Abstract: An anti-tipping mechanism for a vehicle that provides a strut actively deployed by rotation from a retracted position so as to bring a wheel into ground contact to inhibit tipping of the vehicle.

Abstract: A Stirling machine having two pistons coupled to a harmonic crank drive linkage for providing a specified phase relationship between sinusoidal displacements of each piston with respect to a fixed fiducial point. The harmonic crank drive linkage has a primary crankshaft and an eccentric crankshaft mounted internally to the primary crankshaft and coupled via a gear set to counterrotate with respect to the primary crankshaft. The eccentric crankshaft may be cantilevered with respect to the primary shaft, with the pistons of the engine coupled to the eccentric crankshaft externally to the supporting bearings. A flywheel coupled to the eccentric crankshaft provides for operation of the engine with a zero net angular momentum. An intake manifold provides for mixing air and fuel for combustion heating of the engine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing a fluid agent into body tissue by causing transport of the fluid agent into the dermis of the subject. The outer surface of the skin of the subject is drawn against a plurality of micropenetrators such that microfissures are cloven into the epidermis and fluid may be introduced for diffusion or suction within the dermis. Suction creates a pressure gradient within the dermis to cause fluid take-up by the dermal tissue. The micropenetrators are produced by punching an array of protrusions in the surface of a thin sheet creating sharp edges for penetrating the epidermis.

Abstract: There is provided, in a preferred embodiment, a vehicle for transporting a payload (which may but need not include a human subject) over ground having a surface that may be irregular. This embodiment has a support for supporting the payload. A ground-contacting module, movably attached to the support, serves to suspend the payload in the support over the surface. The orientation of the ground-contacting module defines fore-aft and lateral planes intersecting one another at a vertical. The support and the ground-contacting module are components of an assembly. A motorized drive, mounted to the assembly and coupled to the ground-contacting module, causes locomotion of the assembly and the payload over the surface. A CG modifying arrangement is provided for actively modifying the location of the center of gravity of the assembly.

Abstract: There is provided, in a preferred embodiment, a transportation vehicle for transporting an individual over ground having a surface that may be irregular. This embodiment has a support for supporting the subject. A ground-contacting module, movably attached to the support, serves to suspend the subject in the support over the surface. The orientation of the ground-contacting module defines fore-aft and lateral planes intersecting one another at a vertical. The support and the ground-contacting module are components of an assembly. A motorized drive, mounted to the assembly and coupled to the ground-contacting module, causes locomotion of the assembly and the subject therewith over the surface. Finally, the embodiment has a control loop, in which the motorized drive is included, for dynamically enhancing stability in the fore-aft plane by operation of the motorized drive in connection with the ground-contacting module.

Abstract: An air elimination system is provided for an intravenous fluid delivery system for intravenous injection of fluid into a patient. An air-detection apparatus is disposed in an intravenous fluid line. At the top end of the line is attached a chamber where air may be separated from the fluid. The separation chamber may be a drip chamber, a metering chamber or the intravenous supply. When air is detected, a valve or valves are switched, so that the intravenous fluid is prevented from flowing to the patient, and so that, when a pump is turned on, the fluid is pumped to the separation chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the volume of pump's fluid capacity is greater than the volume of the fluid capacity of the intravenous line between the pump and the separation chamber so that the pump can force air back up the intravenous line all the way to the separation chamber.

Abstract: An infant environmental transition system provides an infant with controlled simulated movements encountered by an infant in an intrauterine environment. The system includes a suspension system having a plurality of flexures coupled between a base plate and a moving mattress platform. A cam shaft assembly includes a groove that engages a linear follower connected to the moving platform so that the follower moves along the groove while the cam shaft assembly rotates to move the linear follower, and thereby reciprocate the moving mattress platform in a longitudinal direction. Alternatively, a rotating crank assembly translates crank rotation to reciprocating movement of the mattress platform.

Abstract: There is provided, in a preferred embodiment, a transportation vehicle for transporting an individual over ground having a surface that may be irregular. This embodiment has a support for supporting the subject. A ground-contacting module, movably attached to the support, serves to suspend the subject in the support over the surface. The orientation of the ground-contacting module defines fore-aft and lateral planes intersecting one another at a vertical. The support and the ground-contacting module are components of an assembly. A motorized drive, mounted to the assembly and coupled to the ground-contacting module, causes locomotion of the assembly and the subject therewith over the surface. Finally, the embodiment has a control loop, in which the motorized drive is included, for dynamically enhancing stability in the fore-aft plane by operation of the motorized drive in connection with the ground-contacting module.

