: A machine for reprocessing catheters of the type having a double lumen, one of which leads to a balloon. A used catheter is sealed within a cassette which in turn is connected by multiple ports to a cleaning side of the machine. Cleaning solution is flushed through the inside and outside of the catheter. The balloon integrity is tested by adding step wise volume additions and monitoring the pressure. The data generated is compared to a standard curve for new catheters. The cleaned, sterile catheter is then rinsed to remove all traces of sterilant. Sterile saline is alternatively flushed through the cassette and catheter. The balloon is again tested for leaks. No portion of the rinse side of the machine requires sterilizing except for the disposable tubing set and saline source. The rinsed, clean and sterile catheter is removed from the cassette for reuse.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the temperature to which a thermistor is exposed. A capacitor is charged through a reference resistor and the length of time required to charge the capacitor to a predetermined level is measured to obtain a reference charge time. The capacitor is discharged, and then charged through the thermistor and the length of time required to charge the capacitor to the predetermined level through the thermistor is measured to obtain a temperature charge time. The temperature to which the thermistor is exposed is determined by computing the difference between the reference charge time and the temperature charge time divided by the sum of the times.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling cooking in a microwave oven whereby the power input to the cooking cavity is held at a predetermined, constant level. Available line power is measured through a winding or tap on the high voltage transformer secondary and the duty cycle of the magnetron power supply is adjusted to maintain a constant average power output.

Abstract: Electronic apparatus is disclosed which is usable to determine the fluency of a person's speech. This apparatus may monitor a dialogue directly, may be connected to a telephone to monitor a dialogue, or may be connceted to be responsive to a recording of the dialogue. The apparatus determines the number of hesitation pauses of joint silence of both persons bounded by speech uttered by the subject which pauses are in excess of a time interval in the order of one second of time. The apparatus gives an indication, either visible or audible, when the number of such pauses exceeds a presettable limit per unit of time. The apparatus may be used by the medical profession to determine in a subject the existence of or proneness to clinical coronary artery disease where the rate of such hesitation pauses is in excess of a presettable value. It may also be used by disc jockeys, sales personnel, executives, or the like.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner control providing solid state high and low speed electronic control of a vacuum cleaner motor. The control circuit is arranged to terminate operation of the motor in the event the sensed speed of a brush driven by the motor drops below a predetermined low speed as by jamming of the brush. A membrane touch switch panel includes switches which provide manually controlled inputs to the control. In one form, the control uses phase control in setting the low speed operation of the motor and in another form, the control utilizes half wave rectification in setting the low speed motor operation.

Abstract: A room air conditioner includes a variable speed eevaporator fan and a compressor selectively energized by a temperature control system. An ambient temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the room and an evaporator temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the evaporator. In an automatic mode of operation, the evaporator fan speed and compressor energization depend upon the difference between the ambient temperature and a set point temperature as determined by the position of a slide switch with multiple contacts each of which correspond to a stored set point value. The ambient and evaporator temperatures are determined by a linearization computation which utilizes a capacitor sequentially charged through the reference resistor and the ambient thermistor and the evaporator thermistor. The compressor is cycled off when the evaporator temperature falls below a certain value, and the compressor is held off for a fixed period of time after it has been de-energized to prevent short cycling or lockup.

Abstract: Electronic apparatus is disclosed which is usable to determine the fluency of a person's speech. This apparatus may monitor a dialogue directly, may be connected to a telephone to monitor a dialogue, or may be connected to be responsive to a recording of the dialogue. The apparatus determines the number of hesitation pauses of joint silence of both persons bounded by speech uttered by the subject which pauses are in excess of a time interval in the order of one second of time. The apparatus gives an indication, either visible or audible, when the number of such pauses exceeds a presettable limit per unit of time. The apparatus may be used by the medical profession to determine in a subject the existence of present clinical coronary artery disease where the rate of such hesitation pauses is in excess of a presettable value. It may also be used by disc jockeys, sales personnel, executives, or the like.

Abstract: A control circuit for effectively preventing damage to the blower or fan motor of a vacuum cleaner which could otherwise result from a jammed condition of the beater brush thereof. The control circuit effects discontinuation of the energization of the motor in the event the rotational speed of the beater brush drops below a preselected speed. The discontinuation of energization may be effected by the control a preselected period of time after the speed drops below the preselected speed. An indicating device may be provided for indicating such discontinuation of energization. A second indicating device may be provided for indicating a reduction in speed of the beater brush less than that sufficient to cause discontinuation of the energization but sufficient to warrant warning the user that a partial jamming of the beater brush has occurred.

Abstract: Electronic apparatus is disclosed which is usable to determine the fluency of a person's speech. This apparatus may monitor a dialogue directly, may be connected to a telephone to monitor a dialogue, or may be connected to be responsive to a recording of the dialogue. The apparatus determines the number of hesitation pauses of joint silence of both persons bounded by speech uttered by the subject which pauses are in excess of a time interval in the order of one second of time. The apparatus gives an indication, either visible or audible, when the number of such pauses exceeds a presettable limit per unit of time. The apparatus may be used by the medical profession to determine a subject's proneness to clinical coronary atherosclerosis where the rate of such hesitation pauses is in excess of a presettable value. It may also be used by disc jockeys, sales personnel or the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the temperature to which a thermistor is exposed. A capacitor is charged through a reference resistor and the length of time required to charge the capacitor to a predetermined level is measured to obtain a reference charge time. The capacitor is discharged, and then charged through the thermistor and the length of time required to charge the capacitor to the predetermined level through the thermistor is measured to obtain a temperature charge time. The temperature to which the thermistor is exposed is determined by computing the difference between the reference charge time and the temperature charge time divided by the sum of the times.

Abstract: A combination heat exchanger and oxygenator device is provided. The device includes a generally cylindrical housing having first and second compartments with hollow heat exchange tubes and hollow gas exchange tubes disposed therein, a blood inlet, a blood outlet, a heat exchanges medium inlet, a heat exchange medium outlet, an oxygenating fluid inlet and an oxygenating fluid outlet. The housing has a central axis with the second compartment being concentric thereto. The blood flow passage is defined by blood entering the device generally axially through a path extending along the central axis of the housing and flows generally radially through the second, oxygenating compartment.