Abstract: A three-pin skull clamp [10] includes a C-shaped frame [12] which partially encircles the head [18] of the patient, with a spring-loaded single skull pin assembly [22] located at one end of the frame [12] and adapted to engage the head [18] of the patient with a desired engagement force, and two spaced skull pins [30] mounted to a rocker arm [44] located at an opposite end of the frame [12]. Each of the rocker arm skull pins [30] resides in operative contact with an indicator cap [66] held by a spring-loaded pin carrier assembly [50], the indicator cap [66] being movable relative to the rest of the pin carrier assembly [50] in response to the engagement force applied to the corresponding skull pin [30] by the head [18] of the patient. By visibly comparing the positions of the indicator caps [66] relative to their respective pin carrier assemblies [50], one can readily determine whether the engagement forces are equally distributed between the two rocker arm skull pins [30].

Abstract: A three-pin skull clamp [10] includes a C-shaped frame [12] which partially encircles the head [15] of the patient, with a spring-loaded single skull pin assembly [22] located at one end of the frame [12] and adapted to engage the head [15] of the patient with a desired engagement force, and two spaced skull pins [30] mounted to a rocker arm [44] located at an opposite end of the frame [12]. Each of the rocker arm skull pins [30] resides in operative contact with an indicator cap [66] held by a spring-loaded pin carrier assembly [50], the indicator cap [66] being movable relative to the rest of the pin carrier assembly [50] in response to the engagement force applied to the corresponding skull pin [30] by the head [15] of the patient.

Abstract: A three-pin skull clamp includes a C-shaped frame which partially encircles the head of the patient, with a spring-loaded single skull pin assembly located at one end of the frame and adapted to engage the head of the patient with a desired engagement force, and two spaced skull pins mounted to a rocker arm located at an opposite end of the frame. Each of the rocker arm skull pins resides in operative contact with an indicator cap held by a spring-loaded pin carrier assembly, the indicator cap being movable relative to the rest of the pin carrier assembly in response to the engagement force applied to the corresponding skull pin by the head of the patient. By visibly comparing the positions of the indicator caps relative to their respective pin carrier assemblies, one can readily determine whether the engagement forces are equally distributed between the two rocker arm skull pins.

Abstract: A three-pin skull clamp includes a C-shaped frame which partially encircles the head of the patient, with a spring-loaded single skull pin assembly located at one end of the frame and adapted to engage the head of the patient with a desired engagement force, and two spaced skull pins mounted to a rocker arm located at an opposite end of the frame. Each of the rocker arm skull pins resides in operative contact with an indicator cap held by a spring-loaded pin carrier assembly, the indicator cap being movable relative to the rest of the pin carrier assembly in response to the engagement force applied to the corresponding skull pin by the head of the patient. By visibly comparing the positions of the indicator caps relative to their respective pin carrier assemblies, one can readily determine whether the engagement forces are equally distributed between the two rocker arm skull pins.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for displaying a path between a selected target and selected points on a patient's skull and for guiding surgical instruments along any selected path. The system is comprised of an image display system, an articulated arm and probe, and a stereotactic system. The sub-systems are coupled to one another so that the articulated probe may be used to select patient fiducial points that correspond to selected image fiducial points. Using these points, the image display system coregisters the external locations to the displayed images so that the probe condition may be displayed with the displayed images. The system further permits the identification of a selected target within a patient's brain and to project a path from the external position to the target prior to the performance of a craniotomy. After evaluation of the path, a surgeon may lock the stereotactic system in place to preserve a selected surgical path and to guide instruments along that path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for displaying a path between a selected target and selected points on a patient's skull and for guiding surgical instruments along any selected path. The system is comprised of an image display system, an articulated arm and probe, and a stereotactic system. The sub-systems are coupled to one another so that the articulated probe may be used to select patient fiducial points that correspond to selected image fiducial points. Using these points, the image display system coregisters the external locations to the displayed images so that the probe condition may be displayed with the displayed images. The system further permits the identification of a selected target within a patient's brain and to project a path from the external position to the target prior to the performance of a craniotomy. After evaluation of the path, a surgeon may lock the stereotactic system in place to preserve a selected surgical path and to guide instruments along that path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for displaying a path between a selected target and selected points on a patient's skull and for guiding surgical instruments along any selected path. The system is comprised of an image display system, an articulated arm and probe, and a stereotactic system. The sub-systems are coupled to one another so that the articulated probe may be used to select patient fiducial points that correspond to selected image fiducial points. Using these points, the image display system coregisters the external locations to the displayed images so that the probe condition may be displayed with the displayed images. The system further permits the identification of a selected target within a patient's brain and to project a path from the external position to the target prior to the performance of a craniotomy. After evaluation of the path, a surgeon may lock the stereotactic system in place to preserve a selected surgical path and to guide instruments along that path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for displaying a path between a selected target and selected points on a patient's skull and for guiding surgical instruments along any selected path. The system is comprised of an image display system, an articulated arm and probe, and a stereotactic system. The sub-systems are coupled to one another so that the articulated probe may be used to select patient fiducial points that correspond to selected image fiducial points. Using these points, the image display system coregisters the external locations to the displayed images so that the probe condition may be displayed with the displayed images. The system further permits the identification of a selected target within a patient's brain and to project a path from the external position to the target prior to the performance of a craniotomy. After evaluation of the path, a surgeon may lock the stereotactic system in place to preserve a selected surgical path and to guide instruments along that path.

