Abstract: A therapeutic ultrasound instrument is described for cutting, dissecting, or cauterizing tissue. Ultrasonic vibrations, when transmitted to organic tissue at suitable energy levels and using a suitable end-effector, may be used for the safe and effective treatment of many medical conditions. An ultrasonic surgical instrument is described which incorporates an articulating end-effector. The instrument comprises an ultrasonic signal generator, an ultrasonically actuated end-effector, and a substantially solid ultrasonic waveguide which connects the ultrasonic signal generator to the end-effector. The waveguide comprises a transmission section extending from the signal generator to a fixed node, and an articulation section extending from the fixed node to an pivoting node. The end-effector includes a waveguide segment. A handle is adapted to hold the signal generator. An outer sheath extends from the handle to the end-effector and surrounds the waveguide.

Abstract: The ultrasonic instrument includes a shaft having an integral sheath of PTFE encompassing the shaft and attached solely to the shaft. At the proximal end of the shaft, wrench flats are exposed through openings in the sheath and grooves cooperate with complementary ribs on the sheath, to prevent relative longitudinal and rotational displacement of the sheath and shaft. The sheath is in contact with the shaft at the nodes along the shaft. The diameter of the sheath is about 5 mm whereby the instrument may be used with a 5 mm trocar port. To manufacture the instrument, the sheath is initially formed to a diameter equal to or less than the diameter of the shaft and then mechanically expanded. Subsequently, the sheath is heat-shrunk about the shaft and rolled continuously along the shaft, except at regions corresponding to the nodes along the shaft, to expand the sheath to a larger diameter to space the sheath from the shaft except at the nodes of the shaft.

Abstract: A pallet handling platten system of the invention includes an auxiliary platten unit. The auxiliary platten unit comprises a pair of auxiliary plattens 30 normally stowable beneath the level of the load bearing surfaces of primary plattens 5 of the system. Devices 74,72 are provided for lifting the auxiliary plattens 30 to a first elevated level, for moving the auxiliary plattens 30 laterally of the system while not under load, and for lifting them when so extended to a second elevated level to take the load of the pallet. The primary plattens 5 of the system are then withdrawn while the load is supported on the auxiliary plattens, but the auxiliary plattens do not themselves move laterally under load.

Abstract: A spacer for rigidly securing plumbing pipes to a wall. The spacer comprises a back portion comprised of a generally C-shaped clamp adapted to snap-fit over a plumbing pipe and a front portion including a flat face adapted to abut against the hidden or back surface of the wall.

Abstract: In an AC to DC power conversion circuit including a boost inductor connected in series between a full-wave rectifier and a DC load, a switch is connected to selectively shunt boost inductor current from the load. Switch conduction is controlled by a pulse width modulator generating switching pulses at a high fixed frequency. The pulse widths are automatically varied as a function of boost inductor current, load voltage, and an ideal sinusoidal waveform derived from the AC input voltage to force the boost inductor current to closely conform to the ideal sinusoidal waveform and thus minimize harmonic distortion, while achieving load voltage regulation and near unity power factor.

Abstract: For suppressing cardiovascular artifact from a respiration signal derived from a patient's transthoracic impedance, an adaptive filtering device determines the patient's heart rate, converts the respiration signal from an analog to digital representation at a rate proportional to the heart rate, and then filters the digital respiration signal such that that portion of the respiration signal having a frequency content at or above the heart rate is most greatly attenuated.

Abstract: An activity bib worn by an adult and presented for interaction by a child facing the adult. The bib includes one or more activity means mounted for use by the child.

Abstract: A tossing game including first and second base members for placement on a substantially horizontal support surface spaced apart from one another, each of the base members having a cavity with an upwardly opened mouth and being in the shape of a truncated cone. First and second target members are fitted substantially submerged into the cavities of the first and second base members respectively. Each of the target members has a cavity with an upwardly opened, flared outwardly mouth. A plurality of cylindrical projectile components are provided for being tossed at the opened mouth of the first or second target means. Each projectile component has a first end and a second end with the first end heavier than the second end.

Abstract: Industrial liquid wastes containing low concentrations of heavy metals are applied to a soil bed where evaporation of the liquid occurs. The soil bed is lined with a liquid-impermeable liner of polymeric sheet material, bentonite clay or a laminate of the two to prevent escape of the liquid waste to the surrounding environment. After repeated applications of wastes to the bed, the concentration of metals in the bed reaches a level where the metals may be recovered by standard mining operations.

Abstract: Method for analysis of cations and anions in trace amounts in solution by excitation with a tuneable laser of a precipitate or a coprecipitate formed of the unknown ions in the presence of ions which fluoresce upon excitation by the dye laser and which experience change in energy levels in the presence of the unknown ion in the crystalline lattice.