Abstract: A portable surgical system including a transparent and flexible plastic enclosure (1) is disclosed. The enclosure is attached reversibly to the patient's body encompassing the surgical site such as to isolate and regulate the immediate environment of the surgical site, and to reduce bodily fluid splatters from the surgical site to the surgical providers. The enclosure is inflated with filtered air. Arm ports (8) are integrated into the enclosure to allow access to the inside of the enclosure by either provider arms or augmenting instrumentation taking the place of arms such as laparoscopes or robots. Material ports (10) maintain enclosure environmental integrity but allow the passing of anatomical specimens, instruments, and other materials into and out of the enclosure (1) during a procedure. The portable surgical system is lightweight and can be used in conventional operating rooms to improve sterility, or in other circumstances where no operating room is available, such as field hospitals.

Abstract: Cold box. The cold box includes an enclosure comprising insulating walls having a first selected R value per surface area defining an interior space. A cold pack is located in a central region of the interior space and insulating material having a second R value per surface area is adjacent the cold pack forming a cold chamber within the interior space for receiving a substance between the insulating material and the insulating walls. The ratio of the first selected R value per surface area to the second selected R value per surface area is chosen to maintain temperature in the cold chamber within a selected range.

Abstract: A manually powered wheelchair includes a first lever associated with a first rear wheel and demountably coupled to a first drivetrain, the first lever having a first brake thereon. The wheelchair also includes a second lever associated with a second rear wheel and demountably coupled to a second drivetrain, the second lever having a second brake thereon. Each drivetrain includes a chainring, a chain, and a freewheel, and each drivetrain has a fixed gear ratio. The freewheel of each drivetrain is actuated by manual pivoting of the lever associated therewith. In use, the wheelchair achieves changes in mechanical advantage when a user shifts the user's hands up and down the first and second levers.

Abstract: A manually powered wheelchair includes a first lever associated with a first rear wheel and demountably coupled to a first drivetrain, the first lever having a first brake thereon. The wheelchair also includes a second lever associated with a second rear wheel and demountably coupled to a second drivetrain, the second lever having a second brake thereon. Each drivetrain includes a chainring, a chain, and a freewheel, and each drivetrain has a fixed gear ratio. The freewheel of each drivetrain is actuated by manual pivoting of the lever associated therewith. In use, the wheelchair achieves changes in mechanical advantage when a user shifts the user's hands up and down the first and second levers.

Abstract: A manually powered wheelchair includes a first lever associated with a first rear wheel and demountably coupled to a first drivetrain, the first lever having a first brake thereon. The wheelchair also includes a second lever associated with a second rear wheel and demountably coupled to a second drivetrain, the second lever having a second brake thereon. Each drivetrain includes a chainring, a chain, and a freewheel, and each drivetrain has a fixed gear ratio. The freewheel of each drivetrain is actuated by manual pivoting of the lever associated therewith. In use, the wheelchair achieves changes in mechanical advantage when a user shifts the user's hands up and down the first and second levers.

Abstract: A method is provided for virtual machining which helps predict the accuracy of parts to be made on machine tools, allocates errors in design and manufacture of machine tools, and diagnoses the source of errors in machine tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method which calculates the "error shape" of a part being manufactured based upon the position, orientation, velocity and shape of the machine tool. The method predicts the statistical distribution of part size, form, and profile errors in a population of parts by superposing "error shapes." The machine errors are diagnosed by matching post process gauging data with a linear combination of "error shapes." The method predicts the magnitude and pattern of errors in a machined part, performs a simulation taking into account the geometry of the machine, the commanded machine motions as a function of time, error motions of the machine's components as a function of time, and the shape of the tool.