Abstract: A temperature information management system for use in vehicles, particularly commercial airliners. The system provides a sensing section, a converter section, an operations section, an archival section, and a communications section that are all functionally integrated to monitor continuous operating temperatures for an airliner. The system provides a sensing a sensing section for continuously monitoring operating temperatures in designated areas of an airliner. The sensing section generates real-time outputs of information. The system provides a converter section that translates the real-time output information into a digital data format. The system also provides an operations section that has an interface for receiving the digital data and transmits an alert regarding the operating temperatures. An archival section is provided for storing the real-time output information from the sensing section, the digital data from the converter section and the information transmitted from the operations section.

Abstract: A temperature information management system for use in vehicles, particularly commercial airliners. The system provides a sensing section, a converter section, an operations section, an archival section, and a communications section that are all functionally integrated to monitor continuous operating temperatures for an airliner. The system provides a sensing a sensing section for continuously monitoring operating temperatures in designated areas of an airliner. The sensing section generates real-time outputs of information. The system provides a converter section that translates the real-time output information into a digital data format. The system also provides an operations section that has an interface for receiving the digital data and transmits an alert regarding the operating temperatures. An archival section is provided for storing the real-time output information from the sensing section, the digital data from the converter section and the information transmitted from the operations section.

Abstract: A face-down recovery apparatus for use in rehabilitation of patients, particularly vitreoretinal surgical patients. The apparatus has a base and a housing that is pivotally connected to the base by an actuator. A support is positioned contiguously on the housing for received a user in a face-down position. The apparatus is moveable between a substantially vertical, upright orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation. The apparatus is in a substantially upright vertical orientation when the support receives a user in a standing position. The face of a user is secured in a face-down position in a face support, and the rest of the user is secured to the support in a standing position in an unrestricted manner permitting mobility. As the housing is tilted into a horizontal position, the user is positioned in a substantially horizontal orientation.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for protecting, for example, electronic, mechanical, or other components from contamination in a processing environment and includes a distribution manifold, a pressurized fluid in fluid communication with the manifold, and a plurality of apparatuses, such as sensors, which are connected to the manifold by respective conduits throughwhich the pressurized fluid flows to maintain a positive pressure at each of the apparatuses to prevent the processing environment from contacting the plurality of apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for protecting, for example, electronic, mechanical, or other components from contamination in a processing environment and includes a distribution manifold, a pressurized fluid in fluid communication with the manifold, and a plurality of apparatuses, such as sensors, which are connected to the manifold by respective conduits throughwhich the pressurized fluid flows to maintain a positive pressure at each of the apparatuses to prevent the processing environment from contacting the plurality of apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for protecting electronic, mechanical, or other components from contamination which includes a distribution manifold, a pressurized gas in fluid communication with the manifold; and a plurality of apparatuses which are capable of enclosing at least one electronic device, wherein the apparatuses are individually connected to the manifold by a conduit; the conduit having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the manifold and the second end is connected to the apparatus.

Abstract: In a food processing plant electronics used to monitor and control various food processing methods are subject to harsh environmental conditions such as thermal shock, outside contaminants and condensation. An electronics enclosure for minimizing such problems places the electronics in an interior enclosure which is separated from and surrounded by an exterior enclosure. Dry nitrogen gas is input to the interior box to create an internal pressure greater than ambient pressure. The gas is vented to the exterior box which is also maintained at greater than ambient pressure. Thermal shock is reduced by spacing the internal and external boxes apart using thermally non-conductive spacers.

Abstract: A smoke evacuator for use in electrosurgical and laser surgical procedures in which a source of rapidly moving fluid under pressure is introduced to a surgical site to entrain smoke and other surgical debris generated during the procedure and a collection element operated under reduced pressure. The latter is positioned adjacent to the surgical site so that the moving fluid stream entrains all of the smoke and surgical debris which is then collected in the collection element. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the collection element includes a flared horn portion to ensure laminar flow of the fluid stream as it enters the collection element. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the source of fluid under pressure and the collection element are mounted on a laser surgery handpiece or probe whereby the fluid pressure source and the collection element are integral with the probe and thus the tube is repositioned as the probe is repositioned.

Abstract: A smoke evacuator for use in electrosurgical and laser surgical procedures in which a source of rapidly moving fluid under pressure is introduced to a surgical site to entrain smoke and other surgical debris generated during the procedure and a collection element operated under reduced pressure. The latter is positioned adjacent to the surgical site so that the moving fluid stream entrains all of the smoke and surgical debris which is then collected in the collection element. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the collection element includes a flared horn portion to ensure laminar flow of the fluid stream as it enters the collection element. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the source of fluid under pressure and the collection element are mounted on a laser surgery handpiece or probe whereby the fluid pressure source and the collection element are integral with the probe and thus the tube is repositioned as the probe is repositioned.