Abstract: An apparatus for installation of a material having discrete elements. The apparatus includes: (a) a supply material having discrete elements; and (b) a transporter system downstream of the supply material having discrete elements. In the preferred embodiment, the transporter system includes (i) a vertical feed, inline blower and (ii) a material agitator upstream of the vertical feed, inline blower. The apparatus may further include an applicator assembly connected downstream to the transporter system. In the preferred embodiment, the material is installed without the use of water.

Abstract: A system comprising an implantable medical device (IMD). The IMD comprises a ventricular heart signal sensing circuit to provide a ventricular heart signal, at least one sensor operable to provide an electrical signal representative of patient activity, a sensor interface circuit coupled to the at least one sensor to provide an activity signal, and a controller circuit coupled to the heart signal sensing circuit and the sensor interface circuit. The controller circuit is operable to determine whether ventricular ectopy occurs during recovery from exercise using the heart signal, and to set at least one warning indicator if ventricular ectopy occurs during the recovery from exercise.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a patient removal system are provided for evacuating a patient during an emergency. The patient removal systems may be used to transport the patient while the patient is on a mattress, or the patient removal systems may be used to transport the patient without the mattress. The patient removal systems permit caregivers to transport patients out of danger or harm without requiring patient support devices to be transported along with the patients.

Abstract: A thermosettable in-mold exterior gel coat composition exhibiting low or no volatile organic content for use with molded plastic substrates, includes fiber reinforced substrates. The gel coat composition is composed of an ethynically unsaturated polyester resin and utilizes as a co-polymerizable reactive diluent therein an acrylate or methacrylate ester component having from 2 to 4 carbon atom alkyl substituent radicals depending thereon, coupled with a 5 to 10 carbon-atom-containing mono or dicyclic alkyl or alkenyl ester radical, and carrying in turn one or more optional alkyl substituents of from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms. In a process for the application of the exterior gel coat to molded plastic substrates, including fiber reinforced substrates, the substrate is applied to said gel coat while it is in a tacky state of only partial cure so as to achieve a bonding between the substrate and the gel coat.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, an interactive table cloth is provided and includes a foldable substrate processed to receive chalk on a writing surface thereof and being washable so as to permit erasing of any chalk marks made on the substrate such that the substrate appears substantially as new after cleaning. The table clothing also has a border formed around and attached to a peripheral edge of the substrate. The border is formed of a second material that is different from a first material forming the substrate. A guide is printed on the writing surface and being indicative of where chalk is to be applied. The guide being formed of a third material different than the first material and in one embodiment, the guide is permanently adhered to the writing surface by means of a heat transfer printing process and in another embodiment, the guide is removably disposed on the writing surface.

Abstract: A covalently-compatible in-mold gelcoat composition for use with epoxy matrix resins, including fiber-reinforced substrates, wherein the gelcoat composition comprises an acrylate ester component. Also disclosed is a process for using such composition.

Abstract: An open grid fabric resin infusion medium and reinforcing composite lamina used in the manufacture of fiber reinforced polymer resin composites. The use of the open grid fabric as at least one of a composite lamina provides significant improvements in both the resin infusion rate and resin distribution uniformity throughout the laminate.

Abstract: An easy-opening feature in a flexible package is provided by forming a tear feature in the package material by slitting, perforating, or otherwise forming a stress riser in the material, and affixing a label to the package material so that the label adheres to the tear feature. The formation of the tear feature and affixing of the label are performed prior to wrapping a product in the package material and sealing the material, and preferably are performed while the package material is moving along a path in a packaging apparatus. The label in one embodiment includes a detachable middle portion that tears free of the rest of the label upon pulling the detachable portion, such that remaining portions of the label remain on the package adjacent the opening created by the tear feature.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for assessing and linking market research questions to participant's (user's) credentials, where the market research questions are integrated into selected continuing education courses or product training. The users may not earn credit for such continuing education unless they answer the market research questions. This method allows a mechanism to perform market research on any group of professionals that require continuing education or training. The method and apparatus of the various embodiments of the present invention have applications on the Internet, stand-alone and networked computer systems, integrated computer-television systems, and conventional communication systems, such as voice telephony.

