Abstract: A diagnostic system includes a remote unit configured to gather information and a base unit configured to process the gathered information. A cable couples the remote unit to the base unit and is configured to carry the information. The cable includes one or more electrical conductors for communicating electrical signals between the base unit and the remote unit. The cable also includes one or more optical fibers over which the gathered information is communicated. An outside sleeve is formed around the one or more electrical conductors and the one or more optical fibers.

Abstract: Optical probes may be used to capture images of a subject. An optical probe may include an optical reflector, an optical waveguide, and an electric motor. A rotor of the electric motor is mechanically coupled with the optical reflector to rotate the optical reflector in response to an input electric current. The optical waveguide is optically coupled with the optical reflector. The optical waveguide may output light to the optical reflector which directs the light to the subject. Light may then reflect back from the subject to the optical reflector which directs the reflected light from the subject to the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A cable for coupling a base unit to a remote unit for communicating signals between the base unit to the remote unit includes one or more electrical conductors for communicating electrical signals between the base unit and the remote unit. The cable also includes one or more optical fibers for communicating optical signals between the base unit and the remote unit. An outside jacket is formed around the one or more electrical conductors and that one or more optical fibers.

Abstract: A connector is provided. The connector includes a body extending a length along a central longitudinal axis. The body includes first and second elements that each include opposite first and second end portions. A third element is positioned between at least a portion of the first and second elements. A portion of the third element and a portion of the first element extend within the second element. A portion of the first element extends within the third element. The first end portions of the first and second elements are exposed with respect to the third element. The second end portions of the first and second elements are exposed with respect to the third element. The exposed first end portions of the first and second elements are spaced apart with respect to each other along the length of the body. The exposed second end portions of the first and second elements are spaced apart with respect to each other along the length of the body.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed. The electrical connector has a plug and a receptacle that are connectable in a mated position. At least one of the plug and the receptacle have a body and an electrically conductive layer applied directly to the body.

Abstract: A finger mounted acoustic sensor. Various embodiments of the finger mounted acoustic sensors include sensors mounted within a casing designed to fit between fingers. The sensor may be rotated with respect to the casing. Other embodiments include mounting tubes for wearing on a finger. Sensors are embedded in the tube and on the rings such that they are easily positioned using technician's fingers. Other embodiments include rings for mounting sensors on and for steadying the sensors. The hand and finger mounted sensors may be used to provide necessary pressure to the sensor and yet provide a sensor that may be manipulated using hand and finger motion. In other embodiments sensors having a local disconnect are disclosed. Such disconnects may be attached to the clothing of a medical professional, attached via a wrist or armband or the like. Various sensor packages may be accompanied by the use of a flat or flex cable to minimize the torque necessary to manipulate the sensor.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed. The electrical connector has a plug and a receptacle that are connectable in a mated position. At least one of the plug and the receptacle have a body and an electrically conductive layer applied directly to the body.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes an elongated catheter defining a lumen. A cable within the lumen has at least first and second electrically independent conductors. A first electrical component is connected to the catheter and has a first lead and second lead. The first lead is connected to the first conductor at a first connection, and the second lead connected to the second conductor at a second connection. The first and second connections are spaced apart along the length of the catheter, and the component is positioned at an intermediate location between the first and second connections. The component may be a coil, with leads extending in opposite directions, and only one of the conductors may pass through the coil. The assembly may include multiple components spaced apart along the length of the catheter.

Abstract: A connector is provided. The connector includes a body extending a length along a central longitudinal axis. The body includes first and second elements that each include opposite first and second end portions. A third element is positioned between at least a portion of the first and second elements. A portion of the third element and a portion of the first element extend within the second element. A portion of the first element extends within the third element. The first end portions of the first and second elements are exposed with respect to the third element. The second end portions of the first and second elements are exposed with respect to the third element. The exposed first end portions of the first and second elements are spaced apart with respect to each other along the length of the body. The exposed second end portions of the first and second elements are spaced apart with respect to each other along the length of the body.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes an elongated catheter defining a lumen. A cable within the lumen has at least first and second electrically independent conductors. A first electrical component is connected to the catheter and has a first lead and second lead. The first lead is connected to the first conductor at a first connection, and the second lead connected to the second conductor at a second connection. The first and second connections are spaced apart along the length of the catheter, and the component is positioned at an intermediate location between the first and second connections. The component may be a coil, with leads extending in opposite directions, and only one of the conductors may pass through the coil. The assembly may include multiple components spaced apart along the length of the catheter.

