Abstract: An extendable strut device supports a reed woodwind musical instrument, such as an oboe, clarinet, English horn or straight saxophone, to substantially relieve the weight on the musician's thumb and hand, thereby avoiding muscle fatigue and strain and repetitive motion injuries, without limiting the position, flexibility or maneuverability of the instrument and without inducing other unnatural or restrictive posture or feel requirements in the instrument. The strut device comprises an attachment component having a connection mechanism adapted to connect pivotally to the thumbrest without interfering with the conventional placement and position of the musician's thumb on the thumbrest, and an elongated monopod component having an upper end connected to the attachment component and having a lower opposite end adapted to contact the seating facility upon which the musician is seated while playing the instrument.

Abstract: A ring adapter assembly is releasably attachable to a thumbrest of a woodwind musical instrument, such as an oboe, clarinet, English horn or straight saxophone, to provide an attachment ring in those instances when the thumbrest of the instrument does not include a permanent attachment ring. The ring adapter assembly allows a support device to be attached to the musical instrument to relieve the weight on the thumb and hand of a musician playing the instrument. One embodiment of the ring adapter assembly is used with fixed position thumbrests and is adapted to be seated on a top surface of the thumbrest so that an attachment ring within the assembly faces away from the musical instrument. A top portion of the assembly may be moved up and down by an adjustment screw and includes a spring wire which extends around the thumbrest to connect the assembly to the thumbrest.

Abstract: Coagulation related activities are detected in a fluid sample in a plunger sensor cartridge. The cartridge includes a test cell with a reagent chamber and a reaction chamber and a plunger assembly. A reagent drive subassembly forces the contents of the reagent chamber into the reaction chamber. The plunger assembly is raised and released by a plunger lifting subassembly to allow it to descend through the sample of liquid in the bottom of the reaction chamber. A dispenser subassembly automatically meters precise quantities of fluid into the test cells. The plunger lifting subassembly and the reagent drive subassembly are mechanically separate and are controlled separately. Stepper motors are used to provide precise control over the degree, rate and sensitivity of movement of the plunger lifting subassembly, the reagent drive subassembly and the dispensing subassembly.

Abstract: A gas flow cartridge includes a tube-like member which defines a reaction chamber in which a pool of liquid is subjected to an analytical test. A coating of debubbling agent is applied to an area of the tube-like member above the reaction chamber. The debubbling agent collapses bubbles of noncoagulated fluid but allows bubbles of coagulated fluid to continue an upward movement above the area where the coating is applied. Coagulation is detected by sensing the coagulated bubbles moving upward in the tube-like member. A quantity of activator agent is initially confined with the reaction chamber, preferably within a structure defined by a segment of paper-like material formed into an activator retaining form. The paper-like material unrolls or unfolds during the analytical test.

Abstract: A multi-channel instrumentation system is provided wherein signals from selected electrode pairs are sequentially connected to the isolated input of a common signal amplifying path. The electrode pair selecting means is included in a portable head box which may be placed adjacent to the patient to be tested. Included in the head box are facilities for testing the impedance of any selected one of the patient electrodes and providing a visual indication of the magnitude of such impedance. The head box also includes facilities for selecting a group of patient electrodes which are connected together and used as an average or reference potential for one input of the common signal path. Facilities are also provided for calibrating the common signal path by applying a d.c. calibration signal to the input thereof by means isolated from system ground.

Abstract: An electronic circuit is used to interrupt the video signal going to a T.V. monitor about 500 times per scan line. Each interruption causes a black spot in the display. The black lines between scan lines on the T.V. screen cooperate with the black spots in each scan line to form electronically a black matrix background for the T.V. picture. The black matrix enhances the picture quality making a sharper, clearer picture.

Abstract: A multi-channel instrumentation system is provided wherein signals from selected electrode pairs are sequentially connected to the isolated input of a common signal amplifying path. The electrode pair selecting means is included in a portable head box which may be placed adjacent to the patient to be tested. Included in the head box are facilities for testing the impedance of any selected one of the patient electrodes and providing a visual indication of the magnitude of such impedance. The head box also includes facilities for selecting a group of patient electrodes which are connected together and used as an average or reference potential for one input of the common signal path. Facilities are also provided for calibrating the common signal path by applying a d.c. calibration signal to the input thereof by means isolated from system ground.

Abstract: A multi-channel instrumentation system is provided wherein signals from selected electrode pairs are sequentially connected to the isolated input of a common signal amplifying path. The electrode pair selecting means is included in a portable head box which may be placed adjacent to the patient to be tested. Included in the head box are facilities for testing the impedance of any selected one of the patient electrodes and providing a visual indication of the magnitude of such impedance. The head box also includes facilities for selecting a group of patient electrodes which are connected together and used as an average or reference potential for one input of the common signal path. Facilities are also provided for calibrating the common signal path by applying a d.c. calibration signal to the input thereof by means isolated from sytem ground.

Abstract: A bioelectrical impedance measuring system that measures and indicates the impedance of a biological subject, such as one or more human extremities. The system measures and indicates a basal impedance value of the measured subject, and also indicates short temporal variations in the basal value. In the system an excitation signal, derived from an electrical signal source, is coupled to the subject by excitation electrodes and a resulting subject output signal is sensed by receiver electrodes. The subject output signal is electronically subtracted from a reference signal derived from the signal source, and the resulting signal is used to drive a display unit. The system includes a null detector connected to the display unit input, and an automatic gain control unit responsive thereto, connected in the subject output signal path to automatically maintain the system in a nulled condition.