Abstract: An instrument for obtaining tissue samples from a site deep within the body. The instrument has an elongated proximal portion that is constructed to follow a long, torturous path to the site and has a distal end constructed to sever and remove a tissue sample from the body, including tissue specimens, polyps or the like. The instrument is constructed to take multiple biopsy samples without being withdrawn from the body. The instrument includes a tissue sample retractor. The retractor is axially movable between an extended tissue-engaging position and a retracted position. There is an open passage into which the retractor moves when moving from the extended to the retracted position. The retractor has a distal end portion constructed to engage tissue and apply axial transporting force thereto while moving from the extended to the retracted position. The retractor is constructed to be advanced and retracted repeatedly to accumulate a series of samples in the instrument.

Abstract: An instrument for obtaining tissue samples from a site deep within the body. The instrument has an elongated proximal portion that is constructed to follow a long, torturous path to the site and has a distal end constructed to sever and remove a tissue sample from the body, including tissue specimens, polyps or the like. The instrument is constructed to take multiple biopsy samples without being withdrawn from the body. The instrument includes a tissue sample retractor. The retractor is axially movable between an extended tissue-engaging position and a retracted position. There is an open passage into which the retractor moves when moving from the extended to the retracted position. The retractor has a distal end portion constructed to engage tissue and apply axial transporting force thereto while moving from the extended to the retracted position. The retractor is constructed to be advanced and retracted repeatedly to accumulate a series of samples in the instrument.

Abstract: A closed shear flexible panel has upper and lower surfaces each having front ends which define a leading edge and rear edges which define a trailing edge. The rear edges are slideable longitudinally with respect to each other when a torsional force is applied to the panel or a linear force is applied to the rear edges to induce a spanwise gradient pitch in the panel.

Abstract: Typical apparatus as shown in FIGS. 1 and 12 for indicating the relative positions in a given direction between a reference point (24,59) and a test point (29,68) spaced therefrom and movable relative thereto is useful for measurement of the magnitude and direction of static or dynamic torque in a shaft (8). Overlapping transparent reference (20,60) and test surfaces (25,61), either parallel disks (60,61) or coaxial cylinders (20,25) each having a relevant portion covered with a plurality of equally spaced lines oriented predominantly normal to the given direction and at an angle to each other, produce moire fringes (30) when illuminated (14,15). One of the surfaces (25,61), being flexible, is connected to the shaft (8) so as to flex in response to torque between the reference point (24,59) and the test point (29,68), causing a change in the angle between the lines on the two surfaces (20,25;60,61), and thus of the spacing (D) (FIG.

Abstract: A device for simulating the firing of an automatic weapon by firing bullets oth singularly and in bursts. A timing source provides electrical impulses which are randomly spaced in time and also provides pulses which are closely spaced to represent bursts. The bullets are fired by primers which are programmed by the timing source.

Abstract: An ornithopter which produces a large swept volume of the wings and essentially constant lift and includes a first and a second outer wing segment joined by an aerodynamically significant center wing segment having pivotal connections at the ends to the first and second outer wing segments, a driving mechanism for translating the center wing segment vertically with respect to the body of the ornithopter and links pivotally connected to the outer wing segments and to the body to cause the outer wing segments to rotate relative to the center wing segment as the center wing segment translates.