Abstract: A prosthetic implant for human breasts, comprising a fluid or gel filled body, the surface of which has waves arranged in a concentric pattern rather than a smooth configuration. The amplitude of the waves reduces under the pressure of capsular contracture, thereby relieving said pressure without reducing the volume or firmness of the implant.

Abstract: A strain relief for the point of attachment of a flexible member to a rigid member, comprising a plurality of woven braided strands. The weaving is close or narrow at the point of attachment and progressively more open or wide along the flexible member as the distance from the point of attachment increases, distributing stress along the length of the flexible member.

Abstract: An intravital microscope and, more particularly, a barrel assembly therefor comprising: a supporting structure; telescopically interconnected upper, intermediate and lower tubes carried by the supporting structure and defining an optical axis, the upper tube being axially movably mounted on the supporting structure, the intermediate tube being axially movable relative to the upper tube, and the lower tube being axially movable relative to the intermediate tube; interengageable stops on the lower and intermediate tubes for limiting downward movement of the lower tube relative to the intermediate tube; a first lock for locking the lower tube relative to the intermediate tube; a second lock for locking the intermediate tube relative to the upper tube; and a rack and pinion system for raising and lowering the upper tube. The barrel assembly includes a counterbalancing system for the tubes.

Abstract: An apparatus for microscopically viewing a specimen while detecting particles or other species of radiation emanating therefrom, including a reflecting objective and radiation detector in the optical dead cone of the secondary mirror of the objective.

Abstract: A supporting system for an x-y table comprising four pairs of superimposed and interconnected upper and lower bearings arranged in a pyramidal array. More particularly, the pairs of bearings are located at the corners of a rectangle with the uppermost bearings of the pairs perpendicular to the lowermost bearings thereof, and with the uppermost bearings of the pairs offset horizontally inwardly relative to the lowermost bearings of the pairs in both the x and y directions, thereby producing the pyramidal array mentioned. With such a bearing array, the weight of the table, and any load thereon, act to preload all of the bearings so that there is zero play in both the x and y directions. Also disclosed is a drive system for an x-y table comprising two-speed x drive means for driving the table in the x directin and two-speed y drive means for driving the table in the y direction, each drive means including selectively operable high and low speed drive members.