Abstract: A therapeutic method and apparatus intended for enhancing blood circulation, and lymph and neural fluid flow throughout a person's body. The person is placed supinely on a longitudinally pivoting support member or bed operated by a motor driven drive mechanism. In addition, an overhead pulley mounted towline is attached to the bed and affixed to the person's hands such that his or her upper extremities move in opposition to the upper end of the bed. The bed tilts cyclically like a seesaw to alternatively raise the person's upper torso and head above the upper and lower extremities, and vice-versa.

Abstract: A therapeutic method and apparatus intended for enhancing blood circulation, and lymph and neural fluid flow throughout a person's body and particularly within the person's eyes. In addition, the therapeutic method and apparatus are also intended for enhancing intraocular fluid flow within the person's eyes. The person is placed supinely in a comfortable and relaxed state on a support member, such as a bed which is operated by a controllable motor driven drive mechanism. The support member tilts cyclically like a seesaw to alternatively raise the person's head about the lower extremities, and vice-versa.

Abstract: A therapeutic method and apparatus intended for enhancing blood circulation and neural fluid flow throughout a person's body. The person is placed supinely in a comfortable and relaxed state on a support member, such as a bed which is operated by a controllable motor driven drive mechanism. The support member tilts cyclically lice a seesaw to alternatively raise the person's upper torso and head about the lower extremities, and vice-versa.

Abstract: A gerotor pump includes an outer rotor having a first toothed surface and lobes that extend inwards. An inner rotor is eccentrically aligned relative to the outer rotor and includes a second toothed surface and lobes that extend outwards. Planetary gears are located between the outer rotor and the inner rotor. Each planetary gear has a third toothed surface that intermeshes with the first toothed surface and the second toothed surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a shield member for shielding the lens of a flexible or rigid surgical endoscope from body fluid, tissue debris, and condensation deposited on a working port valve as the lens passes through the working port lumen in a posterior direction to gain access to the intra-abdominal or pleural cavity regions. The shield member has a shield lumen and is telescopically and slidably carried within the lumen. The shield member is so dimensioned and proportioned such that the distal end of the shield member may be selectively positioned posteriorly of the working port valve thereby permitting the lens to advance axially within the shield lumen and by-pass the working port valve without coming in physical contact with the working port valve.

Abstract: Improved gerotor pumps comprising laterally constrained floating rings, thereby providing an orthogonal degree-of-freedom and allowing gerotor sets positioned therein to establish their own preferred mesh orientation, and additionally wherein the outer rotor of the gerotor set is forcibly positioned against the inner rotor of the gerotor set at the gerotor set's in-mesh position whereat there is little relative motion between the inner and outer rotors, thereby resulting in a substantially friction- and wear-free meshing action of the gerotor set.

Abstract: Resonant and powered rhythmic blood pressure modulation (hereinafter “RBPM”) and “Legshaking” apparatus are provided for implementing either hand or powered RBPM, or Legshaking operation as intended for therapeutic treatment of cardiovascularly or neurologically compromised patients via enhancing blood flow through portions of a patient's cardiovascular system comprised in his or her torso, neck and head and specifically through, or around, partially clogged coronary arteries as well as through, or around, “plaques and tangles” in the arteries of his or her brain.

Abstract: Walking motion apparatus and methods for use thereof are provided for enabling paraplegic, quadriplegic, brain injured and various other handicapped patients to implement a natural walking motion while either supporting no weight, or alternately, a selected portion of their weight.

Abstract: Improved low flow impedance flow control valves are disclosed in the present invention wherein spring valve means (12) captured between a valve spool (28) and a shoulder (30) are utilized for selectively metering a flow of fluid from an inlet port (18) to an outlet port (14) via a round edged helical orifice (82) formed between the open coils of the spring valve (12) as a function of the instant axial position of the valve spool (28) and the differential pressure therebetween. An improved method of controlling low impedance flow control valves is also disclosed in the present invention. The improved method provides better accuracy in controlling fluid flow through low flow impedance flow control valves through continually cycling a means for substantially interrupting fluid flow therethrough in a low frequency pulse width modulated fashion.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is presented for enabling a power steering system comprising an accumulator, a reservoir, and an electronically controlled closed-center control valve assembly for selectively fluidly coupling the accumulator and reservoir to a double-acting power cylinder of a power steering system to function in the manner of a force-based power steering system.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is presented for enabling a power steering system comprising an accumulator, a reservoir, and an electronically controlled closed-center control valve assembly for selectively fluidly coupling the accumulator and reservoir to a double-acting power cylinder of a power steering system to function in the manner of a force-based power steering system.

Abstract: Improved low flow impedance flow control valves are disclosed in the present invention wherein spring valve means (12) captured between a valve spool (28) and a shoulder (30) are utilized for selectively metering a flow of fluid from an inlet port (18) to an outlet port (14) via a round edged helical orifice (82) formed between the open coils of the spring valve (12) as a function of the instant axial position of the valve spool (28) and the differential pressure therebetween. An improved method of controlling low impedance flow control valves is also disclosed in the present invention. The improved method provides better accuracy in controlling fluid flow through low flow impedance flow control valves through continually cycling a means for substantially interrupting fluid flow therethrough in a low frequency pulse width modulated fashion.

