Abstract: A weld nut has weld projections on both sides. The projections concentrate heat and melt when in contact with a component part, to form a lasting weld of the nut to the component part. Because there are weld projections on both sides of the nut, there is no risk that the nut will be placed against the component part upside down.

Abstract: Heart function is improved by inducing heart rate variability through cardiac pacing. Electrical pacing signals are generated and applyied to a heart to improve heart function. The pacing signals are controlled to vary a heart rate during periods of less than five minutes in duration to induce beneficial heart rate variability.

Abstract: A subject suspected of experiencing a myocardial infarction is monitored by applying sensors to the subject, where the sensors are configured to produce electrical signals representative of cardiac activity of the subject. Electrical signals are received from at least two of the sensors. The received signals then are processed to obtain a localized cardiac measure that is analyzed to determine whether the subject is experiencing a myocardial infarction.

Abstract: Cardiac electrical stability is assessed by generating a measure of cardiac electrical stability (e.g., an alternans measure) using a physiologic signal representative of activity of a patient's heart, generating a reference signal that provides information regarding whether the measure is representative of cardiac electrical stability, and visually presenting the measure and the reference signal in a way that permits visual evaluation of whether the measure is representative of cardiac electrical stability in view of characteristics of the reference signal.

Abstract: A method of reducing noise in a biological signal, such as an ECG signal, includes acquiring a biological signal, comparing the biological signal to a representative signal, and generating a predicted signal corresponding to the representative signal when the biological signal sufficiently matches the representative signal. The predicted signal is subtracted from the biological signal to produce a second signal, and a filter is applied to the second signal to produce a filtered signal. The predicted signal and the filtered signal then are combined to produce a noise-reduced signal.

Abstract: A localized cardiac measure, such as a localized measure of myocardial ischemia, is obtained by applying sensors to a subject, where the sensors are configured to produce electrical signals representative of cardiac activity of the subject. The subject's heart is then physiologically stressed by, for example, exercise stress testing, and electrical signals are received from at least two of the sensors. The received signals then are processed to obtain a localized cardiac measure.

Abstract: The method for assessing risk of an adverse clinical event includes detecting a physiologic signal in the subject and determining from the physiologic signal a sequence of intervals corresponding to time intervals between heart beats. The long-time structure of fluctuations in the intervals over a time period of more than fifteen minutes is analyzed to assess risk of an adverse clinical event. In a preferred embodiment, the physiologic signal is an electrocardiogram and the time period is at least fifteen minutes. A preferred method for analyzing the long-time structure variability in the intervals includes computing the power spectrum and fitting the power spectrum to a power law dependence on frequency over a selected frequency range such as 10.sup.-4 to 10.sup.-2 Hz. Characteristics of the long-time structure fluctuations in the intervals is used to assess risk of an adverse clinical event.

Abstract: A multi-segment ECG electrode includes a flexible basepad, a central segment defined on a surface of the basepad, and exterior segments defined on the surface of the basepad. The exterior segments may be sized, shaped and positioned relative to the central segment so that an average position of the exterior segments approximates a position of the central segment.

Abstract: The alternans pattern of cycle-to-cycle variability in physiologic waveforms is assessed by applying transducers to a subject, recording physiologic signals, and analyzing the alternans pattern of variation in waveform morphology.

Abstract: A method of reducing noise in a signal that represents a physiologic process includes obtaining multiple input signals, measuring a relationship between noise content of the input signals, and combining the input signals in consideration of the measured relationship to produce an output signal having low noise content. The multiple input signals may include, for example, two or more primary physiologic input signals or one or more primary physiologic input signals and two or more secondary input signals that represent noise. The method may further include dividing one or more ECG input signals and secondary input signals into set of segments, where each set of segments represents a beat of the ECG signal, measuring a relationship between noise content of corresponding points from successive sets of segments, and combining the input signals based on the measured relationship.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for improved electronic display and interpretation of physiologic waveforms. The apparatus generates a two-dimensional grid on the video screen simulating the appearance of electrocardiographic recording paper or other physiologic signal recording paper. At least one physiologic signal is superimposed upon the grid for a display of the combined signal and grid. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the grid includes lines some of which are separated by no more than 2.6 millimeters. In another embodiment of the invention the grid includes horizontal or vertical lines of at least two types.

Abstract: The temporal pattern of cycle-to-cycle variability in physiologic waveforms, such as alternans, is assessed by applying transducers to a subject, recording physiologic signals, and analyzing the cycle-to-cycle variation in waveform morphology. Preferred embodiments include the application of physiologic stress to the subject in order to adjust heart rate to the desired range, real-time analysis of waveform variability, reduction in the effect of intercycle variability on waveform variability, improved techniques for determining the statistical significance of the amplitude of a temporal pattern of variability, handling of abnormal beats such as atrial and ventricular premature beats, and assessment of the statistical significance of a measured level of a temporal pattern of variability.

Abstract: A socket for a small incandescent lamp for the detachable and fixable insertion in an opening of a printed circuit board, which is adapted to the socket and provided with enlargements at the edge, and for contacting the lamp by pressing the lamp-connection wires, which are carried at flexible contact arms, against the strip conductors of the printed circuit board, wherein the socket can be inserted with, in each case, the same orientation of the lamp, so as to make contact, into the opening from both sides of the printed circuit board and removed from both sides independently of the side from which it was inserted, and in that a first insertion mechanism, which is dependent on the insertion side, is a locking mechanism and a second insertion mechanism, which is dependent on the other insertion side, is a jamming-turning mechanism, the fixation of the socket being accomplished independently of the insertion mechanism by locking arms, which are formed flexibly at the socket, engage the printed circuit board and

Abstract: A socket for an essentially cylindrical miniature incandescent lamp for contacting mounting on a printed circuit board, with contact elements which lead into the bottom surface and which are intended to lie against the opposite contact surfaces of the printed circuit board and which can be connected with the lamp wires so as to make electrical contact. The socket is provided with a recess which extends at least as far as the vicinity of the lower, essentially flat bottom surface, for the parallel accommodation of the miniature incandescent lamp.

Abstract: The statistical properties of a biological signal intermittently obscured by a relatively independent biological process are estimated by noting the time intervals during which the obscuring process is occurring. From the time intervals, a windowing function is constructed which makes a transition from one towards zero as the process obscures the signal and a transition towards one as the process terminates. Thereafter, a statistical characterization is performed in which the windowing function is used to weight the relative contributions of corresponding segments of the biological signal. In preferred embodiments, the statistical properties include the autocorrelation function and power spectrum of biological signals such as heart rate and blood pressure.

Abstract: A miniature indicating lamp with a base made of synthetic material for insertion into a socket. The lamp is provided with an upper hollow-cylindrical glass portion, and a base which has a bottom portion in the form of a flat plug. A separating wall extends parallel to the axis of the lamp and has bores on both sides of the wall. Connecting wires are inserted in the bores and extend into the upper hollow-cylindrical glass portions. The bores and connecting wires are substantially at the center of the bottom portion of the base, and grooves communicating with the bores, provides access to them.