Abstract: A noninvasive apparatus for supporting tools associated with a stereotactic apparatus and procedures to guide tools along any selected path. In one embodiment of the invention, the tool support system is mounted to a skull clamp holding a patient's head. In another embodiment, the tool holder and an articulated arm and probe are mounted to the tool support system which in turn, is mounted to the side rails of a table supporting a patient. With the second embodiment, stereotactic procedures can be practiced with respect to any part of the patient's body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for displaying a path between a selected target and selected points on a patient's skull and for guiding surgical instruments along any selected path. The system is comprised of an image display system, an articulated arm and probe, and a stereotactic system. The sub-systems are coupled to one another so that the articulated probe may be used to select patient fiducial points that correspond to selected image fiducial points. Using these points, the image display system coregisters the external locations to the displayed images so that the probe condition may be displayed with the displayed images. The system further permits the identification of a selected target within a patient's brain and to project a path from the external position to the target prior to the performance of a craniotomy. After evaluation of the path, a surgeon may lock the stereotactic system in place to preserve a selected surgical path and to guide instruments along that path.

Abstract: A head support for a patient support table having a skull securing clamp that is mounted to a non-circular support bar for selective attachment to the side rails of the patient support table. The skull clamp includes a non-circular support aperture for receiving the non-circular support bar. The structural components of the head support are made from radiolucent material and the support bar includes mounting posts at its first and second ends so that arms for mounting the support bar to the side rails may be located out of the path of the x-rays through the patient's head. The non-circular shape of the support aperture and the support bar prevent inadvertent rotation of the radiolucent skull securing clamp with respect to the radiolucent support bar. The location of the mounting posts on the support arms and the utilization of the radiolucent material results in fewer artifacts in the developed x-ray picture.

Abstract: A surgical head clamp having a C-shaped frame with a fixed head engaging pin on one side and a pair of head engaging pins on the opposite side. The opposite side of the clamp also has a rotation mechanism for adjusting the angular position of the pair of head engaging pins and a translation mechanism for linearly moving the pair of head engaging pins with respect to the fixed head engaging pin.

Abstract: Inputs are programmably interfaced and interlocked with output so that the state of the outputs and the operation of equipment connected thereto depends on the hierarchy or priority (control strategy) which is programmed into the controller. The inputs may be contacts (switch closures) of switches which are thrown to operate HVAC units and high or low limit sensors such as thermostats and pressure sensors of an HVAC system. The outputs operate the motor controls of motors which drive the blowers, fans, pumps, dampers and the like of the HVAC system for environmental control and the safety both of the occupants of a facility and the HVAC equipment therein. The programmable controller has an on-matrix and an off-matrix of switch points which are arranged in columns and rows. Each row of switch points is connected to an input circuit. The columns of switch points in the on-matrix are connected to the outputs via control logic to which each column of switch points is connected.