Abstract: There is provided, in a preferred embodiment, a transportation vehicle for transporting an individual over ground having a surface that may be irregular. This embodiment has a support for supporting the subject. A ground-contacting module, movably attached to the support, serves to suspend the subject in the support over the surface. The orientation of the ground-contacting module defines fore-aft and lateral planes intersecting one another at a vertical. The support and the ground-contacting module are components of an assembly. A motorized drive, mounted to the assembly and coupled to the ground-contacting module, causes locomotion of the assembly and the subject therewith over the surface. Finally, the embodiment has a control loop, in which the motorized drive is included, for dynamically enhancing stability in the fore-aft plane by operation of the motorized drive in collection with the ground-contacting module.

Abstract: An intravenous-line flow-control system for receiving a disposable cassette disposed in the intravenous line. The system prevents the free flow of intravenous fluid through the cassette when the cassette is removed from the system. The system includes a control unit having a door or similar structure for holding the cassette against a receiving surface. The control unit includes a stepper motor and a transmission member for turning a rotatable control valve on the cassette in order to restrict variably the flow of fluid through the cassette. When the door is being opened but while the cassette is still held against the receiving surface, a motor-disengagement mechanism moves at least the transmission member, and preferably the stepper motor as well, from a first position, from which the control valve may be engaged by the transmission member, to a second position, in which the transmission member is disengaged from the control valve.

Abstract: An air elimination system is provided for an intravenous fluid delivery system for intravenous injection of fluid into a patient. An air-detection apparatus 5 is disposed in an intravenous fluid line 3. At the top end of the line 3 is attached a chamber 1, 2, 12 where air may be separated from the fluid. The separation chamber may be a drip chamber 12, a metering chamber 2 or the intravenous supply 1. When air is detected, a valve 11 or valves 7, 9 are switched, so that the intravenous fluid is prevented from flowing to the patient, and so that, when a pump 4 is turned on, the fluid is pumped to the separation chamber 1, 2, 12. In a preferred embodiment, the volume of pump's fluid capacity is greater than the volume of the fluid capacity of the intravenous line 31 between the pump 4 and the separation chamber 1, 2, 12, so that the pump can force air back up the intravenous line all the way to the separation chamber.

Abstract: There is provided, in a preferred embodiment, a device for transporting a human subject over ground having a surface that may be irregular and may include stairs. This embodiment has a support for supporting the subject. A ground-contacting module, movably attached to the support, serves to suspend the subject in the support over the surface. The orientation of the ground-contacting module defines fore-aft and lateral planes intersecting one another at a vertical. The support and the ground-contacting module are components of an assembly. A motorized drive, mounted to the assembly and coupled to the ground-contacting module, causes locomotion of the assembly and the subject therewith over the surface. Finally, the embodiment has a control loop, in which the motorized drive is included, for dynamically enhancing stability in the fore-aft plane by operation of the motorized drive in connection with the ground-contacting module.

Abstract: The flow of an intravenous (IV) fluid from a IV source through an IV line to a patient is controlled, while monitoring whether there is any bubble in the liquid being delivered to the patient. Disposed in the line is a region having a first portion containing a measurement gas and a second portion containing a segment of the liquid flowing through the line. The liquid in this region is tested for the presence of an air bubble. The sum of the first portion's volume and the second portion's volume should be a constant volume. The region is part of an acoustically resonant system, in the volume of the measurement gas in the first portion of the region can be determined from the resonant frequency. Preferably, the acoustically resonant system is tuned so as to prevent the presence of a bubble from significantly affecting the measurement of the volume of the region's first portion.

Abstract: A medical pump apparatus including an internally sterile pumping chamber having a flexible diaphragm forming a wall portion and a drive rod extending through the diaphragm in a rotating vane disposed within the pumping chamber. A motor rotates a revolving hook which engages the drive rod to drive the vane within the pumping unit. The pumping chamber is isolated from the motor by the fluidtight attachment of the drive rod through the flexible diaphragm. Fluid is pumped into the inlet of pumping chamber through the hollow shaft of the vane and out through a fluid conduit of the vane, subsequently out the outlet of the pumping chamber.

