Abstract: A film sheet load magazine is adapted to hold a stack of superimposed films with at least central portions of the films in a curved configuration and leading ends of the films adjacent a film separator mechanism. The curvature of the films is such that they retain themselves in desired positions in the magazine independent of the orientation of the films with respect to gravity. When a top cover of the magazine is opened, floating primary feed rollers are raised by spring-biasing assemblies to facilitate loading of the films under the rollers, and when the top cover is subsequently closed, the rollers are moved into feeding engagement with an innermost film, and the films are held in position by leaf biasing springs. A cleaning mechanism removes contaminants from the primary feed rollers, which feed each film to secondary feed rollers driven at a faster speed than the primary feed rollers.

Abstract: An x-ray film changer includes a removably mounted, passive-type cassette having no film driving mechanism and comprising a film-receiving spiral guide plate extending within the cassette in excess of one and one-half 360.degree. turns. The cassette further comprises an anvil bar for reverse bending of the guide plate when the cassette is opened, to facilitate film removal, a light-blocking gate which uncovers a film feed-in slot in response to mounting of the cassette on a film exposure device, and a combination carrying handle-latch mechanism.

Abstract: A core wire insertable in a catheter guide wire assembly provides a defined degree of rigidity to the catheter assembly to allow the assembly to be maneuvered through the tortuous path of the vascular or other system of a patient. The core wire includes, at its distal end, a paddle having a substantially barrel-shaped body, leading to a continuous chamfer which terminates in a truncated end. Further, the core wire can have a curved section adjacent its distal end. The curved section is made by press hardening the generally circular core wire into a substantially rectangular shape such that the press hardened wire memorizes the arc of curvature. When the core wire is press hardened into a rectangular shape, a singular degree of freedom of movement is imparted to the wire in contrast to the two degrees of freedom of movement of the cross-sectionally circular core wire. A method of manufacture is also described using concave/convex mating dies or flat plate dies.