Abstract: A vertebral lock mountable in a cavity surgically formed in a vertebra, to separate and stabilize the adjacent vertebrae above and below the cavity. Oppositely extending pins project upwardly and downwardly from a generally cylindrical body which is insertable in the cavity. The pins are fixed vertically by a spline which is slid between their inner ends, at a right angle, to prevent the pins from loosening.

Abstract: A system for metering the flow rate of air through a duct in which gates are pivotally mounted and connected together to vary the area of the duct. The gates are balanced so as to be effectively weightless. The forces on and the position of the gates correspond to the pressure and the flow rate in the duct thereby avoiding the need for air pressure transducers exposed to the pressure in the duct. The forces due to the pressure in the duct are amplified by the gates so that the pressure measurement as a function of the forces on the gates is a much more sensitive function of the flow rate through the duct than is obtainable directly in response to the pressure in the duct (for example, the velocity pressure of air as measured by pressure transducers responsive directly to the velocity pressure in the duct).

Abstract: An assembly for mounting and connecting components, either electrical or pneumatic devices, which are arranged on boards such as printed circuit boards. A channel having a base and flexible side walls receives the edges of the boards in grooves along the side wall. Flexible sidewalls spread apart to receive the boards and lock them in the grooves. Several boards may be located in a channel in end to end relationship. Conduits are defined between the insides of the side walls, the base and the side of the boards facing the base. The components on the boards are located on the outside. Wiring and tubing lines extend through the openings in the boards into the conduits and extend along the conduits. End plates at the opposite ends of the conduits may be used to close the ends of the conduits except for openings through which the wiring and tubing extends.

Abstract: Apparatus for blending and destratification of outside and return air streams which are cooled or heated, as by fluid containing heat transfer coils, and discharged into a building. Gates control the flow and blending of outside and inside air in a casing in a region defined at its downstream end by the coils and at its upstream end by the gates which project into the region. The gates are pivotally mounted and vary the volume in the region, and also increase the velocity of air therein to prevent stratification. An array of sensors monitors the temperature of the air passing through the coils and controls the gates, especially when the velocity is low, thereby preventing any freezing of the fluid in the coils which can cause damage. The gates may be panels filled with insulation which provide a seal to protect the coils when the apparatus is not in use.

Abstract: Apparatus for holding a patient's head for surgery thereon so that the head is accessible from ear to ear and from occiput to and including the orbits. The apparatus holds the head clamped between opposed clamp pads. Rear support means engages the posterior of the head and a pair of face pads are adjustably positionable just below the cheekbones of the patient and are lockable in such position. The face pads and rear support means are releasably movable toward one another to hold the head securely between them.

Abstract: A controller for operating devices adapted for motor control, such as dampers, valves and the like in a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system interfaces with a serial link which may carry control signals for operating a multiplicity of controllers on a time division multiple access (TDMA) basis has digital circuitry responsive to the control signals which translates them into digital signals which are stored between access times. Two series connected pluralities of resistors define, between their opposite ends and their junction points, a potentiometer which is variable by normally open and normally closed contacts which individually are connected across each resistor in each of the pluralities. The switches are operated in response to the digital signals so as to vary the resistance presented by the potentiometer between the opposite ends thereof and the junction.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for securing a container to a truck chassis is provided and includes a manually reciprocating locking member movable in a piston-like fashion through a housing from a retracted position within the housing to an extended position within a slot of a corner casting in an adjacent container. The reciprocating member is also rotatable and includes an eccentric locking pin to adjust the location of the locking pin to compensate for dimensional variations and to enable the locking pin search for the locking slot of a corner casting by moving between several positions.