Abstract: Improved gerotor pumps comprising laterally constrained floating rings, thereby providing an orthogonal degree-of-freedom and allowing gerotor sets positioned therein to establish their own preferred mesh orientation, and additionally wherein the outer rotor of the gerotor set is forcibly positioned against the inner rotor of the gerotor set at the gerotor set's in-mesh position whereat there is little relative motion between the inner and outer rotors, thereby resulting in a substantially friction- and wear-free meshing action of the gerotor set.

Abstract: Aerobic rhythmic running exercise (RRE) is an exercise mode wherein a horizontally disposed participant elevates and lowers his or her limbs alternately in a striding manner against dissipative loading provided by enabling RRE apparatus. RRE comprises safe aerobic exercise for cardiovascularly handicapped heart patients and other participants by substantially supporting or balancing the weight of the limb groups one against the other during the alternate limb elevation and lowering. It is an observed fact that the blood pressure remains near resting values during such aerobic RRE. It has also been observed that RRE allows an athlete to preferentially develop fast twitch muscles useful for enabling improved running speed. Stationary RRE apparatus comprises a supporting tripod structure, and pulley supported leg and arm supporting rope lines coupled to leg and arm drive belts that are, in turn, coupled to leg and arm drive sprockets.

Abstract: Vehicle power steering systems (710, 760, 810 and 910) achieve substantially linear control relationships between and applied steering torque input Ts and a resulting steering force output, that is, a powered assist to vehicle steering. Impedance matching means utilized for coupling an electric motor (26) to the steering load respectively include speed reduction means (712), torque summing means (812) and force generating means (912) in the systems (710, 760, 810 and 910). The speed reduction means (712) comprises gear reduction means (722) and a supplemental pinion. The torque summing means (812) comprises steering column (814) coupled gear reduction means (822), and, the force generating means (912) comprises hydraulic transmission means including a power cylinder (18). The systems (710, 760, 810 and 910) are preferably regenerative.

Abstract: Passive and powered RLE apparatus (10 and 80, respectively), and method for use therefor, allow and encourage safe aerobic exercise for cardiovascularly handicapped patients by partially balancing or lifting the weight of the limbs. Furthermore, during such aerobic exercise the patient's torso and head are rhythmically flooded with blood, and thus subject to varying blood pressure, as the limbs are rhythmically elevated. It is believed that this enhances cardiovascular activity and health by enabling “collateral circulation” around partially blocked arteries. The passive RLE apparatus (10) comprises an overhead anchor structure (12), and leg supporting extension springs (16) and arm supporting extension springs (18) for partially supporting the limbs via respective leg and arm supporting straps (36 and 38), and spring hooks (28) during the aerobic exercise.

Abstract: A vehicle power steering system 10 achieves a substantially linear control relationship between an applied steering torque input T.sub.s and a resulting steering force output, that is, a powered assist to vehicle steering. The system 10 includes a reversible fluid pump 24 driven by an electric motor 26. A pair of fluid lines 20 and 22 supply pressurized fluid from the pump 24 and to the left and right ports 56 and 58 of a power cylinder 18. A pair of pressure transducers 54 and 55 sense the fluid pressures LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p in the lines 20 and 22. The pressure transducers 54 and 55 are connected to an electronic control 32 which establishes an internal closed servo control loop 322 or 342 over the powered assist to vehicle steering provided by the power cylinder 18, for example, over actuation of the motor 26. The system 10 is preferably regenerative and includes a variety of safety features which prevent system runaway and allow unencumbered manual steering in case of failure of the system.

Abstract: A yoke assembly for a rack and pinion steering system includes a bearing disc member having a pair of bearing surfaces for slidingly supporting and urging the rack toward the pinion. The bearing disc member is kinematically supported by elastomeric members along an adjustment axis. In the pitch direction elastomerically derived forces are applied toward an apex located well within the rack and away from the bearing surfaces. This results in the bearing disc member rotating slightly in a contra-pitch direction and forming a lubrication wedge whenever the rack moves along its axis of translation. Additionally along the adjustment axis, the bearing disc is supplementally supported in a stiffer manner in opposition to heavy shock loads. In the yaw direction, elastomerically derived forces are laterally directed to compliantly bias the bearing disc in a lateral direction orthogonal to a plane defined by the adjustment and translation axes toward a preferred central location.

Abstract: A regenerative power steering system 10 for a vehicle, alternatively operable in an unassisted, straight steering mode, a powered assist mode which provides a powered assist to entry of the vehicle into a turn and an energy regeneration mode which recovers energy while the vehicle exits a turn. The system comprises a motor pump 24 connected to a fluid delivery line 20 and a reservoir structure 76, in turn connected to a closed-center control valve assembly 38 for actuating a power cylinder 18 connected to the vehicle wheels. The pump 24 is connected to the delivery line 20 and the reservoir structure 76 by a four-way cross-over valve 30.

Abstract: A yoke apparatus 34 is useful with a steering system having a pinion gear 20 and a longitudinally movable rack 24 engaged with the pinion gear 20. The yoke apparatus 34 comprises a bearing disc 36 received in the aperture 32, and a pair of biasing members 40 and 38 disposed in parallel with one another, each biasing the bearing disc 36 against the rack 24. This in turn biases the rack 24 against the pinion gear 20. The biasing members 40 and 38 have different spring constants and different compliances. Preferably, one of the biasing members 40 and 38 is a compression spring member 40 while the other is an elastomeric O-ring member 38, or other elastomeric member having a highly non-linear compliance. The yoke apparatus 34 also preferably comprises a plug 42 adjustably received in the aperture 32 which applies an axial load to the pair of biasing members 40 and 38.