Abstract: A system for controlling the flow of fluid through a line 3. The system may include first and second valves (A, B; and 6, 7) in the line 3 between is located a chamber (52, 82), part of which may be filled with fluid having a variable volume (52), and another part is filled with a measurement gas (V.sub.1), such as air. The chamber may be isolated from the pressure effects in the rest of the line by closing both valves. The valves may also permit fluid to flow into or out of the chamber. The second portion of the chamber has a common boundary with the first part in such a way that the combined volume of the first and second parts is constant. A loudspeaker (22, 33, 571) creates sound waves in the gas in the second part of the chamber, in order to measure the volume of the fluid in the first part, and for directing the operation of the valves and creating subsonic pressure variations to produce the desired flow. The volume measurement is achieved by acoustic volume measurement techniques.

Abstract: An inflation control system including a high flow valve is controlled by pilot air selectively delivered by a piezo vent valve. The high flow valve includes a pilot input, an outlet and a main air chamber fed with main supply air through a main air conduit. The high flow valve further includes a diaphragm with an upper web, a lower web, a cylindrical member connecting the upper and lower webs and an annular ridge extending radially out around the cylindrical member. A pilot air supply is connected by a pilot air conduit to the pilot input. A piezo pilot valve interposed on the pilot air conduct opens or closes to provide or prevent the pilot air to the high flow valve. The pilot air shifts the high flow valve from a closed to an open state. A vent valve connected to the pilot air conduit removes the pilot air to allow the high flow valve to close.

Abstract: A system for controlling the flow of fluid through a line 3. The system may include first and second valves (A, B; and 6, 7) in the line 3 between is located a chamber (52, 82), part of which may be filled with fluid having a variable volume (52), and another part is filled with a measurement gas (V.sub.1), such as air. The chamber may be isolated from the pressure effects in the rest of the line by closing both valves. The valves may also permit fluid to flow into or out of the chamber. The second portion of the chamber has a common boundary with the first part in such a way that the combined volume of the first and second parts is constant. A loudspeaker (22, 33, 571) creates sound waves in the gas in the second part of the chamber, in order to measure the volume of the fluid in the first part, and for directing the operation of the valves and creating subsonic pressure variations to produce the desired flow. The volume measurement is achieved by acoustic volume measurement techniques.

Abstract: A system for controlling the flow of fluid through a line 3. The system may include first and second valves (A, B; and 6, 7) in the line 3 between is located a chamber (52, 82), part of which may be filled with fluid having a variable volume (52), and another part is filled with a measurement gas (V.sub.1), such as air. The chamber may be isolated from the pressure effects in the rest of the line by closing both valves. The valves may also permit fluid to flow into or out of the chamber. The second portion of the chamber has a common boundary with the first part in such a way that the combined volume of the first and second parts is constant. A loudspeaker (22, 33, 571) creates sound waves in the gas in the second part of the chamber, in order to measure the volume of the fluid in the first part, and for directing the operation of the valves and creating subsonic pressure variations to produce the desired flow. The volume measurement is achieved by acoustic volume measurement techniques.

Abstract: Automatic trim control for a position stick. Strain gauges are mounted with respect to the position stick so as to generate signals proportional to the force manually exerted upon the control stick. The signals from the strain gauges are used to control trim motors which adjust force exerted by springs on the position stick in opposition to the manual force. The signals from the strain gauges are used to control the trim motors so as to reduce the force of the trim springs opposing the manual force. The trim springs are adjusted to reduce the opposition force to a minimum.

Abstract: An inflation control system including a high flow valve is controlled by pilot air selectively delivered by a piezo vent valve. The high flow valve includes a pilot input, an outlet and a main air chamber fed with main supply air through a main air conduit. The high flow valve further includes a diaphragm with an upper web, a lower web, a cylindrical member connecting the upper and lower webs and an annular ridge extending radially out around the cylindrical member. A pilot air supply is connected by a pilot air conduit to the pilot input. A piezo pilot valve interposed on the pilot air conduct opens or closes to provide or prevent the pilot air to the high flow valve. The pilot air shifts the high flow valve from a closed to an open state. A vent valve connected to the pilot air conduit removes the pilot air to allow the high flow valve to close.