Abstract: An expandable multiprocessor computer system is provided incorporating a master computer, control computers and servant computers housed in modular units. Servant computers of the super scalable multiprocessor system act as cells of a singular entity enhancing system performance over conventional individually networked computers. Application information is transported between servant computers by way of a standard ultra high speed primary network as opposed to a specialized ultra high speed back plane. The design of the primary network allows for parallel internal data transfer in single modules, and allows for parallel internal data transfer between multiple modules through the provision of control computers in each module. Administration information is transported between the master computer, control computers and servant computers by way of a secondary network.

Abstract: A patient support lighting system for use with a patient support and including a light fixture configured to be automatically positioned based upon the location of the patient support.

Abstract: An expandable multiprocessor computer system is provided incorporating a master computer, control computers and servant computers housed in modular units. Servant computers of the super scalable multiprocessor system act as cells of a singular entity enhancing system performance over conventional individually networked computers. Application information is transported between servant computers by way of a standard ultra high speed primary network as opposed to a specialized ultra high speed back plane. The design of the primary network allows for parallel internal data transfer in single modules, and allows for parallel internal data transfer between multiple modules through the provision of control computers in each module. Administration information is transported between the master computer, control computers and servant computers by way of a secondary network.

Abstract: A Group Page process is implemented by which a variable audio source may be dynamically allocated circuit switch channels for broadcasting to a group of devices. The process is implemented via message exchanges between a Group Page Manager which accesses a data structure relating to the grouped devices, and a Paging Party Call Process associated with the party desirous of broadcasting an audio page.

Abstract: A system to provide a specified volume of a medical fluid from a bulk source to a dose and/or delivery container for injection into a patient. The fluid path between the bulk container and the delivery container is physically separated at a connecting site before fluid is injected from the delivery container into the patient. The bulk container may be a bag or bottle, and the delivery container may be a syringe or bag. A bag delivery container may be contained in a pressurizeable chamber and fluid may be delivered by providing pressure to a membrane in the chamber contacting a wall of the bag. The system may be automated.

Abstract: A system to provide a specified volume of a medical fluid from a bulk source to a dose and/or delivery container for injection into a patient. The fluid path between the bulk container and the delivery container is physically separated at a connecting site before fluid is injected from the delivery container into the patient. The bulk container may be a bag or bottle, and the delivery container may be a syringe or bag. A bag delivery container may be contained in a pressurizeable chamber and fluid may be delivered by providing pressure to a membrane in the chamber contacting a wall of the bag. The system may be automated.

Abstract: A miniature high performance computer unit which can be inserted into an available drive slot in a computer enclosure and serve as a replacement for the computer's computational resource or serve as an additional computational resource. Industry standard drive slots will permit universal application thereby permitting the continued use of the purchased computer enclosure and greatly simplify future design considerations.

Abstract: A power injector and a removable replacement faceplate therefor are provided along with a method of front loading syringes, particularly prefilled syringes, which have outwardly extending structure such as flanges which have been typically breech loaded or side loaded into injectors or operated in a hand held fashion. The holder or faceplate of or for the injector is provided with a set of jaws spaced around a syringe receiving opening into which a syringe is loaded, rearward end first, with the jaws in a retracted position, until the flange or other outwardly extending structure on the syringe is rearward of the syringe is beyond a locking position of the jaws. The jaws are then actuated, either by operating an actuator on the faceplate or injector or by twisting the syringe in the opening, so that the jaws move radially inward and close in iris-like fashion about the syringe.

Abstract: A system to provide a specified volume of a medical fluid from a bulk source to a dose and/or delivery container for injection into a patient. The fluid path between the bulk container and the delivery container is physically separated at a connecting site before fluid is injected from the delivery container into the patient. The bulk container may be a bag or bottle, and the delivery container may be a syringe or bag. A bag delivery container may be contained in a pressurizeable chamber and fluid may be delivered by providing pressure to a membrane in the chamber contacting a wall of the bag. The system may be automated.

Abstract: A system to provide a specified volume of a medical fluid from a bulk source to a dose and/or delivery container for injection into a patient. The fluid path between the bulk container and the delivery container is physically separated at a connecting site before fluid is injected from the delivery container into the patient. The bulk container may be a bag or bottle, and the delivery container may be a syringe or bag. A bag delivery container may be contained in a pressurizeable chamber and fluid may be delivered by providing pressure to a membrane in the chamber contacting a wall of the bag. The system may be automated.