Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve testing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a test chamber, a slide plate slidingly and sealingly coupled to the test chamber, the slide plate having an opening formed therein that is adapted to receive a prosthetic heart valve to be tested in the test chamber, a storage member containing a plurality of prosthetic heart valves to be tested in the test chamber, and a load/unload means for transferring at least one of the heart valves in the storage member between the storage member and the slide plate. A method disclosed herein comprises positioning the storage member in a first position, moving a first heart valve from the storage member in the first position to the test chamber, performing at least one test on the first heart valve in the test chamber, and returning the first heart valve from the test chamber to the storage member.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for classifying and quantifying lacquer and carbon deposits on internal combustion engine pistons. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a piston is mounted on a rotating means and is rotated to expose the entire surface of the piston to a video imaging system. The piston is illuminated with indirect lighting in order to minimize reflections and to enhance the contrast of the video image. The video imaging system is comprised of a video camera which employs a charged coupled device (CCD) sensor and data storage for storing digital video produced by the camera. A microprocessor is operable to control operation of the camera and to process the stored data according to an algorithm to classify the video image into one of six categories.

Abstract: A position sensor for a moving member of a mechanical device is disclosed. The sensor includes an optical sensing means such as solid-state image sensor and illuminating means such as a plurality of light-emitting diodes, stationarily mounted to face scribing marks provided on the moving member. The microprocessor controlled image sensor generates a digital signal representative of the scribing marks on the moving member. A cable is provided between the position sensor and a remote digital computer which applies control and command signals to the sensor and receives the digital signal representation of the moving member scribing marks. The image is presented on a CRT screen allowing a human being a remote visual image of the position of the moving member. The remote digital computer also processes the received digital signal from each of the moving members and generates an alarm if the movement is greater than a predetermined amount.