Abstract: A sheath or cover for a laparoscope insertion tube comprises a generally rigid cylindrical wall with a face plate disposed at its distal tip. A grip mechanism at the proximal end of the rigid cylindrical wall is twisted to grip the insertion tube when the sheath is slipped onto it. An elongated tubular drape is formed of a flexible membrane, such as polyethylene film, which is folded back and forth axially on the sheath. A distal end of the drape is attached to the grip mechanism, and a proximal end is bonded to a rigid or semi-rigid tubular oversleeve. The drape is extended proximally for surgery to cover the handle and umbilical of the laparoscope. After the surgical procedure the drape is extended distally. This uncovers the umbilical and handle as well as the grip mechanism, and covers the rigid cylindrical wall of the sheath. This also inverts the drape so that all contaminated surfaces are facing inward.

Abstract: A control handle for a video probe that includes a joystick mounted in a housing which is coupled to a stepper mechanism for moving the control cables of an elongated insertion tube in response to the manipulation by an operator. The joystick is sealed against liquid infiltration.

Abstract: A coating system is provided with a controller which transforms a demand signal responsive to the speed, relative to the dispensing apparatus, of an object to be coated, into a control signal which adjusts for the non-linear output characteristics of the flow of coating powder through the dispensing apparatus to cause the material to be dispensed with a uniformity that is corrected for the non-linear relationship between those output characteristics and the speed of the object. In the preferred embodiment, the system corrects for the non-linear characteristics of different powder pumps in dispensing different powder coating materials upon objects carried by variable speed conveyors. A plurality of stair-step tables are stored in the memory of the controller. Each table represents a different selectable powder pump to provide a desired powder pump output characteristic.