Abstract: A finger mounted acoustic sensor. Various embodiments of the finger mounted acoustic sensors include sensors mounted within a casing designed to fit between fingers. The sensor may be rotated with respect to the casing. Other embodiments include mounting tubes for wearing on a finger. Sensors are embedded in the tube and on the rings such that they are easily positioned using technician's fingers. Other embodiments include rings for mounting sensors on and for steadying the sensors. The hand and finger mounted sensors may be used to provide necessary pressure to the sensor and yet provide a sensor that may be manipulated using hand and finger motion. In other embodiments sensors having a local disconnect are disclosed. Such disconnects may be attached to the clothing of a medical professional, attached via a wrist or armband or the like. Various sensor packages may be accompanied by the use of a flat or flex cable to minimize the torque necessary to manipulate the sensor.

Abstract: A cable assembly has a number of wires each having a central conductor and a surrounding insulating layer. Each wire is unshielded from the other wires, so that the conductor is the only conductive portion of the wire. Each wire has a first end and an opposed second end. The first ends of the wires are secured to each other in a flat ribbon portion in a first sequential arrangement, and the second ends of the wires are secured to each other in the same sequence as the first arrangement, with indicia identifying a selected wire in the sequence. The intermediate portions of the wires are detached from each other, and a sheath having a braided conductive shield may loosely encompass the wires, permitting significant flexibility of the cable.

Abstract: A flexible interconnect cable is manufactured by a method that includes providing a core, and wrapping a conductive shield element about the core. An insulating sheath layer is extruded about the core to encompass the shield element, and a multi-wire cable component having ribbonized ends and detached intermediate portions is connected to an end of the core. The core is removed from the sheath to insert the cable component into the sheath. The resulting assembly has intermediate portions of the cable component that are loosely received within the shield and sheath.

Abstract: A cable assembly has a number of wires each having a central conductor and a surrounding insulating layer. Each wire is unshielded from the other wires, so that the conductor is the only conductive portion of the wire. Each wire has a first end and an opposed second end. The first ends of the wires are secured to each other in a flat ribbon portion in a first sequential arrangement, and the second ends of the wires are secured to each other in the same sequence as the first arrangement, with indicia identifying a selected wire in the sequence. The intermediate portions of the wires are detached from each other, and a sheath having a braided conductive shield may loosely encompass the wires, permitting significant flexibility of the cable.

Abstract: A flexible interconnect cable is manufactured by a method that includes providing a core, and wrapping a conductive shield element about the core. An insulating sheath layer is extruded about the core to encompass the shield element, and a multi-wire cable component having ribbonized ends and detached intermediate portions is connected to an end of the core. The core is removed from the sheath to insert the cable component into the sheath. The resulting assembly has intermediate portions of the cable component that are loosely received within the shield and sheath.

Abstract: A cable assembly has a number of coaxial wires each having a central conductor and a surrounding shielding, and each having a first end and an opposed second end. The first ends of the wires are secured to each other in a flat ribbon portion in a first sequential arrangement, and the second ends of the wires are secured to each other in the same sequence as the first arrangement, with indicia identifying a selected wire in the sequence. The intermediate portions of the wires are detached from each other, and a sheath having a braided conductive shield loosely encompasses the wires, permitting significant flexibility of the cable.

Abstract: A connector for electrically and mechanically interconnecting multiple pairs of small coaxial conductor pairs includes a shield bus layer and signal conductor traces on opposite sides of a flexible dielectric substrate. Terminal portions of the signal conductor traces span an opening through the connector giving access to each signal conductor trace for soldering the traces to arrayed terminals on a circuit assembly, and are located accurately, so that mass soldering techniques can be utilized, with the connector located with respect to the circuit assembly by registration pins and holes. Portions of the shield bus are exposed to be soldered to a respective terminal on a circuit assembly, and to allow the shield conductors of the coaxial pairs to be soldered to the shield bus layer. Thermal breaks are defined in the shield bus layer to protect soldered junctions between the signal conductor traces and the signal conductors of coaxial pairs and the terminals of the circuit assembly.

Abstract: A carrier, or transfer frame, includes a pair of support portions located on opposite sides of an opening defined by the frame to receive portions of individual conductors of a cable, with the conductors extending across the opening and held in desired positions relative to each other during transportation prior to installation in an electrical circuit. Each conductor is connected electrically to a respective test contact pad of electrically conductive material located on one of the support portions. The transfer frame is placed and held in a desired position adjacent a circuit while the conductors are soldered, with access to the individual conductors, including shield conductors, being gained through the opening defined by the transfer frame.

Abstract: A connector system for interconnecting single or multiple pairs of flex circuits. A single pair of clamping bodies interconnects the respective ones of multiple pairs of electrical conductors in the form of conductor traces carried on respective pairs of flexible substrates, by pressing the flex circuits together between slender fluid-filled flexible bladders held in channels defined in the confronting sides of the clamping bodies. Alignment pins keep the flex circuits and clamping bodies aligned properly with each other, and alignment portions of the flex circuits correspond in thickness to that of the electrically interconnecting portions, to keep the flex circuits and clamping bodies parallel with each other. The clamping bodies are urged toward one another by clamping screws.